Translator and Editor: Lily and Nabi

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Chapter 23 – Don’t Go, Sierra

Upon entering the mansion, the completely dry Sierra looked down at little Hanael attached to her side.

“Um… So what exactly happened to Hanael?”

Wasn’t it strange that she was talking about the bad mister, or rather, Cassius? Sierra just decided to stay quiet.

The godmother was staring straight at her.

Something felt… wrong, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint what.

‘What’s going on here…?’

One of the recently published romance novels called 《The Hill of Storm》 came to Sierra’s mind. The atmosphere had a similar dark feeling, but why?

‘Could it be a ghost…?’

***

“Hello, Cassius.”

She was worried when she heard the news of Cassius suddenly getting soaked. She heard the news from the doctor who came and went as if he had some kind of illness.

After hours of agonizing, Sierra had decided on something.

“Listen, Sierra. I need to take him to a clinic.”

Luckily, he had an antipyretic system that reduced his fever fast.

‘…No, I mean, why do I have a remedy in my hand that works well for people who catch colds?’

Feeling tingling guilt in her heart as a pharmacist, Sierra soon took a potion bottle.

It was interesting to others to hear that Cassius collapsed after sitting like a dog in the rain.

Wasn’t it natural?

Sierra walked over to him, convincing herself

‘Well… if I help Cassius, he won’t think of me as a fraud, even if the truth is revealed later.’

…There was a little bit of an ulterior motive, of course.

Sierra carefully placed her hand on Cassius’ forehead. She didn’t understand why he had stood out there alone in the rain.

With his eyes still closed, Cassius felt the warmth of Sierra’s hand.

“…I miss you,” he whispered suddenly.

‘What do you mean? Who are you talking about?’

“…Don’t go.”

“…”

“Please.”

Sierra gulped. Even with his eyes closed, it felt like he was looking at her with desperate longing.

“Actually…”

She couldn’t hear the next words. His hand was holding onto hers tightly.

Cassius didn’t even know if the hand he was holding was Sierra’s.

His grip got a little stronger.

“Don’t… go, please.”

Sierra became even more confused.

‘…What am I gonna do? Who is he talking about?’

Come to think of it, this has happened before.

“Huu…”

Her heart broke a little as she looked down at him swallowing painfully.

‘…I’m too nice.’

She stared at Cassius, lost in thought.

In the past, it was obvious to her that Cassius craved human affection. He had collapsed a few times while training incessantly without saying he was sick. Sierra had decided to scold Cassius.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?!”

“No one would care anyway. I’d rather just keep training-”

“What are you talking about? I’m here. We’re friends, right?”

“Friends…”

She remembered Cassius’ eyes twinkling as soon as she had spoken.

“Yeah, I have… you.”

Sierra opted to stay. Reflecting on the past, she whispered, “Hm… those times were once so nice.”

Somehow she felt strange.

They now happened to be in a relationship full of misunderstandings, but they once had a very good relationship.

She looked down at Cassius and felt troubled. His long eyelashes fluttered as he opened his eyes with difficulty.

“…It could be better now, better than it was back then.”

His voice was husky. Had he been listening to her? It seemed that he wasn’t completely delirious from his fever.

Actually… it wasn’t that he suddenly didn’t look sick, but his complexion looked much brighter.

Sierra looked at him awkwardly and gave him a short nod.

“You’re up. I’ll take my leave…”

At that moment, his hand grabbed Sierra’s wrist. She glanced at her wrist suspiciously. Cassius’ sudden touch didn’t embarrass her, not when they were so careful.

His gentle touch could have been because of his lack of strength, or because he was worried that Sierra might get hurt.

“…Don’t go, please.” He looked desperate. “Ten minutes.”

Sierra hesitated silently. She wasn’t cold enough to be cruel to a sick person. Come to think of it, Sierra had seen that look in his eyes before.

Even at the academy, Cassius Idios was a lonely child. As many people admired him, there were just as many who were envious and jealous.

And during all that, Cassius grew much stronger.

“What… Okay, just ten minutes. Only because you’re my patient.”

As soon as Sierra’s words reached him, Cassius seemed relieved. He had a slight blush on his face.

“I don’t want to say this.” He covered his face with his arms. “I wish I were sick every day.”

…The Cassius of today looked to be just as hungry for affection as he was in her memories.

***

It was nice to have someone by his side while he was sick. It felt like how it was five years ago.

“Don’t get sick.”

“I don’t feel sick because you’re by my side.”

“…Seriously?”

“Yup, I wish I was sick every day. I like… having someone by my side.”

Before Cassius blurted out a confession, he choked the words down.

***

‘Even then, he missed the warmth of people.’

They hadn’t spent the night together yet, they just had an innocent friendship. And yet Cassius had said that.

If so, Cassius’ behavior was understandable.

Now that he thinks Sierra gave birth to his daughter, he’d grown more attached.

She spoke softly, “What are you talking about, you need to stay healthy. Health comes first.”

Sierra changed the wet towel on his forehead. Cassius coughed slightly because of his fever. He raised his forearm to cover his mouth to avoid infecting Sierra.

“Still,” Cassius whispered faintly, holding Sierra’s hand carefully. “You’re warm.”

…He probably felt cold due to his fever, but it seemed he wasn’t just talking about heat.

She couldn’t help but smile thinking about what Cassius said at the academy a long time ago.

“I was born an illegitimate child. I have no such thing as a family.”

“Well, I’m just like you. I’m an orphan.”

“…I see. We have something in common.”

Cassius had laughed self-consciously.

Considering his background growing up, it was clear that he really yearned for love. Somehow feeling sorry for Cassius, Sierra tried soothing her own jumbled feelings.

***

Sierra stayed by Cassius for just ten more minutes and then returned to her room.

Cassius, though, was on her mind the entire time.

She stared at Hanael with a blank expression, noticing that she had torn the stuffed doll’s ears. Hanael had been carrying that ugly doll around for some time, strangely enough, even if she had quite a few prettier toys.

‘No, no. That doll doesn’t matter now!’

Sierra patted her cheeks repeatedly.

‘Ha… I’m going to die of dread.’

In fact, it is clear that the relationship between Sierra and Cassius cannot be established. Judging by the maids and their big mouths, Sierra had the smallest chance of becoming their mistress because she was a commoner.

‘Well… now that I’ve revealed a child, no one will doubt me.’

Sierra blinked and lowered her head, lost in thought. Cassius’ actions today showed he had some affection for Sierra.

And Sierra vaguely knew why.

Sierra was Cassius’ first friend. And that night… he said it was his first time. It was clear that he had imprinted on her like a newly-hatched chick.

But Sierra had no intention of becoming a duchess, much less a concubine. She just wanted to be a peaceful pharmacist.

And sure…!

She loved the wealth of this estate, she liked it a lot, but…!

At some point, she started to drool, so Sierra hurriedly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

…She ventured off from her thoughts for just a second, but one thing was certain.

“Cassius needs someone other than me or Hanael.”

After saying out the words, she felt certain.

During the paternity test, it would be better to leave Cassius with someone else.

What if he had more opportunities to get to know other nice and beautiful women and people. People admired Cassius as both the Duke of Idios and their hero.

If he could just form relationships with good people…

‘He relies on me because he has no one. He’s not in love.’

Sierra didn’t believe in love in the first place.

She majored in medicine and knew how to make love potions easily. You merely had to manipulate human physical responses, and people would mistake themselves for falling in love.

There can be no love between nobles and commoners.

The absence of their parents and her sister’s intermittent visits made Sierra emotionally unavailable and skeptical

Sierra rubbed her hands together, propping her chin up and shrugging. “I’ll help him meet a good person before I leave.”

She would have to think about when to meet her solicitor.

“…Hmm.”

Hanael had a mischievous glint in her eyes.

***

On that night, the inside of the palace was desolate, suitable for plotting. With a table between them, the princess and Ijel faced each other.

Dressed in red, the princess smiled softly as she waved her fan.

“Sierra, is she strong and healthy?”

“Ijel, I’ve never heard you compliment a woman. Have you fallen for her?”

Ijel responded by changing his soft demeanor to a cold one. “That would be impossible.”

The princess, who was staring at Ijel, quietly responded, “Hmm… I’m curious about that woman. You’d better at least invite her to the ball.”

“…Hm.”

Ijel leaned back on the chair and continued in a languid tone.

“Well, that’s not a good idea.”

“And why is that?”

“The Duke of Idios won’t stand for it.”

The princess chuckled. “I’ve already prepared. We have a good plan.”

She pulled the rope next to the table. Then, quietly, the door opened.

Looking at the woman coming in through the door, Ijel gulped.

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