I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Cecilia stood in front of the dining room with a thoroughly tense expression.

Her heart was beating wildly on its own.

‘What should I do, I never expected my family to call for me.’

As if walking on clouds, her mood kept lifting.

Cecilia pressed her lips tightly together and held back the laughter that kept trying to escape.

A dignified lady must be careful of her conduct in public.

About 10 minutes ago.

Suddenly, word came from the Countess of Lusert.

“The Duchess has ordered that the young lady be brought to the main manor.”

At the sudden news, she had been so frantic getting ready that she couldn’t tell how chaotic it had been.

Cecilia looked at the tightly closed dining room door with a fresh feeling.

‘Come to think of it, this is my first time going to the main manor.’

That meant.

During the period she stayed at Tranciere Manor, Cecilia had never once seen her family’s faces.

‘No, it’s okay.’

Though she felt like she might become a little depressed, Cecilia quickly shook off that feeling.

Wasn’t this a day when they would all have dinner together for once?

With the brightest smile possible, so as not to displease her family.

She had to become a bright, kind, and lovely daughter.

“Young lady!”

Suddenly Cecilia thought of Milena.

Her bright and affectionate personality without a care in the world.

A lovely young lady with brilliant blonde hair and radiant green eyes, like the ‘real daughter’ that the ducal family members so longed for.

What would it have been like if Cecilia had been someone like Milena?

‘Would my family have loved me then?’

No, thinking such thoughts would only make her depressed.

Cecilia, who had deliberately pushed away the thought, glanced down at her outfit.

‘I don’t look strange anywhere, do I?’

She had paid as much attention as possible to her appearance, but still couldn’t quite feel at ease.

She brushed the hem of her dress to smooth out wrinkles.

She neatly tucked the loose strands that had fallen on her cheeks behind her ears.

She even checked that the earrings dangling from her earlobes were properly attached.

“Whew.”

Cecilia took a small deep breath and gave a slight nod to the servant standing beside the dining room door.

The servant nodded and lightly knocked on the thick door.

Knock knock.

Then the door opened.

Cecilia straightened her back.

She pulled her chin in slightly and stepped into the dining room with the elegant gait she had practiced dozens and hundreds of times.

Then she gracefully offered her greeting.

“Did you call for me?”

“…”

“…”

A cool silence descended.

Under the three pairs of gazes fixed on her, Cecilia swallowed her dry saliva.

After a moment.

An indifferent answer came back.

“Yes.”

The Duke, who sat at the head of the table, pointed to an empty seat with his eyes.

“Sit down.”

“Yes, Father.”

Cecilia carefully took her seat while glancing around cautiously.

Count of Lusert, who brought to mind a sharp blade.

The Duchess, still beautiful despite her middle age.

And even the young Duke Elias, whose striking beauty resembled his mother.

They were truly a picture-perfect family.

…To the extent that her presence among them felt like a blemish on them.

‘Don’t be nervous.’

Cecilia desperately tried to calm herself.

The Duchess looked at such Cecilia with a displeased gaze.

“I hear you took in a personal maid as you pleased this time?”

“…”

Instantly Cecilia felt her heart sink.

Elias chimed in from the side with an indifferent voice.

“Mrs. Howard says you’re being overly familiar with that personal maid.”

“Oppa, that’s…”

Cecilia, who was about to say something, bit her lower lip firmly.

Then she quietly bowed her head.

“I’m sorry, I’ll be careful.”

“You always just say you’re sorry and that you’ll be careful.”

Elias spoke sarcastically for all to hear.

“When exactly do you plan to acquire the dignity befitting a daughter of Lusert?”

“…Oppa.”

“Do you even know that you’re bringing shame to our family?”

Cecilia flinched and stiffened her shoulders.

Then the Duke stopped Elias with a stern voice.

“Elias.”

“…”

Elias, who had been looking Cecilia up and down with displeasure, soon clicked his tongue and turned his head away.

Cecilia unconsciously hunched her shoulders slightly.

Even sitting on a bed of thorns would probably be more comfortable than this.

Just then, the servants began bringing out the appetizers.

It was a refreshing salad with diced various fruits topped with cheese and balsamic sauce.

However, the Duchess’s expression as she looked down at the salad was quite dark.

“…Our Chesha really loved apples too.”

Chesha.

The pet name of the real daughter who should have received the name Cecilia and been showered with her family’s love.

Something that had never once been permitted to her, the fake daughter…

‘I think I’m going to be sick.’

Cecilia gripped her fork tightly.

“I wonder where that child is and what she’s doing right now.”

“My dear, please don’t worry yourself too much.”

The Duke comforted his wife with a sympathetic voice.

“If you’re this sad, our Chesha won’t feel good either.”

“Mother, please don’t be too sad. Someday we’ll definitely find my sister.”

Elias also comforted his mother with an affectionate voice.

That was right.

The Rusert Ducal Family had never once given up on their real daughter.

Nevertheless, the reason Cecilia had been brought in as an adopted daughter was.

‘Because Mother needed a substitute for her daughter.’

When the real daughter went missing, the Duchess lost her mind from the shock.

Every night she would pace around the house with sleepless eyes.

Or she would cry all day until she collapsed from exhaustion.

So the substitute brought in as a temporary measure was none other than the current Cecilia.

Since adopting Cecilia, the Duchess had quickly stabilized.

And when the Duchess finally came to her senses completely and first faced Cecilia.

“…You are not my daughter.”

That trembling voice still rang clearly in her ears.

However, even after the Duchess recovered, the Rusert Ducal Family did not disown Cecilia.

It was because of their guilt over adopting Cecilia out of necessity.

‘Still… I could never become mother’s daughter in the end.’

Even now, the ducal family was sending people everywhere to find their ‘real daughter.’

Whenever she recalled this fact, Cecilia felt as anxious as if standing on thin ice.

‘When the real Cecilia returns, my place will disappear forever.’

But then.

The Duchess’s sighing murmur reached her ears.

“Our Cesha should have been here…”

In that moment, Cecilia had to taste the feeling of something snapping in her head.

Mother, I’m sitting right in front of you now.

Am I really not needed at all?

Because I’m a fake daughter?

If this was how it would be, it would have been better if you hadn’t brought me in at all…!

Clatter!

The dining table shook violently.

It was because Cecilia, unable to endure it any longer, had kicked back her chair and stood up.

The Duke’s eyes widened as he raised his voice.

“Cecilia, what on earth do you think you’re doing?!”

“…”

But Cecilia had no strength left to answer that shout.

She clenched her teeth tightly and remained silent for a long time, then suddenly jerked her head up.

Tears had already filled her blue-green eyes.

“I am…”

A trembling voice flowed out.

Living together, she had never once felt comfortable with her family.

As if serving someone far above her station.

She lived in constant tension, wondering when she would be scolded.

It was the same now.

Even though she felt so heartbroken, exhausted, and lonely.

She couldn’t even bring herself to say a single word.

For fear of being hated.

For fear of becoming even more lonely.

‘How truly foolish.’

Cecilia sent bitter mockery toward herself.

After all, hadn’t she never once been loved all this time?

Yet she found herself pathetic for still being unable to give up on her family’s affection.

However.

‘Now… I really can’t stand it anymore.’

After breathing heavily for a while, Cecilia turned her body around sharply.

“Cecilia, where are you going!”

“Stop right now!”

She heard her angry family’s shouts from behind, but she didn’t stop.

…She wanted to disappear from this world forever.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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