I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 100

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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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The weather had now become quite chilly.

Snow hadn’t fallen yet, but frost would form white on the windows every morning.

Occasionally, the crackling sound of flames echoed from the fireplace.

I sat on the sofa, reading a letter that had come from Rudrick.

To dear Princess Milena.

Hello, this is Rudrick.

I hope Your Highness is staying healthy and well?

Even the South, which had been warm all along, is starting to feel the cool breeze.

The beginning of the letter was polite, befitting a prince.

However, what followed was written in his characteristic elegant, slanted handwriting with playful words.

I plan to return to the capital soon.

I wonder if you’re doing well with the homework I gave you.

Really, do you have to talk about homework even at a time like this?

I pouted my lips slightly and continued reading the next part.

Actually, there’s been some progress in this research.

It’s about the ‘barrier’ you mentioned before.

As you know, I got that idea from you, Princess.

So I’m planning to submit this research to the Round Table Conference, and I want to include your name as a co-author.

Would that be alright with you?

…Really?

At this completely unexpected proposal, I blinked my eyes blankly.

He really wants to put my name on it?

The Round Table Conference.

In terms of my previous life, it was like a kind of patent office.

Submitting to the Round Table Conference itself was a tremendous honor.

Major experts from each field, along with high-ranking nobles of the Empire, served as evaluators.

‘Is it really okay for my name to be listed there?’

I had only said a few words.

Somehow it felt embarrassing.

But it wasn’t a bad feeling.

Rather, I was very happy.

How should I put it, it felt like Rudrick acknowledged me.

“Hehe.”

Just as I was smiling softly.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

Elias, who happened to be entering the room, asked me with a puzzled expression.

He saw the letter in my hand and slightly furrowed his brow.

“That letter, did His Highness the Second Prince send it?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

At my answer, Elias narrowed his eyes.

“…You, since when did you become close enough with His Highness the Second Prince to exchange letters?”

“Since a very long time ago?”

I shrugged my shoulders and added nonchalantly.

“He’s my teacher, after all.”

“…”

At that answer, Elias’s expression became extremely complicated.

And.

“Milena.”

“Yes?”

“I’m already against you dating anyone.”

For a moment, I felt a pang of guilt.

To hide my flustered expression, I raised my voice even more.

“D-dating? Really, Oppa, what a joke.”

“What, why are you so flustered?”

“I’m not flustered at all.”

“You just stuttered.”

“Th-that’s because Oppa is saying such ridiculous things!”

“See, you’re stuttering again right now.”

I glared at Elias with a thoroughly sulky expression.

Elias sighed deeply and reached out to ruffle my hair roughly.

“Anyway, you’re too young for things like dating. Got it?”

“Ah, really! Go away!”

* * *

At that moment.

Rudrick visited the Magic Tower after a long time.

“You gave no word whether you were dead or alive, so what brings you here?”

The Mage Tower master spoke sarcastically for all to hear.

Rudrick opened his mouth with an expressionless face.

“I want to submit a paper to the Round Table Conference.”

“A paper?”

Instead of answering, Rudrick handed over a brief report.

Surprise spread across the Mage Tower master’s face as he casually examined it.

‘This is…!’

It was truly a groundbreaking concept.

The very idea of spreading mana thinly to block something physical was unique.

However, to do that, they needed to confirm whether it could practically guarantee safety.

Rudrick solved this problem by arranging mana delicately.

He wove the mana densely yet solidly, and the mana arrangement pattern related to this was very unusual.

It was hard to even guess how he had created this mana arrangement formula.

“Please approve it.”

Rudrick said this and looked at the Mage Tower master with calm eyes.

His gaze naturally believed without doubt that he could submit his paper to the Round Table Conference.

The Mage Tower master’s eyes darkened ominously.

‘No, this won’t do.’

Objectively, it was an excellent research.

That’s precisely why it couldn’t be allowed.

If this paper were submitted to the Round Table Conference independently, Rudrick’s reputation would soar in an instant.

Rudrick was already making a name for himself as ‘the only mage in this world’…

‘I can’t give Rudrick wings.’

The Mage Tower master’s eyes gleamed sharply.

Fortunately, there was an excuse.

In principle, members of the Magic Tower couldn’t submit papers to the Round Table Conference without the Mage Tower master’s permission.

So Rudrick had probably come to get the Mage Tower master’s permission, even if just formally.

“That would be difficult.”

The Mage Tower master refused outright.

Rudrick’s face hardened.

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said. Research like this should at least be submitted jointly with me, the Mage Tower master.”

“What did you say?”

Rudrick couldn’t hide his dumbfounded expression.

However, the Mage Tower Master raised his chin and met Rudrick’s eyes.

“You keep acting so selfishly, that’s why you’re an outsider at the Mage Tower.”

“How am I being selfish? What do you mean by that?”

Rudrick clenched his molars tightly.

“I conducted this research from start to finish entirely by myself. I don’t understand why you’re saying such things.”

“Don’t be like that. Rather, I don’t understand why you’re raising your voice like this.”

The Mage Tower Master answered shamelessly.

“This is all according to the Mage Tower’s customs.”

“Even if it’s custom, isn’t this excessive? I’m the only one who actually conducted the research…!”

“After all the trouble I’ve gone through guiding you until now, is it so difficult to do this much for me? Aren’t you thinking only of yourself?”

The Mage Tower Master shrugged his shoulders and said only what he wanted to say.

“More importantly, about this mana calculation formula. Please tell me how you proceeded with it.”

Rudrick barely held back harsh words and glared at the Mage Tower Master.

“I refuse.”

“…”

The Mage Tower Master’s expression hardened slightly.

But that was only for a moment.

“Well, you may be acting high and mighty now… but let’s see how long you can keep that up.”

Anger flashed across Rudrick’s face.

The Mage Tower Master’s eyes curved like crescents.

“However, let me give you one piece of advice – it would be best for you to cooperate with me somehow.”

A vile voice burrowed into Rudrick’s ears.

“Think it over carefully.”

* * *

Rudrick strode forward with large steps.

His usual calm demeanor was nowhere to be found, his face completely twisted with rage.

“Damn it!”

Bang!

With anger rising to the top of his head, he violently struck the wall with his fist.

But his fury wouldn’t subside at all.

Rudrick’s eyes flashed fiercely.

‘Trying to steal my research like this?’

If it went to the Round Table Conference under the Mage Tower’s name like this, wouldn’t it surely be credited to the Mage Tower Master?

It wasn’t that he coveted the recognition itself.

He had resolved to earnestly achieve results in order to become someone worthy of Milena.

The current situation where those results would be completely stolen from him was frustrating.

And… he was bitter about his own helpless position.

Rudrick bit his lower lip until it bled.

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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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