I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 101

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

After a long time, Rudrick visited the Rusert Ducal Family.

It was for my lesson.

But… somehow his face looked rather downcast?

“Is there something wrong, Teacher?”

“It’s nothing.”

Rudrick shook his head.

‘That doesn’t look like a “nothing” expression.’

I couldn’t hide my suspicious gaze.

“So, did you do your homework well?”

Rudrick changed the subject.

I let out a deep sigh inwardly and raised my hand.

Mana gently spread from my fingertips.

After letting the mana flow smoothly for a moment, I drew it back.

“How was that? I did well, didn’t I?”

I playfully shrugged my shoulders.

A faint smile appeared on Rudrick’s face for the first time.

“Yes. You did well. There’s nothing to criticize.”

But I could see it.

Rudrick’s expression somehow continued to look downcast.

Unable to bear it any longer, I carefully asked again.

“Do you have some worry?”

“…”

Rudrick pressed his lips tightly together.

It seemed very difficult for him to speak about it.

I carefully continued.

“You remember when you helped me before, don’t you?”

“Helped you?”

“Yes, about the ointment that leaked from the Magic Tower.”

Thanks to Rudrick’s advice at that time, I was able to safely discover that Cecilia was being abused by the Countess of Seres.

I lightly shrugged my shoulders.

“This time might be similar too. If you confide in me, maybe some solution might come up?”

“…”

Rudrick looked at me with a complicated expression.

After a moment.

He reluctantly opened his lips.

“The thing is, actually…”

* * *

That evening.

Unable to contain my rising anger, I was tearing apart the steak on my plate with my fork and knife.

‘Really, how can a person be so petty?’

To summarize what Rudrick had confided earlier, it was like this.

After our conversation in the South last time.

Rudrick continued his research and developed ‘barrier magic’, deciding to submit it to the Round Table Conference.

But the Mage Tower Master was being unreasonable.

‘What? Submit it under the name of the entire Magic Tower?’

I fumed again.

No, that’s all Rudrick’s research!

Why is he suddenly trying to stick his spoon in?!

“I’m truly sorry. I really wanted to include the Princess’s name in this research too…”

Recalling Rudrick’s dejected voice made me even angrier.

How difficult must it have been for Rudrick?

Prince, the Empire’s only mage, countless titles surround him.

But if you strip all that away, Rudrick is just a young man my age.

But then.

“…Na.”

“…”

“Milena!”

Suddenly I snapped back to attention.

Before I knew it, the Duke was looking at me with a worried expression.

“What are you thinking about so deeply? You’re not even eating.”

“Ah.”

I blinked my eyes blankly and smiled awkwardly.

“I’m sorry, I was just.”

“You look like something’s bothering you.”

The Duke spoke to me again.

“Well…”

I trailed off for only a moment.

Suddenly struck by a thought, my eyes sparkled.

‘Wait.’

Some nobles also serve as evaluators at the Round Table Conference, right?

That means… if I do this well, I might be able to get Father’s help?!

‘Good.’

I clenched my fist tightly.

Princess of Lusert.

Finally, the time has come to make good use of this position.

* * *

Finally, the day of the Round Table Conference arrived.

The Mage Tower Master, who had attended the Round Table Conference in high spirits, slightly furrowed his brow.

‘That Rudrick bastard, how long is he going to be stubborn?’

Rudrick had refused to the very end to submit his paper under the Magic Tower’s name.

But the Mage Tower Master wasn’t particularly worried.

‘How could that brat attend the Round Table Conference without my help anyway?’

If he kept being stubborn like this, only Rudrick would lose out.

If he didn’t submit to the Round Table Conference, his research would be buried forever.

Just as the Mage Tower Master was leisurely leaning back in his plush chair.

‘What?’

Suddenly the Mage Tower Master doubted his own eyes.

Because a woman had stepped onto the platform.

That lady with long flowing golden hair and intelligent green eyes was…

“Princess Milena?”

“That’s the second Princess of Lusert, right?”

People stirred loudly.

The Mage Tower Master stared at Milena with a suspicious expression.

‘Why on earth is Princess Lusert…’

Seeing her standing on the platform, it meant she was submitting something to this Round Table Conference.

‘I have a bad feeling about this.’

The Mage Tower Master slowly furrowed his brow.

Meanwhile, Milena standing upright couldn’t hide her nervous expression.

But.

‘It’s okay.’

Count of Lusert, who was sitting among the evaluators in the distance, gave Milena a small nod.

Meeting that warm expression, Milena’s rigidly tense body softly relaxed.

‘That’s right, I have people who believe in me by my side.’

Father, who had objectively reviewed this research as an evaluator and said it was ‘worth presenting.’

And Rudrick, who willingly included Milena’s name as a co-researcher.

‘Then… I don’t want to disappoint either of them.’

Milena swallowed her dry saliva and straightened her chin.

Then she opened her mouth with a clear voice.

“At this Round Table Conference, I am Milena von Lusert, co-presenter of the ‘Mana Barrier’ thesis.”

What?!

The Mage Tower master instantly looked as if he had been struck in the head.

“I contributed to providing the ideas for this thesis, and as a co-presenter, I am presenting at the Round Table Conference. Also, the co-author and main presenter of this thesis is…”

Milena, who had paused briefly, concluded clearly.

“Rudrick Argent del Hessenberg.”

“The Second Prince?!”

“But his affiliation is…!”

People stirred loudly once again.

The shocked Mage Tower master raised his voice.

“Rudrick is a member of the Magic Tower! He cannot present at the Round Table Conference without my permission!”

“I understand. However, this research doesn’t belong to the Second Prince alone. It’s closer to joint research between the Prince and myself.”

Milena answered calmly and looked directly into the Mage Tower master’s eyes.

“Then I also have the right to present, and I can freely present without the Magic Tower’s permission if I reach an agreement with His Highness. Isn’t that correct?”

“…”

The Mage Tower master ground his teeth.

That was right.

According to the principles, there was nothing wrong with Milena’s words.

The requirement for Magic Tower members to receive the tower master’s permission was merely the Magic Tower’s internal rule.

For a project involving an outsider like Milena, either party could have presentation rights.

This was because it could become a way for the Magic Tower to infringe on external rights.

Milena confidently added.

“Also, Rudrick will handle the demonstration of this barrier magic.”

With that declaration, Rudrick and another soldier stepped onto the platform.

The soldier had a large bow strapped to his back.

People’s eyes widened.

“A bow? Why suddenly bring a weapon?”

Milena spoke in a gentle tone as if to reassure them.

“This soldier belongs to our Rusert Ducal Family. He will help with the barrier demonstration.”

“Of course, if he’s a ducal family soldier, he must be skilled, but…”

“What if there’s an accident?”

However, people still couldn’t hide their suspicious expressions.

Shortly after.

Rudrick and the soldier stood on the stage with distance between them.

The soldier took out an arrow and nocked it to the bow.

Creak-.

The bowstring curved greatly over the soldier’s sturdy arms.

The sharp arrowhead pointed toward Rudrick.

Horrified people hurriedly stood up.

“Hey!”

“What are you doing right now!”

“What if the Second Prince gets seriously injured…!”

But the soldier paid no attention to the people’s commotion.

Twang!

He released the bowstring.

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