I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 18

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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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“Princess, Young Duke! May we come in for a moment?!”

Someone called out to the two of them in an urgent voice.

Elias, who couldn’t hide his suspicious expression, glanced toward the door.

“Come in.”

With that permission, a servant hurriedly entered.

Elias frowned.

“What’s the matter?”

“Well, the Duke and Duchess have urgently gone out. They asked me to relay a message to you both.”

“Our parents?”

Elias’s eyes widened slightly.

The servant nodded and continued respectfully.

“They told me to tell you ‘We’re going to Milena’s house.'”

Elias’s body stiffened for a moment.

Milena.

The girl who was most likely his real sister at this point.

But why her house?

“I should leave as well.”

Elias tried to head straight outside.

But then.

“…Oppa.”

At that frail call, Elias glanced back.

Cecilia was looking at him, not knowing what to do.

Worry about Milena.

Concern about her own situation.

Though he couldn’t read all those emotions completely, he could at least sense that Cecilia was very confused right now.

Elias remained silent for a moment.

And then.

“Get some rest.”

With those words, Elias left the room.

But because he was in such a hurry, he didn’t see it.

Mrs. Howard glaring at Cecilia with a face twisted like a demon.

* * *

I looked down anxiously at Mother sleeping soundly.

Her complexion was better than when I first found her, but her face was still pale.

At least the steady sound of her breathing provided some comfort.

“She’s gotten past the crisis for now.”

The doctor who had just finished examining her met my gaze.

I looked at the doctor with relief.

“Is, is that really true?”

“Yes. However…”

The doctor trailed off with a dark expression.

My heart sank.

“Why, what’s wrong?”

“The patient’s illness, it seems to be Kerno disease.”

“Kerno disease?”

I tilted my head at the unfamiliar disease name.

The doctor continued his explanation in a heavy voice.

“It’s a kind of incurable disease. Coughing and mild fever persist for a long time, then she loses consciousness like this. And then…”

The doctor trailed off.

But I read the words the doctor couldn’t bring himself to say in that silence.

‘It will lead to death.’

Everything went dark before my eyes.

I took a short deep breath, trying to calm myself.

Then I tried to ask as calmly as possible, but.

“Then… is treatment completely impossible?”

…I couldn’t stop my voice from trembling.

Fortunately, the doctor shook his head.

“That’s not the case. However, she needs to take a specific medicine for a long time to be completely cured, and that period is quite lengthy…”

“How long does she need to take it?”

“At least 3 years.”

3, 3 years?!

Shocked, I carefully asked again.

“Then the cost of that medicine is…”

“One dose is 10 derks. She needs to take it twice a day, every day.”

10 derks?!

I clenched my fists on my knees with all my strength.

10 derks means ten gold coins.

Also, the wages I receive for working a full week at House of Tranciere are three silver coins.

And ten silver coins make one gold coin.

That means.

‘…It’s impossible for me to earn that money.’

No matter how hard I work myself to the bone, I can’t afford those medical expenses.

The doctor carefully added.

“And weather has a great impact on the patient’s health. At least until she’s cured, it would be good for her to stay somewhere warm year-round.”

“Somewhere warm…”

“Well, going to the Southern Empire for recuperation would be good.”

I bit my lip until it bled.

The way to cure Mother’s illness is right before my eyes.

But I have to give up because of money?

Just as overwhelming despair washed over me like a tsunami, making my whole body tremble, that’s when it happened.

“Then how about the Rusert Ducal Family pays for those medical expenses?”

What?

I quickly raised my head.

When did he enter this bedroom?

A middle-aged gentleman with sharp features was quietly looking at me.

And I know who this gentleman is.

“D, Duke of Lusert.”

A trembling voice flowed from between my lips.

Step, step.

The Duke took a step toward where I was.

The dark green eyes looking directly at me were terribly similar to mine.

“For 3 years, no, until your mother recovers completely, I’ll provide all medical expenses and living costs.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. But there’s a condition.”

I looked at the Duke defiantly.

“A condition? What kind?”

Then Duke of Lusert glanced at the doctor sitting nearby.

“Could you excuse us for a moment?”

“Yes, understood.”

The doctor quickly got up and left the room.

The Duke waited for the doctor to completely disappear before calmly opening his mouth.

“You may not know this, but there exists magic at the Mage Tower that can determine paternity.”

“Paternity… determination?”

“That’s right. I believe you are of the bloodline of our House of Lusert.”

The Duke continued in a calm voice.

‘Ah, damn it.’

I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again.

It seemed the Duke was convinced that I was his real daughter.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t speak so openly about it.

I decided to play dumb for now.

“That’s ridiculous. I’ve lived my entire life only in the Trancy Baron’s Domain. I’ve never even been to Lusert in my life…”

“If you’re truly certain it’s not true, then we can confirm it definitively through paternity determination magic, can’t we?”

“…”

I found myself at a loss for words.

The Duke continued matter-of-factly.

“That’s my condition. To definitively confirm whether you are of Lusert bloodline through paternity determination magic.”

“…”

“If you are not of Lusert lineage, I’ll let you go as is. However, if it’s confirmed that blood ties exist, you must rightfully receive Lusert’s protection.”

I desperately racked my brain.

Realistically, I couldn’t refuse that proposal.

‘After all, my mother’s life is at stake.’

However, considering the bad blood between me and Cecilia in the original story, I couldn’t just meekly enter the ducal family.

I needed some kind of contingency plan.

“Then I have a condition too.”

“A condition? What is it?”

The Duke looked at me with a stern expression.

I swallowed my dry saliva and straightened my back.

“I want to put everything we’ve discussed so far into a contract.”

“…A contract?”

For a moment, deep interest flickered in the Duke’s eyes.

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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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