I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 20

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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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I was currently standing inside an antique study.

The Duke, who had just gathered some documents, pointed to the sofa with a slight nod of his chin.

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

I swallowed nervously and carefully sat down on the sofa.

A spacious walnut desk.

Expensive curtains hanging heavily.

A chair with a high back and delicate craftsmanship.

Even the bookshelf packed tightly with books.

Everything in this room was so gleaming and luxurious that, honestly, I felt overwhelmed…

But.

‘I don’t have time to be nervous.’

The last image of my mother came to mind.

“Mooom.”

I was buried in my mother’s embrace, looking up at her with teary eyes.

“Mom, put your mind at ease and just focus on treatment. You have to get better, okay?”

“Of course, thanks to my daughter I’ll be comfortable for a while.”

Mother replied playfully on purpose, but I could still see it.

The way my mother’s eyes were tinged bright red.

“Make sure to contact me when you arrive at the villa.”

“Of course.”

“Make sure to write letters. I’ll come visit you soon.”

“This child? What do you mean visit? Just focus on adapting well at the Duke’s house.”

Mother chuckled and gently patted my back.

Then she bowed deeply to the Duke’s family.

“She’s such a pretty and smart child, I thought she might have been born into a good family.”

“Mom?”

“We’ve already received great kindness, but if I have one wish… please don’t let the child get hurt.”

She bowed so deeply that her forehead nearly touched the ground.

Mother concluded with a suppressed voice.

“Please take good care of our Milena from now on.”

The Duke, who had been looking down at my mother with complex eyes, quietly nodded.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Milena without her lacking anything.”

…That desperate figure still lingered before my eyes.

So.

‘I have to do my best until Mom gets completely better.’

The Duke sitting across from me pushed some documents toward me.

“Now, check this.”

It was a contract.

More precisely, it contained the duties I had to perform as Lusert’s biological daughter and the rights I could be guaranteed.

First, my mother’s complete recovery that I had requested. And my ‘freedom of residence’ were clearly stated.

‘Phew.’

I let out a sigh of relief internally and continued reading the next contents.

-Behave politely toward the Duke’s family.

-If confirmed to be biological child, family titles should be clearly used as Mother, Father, Oppa, Sister, etc.

-Make efforts to live harmoniously as a family.

These were conditions the Duke had added.

And the other conditions I had slipped in were.

-Unless unavoidable circumstances arise, everyone must attend all family events.

-The entire family will dine together once a week.

That was it.

From what I’d observed these past few days, Cecilia kept being left out among the family members.

So my thought was.

‘I have to somehow bind the family and Cecilia together.’

In the original story, Cecilia becomes even more distant from her family when the biological daughter Milena returns.

In that process, she comes to harbor resentment toward Milena.

Then what if Cecilia had an amicable relationship with the family?

Who knows? Maybe her spite toward me would fade a little.

‘Right, I have nothing to lose.’

Having finished my calculations, I looked at the Duke with a challenging gaze.

“Even if I’m not your biological daughter, you’ll guarantee my mother’s treatment, right?”

“Of course.”

The Duke’s eyes held firm conviction as he nodded readily.

Conviction that I was his biological daughter.

The Duke lightly tapped one part of the document with his index finger.

“Now, sign here.”

I looked down at the contract with complex feelings.

If I signed this, I’d be tied to the Duke’s house at least until the paternity test results came out.

And if the conclusion really was that I was his biological child…

‘But I have no choice.’

My mother’s life was at stake.

I picked up the pen and carefully wrote my name in the signature section.

Seeing this, the Duke opened his mouth with a satisfied expression.

“Someone from the Magic Tower will come soon.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

I bowed my head politely.

At the same time, a subtle emotion flashed through the Duke’s eyes.

The identity of that emotion was.

…poorly hidden disappointment.

“Right, it’s not certain you’re my biological child yet…”

The Duke muttered like a sigh and continued speaking.

“Still, I trust you’ll fulfill the contract properly.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The Duke, who had been watching me intently, gave a bitter smile.

“While nothing has been confirmed yet, this might not be appropriate to say, but.”

The Duke hesitated for a moment before quietly concluding.

“I want you to call me Father soon.”

“…”

For a moment, I pressed my lips tightly together.

Father.

That title felt very unfamiliar.

Hadn’t I lived my whole life with just my mother?

I had thought my only family was… just my mother.

Just then, as if to lighten the heavy atmosphere, the Duke suggested to me in a bright voice.

“It’s your first day at the Duke’s house after all. We were thinking of having dinner together, what do you think?”

“Understood.”

I nodded obediently.

* * *

Having left the study, I patted my chest.

‘Phew, I was so nervous I nearly lost it.’

Well, it wasn’t a bad contract after all.

Not only did I secure an unconditional guarantee for my mother’s treatment.

It was also encouraging that I arranged for Cecilia and her family to see each other more often.

‘Good.’

I clenched my fist tightly.

Until now, I had been thinking of somehow avoiding the Lusert Ducal Family, but hadn’t I already failed at that?

Then it was time to change my survival plan.

My newly established plan was exactly…

‘Reforming the ducal family!’

At first, I thought it might be a bit unrealistic, but surprisingly, there might be a possibility.

That’s because I have the status of being the ‘beloved real daughter,’ don’t I?

I saw it clearly in the original story.

The people of the ducal family felt infinite guilt toward their biological daughter Milena and showered her with all kinds of love.

Of course, because of that, Cecilia’s sense of deprivation became even worse… but still.

‘If I use this status as the real daughter well, I should be able to change the situation positively.’

If I improve the relationship between Cecilia and her family, and furthermore help them form close relationships with each other.

I might be able to overturn the villainess’s fate of being miserably avenged by Cecilia.

To do that, the first person I need to cut out is…

“Lady Milena.”

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted.

Just then, a middle-aged woman was walking gracefully from the end of the corridor.

The woman, smiling brightly, bowed her head politely to me.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

It was Mrs. Howard.

In an instant, my eyes grew coldly sharp.

‘Yes, that’s exactly the person.’

The culprit who sows discord from the middle to prevent Cecilia from getting along well with her family.

Also, through that discord, she gained the family’s trust.

The woman who, as soon as the real daughter Milena appeared, abandoned Cecilia like a worn-out shoe and switched sides to Milena.

Of course, since Mrs. Howard is currently trusted by the household in many ways, it’s impossible to fire her right now with just a word from me.

But…

‘This is disgusting.’

As I struggled to suppress the unpleasant feeling rising to my throat.

“I’ve come to escort you.”

Mrs. Howard spoke to me in a sweet tone.

Watching her attitude was infuriating.

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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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