I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 26

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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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“Come sit down quickly.”

The Duchess offered me a seat.

I carefully settled onto the sofa and offered apologies to the others as well.

“I’m sorry, did I keep you waiting long?”

“Not at all. Did you have good dreams, Milena?”

The young Duke received my greeting quite warmly,

“Nice to meet you, Miss Milena. I’m Patricia from Bohemia Atelier.”

The atelier’s madam gave me a light bow.

“Did you sleep peacefully last night?”

Even that detestable Mrs. Howard chimed in with a comment.

Meanwhile, Cecilia, whom I was most concerned about.

“…Good morning.”

She offered a greeting in a demure voice, then avoided my gaze by pretending to sip her tea.

It seems like she has absolutely no intention of talking to me…

‘Sob, of course I understand that she dislikes me.’

But does she really have to be this cold?

We had a good time yesterday, didn’t we?!

Just as I was shedding tears of blood internally.

“We came up to the capital so suddenly that I’ve been constantly worried about not being able to properly prepare your wardrobe.”

The Duchess spoke in a gentle voice.

“For now, let’s have just a few dresses made for immediate wear, and we’ll place orders with the atelier for anything else you need.”

“I’ll make and deliver them as quickly as possible.”

Madam Patricia quickly bowed her head.

The Duchess smiled brightly and beckoned me with her hand.

“Come, come over here.”

And so ‘Milena’s solo fashion show’ suddenly began…

The Duchess and the madam had me stand in front of them, then put their heads together and began serious discussions while comparing all sorts of fabrics.

“How about this green fabric?”

“Oh my, it matches the young lady’s eye color perfectly.”

“Really? Do you think so too, Madam?”

“Of course. What about this floral pattern? It would give a bright feeling.”

The way the two of them alternately glanced at me with such sharp eyes reminded me of hawks eyeing their prey.

That wasn’t all.

“Madam, how about this purple?”

Mrs. Howard also chimed in to the Duchess as if to show off.

As if flaunting ‘Look how much the Duchess trusts me.’

“Yes, that fabric is quite pretty too.”

The unsuspecting Duchess just smiled brightly.

A moment later.

Having selected a mountain of dresses, the Duchess turned to me with eyes sparkling like stars.

“Now, Milena. Shall we start by trying on this dress?”

“…”

Her violet eyes gazing at me sparkled so much that I felt a strange sense of pressure…

The Duchess raised her voice.

“Is anyone there? Please move these dresses to the fitting room.”

“Yes, Madam.”

As the maids rushed over to carefully gather the dresses.

Mrs. Howard quickly approached me.

“Miss, let’s go together. I’ll help you change clothes.”

She wore a subtle smile on her face.

‘See? How close I am with the Duchess. Can you even refuse my offer?’

I could sense that underlying meaning.

Ugh, how unpleasant.

Clicking my tongue internally, I deliberately put on an awkward expression and drew the line.

“No, it’s fine.”

“…Pardon?”

Not expecting me to refuse here, Mrs. Howard froze slightly with her smiling face intact.

“I’ve been doing things by myself all this time, so receiving help from others still feels a bit awkward.”

I drove the point home politely but firmly.

“I’ll ask for help later when I’m a bit more adjusted.”

“…Yes, I understand, Miss.”

Mrs. Howard maintained her smile, but she couldn’t help being angry.

Seeing the tension in her jaw, she was probably clenching her teeth tightly.

Well, of course.

She had just flaunted her friendship with the Duchess.

But she didn’t expect me to refuse right to her face.

As I was savoring that subtle change in expression with satisfaction.

‘Hm?’

My eyes suddenly widened.

The young Duke, who had been quiet all along, was staring intently at Mrs. Howard.

It was a look where I couldn’t tell what he was thinking at all.

However.

‘He doesn’t look pleased.’

At the same time, the young Duke turned to look this way as if sensing my gaze.

As soon as our eyes met, he stiffened his shoulders with a start.

‘What’s with him, why is he acting like that?’

The young Duke quickly looked around the table, then casually picked up a piece of fabric that caught his eye.

Then he spoke to me as if nothing had happened.

“Um, Milena. How about making clothes with this yellow fabric too?”

“Oh my, Elias.”

The Duchess smiled brightly and asked playfully.

“You want to do something for your sister too, don’t you?”

I don’t think that’s it.

It looks like he just grabbed any fabric to avoid my gaze?!

That’s totally suspicious!

As I narrowed my eyes with suspicion, I quietly pondered the word the Duchess had just spoken.

‘…Sister.’

My gaze slowly turned toward Cecilia.

It was because the words the young Duke had snapped at Cecilia in the original story suddenly came to mind.

“Ha, still don’t get it? How could someone like you ever become my real sister!”

Cecilia’s face was seemingly calm.

Her expression was blank, and her posture was perfectly composed.

But I could see it.

…The way her delicate hand gripping the teacup was tensing with force.

* * *

And so the fashion show came to an end.

Since it was also lunchtime, we decided to have a light tea time together as a break.

Milena dropped her fourth sugar cube into her milk tea with trembling hands.

‘Ugh, I need sugar.’

She felt like she had changed clothes at least ten times.

Oh, why “at least”?

Because halfway through, I was so out of it that I couldn’t even count properly.

It was just putting on and taking off clothes, but I had no idea it would be this exhausting…

Moreover, as soon as the fashion show ended, the Duchess

“Leave all the dresses you’ve tried on so far.”

declared magnanimously.

Naturally, Madam Patricia’s face lit up like a lantern at the enormous sales she’d just made.

And so, just as Milena was replenishing her energy with caffeine and sugar,

“Excuse me, my lady.”

A maid approached the Duchess with hurried steps.

She then bowed and whispered quietly into the Duchess’s ear.

At the same time, the Duchess’s expression brightened considerably.

“Good news has arrived, Milena.”

Huh?

Milena looked at the Duchess with puzzled eyes.

The Duchess smiled brightly.

“A reply came from the Magic Tower. Someone will come soon to conduct the paternity test.”

Clang!

Just then, the sharp sound of glass and silverware clashing rang out.

Cecilia had dropped her teaspoon.

Instantly, everyone’s gaze turned to Cecilia.

Meeting their flustered looks, Cecilia hurriedly bowed her head.

“I’m sorry. My hand slipped.”

“Oh my, Cecilia.”

The Duchess chided Cecilia in a rather affectionate voice.

“I told you that as the Princess of Lusert, you must always maintain proper composure.”

“…”

For a moment, Cecilia’s eyes darkened deeply.

Princess of Lusert.

How much longer would that title be permitted to me?

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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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