I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 28

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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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Cecilia jumped in surprise and reflexively opened her mouth in a flustered manner.

“Huh? Well, that is…”

“A brooch? Wow, it’s really pretty, isn’t it?”

Milena sprang up from her seat and hurried over to where the brooch was placed with quick steps.

Then she picked up the brooch.

“It suits you so well, Sister!”

She held the brooch up to Cecilia and smiled brightly.

“No. The reason I was looking at that brooch was…”

Cecilia, who was about to say something, unconsciously trailed off.

What if it sounded like an excuse?

…Until now, my family had never once listened to my words at face value.

‘Still, I should say it.’

Cecilia tried to act nonchalant and held her head up straight.

“I thought it would suit you, Milena.”

“Me?”

Milena’s eyes widened.

Cecilia nodded with difficulty.

“Well, you don’t have many outfits yet. So I thought whenever you dress up, you could decorate yourself with a different feeling…”

Cecilia, who was explaining carefully, suddenly felt breathless.

Mrs. Howard looking at her with a frown.

Oppa Elias with an unreadable gaze.

And even Mother, who was looking back and forth between her and Milena with a complicated expression.

‘Forget it, this time will be the same.’

Just as Cecilia was falling into that familiar despair.

“You were looking at this brooch for me? I’m so happy!”

A cheerful voice instantly shattered that damp and sticky despair.

Cecilia reflexively looked up.

Milena was facing her with a face full of emotion.

“…Milena?”

“You even thought about how I could use that brooch. Sister, you’re so thoughtful.”

Milena blushed on both cheeks and smiled with her eyes.

How should I put it, that child smiling shyly really looked happy.

She genuinely seemed to enjoy being with her.

‘She believes what I’m saying?’

Cecilia’s eyes shook violently.

That was natural, since no one had ever properly listened to her words until now.

It was natural to be pointed at and told ‘you did wrong.’

But Milena is different.

She doesn’t blindly say that she did wrong.

She accepts Cecilia’s words and actions as they are.

…That fact made her incredibly happy.

“But what should I do about this? It’s something Sister chose for me, but it suits you so well too…”

Milena, who had been pondering for a moment, suddenly raised her head as if she had a good idea.

“Oh, by any chance. Could we make one more item exactly like this brooch?”

“That wouldn’t be difficult, but why?”

“I want to share matching brooches with Sister.”

With me?

Cecilia’s eyes widened like a surprised rabbit.

At the same time, Milena carefully watched Cecilia’s reaction.

“If we have the same item together, I think we could become closer.”

“…”

Also, Cecilia felt she could tell what emotion was contained in Milena’s clear eyes.

No, in fact, she couldn’t not know.

Anticipation and hope.

The desire to be liked by someone.

All of that was emotion Cecilia had felt her entire life.

‘This is really strange.’

That child is the ‘real daughter’ who might someday take my place.

No matter how much I struggle, I can’t even dare to approach her level.

Why do I… think that child and I are similar?

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Meanwhile, seeing the sisters’ friendly appearance, the Duchess readily nodded.

Madam Patricia also had a pleased expression.

However, in this place where everyone was happy, the only person whose face wasn’t bright was…

‘The governess.’

Elias watched Mrs. Howard carefully with a deeply sunken gaze.

‘It happened today too.’

She had definitely scolded Cecilia earlier, telling her ‘not to covet the brooch.’

If it had been before, he wouldn’t have felt any discomfort with that behavior.

Rather, he would have thought she prevented a mistake Cecilia might have made.

But now he had doubts.

If it was truly for Cecilia’s sake, there was no need to rebuke her in front of everyone like that.

Fortunately, Milena intervened appropriately, so Cecilia could get through it safely without embarrassment…

‘And Milena’s attitude toward the governess was also a bit strange.’

When the governess first offered to help with dressing, Milena deliberately declined that proposal.

Of course, she said politely, ‘I’m still awkward with being attended to, so I’ll ask when I’m more accustomed,’ but.

‘…What if Milena is uncomfortable with the governess?’

No, it must be my imagination.

At least she would treat Milena kindly.

“I wonder what the real ‘Chesha’ miss is doing right now…”

“She will definitely return someday. Please cheer up.”

The worry the governess had been expressing like a habit.

The many words of concern and regret for the ‘real daughter.’

‘Right, I’m being oversensitive.’

Elias comforted himself that way, but instinctively he was realizing.

…The fact that his dear governess might not be someone who was only loyal to the Duke’s household.

* * *

Thus ‘Milena’s solo fashion show’ came to an end.

The Duchess was arranging the flowers in the vase with a rarely pleased expression.

It was natural, really.

Hadn’t the biological daughter she had searched for so long finally returned?

She had been worried that she might clash with Cecilia, but making that worry meaningless, the two girls were getting along well.

A perfect family without any wounds.

The dream she had wished for so long had finally come true.

‘Hmm?’

Just then.

The Duchess looked back at Mrs. Howard with a puzzled expression.

Usually she would have made light conversation, but she had been quiet the whole time.

Moreover, her expression seemed somewhat dark.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing’s wrong at all.”

“Don’t be like that, speak comfortably. I might be able to help you, you know?”

The Duchess gently comforted Mrs. Howard.

“You’re like family to us. You know how much I trust you, don’t you?”

“….”

At those words, Mrs. Howard’s lips trembled.

After hesitating for a long while, Mrs. Howard carefully began to speak.

“It seems like… Lady Milena dislikes me.”

“Milena does?”

“Yes, even this time when I offered to help her dress, didn’t she refuse me?”

Oh my.

The Duchess smiled bitterly and comforted Mrs. Howard.

“You should understand that. She probably hasn’t fully adjusted to this place yet.”

“Of course that must be it, this is all because I failed to earn the young lady’s trust…”

Her trailing words lasted only briefly.

Large tears suddenly fell from Mrs. Howard’s eyes.

“My, my dear. Are you crying?”

The startled Duchess quickly approached Mrs. Howard’s side.

The woman dabbed away her tears and looked at the Duchess with wet eyes.

“I once met Lady Milena at the Tranciere Manor.”

“Milena?”

“Yes. At that time, Lady Cecilia’s conduct was somewhat improper. I was afraid that if she acted that way in public, people might gossip about her, so I presumptuously offered some advice.”

Though it was merely going out for a walk, Cecilia had become someone who had ‘behaved improperly as a princess.’

Mrs. Howard shed tears once again.

“There… Lady Milena seemed to, *sob*, misunderstand the situation…”

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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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