I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 30

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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 crossed the long corridor, lost deep in thought.

‘First of all, it seems Mathilde is being bullied just like in the original story.’

Mathilde.

An extra who was briefly mentioned in the original work.

To be precise, she appeared in Cecilia’s recollections as ‘one of the few maids who treated me kindly, but one day she disappeared from sight.’

The reason was obvious, of course.

‘Because of Mrs. Howard.’

Mrs. Howard had thought of Mathilde as disposable from the beginning, and deliberately hired her for that purpose.

She took advantage of the fact that Mathilde was an orphan with nowhere to go.

Unaware of anything, Mathilde approached Cecilia warmly, and Mrs. Howard used this as an excuse to torment Mathilde.

Then she used the broken-spirited Mathilde to carry out various schemes behind the scenes.

In the end, Mathilde was used left and right before being quietly dismissed.

‘If Mrs. Howard moves directly to harm me, it would be through Mathilde.’

Given Mrs. Howard’s nature, she wouldn’t personally take on the risk of touching the ‘potential real daughter’ of the ducal family.

That’s why I had planned to win Mathilde over to my side from the beginning.

However, since it wasn’t confirmed that I was the ‘real daughter’ yet, I thought I shouldn’t act too conspicuously and had been keeping quiet.

‘I didn’t expect her to move so insidiously behind the scenes!’

Ugh.

I let out a deep sigh as I fumed.

I wanted to help Mathilde right away, but that would only make the bullying more cunning.

And I’m still just a ‘potential real daughter.’

It means I can’t exercise as much influence in the ducal household as I’d like.

‘Let me wait for the right opportunity a little longer.’

Whether it’s Mathilde or Cecilia.

To improve their situations more definitively than now…

‘Completely cutting out Mrs. Howard would be the most certain method.’

Just as I was lighting up my eyes with determination.

‘Huh?’

My eyes suddenly widened.

Someone was standing in front of my bedroom.

That person was none other than.

“D-Duchess?”

Startled, I hurriedly approached her.

At the same time, the Duchess’s expression darkened like a cloudy sky.

It seems she was a bit hurt by the way I addressed her.

‘But it would be strange to call her Mother here too.’

The paternity test hasn’t been conducted yet.

I pretended not to notice the Duchess’s dark expression and spoke up.

“What brings you here?”

“I was just curious about how you’re getting along.”

The Duchess smiled awkwardly.

“I came because I wanted to have a private conversation, just the two of us.”

“…”

What’s this about?

A chill ran down my spine.

Until now, the Duchess had greatly enjoyed spending time together as a family.

For someone like that to specifically ask for a private conversation…

“May I come inside?”

“Of course. Please come in quickly.”

I sat facing the Duchess.

However, the Duchess only moved her lips for a long while, showing no sign of actually speaking.

‘What on earth is she trying to say?’

I had a bad feeling about this somehow.

As I was subtly watching the Duchess’s mood.

The Duchess finally seemed to make up her mind and asked me with a determined tone.

“By any chance, has Mrs. Howard done something wrong to you?”

“Pardon?”

“Well, it seems to me like you’re somewhat uncomfortable around her.”

The Duchess hesitated for a moment before continuing with a sigh.

“I heard that you served Cecilia at the Tranciere Manor.”

“…”

My heart turned cold as if I had swallowed a large chunk of ice whole.

The Duchess looked straight at me.

“I heard you spilled dirty water on Mrs. Howard. Is that true?”

Damn it.

I bit my lips tightly.

* * *

At that moment.

Elias couldn’t hide his troubled expression.

‘The governess. Is it really okay to leave her as she is?’

Of course, he might be worrying unnecessarily.

But.

‘The governess has been really bothering me lately.’

Her insolent attitude toward Cecilia.

And the way Milena strangely avoided the governess.

Everything bothered him.

‘Just in case, I should at least hear Milena’s side of the story.’

Eventually, Elias shot up from his seat.

Just as he was about to knock on Milena’s door.

‘Huh?’

Elias reflexively pulled back his hand.

There was already a visitor.

It was Mother.

‘Mother came to see Milena? Why?’

What could they be talking about?

He knew this wasn’t right.

But…

Swallowing hard, Elias eventually leaned his ear toward the door.

* * *

I did my best to explain.

“I never spilled dirty water.”

Of course, I actually did spill it.

But the culprit was never revealed in the end, wasn’t it?

‘This is quite natural, pinning it on me, isn’t it?’

What if I really wasn’t the culprit? What would they do then?

“…I see.”

The Duchess nodded obediently.

But she still seemed unconvinced by my words.

It was clear she was just letting it slide because I was the real daughter she had barely found, and she felt sorry for not treating me well until now.

‘Wrong. The Duchess has already been persuaded by Mrs. Howard.’

I stared at the Duchess with a feeling of despair.

Honestly, it’s not that I don’t understand.

The frail Duchess had always relied quite heavily on Mrs. Howard.

Moreover, from what I heard, Mrs. Howard seemed to have spoken very cleverly.

So much so that even if I were the Duchess, I would have been fooled.

“Mrs. Howard is a very good person. She was very worried about you this time too.”

The Duchess held my hand tightly and spoke affectionately.

“For my sake, if there’s any misunderstanding, please resolve it. Okay?”

“…”

I was about to say something but chose silence instead.

Even if I spoke of my grievances here, I’d only be misunderstood as falsely accusing Mrs. Howard.

‘This must have been the frustration Cecilia always felt, right?’

I clenched my fists tightly on my knees.

How difficult it must have been?

Even now I feel suffocated to death.

“Anyway, if you have any difficulties in the future, please tell me about them.”

“Yes, Duchess.”

I forced a smile.

The Duchess, looking much more relieved, left the room.

Click.

The door closed.

Left alone, I let the strength leave the corners of my mouth that I had forced upward.

“Haah…”

I let out a long sigh and roughly swept up my bangs.

‘I really got hit hard this time.’

I thought she’d stay quiet since she had her own guilty conscience, but I was wrong.

Mrs. Howard was more shameless than I thought…

But then.

“Um, Milena?”

Suddenly someone called me cautiously.

Huh, this voice is?

When I turned around, someone I never expected was facing me.

“Young Duke?”

No, why is he here again?

Why is today so damn exhausting?

This is tough, so tough.

“…Well.”

Meanwhile, the young Duke called out to me but hesitated for a long while.

As if he was pondering how to bring up what he wanted to say.

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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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