I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 31

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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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‘What on earth is she trying to say?’

 

Just as my patience was slowly reaching its limit.

 

“I’m sorry, I actually overheard your conversation with Mother. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop…”

 

The young Duke cautiously spoke up.

 

I looked at the young Duke with eyes full of wariness.

 

‘What if the young Duke has also been won over by Mrs. Howard?’

 

I think it’s a reasonable suspicion.

 

Since she’s already manipulated the Duchess, there’s no guarantee she wouldn’t extend her claws to the young Duke as well.

 

Especially considering the trust Mrs. Howard receives in the Duke’s household.

 

“Mother mentioned that you seem a bit uncomfortable with the governess, and I was actually curious about that too.”

 

The young Duke took a breath and asked with a determined expression.

 

“The other day when you were getting fitted for dresses. The governess offered to help you change clothes, but why did you refuse?”

 

“Well, I was going to tell Mrs. Howard… what?”

 

I, who was about to reflexively protest, blinked my eyes in confusion.

 

I thought he was going to question me about spilling dirty water on Mrs. Howard, or being cold to her.

 

It wasn’t about those things?

 

At the same time, my mind raced quickly.

 

‘I had no particular reason, I just refused because I found Mrs. Howard annoying.’

 

…To say that honestly would be too blunt, even for me.

 

‘There must be a reason why the young Duke is asking me this.’

 

As I remained silent, pondering his intentions, the young Duke asked again with a somewhat urgent tone.

 

“Still… the governess treats you well, right?”

 

Wait.

 

I slightly furrowed my brow.

 

The young Duke just added the condition “treats you well.”

 

That means the governess is currently treating someone else poorly.

 

‘Could it be that the young Duke distrusts Mrs. Howard?’

 

If that’s really the case.

 

Asking me ‘why I drew a line with Mrs. Howard’ means…

 

Depending on how I answer here, I could add fuel to the fire of suspicion the young Duke harbors.

 

My goodness, there’s always hope even when the sky falls!

 

‘I can’t let this golden opportunity slip away.’

 

I was already thinking of somehow getting rid of Mrs. Howard anyway.

 

My mind spun frantically.

 

And then.

 

“…Yes, she treats me well.”

 

I deliberately smiled weakly and answered dejectedly.

 

Come on, take the bait quickly.

 

Be curious about why I’m making this expression!

 

“Are you sure she really treats you well?”

 

Fortunately, the young Duke fell very easily into the trap I had set.

 

The young Duke furrowed his brow and questioned me again.

 

“Then why do you look like that?”

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

“No, that’s not the expression of someone who has nothing to worry about.”

 

After going back and forth like this for a while.

 

I carefully opened my mouth, being careful not to seem like I was tattling.

 

“Actually… I’ve met Mrs. Howard before.”

 

“What? The governess?”

 

“Yes. Back then, I was working as Cecilia’s personal maid.”

 

I gripped my skirt tightly.

 

Deliberately putting on a frightened expression, I glanced around nervously as if afraid someone might be watching.

 

“She called me lowborn.”

 

I answered in a voice barely above a whisper.

 

The young Duke’s eyes widened.

 

“What?!”

 

“Of course, she treats me very well now… but I’m still a bit scared.”

 

“That, that can’t be. The governess is such a kind person.”

 

The shocked young Duke even began to stutter.

 

I looked at the young Duke with aggrieved eyes.

 

“She even tried to hit me back then, but sister stopped her.”

 

“…Cecilia did?”

 

“Yes. If it weren’t for sister, I definitely would have been slapped. And…”

 

I trailed off and deliberately shook my head.

 

“No, I think it’s better not to mention this.”

 

“Don’t do that, tell me everything.”

 

The young Duke pressed me again with a frustrated expression.

 

“What is it exactly?”

 

“Well…”

 

After hesitating for a long time and making the young Duke anxious, I finally continued while shrinking my shoulders.

 

“Actually, she seemed to treat Cecilia rather rudely too.”

 

“Is that really true?”

 

The young Duke’s eyes suddenly grew dark.

 

It seemed like he had some suspicions of his own.

 

“She scolded sister right in front of me.”

 

Emotion naturally crept into my voice.

 

It had to.

 

“Well, if the young lady tried a bit harder, wouldn’t your family members naturally come looking for you?”

 

Not only did she look Cecilia up and down with contemptuous eyes as she sat there frozen.

 

She even clicked her tongue audibly.

 

“The ‘real Cecilia’ was truly an angel…”

 

“To fill even a small part of her void, shouldn’t you at least become a refined lady?”

 

Recalling all that nonsense.

 

Anger naturally boiled up from deep within my chest.

 

“Honestly, I thought she was being too rude to the young lady she was supposed to serve, but back then I was just a maid and couldn’t stop Mrs. Howard.”

 

“Milena.”

 

“Sister looked so sad… I still remember her hurt expression to this day.”

 

At those words, the young Duke’s eyes shook violently.

 

I drove the point home.

 

“And I think sister was probably embarrassed the other time too.”

 

“…Are you talking about the brooch?”

 

So he did notice.

 

I nodded and continued with a sigh.

 

“I want to get along well with Cecilia, but strangely, whenever Mrs. Howard gets involved, things don’t go my way…”

 

I gave a bitter smile.

 

“But I must be mistaken. Mrs. Howard has been with the Duke’s household much longer than I have, right?”

 

“That’s…”

 

“Please keep it a secret that I told you this. I’m a bit scared that she might get angry with me.”

 

I deliberately acted pitiful.

 

If I showed this much fear, surely the young Duke’s suspicions would deepen even more.

 

Just as I had expected.

 

The young Duke’s expression hardened frighteningly.

 

In that case.

 

“And I’m not even a real daughter yet.”

 

I deliberately put on a dejected expression, further stirring the young Duke’s sympathy.

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“We haven’t even done a paternity test yet. So….”

 

I quietly lowered my eyes.

 

The voice that flowed from between my lips afterward sounded terribly sad, even to my own ears.

 

“Mrs. Howard probably still finds it difficult to accept me as a member of the Duke’s Household.”

 

“What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that!”

 

The young Duke raised his voice.

 

“No, it’s possible. I understand completely.”

 

I gave a weak smile.

 

Roughly a ‘hurt but trying to endure bravely’ concept.

 

‘It definitely seems like the young Duke suspects Mrs. Howard.’

 

I stealthily watched the young Duke’s reactions while desperately racking my brain.

 

‘Can’t I somehow guide the young Duke to act a bit more proactively here?’

 

After all, the young Duke was in a position where he could move freely within the Duke’s Household.

 

If he put his mind to it, he could restrain Mrs. Howard.

 

In that case….

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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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