I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 4

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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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“Princess, please wear this!”

I hurriedly took off my cardigan and held it out to Cecilia.

Cecilia stared blankly down at my shabby cardigan.

“…Why are you giving this to me?”

“Let’s say I was the one crying in the backyard today. Not you, Princess, but me.”

With that answer, I pressed my cardigan into Cecilia’s hands.

“Look! My skirt is purple too, isn’t it? If you wear my clothes, no one will think the Princess was crying.”

Phew, so that’s why I felt like wearing a purple skirt today.

What a relief, really.

Meanwhile, Cecilia’s expression became quite strange.

‘What, why, what.’

Is there some other solution?

I brazenly met Cecilia’s gaze.

“I have blonde hair and green eyes too, don’t I? If you’re wearing my clothes, from a distance it’ll be hard to tell if it’s me or you, Princess.”

“But you’re not even from the annex?”

“They’ll think I went on an errand. If anyone asks me, I’ll say I went to the annex on an errand.”

“You weren’t even crying…”

“Well, I can cry starting now!”

I rubbed my eyes with all my might.

Then I tried my best to think the saddest thoughts possible.

‘Sad thoughts, sad thoughts…’

Mother’s medical bills.

Transportation costs going back and forth to the hospital.

Even living expenses during treatment.

‘Ha, it’s so overwhelming.’

Then my nose started to sting, and tears trickled out.

I quickly looked at Cecilia.

“How’s this? Don’t you think people would believe it now?”

“Enough. You don’t need to go that far…”

Cecilia now looked clearly flustered.

But I pressed on strongly.

“No, please put it on!”

If someone else finds out you were crying, they’ll think I spread the rumor!

“Even if not for that reason. It’s quite cold today. The sun will set soon… It would be terrible if you caught a cold.”

“…”

At those words, her blue-green eyes held a complex light.

Cecilia, who had been fidgeting with the cardigan hem, suddenly asked me.

“Why are you doing all this for me?”

Well, because I don’t want to earn the female protagonist’s resentment…

But since I couldn’t say that so bluntly.

I answered in a roundabout way.

“When a person helps another person, there doesn’t necessarily have to be some grand reason.”

“…”

For a moment Cecilia hesitated.

“Of course, you’re a noble person, Princess, and I’m just a commoner.”

I shrugged lightly and quickly draped the cardigan over Cecilia.

“If you were crying this much, your heart must be very heavy.”

“That’s…”

“I think you need time to cry comfortably sometimes too, Princess.”

Hmm, was that an adequate answer showing I’m on the protagonist’s side?

I sneakily observed Cecilia’s expression.

Cecilia’s expression was… subtle.

I couldn’t tell at all whether she felt good or bad…

It would probably be best to slip away around now.

“Then may I take my leave? I need to go clean soon.”

I added carefully.

Cecilia suddenly stared intently at me.

“You’re a maid of House Tranciere?”

Why is she asking that again?

I suppressed my puzzlement and bowed my head obediently.

“Yes, that’s correct, Princess.”

“I see. You may go.”

Cecilia nodded and turned around, walking away beyond the backyard.

Left alone, I let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

‘Phew, I really thought I was going to die.’

Still, I encountered this world’s protagonist.

Getting through it this well was pretty good.

‘But, isn’t this a bit strange?’

I slightly furrowed my brow.

I heard the Lusert family all went to hot springs together, didn’t they?

Why is only Cecilia left behind alone?

* * *

As the sun was setting.

I was walking home with a bright smile, carefully holding a heavy basket.

Oh, what’s this basket?

The kitchen had leftover ingredients today and shared them with us.

‘It was a pretty decent day.’

Of course, when I encountered the original female protagonist, I thought my heart would drop!

But it seems I escaped safely without earning her dislike.

‘I need to be careful never to encounter her again.’

With firm resolve, I energetically opened the front door.

“Mother, I’m ho…”

At the same time, I dropped the basket from my arms.

“Cough, cough cough!!”

Mother was bent over, coughing violently.

The scratchy coughing sound didn’t seem normal at all.

“Mother!!”

Shocked as if I might faint, I rushed frantically to Mother.

“Cough! …Ah, my daughter’s home?”

Mother tried to smile with her pale face.

But that was only for a moment.

“How was today… Cough!”

Violent coughing erupted again.

I hurriedly supported Mother and asked with a tearful expression.

“Why, why are you like this? Since when has your cough been this severe?!”

“No, ahem, it’s just a cold.”

Mother, who had barely calmed down, looked at me with her flushed red face.

Then she smiled at me as if nothing was wrong.

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious.”

…When she’s struggling this much, it can’t just be a simple cold.

My gaze, as I bit down on my lower lip, momentarily fell upon the cup placed on the dining table.

Those dried leaves inside the cup were…

‘Herbs to stop coughing.’

Had she been making do with just gathering and boiling herbs all this time?

Without saying a single word to me about being sick?

“Mother, have you seen a doctor?”

“A doctor? Do you have any idea how much a consultation costs?”

Mother answered as if it were nothing.

Indignant, I raised my voice.

“How can consultation fees matter right now? If you’re sick, you need to see a doctor first…!”

“Enough, enough. I’ll get better if I rest a bit. By the way, what’s that? What’s with the basket?”

Mother waved her hands dismissively and quickly changed the subject.

“…”

Instead of answering, I glared at Mother with displeasure.

Then Mother smiled slyly.

“Daughter, so you won’t tell me what it is?”

“…I got some potatoes and meat today. They said they had leftover ingredients.”

In the end, I replied with a sullen voice.

Mother spoke to me affectionately once again.

“Really? Then how about braised meat and potatoes for dinner tonight? Mother will make it for you.”

“No need, I’ll prepare it today. A sick person shouldn’t be…”

“Look at this child? I’m not so old that I’d make my daughter cook after she comes home from work.”

Mother playfully scolded me.

For a moment, I felt a bit choked up.

She had been struggling so much with her cough just moments ago.

I could feel Mother’s kindness as she tried to act fine somehow, worried that I might be concerned…

‘I’ll find a way to make Mother better.’

I clenched my fist with a determined expression.

But that was only for a moment.

‘…So, how am I supposed to earn money for consultation fees?’

A maid’s salary alone wouldn’t even come close.

I forcibly swallowed the sigh that rose to my throat.

* * *

The next day.

News like a bolt from the blue reached me just as I arrived at work.

“Was it Milena?”

Baroness Tilda, who had been staring at me with an enigmatic gaze, suddenly spoke up.

“From today, report to the Guest House Annex.”

“Pardon? Why the Guest House Annex…”

“Princess Cecilia von Lusert has requested that you be sent as her personal maid.”

What?!

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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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