I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 40

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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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“You’re taking my real sister’s place, and when she comes back someday, she’ll be terribly upset…”

 

“Oppa.”

 

“Of course I know it’s just an excuse. It’s just that I don’t know where my real sister is or what she’s doing, I don’t even know if she’s alive or dead… I just.”

 

Elias took a deep breath and finished his words with difficulty.

 

“I think I hoped that hating you would make me feel better.”

 

…I see.

 

Milena, who had been listening nearby, somehow felt a bitter taste in her mouth.

 

It seemed like Mrs. Howard had been gaslighting the young duke using her as an excuse.

 

Saying that ‘Cecilia is taking the sister’s place.’

 

‘Well, considering the original story’s content, I suppose that could make sense.’

 

After all, the young duke’s catchphrase described in the original was.

 

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

 

…that’s what it was.

 

When I read the original, I wondered why he harbored such hostility toward Cecilia.

 

If he usually had the fixed notion that ‘Cecilia stole Milena’s place.’

 

And if the governess he trusted had been instilling such thoughts for a long time…

 

‘Hmm, the young duke must be quite conflicted too.’

 

As evidence of this, the young duke had a very complicated expression.

 

Milena watched such a young duke with subtle feelings.

 

Half thinking he should have been nicer usually.

 

Half thinking that he wasn’t fundamentally a bad guy after all.

 

“But I shouldn’t have done that. It wasn’t your fault that Milena disappeared, yet I took my anger out on you… Honestly, I’m really pathetic.”

 

Elias lowered his eyes with a guilty expression.

 

“That’s not all. Even when I saw Mrs. Howard treating you rudely, I arbitrarily thought she was doing it for your sake.”

 

Suddenly Cecilia felt something hot welling up from deep in her chest.

 

‘Are you calling that an excuse now?’

 

How harshly the governess has treated me all this time.

 

Yet you always defended only the governess!

 

But Elias’s words weren’t finished yet.

 

“Maybe I… just wanted to believe that the governess truly cared for you.”

 

His blue-green eyes shook violently.

 

Elias continued with difficulty, as if confessing.

 

“Because the governess was always kind to me.”

 

“…”

 

“I wanted to ignore the fact that someone who’s good to me could be bad to someone else.”

 

A bitter smile appeared on Elias’s lips.

 

“But I shouldn’t have done that.”

 

After taking a deep breath, Elias looked straight at Cecilia.

 

“It seems too late already, but will you accept my apology?”

 

“…”

 

Cecilia was silent for a moment.

 

The first thing that surged up was intense resistance.

 

‘You never listened to anything I said before.’

 

I tried to talk to you so many times.

 

About how rudely the governess treated me.

 

How hurt I was every time I heard those harsh words.

 

Yet the reason my heart inevitably softened was.

 

‘Still… this is the first time Oppa has apologized to me.’

 

A small light sparkled from deep in her chest.

 

The name of that light was hope.

 

‘I know.’

 

Cecilia closed her eyes tightly and opened them again.

 

Nothing would change even if I hoped.

 

In the end, this time too, only she would get hurt and it would end.

 

But still…

 

‘…I’m happy.’

 

Cecilia bit her lower lip tightly.

 

After pondering for a long time, she opened her mouth with difficulty.

 

“I’m still… not sure yet.”

 

“…”

 

Elias’s gaze sank deeply.

 

It couldn’t be helped.

 

The resentment that had built up for so long couldn’t all be resolved with a single apology.

 

But then.

 

“Still.”

 

A faint smile spread across Cecilia’s face.

 

She finished with a gentle voice.

 

“Thank you for apologizing, Oppa.”

 

Elias’s expression, which had been dark all along, brightened for the first time.

 

“What do you mean thank you!”

 

Unable to contain his joy, Elias unconsciously shouted loudly.

 

Surprised Cecilia blinked her eyes quietly.

 

Elias, looking embarrassed, tried to act nonchalant and salvage the situation.

 

“I, I’ll do better from now on. I’ll try my best to treat you better to make up for the hurt I caused…”

 

Cecilia looked at Elias with wide eyes as he rambled incoherently.

 

How should I put it, I always thought Oppa was just difficult.

 

‘I think this is the first time I’ve seen him so flustered.’

 

At the same time, a small sound like air escaping flowed from between Cecilia’s lips.

 

“Pfft.”

 

At that moment, Milena turned to look at Cecilia like a meerkat.

 

Her eyes widened as she made a fuss loud enough for everyone to hear.

 

“My goodness, sister. Why don’t you smile like that every day?”

 

“What?”

 

“You’re so, so pretty! Maybe I have the prettiest sister in the world?”

 

The compliment was so blatant it was embarrassing.

 

Cecilia’s cheeks turned red like ripe apples.

 

“What kind of nonsense… stop it.”

 

Cecilia, who couldn’t stand it anymore, snapped back.

 

Then Milena grinned with her eyes.

 

“Hey, but you’re happy about it.”

 

“What?”

 

“You’re smiling right now.”

 

Flustered Cecilia hurriedly touched her lips.

 

Her lips were already forming a gentle curve.

 

‘Ugh.’

 

She hurriedly fixed her expression, but it was already too late.

 

Milena’s eyes were already filled with mischief.

 

“Sisteeeer.”

 

“G-go away. I’m going for a walk now.”

 

“Oh, I just came out for a walk too! Perfect, let’s all take a walk together, Oppa and sister!”

 

Milena brazenly clung to Cecilia.

 

While she was hesitating, even Elias ended up joining them.

 

And so, when she came to her senses, the three siblings found themselves walking side by side along the garden path.

 

“So anyway, this time Mathilde…”

 

Cecilia glanced down at Milena, who was chattering away excitedly.

 

‘What a strange girl.’

 

No matter how much she pushes her away and pushes her away again, she keeps coming closer.

 

Normally, she would have definitely found it annoying, but somehow she couldn’t bring herself to hate her.

 

Then suddenly.

 

Cecilia and Elias’s eyes met.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

It seemed like Elias was having similar thoughts to Cecilia.

 

Elias, who smiled awkwardly, pretended to look away for no reason.

 

At the same time, Milena glared fiercely.

 

“What is it? You are listening to me, right?”

 

“I’m listening.”

 

Cecilia answered curtly and took a deep breath.

 

The clear air filled her lungs completely.

 

Being with her family and feeling this at peace… it had been such a long time.

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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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