I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 42
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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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Snap!
Rudrick flicked his fingers.
Then the papers that had been organized in one corner of the desk fluttered over and gently landed in front of me.
‘Wow, no matter how many times I see that, it’s amazing.’
My mouth fell open.
Rudrick once again gestured with his eyes toward the book “The Basics of Magic Circles” placed in front of me.
The book opened by itself, and the pages began flipping back and forth.
Finally, the movement stopped at a specific page.
“This magic circle is a magical circuit that draws out the mana accumulated in magic stones. Let’s practice drawing out mana by directly tracing this circuit.”
“Ah, yes!”
I gripped the pen with a determined expression.
And I began tracing along the magical circuit…
‘Huh, huh?’
Something felt a bit strange.
The magic stone that had been glowing blue on the pen instantly lost its light.
At the same time, I felt something being forcibly pulled out from the magic stone through the pen.
And then.
Pop!
The pen tip burst dramatically, and ink splattered in all directions!
“…”
“…”
Rudrick and I both fell silent side by side.
Not only the paper where I had been drawing the magic circle, but even my hands were completely covered in ink.
Startled, I hurriedly lifted my head.
“Oh my, Teacher! Are you alri…!”
But I couldn’t finish my words.
That’s because the ink droplets that had splattered in all directions were scattered like dots across Rudrick’s face.
Rudrick stared at me blankly with a dumbfounded expression.
Somehow, he looked like a spotted cat with an innocent expression.
“I’m, I’m sorry… pfft.”
I tried my best to hold it in, but a sound like air escaping leaked out between my lips…
Rudrick let out a deep sigh and used his mana to wipe away the spots on his cheek.
Then he continued in a cool voice.
“Now, please finish drawing it.”
That resigned expression, I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before.
It was like a professor who had finally reached enlightenment after dealing with clueless freshmen for decades?
You haven’t already given up on me, have you?
I’m just imagining it, right? Right?!
* * *
At that moment.
Cecilia was pacing in front of the door where Milena was taking her lesson.
‘…I must apologize to Milena today.’
That’s right.
Cecilia still hadn’t apologized to Milena for speaking harshly to her that night.
Even though she herself had received an apology from Elias, led by Milena.
‘Yes, today for sure!’
Just as Cecilia was making her eyes shine with determination.
Creak!
The door suddenly opened.
Milena, who had been about to step outside, looked at Cecilia with a bewildered expression.
“Sister Cecilia?”
Ah.
Cecilia froze stiff.
Milena tilted her head with a puzzled face.
“What’s the matter?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Cecilia reflexively shook her head.
This was really strange.
She had come here specifically to apologize today.
That’s why she had deliberately waited for Milena’s lesson to end.
‘What should I do, the words just won’t come out.’
Cecilia just bit her lower lip nervously.
Meanwhile, Milena, who had been staring at Cecilia, suddenly let out a deep sigh.
“In that case, Sister, would you listen to my story?”
“Huh, huh?”
“How should I put it, I’m starting to think that keeping up with a genius is incredibly difficult…”
Milena began complaining with a strangely haggard expression.
As Cecilia found herself listening to those lamentations.
Someone suddenly interrupted the conversation.
“Isn’t it that Your Highness’s effort to keep up is somewhat lacking?”
It was Rudrick, whose face had somehow become haggard.
Milena’s expression turned serious.
“How could that be? Rather, it’s that Teacher’s effort to understand ordinary people is somewhat lacking.”
“I taught with my utmost effort.”
“I also learned with my utmost effort, you know?”
“Usually, failing seven times when drawing a single magic circle isn’t called one’s utmost effort.”
“But I succeeded in the end! More importantly, you were counting all of that?!”
Cecilia watched the two bickering people blankly.
Milena with her glaring eyes was the same as usual, but what was most surprising was Rudrick.
Rudrick shaking his head looked just like an ordinary young man his age.
…Usually he was so perfect that he felt unapproachable.
‘She’s really amazing.’
Somehow, Milena seemed to have the ability to put people at ease.
Actually, Cecilia found Rudrick a bit intimidating.
He smiled brightly on the outside, but it felt like he drew an uncrossable line for everyone.
But Milena crossed that line very easily.
Also, seeing such a lively appearance somehow warmed the depths of her heart…
‘That’s probably why everyone loves her.’
Unlike herself, who was a fake daughter and constantly pointed at for hitting walls.
Just as Cecilia’s expression was becoming a bit clouded.
Milena suddenly turned around.
“More importantly, Sister, shall we go refresh ourselves?”
“Refresh ourselves?”
“Yes. I’ve never had a chance to explore the capital yet.”
Having started the conversation that way, Milena’s eyes sparkled brightly.
“Come play with me, okay?”
“I don’t want to.”
Cecilia reflexively refused.
But Milena persistently clung to Cecilia.
“I’ve been hurt so much emotionally this time that I think I need some healing. Okay?”
“Sorry, but you should find someone else.”
“Sister, don’t be so mean to me.”
After clinging to Cecilia like that for quite a while.
Milena suddenly lifted the corners of her lips in a sly manner.
“Still, Sister, wouldn’t our parents be happy to see us getting along well?”
At that moment, Milena saw it.
Cecilia’s expression, which had been stubborn all along, crumbling for the first time.
“Think about it carefully. This is a kind of opportunity to put our parents at ease.”
“…”
“We just became sisters, so if we’re having a war of nerves with each other, our parents will worry, won’t they?”
“…”
“At times like this, we need to show them how harmonious we are.”
Although Cecilia kept her lips tightly sealed the whole time, Milena’s eyes sharply caught Cecilia’s subtle changes.
Like how her sharp gaze was gradually becoming relaxed.
Or how her lips were becoming softer.
‘Good, then.’
I need to deliver the decisive blow here.
That blow is.
“Or is it that you’ve only grown up as a sheltered lady and have never been outside?”
Scratching her pride!
Milena covered her mouth and grinned mischievously.
“What, you’re even older than me. You’re not acting too-oo childish, are you…?”
“Fine, let’s go out!”
Cecilia, who had gotten riled up, suddenly raised her voice.
At the same time, she snapped back to her senses.
The color drained from her pretty face.
‘Oh no, this is terrible. My dignity as a Princess of Lusert…!’
Getting caught up with Milena, she had ended up shouting in front of His Highness the Second Prince!
However, Milena didn’t give Cecilia even a moment to fall into panic for long.
“Great, let’s go out right now!”
“R-right now?”
“Of course. When something comes up, you have to take care of it right away. Otherwise, it just keeps dragging on, you know?”
Milena grabbed Cecilia’s hand with a bright face.
Cecilia, who was being dragged along by her younger sister in bewilderment, reflexively glanced at Rudrick.
At the same time, her blue-green eyes widened slightly.
‘Huh?’
Even though she had shown a completely undignified side, Rudrick was actually wearing a faint smile.
“You two seem very harmonious. It’s truly a pleasant sight.”
“…”
Cecilia blinked her eyes blankly.
Was it really okay to be like this?
Right now, I wasn’t acting like a Princess of Lusert at all…
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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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