I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 45

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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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“This time my dress got dirty, so the Duchess… oh wait.”

 

Milena smiled awkwardly and quickly corrected her form of address.

 

“If Mother gets angry, we can get scolded together. If Oppa Elias nags us, I’ll fight for you instead. Don’t worry about Father either. I’ll figure something out somehow…”

 

Milena, who had been chattering away, suddenly stopped talking.

 

Swoosh—.

 

The wind blew.

 

Milena’s bright golden hair, which Cecilia had always admired, fluttered softly.

 

Her eyes, resembling fresh green leaves looking at me, were so tearfully warm.

 

…Cecilia somehow felt her nose tingle.

 

“As I mentioned before, I’ll probably only stay in this house for 3 years. That’s why I want to treasure that time even more.”

 

Milena carefully asked a question.

 

“Sister, so… wasn’t it fun playing with me?”

 

“…”

 

Cecilia, who had been silent for a moment, turned her head slightly.

 

She glared at the garden trees standing in groups in the distance for no reason, quietly muttering to herself.

 

“No. It was fun.”

 

I don’t know how long it’s been since I let everything go and played so excitedly like this.

 

It’s really strange.

 

Until now, I had definitely been living carefully, being mindful of other people’s eyes.

 

But when I’m with Milena… all of that felt like it didn’t matter.

 

“I have one thing I’m curious about.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Why do you keep approaching me? I’ve only said harsh things to you this whole time.”

 

Cecilia gripped the hem of her dress tightly.

 

A question that had been stuck like a thorn deep in her throat for a long time.

 

“…Am I not uncomfortable for you?”

 

Then Milena answered as if it was completely natural.

 

“Well, the person who likes someone more is supposed to put in more effort.”

 

“What?”

 

“Anyway, I like you, Sister. So I want to do my best.”

 

At that matter-of-fact answer, Cecilia’s gaze trembled finely.

 

Until now, being pointed at by others had been natural.

 

As a fake daughter.

 

As someone who was just lucky to be adopted into a ducal family.

 

But that child was different.

 

Real or fake, it didn’t matter—that child who cheerfully called her ‘Sister’…

 

“I’ll try harder. So please don’t keep pushing me away, okay?”

 

Milena, who spoke charmingly, smiled shyly.

 

That was probably why.

 

The reason she finally had the courage to voice the apology she had kept buried in her heart for so long.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Milena’s eyes widened at the unexpected apology.

 

Cecilia continued speaking quickly while avoiding Milena’s gaze.

 

“Actually, I’ve wanted to apologize this whole time. I kept being sharp with you.”

 

“…Sister?”

 

“You know, I told you I’m from an orphanage, right?”

 

Her blue-green eyes sank deeply.

 

Cecilia, who had been moving her lips for a moment, soon smiled bitterly.

 

“So when the Rusert Ducal Family said they would adopt me… I was really happy.”

 

The orphanage that was always bleak.

 

The teachers who inevitably became businesslike because they had to care for so many children.

 

Children starving for even a grain of insignificant affection.

 

In Cecilia’s world that had been gray throughout, the ‘father’ who appeared one day was truly a miraculous existence.

 

“Yes, will you come with me?”

 

Count of Lusert was the first ‘adult’ to extend his hand to Cecilia first.

 

The moment she took that hand, Cecilia’s world finally turned to full color.

 

That’s right.

 

What Cecilia had desperately wanted since she was very young was…

 

“You know, I always wanted to have a family.”

 

A family.

 

Milena understood that desperation.

 

It wasn’t just because she had read the original story that she understood.

 

Rather.

 

‘Because we were in the same situation.’

 

Both of them had lost their families when they were young.

 

However, Milena was luckier than Cecilia and was able to grow up receiving plenty of love after meeting a kind mother.

 

On the other hand, Cecilia must have continued to suffer from fear.

 

The fundamental terror of ‘having no home to return to.’

 

“So at first, I was scared of you. Because you came back, I was afraid I would no longer be needed by the family. I was afraid I would end up being kicked out like this.”

 

“Sister, that’s…”

 

“But I was thinking wrongly.”

 

Bitterness seeped into the end of Cecilia’s voice.

 

A lonely smile appeared on her beautiful face.

 

“Regardless of my feelings, you have the right to live harmoniously in your family’s embrace.”

 

“…Then.”

 

Milena, who swallowed her dry saliva, looked straight into Cecilia’s eyes.

 

“Sister, you should also live harmoniously with me.”

 

For a moment, her blue-green eyes shook finely like a lake with a pebble thrown into it.

 

Milena continued to speak clearly.

 

“Because you’re my family, Sister.”

 

“…”

 

Milena, who called her family as if it was natural.

 

That child was always like that.

 

No matter how many times she pushed her away and said she didn’t like it, she kept approaching and steadfastly stayed by her side.

 

Before she knew it, she had become accustomed to that child’s warm warmth.

 

‘…Then.’

 

Cecilia took a short breath.

 

She had already been greatly disappointed and hurt, but still, just this once…

 

Maybe it would be okay to believe again.

 

Cecilia, who had been silent for a while, got up.

 

Then she extended her hand toward Milena.

 

“Let’s go home now.”

 

Milena stared blankly at the hand Cecilia extended.

 

She had never even thought that Cecilia would extend her hand to her first, so her face was somewhat dazed.

 

And as Milena’s face gradually brightened.

 

“Yes, Sister!”

 

She firmly grasped Cecilia’s hand.

 

The two girls returned to the carriage holding hands side by side.

 

Anyone who saw them would think they were close sisters.

 

* * *

 

As the sun was slowly setting.

 

Milena and Cecilia returned to the townhouse side by side, both completely disheveled.

 

The Duchess, shocked at the sight of them, unconsciously raised her voice.

 

“You, your appearance… what on earth is this?!”

 

Whatever they had been doing while out, their hair was completely disheveled.

 

Their dresses were a complete mess with dirt and ice cream stains.

 

In fact, the Duchess was much more surprised by Cecilia than by Milena.

 

Milena, who hadn’t yet received formal education as a duke’s daughter, was one thing.

 

But even Cecilia, who was always well-behaved, was in such a state?!

 

Meanwhile, at that outcry, the two girls began glancing at each other and nudging with their elbows.

 

‘Mother was startled because of you!’

 

‘Are you really going to be like this, sister? You said it was fun when we were actually playing!’

 

At their bickering appearance, the Duchess couldn’t help but smile despite her surprise.

 

But that was only for a moment.

 

The Duchess narrowed her eyes and declared sternly.

 

“This won’t do. I need to get Milena a tutor right away!”

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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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