I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 49

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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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Today, I was scheduled to have lunch with the Countess of Lusert.

 

Originally, it was supposed to be a lunch appointment between the Duchess and the Countess of Seres, but somehow both sisters ended up participating as well.

 

“It’s a shame that the Duke and Elias couldn’t join us.”

 

The Duchess smiled awkwardly.

 

“The Duke entered the palace this morning, and Elias said he has training this afternoon…”

 

“Not at all. I’m actually happy to spend such intimate time with my student like this.”

 

The Countess of Seres replied warmly.

 

Throughout the meal, Milena carefully observed how the Countess treated Cecilia…

 

‘She’s more affectionate than I thought?’

 

The Countess’s gaze toward Cecilia was quite gentle.

 

“You have no idea how diligently Cecilia studies.”

 

“Oh my, really?”

 

“Of course. I’m truly proud of Cecilia.”

 

The Countess smiled warmly and spoke kindly to Cecilia.

 

“Please continue to work hard. Understood?”

 

“Yes, teacher.”

 

The two were conversing without formality.

 

Milena’s tense expression gradually relaxed.

 

‘I guess I was being too sensitive after all.’

 

But then.

 

Milena noticed something strange.

 

‘Huh?’

 

Cecilia was only picking at her food like a bird, barely eating anything.

 

Even considering that Cecilia usually ate small portions, today she was definitely eating less than usual.

 

“Sister, why are you eating so little?”

 

Milena asked with a puzzled expression.

 

Cecilia froze for a moment.

 

But only briefly.

 

Cecilia composed her expression as if nothing was wrong.

 

“Oh, I just don’t have much of an appetite.”

 

At the same time, the words she had heard from the Countess of Seres earlier flashed through Cecilia’s mind.

 

“Haven’t you gotten a bit thicker around the waist? My goodness, look at that arm fat.”

 

“Don’t you know how much praise the Duchess received for her slender figure when she first debuted in society? You’re being compared to your mother too much.”

 

And the words that punctuated all those insults.

 

“Shouldn’t the Princess of Lusert maintain a perfect appearance?”

 

That was right.

 

The Princess of Lusert must maintain a perfect appearance.

 

Now that her relationship with her mother had improved, she absolutely hated the thought of disappointing her mother by gaining unsightly weight.

 

‘Huh?’

 

Meanwhile, watching Cecilia’s darkening expression, Milena felt something was off.

 

‘No, why does she look like that?’

 

She was acting as if eating itself was a sinful act.

 

At that moment, a sudden thought made Milena pause.

 

‘Wait, sinful?’

 

Cecilia’s long-standing trauma that was described in the original story.

 

It was about the ‘Duchess.’

 

The Duchess, who in her youth was considered the most beautiful woman in the empire.

 

Cecilia admired such a Duchess and voluntarily began avoiding food.

 

This was especially true because the Duchess was famous for her ‘slender figure’ in her youth.

 

Cecilia, who suffered from weight obsession, would only escape from that pain after meeting the male protagonist later.

 

Thanks to his words: ‘You’re fine no matter what you look like.’

 

“Are you trying to control your weight?”

 

At that question, Cecilia’s shoulders stiffened.

 

So it was true.

 

Milena frowned deeply.

 

Even though I’ve now become part of this romance fantasy world, at my core, I’m still from the nation of rice.

 

“Where exactly do you need to lose weight, sister?”

 

Milena asked seriously.

 

Cecilia’s eyes widened.

 

“Well, when wearing dresses, having a slender body does look more elegant…”

 

Cecilia answered cautiously while glancing sideways at the Duchess.

 

She wanted to follow her mother’s example.

 

She wanted to look good to her mother.

 

She wanted to be praised by her mother.

 

…She wanted to be loved.

 

But somehow those words wouldn’t come out…

 

“Sister, you’re beautiful no matter what you look like.”

 

But then.

 

Milena answered firmly.

 

For a moment, her blue-green eyes trembled slightly.

 

‘Well, these were the lines Rudrick used to convince Cecilia in the original story.’

 

They had to be effective.

 

Feeling pleased, Milena mentally apologized to Rudrick.

 

‘Sorry, male lead.’

 

My life is practically on the line here.

 

You’ll end up with Cecilia anyway, so please let me borrow one line!

 

At the same time, the Duchess sitting nearby asked Cecilia with a puzzled expression.

 

“Cecilia, are you really trying to control your weight? Why?”

 

“…”

 

Cecilia’s gaze wavered slightly.

 

Because I want to be a perfect daughter to you, mother, to our family.

 

Because I’m afraid the family will be disappointed if I gain even a little weight, as my teacher said.

 

Just as those unspoken words stuck heavily to the tip of her tongue.

 

“She’s trying to follow the Duchess’s example.”

 

The Countess, who had been watching the situation, skillfully joined the conversation.

 

“As you well know, Cecilia follows the Duchess very devotedly.”

 

At those words, the Duchess’s face brightened considerably.

 

“Cecilia does?”

 

“Of course. You have no idea how hard she works to not bring shame to the Lusert name.”

 

The Countess who said this gazed at Cecilia with subtle eyes.

 

She appeared to be truly proud of Cecilia.

 

However.

 

“The foremost quality of a lady is silence.”

 

To Cecilia, it seemed like her teacher’s eyes looking straight at her were saying exactly that.

 

Just as Cecilia bit her lower lip tightly.

 

“More than that, to think she took me as a role model… I’m a bit embarrassed.”

 

The Duchess spoke with an embarrassed expression.

 

“I’ll have to try harder from now on, won’t I? So as not to shame our Cecilia.”

 

“No, mother.”

 

Cecilia hurriedly shook her head and continued carefully.

 

“I’ve always… wanted to become like Mother.”

 

“Really?”

 

The Duchess’s eyes widened, and then a bright smile spread across her face.

 

“Oh my, I’m truly delighted.”

 

The Duchess saying this looked genuinely happy.

 

The Duchess gently added.

 

“But Cecilia will become a much more wonderful lady than I am.”

 

“…”

 

Cecilia closed her mouth tightly.

 

Honestly, she loved this harmonious atmosphere so much.

 

She finally felt like she had become a member of the family.

 

But if she said something wrong here…

 

‘I’ll ruin the atmosphere.’

 

Although it was sometimes difficult to take lessons under the teacher, it was still teaching given by mutual agreement.

 

Thanks to the teacher, she could spend peaceful time with Mother.

 

So.

 

‘Yes, this way is fine.’

 

Cecilia tried hard to think positively.

 

‘I just need to stay quiet.’

 

Then the family would remain peaceful like this forever.

 

Mother would also treat her affectionately.

 

Father and Oppa Elias would also be satisfied that no more discord was occurring.

 

She could remain as a mature older sister to Milena too.

 

It was right when Cecilia was comforting herself like this.

 

But that was only for a moment.

 

“Oh right, Duchess.”

 

The Countess Dowager opened her mouth with a sweet voice.

 

“Cecilia, well, seems to want to study more diligently. She even wants to learn harp performance from me.”

 

Cecilia’s heart sank.

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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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