I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 5

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

“…I greet Lady Cecilia von Lusert.”

When Lady Cecilia von Lusert herself wanted me as her personal maid, there was no way I could refuse.

In the end, my assignment was changed to the guest house annex.

When I came to my senses, I was already bowing my head respectfully to Cecilia.

“Raise your head.”

The Cecilia I met again was truly an elegant noble lady.

There wasn’t even a trace of yesterday’s appearance when her eyes had been red from tears.

“Take this.”

Cecilia suddenly held something out to me.

I unconsciously took it and my eyes widened in surprise.

‘This is….’

It was the cardigan I had lent her.

But.

‘Huh?’

I felt something hard and round in the cardigan pocket.

I pulled out that object.

In my palm, a silver round object clearly reflected the light.

“M-My lady. This silver coin is…?”

I looked up in surprise.

Cecilia shrugged her shoulders with an innocent expression.

“It’s payment for lending me the cardigan. I have at least that much decency.”

My goodness, the lady’s generosity is incredible….

One silver coin is almost two days’ wages!

I carefully held the silver coin with both hands and looked at Cecilia with eyes full of emotion.

At the same time, Cecilia spoke in a calm voice.

“Listen carefully. From now on, you are my personal maid.”

At her serious tone, I quickly straightened my posture.

“The work period is until I leave the Trancy Baron’s Domain.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Stay by my side every day. Unless I send you on a separate errand, do not leave the guest house annex.”

“I understand.”

I nodded obediently.

Fortunately, the House of Lusert was staying in the main manor together with the House of Tranciere.

Only Cecilia was using the guest house annex.

‘If I do well, I might not run into the ducal family.’

I tried to think as positively as possible, but only for a moment.

‘…Then Cecilia is living alone, separated from her family.’

I somehow felt a little sorry for Cecilia.

And for good reason, since it had been described so poignantly in the original work.

How desperately that child had tried to be loved by her family.

But then Cecilia suddenly turned to look directly at me.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

“Pardon?”

“You’ve been glancing at me constantly since earlier.”

Hmm, it seems I’ve caused some misunderstanding.

Since I did have something I was curious about.

“If it’s not rude, may I ask just one thing?”

After thinking for a moment, I carefully spoke up.

“Why me, of all people?”

“What do you mean?”

“Actually, I’ve never served someone of high rank before. It would be much more convenient for you to bring in a maid with more experience than me….”

That’s right.

Why me, of all people?

If she really needed a personal maid, there would be much more prepared candidates in either the ducal house or the baron’s house.

Meanwhile, at that question, Cecilia, who had been expressionless the whole time, slightly hardened her lips.

Seeing that expression as if I had hit the mark.

I somehow felt like I knew why I had been selected as her personal maid.

‘Could it be, to keep me quiet?’

Is this where her thorough personality from the original work starts showing!

At the same time, Cecilia shot back at me.

“How can I trust you?”

“That’s….”

“What if you spread rumors to the other maids that I was crying?”

I knew it.

She was going to keep me close and watch me.

Actually, I wondered if it was really something to be so nervous about.

But still, if it could put Cecilia’s mind at ease.

“I understand, my lady.”

“….”

I bowed my head once more.

Then Cecilia narrowed her eyes and bluntly said.

“You’re quite easygoing.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m suspecting you. Aren’t you angry?”

Her voice was sharp like an awl.

But her blue-green eyes couldn’t look directly into mine.

…Is it my imagination that she looks like a child who doesn’t want to be hated?

“No, I’m not angry.”

“…What?”

Cecilia blinked her thick eyelashes in bewilderment.

I shrugged lightly.

“Yesterday was certainly a difficult situation for you, my lady. Of course, you did warn me firmly to keep quiet, but you might still feel uneasy with just that.”

“That, that’s.”

“Please don’t worry too much. I’ll do my best not to cause you any concern.”

I smiled brightly to reassure her.

Then Cecilia stared at me blankly for a moment, then murmured quietly.

“Come to think of it, you have blonde hair and green eyes.”

“Pardon?”

Why is she suddenly talking about my hair and eye color out of nowhere?

I tilted my head in confusion.

At the same time, Cecilia muttered very quietly to herself.

“…retty.”

Huh? What did she just say?

Cecilia seemed to realize she had spoken unconsciously and looked flustered, then returned to her stoic expression and gave her first order.

“I’m thirsty. I want to drink orange juice.”

“Yes, I’ll bring it right away.”

I nodded and quickly headed to the kitchen.

* * *

Clink.

The sound of ice shifting in the cup filled with orange juice could be heard.

Cold dewdrops formed on the glass surface.

‘Was it Milena?’

Cecilia stared at Milena, who stood quietly in the distance, without even touching her orange juice.

Her blue-green eyes narrowed with a complex light.

‘…She’s really a strange girl.’

Yesterday, the family had all gone to the hot springs together, leaving only Cecilia behind.

The Duke and Duchess turned away from her as if it were natural.

And even Elias oppa drew a line with his cold voice.

“You must be tired, so you don’t need to come along.”

It was familiar. She hadn’t even expected anything.

But then.

“Ah, hello. Your Grace! Your Grace!”

The Baron of Tranciere’s daughter who greeted them awkwardly.

“Oh my, Daisy. Your greeting is wrong.”

“Sigh. I’ve spoiled my daughter too much, so she still has many shortcomings. Please look upon her kindly.”

The Baron and Baroness of Tranciere who embraced their daughter with love.

Watching that affectionate scene, she was reminded anew of her own situation.

So she had hidden in the deserted backyard and let out the tears she had been holding back.

But unfortunately, Milena had caught her crying.

Honestly, she had been really flustered.

But Milena’s reaction was completely different from other people.

“The person who cried in the backyard today. Let’s say it was me, not Your Highness.”

Saying that, the girl had taken off her own cardigan and given it to her.

The body warmth that transferred from the cardigan had been very warm.

‘Even though she recognized me… she didn’t mock me.’

The people around Cecilia that she had encountered so far hadn’t been like that.

Everyone smiled kindly at Cecilia on the surface, but behind her back they observed her every move closely.

As if testing her, saying ‘Let’s see how far you can go.’

And whenever Cecilia showed behavior unbecoming of the ‘Princess of Lusert,’ they would openly mock her.

“Well, I knew it would be like this.”

“She’s not a real princess after all, right?”

“Those of lowly birth can’t help it.”

Or very occasionally there were people who tried to get close to her, but no one was truly interested in ‘Cecilia.’

What they wanted was just friendship with the ‘Princess of Lusert.’

Actually, Cecilia knew it too.

She was a princess in name only and a substitute for the real princess.

Therefore, all that was permitted to her were those shallow emotions at best.

That’s why every single word from Milena felt so unfamiliar.

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

As soon as she heard those words, embarrassingly, her eyes grew hot.

Ordinary servants would have made a huge fuss as if the sky was falling the moment Cecilia looked like she might cry.

But that girl was different this time too.

“Then may I go now? I need to start cleaning soon.”

Milena didn’t ignore Cecilia.

She didn’t try to forcibly please her either.

With a kind but dry attitude, she maintained an appropriate distance so Cecilia wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.

Yes.

In front of that girl, I felt like I wasn’t a substitute princess of a ducal family…

But just a ‘person.’

However.

‘Forget it. That girl will probably change her attitude soon anyway.’

Cecilia shook her head cynically.

Because everyone had been like that so far.

‘Don’t expect anything.’

Having organized her thoughts, Cecilia took a sip of juice.

The characteristic refreshing yet sweet taste of orange juice filled her mouth.

‘Really strange.’

Even though she had not a single grain of expectation for that girl.

Even though she knew well that it would be the same anyway.

…Still, somehow she felt not bad about it.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————