I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 51

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

“Yes, I’m going to wait for the new teacher that Mother will find for me.”

 

“Oh my, I see.”

 

The Countess dramatically let her shoulders droop.

 

“What a shame. I was hoping to form a connection with Princess Milena as well.”

 

“Instead, the Countess has Sister Cecilia.”

 

“Of course. There’s no other lady as wonderful as Cecilia.”

 

Milena nodded and took a step back.

 

“Well then, I’ll be going inside now. Please be careful on your way back.”

 

“Yes, thank you for the handkerchief.”

 

With that, Milena returned inside the townhouse first.

 

Afterward, the Countess of Seres also boarded her carriage.

 

Cecilia, who had been waiting for the two to part ways, finally let out a sigh of relief.

 

“Phew.”

 

She had hoped the Countess wouldn’t get involved with Milena, and it seemed she had managed to separate them fairly well.

 

Just as she was feeling relieved inwardly.

 

“Sister Cecilia.”

 

“Kyaah!”

 

Startled, Cecilia let out a shrill scream.

 

Milena, whom she thought had already gone inside the townhouse, was staring intently at Cecilia.

 

“Wh-what, what, what? What’s wrong?”

 

“I’m sorry if I startled you.”

 

Milena bowed her head briefly, then asked Cecilia with sharp eyes.

 

“But what about your arm?”

 

…Could she have heard the conversation?

 

Cecilia nervously touched her forearm that was covered by her sleeve.

 

Then she lifted her chin, pretending to be nonchalant.

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

“…”

 

Milena’s gaze as she looked at Cecilia became even more persistent.

 

After a while.

 

“Really?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Is it really nothing?”

 

At that persistent questioning, Cecilia bit down hard on her lower lip.

 

Then she nodded primly.

 

“Yeah. Actually, I don’t know why you’re acting like this.”

 

“…”

 

Her dark green eyes grew coldly distant.

 

‘This is suspicious.’

 

Cecilia’s pained expression when she had grabbed her arm before.

 

The Countess of Seres mentioning her arm.

 

And even Cecilia’s overly defensive attitude.

 

All of these situations… were extremely bothersome.

 

* * *

 

The next day.

 

“…Princess.”

 

“…”

 

“Princess Milena!”

 

I snapped back to attention.

 

At the same time, ink burst out from the magic pen I was holding.

 

“S-sorry.”

 

Startled, I quickly offered an apology.

 

“No, it’s fine. More importantly.”

 

Rudrick skillfully flicked his hand to clean off the ink, then furrowed his brow and asked a question.

 

“Do you perhaps have some worry on your mind? You haven’t been able to concentrate on the lesson at all.”

 

“…”

 

I pressed my lips together tightly.

 

Would it be okay to talk about this?

 

But.

 

‘When I grabbed Cecilia’s arm, she was definitely in pain.’

 

My heart felt heavy as if I had swallowed a large stone.

 

‘But it’s strange that there were no injuries at all, right?’

 

Moreover, the things the Countess of Seres had said.

 

“How is your arm, is it alright?”

 

That sounded like she knew there was pain in Cecilia’s arm.

 

And also.

 

“You are my best student. I trust you won’t bring shame to your teacher’s face.”

 

…That sounded too much like hush money.

 

Besides, there are magical tools in this world.

 

That means things beyond common sense could happen through magic.

 

“Can you keep a secret?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Rudrick readily nodded.

 

Well, the male protagonist was known for being tight-lipped even in the original work.

 

In the end, I opened my mouth with the feeling of grasping at straws.

 

“Actually… Sister Cecilia is acting a bit strange.”

 

“Princess Cecilia is?”

 

“Yes. I wonder if I’m being too sensitive…”

 

So I voiced the suspicions I harbored one by one.

 

The pained expression Cecilia made when I grabbed her arm.

 

The fact that her arm was actually smooth without a single injury.

 

The consistently defensive attitude Cecilia showed.

 

…And even the meaningful words of the Countess of Seres.

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

But then.

 

Rudrick looked at me with a rigidly hardened expression.

 

“Princess Cecilia felt pain, but there were actually no injuries on her arm at all?”

 

What’s with that ominous reaction?

 

Somehow I had a bad feeling.

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

At my dubious answer, Rudrick furrowed his brow deeply.

 

“…Good grief.”

 

Rudrick, who had been lost in deep thought, soon let out a bitter laugh.

 

“This time I’ll have to ask Princess Milena to keep a secret for me.”

 

What?

 

My eyes widened slightly.

 

I hurriedly nodded.

 

“Of course. You’re giving me advice, so there’s no way I’d cause you trouble.”

 

At those words, Rudrick let out a short sigh.

 

Finally, after hesitating, he carefully opened his mouth.

 

“Actually, there’s one thing I suspect. It’s a drug developed by the Magic Tower.”

 

“A drug?”

 

“Yes. To be precise, it’s something developed in ointment form.”

 

According to Rudrick’s explanation, it went like this.

 

Among the Magic Tower’s ointments, there’s one that helps wounds heal quickly.

 

However, to be exact, it’s only meant to quickly heal surface wounds.

 

“It’s usually distributed as emergency supplies to frontline soldiers. After all, they need to stop bleeding quickly to save their lives.”

 

Rudrick continued in a heavy voice.

 

“However, in cases of serious injuries, the wound must be reopened and examined later at the rear, so it’s used in a limited capacity.”

 

“….”

 

I clenched my molars tightly.

 

The rage surging to the top of my head painted my vision stark white.

 

That means.

 

Even if Cecilia’s arm looks fine on the outside, the inside isn’t?

 

…Cecilia has been enduring that pain all this time?

 

“But what’s suspicious is that the ointment is specially managed even within the Magic Tower. Ordinary people don’t even know of its existence.”

 

Rudrick narrowed his eyes.

 

“If Princess Cecilia really used that ointment, it means it was taken out without permission.”

 

Rudrick concluded with a short sigh mixed in his words.

 

“It seems we need to look into the removal process.”

 

“….”

 

I’d rather Rudrick’s words weren’t true.

 

I hope I was just mistaken.

 

If that child, who has already been through so much hardship, has been secretly enduring pain again.

 

It’s too… heartbreaking.

 

“Then isn’t there a safe way to check the wound?”

 

I clenched my fists tightly.

 

So much force went into it that my fists were trembling before I knew it.

 

“Do we really… have no choice but to cut open the injured area to check?”

 

“In normal cases, yes.”

 

Rudrick nodded and stared directly at me.

 

“But it’s a bit different for Princess Milena.”

 

“Huh? What do you mean by that….”

 

“You’re a mage too, aren’t you, Princess?”

 

Ah.

 

My mouth fell slightly open as I suddenly realized that fact.

 

Rudrick continued calmly.

 

“Magic Tower drugs basically have magic power infused in them.”

 

“You mean….”

 

“Yes. It means you could neutralize the drug’s effects through your magic power, Princess.”

 

Rudrick, who answered that way, looked me up and down with a dubious gaze.

 

“However, it would be difficult with your current skill level… You’d need to practice controlling magic power a bit.”

 

“I’ll practice!”

 

I quickly grabbed my magic pen.

 

Rudrick gave a bitter smile.

 

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen you show such enthusiasm, Princess.”

 

…Do you really have to say something like that in this situation, teacher?

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