I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 57

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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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The teacher’s contemptuous gaze directed at me every time, and the merciless corporal punishment inflicted upon me.

I knew very well that all of it was unreasonable.

Yet I was so desperately longing for even a handful of affection from Mother.

Because I held hope that through the teacher, my relationship with Mother could change for the better.

…So I was just trying to turn a blind eye to it all.

“Maybe because the wounds burst open and then healed, this area became all bumpy and uneven like this.”

“…”

“As you can see, my back isn’t an area I could harm myself. So.”

Cecilia took a deep breath.

Then she spoke with deliberate force, enunciating each word clearly.

“What the teacher told Mother, that I ‘harmed myself’… that’s not true at all.”

The Duchess looked as if she had been slapped across the face.

“Ce, Cecilia. You…”

The Duchess staggered toward Cecilia.

When her trembling fingertips touched the scars on my back, Cecilia stiffened her body for just a brief moment.

But soon she silently accepted Mother’s touch.

“How could this… how could this happen…”

The Duchess slowly caressed Cecilia’s back.

After tracing the elongated scars with her fingertips, she suddenly shuddered and pulled her hand away.

Then she took off her outer garment and draped it over Cecilia’s shoulders.

“…Mother?”

Cecilia blinked her eyes in a daze.

But the Duchess no longer looked at Cecilia.

Instead.

“Is there anyone outside right now!”

A sharp shout echoed loudly throughout the room.

It was quite different from the frail Duchess we had seen until now – a resolute appearance.

“Did, did you call for us? My lady!”

The maids came running hurriedly.

The Duchess swept her fierce gaze over the maids.

“Send a carriage to the Seres Estate immediately.”

“A, a carriage?”

“Yes. Use whatever means necessary to bring the Countess here. Right now!!”

At that fierce expression, one maid trembled like a drenched sparrow and rushed out of the tea room.

The Duchess gave another order to a different maid.

“Escort Miss Cecilia. Go and…”

Her complicated gaze turned toward Cecilia.

After staring quietly for a moment.

The Duchess bit her lips tightly and turned her gaze away.

“Treat her wounds…”

“Yes, understood. My lady.”

The maid who quickly bowed her head took Cecilia and left the room.

Milena initially tried to follow Cecilia.

“Please take care of Mother.”

At Cecilia’s quiet whisper, Milena reluctantly approached the Duchess.

At the same time, Milena’s eyes widened slightly.

That was because the Duchess’s face was completely rigid.

Her eyes were fiercely wide open, and her complexion was very pale.

She seemed to barely notice that someone had approached her side.

‘What did I do when my mom was greatly shocked?’

Back then, I definitely…

After pondering for a moment, Milena carefully took the Duchess’s hand.

‘Oh.’

Her hand was cold as ice.

Milena gently massaged the cold hand, hoping to transfer even a little body warmth.

Then the Duchess looked at Milena in surprise.

“…Milena?”

“Are, are you alright?”

Milena asked the question carefully.

At the same time, the Duchess’s expression began to gradually contort.

“I, I haven’t shown an exemplary appearance as a mother.”

“Mother.”

“I didn’t know Cecilia had been struggling like that… for so long.”

The Duchess’s lips trembled.

Her eyes turned bright red as if she might cry at any moment.

But that was only for a moment.

The Duchess, who tried to compose her emotions, let go of Milena’s hand.

“Thank you so much for worrying about me. But could you stay by Cecilia’s side now?”

“What? But…”

“I don’t want to show you my unsightly appearance.”

A bitter smile appeared on the Duchess’s bloodless face.

Eventually, Milena left the room.

* * *

Milena headed straight to Cecilia’s bedroom.

Knock knock.

After a brief knock, a calm answer came back.

“Come in.”

Milena opened the door carefully to avoid making noise.

From the faint smell of herbs floating in the air, it seemed Cecilia had received treatment for her arm.

Cecilia, who had been standing by the window, turned to look at Milena.

“Why did you come here? Instead of staying by Mother’s side.”

“Mother told me to go to you.”

Milena hesitated for a moment before adding another comment.

“She said she didn’t want to show her unsightly appearance.”

“…Is that so?”

Cecilia didn’t say anything more.

Milena quietly stared at Cecilia’s arm wrapped in bandages.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Me? Well.”

Cecilia shrugged her shoulders lightly and muttered with a sigh.

“I’m worried that Mother might be too shocked.”

“That’s not right, sister.”

Milena shook her head firmly.

“I’m worried about Mother too, but I’m more worried about you.”

“…”

At those words, Cecilia was left speechless.

Milena asked gently while keeping her gaze fixed on Cecilia’s arm.

“So did the treatment go well?”

“Yes. It’s just a simple bruise, so they said the bruising will fade quickly if I apply the medicine properly.”

“That’s a relief then.”

With those words, the two of them fell silent side by side.

Cecilia had an expression of being deeply lost in thought, and Milena was….

‘The Duchess wouldn’t fall for the Countess’s words, would she?’

Of course, the Duchess’s expression when she last saw her was quite serious.

But given Mrs. Howard’s case from before, she couldn’t be completely at ease.

‘If she says Cecilia did something wrong again, I won’t stay quiet this time.’

Just as Milena clenched her fist tightly.

“…!”

Cecilia’s shoulders, who was standing beside her, stiffened.

Milena, who reflexively looked out the window, also gritted her teeth.

‘She’s here.’

In the distance, she could see a carriage gliding to a stop in front of the townhouse entrance.

The Countess who got out of the carriage hurriedly entered the townhouse.

Milena’s face hardened stiffly.

* * *

The Countess of Seres was immediately guided to the drawing room.

‘What on earth is going on?’

Somehow she had a bad feeling about this.

For the always gentle Duchess to send a carriage telling her to come to the Duke’s estate immediately.

‘Is it because of Cecilia? But I should have resolved that matter well?’

Just as the Countess was anxiously chewing her lips.

Click.

The door opened without even a knock.

The Countess quickly rose from her seat.

“My goodness, Duchess. Has something happened? To suddenly call for me like this…!”

The Countess, who had been speaking to the Duchess in a flustered manner, slightly furrowed her brow.

Because the Duchess’s face looking at her was frighteningly hardened.

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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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