I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 59

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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 horrified Countess cried out desperately.

“P-please don’t do this!”

“….”

“Duchess, no, Rachel!”

The Countess grabbed onto the Duchess and pleaded desperately.

“You were my finest student. You know how proud I was of you, don’t you?”

“….”

“You, you shouldn’t treat me like this. There’s such a thing as the bond between teacher and student, so how could you….”

The Countess, who had been rambling whatever came to mind, suddenly hesitated.

That emotion filling the Duchess’s eyes as she looked at her.

…It was nothing but disgust.

“Ah, so now you’re trying to appeal to emotions?”

The Duchess twisted up the corner of her lips mockingly.

It was a clear sneer that pierced to the bone.

“You should have treated me and Cecilia truthfully, as much as I truly trusted the Countess.”

“That is, well….”

“Instead of deceiving my eyes while abusing Cecilia.”

The Duchess knocked away the Countess’s hands that were clinging to her as if throwing away trash.

Then she said calmly.

“Please leave now.”

“Rachel…!”

“If you continue to cling to me like this, I’ll have no choice but to call someone to escort the Countess outside.”

Though she spoke with courtesy, the meaning ‘if you keep persisting like this, I’ll have you forcibly dragged out’ was clearly implied.

The Countess stood there dumbfounded as if rooted to the floor.

Her whole body began to tremble.

All of this felt as distant as a dream.

But the Duchess didn’t wait any longer.

“The Countess of Seres is leaving. Escort her out immediately!”

The Duchess raised her voice to call the servants.

“Rachel, don’t do this. Rachel!”

The Countess, who belatedly came to her senses, tried to cling to the Duchess once more, but,

“What are you all doing? Hurry and escort the Countess outside!”

The Duchess mercilessly pushed the Countess away.

In the end, the Countess was led outside by the maids’ hands.

Her appearance was no different from a beast being dragged away on a leash.

The Duchess watched with an expressionless face as the Countess was dragged out through the door.

And.

“…Ha.”

A long sigh flowed from between the Duchess’s lips.

Her mood was truly a complete mess.

While the Countess, who had been secretly punishing Cecilia behind her back, was truly detestable, she also found herself quite loathsome for being completely unaware of that fact.

…It was even more so because this wasn’t the first time such a thing had happened.

‘Mrs. Howard.’

It had been the same back then.

Mrs. Howard had appealed to emotion, and she had been swayed all too easily by those earnest words.

It was the same this time.

Swayed by just one mention of ‘self-harm,’ she had ended up hurting Cecilia.

“…Self-harm?”

Cecilia’s hurt expression as she asked that question was still vivid before her eyes.

“Yes. Your teacher says that you seem to be having a very difficult time emotionally lately.”

Even her own naivety in asking questions, truly believing it was for Cecilia’s sake, while knowing nothing.

‘Why didn’t I think to be suspicious?’

Her endlessly foolish self was so terrible.

Just as the Duchess’s beautiful face was twisting miserably.

“Mother?”

At the suddenly heard voice, the Duchess whipped around.

Cecilia was standing there hesitantly.

Upon seeing her, the Duchess’s heart sank.

‘Don’t tell me, did she see everything?’

Me slapping the Countess of Seres and hurling all sorts of words at her?

That couldn’t be.

She didn’t want to show Cecilia such a harsh side of herself….

“Cecilia, I….”

The Duchess opened her mouth hesitantly.

At the same time, Cecilia approached carefully.

Warm hands gently caressed the Duchess’s swollen hand.

“Are you alright?”

Cecilia asking this truly looked deeply worried.

The Duchess was dumbfounded.

‘Asking if I’m alright?’

Is this child really in a position to ask me if I’m okay?

When she herself is so hurt!

“Cecilia.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Cecilia looked directly at the Duchess with clear eyes.

Looking at those gentle eyes, the Duchess felt anger keep rising within her.

Why do you keep just taking it.

If only you had gotten angry, thrown a tantrum, and confided in me about all these things that had happened…!

“You, why didn’t you tell me even when the Countess was punishing you?”

“….”

Instantly, Cecilia’s face, which had been calm all along, hardened coldly.

‘How could Mother say such a thing.’

Something hot surged up from deep within her chest.

Her vision grew hot and flushed.

Did you ever give me a chance to speak?

In the first place, have you ever believed my words?

The countless words piled up layer upon layer in her heart were so painful.

Even though she knew well that she had to endure those words somehow… she wanted to spill them out right now.

Just as Cecilia was biting her lower lip until it bled.

“I don’t think family is a relationship where you struggle desperately to show each other perfect sides.”

“Rather, isn’t it a relationship where you reveal your most vulnerable parts, sometimes get angry or cry… and honestly clash with each other?”

Why was it?

The reason Milena’s words were echoing in her ears at this very moment.

“At least that’s how it was with me and my mother.”

The moment Milena’s awkward smile flashed through her mind.

Cecilia unconsciously raised her voice.

“Because I wanted to receive Mother’s praise!”

“…What?”

At that answer, the Duchess looked as shocked as if she had been slapped.

Cecilia glared at the Duchess with a defiant gaze.

“You told me to follow my teacher well and study hard to become a fine lady. So I did exactly that, but is that wrong?”

“…”

Facing the speechless Duchess, Cecilia sniffled and shot back once more.

“Do you know when Mother ever praises me? Only when my teacher brings up my name!”

“Cecilia.”

“Only when my teacher says that I’m studying hard… only then…!”

Cecilia’s voice, which had been sharp with anger, gradually became wet with tears.

Her blue-green eyes swelled large as they filled with moisture.

And.

“Only then would Mother smile at me…”

A thick tear dropped down Cecilia’s cheek.

‘Ah, I shouldn’t be doing this.’

Cecilia roughly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

But it was useless.

She wiped and wiped, continuing to wipe them away…

The tears kept flowing down like water from an eternal spring that would never dry up.

“The household was finally harmonious. I didn’t want discord to arise because of me. I thought I just had to endure it.”

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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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