I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 6

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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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It had already been four days since I started working as Cecilia’s personal maid.

Based on my experience so far, Cecilia was a reasonably easy young lady to serve.

Though she could be prickly, I wouldn’t say she had a completely harsh personality.

The fact that she didn’t restrict my movements was proof of that.

Actually, if she really wanted to keep me completely silent, it would have been much more effective to keep me by her side at all times.

“You live alone with your mother?”

“Yes. I feel uncomfortable leaving my mother alone…”

“It can’t be helped. I understand.”

Cecilia readily allowed me to commute from home.

Honestly, life at the annex was much more comfortable.

At the main manor, I would have been trapped in an endless hell of cleaning.

Now I just had to stay quietly by Cecilia’s side and occasionally run small errands.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t encountered the Duke’s family even once.’

At first, I was worried about what would happen if I met them.

But for these four days, I haven’t seen hide nor hair of the Duke and Duchess, or even the young Duke.

I haven’t even seen any contact from them.

‘Well, it’s fortunate for me.’

It was better not to run into the Duke’s family if possible.

And thinking about it coldly, even if I did encounter the Duke’s family, it probably wouldn’t be a big problem.

Even though I had the blonde hair and green eyes that were supposedly their real daughter’s physical characteristics.

‘Would they really think I’m their real daughter just based on that?’

Actually, there’s a good reason why I’m so confident.

Very rarely, children with special abilities are born into the Rusert Ducal Family.

The reason Milena from the original story was immediately accepted as their real daughter was because she manifested that ability.

Which means.

‘If I haven’t awakened the ability, they’ll never recognize me no matter what.’

And right now, I showed no signs of manifesting any such ability.

So practically speaking, there was nothing to worry about.

I just had to endure a few more days like this, then safely part ways with the Lusert family…

‘Really, why does Cecilia keep weighing on my mind?’

I stopped tending to the flower vase and turned my head.

In the distance, Cecilia sat alone.

Her blue-green eyes were staring blankly out the window.

‘She’s probably waiting for her family.’

Every day, Cecilia would glance at the closed door to see if anyone was coming, or ask me every morning, ‘Is there any news today?’

But there was no news, no one looking for her.

“Princess.”

Unable to watch any longer, I spoke up.

“How about going for a short walk?”

“A walk?”

“Yes, getting some fresh air will make you feel much better.”

I spoke again in a cheerful voice.

Cecilia looked somewhat bothered, but she didn’t refuse my suggestion.

“It’s still quite chilly. Please put on a shawl.”

I draped a large woolen shawl over Cecilia’s shoulders.

After wrapping it tightly around her neck so the cold wind wouldn’t reach her.

I smiled brightly with my eyes.

“Let’s go.”

Cecilia glanced down at the clothes I had wrapped around her.

A slight smile spread across her pretty face that had been expressionless all along.

“…Yes, let’s go.”

* * *

Though it was still chilly since it was early spring.

The spring flowers were beginning to bloom one by one.

Cecilia and I walked along the deserted path, sometimes ahead, sometimes behind each other.

‘Mm, it seems we did well to come out.’

I nodded with satisfaction as I glanced at Cecilia’s expression.

Her stiff lips had clearly softened.

Right, people need to walk sometimes and breathe fresh air!

“Milena.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Cecilia kept her gaze fixed on a bush of bright yellow forsythia flowers and asked me in a subdued voice.

“You said you live alone with your mother, right? Isn’t it difficult?”

“Um, not particularly?”

I tilted my head.

Her blue-green gaze glanced back at me.

“But you’re working so hard even now.”

A deep shadow fell across her pale face.

“I know too. That I’m…”

Cecilia trailed off for a moment, then finished like a sigh.

“Not an easy master to serve.”

Huh, what’s that supposed to mean?

I carefully answered while reading the situation.

“I think you’re misunderstanding something. I find serving you much more comfortable.”

“Comfortable?”

Cecilia looked at me with surprised rabbit eyes.

What, why is she so surprised?

I became a little confused.

“Of course. I don’t have to clean stairs or mop floors anymore, right? I just occasionally keep you company and chat.”

“But, but my personality…”

“What’s wrong with your personality? You’re gentle enough as it is.”

No, I wasn’t just saying empty flattery.

I genuinely found Cecilia comfortable to be around.

Why does she think so negatively of herself?

Meanwhile, after hearing my answer, Cecilia suddenly became prim and turned her head away sharply.

“Never mind, just continue the story from before.”

She’s secretly quite shy, how cute.

I quietly suppressed the laughter that was about to escape.

“You asked if it was difficult earlier, right? It’s not difficult at all. Rather, I want to repay her kindness.”

“Kindness?”

“Yes. My mother went through tremendous hardship raising me alone, even though I’m not her real daughter.”

Then Cecilia perked up her ears.

“Huh? She’s not your birth mother?”

Well, this wasn’t really a secret.

It was already a widely known fact among the people around us.

I shrugged and answered.

“No. She found me abandoned in the mountains by chance.”

“I see…”

Cecilia looked like she was deep in thought about something.

But then.

“Princess.”

A cold voice called out to Cecilia.

At the same time, Cecilia flinched and stiffened her shoulders as if she had been struck with a whip.

‘Who is it?’

I turned to look in the direction the voice had come from.

A middle-aged noblewoman was looking this way with her back held perfectly straight.

Her brown hair, streaked with gray in places, was meticulously pinned up so that not a single strand would fall out of place.

Her expressionless face gave off a strict impression.

Cecilia called out to the person with a trembling voice.

“N-Nanny.”

…That person is Cecilia’s nanny?

My head suddenly went cold as if I had been doused with ice water.

The nanny who had cared for the siblings of the Rusert Ducal Family since childhood.

Mrs. Howard.

She was the main culprit who had abused Cecilia in the original story.

“Always remember the grace that the ducal family has bestowed upon you.”

“How long do you intend to keep disappointing your family?”

“If you were the real daughter, you would have shown a much more perfect appearance.”

While condemning her like this and only protecting Elias, the young duke.

Finally, when Milena, the real princess, appeared, Mrs. Howard cast Cecilia aside like an old shoe.

And then she only doted on Milena.

“Were you taking a walk, Princess?”

Mrs. Howard strode toward Cecilia.

I could see Cecilia, who always kept her back straight, reflexively shrinking back.

“Ah, well. I was feeling a bit stuffy…”

“In other words, you’re simply killing time?”

Mrs. Howard looked Cecilia up and down with a disapproving gaze before coldly concluding.

“Well. That doesn’t seem like something a refined princess should be doing.”

What is she talking about?

I was so dumbfounded that my mouth fell open.

The whole purpose of the Rusert Ducal Family coming here was for ‘vacation’ in the first place!

‘Wow, I really can’t control my expression.’

Whenever I saw scenes like this gaslighting in the original story, I felt like I had eaten a million sweet potatoes.

But actually hearing that nonsense in person… it’s so irritating?!

Meanwhile, Mrs. Howard, who had noticed my gaze, turned to look this way.

Just as Mrs. Howard’s eyes narrowed.

“Um, where are Mother and Father?”

Cecilia mustered up the courage to ask a question.

Then Mrs. Howard made a small tsk sound with her mouth.

That was definitely a tongue click, right? Right?!

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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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