I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 60

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

“Cecilia, I…”

“It hasn’t been long since the Governess was dismissed. What if I spoke carelessly and made Mother uncomfortable? I, well…”

But Cecilia couldn’t finish her words.

Because the Duchess suddenly pulled Cecilia into her arms.

‘Huh?’

It was an embrace she had never once expected in her entire life.

Cecilia’s gaze shook violently.

“All this time I was too… too lacking.”

A trembling voice flowed from between the Duchess’s lips.

“You were suffering so much, yet I only listened to other people’s words every time. I never thought to ask you first…”

Her fragile voice broke into fragments.

“I shouldn’t have done that. I should have heard your story first, above all else…”

It was the first time.

The first time Mother had held her so tightly like this.

Perhaps that’s why she kept feeling greedy.

‘Can I… can I hug Mother back too?’

Her finely trembling fingertips hovered over the Duchess’s back, almost touching but not quite.

And so, after hesitating for a long while.

Cecilia carefully embraced her mother in return.

She had worried that Mother might push her away even now, but the Duchess didn’t do that.

Instead, she only held her tighter in return.

That embrace was so very warm.

And then.

“I’m truly sorry, Cecilia…”

Cecilia’s eyes widened greatly.

But that was only for a moment.

“…Sob.”

A moan-like sob flowed from between Cecilia’s lips.

The sorrow and loneliness that had been lodged like thorns deep in her heart.

Those emotions were slowly melting away.

“Mother, I was really, truly struggling so much all this time, so…”

“Yes, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything…”

The mother and daughter leaned on each other like that and burst into tears like children.

* * *

Recently in high society, the ‘Rusert Ducal Family’ had been the talk of the town day after day.

This was because rumors had spread widely that the ducal family had dismissed the Countess of Seres.

“Did you hear? The Countess of Seres physically punished Lady Cecilia?”

“Even so, she’s a ‘fake princess,’ but the ducal family took quite stern measures.”

At tea time gatherings where noble ladies sat together.

At clubs where gentlemen played billiards and chatted with each other.

Countless stories about the Rusert Ducal Family and the House of Seres were exchanged.

“I understand the Duchess and the Countess were quite close to each other, but I never expected things would turn out this way.”

“I even heard that the ducal family withdrew all their investments from the House of Seres?”

“Since they’ve completely fallen out with the ducal family, it’ll be hard for them to maintain their footing in high society from now on.”

The nobles clicked their tongues briefly.

Separately, there were hardly any favorable reactions toward the House of Seres.

“Honestly, the Countess of Seres did cross the line.”

“I heard she colluded with companies under the pretense of purchasing textbooks and received commissions? The amount was quite substantial.”

“My goodness, she really had some nerve.”

“Our daughter was also learning from the Countess, but we dismissed her this time.”

Meanwhile, there were cases where some nobles cautiously raised new possibilities.

“That aside, perhaps the Rusert Ducal Family cherishes Lady Cecilia more than we thought?”

“I think the same.”

“Right. If she were truly an adopted daughter they could discard at any time, they wouldn’t have drawn such a firm line with the House of Seres.”

However, the nobles were generally skeptical.

“Well, they might have punished her firmly because of Lusert’s dignity.”

“Even so, Lady Cecilia is still officially part of the House of Lusert. Wouldn’t letting this slide also harm the family’s honor?”

While high society was in such an uproar.

Another scandal was added to the mix.

This time it was a scandal that involved not only the House of Seres, but even the Magic Tower.

It was unusual enough that the Tower Master himself stepped forward to announce the punishment.

“We expel the magical engineer Sara from the Magic Tower.”

The story went like this.

The magical engineer ‘Sara,’ a branch member of the House of Seres, had been illegally distributing the Magic Tower’s medicinal herbs externally in collaboration with the Countess of Seres.

And the news was that the amount the two had embezzled was considerable.

The Magic Tower immediately expelled Sara and thoroughly collected all the money embezzled so far.

They also declared they would completely cut off all dealings with the ‘House of Seres’ and its branch families from now on.

However, there was another name that caught people’s attention here.

“The person who reported Sara was His Highness the Second Prince Rudrick?!”

That’s right.

The whistleblower who reported Sara was none other than ‘Rudrick.’

He was the Empire’s only mage and the Second Prince with succession rights, who had been quietly staying in seclusion.

Seeing the prince, who had remained silent all along, step to the forefront of the incident, people’s curiosity reached the sky.

And so, currently.

Rudrick was having a private meeting with the Tower Master, Dustin.

“I never even thought that the medicinal herbs were being taken outside.”

Dustin drew a clear line with those words.

But that was only for a moment.

“However, it seems this incident occurred due to my complacency, so I feel heavy-hearted in many ways.”

Dustin muttered in a sunken voice.

Rudrick observed such Dustin carefully.

At least on the surface, Dustin seemed to genuinely feel responsible for this incident.

“As you know, I maintain friendships with several people. The Countess of Seres was one of them.”

“Yes, I’m aware.”

Rudrick answered with an expressionless face.

In fact, the Magic Tower was basically an entity that devoured money like a hippo.

This was because it constantly consumed budget through various experiments and precious magical materials alone.

Naturally, the Magic Tower had no choice but to become close with noble families.

That made sense, since generally the groups that had accumulated capital were the upper echelons of society.

“The Countess earnestly begged me. Please hire Sara as a magical engineer. She said it had been her niece’s lifelong dream.”

Dustin spoke in a voice heavy with worry.

However, Rudrick didn’t even twitch an eyebrow.

“But don’t you have to pass a strict examination to become a magical engineer?”

“…”

Dustin’s eyebrows stiffened with a flinch.

Rudrick concluded matter-of-factly.

“Also, after checking Sara’s test scores, she was someone who couldn’t set foot in the Magic Tower from the beginning.”

“I know. I was too immersed in friendship and made a foolish judgment.”

Dustin nodded and continued smoothly.

“Therefore, I didn’t overlook the situation any further, and as soon as I confirmed the incident had occurred, I dismissed Sara. I also formally held the Seres Estate accountable.”

Dustin stared intently at Rudrick with narrowed eyes.

“Is there anything I handled incorrectly here?”

His tone was strangely confrontational.

And Rudrick found Dustin’s confident attitude quite irritating.

Wasn’t the reason this whole mess happened in the first place because Dustin had brought someone unqualified into the Magic Tower due to personal connections?

However, the reason Rudrick didn’t voice his irritation was…

‘Did the Lord of the Magic Tower really not know that the ointment was being taken outside?’

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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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