I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 61
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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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That ointment was a drug treated as extremely special even within the Magic Tower.
Moreover, records of lost or removed drugs are managed under the Lord of the Magic Tower’s approval.
‘But they really didn’t know about the smuggling?’
His blue eyes sank coldly like a frozen lake.
‘What if the Lord of the Magic Tower deliberately turned a blind eye?’
However, showing suspicion outwardly was absolutely forbidden.
Having lost his mother early and lived carefully alone in the treacherous imperial palace, Rudrick had learned a truth.
‘I must hide my true intentions at all costs.’
The moment others see through your intentions, a knife will inevitably be stabbed in your back.
Rudrick deliberately wore a bright smile across his face.
“That’s impossible. Not at all.”
“…Hmm.”
Dustin stared intently at the grinning Rudrick.
Then he waved his hand dismissively as if telling him to leave.
“Well, if the misunderstanding is cleared up, that’s enough. You may withdraw now.”
“….”
For a moment, Rudrick’s eyes flashed sharply like shards of broken colored glass.
Again.
This sense of unease.
Rudrick had made a great contribution in catching Sara this time.
But Dustin didn’t mention that part at all.
Even though he knew well that praising Rudrick for correcting wrongdoing would boost the morale of the entire Magic Tower.
In normal circumstances, he would have surely given him a few words of praise, even with a very reluctant expression.
‘Well, it’s not like the Lord of the Magic Tower disliking me is anything new.’
But why couldn’t he hide his emotions so blatantly?
…Could it be that what he had accomplished was something extremely unpleasant for the Lord of the Magic Tower?
“Then I shall withdraw now. Please rest comfortably, Lord of the Magic Tower.”
Rudrick, who had shown proper courtesy, stepped outside.
The door closed silently.
Left alone, Dustin glared at the closed door with fierce eyes.
And.
“Ha, what a stupid wench.”
Dustin muttered irritably.
“If I deliberately turned a blind eye, she should have been careful not to get caught.”
The ointment that was consistently reported as lost and disappeared.
There was no way Dustin didn’t know about it.
Nevertheless, the reason he deliberately overlooked it was solely because of the Countess of Seres.
The Countess was Princess Cecilia’s tutor, after all.
That meant she was someone who could somehow influence the Rusert Ducal Family.
‘I thought I could use the ointment removal as leverage when needed someday.’
He never even imagined she would self-destruct like this.
“…Anyway, this is really displeasing.”
Dustin’s wrinkled face showed no signs of smoothing out.
* * *
On a warm, sunny afternoon.
I was sitting on a garden bench in the sunlight, basking in the sun.
Of course, if Cecilia saw this, she would nag about ‘a princess’s dignity…’ and so on, but it couldn’t be helped.
With such beautiful weather, how could I just let it pass?
It’s completely different from looking through a window!
“Yawn.”
I let out a small yawn.
I had eaten lunch to my heart’s content, and the temperature was pleasantly warm.
It was natural for my body to feel drowsy.
‘Oh well, whatever.’
I lay down flat on the bench and closed my eyes.
The gentle breeze blowing, and the fresh smell of grass carried by the wind.
It was the perfect environment for an afternoon nap.
How long had I been asleep?
“…na.”
“….”
“Milena!”
Hm?
At the sound of someone calling, I drowsily lifted my eyelids.
Cecilia’s pretty face suddenly popped into a corner of my vision.
“…Sister Cecilia?”
However, Cecilia’s expression as she looked at me wasn’t particularly good.
It was roughly expressing something like ‘Ugh, another undignified appearance today…’ with her face.
Blinking my eyes blankly, I asked a question.
“Did the sun rise from the west today by any chance?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I was wondering why Sister Cecilia came looking for me first for once.”
Then Cecilia’s expression became sullen.
Cecilia, who had been glaring at me with her lips pressed tightly together, snapped at me.
“What, am I not allowed to come looking for you?”
“Oh come on, how could that be?”
I chuckled and sat up from where I was lying.
“I have something to give you.”
“To me?”
Cecilia nodded and took out a small jewelry box from her bosom.
“Take this.”
“What is this?”
“You’ll know if you open it.”
At those words, I untied the ribbon with a puzzled expression.
At the same time, my eyes widened slightly.
‘Ah.’
A small diamond sparkled like a star under the sunlight.
The pink coral and mother-of-pearl decorations were brilliant.
That’s right.
It was the brooch that Cecilia and I had ordered together.
“The brooch was completed. I came to deliver it.”
Cecilia added, pretending to be indifferent.
My eyes widened.
“Don’t tell me you thought of me on purpose?”
Then Cecilia became serious and hurriedly rattled off her words.
“D-don’t get the wrong idea. I just happened to run into the delivery person. I absolutely didn’t bring it out to take care of you on purpose, I was just thinking of going out for a walk anyway, so I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone…!”
Does Cecilia know?
That strong denial is directly connected to strong affirmation.
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Pfft.”
Cecilia immediately narrowed her eyes triangularly.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
I carefully caressed the surface of the brooch.
“…I’m just grateful.”
Somehow my heart felt warm.
How should I put it, it felt like the distance between Cecilia and me had considerably shortened?
Since I had always grown up as an only child until now, I had no idea what having a real sister was like.
Still, perhaps…
‘This might be what sisterhood is like.’
Sometimes bickering with each other, sometimes giving to each other.
That kind of ordinary relationship.
I picked up the brooch and held it against my chest.
Then I gave Cecilia a bright smile.
“How does it look? Does it suit me well?”
“Yes.”
Gone was the sulking demeanor from just moments ago, as Cecilia nodded without a hint of hesitation.
Then she gently lowered her eyes.
“Pretty.”
“…”
Her smiling face was so beautiful that I was momentarily speechless.
‘Wow, I thought my heart was going to drop!’
As expected of the original female protagonist who’s considered the greatest beauty in this world.
I swear I just saw the illusion of roses blooming in clusters behind Cecilia!
Just as I was internally gushing with admiration.
Suddenly Cecilia plopped down next to me.
Then she abruptly opened her mouth.
“Thank you.”
What’s this about all of a sudden?
“About what happened with Mother this time…”
Cecilia stared intently at the garden trees while speaking quickly.
Her previously pale ear tips had turned red.
“Because you were there beside me, I was able to find courage until the end.”
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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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