I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 73

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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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Come to think of it, this was the first time I’d been on a boat in this life.

‘Why does my heart feel a bit fluttery?’

But Cecilia seemed even more excited than Milena.

“Let’s hurry, okay?”

The person who was always calm was now urging like a child in front of a gift box.

It seemed like this was Cecilia’s first time on a boat too.

‘I won’t ask about it.’

If I did, she’d surely try to suppress her feelings again, going on about ‘the dignity of a Princess of Lusert.’

If Cecilia was happy, I wanted her to fully enjoy that feeling.

With that thought, Milena stepped onto the pleasure boat.

The gentle river breeze scattered her golden hair.

Milena widened her eyes and looked around.

‘Oh.’

The interior of the pleasure boat was decorated quite lavishly, probably considering that high-ranking nobles mainly used it.

The interior was entirely decorated in gold.

The railings were painted a clean ivory color.

The elegant decorations installed here and there were worth admiring.

However, it wasn’t to Milena’s taste.

‘I prefer something cleaner than this.’

But then.

“Milena, I’m going ahead.”

Cecilia walked quickly toward the bow.

Perhaps thinking she needed to maintain her dignity as a princess, she at least didn’t run undignifiedly.

Still, by Cecilia’s usual standards of graceful movement, this was what could be called ‘undignified’ behavior.

Reaching the bow, she gripped the railing and looked down at the river water.

Startled, Milena raised her voice.

“Sister, be careful! What if you fall in!”

At that shout, Cecilia quickly turned around.

Then she waved at Milena and smiled brightly.

“Come over here, the river water is so beautiful! It’s sparkling gold!”

Milena looked at Cecilia with a pleased expression.

Now it was natural for Cecilia to make such bright expressions.

That dark face from when they first met was nowhere to be found.

That fact made her feel proud.

“Just a moment, I’ll be right there…”

Milena, who was about to take a step, suddenly stiffened.

‘Hm?’

She felt a faint sense of unease.

An unpleasant sensation, as if someone was pressing down on her shoulder with cold hands.

‘What… is this exactly?’

When Milena suddenly stopped in place, Cecilia looked at her with confusion.

“What’s wrong, Milena?”

Sensing something was strange, Cecilia approached her sister.

Her beautiful face was filled with worry.

“Your complexion suddenly doesn’t look good. Are you already getting seasick?”

Cecilia gently stroked Milena’s back.

“Are you okay? Do you want to get off the boat?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Milena quickly shook her head.

It wasn’t that serious.

It was just that her nerves were a bit on edge.

However, the strange thing was.

‘Why am I feeling like this?’

I was fine just before getting on the boat, so why now?

But then.

‘Huh?’

Someone’s energy gently pushed away that unpleasant sensation.

Something very familiar and comforting…

A sensation like soft down, or like warm sunlight.

‘What is this?’

Milena’s eyes widened as she unconsciously looked around.

A young man was just stepping onto the pleasure boat, coming into her view.

There were many people around the young man, but no one was paying attention to him.

His god-sculpted handsome appearance alone should have been enough to draw everyone’s attention.

That person was very familiar to Milena.

‘Wait. That person… isn’t that Rudrick?!’

* * *

Rudrick stepped lightly onto the pleasure boat’s deck.

“Phew.”

Having suppressed his presence with magic, he let out a short sigh.

Although he had attended the excursion, he still didn’t want to attract people’s attention.

Moreover, wasn’t the Prince also attending this event?

He absolutely wanted to avoid any troublesome situations from bumping into each other.

So he had quietly entered while avoiding drawing attention, but.

“…”

Rudrick’s gaze turned in one direction.

In the distance, Milena was laughing brightly with Cecilia.

The blue eyes watching this scene deepened.

‘How should I approach her?’

Milena’s cold voice still echoed in his ears.

“Actually, Teacher isn’t really interested in me as a person, are you? You’re just interested in my magical talent, aren’t you?”

Rudrick clenched his molars tightly.

In fact, there was nothing wrong with what Milena had said.

A girl with the same magical qualities as himself.

Until now, that was the only thing that had meaning to Rudrick.

But why was he like this…

‘…doing such foolish things.’

Rudrick forcibly swallowed the sigh that was about to escape.

Suppressing his presence with magic and sneaking onto the pleasure boat while avoiding people’s eyes.

His usual self would never have done such troublesome things.

‘That aside, where is Princess Milena… huh?’

Suddenly Rudrick’s eyes widened slightly.

Before he knew it, Milena’s clear green eyes were looking directly at him.

It wasn’t that his magic was insufficient.

Cecilia, who was beside Milena, was also looking in Rudrick’s direction, but showed no signs of paying attention to him.

That meant.

This magic that effectively hid his presence from everyone had no effect on Milena at all.

‘Princess Milena certainly has talent in magic.’

Despite the serious situation, Rudrick felt a bit proud.

Even so, he hadn’t expected her to see through the magic he had surrounded himself with so instantly.

‘…If that’s the case.’

Rudrick, who had withdrawn his magic, tried to muster the courage to approach Milena.

However.

‘Hm?’

Something felt strange.

He could feel a piercing gaze from somewhere.

Rudrick unconsciously raised his head and found himself meeting eyes with Cecilia, who was glaring at him terrifyingly.

‘What’s this?’

That gaze was so sharp it felt like it could cut through his skin.

At the same time, Cecilia gave a warning to her younger sister.

“You stay here for a moment.”

At that firm voice, Milena’s pupils trembled.

“S-Sister?”

Cecilia strode toward Rudrick.

Then she stared at Rudrick with cold eyes.

“I have something to say to you, Second Prince.”

“…Please speak.”

Rudrick nodded his head.

Cecilia opened her mouth with a face as cold as an ice sculpture.

“I heard there was an incident at the Imperial Palace this time.”

“….”

Rudrick’s lips pressed tightly together.

Even if he had ten mouths, he had nothing to say.

Cecilia continued with a sunken voice.

“Of course, I’m well aware of what kind of relationship you two princes have. But I don’t want Milena to get caught up in your emotional conflicts and get hurt.”

“….”

“I hope there won’t be any more incidents like this in the future.”

Rudrick obediently lowered his eyes.

“Yes, I am reflecting on it.”

It was sincere.

He had only considered his own position and hadn’t thought at all about Milena’s feelings as she got caught up in 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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