I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 75

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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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“I was only thinking of my own position at that time.”

“Second Prince.”

“What I did back then was enough to hurt Princess Milena. I deeply regret my petty behavior.”

“….”

Milena remained silent for a moment.

It was truly amazing.

With just one word of apology from Rudrick, the resentment that had been building deep in her heart melted away in an instant.

Like lingering snow in the shade touched by warm sunlight.

‘Am I too easy of a person?’

But what could she do?

She had wanted to hear that apology all this time.

‘Sigh.’

Milena, who had let out a deep sigh inwardly, opened her mouth.

“First of all, thank you so much for apologizing like this, Second Prince.”

“….”

Rudrick stared intently at Milena.

It was a searching gaze, full of tension like a child facing an angry adult.

‘There’s no need to go that far.’

She smiled bitterly and continued speaking.

“Please don’t worry about it too much.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It’s already in the past. Besides, you’ve already apologized. There won’t be any awkwardness between us as teacher and student because of that incident.”

Up until that point, Rudrick’s expression wasn’t too bad.

His stiff lips relaxed, and the tension in his tightly wound shoulders eased.

Milena added one more comment to tell him not to worry.

“Besides, if I draw lines with my teacher, wouldn’t it greatly interfere with our lessons? I know how to separate public and private matters that much.”

“….”

“Please take care of me in the future as well, Teacher.”

Milena had spoken with the sincere intention of telling Rudrick not to feel uncomfortable.

But why did he have such a speechless expression?

How should she describe that expression?

It seemed both caught off guard and somewhat disappointed…

‘What? Did I say something wrong?’

Milena hurriedly retraced what she had said, but she couldn’t remember saying anything particularly rude.

She had only said they should get along well while maintaining their respective roles as teacher and student.

What on earth was the problem?

Just then.

‘Hmm?’

Suddenly Milena frowned.

Behind Rudrick, she could see Cecilia and some lady having a conversation.

But the atmosphere looked rather hostile.

‘Hmm, it seems I should go to Cecilia.’

Having made that judgment, Milena looked up at Rudrick.

“I’m sorry. Can we finish the rest of our conversation later?”

“….”

Rudrick bit his lips tightly once again.

It was an expression that showed he really didn’t want to let her go, but knew he had to.

‘No, why is he making that face again?! It’s not like I’m saying we won’t talk!!’

Just as Milena was screaming inwardly.

Suddenly the lady who was with Cecilia shouted fiercely.

“Are you done talking now?!”

That wasn’t all.

The lady twisted her face in anger and then raised her hand high.

It looked as if she was about to strike Cecilia.

Milena’s eyes widened in shock.

“W-wait!”

A sharp scream burst from her lips.

The image of Cecilia falling violently was etched into her green eyes.

* * *

Cecilia had been carefully watching Milena and Rudrick’s conversation from a distance.

Her pretty blue-green eyes narrowed.

‘Something is definitely strange.’

That was because Rudrick’s gaze toward Milena was strangely earnest.

Of course, since he had done such terrible things to Milena, it was natural for him to feel sorry.

But who was Rudrick?

Wasn’t he a man who had never shown special interest in anyone and lived a step away from the world?

It was somewhat interesting that such a person showed such varied expressions only to Milena.

‘Well, who could dislike Milena?’

Milena was the most lovable person Cecilia had ever met in her life.

Being by her side made her heart feel as warm as sitting by a fireplace after wandering through a winter snowfield.

That was probably why.

The reason Rudrick eventually came to let down his walls, at least with Milena.

Just as Cecilia was smiling contentedly to herself.

“Does she really think she’s a princess?”

Suddenly a sharp voice pierced her ears.

Cecilia stiffened her shoulders and turned toward where the voice came from.

A lady was facing Cecilia with her neck held high and stiff.

Cecilia’s eyes trembled slightly as she recognized who it was.

‘Countess Cornelius.’

She was the lady of the Cornelius marquis family, one of the Empire’s noble houses.

She was also the person who always mocked Cecilia as a ‘fake princess.’

In fact, Countess Cornelius had once been openly praised as ‘the most precious young lady in the Empire.’

Because there was no imperial princess in the Empire.

However, after Cecilia was adopted, she officially became the lady with the highest status in the Empire.

For this reason, the countess harbored subtle hostility toward Cecilia.

“….”

Cecilia bit her lower lip tightly.

Cold sweat dampened her palms.

She remembered how people always pointed fingers at her from behind.

“She’s just a fake princess anyway, isn’t she?”

“Being just an adopted child, how long does she think she can stay in the Lusert Ducal Family?”

“Won’t she be disowned soon?”

“To think such lowly blood would mix into a noble family like Lusert, really.”

Countless whispers.

The sound of tongues clicking in disapproval.

Quiet, underlying laughter.

In the past, people’s pointing fingers had been so frightening.

So she always pretended not to hear the insults directed at her, acting as if nothing had happened.

It was also true that she was afraid of really being kicked out of the ducal family if she caused trouble.

But….

‘This time might be okay.’

Cecilia gulped down her dry saliva.

Mother and Oppa Elias were now treating her without reserve, weren’t they?

Father was still somewhat distant, but he didn’t seem to dislike her.

Most importantly, her little sister Milena was by her side.

“Anyway, I like you, sister. That’s why I want to do my best.”

Because she had said that.

Because whenever Cecilia faced unreasonable treatment, she would step forward to help as if it were her own problem.

Because she would call her ‘sister’ and smile at her.

…So.

“What did you just say, Cornelius?”

Cornelius’s eyes widened in an instant.

And for good reason—though she had badmouthed Cecilia countless times before, this was the first time she’d gotten such a reaction.

Until now, Cecilia had always pretended not to hear the gossip and avoided the situation.

She naturally thought it would be the same this time, but what was with that sharp reaction?

Moreover, those blue-green eyes looking straight at her…

‘How annoying.’

The furious countess clenched her molars tightly.

‘How dare that lowly thing look me straight in the eye?’

Just because she was lucky enough to become Lusert’s adopted daughter, she stole away my position as ‘the most noble lady’!

That position was originally mine!

Countess Cornelius raised her chin stiffly and retorted sharply.

“Why? It’s not like I said anything untrue.”

“Cornelius.”

“Princess Cecilia isn’t the Duke’s biological child. If you’re going to live off the Duke’s grace and act like a princess, you should be grateful and humble.”

“…”

Hearing those words, Cecilia stared quietly at Cornelius.

The countess belatedly felt her mouth go completely dry.

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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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