I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 79

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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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Since the picnic, the Count of Lusert had been deliriously ill for several days.

Fortunately, the attending physician’s opinion was that his current physical condition was not at a seriously concerning level.

“It’s because the accumulated mental fatigue has all come rushing in at once.”

“If he rests well and recovers, he’ll be fine, so please don’t worry too much.”

However, the Duchess wanted to hear about why the Duke’s condition had deteriorated so rapidly.

Eventually, the attending physician carefully revealed the inside story.

“Actually, His Grace has been… suffering from anxiety and insomnia for a long time.”

“What did you just say?”

The Duchess’s eyes widened in shock at hearing this for the first time.

“He was sick? Since when exactly?!”

“…It’s been a very long time.”

The physician’s explanation was as follows.

The Count of Lusert had been unable to rest properly without medication for a long time.

But the Duke was the head of the family, and his sense of responsibility was very strong.

Moreover, hadn’t the Duchess, Cecilia, and Elias all been in very poor condition as well?

The Duke had confided his symptoms only to the attending physician and strictly ordered him to keep quiet.

He probably thought he shouldn’t reveal his vulnerable side.

But eventually, this incident had caused his hidden symptoms to burst forth.

“So what he had been enduring alone… like that…”

The Duchess bit her lower lip until it bled.

Cecilia and Elias wore darkly sunken expressions.

Milena’s heart also ached.

‘His Grace must have had many worries of his own.’

The arms that had held her tightly.

The face that had shed thick tears.

“Yes. As long as both of you are safe without any injuries, that’s enough…”

…Even the desperate expression that had only asked about his two daughters’ safety.

It was the first moment she had truly felt the existence of a ‘father’ that she had only vaguely known until now.

Milena, who had been reflecting on that day, let out a short sigh.

And so, at present.

Milena looked down at the Duke sleeping soundly with complicated eyes.

Since the accident that day, the Lusert Family had not left the Duke’s side for even a moment.

Especially Cecilia, who had not left the Duke’s side for even a single day, nursing him.

Her touch as she wiped the Duke’s cheeks and forehead with a lukewarm wet cloth was very caring and gentle.

“…Cecilia?”

“Ah, Father?!”

Startled, Cecilia hurriedly rushed to the bedside.

The Duke, who had been slowly blinking his eyes, soon smiled faintly.

“How is your body? Are you alright?”

At the sight of him caring for her health as soon as he regained consciousness, Cecilia’s heart swelled with emotion.

Cecilia tried hard to hold back her tears and quickly nodded.

“Yes, of course.”

However, her pretty blue-green eyes were already moistly wet.

The Duke, who had been gazing up at Cecilia, struggled to reach his hand toward her.

It was to somehow wipe away his daughter’s tears.

“Thank you so much… for not getting hurt.”

At those words, the tears Cecilia had been holding back dropped from her eyes.

The resentment that had been accumulating layer by layer in her heart for a long time finally melted away completely.

Cecilia couldn’t hold back anymore and threw her arms around the Duke’s neck.

“*sob*, Father…”

At the same time, the Duchess and Elias also embraced the Duke who had just regained consciousness.

“Darling!”

“Father!”

It was an intense reaction, as if welcoming someone who had come back from the dead.

The Duke looked somewhat bewildered, but somehow managed to spread both arms wide and embrace the three people in his arms.

“Darling, if you were having such a hard time, why didn’t you tell us all this while?”

The Duchess looked up at the Duke while sobbing.

“I didn’t even know you were suffering so much… and I only relied on you every time…”

“Father, I also wanted to somehow be of help to you…”

Elias couldn’t finish his words and bit his lips.

Otherwise, it felt like tears would burst out.

Meanwhile, Milena watched that harmonious scene with pleased eyes.

‘I’m really glad.’

What had been regrettable during her stay at the Duke’s household was that the family members were each scattered separately.

But the current Lusert Family finally felt like they were tightly united as one.

However, strangely… she somehow felt reluctant to join in among them.

‘It feels like standing at a party I was mistakenly invited to.’

Milena unconsciously hesitated and stepped back.

But then.

“Milena?”

She heard someone calling her.

It was Cecilia.

“Why are you standing there alone?”

“…”

At that question, Milena pressed her lips tightly together.

What should she answer?

That she felt like an outsider?

That she couldn’t dare intrude into that warm family circle that had been together for so long?

Meanwhile, Cecilia, who had been watching the hesitating Milena, suddenly narrowed her eyes.

“Come here.”

She stood up abruptly and pulled Milena’s arm.

Flustered, Milena hesitated and called out to Cecilia.

“Um, Sister Cecilia?”

But Cecilia didn’t let go of Milena.

Instead, she turned around and shot back.

“You’re our family too.”

“…”

For a moment, Milena caught her breath.

Our family.

Those words struck her heart forcefully.

At the same time, hot tears came pouring down.

“…*sob*.”

She tried to hold back her tears somehow, but it was useless.

As if she had swallowed several heated stones, the depths of her heart kept burning hot.

“What, what’s wrong? Why are you like this?!”

Meanwhile, startled Cecilia turned back to Milena in a fluster.

“Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?”

That wasn’t all.

The other Lusert family members, who had been warmly sharing their inner thoughts with each other, also turned their attention to Milena.

“Milena, what’s wrong?”

The Duke cautiously asked as their representative.

Milena kept wiping around her eyes while sniffling.

“No, *sob*, it’s nothing at all.”

However, given that she was sobbing like this, Milena’s words weren’t particularly credible.

“If it’s nothing, then why are you crying? Really.”

Cecilia was busy comforting Milena,

“What are you doing? Come over here quickly.”

Elias also quickly added his words.

Milena pretended to give in and was led by Cecilia toward her family.

“Oh my, your eyes are already swollen.”

The Duchess wiped away Milena’s tears.

“At this rate, you’ll look like a goldfish tomorrow.”

Elias giggled as he teased Milena.

“Really, don’t tease me, Oppa.”

Milena, who had been scolding him, suddenly froze.

Usually, she had consciously called him ‘Oppa,’ but this time was different.

She truly felt Elias as family.

“What? Why are you suddenly looking at me with those eyes?”

“What’s wrong with my eyes?”

“Just, they’re a bit too intense, I guess…?”

Elias answered with a shudder.

Upon hearing those words, Milena’s eyes turned triangular.

“Really, do you have to say things like that?”

Then Elias chuckled and ruffled Milena’s hair, messing it up.

“Yeah, be prickly like that. Don’t try to create some mood.”

“Ah, you’re ruining my hair!”

As she bickered back and forth with Elias like this, Milena humbly acknowledged it.

That was right.

At last, she too had gained a new family.

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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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