I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 80
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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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Peaceful days continued.
Among these, what was particularly noteworthy was that Countess Cornelius was dragged here by her father’s hand to apologize.
Until now, Count of Lusert had been unwell and prohibited outsiders from entering, so she had only received permission to enter belatedly.
“I, I’m truly sorry, Princess Cecilia…”
Gone was that haughty demeanor from before, as the marquis’s daughter sniffled and bowed her head to Cecilia.
At the same time, Count of Cornelius also deeply bowed to Cecilia.
“Due to my poor upbringing of my child, she committed great rudeness toward Your Highness. I am deeply sorry.”
Wow, that must hurt his pride.
Milena clicked her tongue inwardly.
No matter what, he was one of the few marquises in the Empire, yet both his daughter and he himself were bowing their heads directly to Cecilia.
‘Then Cecilia is…’
Milena glanced sideways at Cecilia.
Cecilia was looking at them with an expressionless face.
Without revealing any emotion whatsoever.
“Cecilia, do as you wish with this matter.”
Count of Lusert lightly patted Cecilia’s shoulder as he said this.
Cecilia looked up at her father with a surprised expression, but,
“You suffered the greatest harm. So it’s right for you to decide the level of punishment as well.”
“B-but…”
“Also, whatever decision you make, we will support you.”
…That’s what he said, wasn’t it?
The Duchess and Elias also nodded in unison, expressing their agreement with that opinion.
And so now.
Cecilia opened her mouth in a quiet voice.
“If only I had been harmed, I might have been able to endure and let it pass. But due to this incident, our entire family nearly faced great disaster.”
Huh, could it be?
At Cecilia’s firm words, Milena blinked her eyes blankly.
‘Is she finally starting to show the qualities of the original female protagonist?’
That made sense, since Cecilia in the original work was a confident female protagonist who provided plenty of satisfying moments!
The work even had ‘#RefreshingFemale’ as one of its keywords!
“Especially the shock our father received was great, and he couldn’t get up from bed for several days. As a daughter who loves her father, and as a member of the Rusert Ducal Family…”
Cecilia looked directly at the marquis father and daughter with a cold gaze.
“This matter absolutely cannot be overlooked.”
It seemed my judgment was right on target.
Our Cecilia had finally taken a step toward becoming a refreshing female lead!
“I don’t wish for this to escalate into a matter between houses. However.”
Cecilia drew a strict line.
“From now on, at events hosted by the ducal family, Countess Cornelius will be banned from entry.”
What!
The marquis’s daughter’s eyes widened as she jerked her head up.
Befitting the Empire’s greatest noble family, the Rusert Ducal Family had quite a wide range of activities in noble society.
Of course, House of Cornelius was also a family that carried itself with some pride, so being rejected by Cecilia didn’t mean they couldn’t participate in social activities at all, but.
Nevertheless, being officially cut off from Cecilia meant that Cornelius’s range of activities would be reduced accordingly.
If a situation arose where other nobles had to choose between Lusert and Cornelius.
It was obvious which family the other nobles would choose.
“P-please forgive us just this once.”
Count of Cornelius also bowed his head, trying to somehow salvage the situation.
“It was something done by an immature child, please…!”
At that moment.
Cecilia’s eyes turned coldly sharp.
“Immature behavior, you say?”
The marquis immediately stiffened.
Cecilia, who had maintained a calm attitude throughout, now had eyes as sharp as a well-honed blade.
“Because of that immature behavior, I had to fall beneath the boat. Our father, oppa, and sister Milena all jumped into the freezing river water to save me.”
“…”
Count of Cornelius was left speechless.
But Cecilia’s words weren’t finished yet.
“I wasn’t going to mention this, but have you thought about ‘why’ Countess Cornelius pushed me out of the boat?”
What is she talking about?
Milena’s eyes widened.
I thought it was simply because there was an argument between the two of them.
Was there some other story behind it?
“I, I don’t understand what you mean…”
It seemed the marquis hadn’t heard about the related details either.
Judging by how he asked back with a bewildered expression.
Meanwhile, Cecilia, who had asked that question, glanced sideways at Cornelius.
It was a cold gaze with no warmth whatsoever.
“Why don’t you ask Countess Cornelius directly.”
The marquis’s daughter began trembling like an aspen leaf.
A face drained of all color.
Dry lips.
Just from that appearance, it was obvious that the marquis’s daughter had something to hide.
“You, what on earth did you say to Her Highness? Huh?!”
Count of Cornelius grabbed his daughter’s shoulders roughly.
The marquis’s daughter began to stammer in a trembling voice.
“I, I…”
But it was completely useless.
Watching that pitiful sight of her lips moving several times without words, Cecilia suddenly spoke with a cold expression.
“Do you really think you’re a princess?”
The marquis’s daughter flinched and stiffened her shoulders as if struck by a whip.
But Cecilia’s words didn’t stop.
“Princess Cecilia isn’t even the Duke’s biological child. If you’re clinging to the ducal family’s grace and acting like a princess, you should be grateful and live humbly.”
“Y-Your Highness…!”
The marquis’s daughter raised her voice frantically.
Looking intently into those wildly shaking eyes, Cecilia concluded clearly.
“You definitely said this. Didn’t you?”
…Are you insane?
Milena doubted her own ears.
It was so absurd that she was on the verge of letting out a hollow laugh.
How could someone say such harsh words so blatantly?
No matter what, Cecilia was a proper princess recognized by House of Lusert.
Yet, how much must she have looked down on Cecilia…!
And the family members generally felt the same way as her.
“Is that really true?”
An indignant Elias stepped forward.
“Countess Cornelius said such harsh words to you?! How could she say something so ridiculous!!”
“Elias.”
The Duchess gently restrained Elias.
But the Duchess’s gaze toward the marquis father and daughter wasn’t particularly kind either.
And.
“Count of Cornelius.”
A heavy voice fell down.
The Count of Lusert gazed at the Count of Cornelius with a cold stare.
“I cannot simply overlook what I just heard.”
“…Duke?”
“Of course, I intend to absolutely follow that child’s decision to entrust this matter to Cecilia. However.”
The Duke continued firmly.
“I believe we need to hear an official apology regarding this matter.”
“O-official, you say…”
“Don’t you know?”
The Count of Lusert twisted up the corner of his lips at an angle.
It was a sharp sneer like a well-sharpened blade.
“How official apologies proceed in noble society.”
“…”
The count’s face turned ashen.
Cecilia also widened her eyes in surprise and looked back at the Duke.
The Duke’s sneer deepened slightly.
“In the name of the House of Cornelius, apologize directly to the Rusert Ducal Family.”
An ‘official apology’ remains in the records of the Nobility Council.
That means.
What the Countess Cornelius had done would remain in the family records forever.
For a noble family that lives and dies by honor, this was naturally a very shameful matter.
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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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