I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 83

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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 carefully folded the letter in my hand and put it into the envelope.

Then I was about to open the next letter.

“What’s wrong?”

Cecilia asked me perceptively.

With a stiff expression, I showed her the next envelope.

“That’s…”

Cecilia frowned after checking the name written on the envelope.

“It’s from the Empress?”

I nodded and looked down at the envelope in my hand with a complicated gaze.

‘What business would the Empress have contacting me?’

Well, objectively speaking, my relationship with the Empress isn’t awkward.

It’s just that since the First Prince is somewhat uncomfortable, the Empress, being his mother, isn’t exactly comfortable either.

Moreover.

‘Rudrick and the Empress mother and son have the worst relationship.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly and carefully opened the envelope.

Inside was an elegant invitation.

To dear Princess Milena.

This is the first time I’m greeting you through writing.

I would like to invite you to the May Flower Gathering, so I’m sending this invitation.

May Flower Gathering?

I tilted my head at the unfamiliar name.

Noticing this, Cecilia provided an explanation from beside me.

“It’s a gathering that the Empress personally operates.”

According to her explanation, it was like this.

It’s a social gathering for ladies that the Empress directly hosts.

Attending the gathering itself gives the feeling of being ‘a lady selected by the Empress.’

Generally, it’s considered an honor.

Separately, what bothered me was.

Since Princess Milena will be newly attending this time, I’m also paying attention to the gathering in various ways.

It will surely be enjoyable.

This completely excludes the assumption that I might refuse, doesn’t it?

I frowned and read the next sentence with narrowed eyes.

Also, since Princess Cecilia is already a member of the gathering, please come together this time.

Just in case you’re wondering, there won’t be any uncomfortable incidents.

Hm?

My eyes widened as I looked at Cecilia.

“Um, sister.”

“Yes?”

“According to the Empress, you’re also a member of this gathering.”

“That’s right.”

For someone readily admitting it, Cecilia’s expression doesn’t look very good, does it?

I carefully asked a question.

“She says there won’t be any uncomfortable incidents this time. Do you know what that means?”

“Ah.”

Cecilia, who had been blinking quietly, soon gave a bitter smile.

“Well, Countess Cornelius was also a member of this gathering.”

At the same time, I recalled the content from the original story.

More precisely, it was a scene where Cecilia was reminiscing about the past.

“At the ladies’ gathering, I was always left out. Like water and oil, we could never mix.”

It seems that gathering was the ‘May Flower Gathering.’

And the person who mainly ostracized Cecilia was probably…

‘The Countess, I suppose.’

My mood suddenly sank.

Separately, the fact that the Empress confidently says ‘there won’t be any uncomfortable incidents’ means.

“Then does that mean the Countess won’t be attending at all this time?”

“Can you let me see the invitation?”

Cecilia took the invitation from me and read it carefully.

And.

“It does seem that way.”

Cecilia, who handed the invitation back to me, narrowed her eyes.

“How should I put it, the Empress is pushing quite hard.”

“Pushing hard?”

“Yes. The House of Cornelius is quite a prestigious family, yet she’s not even inviting the daughter of such a family.”

“Then would it be good to attend this time?”

“Actually, outright refusing would mean making an enemy of the imperial family. Besides, since the Empress has prepared so carefully, we should go. However.”

Cecilia concluded with a cold expression.

“Personally, I think it’s better not to get too close to the Empress.”

“Why is that?”

“Because there’s no guarantee that the Empress’s goodwill is pure.”

Quietly sunken blue-green eyes looked directly at me.

“The Empress is more likely to see you as ‘Princess of Lusert’ rather than as ‘Milena.'”

“That means…”

“As much as the Empress shows you favor, she’ll expect favor to return to her. And she’ll guide your favor toward the First Prince.”

Cecilia concluded clearly with a sunken voice.

“Just like how the Empress and the First Prince once courted me.”

…So Cecilia knew about it too.

Well, Cecilia was quite clever, befitting the original story’s female protagonist.

The reason she was obsessed with the First Prince in the original story was.

‘Because of Milena, the original me.’

Because she was under pressure in various ways due to the original Milena, she tried to hold onto the First Prince even more to strengthen her position.

But now she doesn’t need to prove herself as a princess.

So she’s probably able to think more flexibly.

When I gently reached out and placed my hand on top of Cecilia’s, she looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Even if, as you say, the Empress approached me with impure intentions.”

I met her gaze and smiled warmly.

“Still, you’ll be by my side, won’t you, sister?”

At those words, Cecilia flinched.

Then she seemed to avoid my gaze slightly.

“Well, anyway, I was invited too. I can’t not attend.”

I suppressed the laughter that was about to burst out.

This is totally a tsundere line like ‘It’s not like I’m going because of you or anything’!

Besides, Cecilia wasn’t finished speaking yet.

“This is your first time attending such a gathering. What if you make a mistake? You might even tarnish the family name.”

Cecilia added with unnecessary primness.

However, to summarize that statement in one line.

‘She’s worried about me.’

I gently squeezed Cecilia’s hand that I was holding.

“You know what? I feel reassured having you with me, sister.”

“…”

At those words, Cecilia fidgeted with the hand I was holding.

Then, as if slyly avoiding my gaze, she whispered in a voice as small as an ant crawling.

“Me too.”

“Pardon?”

“Me too… I’m more comfortable with you there than going alone.”

At the same time, I saw it.

Cecilia’s earlobes turning a faint red as she turned her head away.

“Anyway, attending imperial events requires caution. Even with this gathering, if we’re not careful, rumors might spread that you support the First Prince too.”

In this moment, I realized one of Cecilia’s habits.

When embarrassed or flustered, she was the type to ramble on with nagging…

Cecilia glanced at me sideways as she concluded her words.

“Of course, if you truly like the First Prince with all your heart, then that’s different.”

“Ugh, as if that would happen.”

Listening to the stream of nagging, I unconsciously grew serious.

Then Cecilia smiled mischievously.

“Right? Actually, I’m not too fond of the First Prince either.”

“You too, sister?”

“Yes. Honestly, he acts too superior. Remember before, how he asked me to be his partner as if he was bestowing some great favor?”

Cecilia said this with an innocent face and a flat tone.

Meanwhile, listening to her grumbling, I realized anew.

‘My relationship with Cecilia has really changed so much.’

Once, I had thought of Cecilia merely as the ‘female protagonist.’

But now, Cecilia felt less like a ‘female protagonist’ and more like an older sister I’d been living with for a long time.

Just as I was getting lost in these warm feelings.

Knock knock.

A knocking sound rang out.

Shortly after, Mathilde entered the drawing room and bowed her head.

“Lady Cecilia, the Teacher has arrived.”

“Ah, I’ll be right there.”

Cecilia gracefully rose from her seat.

Now Cecilia no longer cowered or shrank back before lessons with the Teacher.

That sight was very pleasing to see.

I smiled brightly.

“Have a good lesson, sister.”

“You too, Milena. Don’t forget the homework Rudrick assigned.”

“Ugh.”

Milena and Cecilia parted ways like that.

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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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