I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 86

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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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Rudrick clenched his molars tightly.

His childhood was now over.

He no longer needed to depend on the imperial family to survive.

…Yet still, the Emperor before his eyes felt like a towering wall.

“Anyway, the reason I called you here today after so long is.”

The Emperor leisurely leaned back in his chair.

Then he stared at Rudrick with sharp eyes.

“You saved the Lusert family this time, didn’t you? At that spring outing.”

The Emperor lifted the corners of his lips.

“Well done. It’s not easy to put the Rusert Ducal Family in your debt.”

“…”

Even though he was clearly being praised for doing well, he didn’t feel particularly good about it.

Meanwhile, the Emperor, unaware of Rudrick’s feelings, smiled with his eyes.

“So, you’ve been teaching Princess Milena recently?”

“That’s correct.”

“Have you formed a good relationship?”

“What do you mean by that…”

“I’m asking if the Princess follows you well.”

Rudrick desperately maintained an expressionless face.

And for good reason, since the Emperor before him was somewhat disgusting.

The Emperor was always like this.

Rather than viewing others as individual human beings, he judged them according to his own needs.

Of course, he knew that was also one of the qualities of a ruler.

But…

‘I also acted that way toward Princess Milena before.’

If Milena hadn’t pointed it out, he probably would never have noticed.

Rudrick took a short breath and opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t approach the Princess with such intentions.”

“What?”

The Emperor’s eyes became as sharp as broken glass shards.

However, Rudrick didn’t stop speaking.

“I am the Princess’s teacher. Naturally, I should care about my student’s achievements and wish for my student’s safety.”

“Rudrick.”

“I acted with such intentions, without any ulterior motives.”

Rudrick concluded his words definitively.

The Emperor furrowed his brow sharply.

Once upon a time, whenever the Emperor made such an expression, his heart would sink.

Even just once, he had hoped that such a father would look back at him.

But now…

“That’s just like you.”

The Emperor clicked his tongue and muttered in a displeased tone.

‘Yes, I knew father would be like this.’

Rudrick also harbored bitter laughter.

“For once I thought you handled something well, but you’re spouting naive nonsense again.”

“Your Majesty.”

“That’s why you’re unqualified to be a ruler.”

The Emperor, who spat out the words, waved his hand dismissively as if annoyed.

“Enough, withdraw.”

“…”

Actually, the reason Rudrick had come to see the Emperor today was to discuss the Mage Tower Master’s suspicious behavior and seek some solution.

But seeing this state, it seemed like today too, he wouldn’t listen to his words at all.

‘I’m an idiot for expecting anything.’

Rudrick, who mocked himself inwardly, bowed his head deeply.

“Then I shall withdraw now.”

“…”

And the Emperor didn’t give Rudrick a single glance until he left the room.

* * *

Rudrick crossed the long corridor of the Imperial Palace with a bitter smile.

‘What exactly was I expecting?’

That His Majesty would listen to my words?

And thus correct the wrongs of the Mage Tower?

‘I was being naive again.’

Just as Rudrick was chewing on deep self-loathing.

“Ahaha!”

Cheerful laughter like a young bird echoed through the air.

Rudrick unconsciously raised his head.

Lost in thought as he walked, he had somehow come outside the Imperial Palace.

‘Those people are…’

In the distance, he could see noble young ladies all gathered together walking.

Under the clear early summer sunlight, the colorful dress hems of the young ladies stood out vividly.

‘Why have so many young ladies entered the palace?’

Rudrick looked at the scene with a puzzled expression.

Meanwhile, the young ladies, completely unaware of Rudrick’s gaze, chattered away.

“This is my first time visiting the Four Seasons Garden.”

“It’s thanks to the Empress.”

“Goodness, I never thought I’d get to attend the ‘May Flower’ gathering.”

At the same time, Rudrick’s eyes turned cold.

“May Flower Gathering”

It was a gathering Rudrick knew well.

A gathering where the Empress selected only young ladies from influential families to build relationships periodically.

However, Rudrick didn’t particularly like that gathering.

Because he knew the Empress subtly pitted the young ladies against each other through this gathering.

The young ladies who attended the gathering had a subtle sense of superiority over the majority of young ladies who couldn’t attend.

Also, the Empress manipulated them by exploiting the anxiety of young ladies who wanted to attend the gathering.

Of course, he knew that was also what the Emperor called ‘the qualities of a ruler.’

But…

‘Let’s go back.’

A deep sense of disillusionment washed over him.

Rudrick was about to turn around and leave.

At that moment, if he hadn’t heard one young lady’s voice, he surely would have.

“Come to think of it, Countess Cornelius didn’t attend at all this time.”

Countess Cornelius?

Even Rudrick, who rarely involved himself in social circles, was not unaware of Countess Cornelius’s fame.

And that the Empress usually maintained quite an intimate relationship with the Countess.

“Isn’t it probably because of Princess Cecilia?”

“That would mean the Empress values the Rusert Ducal Family more than the House of Cornelius, wouldn’t it?”

Rudrick’s ears perked up.

What they were saying meant that Cecilia had attended this gathering.

And if that was the case…

‘Princess Milena might have attended too.’

As if to confirm his suspicions, a new group appeared from the distance.

Milena and Cecilia, the Empress, and Prince Benjamin.

‘Princess Milena.’

Rudrick stared at Milena as if entranced.

Today’s Milena was dressed in a light sky-blue dress, her long blonde hair tied high with a blue ribbon.

The way her hair swayed rhythmically looked quite cheerful.

Somehow, she looked so dazzling that…

“So, His Majesty the Emperor gave me great praise.”

At that moment.

Rudrick snapped back to his senses as if doused with cold water.

The owner of that voice was Prince Benjamin.

“Ah, did he really?”

“It feels a bit embarrassing to praise myself like this, but I’m simply stating facts. You can’t imagine how pleased His Majesty the Emperor was.”

Prince Benjamin was sticking close to Milena’s side, speaking passionately.

Milena was listening to his words with a faint smile.

“…”

Rudrick clenched his molars tightly.

Why was it?

Seeing Milena and Prince Benjamin standing side by side, why did his insides twist like this?

* * *

I forcibly swallowed a yawn that was about to escape by biting my tongue.

‘Wow, what’s with this guy bragging about himself all day long?’

According to Prince Benjamin, he was the Empire’s greatest horseman and knight, a poet who overwhelmed all the Empire’s poets, and an unparalleled scholar who debated with political scientists on all matters.

‘But if you’re such an amazing person, why haven’t you received the crown prince investiture yet?’

…I shouldn’t ask that, should I?

I glanced sideways at the Empress who was sticking close to her son’s side.

And as soon as I looked in that direction, I made a disgusted expression.

That was because the Empress was nodding continuously with a satisfied, gentle smile.

‘No way, even when he’s bragging like that, she’s not stopping him but just staying quiet?’

More precisely, she had an expression that showed she was so proud of her son she couldn’t help herself.

‘Wow, this is driving me crazy.’

With an empty expression, I repeated the praise I had given about five times on the way here.

“His Majesty the Emperor must have been really pleased.”

“Of course. Honestly, besides me, is there anyone else Father trusts?”

Prince Benjamin spoke confidently.

Just when Cecilia and I were trying hard to hide our fed-up expressions.

“Oh, is this the Four Seasons Garden?”

One of the young ladies exclaimed in a lively voice.

The Empress nodded gracefully.

“Yes, this is the Four Seasons Garden. I hope it pleases the young ladies.”

That’s right.

We had finally arrived at the Four Seasons Garden.

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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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