I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 87

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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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True to its reputation as a famous attraction of the imperial palace, the garden was beautifully decorated.

When I had come before, the various flowers planted in grid patterns had been a spectacular sight, but now the garden trees, lush with early summer’s vitality, were growing abundantly.

And as soon as I laid eyes on this garden…

‘What is Rudrick doing right now?’

I unconsciously thought of Rudrick.

Because he was the first person to bring me to the Four Seasons Garden.

Back then, I had seen the lilacs in full bloom with Rudrick.

The sweet fragrance that penetrated deep into my lungs, and the soft petals that touched my fingertips.

And.

“Princess, you seem to have a very harmonious relationship with your family.”

When he said that, Rudrick’s bitter smile…

I, who had been lost in thought for a moment, suddenly came to my senses at the chattering voices of the young ladies.

“My goodness, it’s so beautiful.”

“The Four Seasons Garden – isn’t this the garden considered the most beautiful in the Empire?”

“I want to brag to the other ladies when I return. That I’ve been to the Four Seasons Garden.”

The noble young ladies were busy looking around the garden here and there, their eyes sparkling.

The Empress watched the excited young ladies with a satisfied expression.

Then she spoke gently.

“Today, I thought we’d play a game.”

“A game?”

“That’s right. It’s the ‘Forest of Monsters’ game that you all know well.”

The Forest of Monsters game.

It was a game inspired by an old legend passed down in the Empire.

A forest ruled by a cruel monster.

But treasure was hidden in that forest.

Two brave lovers went to the forest to find that treasure.

They were almost caught by the monster, but escaped safely without being captured.

Naturally, as you can tell from hearing it, it was a kind of hide-and-seek combined with treasure hunting.

“Now then, we need to decide who will be ‘it’ and who will be paired with whom.”

Just then, a maid respectfully offered a lottery box to the Empress.

It was a box with thin wooden sticks inserted in it.

The Empress, taking it, wore a strange smile.

‘Hmm?’

What’s with that smile?

I looked at the Empress with puzzled eyes.

At the same time, the Empress held out the lottery box in front of me.

“Now, there are a total of seven sticks in this box.”

According to the Empress’s explanation, it was like this:

Among the seven sticks, three pairs were painted blue, red, and green.

And the last remaining wooden stick was black.

“That’s the monster role. The role of catching the lovers who entered the forest.”

At those words, I slightly furrowed my brow.

Somehow I had a bad feeling.

What if there was some trickery with that lottery?

But then.

“It’s been a while, Empress.”

Someone greeted with an elegant voice.

At the same time, my eyes widened.

‘Rudrick?!’

The young ladies who recognized him also couldn’t hide their surprised expressions.

“It’s Lord Rudrick!”

“My goodness, I never expected to see Lord Rudrick here.”

The young ladies whispered in excited voices.

Well, a ‘Prince’ would naturally make young ladies’ hearts flutter.

Especially if that person was as smoothly handsome as the male protagonist of a novel.

However, there were those who openly disliked Rudrick’s appearance.

“…Prince 2.”

The Empress asked in a sharp voice.

“What brings you here?”

“His Majesty was looking for me.”

Rudrick answered in a calm tone.

I was slightly impressed inwardly.

‘Oh, does this mean Rudrick had a private audience with the Emperor?’

However, that answer seemed to thoroughly irritate the Empress and Prince.

Prince asked sharply.

“His Majesty was looking for you? What do you mean by that?”

Rudrick shrugged his shoulders lightly.

“He inquired about this spring’s outdoor party.”

“…”

Prince ground his teeth.

Well, from Prince’s perspective, he might be a bit annoyed.

After all, Rudrick’s reputation had improved through the spring outdoor party.

The magic Rudrick had displayed then was quite remarkable, wasn’t it?

“I see. Now that I know, you may go.”

The Empress managed her expression and responded.

However, Rudrick didn’t back down.

Rather, he seemed to look around, then looked straight at me.

Our eyes met.

‘Huh?’

Rudrick seemed to smile brightly, then.

“May I also participate in the Empress’s gathering after such a long time?”

“…What did you say?”

The Empress’s face stiffened.

On the other hand, Rudrick still had a bright, smiling face.

“I’d like to spend time together as a family after such a long time. ‘Mother.'”

Mother.

That form of address was very irritating.

The Empress tried to refuse tactfully.

“The number for the lottery doesn’t match, so it would be difficult. If possible, perhaps we could be together next time…”

But then.

A cheerful voice interrupted the conversation.

“Ah, then how about if I step out?”

It was Cecilia.

She smiled sweetly.

“The weather is a bit hot, so I’d like to rest in the shade for a while. Would that be alright?”

“…”

The Empress’s brow furrowed deeply.

But hadn’t even Cecilia indirectly expressed that they shouldn’t exclude Rudrick?

If she continued to refuse here, it might create a picture of the Empress oppressing Rudrick.

“Very well. Since Prince 2 wants it so much, how could I refuse?”

The Empress also seemed to have the same thought as she answered with a displeased expression.

I hurriedly went over to Cecilia.

“Sister, are you okay? You’re not really feeling unwell anywhere, are you?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just a little hot. Go have fun.”

Cecilia nodded and stared intently at Rudrick with a strange look in her eyes.

Receiving that gaze, Rudrick flinched and stiffened his shoulders, then quietly averted his eyes.

‘What’s this?’

Could it be that the romantic tension between the female lead and male lead is starting now?!

…Though it doesn’t seem like that kind of look.

“Now, everyone draw one. First… yes.”

Just then, the Empress’s gaze, which had been looking around at the young ladies, stopped on me.

Then she smiled sweetly and held out the container.

“Would Princess Milena like to draw? Since this is your first time attending today’s gathering.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll do that.”

I was about to draw a lot without thinking when I suddenly hesitated.

‘What? Why is she staring at me like that?’

The Empress in front of me had an expression as if she was waiting for something.

I pulled out a wooden stick with a suspicious feeling.

The bottom of the stick was painted blue.

“It’s blue. Then next, let’s have Prince draw one.”

The Empress immediately handed the container to Prince.

I narrowed my eyes.

Somehow it feels like they’re in cahoots, but maybe it’s just my imagination?

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Prince confidently stepped forward.

He grabbed a stick and showed it to everyone.

“Now, the color of my lot is…”

Suddenly, Prince’s face, which had been grinning broadly, hardened stiffly.

The color of the lot was black.

At the same time, Rudrick lowered his eyes with a grin.

“Oh my, it seems you’ve become ‘it’, brother.”

That’s right.

The black lot meant being ‘it’.

In other words, instead of pairing up with someone, Prince had become the one who had to chase after people.

At that moment, my gaze turned to Rudrick.

‘Wait, was that magic…?’

I felt magic fluctuate slightly just now.

Of course, it was such a faint movement that I might have been mistaken.

However.

“…”

“…”

When our eyes met, Rudrick gave a slightly embarrassed smile.

I narrowed my eyes.

‘This really does seem like Rudrick was involved, doesn’t it?’

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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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