I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 94

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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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“Our Milena, why have you become such a spoiled child while I wasn’t looking?”

At the warm, familiar scent that brushed past my nose, my heart suddenly felt heavy with emotion.

After burying my face in Mother’s embrace for a long while, I lifted my head with teary eyes.

“Mother, why are you so thin?”

Really, our mother’s waist had become just a handful!

She used to be much fuller than she is now!

“Thin? This girl.”

Mother slapped my back and laughed heartily.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about – I’ve been eating and resting so well that I’ve gotten quite a belly.”

However, contrary to her gruff words, Mother’s eyes had also become moist.

But Mother.

I hate the thought of even 1g of you disappearing from this world.

Just as I was clinging to Mother once again.

“Hello, Lady Rosie.”

Cecilia approached gracefully, lifting the hem of her dress as she curtsied elegantly.

It was the most respectful etiquette for addressing a superior.

“I am Cecilia von Lusert, Milena’s older sister.”

“Oh, Princess Lusert!”

Mother, startled, hurriedly tried to return the courtesy, albeit clumsily.

Then Cecilia waved her hands dismissively.

“Please don’t. You’re Milena’s mother, so it’s only right that I should greet you.”

“B-but still.”

Mother didn’t know what to do and returned Cecilia’s greeting.

“Our daughter has been greatly indebted to you, Princess.”

Then Cecilia smiled warmly.

“Not at all. If anything, I’m always receiving great help from Milena.”

“…”

At those words, I stared at Cecilia with wide eyes.

I didn’t expect her to say something like that!

Meanwhile, Cecilia seemed a bit embarrassed and quietly averted her gaze.

‘What, how cute!’

I chuckled inwardly.

As we were chatting pleasantly like this.

Another carriage stopped in front of the villa.

“Oh my?”

Mother’s eyes widened slightly.

At the same time, the carriage door opened and a young man appeared.

His jet-black hair fluttered nicely in the wind.

The young man, who had been looking around, softened his eyes the moment he spotted me.

“Ah, Princess Milena.”

At that title, Mother looked at me with fresh eyes.

Then she whispered quietly in my ear.

“Milena, who is that person?”

“Um, well.”

I rolled my eyes around.

Our mother was already feeling burdened just meeting Cecilia.

Would she really be able to not feel burdened when meeting a prince?

I pondered for a moment but tried to answer as nonchalantly as possible.

“That’s His Highness the Second Prince.”

“…”

Mother froze stiff like a wooden doll.

Her lips just moved like a fish.

“P-P-Prince?!”

“Good day, Lady Rosie.”

Rudrick approached with large strides and bowed politely.

“I am Rudrick Argent del Hessenberg. Please feel free to call me Rudrick.”

Well, if I may make a personal observation here.

That name is not comfortable at all.

To think someone has the empire’s very name as their surname.

‘How incredibly grand, isn’t it?’

Meanwhile, Mother, frozen stiff, looked at me desperately.

“M-M-Milena…?”

Oh no, our mother has lost her mind!

I quickly linked arms with Mother.

“Mother, the Second Prince is my teacher.”

“Teacher?”

“I wrote about it in a letter before. That I got a teacher who teaches me magic.”

So relax, okay?

I patted Mother’s arm with that meaning.

Only then did Mother come to her senses and smile awkwardly at Rudrick.

“I’m Rosie. Our daughter said she learned a lot from Your Highness the Second Prince.”

Mother then bowed her head to Rudrick.

“Thank you so much for teaching our daughter so attentively.”

“N-not at all.”

Rudrick also flustered and bowed his head in return.

Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen Rudrick so flustered.

“Rather, I’m truly delighted to have such an excellent student as Princess Milena.”

Rudrick answered courteously.

At those words, our mother’s expression relaxed a little.

“I-is that so? Is our Milena keeping up well with her lessons?”

“Of course. She follows the lessons so well that I always look forward to the time I spend teaching Princess Milena.”

Rudrick answered properly.

“I’m so relieved to hear that.”

Mother smiled with a relieved face and stepped back.

“I’ve kept the guests standing outside for too long. Please come inside.”

And so we headed into the villa.

* * *

Milena left with her adoptive mother, saying they would catch up.

Cecilia and Rudrick dispersed to their respective guest rooms.

And so, currently.

“Phew.”

Left alone, Rudrick let out a big sigh.

‘Why am I so nervous?’

Princess Milena’s adoptive mother.

Just that fact alone made his shoulders stiffen.

He wanted to make a good impression somehow.

‘Come to think of it… the Princess said before that she had written a letter to Lady Rosie.’

What did she write?

What does she think of me?

His thoughts kept wandering on their own.

Milena.

Her smile kept flickering before his eyes.

“….”

Rudrick unconsciously clenched his fists tight.

His heart was stirring restlessly.

* * *

That evening.

Milena, who had just come down to the dining room, felt her nose tingle.

“Mother, this is….”

Hot tomato stew with large chunks of potato, beef, and carrots.

White, soft bread.

And even a crisp salad topped with fruit and mayonnaise sauce.

“How is it, Milena?”

Rosie quietly spoke to her daughter.

“Since we came all this way, I made some food that our Milena likes.”

“….”

Milena took a deep breath.

And for good reason, since this menu was the special meal the mother and daughter had shared on happy days.

Beef was a bit expensive, so it wasn’t easy to put so much into a stew like this.

The soft white bread to dip in the stew broth, and the fruit salad too.

All of it was a menu that brought back memories of the past.

Moreover, tears welled up at the fact that Mother had made all this food herself.

“Oh my, Milena?”

Meanwhile, Rosie’s eyes widened as she casually looked back at Milena, who was unusually quiet.

Rosie hurriedly stroked her daughter’s back.

“Why are you crying, hmm?”

“No, it’s just….”

Her nose kept stinging and her throat felt hot.

Milena bit down hard on her molars.

“Did Mother make all this yourself? Why did you go through such trouble?”

She wanted to say only nice things to Mother, but it wasn’t going as she wished.

Milena sniffled as she continued speaking.

“When you’re not feeling well… we didn’t need to eat something like this.”

Rosie smiled gently upon hearing Milena’s complaints.

“Well, it’s because I wanted to feed our daughter something delicious.”

“Mother.”

Milena couldn’t hold back anymore and clung to her mother.

“Oh my, what’s this? It’s okay, it wasn’t hard at all.”

Rosie gently patted Milena’s back.

“Didn’t the doctor say so? That Mother has gotten much better.”

…Of course, that was true, but.

Milena sniffled quietly.

Rosie smiled and pushed her daughter toward her seat.

“So hurry and sit down, okay? The guests are waiting too.”

Upon hearing those words, Milena quickly lifted her head.

‘Oh, right. Cecilia and Rudrick are here too?!’

It was because she belatedly felt a bit embarrassed.

Cecilia, who had approached her younger sister’s side, smiled brightly.

“You finally met Mother after so long, but what are you going to do if you just keep crying like this?”

“…Sister.”

“You know your eyes get all puffy when you cry like this?”

Cecilia playfully scolded Milena.

“You should only show Mother your smiling face. Right?”

“Princess Cecilia is right.”

Just then, Rudrick, who had been restlessly watching the situation, quickly chimed in.

Cecilia glanced at Rudrick with a coy look, but didn’t particularly scold him.

After all, comforting Milena was the priority.

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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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