I’m The Real Daughter, But I Don’t Want To Go Back To The Duke’s Estate - Chapter 99

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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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Extremely tense, I clung tightly to Rudrick.

Rudrick gently comforted me.

“There’s no need to worry. I’m right here with you, aren’t I?”

And so Rudrick and I strolled back and forth across the emerald sea.

With each step I took, white foam rose beneath my feet.

I had worried about falling below the surface, but unexpectedly, that didn’t happen.

Rather, it felt like stepping on solid ground.

Just then.

“Wow, look at those fish over there!”

I opened my eyes wide and crouched down on the surface.

Colorful tropical fish were swimming close enough to almost touch.

Below them was a massive coral colony.

A tiny fish approached close enough to seemingly peck at my feet, then quickly turned and disappeared.

I carefully put my hand into the seawater.

The sensation of lukewarm seawater touching my fingers was refreshing.

“My goodness, it’s so beautiful…”

Rudrick watched me enjoying myself with warm eyes.

Just then.

As I crouched on the sea, I glanced up at Rudrick.

“But, Teacher.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t it wasteful to use your abilities like this?”

“Like this, what do you mean?”

“Well… I’m grateful that you’re using it for me, of course, but isn’t it a bit excessive?”

At that, Rudrick tilted his head.

His face showed he truly didn’t understand.

“I wonder? I’ve never thought about it that way. Isn’t it enough if Princess is happy?”

“…”

It’s enough if I’m happy.

I had never even imagined such an answer.

While performing the tremendous miracle of walking on water, he said only my mood was most important.

…Somehow my heart felt touched.

I poked at the seawater with my finger for no reason, then asked Rudrick.

“Come to think of it, Teacher. What principle makes this work?”

“Ah, it’s a form of thinly overlaying the water with a magical barrier.”

Overlaying with a barrier?

Suddenly, fantasy novels I had read in my previous life came to mind.

In those, mages would magnificently block attacks with defensive magic, right?

I unconsciously spoke up.

“Couldn’t this be made in the form of a defensive barrier?”

“A defensive barrier?”

Rudrick looked puzzled.

Hmm, maybe that concept hasn’t been properly established yet?

I waved my arms around as I continued speaking.

“What I mean is, spreading magic power thinly to create a barrier around me.”

“A barrier?”

“Yes. Like that, to block external attacks…”

Suddenly Rudrick’s eyes widened greatly.

“So what Princess is saying is.”

Rudrick raised his hand.

A faint light spread from his fingertips, rippling like transparent curtains.

“Then the magical array would be like this… Hmm, no. Rather than that, this way…”

Rudrick, who had been manipulating magic power this way and that, turned to me with sparkling eyes.

“My goodness, are you a genius, Princess? How did you think of this…!”

Embarrassment spread across Rudrick’s face as he got excited.

“Oh my, I only talked about myself.”

“Not at all. I know well that Teacher is serious about magic.”

I shook my head and smiled brightly.

“That’s why I respect you, Teacher.”

At those words, Rudrick’s eyes sparkled like stars.

A moment later.

“…I’m truly happy that you say that.”

It was a happy voice, as if he had gathered all the joy in the world.

* * *

The dreamlike time in the south had all come to an end.

Now it was time to return to the capital.

Incidentally, Rudrick didn’t return with us.

Using what I had mentioned as a clue, he would conduct research at the Southern Mage Tower Branch for a while.

Still, he said he would come up around winter, apologizing for not being able to conduct proper lessons for a while.

And the thing he handed me was amazing.

“Here, it’s a schedule.”

“Pardon?”

“While I’m away, you can practice according to this.”

…Really, isn’t he too serious about my lessons?

Well, I’ve now learned how to handle magic power to some extent.

If I just practice according to the schedule Rudrick made, it probably won’t matter much.

‘I feel a bit disappointed.’

I naturally thought he would return together with us.

Pouting my lips for no reason, I turned to look at Mother.

‘Sob, I have to part with our Mother again already.’

Feeling my nose sting, I spread my arms wide and pulled Mother into a hug.

“Motherrrr.”

“This child, acting disgusting when she’s all grown up.”

Mother scolded me with her words but hugged me back.

Then she looked at Cecilia with earnest eyes.

“Please continue to take good care of our Milena.”

“Of course, Milena is my little sister.”

Cecilia readily answered that way.

My heart felt touched once again.

‘I see.’

To Cecilia, I’ve completely become her little sister.

And so our party boarded the carriage.

“Travel safely, Milena!”

Mother called out with a tearful voice.

I also stuck my head out the carriage window and shouted loudly.

“I’ll see you again soon!”

Finally the carriage began to move.

I gazed endlessly at Mother growing distant beyond the carriage window.

Mother’s waving figure grew farther and farther away, finally becoming a tiny dot.

Only then did I pull myself back into the carriage.

Well, I know that if I put my mind to it, I can see Mother again.

Still, now that we’re actually parting like this… my feelings weren’t entirely pleasant.

But then.

‘Hm?’

Something felt strange.

Cecilia, sitting across from me, was staring at me intently with an extremely complicated expression.

“Sister Cecilia.”

Cecilia flinched and stiffened her shoulders.

I tilted my head curiously.

“Do you perhaps have something you’d like to say?”

“…”

Cecilia moved her lips slightly for a moment.

As if she had something to say, but it wasn’t properly organized in her head.

After some time passed like that.

“You know, Milena.”

Cecilia carefully opened her mouth.

“Are you… really going to leave the Lusert Estate in three years?”

Three years?

After being confused for a moment, I soon realized what Cecilia was talking about.

She was probably referring to the contract I had made with Father when I first entered the Duke’s household.

“Why do you ask? Do you perhaps want me to leave sooner?”

Cecilia, who had been glaring at me with sulky eyes, shot back sharply.

“There’s no way that’s true.”

Then she muttered in a tiny voice like an ant crawling.

“You said… you wanted to go to Mother’s side. So…”

“Hmm, so.”

I grinned and looked directly at Cecilia.

“You don’t like the idea of me leaving?”

“…”

At that question, Cecilia looked like she’d been hit right on target.

“Of course I wouldn’t like it.”

Cecilia immediately turned her head away primly.

“Who would want to be separated from their little sister?”

“…”

My smile deepened a little more.

I replied cheekily.

“Well, I’m not sure yet. I’m still thinking about it.”

Then Cecilia, startled, quickly lifted her head.

“Are you really thinking of leaving in three years?”

“Well, even if I return to Mother’s side. The fact that you and I are sisters won’t change, right?”

“…That’s true, but.”

Cecilia answered quietly and cast her gaze out the window.

She glared at the window for no reason and whispered softly.

“Still… I wish you wouldn’t.”

“What? What did you say?”

“…”

Cecilia whipped around to look at me.

Then she widened her eyes and raised her voice loudly.

“I said I don’t want you to go!”

Seeing Cecilia’s reddened cheeks, my heart tickled unbearably.

I moved to sit next to Cecilia and pulled her into my arms.

“Sisteeeer.”

“Oh, really!”

Cecilia grimaced and reflexively tried to push me away.

But that was only for a moment.

Cecilia relaxed and quietly settled into my embrace.

“Sister?”

I blinked blankly.

Then Cecilia wrapped both arms around me tightly.

“Don’t go.”

“…”

How much courage must Cecilia have needed to say these words?

My heart felt warm.

I quietly leaned into Cecilia.

And whispered softly in her ear.

“Sister, Mathilde is watching us. Aren’t you embarrassed?”

Cecilia’s face, which was already red, now turned as red as a ripe tomato.

“Oh, really!”

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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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