Chapter 14
In truth, Cecilia had expected this.
Now that Milena—who was highly likely to be their real daughter—had appeared, there was probably no longer any need for her.
Even though she had gone so far as to run away, they had not scolded her at all.
They had simply told her to step aside…
‘Perhaps… it’s because they no longer expect anything from me.’
A bitter taste lingered on the tip of her tongue.
She might be abandoned at any moment.
The fear that seemed to close around her throat made Cecilia take a shallow breath.
That was precisely why—
‘I have to behave flawlessly as Lucert’s princess.’
Hadn’t she already caused trouble once?
She could not afford to become a burdensome nuisance any longer.
She had to hold her breath, watch carefully, and become someone who fit perfectly into her family’s expectations.
“Thank you, Father.”
Cecilia quickly lowered herself into a bow.
The Duke, who had been silently watching his daughter, added in an indifferent tone,
“I will send Madam Howard to you, so tell her if there is anything you need or if you are uncomfortable.”
For a fleeting moment, Cecilia’s shoulders stiffened.
Rationally, she understood.
Her father was trying to be considerate by sending Madam Howard to her.
So—
‘Don’t show it.’
She must not reveal even the slightest sign that Madam Howard made her uncomfortable.
After all, between a trusted nanny who had earned the Duke family’s confidence and an inadequate adopted daughter who never quite met expectations…
It was obvious whose words they would believe more.
Cecilia obediently answered once more.
“Yes, Father.”
And just before she left the room—
Cecilia glanced back.
Her turquoise eyes captured the sight of her family gathered around Milena as though it were a seal pressed permanently into her heart.
Their gazes as they looked upon Milena were overflowing with joy.
The moment Cecilia confirmed that, her own eyes darkened.
“……”
Her instincts whispered to her.
…That she would never, ever be able to belong among them.
The first thing I felt was pain.
My head throbbed as though it were splitting apart.
At the same time, every muscle in my body ached as if someone had thoroughly stomped all over me.
“Ugh…”
A groan escaped me instinctively.
Then, someone cried out in a voice as bright and melodious as a songbird.
“Oh my goodness, she’s awake!”
I froze.
‘What? Who is that?’
It was a voice I had never heard before.
Startled, I forced my heavy eyelids open.
My blurry vision gradually sharpened.
The very first thing I saw was a noblewoman.
Her radiant blonde hair was elegantly pinned up, and despite her middle age, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
She looked like the sort of woman who must have made countless gentlemen weep in her youth…
…Which was not the important part right now.
There was a far bigger problem.
‘W-what is this?’
The issue was that this noblewoman was staring down at me with tears brimming in her eyes!
Why?!
“My child, are you alright?”
The noblewoman immediately clasped my hand.
Her palm was astonishingly soft, as though she had never done a day of hard labor in her life.
Caught off guard, I nodded.
“Y-yes…”
It was true.
Though my entire body felt sore, as if I had spent hours scrubbing floors on my hands and knees, I thought I would recover if I just rested.
But the real problem was—
The moment I answered, tears rolled down the noblewoman’s cheeks.
I nearly had a heart attack.
‘Excuse me, but why are you crying?!’
Just as I was screaming internally—
“My lady, are you alright?”
A gentleman spoke gently to her.
But the moment I saw the color of his eyes as he looked at her, something about them struck me as strangely familiar.
A deep green, like the lush foliage of midsummer.
And in that instant—
A bolt of shock struck me.
‘No way?!’
Horrified, I stared back and forth between the two of them.
Golden hair bright as spring sunlight.
Deep green eyes.
Separately, neither trait was especially rare.
But if a married couple possessed both…
‘T-The Duke and Duchess of Lucert?!’
The beautiful noblewoman with blonde hair and violet eyes.
Even in middle age, she was stunningly graceful and pure, like the ideal lady painted in a masterpiece.
And beside her stood a middle-aged gentleman with reddish-brown hair.
His sharp green eyes gleamed like a hawk surveying the heavens.
His upright posture radiated the unmistakable dignity of nobility.
And then, as if that weren’t enough, a handsome young man suddenly leaned into view.
“Mother, are you alright?!”
After carefully checking on the Duchess, the young man whipped his gaze toward me.
His vivid violet eyes strongly resembled the Duchess’s.
And above his smooth forehead fell reddish-brown hair that was practically a copy of the Duke’s.
No matter how I looked at it—
This was exactly the Lucert ducal family as described in the original novel!
‘I’m doomed.’
A chill ran down my spine, cold sweat pouring over me.
That’s right.
After trying so desperately to avoid them—
I had finally come face to face with the Lucert ducal family!!
“M-May I ask… what is your name?”
The Duchess wiped away her tears and carefully asked me.
Sneaking a cautious glance at her, I answered hesitantly.
“M-Milena.”
“Milena… Milena…”
She repeated my name over and over, and her face twisted with sorrow.
As though the very name “Milena” did not suit me.
After a long pause—
“…What a truly beautiful name.”
Forcing the corners of her lips upward, the Duchess smiled sadly.
Then the Duke cautiously asked,
“Do you happen to remember what occurred earlier?”
“Pardon?”
“I heard that you saved our Cecilia. Witnesses nearby said a powerful wind blew around you.”
At that moment, my blood ran cold.
Because a passage from the original novel flashed through my mind.
Cecilia’s eyes shook violently.
‘It’s me. I’ve come back!’
The blonde girl smiled brightly and unleashed her supernatural power without hesitation.
The gentle wind she summoned swept once around the vast garden before softly brushing against the Duchess’s cheek.
Drip.
A thick tear fell from the Duchess’s chin.
‘Chesya… my daughter…’
The instant that affectionate nickname—one Cecilia had never once been allowed to hear—was given to that radiant blonde girl instead…
Cecilia understood.
At that very moment, Cecilia was no longer “Lucert’s daughter.”
‘T-This can’t be happening.’
It felt like stepping directly on a landmine.
Somehow, it seemed I had awakened the Lucert family’s supernatural power!
‘I need time to think.’
If I rushed to deal with this situation carelessly and made even one mistake, it would be disastrous.
Coming to that conclusion, I instinctively played dumb.
“I-I’m sorry, but I don’t really understand what you mean.”
“Milena?”
“Um, my mother must be worried, so I should return home now—ugh!”
In my haste, I shook my head and tried to rise from the bed—
Only to collapse right back down.
Immediately, the Duchess caught me.
“My child, are you alright?”
“Do not move so suddenly. You are likely suffering severe muscle pain.”
The Duke hurriedly stopped me.
The Duchess carefully eased me back onto the bed.
“That’s right. They say there’s always backlash after using magic.”
And even the handsome young man spoke to me kindly.
Every single person in this room was worried about me.
But for some reason…
My stomach twisted.
‘There’s someone else you should be worrying about before me.’
Why isn’t that person here?
I mean Cecilia!
