Chapter 19
After that.
Duchy Lord of Lusert came out.
The duchess, who had been anxiously waiting, rose to her feet.
“Did the conversation go well, dear?”
Perhaps because there was a patient, she thought it might be uncomfortable for the whole family to rush into Milena’s room.
So, for now, only the duke had gone inside the bedroom.
“Yes, it seems to have gone fairly well.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
As she exhaled in relief and pressed a hand to her chest, the duchess suddenly widened her eyes.
A clear smile was on her usually stoic husband’s lips.
“Did something good happen?”
“No, nothing like that.”
The duke shook his head and replied with a voice tinged with amusement.
“The child is quite intelligent.”
“Intelligent?”
“Yes. When I suggested we proceed with a paternity test—well.”
The duke’s smile deepened further.
“She said we should draw up a contract.”
“A contract?”
“My goodness, a contract?”
“She said that if she turned out to be our biological child, she should serve as a daughter of the duchy for three years until her mother fully recovers. And then—”
The duke recalled Milena’s clear, ringing voice.
“If I am truly your biological child, I will devote myself as the daughter of the ducal family for three years, until my mother is completely healed.”
Her green eyes had met his straight on—so similar to his own that it was unmistakable.
“I am deeply sorry to make such a request, but after that, I would like the freedom to choose my own path.”
“Freedom of movement?”
“Yes. My adoptive mother has shown me great love, so I would like to take her into consideration.”
A faint shadow crossed Milena’s face.
“Of course, I understand that you have already shown me great consideration. Still, my mother is very precious to me… so I ask for your understanding.”
Milena bowed politely.
“Instead, while I stay in the ducal family, I will do my best as your daughter. I would also appreciate it if you could tell me what conditions you would like from me.”
Honestly, it was obvious what the child was thinking.
For reasons unknown, she clearly did not welcome being tied to the Lusert ducal family from the very beginning.
So she likely intended to extricate herself somehow.
But the fact that she proposed a contract to clearly define each side’s obligations…
“She truly is an intelligent child.”
At that, the duchess smiled brightly.
“Do you know something?”
“Hmm?”
“You look very pleased.”
At that, the duke absentmindedly rubbed his chin just then.
‘Hm?’
He felt a faint sense of unease.
Come to think of it, Elias had been silent the entire time.
He glanced sideways.
His son was sitting there with his head lowered, deep in thought.
“Elias?”
At the call, Elias quickly lifted his head.
The duke tilted his head.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Nothing, Father.”
Elias quickly shook his head.
The duke let out a hearty laugh.
“You rascal, always so serious.”
Elias forced a smile as well.
But it soon faded.
‘Earlier, the nanny…’
His eyes darkened.
‘That attitude toward Cecilia—what was that?’
The scene from earlier was still vividly etched in his mind.
The nanny’s sharp words toward Cecilia.
And then, the way she immediately turned sweet and gentle the moment she faced him.
‘Could it be that the nanny… no, that can’t be.’
She was always so kind.
Maybe he was just being overly sensitive.
After all, even she was human; she couldn’t always be kind.
Elias suppressed his doubts.
Still, her sharp attitude lingered in his mind.
Like a thorn stuck under a fingernail.
‘Ah.’
I suddenly opened my eyes.
I must have dozed off.
I lifted my body from where I had been slumped at the edge of the bed.
The room was quiet.
I blinked blankly, then quickly looked down.
‘Mom?!’
At the same time, I felt a small relief.
My mother was sleeping peacefully, her breathing soft and even.
Color had returned faintly to her cheeks, and her expression looked calm.
It seemed the medicine the doctor had given her earlier had worked.
‘Thank goodness…’
I let out a quiet sigh of relief inside.
But a heavy weight still pressed down on my chest.
‘So that expensive medicine has to be taken for at least three years?’
My gaze shifted to the medicine bag on the drawer.
Small brown pills, no bigger than my thumbnail.
That tiny medicine held my mother’s life.
I let out a long breath.
‘…So I won’t be able to see Mom properly for a while.’
The conversation with the duke had ended.
To ensure my mother’s recovery, they agreed to provide one of the Lusert family’s southern villas.
They would assign servants and physicians to take care of her.
They also promised to allow regular letters, which finally eased my worries.
‘At least that part is settled…’
But then I recalled my earlier conversation with the duke.
The Archmage Tower’s paternity detection magic.
Once that was proposed, there was no way to hide the fact that I was his biological child.
It was only a matter of time before I would be revealed as “the daughter of the Lusert ducal family.”
And the restriction I had set was…
‘Three years.’
If I stayed as a duchy’s daughter for too long, I wouldn’t be able to avoid Cecilia’s resentment.
So the best course was to stay only until my mother recovered, and leave as quickly as possible afterward.
The duke’s words echoed in my mind:
“Don’t think about anything else. Just focus on your mother’s recovery.”
…Still, honestly, I was a little grateful for that.
Anyway, since I was now in the ducal family,
‘Ignoring Cecilia’s situation is not the right move.’
Until now, I had tried to stay out of Cecilia’s way.
But if I didn’t want to earn her resentment, I needed to act more proactively.
Now that I was the “real daughter” receiving love from everyone…
Couldn’t I use this position somehow?
For example, improving the relationship between Cecilia and the family…
Lost in thought, my gaze slowly drifted to my mother.
‘Has Mom always looked this thin?’
It felt like a sharp spear had pierced my chest.
Ignoring the stinging pain, I took my mother’s dry hand tightly in mine.
“Don’t worry, Mom.”
“……”
There was no answer from the sleeping woman.
I forced the words out.
“I’ll make sure you get better.”
And so I stayed by my mother’s side.
Until the moon waned, dawn approached, and finally morning arrived.
I stayed there the entire time.
