Chapter 28
Cecilia flinched, startled, and instinctively fumbled her words in panic.
“Huh? Th–that is…”
“A brooch? Wow, it’s really pretty!”
Milena sprang up from her seat and trotted over to where the brooch lay.
Then she picked it up without hesitation.
“Wow, it would look amazing on you, sis!”
She held the brooch up against Cecilia as she smiled brightly.
“N-No. The reason I was looking at that brooch was…”
Cecilia tried to explain, but her words trailed off without her realizing it.
Would it sound like an excuse?
…Up until now, her family had never once taken her words at face value.
“Still, I should say it.”
Cecilia lifted her chin as if nothing was wrong, forcing herself to stay composed.
“I thought it would suit you, Milena.”
“Me?”
Milena’s eyes widened.
Cecilia nodded with effort.
“Y-You don’t have many outfits yet. So I thought it might add a different touch depending on what you wear…”
As she carefully explained, Cecilia suddenly felt her breath catch in her throat.
Lady Howard was watching her with a faint frown.
Her elder brother Elias gave her an unreadable look.
And her mother, too, was shifting her gaze between Cecilia and Milena with a complicated expression.
It’s no use. This will be the same as always.
Just as Cecilia was sinking into her long-familiar despair—
“You were looking at this brooch for me? I’m so happy!”
A bright, cheerful voice shattered that damp, sticky despair in an instant.
Cecilia reflexively looked up.
Milena was standing there, her face full of genuine emotion.
“…Milena?”
“Not only that, you even thought about how I could use it! You’re so considerate, sister.”
Milena’s cheeks turned slightly red as she smiled shyly.
Somehow, the girl smiling so bashfully looked truly happy.
As if she genuinely enjoyed being here with her.
She believes me?
Cecilia’s eyes wavered violently.
It made sense. No one had ever believed her before.
It was always, “You’re the one who’s wrong,” always being pointed at.
But Milena was different.
She didn’t immediately assume Cecilia was at fault.
She accepted her words and actions as they were.
…And that fact made Cecilia quietly happy.
“But what should we do? It’s a gift you chose for me, but it also suits you so well…”
Milena tilted her head in thought, then suddenly perked up as if struck by an idea.
“Oh! Could we maybe make another one just like it?”
“That wouldn’t be too difficult, but why?”
“I want to share it with you, sister.”
“With me?”
Cecilia’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit.
At the same time, Milena carefully watched her reaction.
“If we have matching things, I think we’ll become even closer.”
“….”
Cecilia could understand what emotions lay behind Milena’s clear eyes.
No—she couldn’t not understand.
Hope and anticipation.
The desire to be liked by someone.
Emotions Cecilia herself had lived with all her life.
How strange.
This girl—who might one day take everything from her as the “true daughter”—someone she could never hope to compare to no matter how hard she tried…
Why did she feel like they were somehow alike?
“…Alright. Do that.”
Meanwhile, seeing the sisters getting along so well, the Duchess nodded in satisfaction.
Madam Patricia also smiled warmly.
However, among everyone enjoying the moment, there was only one person whose expression remained clouded.
The nanny.
Elias watched Lady Howard with a heavy gaze.
She did it again today.
Earlier, she had scolded Cecilia, telling her not to be greedy about the brooch.
In the past, he would never have found that strange.
He would have thought she was simply preventing a mistake before it happened.
But now, doubts had begun to surface.
If it was truly for Cecilia’s sake, would she need to reprimand her so openly, in front of everyone?
Thankfully, Milena had stepped in, allowing Cecilia to avoid humiliation.
But…
And Milena’s attitude toward her was strange too.
When the nanny had offered to help with her clothes, Milena had refused.
Politely, of course—saying she wasn’t used to receiving help yet and would ask later once she adjusted.
But still…
…What if Milena is uncomfortable with her?
No. That must just be imagination.
At the very least, she would treat Milena kindly.
—
“Whatever happened to the ‘real’ young lady Chessia… I wonder what she’s doing now…”
“She’ll come back someday. Please stay strong.”
—
The nanny’s habitual words of concern.
All those expressions of sympathy for the “true daughter” who was nowhere to be found.
Yes. I’m just being overly sensitive.
Elias tried to reassure himself—but on some instinctive level, he already knew.
…That the nanny he trusted might not be as loyal to the ducal house as he believed.
—
Later, the ‘Milena solo fashion show’ came to an end.
The Duchess was in unusually high spirits as she arranged flowers in a vase.
It was only natural.
The daughter she had longed and searched for had finally returned.
She had worried that Cecilia and Milena might clash—but that concern had proven unnecessary.
The two girls were getting along perfectly.
A flawless family without a single wound.
A long-cherished dream had finally come true.
“Hm?”
Then the Duchess glanced at Lady Howard with curiosity.
She was unusually quiet.
Normally she would have made light conversation by now.
And her expression also seemed somewhat dark.
“Is something the matter?”
“Oh, no… nothing at all.”
“Don’t be like that. You can tell me. I might be able to help you.”
The Duchess gently soothed her.
“You’re like family to us. You know how much I trust you.”
“….”
At those words, Lady Howard’s lips trembled slightly.
After hesitating for a long moment, she carefully spoke.
“I think… Milena young lady may dislike me.”
“Milena?”
“Yes. I offered to help her with her clothes again, but she refused.”
The Duchess let out a small, bitter smile.
“You should understand her. She’s still not fully accustomed to being here.”
“Of course… but it must be because I have failed to earn her trust…”
Her voice trailed off.
Then suddenly—
Tears began to fall from Lady Howard’s eyes.
“W-Wait, are you crying?”
The Duchess hurriedly approached her.
Wiping her tears, Lady Howard looked up with wet eyes.
“I once met Milena young lady at the Trancier estate…”
“Milena?”
“Yes. At that time, Cecilia young lady was… somewhat improper in her conduct.”
She had simply gone out for a walk—but it had been enough for Cecilia to be labeled as someone “unbefitting a noble lady.”
Lady Howard’s tears fell again.
“And… I think Milena young lady may have misunderstood me because of that…”
