~Chapter 33~
“You should have one too, my lady.”
“Alright.”
Only then did Milena pick up a cookie.
“Mm… it’s delicious.”
As she chewed, her eyes slowly filled with longing.
“I wish my mother could taste this too…”
“Your mother?”
Isn’t her mother the Duchess?
Noticing the confusion, Milena explained gently,
“Ah… I mean the mother who raised me.”
Her bright green eyes darkened, like a forest after rain.
“Actually… my mother isn’t very healthy. She’s resting in the southern part of the empire right now… so I’m a little worried.”
“Is she very sick?”
“No… I heard she’s getting treatment. I’m planning to send her a letter soon.”
She tried to sound cheerful—
but her face was still dark.
Mathilde spoke carefully,
“My mother was also very sick… before she passed away.”
“Really? That must have been very hard for you.”
“It’s okay now. A lot of time has passed. But… are you okay, my lady?”
“Hmm…”
Milena hesitated for a moment, then sighed.
“I don’t really know. The Ducal family promised to treat my mother… but the parentage test is coming soon. So I feel nervous… and restless.”
“Restless?”
“Yes. Of course, I’d be happy if I’m really their daughter… but…”
She looked down, her expression gloomy.
“Does that mean I’ll have two mothers?”
Mathilde couldn’t say anything.
Milena looked too sad.
But only for a moment—
“Ah, I talked too much about depressing things.”
Milena stood up quickly and turned to Mathilde.
She smiled playfully, placing a finger over her lips.
“Can you keep what we talked about today a secret?”
“Of course, my lady.”
Mathilde nodded quickly.
“Then I’ll go now. See you again.”
Like a butterfly, Milena left lightly.
Left alone—
Mathilde couldn’t help but think,
I hope Lady Milena is truly the real daughter of this family.
So that—
she can stay by my side for a long, long time.
A few days later—
someone from the Mage Tower came to conduct my parentage test.
But the person who came was—
‘Wait… don’t tell me that’s who I think it is?!’
As I stepped into the reception room—
I froze in shock.
Black hair like the night sky.
Cold blue eyes like frozen ice.
Flawless skin.
Sharp jawline and elegant posture.
A beautiful man, like a piece of art carefully crafted by a god.
…Why does he look so familiar?
“Milena, this is His Highness, the Second Prince, Rudrick.”
The Duke introduced him.
So it’s really him…
the male lead.
I shut my eyes tightly, then opened them again.
The second prince of the Hesenberg Empire—
the only magician.
Rudrick Argent del Hesenberg.
One of the main characters of this world—
was standing right in front of me.
‘This is strange… he shouldn’t appear this early!’
In the original story—
he only appeared after Cecilia was kicked out of the family.
A man who had no interest in anything—
until Cecilia caught his attention.
He became interested in her desire for revenge—
and helped her.
But there was a bigger problem.
In the original story… Rudrick hated Milena.
And the reason was simple—
Because Milena had a one-sided love for him.
Not just love—
she followed him around almost like a stalker.
“Why did you choose Cecilia?”
“She’s fake! I’m the real daughter!”
She even said things like that without shame.
…Embarrassing.
But luckily—
this is still the very beginning.
I haven’t gotten involved with him yet.
I need to be careful from now on.
I must not let him become Cecilia’s ally.
I have to make a good impression on him somehow!
“I greet Your Highness.”
I quickly bowed, hiding my nervousness.
Rudrick shook his head lightly.
“It’s fine. I didn’t come here as the Second Prince today.”
Then he took out a high-quality wooden box.
He looked at me and smiled softly.
“Now, Lady Milena. Come here.”
“….”
Honestly—
his looks are unfair.
In the original, he looked at Milena like she was an insect—
but now he’s being kind.
I still can’t get used to it.
“Lady Milena?”
“Ah, yes.”
I slowly walked toward the table.
Inside the box—
‘A silver bowl?’
It was a silver bowl with a magic circle engraved on it.
‘I remember this from the original.’
If you light a fire inside—
and add parts of the parent and child—
the flame turns gold if they share the same blood.
In the original, they used hair.
‘So… we need fire first…’
Just as I thought that—
Snap!
Rudrick flicked his finger.
A small flame appeared—
in the shape of a butterfly.
It fluttered gently—
and landed inside the silver bowl.
Whoosh!
A strong flame rose.
At the same time, the magic circle glowed softly.
Everyone gasped.
“Oh my…”
The Duchess’s eyes sparkled.
“Magic is truly amazing.”
The Young Duke couldn’t hide his shock.
“As expected of the empire’s only magician.”
The Duke smiled in praise.
But—
there was one person who couldn’t be happy.
Cecilia.
My mood dropped.
Cecilia stared quietly at the silver bowl.
She looked calm—
but her tightly pressed lips showed her tension.
“Duke, Duchess, and Lady Milena.”
Rudrick spoke calmly,
“Please cut a small piece of your hair.”
First, the Duke—
then the Duchess.
Finally, a maid handed scissors to me.
‘…Deep breath.’
I cut my hair.
Snip.
A lock of golden hair fell into my hand.
“Alright.”
Rudrick nodded and snapped his fingers again.
The three strands of hair floated into the air.
The Duke’s hair fell into the fire first.
Then the Duchess’s golden hair followed.
“….”
“….”
Everyone held their breath.
The Duke held his wife’s hand tightly.
Then—
the flame changed.
The red fire slowly turned into a brilliant golden light.
The Duke, Duchess, and Young Duke’s faces filled with joy.
At the same time—
Cecilia’s eyes showed quiet resignation.
As if she already knew.
Then—
Rudrick smiled brightly and declared,
“Lady Milena is indeed the biological daughter of the Duke and Duchess.”
