~Chapter 39~
‘Is something going on?’
Confused, I whispered to him.
“What are you doing here?”
“Well…”
The Young Duke trailed off.
“Do you have something to say to Sister Cecilia?”
“No, I don’t.”
He immediately shook his head firmly—
but kept looking at Cecilia.
Hmm… they say strong denial means the opposite.
Just as I was staring at him suspiciously—
“…You know… about Cecilia.”
He spoke quietly, still watching her.
“She must have suffered a lot because of Nanny… no, Mrs. Howard.”
Why is he asking something so obvious?
“Even if I misunderstood because of her… that’s just an excuse.”
“….”
His face looked very dark.
At the same time—
my eyes lit up.
‘Wait… this might be a chance.’
It looked like he was reflecting on how he had been influenced by Mrs. Howard.
If so—
maybe I could bring him and Cecilia a little closer.
“Um… Brother?”
I called him gently.
His purple eyes, just like the Duchess,
looked at me with complicated emotions.
“If you’re really worried about Sister Cecilia, why don’t you comfort her yourself?”
“…Me?”
His eyes shook.
I smiled brightly, pretending not to know anything.
“Yes. I’m sure she’ll be happy.”
“….”
He stayed silent for a long time.
Then—
“But… I’ve been too harsh to Cecilia until now.”
His voice sounded like a sigh.
He gave a bitter smile.
“To be honest, she probably doesn’t even want comfort from me anymore. She must have completely lost all affection for me…”
“No, Brother.”
I shook my head firmly.
“You know how much Sister loves her family.”
His eyes trembled slightly.
I smiled softly.
“If you speak honestly, she will accept it.”
“….”
At those words—
he clenched his fist tightly.
After hesitating for a long time, he asked carefully,
“Do you really think so?”
“Of course. And even if she doesn’t accept it, you still have to apologize to her.”
His face stiffened.
As if he had been slapped.
But I didn’t stop.
“You admitted that you treated her badly, right? If you did something wrong, you should say sorry.”
“Yes… you’re right. But…”
He still hesitated.
Ah, this is so frustrating!
“Brother, you know the saying—starting is half the work, right?”
My eyes shone intensely.
“So I’ll help you start.”
“What? Hey, wait—!”
He tried to stop me—
but it was too late.
“Sister Ceciliiiiiia!!”
At my loud shout,
Cecilia quickly turned around.
Her pretty teal eyes widened.
“Milena? …Brother too?”
The stiff Young Duke looked at me desperately.
‘W-what am I supposed to do now?!’
I gave him a bright smile.
“Come on, let’s go apologize.”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t—!”
“Don’t you want to see her smile?”
At that—
a faint light returned to his troubled eyes.
The weather was bright and beautiful.
The garden trees were full of fresh green leaves,
and the flowers bloomed in colorful light.
Cecilia suddenly stopped walking.
As she looked at the greenery—
someone came to her mind.
That girl who always looked at her sincerely.
Milena.
The real daughter of the Ducal family.
…and the one who accepted her as family without hesitation.
“There’s no one as amazing as my sister!”
“I’ve always wanted to become someone like you!!”
Even in front of Mrs. Howard—
Milena never backed down.
She boldly said in front of everyone—
that she liked Cecilia.
Honestly—
those words comforted her deeply.
That’s why—
her heart felt even heavier.
Because she remembered
how she tried to push Milena away.
“Everyone already accepts you as the real daughter. Someone like me, a fake, is…”
When she said those harsh words—
Milena looked truly hurt.
‘…I went too far back then.’
She needed to apologize somehow.
But whenever she saw Milena—
she couldn’t speak.
Cecilia was sighing again and again—
when suddenly—
“Sister Ceciliiiiiia!!”
A bright voice called her.
She flinched and turned around.
In the distance—
Milena and Elias were standing together.
‘Milena? …Brother too?’
At that moment—
Milena whispered something to Elias.
‘What are they talking about?’
Cecilia looked confused.
Elias looked troubled,
while Milena seemed to encourage him.
After a moment—
“Brother has something to say to you, Sister Cecilia.”
Milena spoke with a bright smile.
“Right, Brother?”
“Y-yes…”
…Why does that smile feel a little threatening?
Elias stepped forward slowly.
But he couldn’t speak right away.
He kept moving his lips—
hesitating again and again.
‘What is he trying to say?’
Cecilia’s expression also became serious.
Then—
“I think… I’ve been too cold to you until now.”
…She never expected that.
Cecilia stared at him blankly.
But that wasn’t the end.
“I want to apologize for everything I’ve done. I’m truly sorry.”
Elias bowed deeply to her.
“W-what are you doing?! Please stand up!”
Startled, Cecilia quickly pulled him up.
Elias couldn’t even look at her.
Instead, he spoke carefully,
“I misunderstood you all this time.”
“Misunderstood?”
“Yes… because of you…”
He lowered his head again,
his voice quiet.
“I thought… you might make things uncomfortable for my real sister when she returned someday.”
“….”
Cecilia froze.
His trembling voice continued,
“Actually… Mrs. Howard always told me something…”
