~Chapter 40~
“You were taking my real sister’s place… and when she returns someday, she would be very hurt because of that…”
“Brother.”
“Of course, I know it’s just an excuse. I didn’t know where my real sister was, what she was doing… I didn’t even know if she was alive or dead… so I…”
Elias took a deep breath and spoke with difficulty.
“I think… I wanted to hate you so that I could feel at ease.”
…So that’s how it was.
Listening from the side, Milena felt a bitter taste in her mouth.
It seemed Mrs. Howard had been using her as an excuse to manipulate the Young Duke.
She kept telling him that Cecilia had taken Milena’s place.
‘Well… considering the original story, it does make some sense.’
Because in the original story, the Young Duke often said—
“Hah, you still don’t understand? How could someone like you ever be my real sister?!”
…That was how he spoke.
When she read the original story, Milena had always wondered why he hated Cecilia so much.
But if he had always believed that Cecilia stole Milena’s place—
and if a nanny he trusted had been planting those thoughts in his mind for years…
‘Hmm… the Young Duke must feel really conflicted too.’
And just like that, his face looked extremely complicated.
Milena quietly watched him with mixed feelings.
Part of her thought, you should have treated her better before.
But another part thought, at least he’s not a bad person at his core.
“But I shouldn’t have done that. It wasn’t your fault that Milena disappeared, yet I took my anger out on you… honestly, I feel pathetic.”
Elias lowered his eyes, full of guilt.
“And that’s not all. Even when I saw Mrs. Howard treating you badly, I convinced myself it was for your own good.”
At that moment, something hot rose deep inside Cecilia’s chest.
‘Is he… making excuses right now?’
Mrs. Howard had treated her harshly all this time—
and yet he always sided with her!
But Elias wasn’t finished.
“Maybe… I just wanted to believe that she truly cared about you.”
Cecilia’s teal eyes shook violently.
Elias continued, as if confessing,
“Because she was always kind to me.”
“……”
“I didn’t want to accept that someone who was good to me could be cruel to someone else.”
A bitter smile appeared on Elias’s lips.
“But… I shouldn’t have done that.”
He took a deep breath and looked straight at Cecilia.
“I know it may already be too late, but… will you accept my apology?”
“……”
Cecilia stayed silent for a moment.
The first thing she felt was resistance.
He never listened to me before.
She had tried many times to tell him—
how badly Mrs. Howard treated her,
how much those cruel words hurt her.
And yet…
‘Still… this is the first time he has ever apologized to me.’
A small light flickered deep in her heart.
That light was—
hope.
‘I know…’
Cecilia closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again.
Even if she hoped, nothing might change.
In the end, she might just get hurt again.
But still…
‘…I’m happy.’
She bit her lower lip.
After hesitating for a long time, she finally spoke.
“I… still don’t know yet.”
“……”
Elias’s gaze sank.
That was natural.
All the pain built up over time couldn’t disappear with just one apology.
But then—
“Still…”
A faint smile appeared on Cecilia’s face.
“Thank you for apologizing, Brother.”
For the first time, Elias’s dark expression brightened.
“You don’t have to thank me!”
Overcome with emotion, he shouted loudly without realizing it.
Cecilia blinked in surprise.
Embarrassed, Elias tried to act calm.
“I-I’ll do better from now on. I’ll try my best to make up for everything I did…”
Cecilia looked at him, wide-eyed, as he stumbled over his words.
She had always thought her brother was difficult to approach—
but this was the first time she saw him like this.
A small laugh escaped her lips.
“Pfft.”
At that moment, Milena quickly turned toward her like a meerkat.
Her eyes widened as she spoke excitedly,
“Oh my, Sister! Can’t you smile like that every day?”
“What?”
“You’re so, so pretty! Maybe I’m the luckiest person in the world for having such a beautiful sister!”
The praise was so direct that it made Cecilia embarrassed.
Her cheeks turned red like ripe apples.
“What nonsense are you saying… stop it.”
Cecilia snapped lightly.
Milena just smiled mischievously.
“Come on, you like it.”
“What?”
“You’re smiling even now.”
Startled, Cecilia quickly touched her lips.
She was indeed smiling.
‘Ah.’
She hurried to fix her expression—but it was too late.
Milena’s eyes were already full of mischief.
“Siisteeer~”
“G-go away. I’m going for a walk now.”
“Ah! I came out for a walk too! Perfect—let’s all walk together with Brother!”
Milena cheerfully clung to Cecilia.
And before they knew it, Elias also ended up joining them.
Soon, the three siblings were walking side by side in the garden.
“So, about that… Mathilde said—”
Cecilia glanced at Milena, who was chatting excitedly.
She’s really strange.
No matter how much Cecilia pushed her away,
Milena kept coming closer.
Normally, she would have found it annoying—
but she just couldn’t dislike her.
Then suddenly—
Cecilia and Elias’s eyes met.
“……”
“……”
It seemed Elias was thinking the same thing.
He gave an awkward smile and looked away.
At the same time, Milena narrowed her eyes.
“Hey, are you even listening to me?”
“I am.”
Cecilia answered calmly and took a deep breath.
The fresh air filled her lungs.
Being with her family like this—
feeling this peaceful—
…it had been a very long time.
