Cecilia stood in front of the dining hall, completely tense.
Her heart was pounding uncontrollably.
‘What do I do… I never thought my family would call for me.’
It felt like she was walking on clouds—her mood kept rising against her will.
Cecilia pressed her lips tightly together, holding back a smile that kept trying to escape.
A proper lady must always behave with dignity outside.
Ten minutes earlier,
She had suddenly received a message from the Duchess of House Lucerte.
“You are to be escorted to the main residence at the Duchess’s request.”
The sudden summons had left her scrambling to prepare herself in a panic.
Cecilia looked at the tightly closed dining hall door with a strange feeling.
‘Come to think of it… this is my first time going to the main residence.’
Which meant—
During her entire stay at the Trancier barony, she had never once seen her family’s faces.
‘No… it’s fine.’
A faint sense of sadness tried to creep in, but Cecilia quickly pushed it away.
It was rare for them to have a family dinner together.
She needed to smile as much as possible, and not offend anyone.
She had to become a bright, gentle, and lovely daughter.
“Lady Cecilia!”
At that moment, Milena suddenly came to mind.
Bright and unclouded, kind by nature.
A girl with radiant golden hair and brilliant green eyes—like the “real daughter” the ducal household had longed for.
What if Cecilia had been someone like Milena?
‘Would they have loved me then?’
No—thinking like that would only make her feel worse.
Cecilia forcefully pushed the thought away and glanced down at her outfit.
‘I… I don’t look strange, do I?’
She had tried her best to dress properly, but she still couldn’t feel at ease.
She smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress, patting down the fabric.
Tucked stray strands of hair behind her ear.
Even checked whether her dangling earrings were properly in place.
Then—
“Phew.”
She took a small breath and signaled the servant standing beside the door.
The servant nodded and lightly knocked.
Knock knock.
The door opened.
Cecilia straightened her posture.
Chin slightly lowered, she stepped inside with elegant, practiced movements she had rehearsed hundreds of times.
Then she bowed politely.
“You called for me?”
“……”
“……”
A cold silence fell.
Feeling three gazes land on her, Cecilia swallowed hard.
After a moment, a flat voice responded.
“Yes.”
The Duke, seated at the head of the table, gestured toward an empty seat.
“Sit.”
“Yes, Father.”
Cecilia carefully sat down, glancing around.
The Duke of House Lucerte—like a sharp blade.
The Duchess, still beautiful despite her age.
And Elias, the young duke, whose striking looks resembled his mother.
A picture-perfect family.
…So perfect that her presence felt like a stain.
‘Don’t be nervous.’
Cecilia desperately steadied herself.
The Duchess looked at her with displeasure.
“I heard you brought in a personal maid without permission?”
“……”
Her heart dropped instantly.
Elias spoke lazily from the side.
“Lady Howard said you’re excessively favoring that maid.”
“Brother, that’s not—”
Cecilia started to speak, then bit her lower lip.
She lowered her head.
“I’m sorry. I will be more careful.”
“You always say that—sorry, I’ll be careful.”
Elias scoffed.
“When are you going to start acting like a proper Lucerte lady?”
“……”
“Do you even realize you’re disgracing this family?”
Cecilia flinched.
The Duke immediately cut in.
“Elias.”
“….”
Elias clicked his tongue and looked away.
Cecilia shrank slightly in her seat.
Even sitting on pins and needles would have been more comfortable than this.
Servants soon began serving appetizers.
A fresh salad of diced fruit, cheese, and balsamic dressing.
But the Duchess’s expression darkened as she looked at it.
“…Our Cesha used to love apples.”
Cesha.
The nickname of the real daughter named Cecilia—who should have been the one loved here.
The one Cecilia had replaced.
‘I feel sick.’
Cecilia tightened her grip on her fork.
“I wonder where she is now…”
“Please don’t worry too much, my lady.”
The Duke tried to comfort her.
“If you grieve like this, it won’t be good for Cesha either.”
“Mother, please don’t be too sad. We will find our sister someday.”
Elias added gently.
Yes.
The House of Lucerte had never given up searching for their real daughter.
The reason Cecilia had been adopted was—
‘Because the Duchess needed a replacement.’
When the real daughter went missing, the Duchess had lost her mind from shock.
She wandered the house at night, unable to sleep.
Or cried herself into exhaustion and fainted during the day.
So they brought in a temporary replacement.
Cecilia.
After adopting her, the Duchess stabilized quickly.
And when she finally regained her senses and met Cecilia for the first time—
“…You are not my daughter.”
That trembling voice still echoed in Cecilia’s ears.
Even after recovery, the House of Lucerte never sent her away.
Out of guilt—for using her as a substitute.
‘But… I was never really her daughter.’
Even now, they were still searching for the “real daughter.”
Every time she thought of that, Cecilia felt like she was standing on thin ice.
‘When the real Cecilia returns… my place will disappear.’
Then—
The Duchess muttered with a sigh.
“Our Cesha should have been sitting here…”
Something inside Cecilia snapped.
Mother… I’m sitting right in front of you.
Am I really nothing?
Because I’m fake?
If that’s how it was going to be… they shouldn’t have brought me here at all!
Clatter!
The table shook violently.
Cecilia had abruptly stood up.
The Duke’s eyes widened.
“Cecilia! What do you think you’re doing?!”
“……”
But she couldn’t respond.
Biting her lip tightly, she stood in silence for a long moment.
Then suddenly, she lifted her head.
Her turquoise eyes were already filled with tears.
“I…”
Her voice trembled.
Living with them had never felt comfortable.
It always felt like serving distant superiors.
Like she would be scolded at any moment.
Even now.
She was lonely, hurt, and exhausted—
But she couldn’t say a single word.
Because she was afraid of being hated.
Afraid of being even more alone.
‘How pathetic.’
She mocked herself bitterly.
Hadn’t she never been loved in the first place?
And yet she still couldn’t give up on their affection.
How foolish she was.
But—
‘I can’t take this anymore.’
After a long trembling pause, Cecilia suddenly turned around.
“Cecilia! Where are you going?!”
“Stop right now!”
Her family shouted behind her—
But she did not stop.
…She just wanted to disappear from this world entirely.