She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 100. That Damn Contract

‘The Duchess is a lady beyond any etiquette manual.’

Michel muttered to himself inwardly and shrugged his shoulders.

Her captivating beauty that one couldn’t look away from and her innate dignity.

Beyond her status as the mistress of the Empire’s only ducal house.

Cecilia possessed something much stronger than that.

For example—

‘Argh! With that heel on my foot! Ahhh!’

Even when threatened by him, a man, she didn’t bat an eye.

Her boldness in subduing him with her shoe heel without a moment’s hesitation.

‘Michel, it would be best for you to hide for now. If you want to avoid Rosena’s eyes completely.’

Things like her meticulous judgment that could see several moves ahead.

‘Even a princess from any country wouldn’t be able to imitate that.’

As Michel thought of Cecilia, the corners of his mouth unconsciously rose higher.

“Brother? Why are you smiling?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

At Sandy’s strange gaze, Michel cleared his throat and straightened his expression.

And thinking of Cecilia, he resolved inwardly.

‘Right, I’ll make sure to do my part at the trial too.’

Who he was.

What false accusations his father had suffered.

Who the real criminal was.

He intended to reveal everything without any omission before everyone’s eyes.

Michel clenched his fist tightly.

It might be a little late.

But he looked forward to the day when his father’s honor would be restored and the bad people would pay for their crimes.

* * *

The Duke’s mansion was busy with the lawsuit just days away.

Servants carrying documents walked back and forth through every corridor.

Cecilia was rapidly flipping through documents piled on her desk while moving her pen.

Though fatigue showed on her face, her hand movements remained perfectly steady.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

Cecilia answered while still keeping her gaze fixed on the desk.

Shortly after, the door opened and the sound of measured footsteps could be heard.

In Cecilia’s field of vision, as she still didn’t lift her gaze from the documents, the tip of neat shoes came into view.

“Rainer?”

Cecilia’s head snapped up.

Without realizing it, joy had settled in her eyes.

A faint smile also spread across Rainer’s lips as he watched her.

“Do you have a moment?”

“Hmm, to be honest, I’m extremely busy. But if it’s just for a moment…”

Though she said she was busy with her words.

Cecilia’s hands had already pushed the documents and pen aside.

“How are things with the Dowager Duchess? Nothing unusual?”

“Yes. She’s staying quietly locked up in her room.”

Elise’s room was still under strict surveillance by knights and servants.

Evan and Rosena also couldn’t approach.

Though it didn’t seem like they were trying to visit anyway.

“It seems the relationship between the Dowager Duchess and Rosena has definitely soured.”

Cecilia chuckled.

They once pretended to have a close grandmother-granddaughter relationship.

Their shallow relationship was simply ridiculous.

“It was already a foregone conclusion. That’s just the kind of people they are.”

Cynicism was also evident in Rainer’s voice.

In any case, it was a satisfying situation for them.

They had already obtained the evidence.

The witness was also safe.

On top of that, they were thoroughly controlling any variables.

It was a perfect situation for the two of them.

But even so, Cecilia’s mind wasn’t at ease.

“Still, I’m always sorry, Rainer.”

At those words, Rainer tilted his head with a puzzled look.

“About what?”

“You must want to get revenge on the Dowager Duchess right away… but you can’t because of me.”

Though she had already prepared herself for it.

The lawsuit was a much longer and more tedious battle than expected.

Even while holding evidence that could bring down Elise immediately.

Rainer was silently enduring this frustrating time.

All because of Cecilia.

“Patience isn’t an easy thing.”

“Well, I’ve already waited over ten years. What’s a few more weeks?”

Rainer himself, the person involved, just shrugged his shoulders.

Even so, Cecilia’s expression didn’t brighten.

‘There’s that face again.’

Who was worrying about whom here?

That woman was always like this.

Even when she must be overwhelmed with her own affairs.

She always looked after Rainer’s feelings first like this.

Of course, that aspect was also the reason he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“If you really feel that way…”

Rainer raised his finger with a playful expression and lightly tapped the tip of her nose.

“Then perhaps my lady could give me compensation for my patience.”

“Compensation? What should I give you?”

Looking at Cecilia innocently tilting her head, Rainer grinned.

“For example… something like this?”

Rainer’s hand came up onto the desk and overlapped with Cecilia’s hand.

Before she could realize what was happening.

His face came closer.

“Rain—”

Before she could finish calling his name.

Rainer’s lips lightly touched Cecilia’s lips and then pulled away.

It was truly a brief moment.

But the fleeting sensation didn’t easily fade from her lips.

“…!”

Cecilia’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s.

While she lost her words and only moved her lips.

Her heart began to pound a beat late.

“What, what did you do?”

A voice full of confusion leaked out.

Rainer stepped back and looked at her.

“I told you.”

His low voice carried a subtle heat.

“I asked for compensation for my patience.”

“Even so, this kind of thing—”

“Did you dislike it?”

At the straightforward question, Cecilia was at a loss for words.

It was a question she couldn’t easily affirm or deny.

“That, that is… I mean….”

“It doesn’t seem like you disliked it.”

Watching Cecilia trail off, Rainer laughed quietly.

His gaze lingered on Cecilia’s reddened ears.

The moment of seeing this face of the Duchess, always praised as perfect.

Somehow felt like his own special privilege.

“This, this kind of teasing is troublesome. I should go—”

Cecilia stood up from her seat with a flushed face.

In her flustered state, she wanted to quickly escape this place, but.

“Ah!”

Was it because she stood up too hastily?

Her foot caught on the edge of the carpet and Cecilia stumbled.

Her vision tilted, and just when she thought she would fall.

“Be careful.”

Along with a low, firm voice.

Rainer’s arm caught her waist.

“…!”

Instead of falling to the floor.

Her body was pulled directly into Rainer’s embrace.

“Are you alright?”

The voice from above her head was close.

Rainer’s breath was close enough to touch her cheek.

“I’m, I’m fine….”

Despite her words, her heart was beating wildly.

What if this sound reaches him too?

“Cecilia.”

“Ra, Rainer….”

“You didn’t answer my earlier question.”

His low voice asked persistently.

“Kissing me, did you dislike it?”

“….”

Cecilia swallowed.

After hesitating for a moment, she avoided his gaze and answered.

“I didn’t… dislike it.”

She heard Rainer’s quiet laughter by her ear.

He raised his hand and carefully cupped her chin.

It was a touch without force or haste.

“If you didn’t dislike it… doing it once more wouldn’t be bad either.”

His face slowly approached again.

“Rainer….”

The moment she called his name for the last time.

Their lips met again.

This time a little deeper than before.

“….”

The smell of paper and ink from the documents filling the office.

The noisy sounds from outside the window.

Even the lawsuits, revenge, and tension seemed to fade away for a moment.

“Haa.”

When their lips parted.

Cecilia looked at Rainer with a face that couldn’t even catch her breath.

Her face burned as if scorched by fire.

“This, this….”

She barely managed to speak while gasping for breath.

But she only opened and closed her lips repeatedly.

Words wouldn’t come easily.

The first words she finally found were.

“This… you know this is a breach of contract, right?”

It was a sharp remark born from embarrassment.

On the day they first made their contract.

She clearly remembered the clause about not developing feelings for each other.

Since it was a clause she had written with her own hand.

“How can you ignore the contract like this?”

“Ah, that contract.”

Rainer laughed as if amused.

His fingertip slowly brushed Cecilia’s lips that still held warmth.

“If you think about it, weren’t you the one who broke it first?”

“That’s….”

Cecilia tried to argue back but was at a loss for words.

Though her memory was still hazy.

The memory of being flustered seeing each other’s swollen lips the next day was vivid.

“I wasn’t trying to tease you.”

Rainer said in a voice that wasn’t sincere at all.

Rainer’s hand found hers, naturally intertwining their fingers.

“Really… you’re cheating.”

Cecilia mumbled with a reddened face.

At those words, Rainer burst into laughter.

It was laughter that seemed irrepressible, yet clearly pleased.

“Then should the referee give the cheating player a penalty?”

“…A penalty?”

“Yes, a punishment like living together for life.”

“What are you talking about?”

When Cecilia made a sulky face, the corners of Rainer’s mouth curved up even more.

Rainer lightly touched his forehead to hers.

Their body heat met.

“When the lawsuit is over.”

A low, calm voice resonated softly.

“When that time comes, let’s discuss it once more.”

“…Hmph, I’ll think about it.”

It was a coy response until the very end.

But Cecilia’s body was already naturally leaning into his embrace.

At least for this moment.

She could temporarily forget about all the countless matters weighing on her mind.

It wouldn’t be so bad to lean on this man before her and share each other’s warmth.

* * *

And finally.

The aristocratic trial that had shaken not only the capital Brisen but the entire Empire.

The trial that brought up the carriage accident from 10 years ago opened its curtains at the Central Court.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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