She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 101

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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 101. Crime and Punishment (1)

The front of the Central Courthouse of Brisen was bustling from early morning.

In front of a building where normally only lawyers and a few people would come and go.

Today, people were crowded so densely there wasn’t even room to step.

People were greatly shocked by the fact that Count Osburn had committed murder.

For those who already knew about the scandals between the Duchess and her daughter-in-law.

There could be no greater source of entertainment than this.

“Come one, come all! Extra! Extra! Were Count and Countess Panning really murdered by their friend?”

“Perhaps the conflict between the two women had been going on for a very long time!”

Newsboys holding newspapers ran among the people, shouting until their voices were hoarse.

People who couldn’t get gallery tickets were hanging from trees to secure even a spot by the windows.

Amid that commotion, the carriage of the Hays Ducal House arrived.

“It’s the Duchess!”

“Your Grace! Please give us just one word!”

The carriage door opened.

As Cecilia stepped down holding Rainer’s hand, reporters with notepads swarmed toward them.

She held her head high and spoke to the reporters.

“My parents were murdered by Count Osburn. The truth that has been hidden for 12 years, I will reveal it here today.”

At her confident words, the reporters’ pens moved busily.

Having finished speaking, Cecilia pushed through the crowd and walked toward the courthouse.

Rainer walked alongside her with his arm around her shoulders.

Harry bounced around beside them, controlling the crowd.

“Now, now, please step aside! Detailed information will be provided in writing later!”

“Your Grace! Just one more word please! Do you have evidence of the murder?”

“Please look this way too!”

Even amid the barrage of questions, Cecilia didn’t open her mouth again.

She had already said everything she needed to say.

All that remained now was to reveal the truth in court.

Cecilia and Rainer entered the courtroom together.

As she looked around, one person caught her eye.

“Margaret is over there.”

Where Cecilia pointed with the tip of her fan.

Margaret, with sunken eyes, was constantly looking around the courtroom.

Rainer snorted at the sight of her.

“It seems the Dowager Duchess doesn’t want to miss what’s happening either.”

“She still seems to believe she has influence.”

“What a useless thing to do. That woman should spend her time properly caring for her dying master instead.”

Rainer criticized the two harshly.

Normally, Cecilia would have cautioned him about his harsh language.

“Leave them be. I’m willing to provide this much of a spectacle.”

This time, Cecilia agreed with him.

Now she had to go to the plaintiff’s seat.

Rainer had to go to the specially prepared VIP section for spectators.

Cecilia looked up at Rainer.

“Rainer, you’ll keep watching from there, won’t you?”

“Of course.”

Right now, her matter was more important than anything else.

Rainer lightly kissed the corner of Cecilia’s eye.

Before they knew it, their physical contact had become natural.

“Don’t worry about anything. If it comes to it, there’s always the option of me directly cutting off Osburn’s neck.”

“…Please restrain yourself.”

It was a murderous joke.

But somehow, Rainer seemed like he really would do it.

“I want to resolve this through the law if possible.”

But even as she said this, a smile appeared on Cecilia’s lips.

Just then, a commotion was heard from the doorway.

“It’s the Young Duchess! Osburn’s daughter!”

Rosena, ostentatiously dressed in finery, entered.

Even under people’s piercing gazes, Rosena held her head high.

“…”

For a moment, the two women’s eyes met.

In that instant, the corner of Rosena’s mouth lifted ever so slightly.

It was a leisurely smile, confident of her victory.

“Both the Duchess and the Young Duchess expressed confidence in winning before the reporters.”

“Oh my, this won’t be an ordinary trial today.”

“I’m glad I paid extra to get a gallery ticket.”

The sound of people murmuring around them could be heard.

Cecilia inwardly let out a scoffing laugh.

‘Right. It would be boring if the outcome seemed decided from the very beginning.’

She was rather grateful to Rosena for still being so confident.

If she had tucked her tail and run away earlier.

She wouldn’t have been able to draw this much attention like now.

Cecilia’s gaze continued to follow Rosena as she sat in the gallery.

Beside her sat Trisha, who had already arrived, with a hardened expression.

Her face was full of damage, perhaps from the mental anguish since her husband’s arrest.

‘Look forward to it, Rosena.’

Cecilia gave the mother and daughter one more look before heading to the plaintiff’s seat.

The ducal family’s lawyer stood up and greeted her courteously.

“How are the preparations?”

“Perfect. Don’t worry, Your Grace.”

At the confident attitude of her counsel, Cecilia nodded lightly and took her seat.

She was no longer nervous.

Today was the day Osburn would completely fall.

* * *

“We will now begin the retrial of the carriage accident case involving Count and Countess Panning, which occurred in the year 550 of the Listea Imperial Calendar.”

The trial began with the judge’s solemn declaration.

People’s gazes turned toward the defendant’s seat in unison.

Count Osburn’s defense attorney rose from his seat.

“Honorable Judge, this case is a matter that was concluded after sufficient investigation. The trial at that time was also conducted according to proper procedures, and since there was a confession from the real culprit, there is no room for further dispute.”

The lawyer looked toward Cecilia.

“Stirring up a case that has already been concluded out of personal grudge would be an act that ignores this country’s law and justice.”

He subtly highlighted the grudge with Rosena, framing Cecilia’s claims as emotional.

He was treating her like a foolish noblewoman who had escalated matters driven by petty emotions.

“If we bring a case that has already received a not guilty verdict back to trial based solely on personal feelings and suspicions, who would trust the judiciary’s judgment in the future?”

Count Osburn nodded along with those words.

His expression of feeling wronged was disgusting.

Cecilia suppressed her laughter inwardly.

‘Law and justice.’

Those weren’t words that should come from Osburn’s mouth, were they?

Soon after, Cecilia’s lawyer stood up.

He calmly spread out his documents.

“Your Honor, the plaintiff has secured evidence to prove that this case was not a simple accident.”

He held up a document.

He even held it up high so all the spectators could see it.

The gallery stirred.

“These are records left by the coachman who drove the carriage at the time, and related evidence that his son has preserved.”

“Objection!”

Osburn’s lawyer shot up from his seat.

“What the plaintiff claims are documents of unclear origin. They could easily be fabricated. Moreover, that coachman died in prison long ago.”

“We received this evidence directly from that coachman’s son. Therefore—”

“His son?”

Osburn’s lawyer interrupted.

He looked like he had caught them red-handed.

“Then where is that coachman’s son now?”

Suddenly, the courtroom fell silent.

Cecilia’s lawyer couldn’t continue speaking for a moment.

He looked at the judge, then lowered his gaze back to the documents.

Rosena’s lips slowly curved upward.

‘As expected.’

She thought to herself.

Without a witness, no matter how many documents there were, they were meaningless.

The fact that Cecilia had brought such a reckless lawsuit was laughable.

‘Did you think you could just insist and win? Cecilia. This time you’ve lost.’

Whispers spread through the gallery.

“Well, documents like that could easily be fabricated.”

“They held this trial for nothing. The Duchess must have been too hasty.”

Cecilia didn’t move a muscle.

Her fingertips grew slightly cold, but her expression didn’t change.

The judge asked in a low voice.

“Plaintiff’s side. Do you have a way to prove the reliability of the submitted evidence?”

“That is—”

It was the moment Cecilia’s lawyer was about to speak.

Creak.

The sound of a door opening came from the back of the courtroom.

At the sudden sound, everyone’s gaze turned toward the back.

A man was confidently entering the courtroom.

“Oh my!”

Someone who recognized the man shouted.

“That person, isn’t that the actor who disappeared back then!”

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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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