She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 129

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 129. A Blessing for the Empire (1)
The Banquet Hall of the Imperial Palace was adorned with magnificent splendor.
As befitted a celebration of the Crown Princess’s pregnancy.
Silver ornaments glimmered across the ceiling.
Each table overflowed with fragrant flowers.
At the center, people gathered around the Crown Prince.
“Your Highness, my congratulations.”
“How delightful it must be to watch two children grow together.”
“Do you hope for a son this time, or a daughter?”
“Ha ha. I am simply grateful that you all bless us so generously.”
Nicholas’s lips never ceased their smile.
He drew his wife beside him close, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
“This one will surely be a daughter. She’ll inherit Mary’s beauty and become the most exquisite woman in the Empire.”
As he spoke, he pressed a light kiss to Mary’s forehead, and laughter erupted from those around them.
Mary laughed awkwardly while reaching out to pinch her husband’s side.
“Ow!”
Nicholas doubled over at the sudden pain, writhing comically.
Mary’s expression remained unmoved as she pressed her lips together and spoke.
“Really now, do stop saying such nonsense.”
She shook her head at her husband’s foolishness.
Yet a subtle smile played at the corners of her mouth.
Then the Master of Ceremonies’s voice rang out.
“The Duke and Duchess of Hays have arrived!”
A small murmur rippled through the Banquet Hall entrance.
Were these not the very subjects of the many rumors that had set Brisen ablaze of late?
All eyes turned toward a single point.
Rainer soon appeared at the entrance, dressed in formal black attire.
Cecilia stood beside him, her hand resting lightly upon his arm.
Her white gown, suffused with a subtle silver sheen, glowed softly beneath the chandelier’s light.
And at her neck gleamed the diamond necklace Rainer had gifted her.
The transparent jewel caught the light, sparkling with quiet brilliance.
“My goodness….”
The noblewomen’s eyes sparkled with interest.
“That jewel… surely it’s the one they say was mined from the newly discovered quarry in the desert?”
“Yes, they say it’s the finest grade—far more transparent than ordinary diamonds.”
“How enviable. It must be worth an astronomical sum.”
A continuous murmur of whispers followed, punctuated by the flutter of fans.
“Hmph, as if an expensive jewel could remedy the chaos that family has caused.”
At that moment, someone’s jealousy twisted their lips.
“Exactly. The mistress of such a house bears responsibility for the scandal, yet here she comes flaunting expensive jewels as though nothing were amiss.”
“The Princess won’t be pleased about this either.”
Several noblewomen spoke in petty, spiteful tones.
And the most enthusiastic among them were, as expected, Nancy Devlin and Marquess Rummel’s Wife.
They wore subtly satisfied expressions as the gossip swirled around them.
But Cecilia paid no attention to their gazes.
She held her head high and moved forward with measured steps.
Soon the two of them came to a halt before the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
“Your Highnesses, I offer my congratulations on this joyous news.”
Even as the formal greeting continued.
Envious eyes remained fixed upon her.
The crowd seemed to subtly hope that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess would distance themselves from the House of Hays, whose reputation was perpetually tarnished.
Then Mary approached Cecilia.
“Duchess, my dear friend.”
“…!”
The unexpected form of address sent a ripple through the gathering.
Mary took Cecilia’s hand with an unbothered expression.
“Thank you for coming.”
And she spoke clearly, ensuring all could hear.
“I would have been disappointed if you weren’t here on such a joyous occasion. You were the first friend I sent an invitation to, after all.”
“I am honored beyond measure, Your Highness.”
Eyes darted about as the two exchanged their intimate conversation.
The Crown Princess was showing such favor to the Duchess?
Even knowing all the recent circumstances.
Marquess Rummel’s Wife fanned herself and let out a deliberate cough.
Nancy beside her fidgeted nervously, gauging the mood.
“Come, let’s go this way. I have so much I wish to discuss with my dear friend.”
Mary gently took Cecilia’s arm and led her away.
Soon music filled the Banquet Hall once more.
People dispersed in small groups and resumed their conversations.
* * *
A short while later.
Mary, exhausted from her early pregnancy, returned briefly to the Crown Prince’s Palace.
Cecilia also made her way to the Lounge on one side of the Banquet Hall to attend to her dress.
It was a space prepared exclusively for noblewomen.
Several ladies were already seated within.
“So after that―”
The noblewomen who had been conversing fell silent upon seeing Cecilia.
The air in the room shifted subtly.
“Oh, oh, you’ve arrived.”
“It’s been a while, Duchess. You look as beautiful as ever today.”
Some offered stiff greetings with forced smiles.
But Marquess Rummel’s Wife, seated in the center, merely let out a disapproving hum.
‘At her age, and still so petty.’
I suppressed a quiet laugh.
Nancy beside me was no different.
The way she deliberately avoided my gaze and pouted was almost amusing.
“Please, don’t mind me. Do continue your conversation.”
I offered a light greeting and made my way toward the vanity.
The moment I stood before the mirror, the noblewomen who had been staring intently at my back hastily averted their eyes.
It was as I began to touch up my makeup, ignoring them entirely.
“Well now, come to think of it….”
Marquess Rummel’s Wife spoke first from behind me.
“The Duchess hasn’t heard any particularly good news lately?”
“Pardon? Good news, you say?”
I turned with a puzzled expression.
Marquess Rummel’s Wife was watching me with a malicious smile.
She continued fanning herself slowly as she spoke.
“The Princess is already expecting her second child, yet there’s been no word from the Duchess.”
“….”
“If you had devoted yourself to your duties as mistress of the household rather than courting scandal, you would have borne a child long ago.”
It was a truly baseless and blatant provocation.
In the sight of Marquess Rummel’s Wife harping on about children,
I saw the image of Elise from my past life, reproaching me over the same matter.
Among the younger nobility these days, the prevailing sentiment was to enjoy the honeymoon period fully before having children slowly.
But Marquess Rummel’s Wife belonged to an earlier generation.
Of course, even so, it was not something one should say to another’s wife.
But the Marquess’s wife would hardly consider such things.
She had come here with the intention of picking a quarrel from the start.
“What good is it if the Duke merely buys jewels? He can’t even keep his own wife in line. Tsk, tsk.”
At the Marquess’s wife’s words, I heard the others around her stifling their laughter.
Nancy chimed in from beside me as well.
“Quite right. I would have been too ashamed to show my face at such a gathering.”
She giggled while glancing sidelong at me.
Once she had clung to Rosena’s side.
Now it was the Marquess’s wife.
‘She lacks the courage to act alone, it seems.’
Her cowardice only made me want to laugh.
I slowly surveyed all the noblewomen in the room.
They all seemed to be subtly hoping I would lose my temper.
Indeed, if I were to raise my voice in a place like this,
The Duchess would face even greater humiliation for causing a disturbance at an Imperial celebration.
‘I cannot fall for such a crude trap.’
Cecilia smiled with composure.
Everyone froze at her demeanor.
She bent her knees in a deep, respectful bow.
“Thank you for the advice, Marquess Rummel’s Wife.”
“….”
Marquess Rummel’s Wife furrowed her brow, her eyes narrowing with suspicion at what scheme this might be.
Cecilia rose with a laugh.
“I’ve already been giving serious thought to the matter of children.”
She spoke with perfect ease.
“Every time I see the Young Marquess Rummel in Tarand, I find myself worrying more and more about how to properly educate a child.”
“What, what did you say? Why are you bringing up that boy?”
At the sudden mention of her only son, Marquess Rummel’s Wife’s eyes widened sharply.
Cecilia covered her mouth in feigned surprise.
“Oh my, was I mistaken in what I said?”
She then laughed brightly.
“After sending away the pillar of your house for studies abroad, it would be quite the disaster if he grew into a child who causes trouble through alcohol addiction there, wouldn’t it?”

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