She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 133

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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 133. Interrogation and Confession
A few days later.
A small tea gathering was being held at a Count’s Estate in Brisen.
The Countess proudly displayed the Greenhouse she had carefully cultivated to her guests.
“I’ve made quite extensive improvements this time. I simply had to invite all of you. Hehehehe.”
True to her words, the Greenhouse was spacious and magnificent.
Roses blooming in graceful curves, and a white marble fountain glimmering in the sunlight.
People gathered in small groups, looking around the surroundings.
Yet the one drawing the most attention was not the scenery, but Cecilia.
“Duchess, you look absolutely radiant today.”
“I hear you’re quite close with the Crown Princess?”
“At the last banquet, seeing you standing beside the Princess was truly impressive.”
The Noblewomen crowded around with smiling faces.
Their gazes held envy and admiration for Cecilia, who was close to Mary.
“You flatter me too much.”
Cecilia smiled gracefully and nodded.
After deflecting the cascade of flattery appropriately, I slowly surveyed my surroundings.
In that moment, my gaze brushed across the far end of the Garden.
‘There she is.’
Behind the rose vines.
Nancy Devlin was stealing glances in my direction.
She was pretending to be disinterested, standing at a distance.
Yet with each movement I made, the gap between us gradually narrowed.
And her expression bore traces of anxiety and unease.
‘My suspicions were correct.’
The corners of my mouth lifted ever so slightly.
Nancy was likely Rosena’s accomplice.
The creditors’ pressure had intensified, it seemed—she no longer had the luxury to hold back.
“Wendy.”
I called to Wendy beside me carefully.
“Did you prepare things as I mentioned before?”
“Yes, I did.”
Wendy bowed her head and quickly excused herself.
I opened my fan with a composed expression.
Nancy was still stealing glances at me.
‘Time to verify.’
I turned my gaze away, pretending not to notice.
The ladies around me continued to surround me, still seeking an opportunity to speak.
“Excuse me, I need to adjust my dress for a moment.”
I naturally excused myself from the group.
Cecilia stepped deeper into the Greenhouse.
To the heart of the Garden, where prying eyes rarely ventured.
It was when she reached beneath the arched rose tunnel.
“….”
Cecilia stopped in her tracks.
And without any warning whatsoever.
She spun around and seized Nancy’s arm with a sharp tug.
“Yelp!”
A cry burst from Nancy’s lips as she had been following silently from behind.
“What, what are you doing―!”
Nancy tried to protest.
Thud!
Cecilia shoved her directly against the wall.
“Ah, it hurts!”
Nancy’s face contorted at the pain radiating through her back.
But Cecilia paid no mind whatsoever.
“You.”
Instead, she leaned in close, her voice turning glacial.
“You’re harboring Rosena, aren’t you?”
“…!”
Nancy’s eyes widened dramatically at the unexpected accusation.
Color drained from her face in an instant.
“Th, that’s, what do you mean?”
“That murderer Rosena—she’s at your house.”
Good heavens, how did she find out.
If this comes to light now, everything is finished.
Nancy denied it desperately.
“No! Not at all! Why would I be harboring that woman?”
“Really?”
Cecilia’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re truly saying it wasn’t you?”
“Yes, yes! Please believe me!”
“How strange….”
Cecilia tilted her head slightly.
“The letter clearly said to tell the Devlin Estate.”
“Th, that can’t be! An anonymous letter couldn’t possibly―!”
Her stammered excuse cut off abruptly.
Nancy’s eyes trembled uncontrollably.
Cecilia did not miss her prey caught in the trap.
“Countess Devlin.”
The grip on Nancy’s wrist tightened further.
Nancy winced at the pain.
But Cecilia pressed her with an icy voice.
“How did you know it was an anonymous letter? Did I tell you what kind of letter it was?”
“…!”
Nancy’s lips trembled uncontrollably.
Yet she couldn’t utter a single word.
She had already confessed through her own slip.
“So it was you, after all.”
Cecilia laughed softly, as if she had known all along.
When she released her grip, Nancy stumbled, losing her balance.
Cecilia stepped closer to her.
Nancy was now trapped between the wall and her.
Nancy couldn’t meet Cecilia’s gaze.
“I, well, that’s… there seems to be some misunderstanding….”
Nancy made excuses while cold sweat dripped down her face.
But even that pathetic attempt
was cut short by the original blackmail letter Cecilia produced.
“Familiar, isn’t it? Since you sent it multiple times.”
Cecilia waved the white paper in front of Nancy’s eyes.
“If you don’t tell me the truth here, this will go straight to the Imperial Palace.”
“That, that can’t…!”
The color drained from Nancy’s face.
The words the noblewomen had been chattering about moments ago flashed through her mind.
‘They say she has a deep connection with the Crown Princess.’
Given how close Cecilia was to the Crown Princess,
even a child could imagine what would happen if she personally brought charges against her.
Nancy’s knees buckled.
“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll take my leave.”
The moment Cecilia turned to go,
“W, wait, please!”
Nancy desperately grabbed her arm.
“I, I didn’t do it all! I was just being blackmailed!”
Got her.
Cecilia’s eyes narrowed.
Nancy, terrified, began spilling everything at once.
“That, that woman came to me first! She suddenly showed up and said if I didn’t do as she said, she wouldn’t leave me alone….”
“And then? What did Rosena tell you to do?”
“Ah, as you know, she had me send those blackmail letters….”
Nancy continued, gasping for breath.
“After receiving the money, she said she would publish a book exposing the Duke’s Mansion’s secrets!”
The blackmail was merely the beginning.
Rosena declared she would not rest until they were completely ruined.
The murder accusations against her father and herself as well.
She intended to insist until the very end that they were false charges fabricated to cover up Rainer’s secret.
‘…This is infuriating.’
Cecilia’s gaze gradually hardened.
She had suspected she wouldn’t remain idle.
But she hadn’t expected her to go this far.
Truly, she was shameless to the bitter end.
“I, I’ve told you everything.”
Nancy mumbled with a tear-stained face.
“So now… please forgive me. I was blackmailed, so I’m a victim too.”
“A victim?”
Cecilia regarded her slowly.
Her eyes were infinitely cold.
A victim—it was a preposterous excuse.
She knew the truth.
That Nancy’s choice had been made of her own accord, driven by envy and jealousy.
“You blackmailed my husband and participated in a scheme to tarnish my honor, and now you claim to be a victim?”
Cecilia’s voice was glacial as she questioned her.
Nancy’s lips trembled violently.
Cecilia would hear no more.
“I will have you charged with blackmail as well.”
“M, madam! Please―!”
“Wendy, you may come out now.”
At Cecilia’s measured word.
Wendy, who had been hiding nearby, approached with several other men.
Nancy’s eyes widened as she recognized them.
“Those, those people are…!”
“Yes, they are the Guard Corps of Brisen. My maid summoned them.”
Nancy’s face drained of all color.
The guards approached and seized both her arms.
“Madam, we have heard your confession. Come with us.”
“W, wait! What are you doing!”
Nancy’s scream erupted.
At the commotion, noblewomen gathered one by one.
“L, let go of me! I―!”
Nancy struggled desperately.
But the more she thrashed, the more firmly the guards held her.
“The rest of you are to proceed directly to the Devlin Estate.”
Cecilia’s gaze fell upon Nancy with glacial coldness.
She spoke to the Guard Corps.
“Do not give Rosena any opportunity to flee.”
* * *
At that very moment.
Rosena sat before her desk.
Scratch, scratch.
Her quill moved frantically across the paper.
The white pages were filling rapidly with every conceivable accusation and distortion directed at the Duke’s Mansion.
Rosena’s lips twisted into a smile.
‘Heh heh, once this is published, then…’
I would soon be rolling in wealth.
Rosena laughed softly to herself.
But then.
Boom! Crash!
A tremendous commotion erupted from the floor below.
The violent pounding of a door.
The startled screams of servants.
The thundering sound of footsteps rushing through the house.
And then, a booming voice burst forth from beyond her door.
“Rosena Osburn! You are under arrest for the murder of Elise Hays, flight from justice, and extortion of the Hays Ducal Family!”

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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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