She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 142

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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 142. The Conspiracy of One with Nothing to Lose (1)
Some time later.
Bang! Bang!
“Open the door! It’s lunch time!”
The sound of knuckles rapping against the iron door echoed through the Underground Prison.
The guards, still unaware that Rosena had escaped, grumbled amongst themselves.
“That Jackson bastard—wasn’t he supposed to be inside?”
“Right? What the hell is he doing in there?”
The guard assigned to Rosena’s cell had a poor reputation among his colleagues.
The guards clicked their tongues and retrieved the keys from their belts.
“That crazy fool—obsessed with women or not, touching a prisoner is―”
The guard responsible for meal distribution yanked the door open.
But the sharp rebuke he’d been about to deliver died on his lips.
The stench of blood hit him like a wave.
“…What? What is this? What happened?”
The bewildered guards’ eyes dropped to the floor.
Jackson lay sprawled face-down, clad only in undergarments, his skull caved in.
The barred door stood wide open.
And Rosena, who should have been inside, was nowhere to be found.
“Hey! Jackson!”
The guards’ faces drained of color in an instant.
One rushed forward and shook Jackson’s shoulder desperately.
“Come to! Hey!”
But there was no response.
Meanwhile, another guard shrieked and blew his whistle.
“The prisoner has escaped!”
The shrill blast pierced through the air.
The entire Underground Prison erupted into chaos.
“What? The prisoner escaped?”
“Who? Who got away!”
“Rosena! That woman Rosena has vanished!”
Guards and soldiers scrambled in every direction.
When exactly had Rosena slipped out of this place?
What scheme was she orchestrating now?
There was no way to know.
One thing alone was certain: Rosena was a dangerous woman.
Jackson’s nearly pulverized skull was proof of that.
“We have to inform the Hays Ducal Family.”
The guard who’d blown the whistle muttered, his face ashen.
He glanced around and shouted.
“Hurry! Get to the Hays Ducal House at once!”
* * *
At that very moment, within the Hays Ducal House.
Cecilia, unaware of the unfolding crisis, was preparing to depart for the Estate.
Rainer had taken Jeremy down ahead of her.
So today she would be traveling alone.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced—something Rainer had said before leaving.
“Jeremy can just come with me and leave later.”
“That’s impossible. I cannot tolerate another man being at my wife’s side for even a single moment while I’m away.”
“Pardon? What did you say?”
At his absurd declaration, Cecilia couldn’t help but laugh.
Rainer had insisted on taking Jeremy and departed for the Estate first.
Today was when Cecilia had planned to finish organizing the Capital Residence before setting out later.
The carriage was already waiting at the front gate.
The Coachman was conducting a final inspection.
“My lady, must you truly leave today?”
Wendy followed behind, chattering anxiously.
Her expression was unusually grave.
“Couldn’t you go later? No matter how I think about it, last night’s dream has left me deeply unsettled.”
“A dream?”
“Yes. I was carrying a handful of donuts, but every time I tried to take a bite, they all flew away. When has there ever been such an unlucky dream? It’s definitely a bad omen.”
“What?”
Cecilia’s lips curved upward.
Donuts scattering in all directions and a despairing Wendy.
The image alone was endearing.
“I’m serious! My lady! This is no laughing matter!”
Wendy puffed out her cheeks and pouted.
Yet even that was nothing but adorable.
She reminded me of a younger sister.
I gently tucked a strand of Wendy’s hair behind her ear.
“Don’t worry so much, Wendy. More importantly, did you pack the medicine for your father?”
“Ah, yes…”
Wendy nodded, clutching the envelope tightly.
It was medicine I had personally prepared for her.
“How did you know my father was unwell, my lady?”
Wendy tilted her head curiously.
I smiled without answering.
In my previous life, around this time, Wendy had left the Osburn Viscounty to return home due to her father’s illness.
At the time, I had searched desperately for Wendy, missing her dearly.
But her father’s condition was grave, and I could not bring her back.
In this life, I could not repeat the same suffering.
Cecilia had arranged for a physician in that region beforehand to care for Wendy’s father.
“It’s simply better for the elderly to receive regular health checkups.”
Fortunately, the capable physician discovered the illness early.
And we were able to stop at a point where it could be managed with medicine.
So Wendy planned to visit her father briefly before heading to the Hays Estate.
After hesitating for a moment, she looked up at Cecilia again.
“I’ll sleep just one night and come right back. So couldn’t you go to the Estate with me tomorrow?”
“This girl.”
How shocking must that donut dream have been.
Watching Wendy pester her again, Cecilia let out a soft laugh.
“I’m sorry, Wendy. I can’t delay any longer thinking that Rainer is waiting for me.”
Cecilia winked playfully.
It was said in jest.
But in truth, I too was eagerly anticipating seeing Rainer.
That man, who couldn’t bear to have another man beside his wife for even a single second, was impossibly endearing.
‘I never knew I could fall for someone like this.’
We had only been apart for a week.
Yet strangely, it felt far too long.
Those seven days felt like an entire year.
“Is the Duke really that wonderful?”
Wendy asked with a sigh in her voice.
As Cecilia nodded, the sigh deepened.
“Sigh… honestly, our mistress is worth hundreds, no, thousands of times more…”
At Wendy’s adorable complaint, Cecilia burst into even louder laughter.
In the meantime, the Coachman, who had finished inspecting the carriage, approached.
“My lady, the preparations for the journey to the Estate are complete.”
“Very well. Let’s depart at once.”
Cecilia turned to Wendy, her face still brimming with laughter.
“Then I’ll see you at the Estate, Wendy.”
“Yes, yes.”
As if she could no longer protest, Wendy shook her head in resignation.
Cecilia boarded the carriage with a radiant smile.
Soon the carriage carrying her slowly disappeared into the distance.
“…”
And there was a gaze intently watching the departing Duchess’s carriage.
It was Rosena.
Standing pressed against the wall across the way.
Her eyes never left the carriage until it vanished completely from sight.
‘So she’s going to the Estate, is she?’
Then, just before leaving Brisen.
I would stop at a relay station to change horses and head straight into the forest.
Rosena knew that route well too.
After all, there was a time when she had traveled to the Estate as a member of the Hays Ducal Family.
‘That’s my chance.’
Rosena’s eyes gleamed as she watched the carriage disappear down the street.
An ominous shadow vanished swiftly into the darkness of the alley.
* * *
An hour later.
The carriage arrived at the outskirts of Brisen.
The city’s clamor faded gradually, and the road grew quiet.
The carriage slowed its pace.
“I’ll stop for a moment, madam.”
The Coachman’s voice rang out.
“Before entering the forest, I’ll change the horses at the relay station. It won’t take long.”
“Very well.”
Cecilia answered briefly.
Hearing the Coachman descend, she leaned back against her seat leisurely.
She still had several hours of travel ahead.
She thought she might close her eyes for a moment.
But then it happened.
Thud!
“Neigh!”
With the horse’s sharp cry.
The carriage lurched violently.
Cecilia’s drowsy body tumbled straight to the floor.
‘What in the―!’
Before she could even comprehend what was happening.
The carriage bolted forward at breakneck speed.
“Hey! Who are you! Stop this instant!”
The Coachman’s desperate cry erupted from outside.
But the carriage only accelerated, as if mocking him.
“Come back! Come back! Someone help! Madam! Madam!”
The Coachman’s screams faded into the distance.
The carriage shook so violently that Cecilia could barely control her body.
All she could do was lie sprawled on the floor, tossed about helplessly.
She wrapped her arms around her head to protect it from impact, gritting her teeth.
‘What on earth is happening?’

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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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