She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 15

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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 15. The Emptied House of Osburn (2)

“3,000 crowns!”

The Viscount and Viscountess of Osburn gaped at the larger-than-expected amount.

3,000 crowns was a huge sum equivalent to half a year’s wages for all the servants of the viscounty.

Moreover, they had already squandered their money on luxuries.

With countless outstanding debts to pay, they had no cash available for immediate use.

But as Duke Rockwell had said, the court wasn’t particularly interested in their circumstances.

“The compensation deadline is two weeks. If you exceed the set deadline, you will be sentenced to hard labor.”

From that day on, Cloud visited every noble house he had connections with to raise money.

“Oh my, I’m sorry but our Count is currently at his estate. He won’t be back until next month.”

“We’d really like to help, but our situation isn’t good these days either…”

“The master says it would be difficult to meet. I’m sorry, Viscount.”

But no one extended a helping hand.

They were afraid of falling out of favor with the Royal Court by getting involved with a viscounty that had received a guilty verdict from the Central Court.

“Damn it, bloody hell!”

When he was rejected even at the last place he had pinned his hopes on, Cloud spat out rough curses and kicked a stone.

Would he really be dragged off to a labor camp like this?

For him, who had lived solely on the pride of being a noble, death would be preferable.

‘In the end… is that the only way?’

Cloud stopped walking.

There was one last card he had refused to use until the end because of his pride.

“What? Dad? What did you just say?”

Rosena doubted her own ears at Cloud’s words when he returned home.

She hadn’t thought the compensation issue, being her parents’ problem, would affect her as well.

“Tell Evan to pay the compensation instead. Since he’s in business, he should have some cash.”

“Dad!”

Rosena flared up at Cloud’s words.

Ever since the court ruling, Evan’s attitude had noticeably grown colder.

If she brought up such an uncomfortable money matter, their relationship would obviously deteriorate further.

“Yes, do as your father says, Rosie. We’re family, so naturally we should help each other at times like this.”

But such concerns weren’t important to the viscount couple.

When they were about to be dragged off to hard labor if they didn’t pay the fine, what else could matter?

Rather, they felt they were at a greater disadvantage.

“I’m giving him my daughter, so what’s 3,000 crowns? He’ll inherit the viscounty title in the future too, so that bastard Evan should bring much more.”

“Of course. Absolutely.”

“Hah…”

Rosena bit her lips tightly as if dumbfounded.

Still, she couldn’t argue back.

She too had no way to raise such a large sum as 3,000 crowns.

‘I had no idea our house was so short of money…’

Of course, she never realized until the end that one of the causes of this trouble was her own extravagance.

Until now, she had been able to act confidently in front of Evan, backed by the viscounty’s prestige and wealth.

Thinking that all of that would crumble, her face was already burning with shame.

Rosena covered her head with both hands and muttered.

‘Why are things suddenly going so wrong?’

* * *

In the end, Evan paid the huge fine of 3,000 crowns on their behalf.

After completing all the procedures, Evan left the Central Court with a face full of irritation.

Rosena followed behind him hesitantly.

“Evan, thank you so much. I was really worried, but I’m glad you’re here.”

“…”

Evan didn’t respond and walked forward with his mouth tightly shut, looking only ahead.

3,000 crowns.

He had used company funds for the time being, but the more he thought about it, the more his stomach churned.

‘Others benefit from their in-laws, but what am I exactly?’

Unaware of Evan’s burning frustration, Rosena acted coquettishly beside him.

“Don’t worry too much about the money! My parents will definitely pay it back.”

…Like hell they will.

Evan swallowed his sneer.

When he had looked into it separately, the Osburn family’s financial situation wasn’t very good.

Nevertheless, the Osburn family didn’t reduce their spending filled with vanity.

This was also why the shocked Evan kept postponing moving into the viscounty.

On top of that, now without servants, the inside of the house would be a complete mess.

No matter how he thought about it, it was just frustrating.

‘Sigh, if it weren’t for the child, I would have ended it long ago.’

Evan let out deep sighs.

Rosena, who had once seemed only lovely, was now so disgusting he could die.

‘But if I say I want to break up, the Viscount and Viscountess of Osburn will cause another uproar.’

Her parents were more problematic than Rosena herself.

Anyway, they were legitimate members of noble society.

And Evan’s business partners were precisely those nobles.

In this situation, if rumors spread that he ‘got a noble lady pregnant and then abandoned her,’ Evan would be finished at that moment.

‘I should have done whatever it took to hold onto Cecilia back then. No troublesome in-laws, and I could have had the count title too.’

But what use was regret now?

The fact that Rosena was his only option made Evan feel even more suffocated.

He stopped walking and let out a deep sigh.

“Evan, what’s wrong? Hm? Are you uncomfortable somewhere? Want to come to my house for dinner?”

Unaware of his feelings, Rosena clung closely to Evan’s side.

And the more she did so, the more Evan’s expression only hardened.

* * *

“Come on, line up. Get in line.”

Hays Ducal Estate Garden.

Wendy handed letter envelopes one by one to the servants of the Osburn Viscounty standing in a row.

Inside were recommendation letters written personally by Rainer.

The content vouched for their experience and character in the name of the Duke of Hays.

Relief and joy spread across the faces of the servants who took them out and read them.

“With this, the next job won’t be a problem! We’ll be able to choose wherever we want to go.”

“My goodness, a guarantee from the Duke of Hays, what luck this is.”

“It was worth enduring at that wretched Osburn place.”

The servants were all excited.

Even those who had been skeptical at first were amazed that the recommendation letters were genuinely written in Rainer’s name.

One maid clutched her envelope tightly and asked.

“Wendy, how did His Grace know to help us?”

“Um, well…”

Wendy scratched her cheek with an awkward expression.

Actually, she too hadn’t believed it when she first heard from Cecilia.

‘His Grace the Duke of Hays will help? Really?’

Most of the nobles Wendy had seen didn’t treat servants as human beings.

Even in situations where servants were victims, they would conclude matters by firing the victims because they disliked the noise.

Those whose livelihoods were held hostage by unfair treatment couldn’t say anything.

But to guarantee their status and careers without any compensation in return.

And from Rainer, a great noble at that?

To Wendy, he felt like a legendary figure.

‘Besides, he even brought me to the Duke’s Mansion at my lady’s request. The Duke must really care for our lady.’

Wendy had no idea that Cecilia and Rainer had a contract marriage.

So she simply felt proud.

Meanwhile, a maid who was frustrated by Wendy’s lack of response grabbed her arm and shook it lightly.

“You know something, don’t you? Come on, tell us, please?”

“Well….”

But she couldn’t tell the other servants that Cecilia had moved on their behalf.

Cecilia’s identity was still top secret, after all.

Wendy shrugged her shoulders and mumbled evasively.

“It’s not like that. My aunt works here, so the Duke just heard about our situation and helped us.”

“Even so….”

“Alright, alright, I need to go finish cleaning now, so everyone go back.”

The servants tilted their heads at the unsatisfying answer, but didn’t ask further and left with their letters of recommendation.

Once the last maid had gone, Wendy hurriedly ran into the Duke’s Mansion.

“My lady! Oh, no—Madam!”

Cecilia was doing embroidery in her room.

A gentle smile spread across her face when she saw Wendy.

“Are you finished with your work?”

“Yes! Everyone was so happy. Thank you so much, Madam.”

Wendy bowed deeply on behalf of the others.

Cecilia quickly stood up and helped Wendy to her feet.

“Don’t be like that. If anything, I owe everyone a great debt.”

“My lady….”

Wendy’s eyes quickly reddened.

Cecilia hadn’t forgotten the servants who had treated her warmly at the Osburn County in the past.

“I think it’s fortunate that I could repay them even a little. And….”

Cecilia smiled mischievously.

“It’s also refreshing to give the Osburn Family a blow while we’re at it.”

Wendy also burst into laughter with tears still welling in her eyes.

However, her expression soon darkened again.

“But, Madam….”

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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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