She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 151

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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 151. Rainer’s Dilemma (2)
“Gasp…!”
At the sound from the Doorway, Harry lost his balance and tumbled from his chair with a loud crash.
Rainer too lifted his head in surprise.
Cecilia, who had recovered considerably and begun walking about, stood at the Doorway.
In her hands was a tray bearing a teapot and teacup.
She tilted her head curiously.
“It sounded like you were talking about me.”
“Oh, no! That couldn’t be further from the truth!”
Harry sprang to his feet, his glasses askew, and cried out.
“It was work! Just work matters!”
“I could have sworn you mentioned the Duchess.”
“You must have misheard!”
“Is that so?”
Perhaps it was his rather desperate demeanor that did it.
Fortunately, Cecilia pressed no further and stepped inside.
“Since you mentioned it was time for your tea. I brought it myself today.”
She set a teacup on Rainer’s desk and poured the tea.
Rainer, watching her intently, spoke.
“You shouldn’t strain yourself. You should rest more.”
“It’s no strain at all.”
Cecilia laughed lightly.
“I suddenly missed my beloved husband’s face. I thought I needed an excuse like this.”
“…”
In the suddenly tender atmosphere, Harry found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
He quickly gathered his documents.
Knowing when to discreetly disappear was also a mark of excellent service.
“I’ll just step into the archive for a moment.”
He nearly fled from the room.
Cecilia tilted her head briefly, but soon averted her gaze.
In that moment, Rainer took the tray from her hands.
“Let me have that.”
“Oh, it’s fine.”
“It still looks too heavy for you to carry.”
Even as he spoke with gentle humor, Rainer firmly took the tray.
Cecilia laughed softly as she watched his hands grip it firmly.
“Are you treating me like a child too, just like Wendy?”
Though she had recovered enough to walk about now.
Wendy still treated her like fragile porcelain.
She made a fuss whenever Cecilia merely sat up in bed for a moment.
“At this point, I’m so confused about whether I’m Wendy’s daughter that I need some excuse just to step outside. And since I’m with my husband, she can’t stop me.”
By now, Wendy was probably bouncing around the empty room in exasperation.
Cecilia shook her head with a slight smile.
Rainer smiled silently and poured the tea.
Then he handed her a cup and spoke.
“Then we should spend more time together.”
At those words, the corners of Cecilia’s mouth lifted slightly.
Rainer truly understood her heart better than anyone else.
The two of them sat side by side on the Sofa and sipped their tea.
A warm fragrance diffused gently throughout the Study.
With the sunlight filtering through the window, the air settled into a comforting embrace.
“The weather is truly lovely.”
Cecilia spoke quietly, gazing out the window.
Branches laden with flower buds swayed gently in the breeze.
“It’s perfect weather for an outing.”
“Is there somewhere you wish to go?”
“Yes.”
Cecilia nodded as she set down her teacup.
“On days like this, I always remember something.”
“Remember?”
“Memories from my childhood. When I was with my parents.”
Cecilia’s eyes grew soft.
“Around this time of year, we always went to the Yellow Elephant.”
The Yellow Elephant was the largest and oldest amusement park in Brisen.
Anyone who grew up in Brisen held cherished memories of that place.
Though Rainer was not among them.
“Was there something special that happened there?”
“A festival is held during this season. The entire amusement park is decorated with flowers… it’s truly beautiful.”
She paused for a moment, her gaze turning toward the window.
A faint longing gleamed in her eyes.
“As a child, I couldn’t wait for that day. Walking around holding Father’s hand, choosing flowers with Mother.”
“….”
“And the festival is quite unique. Instead of bullets, they fire shells filled with flower petals. Every time they boom, petals rain down like a shower—it’s indescribably beautiful.”
It had been more than ten years ago.
Yet the memory of that day remained vivid.
“Now, Cecilia, look carefully. The first petals scattered represent the love of family. See how that pale pink resembles the cotton candy you love?”
“Oh wow, and what about the next ones?”
“Let’s see… next comes the deep crimson rose petals. They symbolize the passionate love between lovers.”
Count Panning, her father, gently stroked his young daughter’s head as he spoke.
“Many gentlemen wish to confess their feelings to their beloved at that very moment. I wonder if our Cecilia will find such love as well?”
‘You’re something else. Cecilia is still just a child—what are you saying?’
‘Aha. My dear, are you already feeling lonely at the thought of sending our daughter away?’
Mother cast him a reproachful look, though not without affection.
Father laughed and playfully tousled his daughter’s hair.
From that moment on, a small dream took root in young Cecilia’s heart.
“…That’s what happened. Walking beneath it, the entire world felt filled with flowers.”
Rainer gazed at her without a word.
The moment he saw that face—as though she had returned to childhood itself.
‘This is it.’
He understood.
He had found the answer to his long deliberation.
“…Cecilia.”
“Yes?”
“You said that festival is held every year.”
“Yes, it should be starting soon.”
Cecilia nodded.
In fact, she had secretly looked into it around this time each year.
Though she never had the leisure to attend.
“Then we should go together.”
“Really?”
Cecilia’s eyes widened in surprise.
Rainer gave a light nod.
“Yes, the weather is fine. You’ve recovered considerably now, so a modest outing like that shouldn’t be too taxing.”
“…!”
Cecilia sprang from her seat.
She immediately began tidying the teacup, moving about with purposeful energy.
“Actually, the festival begins in two weeks. Since I’ll need to return to Brisen by then…I should start preparing now.”
She tried to appear indifferent.
Yet her ears flushed crimson, unable to conceal her delight.
At her childlike, innocent excitement, Rainer let out a soft chuckle.
‘I should have asked what she wanted long ago.’
Why had he agonized over something so simple?
Meanwhile, Cecilia hastily gathered the tray and moved toward the door.
“Oh.”
As she hurried toward the Doorway, something seemed to occur to her, and she turned back.
“By the way, what happened with Harry?”
The way he fell earlier and all.
Cecilia tilted her head curiously as she asked.
Rainer briefly averted his gaze before answering casually.
“That couldn’t be. It’s nothing of consequence.”
“Really?”
“Yes, he’s always been a scatterbrained one, hasn’t he?”
“Hmm… I suppose so.”
Well, if Rainer, who works alongside Harry, says so.
‘I must have misheard after all.’
I shrugged my shoulders once.
Besides, there were more pressing matters at hand now.
I didn’t dwell on it further and hurried out of the Study.
* * *
Not long after, Rainer and I returned to Brisen.
Since our return, we’d both been occupied handling various matters inside and outside the Duke’s Mansion.
Yet my heart remained buoyant throughout.
‘Let’s go on the very day the festival begins. I’ve grown curious myself.’
Outwardly, I maintained composure befitting my station as Duchess.
But whenever I had a spare moment, I found myself checking the calendar and counting down the remaining days.
However.
Beneath that excitement.
A peculiar atmosphere had begun to permeate the Duke’s Mansion.
“…?”
I stopped mid-stride as I walked down the Corridor.
Two Maids who had clearly been conversing just moments before.
The instant they saw me, they clamped their mouths shut, lowered their heads, and quickly scattered.
‘…Is it just my imagination?’
At first, I thought it was mere coincidence.
But when similar incidents repeated once, then twice.
I could no longer pretend not to notice.
And then.
“Ah, Harry. What perfect timing. I was actually meaning to ask you to check the ledgers here―”
“Oh my! What’s wrong with me!”
Harry too.
Made an exaggerated fuss the moment he saw me.
“I completely forgot about that! That, of all things!”
He fumbled to adjust his spectacles and promptly excused himself from the situation.
It was unmistakably obvious that he was avoiding me.
“….”
I stood dumbfounded, watching Harry’s retreating figure disappear.
In the meantime, the Maids carrying laundry baskets once again vanished swiftly in another direction.
Their behavior left no room for doubt.
My eyes narrowed with displeasure.
‘What on earth is happening here?’

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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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