She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 155

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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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Epilogue 2. Revenge in Another Timeline (2)
Cecilia Hays.
To be precise, Evan was the greatest obstacle to his plan of acquiring the Ducal Title.
And his wife—she too stood in complete opposition to Rainer.
Yet why was it?
Strangely, she continued to gnaw at his thoughts.
‘Since she seems useless, why can’t I move quickly?’
Every time he visited the Duke’s Mansion, she was always receiving reproach from Elise.
Her hairstyle was vulgar, her gait lacked grace.
Most of it was baseless criticism.
‘Because of you, the child won’t even come. How pathetic.’
And all the blame ultimately converged on the matter of a child.
Rainer found it absurd.
How could the inability to bear a child be the woman’s responsibility alone?
Rumors that Evan was gallivanting about had already spread throughout Brisen.
Rainer was well aware of all the sordid gossip surrounding him.
Yet the attitude of only targeting that defenseless woman and making unreasonable demands displeased him.
‘I’m… I’m sorry, Mother…’
But that woman always bowed her head to Elise.
She never once refuted or defended herself against Elise’s unreasonable accusations.
‘Why won’t she say anything?’
What grave sin had she committed?
The sight of her enduring in silence sometimes irritated Rainer.
That’s why she grated on him all the more.
Like a thorn lodged in his throat.
A feeling neither swallowed nor expelled.
Every time he saw her, he wanted to ask why she bore it all.
Didn’t she know how pathetic her husband was?
He wanted to tell her to simply give up—
Thoughtless words rose to his lips, threatening to spill out.
He had no choice when he was young.
But wasn’t she an adult?
Yet if he approached Cecilia…
Elise would seize upon their relationship and attack her again, calling her conduct improper.
So he chose to avoid visiting the Duke’s Mansion whenever possible.
Avoidance was the best course, he thought.
That’s what he believed back then.
‘…I should have told her from the beginning.’
Only after Cecilia died did Rainer regret turning away from her.
Belated self-recrimination crashed over him for failing to prevent Elise and her bloodline from creating another victim.
If only I had forced her out of that place, no matter the cost.
If only I had.
‘Then it wouldn’t have ended so meaninglessly.’
Rainer’s gaze settled quietly downward.
It was already too late.
Though I made those who drove her to death pay the price in the end.
She had already closed her eyes.
“….”
He exhaled sharply, closing his eyes before opening them once more.
Then he looked up at the sky again.
‘If there exists another life.’
May she find happiness there, at least.
Watching the drifting clouds, he murmured quietly to himself.
“Your Grace?”
Harry called to him with a puzzled expression.
“It is nearly time for your audience with the Crown Prince. Is there anything else you require at the Court?”
“…No. Let us depart.”
Rainer answered briefly, withdrawing his gaze.
And without hesitation, he turned to leave.
From the place where all his vengeance had concluded, he moved forward once more toward his own life.
* * *
Warm morning sunlight filtered softly into the room.
A thin curtain swayed gently in the breeze.
“…Mm.”
Cecilia’s eyelids trembled faintly before slowly lifting open.
Squinting against the brightness, she gazed around her surroundings.
A newly painted portrait commemorating her marriage to Rainer caught her eye.
The Duchess’s Bedroom was, as always, peaceful.
“I should get up… Huh?”
She paused as she began to rise.
A single tear that had gathered on her eyelid rolled down her cheek.
‘…What is this? Was I dreaming?’
She could not fathom why tears were suddenly flowing.
Cecilia fell into contemplation for a moment.
She had been dreaming of something.
It seemed to have been a very long and arduous dream at that.
But as dreams always do, it evaporated the moment she opened her eyes, leaving her memories incomplete.
All that remained was an inexplicable heaviness in her chest.
“Cecilia, are you awake?”
At that moment, Rainer’s voice reached her.
He naturally opened the door and stepped into the Bedroom.
“Breakfast will be ready soon―”
Rainer, who had been approaching, froze in place.
A single tear traced down his wife’s pale cheek as she sat upon the bed.
“Oh.”
Cecilia belatedly raised her hand and hastily wiped away the tears.
“I suppose I must have had a nightmare. This is….”
She tried her best to appear unbothered.
But why was it?
The moment I saw Rainer, the tears I had been holding back began to flow even more freely.
It was truly strange.
His face, which I saw every single day.
Why did my emotions feel so overwhelming today?
“What a terrifying nightmare it must have been.”
Rainer, drawing closer, asked gently.
Perching on the edge of the bed, he lightly wrapped his arms around Cecilia’s shoulders and patted her back soothingly.
Cecilia wiped away the tears that continued to flow with her fingertips.
“I don’t know. I can’t remember. It’s so strange….”
She murmured softly.
She felt like a small child throwing a tantrum without reason.
But Rainer neither pressed her nor seemed bewildered.
He simply raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Rainer….”
At that tender touch.
Without thinking, I pulled his neck into a tight embrace.
“Cecilia?”
At this unexpected action, Rainer’s eyes widened momentarily.
But Cecilia offered no response, simply holding him even more tightly.
Beyond the point where our chests met, I felt his heartbeat.
There was no explanation for why.
Yet the mere fact that Rainer was by my side made my heart swell.
And this moment felt infinitely precious.
“…Rainer.”
“Yes.”
“Rainer.”
Cecilia called out his name again and again.
Each time, Rainer answered quietly without a trace of annoyance.
“I’m here.”
With his low, steady voice.
He gently stroked her back.
With his tender touch, Cecilia’s heart gradually began to settle.
Like a child seeking comfort, I rubbed my cheek against his neck and quietly opened my mouth.
“Rainer.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
Out of the blue?
At the unexpected words, Rainer raised his eyebrows slightly.
But I didn’t stop, continuing to speak in a gentle stream.
“It’s just… for some reason, I feel like I need to say this right now. I keep thinking how fortunate I am to have met you.”
With his confession flowing without pause,
Rainer’s lips curved into a softer smile.
Soon his lips descended gently onto my hair.
Once, twice.
Along with the tender kisses,
his arms wrapped around me even more firmly.
I leaned against him in silence.
No more tears fell now.
Instead, a gentle smile graced my lips.
“Rainer, I love you.”
At my sweet whisper, Rainer’s lips curved upward once more.
“I love you more.”
With a final light kiss to my forehead, Rainer answered calmly.
Then he rose from his seat, cradling me in his arms.
“If we linger here any longer, the soup will grow cold and the Servants will be devastated.”
Shall we head downstairs?
Rainer playfully tilted his head and carried me forward.
Normally I would have asked him to put me down out of embarrassment.
But this time, I laughed like a young girl and buried my head in my husband’s embrace.
Today, I wanted to savor this unmistakable happiness for as long as possible.
‘Yes, let’s continue to love and be loved from now on.’
No nightmare mattered anymore.
Because this man would always be by my side.
No matter what happened, Rainer would always be with me.
I was certain of it as I kissed his cheek.
“Mm, would you do the other cheek as well?”
How could I not love this man, offering his other cheek with such feigned indifference?
I burst into happy laughter.
And so their new day began.
Epilogue of “I Became My Friend’s Mother-in-Law” — Complete.

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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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