She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 16

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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 16. In Rainer’s Bedroom (1)

“The fine has already been paid in full. And by Evan Machi, no less.”

“Yeah, I heard.”

“What a shame. We should have made him do forced labor while we had the chance.”

Wendy threw a frustrated punch into the air.

Cecilia smiled lightly and sat back down at her desk.

“….”

In any case, she wasn’t pleased with this news either.

She had already expected Evan to step in.

But she hadn’t expected him to come up with 3,000 crowns in cash so quickly.

‘His business is more solid than I thought.’

Even in her previous life, Evan had never told Cecilia anything, saying women had no business knowing about outside affairs.

So it was understandable that she couldn’t gauge the scale of his assets.

But it didn’t matter.

Cecilia already knew what would happen in the future anyway.

‘No matter how much Evan has now, I just need to take it all away from him later.’

Compared to her plan, today’s events were merely a taste of what was to come.

“Speaking of which.”

Cecilia looked up at Wendy again.

“Did you find out about the people who worked at the Panning County?”

“Ah….”

Wendy made a troubled expression.

It had already been well over 10 years since Count Panning passed away.

Since the Count had died in a carriage accident at the time, many servants had been taken away for investigation.

Finding those who had scattered in all directions was by no means an easy task.

“I’m sorry, my lady. I’m doing my best to look into it, but….”

“It’s fine, you don’t need to be too impatient.”

Cecilia forced a smile.

In truth, she was also speaking to herself.

This was only the beginning, after all.

‘Count and Countess Panning. My father arranged for that to happen. Thanks to forging the will in advance, they lived comfortably off the County’s wealth.’

Thankfully, hadn’t Rosena from her previous life spilled everything with her own mouth?

She just hadn’t found it yet, but evidence of their crimes must surely remain somewhere.

‘Father, Mother….’

Now even her parents’ faces in her memories had grown dim.

But the more that happened, the clearer her desire for revenge against the Osburn family became.

‘I will definitely avenge the injustice of your deaths.’

Cecilia clenched her hands tightly with a determined expression.

* * *

That night.

Blue moonlight quietly illuminated Cecilia’s bedroom.

Cecilia stood quietly by the window.

The humiliations she had endured at the Osburn Viscounty in the past came to mind.

‘I couldn’t even receive the education that a noble lady should naturally have. Under the excuse that finances were difficult.’

Yet the Viscountess spared no expense when it came to collecting dresses and jewelry.

If she had reduced that extravagance by even half, she could have at least hired a piano teacher for Cecilia.

Cecilia always had to swallow her envy while quietly watching Rosena receive her lessons.

‘Lia. Don’t just watch, come here and try playing too.’

‘Really? Is that okay?’

On the rare occasions when Rosena showed her meager generosity, it felt like she owned the whole world.

Of course, even that didn’t last long.

‘Ah, never mind. Lia, you can go now.’

‘Huh? But there are still more pieces left….’

‘It’s boring. It’s my piano, so stop touching it.’

When Cecilia’s skills proved superior to her own despite receiving lessons, Rosena blocked her out of jealousy.

‘Back then, I didn’t even know that was discrimination.’

Cecilia wanted to hold her childhood self tightly if she were standing before her now.

After standing silently for a moment, she soon turned her head.

“…Let’s stop with the pointless sentimentality. It’s getting too late.”

Cecilia was approaching the table to blow out the candle when it happened.

Thud!

Cecilia flinched at the sudden loud noise.

Reflexively, she looked toward the wall where the sound had come from.

‘That’s… Rainer’s bedroom.’

Cecilia and Rainer were using their respective bedrooms with only one wall between them.

Though several weeks had passed since she moved in here, this was the first time she’d heard such a sound from his room.

‘Did a picture frame fall or something?’

But considering the meticulous nature of the Duke’s Mansion servants, that possibility was low.

‘Or… maybe he’s in a situation he can’t talk about.’

It could be a sudden illness or high fever.

“Hmm….”

Cecilia hesitated for a moment.

Since their contract marriage, the two had thoroughly respected each other’s territory for several weeks.

They had shared public moments like breakfast or garden walks, but their conversations were mostly about future plans.

So they weren’t in a relationship where she could do something so private as entering his bedroom without permission in the middle of the night.

Thud! Thud!

But with the dull sounds continuing one after another, she could no longer just stand there.

‘Let me just check. I need to thank him for today’s matter anyway.’

Having made up her mind, Cecilia headed to the next room and carefully knocked on the door.

“Rainer, are you sleeping?”

“….”

But there was no answer.

Cecilia knocked on the door a little louder.

“Rainer, if you’re inside―”

“…Ugh.”

Then a faint groan leaked through the door crack.

It was unmistakably Rainer’s voice.

“Rainer!”

Cecilia panicked and opened the door.

The room was dark with the lights out, only moonlight dimly shining through.

Cecilia quickly looked around inside.

“Rainer, is something wrong?”

But the bed was completely empty.

She had definitely heard his voice.

Cecilia’s eyes widened as she looked around with worried eyes.

“Rainer!”

Rainer was sitting on the floor beside the bed, breathing heavily.

His whole body was soaked with sweat, and his forehead was burning with fever.

He kept pounding his chest as if feeling suffocated.

“Are you alright?”

Cecilia instinctively ran over and grabbed hold of Rainer.

In that moment, she was startled.

‘His body is like a ball of fire!’

Rainer was groaning, delirious with fever.

Cecilia cupped his cheeks with both hands and examined his complexion.

“Rainer? Try to open your eyes.”

But no matter how much she called to him, Rainer remained unresponsive with his eyes closed.

Sounds of distress continued to flow from between his lips.

He seemed to be in a delirious state from the fever.

‘I need to get him to bed first.’

Since the night air was still cold, she couldn’t leave Rainer lying on the floor like this.

Cecilia wrapped her arms around Rainer’s waist and tried to lift him up.

“Ah!”

But she soon realized it was impossible.

Moving a man with a much larger build than herself alone wasn’t easy.

Especially someone who was limply collapsed.

The center of gravity of the two entangled people gave way.

Cecilia ended up in a position where she was embraced in Rainer’s arms.

Unable to do anything either way, she just struggled and strained to support him.

“Rainer, please try to get up.”

She should have called for someone instead.

Feeling her arms reaching their limit, Cecilia regretted her decision.

But if they collapsed like this, she could end up trapped beneath Rainer’s body.

For the delicate Cecilia, this could be a dangerous situation.

‘I have no choice. I’m a bit sorry to Rainer, but…’

Since he had a solid build, it should be fine to throw him onto the bed a bit roughly.

Cecilia gritted her teeth and moved both hands to Rainer’s chest.

Even just moving her arms was enough to drain all the strength from her body.

When she finally felt his firm chest beneath her palms, Cecilia took a small breath.

“Whew… Rainer, are you ready?”

“…”

As expected, there was no response.

Well, this might actually be better.

“One, two…!”

Cecilia pushed against Rainer’s chest with all her might.

Rainer’s body, pushed backward, collapsed onto the bed.

“Phew… Done.”

Although he was lying sideways, at least she had gotten him onto the bed.

Cecilia stood up from her position, breathing heavily.

“Rainer, wait just a moment. I’ll go call someone soon—”

However.

“Ah?”

Rainer’s hand suddenly pulled her toward him.

Cecilia tumbled onto the bed.

“Ugh…”

Cecilia, who had instinctively squeezed her eyes shut, carefully opened them.

She saw unbuttoned shirt buttons right in front of her eyes.

She was lying face down with her face against Rainer’s firm chest.

“R-Rainer?”

Cecilia’s face flushed bright red.

She tried to get up in panic, but Rainer’s hand was already firmly gripping her wrist.

Rainer was still unconscious, breaking out in cold sweat.

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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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