She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 165

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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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Side Story 1. What Happened in Peloux (10)
“I’ll just tidy up my dress and be right back.”
“Of course.”
“See you in a moment.”
Cecilia turned her steps toward the Powder Room.
Wendy followed immediately in her wake.
As they entered the Corridor, Cecilia whispered softly.
“…Wendy.”
“Yes, madam.”
“Are they following us?”
At her words, Wendy glanced back over her shoulder.
Behind a pillar, two figures were hastily concealing themselves.
“Yes, they’re right behind us. I hadn’t seen them until now—I wonder where they crawled out from?”
“Well, they must have been hiding somewhere. Given what happened last time, it would have been difficult for them to appear openly in front of everyone.”
Cecilia gave a light shrug.
After all, Marquise Martaine was also in attendance at today’s gathering.
They wouldn’t have dared venture into the Garden.
‘Just as I predicted, not a single deviation.’
A faint smile played at the corners of Cecilia’s lips.
With her hand resting on the door handle, she tilted her head slightly toward Wendy and whispered.
“Tell Rainer that everything is proceeding according to plan. Tell him to make his preparations as well.”
“Understood, madam.”
Wendy gave a brief curtsy and swiftly disappeared.
Cecilia entered the Powder Room as though nothing had happened.
She was removing her gloves while standing before the mirror.
Knock, knock.
“Madam, it’s Penelope. May I come in?”
Cecilia’s hands paused for a moment.
She gazed toward the door through the mirror’s reflection, then spoke calmly.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Penelope and Sosie entered.
The two of them stood hesitantly side by side at the Doorway.
Cecilia set down her gloves neatly and asked.
“What is it?”
“We were worried when you stepped away, so we came to find you.”
“That’s right—we’re family, after all.”
Sosie chimed in, nodding her head eagerly.
“Madam.”
Penelope stepped forward and offered the tray she was holding.
Upon it sat a teapot and glass cups arranged neatly.
“I brought some cool water since the weather has been rather warm.”
She set the tray down on the side table and poured water into the cup.
Then she offered it with both hands, respectfully.
“Please, drink.”
“Thank you.”
Cecilia accepted the cup with a gentle smile.
The clear, transparent water rippled softly.
“My throat was parched—this is perfect.”
And without hesitation, she drank deeply.
Penelope and Sosie’s eyes gleamed with triumph.
‘It’s done!’
The two exchanged a brief, meaningful glance.
Soon the Duchess would lose consciousness—
“Ah, refreshing.”
“…?”
Yet even after draining more than half the cup, Cecilia’s expression remained perfectly composed.
If anything, she seemed in better spirits.
‘What… what is this? Mother, why is that woman perfectly fine?’
‘It shouldn’t be… this shouldn’t be happening.’
Bewilderment flickered across both their faces.
Surely a single drop was supposed to be sufficient.
They had confirmed its effects at the Apothecary last time.
And to be absolutely certain, they had added an entire spoonful.
Yet she remained utterly unaffected.
Perhaps it took longer to work on humans, they thought desperately.
But minutes had passed, and Cecilia stood perfectly fine, adjusting her appearance in the mirror.
Penelope stared at her back in disbelief.
Then their eyes met in the mirror’s reflection.
“Della, why do you look so troubled?”
“I… I beg your pardon?”
For a moment, Penelope nearly jumped out of her skin in shock.
Barely composing herself, she spoke with forced calm.
“Oh, no, it’s nothing. I was simply—”
“Are you surprised I’m not dead?”
“…What?”
In that instant, both Penelope and Sosie felt their hearts plummet.
Cecilia turned slowly to face them.
A smile still lingered at the corners of her mouth.
“Strange, isn’t it? That man selling poison in the Back Alley said one drop would be enough.”
“…!”
Both of their eyes widened dramatically.
Penelope’s hands trembled visibly.
“W-what are you saying…? I don’t―”
“You know better than anyone. Stop the act now.”
Cecilia’s voice was resolute.
“Just like you tried to eliminate my Uncle and his family, you were trying to eliminate me with this poison.”
“That’s absurd!”
Penelope’s face flushed crimson as she burst out in anger.
Sosie stood frozen, barely able to breathe.
‘Sosie! Get yourself together! She’s just testing us right now!’
Penelope clenched her teeth.
Yes, this secret was known only to her, Sosie, and the Poison Merchant.
How could this woman possibly have discovered it?
“That’s a complete slander! You’re perfectly fine anyway!”
Penelope’s voice rose desperately as she shouted.
If she backed down now, it would all be over.
She had to deny it at all costs.
“I’m the victim here! Who are you accusing of murder!”
“Are you really not?”
“I said no! How many times do I have to tell you!”
Unable to contain her agitation, she even dropped her formal speech.
Forgetting that her opponent was a Duchess, she even pointed accusingly.
“Hmm, that’s strange…”
Cecilia tilted her head, her arms crossed.
“That person said something different.”
“…What?”
That person?
Penelope faltered for a moment.
“Come in.”
Cecilia spoke toward the door.
With a creaking sound, the door opened.
“…!”
When they turned around.
Penelope and Sosie nearly collapsed as their legs gave way beneath them.
“H-how…”
Standing at the Doorway were Rainer and several nobles.
And at the very front―
“Y-Your Majesty…”
The King of Peloux stood before them.
The King’s wrathful gaze was fixed upon the two of them.
Penelope’s lips trembled violently.
Thud!
“Oof!”
At that moment, Rainer seized a man by the scruff of his neck and hurled him inside.
The man tumbled across the floor in a heap.
The instant Penelope glimpsed his face, her eyes widened as though they might burst from their sockets.
“Y-you!”
“Hehe, ma’am. Oh, hello? You can see everything from here?”
This man, sweating profusely and grinning obsequiously.
Days ago, he was the very Merchant who had covertly peddled poison.
If that were so, could it be that the ‘person’ the Duchess had just mentioned―
“That’s right. I’ve already heard the entire story from this man.”
As though reading Penelope’s thoughts, Cecilia stepped forward.
And she lifted the cup she had been drinking from.
Half the water still remained in the glass.
“Your Majesty, these two attempted to poison this cup and murder me.”
“N-no! I didn’t―”
“Allow me to demonstrate.”
Ignoring Penelope’s denials entirely.
Cecilia promptly poured the water into a potted plant beside her.
Moments later.
“Oh, heavens…”
The crimson petals blackened and withered away.
Gasps rippled through the assembled crowd.
Cecilia set down the cup with an expressionless face.
Then her gaze shifted to the Poison Merchant.
“I extracted the truth through interrogation. Thanks to that, I took the antidote beforehand, which is why I suffered no ill effects today.”
“How dare you commit such treachery in my own palace!”
The King’s voice thundered with fury.
The fact that it had occurred during his own banquet was troubling enough.
But the victim happened to be a great noble of Listea.
This was hardly a matter that could be dismissed lightly from a diplomatic standpoint.
The King’s eyes grew sharp and cold.
“Search them at once!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The moment the order fell, the Royal Palace Servants rushed forward.
They began searching Penelope and Sosie’s bodies without restraint.
“Kyaaah! W-wait! What are you doing!”
The two women struggled desperately, but they were no match against so many hands.
“Your Majesty, we’ve found it!”
At that moment, a Maid retrieved something from Sosie’s possession.
The color drained from Penelope Della and her mother’s faces.
‘Sosie, when you reach the room, first secure the Duchess’s letter. Remember the forger we hired to fabricate the Baron’s will last time? If we entrust him with this, he’ll produce the Duchess’s will in no time.’
It was the forged will that had been meant to be placed beside Cecilia once she fell.
But contrary to their plan, that document now rested in the King’s hands.
The King unfolded it roughly.
“Good heavens….”
The Queen, reading beside him, went deathly pale.
It was undeniable, irrefutable evidence.
“Your Majesty, that is not all.”
I spoke quietly, breaking the silence.
“Penelope Della murdered my Uncle Baron Barmeo and his entire family.”

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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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