She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 166

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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 1. What Happened in Peloux (11)
In that instant, everyone doubted their own ears.
Cecilia gave the Merchant a light kick with the tip of her foot.
“The poison you purchased from that very person, to be precise.”
The Merchant let out a groan, but quickly straightened himself as Rainer’s icy gaze fell upon him.
“Speak.”
Cecilia commanded quietly.
“What poison did you sell to those people?”
“That is… well…”
The Poison Merchant perspired profusely.
Even for one who had dealt with all manner of people in the Back Alley.
It was no simple matter to speak boldly before the King himself.
Much less to confess to the wicked deeds he had committed.
“The truth is…”
After a moment’s hesitation, he finally opened his mouth.
“The poison that the Baroness and her son are known to have consumed… I sold it to that woman.”
In a trembling voice, he began to lay bare the events of the past.
From the day Penelope first visited his shop.
To how the poison gradually weakened the Baron.
Until it ultimately led to his death.
Having finished his account, he hung his head low.
“I have no face to show the Duchess.”
“Oh, merciful heavens.”
At the shocking revelation, the mouths of those present fell agape.
The atmosphere in the room grew turbulent.
“It’s a lie! Every word is fabricated by that filthy wretch!”
Penelope, having lost all reason, thrashed about and cursed wildly.
But no one believed her words.
With the mood already turned against her, Penelope felt as though she were suffocating.
“How can this be? I am nobility, yet my words are dismissed for those of such a lowborn creature—”
“Enough.”
At that moment, Rainer’s voice cut through the air.
The shoulders of Penelope and Sosie trembled.
A voice so gentle could be rendered terrifying.
“Your Grace…”
“We have already confirmed that you forged the Baron’s will. The scribe who assisted you is imprisoned.”
“…!”
Penelope’s eyes widened in shock.
Sosie crumpled to the floor as though her legs had given way.
“Hngh… ahhhhh…!”
She buried her face in her hands and wept like a child.
“Mother, Mother… What are we going to do now…?”
“….”
Penelope Della could not utter a single word.
Her face had gone blank, as though her soul had fled.
“There is no need to hear more.”
The King stepped forward.
In that instant, everyone held their breath.
All eyes turned toward Penelope Della and her daughter, crumpled upon the floor.
In Peloux, crimes of nobility could be summarily executed by the King without trial.
“Penelope Della, and your daughter Sosie Della.”
The King opened his mouth slowly, his voice laden with authority.
“You have committed a grave crime unforgivable for those of noble birth. Your transgression is of such extreme malice that―”
The King paused, his gaze turning cold as winter frost.
“I shall inflict upon you the very method by which you slew Baron Barmeo. Lock these two in the Underground Prison, and administer one spoonful of poison with each meal.”
“…!”
Penelope Della’s head snapped up.
She knew better than anyone.
How cruel and terrible the sentence laid upon her and her daughter would be.
She had witnessed Baron Barmeo’s suffering with her own eyes.
“Y-Your Majesty! Wait, please! I, I…!”
She crawled across the floor on her hands and knees, reaching desperately toward the King.
She had no time to feel shame.
Her only thought was to escape the poison by any means.
“How dare a criminal presume!”
But her pitiful attempt was cut short by the Queen’s sharp rebuke.
Penelope Della froze in place.
Behind her, the sound of Sosie’s weeping echoed.
Soldiers rushed in and seized both women’s arms roughly.
“Let go! Release me! Do you know who I am!”
“Aaah! Let me go! It hurts!”
Both women thrashed and struggled in their final resistance, but it was all in vain.
The soldiers, their expressions unmoved, dragged them away.
“No! No, please!”
Cries of despair echoed down the Corridor and faded into the distance.
Everyone stood pale and silent.
Some shook their heads slowly, clicking their tongues.
A heavy silence settled over the room.
“Duchess. And Duke.”
The King sighed and stepped forward.
“This incident is the responsibility of the Peloux royal family. We failed to prevent the wrongdoings of such villains beforehand, and as a result, the Duchess lost her precious family.”
“Responsibility? Your Majesty, those are too kind words.”
Cecilia bent her knees slightly.
The Queen continued from beside her.
“We also bear fault for failing to properly regulate the Black Market. It is only regrettable that we have lost such a talented individual as Baron Barmeo.”
“We shall commence a full investigation shortly. Every rotten root must be cut away.”
The King’s gaze turned toward the Poison Merchant prostrated on the floor.
“Using that man should suffice.”
“H-hic!”
The Poison Merchant flinched and bowed his head.
“Y-yes, Your Majesty! I shall obey your command without question!”
He too would not escape imprisonment.
But if he cooperated with the royal investigation, he might at least save his life.
Having betrayed the Black Market and sided with them, perhaps imprisonment was even the safer choice.
Satisfied that this was sufficient, Cecilia stepped forward.
“I can only express my gratitude that Your Majesty would set things right even now, Your Majesty.”
Her eyes held not the slightest wavering.
Rainer too gave a brief nod.
“I humbly accept Your Majesty’s will.”
Thus the truth regarding the death of the Barmeo Marquis Family, which had remained hidden until now, was finally revealed.
And the villains received their due punishment, bringing the entire affair to a close.
* * *
Several days later.
Cecilia was climbing the hillside with Rainer.
It was where Baron Barmeo’s tomb lay.
In her arms was an old diary.
It was a keepsake Baron Barmeo had left for her.
‘Before passing, the Baron requested that this be delivered to you along with the reading of his will.’
The diary was filled with his regrets over the discord with his sister and his longing for his niece Cecilia.
There were also passages expressing concern for her, left alone after the accident that claimed Count Panning and his wife.
When I first saw this, how the tears had welled up.
Cecilia held the diary even more tightly to her chest.
‘Uncle… you were thinking of me too.’
Though we never properly faced each other in life.
Still, there was someone who remembered me and cherished me.
That fact alone warmed my heart.
“We’ve arrived.”
At Rainer’s words, Cecilia lifted her head.
Baron Barmeo’s tombstone came into view.
And before it was.
“Ah, straighten that up properly!”
“Really now. I’m doing it right, aren’t I? It’s quite tight.”
Harry and Wendy bickered as they tidied the tomb.
Once everything was settled, I had the Baron’s family laid to rest together in one place.
Penelope had deliberately buried the Baron, his wife, and even the young master in separate locations.
Truly, she had been ruthless in every conceivable way.
Upon learning the truth, I made certain to reunite them in one place for the first time.
“My Lady!”
Just then, Wendy spotted me first and waved cheerfully.
Harry straightened his posture belatedly.
“Oh, Madam! Duke! You’ve arrived. We’ve completed the work as you instructed.”
“Thank you, Harry.”
“Not at all, Madam.”
Harry and Wendy stepped aside to make room.
I approached the tomb.
My eyes fell upon the neatly arranged earth and the flowers carefully arranged around it.
I slowly bent down and gently traced my hand across the newly erected tombstone.
I read through each of the three family members’ names one by one in my heart.
‘May you all… rest in peace.’
I offered my sincere prayers for their eternal repose.
As if answering my heart, a gentle breeze swept past.
* * *
Within the prison, damp air hung thick.
Each flicker of the faint torchlight cast eerie shadows dancing across the walls.
And beneath it.
Two women huddled in the darkness.

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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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