She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 167

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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 (12)
It was Penelope and Sosie.
No trace of their once-elaborate dresses remained, nor the pride they’d carried as nobility.
They wore nothing but tattered garments stained with filth and grime.
The two sat slumped against the wall, their eyes hollow and vacant.
“Tsk, they look like walking skeletons.”
A Guard passed by, openly clicking his tongue in disdain.
Under ordinary circumstances, they would have snapped back with venom.
But now they could only lean helplessly against the cold stone.
The dark hollows beneath their eyes mirrored the very visage of Baron Barmeo as he lay dying.
“Mother… will the poison be in our food again today?”
Sosie whispered weakly.
At first, they had refused meals laced with poison, but they lasted only two days.
What followed was an endless cycle of eating through tears, retching, and collapsing in weakness.
They already understood the truth.
This madness would not end until their final breath left their bodies.
Clang.
The iron door creaked open.
The Guard set down a bowl of thin broth.
Their eyes trembled.
“I… I can’t do this anymore…”
Sosie began to weep.
Mealtime was terror incarnate.
Knowing the poison was there, yet unable to overcome hunger, they found themselves lifting the spoon with their own hands.
It was all so horrifying, so unbearable.
Sosie clutched at Penelope’s arm, trembling.
“Mother, please, do something—anything! I’m going to lose my mind, I swear it!”
“…”
But Penelope gave no response.
She simply stared into the void, her eyes unfocused and glazed.
“Mother, Mother!”
Sosie shook her desperately, tears streaming down her face, but received no answer.
The silence pressed down around them.
Only the poisoned broth released thin wisps of steam as it cooled.
* * *
Time passed, and the day came to return to Listea.
A Carriage was prepared before the Baron’s Residence, and the Servants bustled about with final preparations.
Cecilia herself stood before the Carriage, personally inspecting the luggage.
“My Lady.”
Just then, Michel and Sandy arrived to bid us farewell.
Cecilia’s face brightened instantly as she saw the two of them.
“Ah, welcome! I’ve been waiting for you.”
“My lady, this is so sad. Do you really have to leave already?”
Sandy approached and her voice trembled with emotion.
Cecilia smiled and gently stroked her hair.
“Don’t be so sorrowful, Sandy. Next time, I’ll invite you to the Duke’s Mansion.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Until then, keep studying hard.”
As Cecilia nodded with a smile, Sandy laughed with tears glistening in her eyes.
Michel, watching from the side, cleared his throat.
“Ahem. Sandy, don’t trouble the lady too much.”
But he too could not hide his reluctance.
“My lady, you’ve endured much hardship during your stay. I… ”
He hesitated for a moment before continuing carefully.
“I wish you could take only fond memories of Peloux with you.”
“…Ah.”
Cecilia gazed at him for a moment, then offered a small smile.
“It’s fine. I think coming here was the right decision. After all, I was able to set everything right because of it.”
Her voice continued softly.
“And I have much to thank you for, Michel.”
“Me? Really…?”
“Thanks to you, I was able to prepare in advance for Della and her daughter.”
Cecilia’s words were true.
Without Michel, I would never have learned of the suspicious rumors about Della and her daughter circulating through Peloux’s high society.
“Michel, you are a benefactor to both me and my Uncle.”
“Aha… You speak so grandly that it’s a bit embarrassing.”
Michel scratched the back of his head and laughed awkwardly.
He had only shared the information out of concern.
He hadn’t expected matters to escalate to this degree, so he was equally surprised.
Receiving words of gratitude on top of everything else made him feel a bit flustered.
‘I wasn’t planning to end it with just thanks.’
Cecilia gazed at him and offered a small smile.
“I’ve prepared a gift as a token of my gratitude.”
“A gift?”
Michel’s eyes widened in surprise.
But at her next words, he nearly cried out.
“I’m going to give this Baron’s Residence to you and Sandy.”
“What?”
Michel’s jaw dropped.
Cecilia spoke as if it were the most natural thing.
“I’ve organized everything that was inside. The Servants are hired under the name of the Hays Ducal House, so you needn’t worry about that. I’ll take my Uncle’s belongings, and I’ve left the furniture—use it as is if you like, or replace it all if you prefer―”
“No, wait. Wait a moment, Madam!”
Michel interrupted Cecilia, his expression flustered.
His face flushed, he suddenly grasped her wrist.
He was not ignorant of the Hays Ducal House’s vast wealth.
Yet this kindness was far too great for him to bear.
“This is too much! I merely relayed rumors from those around me.”
“Well, but….”
“I’m truly fine with this!”
“I’m not particularly fine with it.”
At the sudden voice from behind, Michel flinched.
Rainer was approaching slowly.
As his gaze fixed on the wrist, Michel startled and released Cecilia’s hand.
“Ah, that’s not what I meant….”
Embarrassment flushed his face.
Yet Cecilia merely interpreted it as surprise at her proposal.
“Don’t burden yourself with this, Michel. I simply….”
Cecilia’s gaze turned toward Sandy.
Sandy blinked, unable to comprehend the situation.
Cecilia smiled warmly and looked back at Michel.
“I wanted Sandy to grow up in a more stable environment.”
“Yes, living in a cramped rental room with a brother at such a sensitive age isn’t good.”
Rainer added, drawing near.
“Settle in Peloux now, and don’t think of returning to Listea.”
“You’re something else. When you speak with such a frightening face, it doesn’t sound like a jest.”
Cecilia laughed and chided him gently.
Rainer merely shrugged, neither confirming nor denying.
Michel, watching him for a moment, then exhaled deeply.
“…I understand your intentions well.”
He nodded with resolve.
“For Sandy’s sake… shameless though it may be, I accept your kindness with gratitude.”
“So we’re living here? Really, brother?”
“Well, it seems so….”
“Yay!”
Michel scratched the back of his head with an awkward expression.
Sandy bounced with delight.
“Now I won’t have to worry about rain leaking through the ceiling!”
Sandy’s innocent face radiated genuine joy.
A smile bloomed across Cecilia’s lips as well.
Thus, all matters in Peloux came to a close.
“Well then, it is time for us to depart.”
“Yes, do take care of yourselves until we meet again.”
“Travel safely.”
After exchanging final farewells with Michel and his sister, Cecilia and Rainer boarded the carriage.
Soon the carriage began its journey toward Listea.
* * *
Upon returning to Listea, the two of them resumed their daily lives.
After successfully concluding the business agreement with Count Monter, Rainer immersed himself in the family’s affairs.
Cecilia, too, found herself consumed with the duties of the manor as the Duchess.
Thus, caught up in their respective responsibilities,
it was not until more than two weeks after their return that the two of them sat across from each other at the dining table once more.
“I cannot remember the last time this happened.”
A peaceful meal, after so long.
The table was laden with warm dishes.
“Dining together with you and Jeremy, I mean.”
Jeremy sat beside Cecilia.
During their time away in Peloux, the boy had grown considerably.
Jeremy stabbed a sausage on his plate with his fork and held it out.
“This one! This is delicious!”
“My, Jeremy. That is your favorite, is it not?”
It was clear that Jeremy too cherished these moments.
Cecilia smiled warmly and leaned toward Jeremy.
She opened her mouth to accept the sausage.
But in that instant—
“…Ugh.”
A scent brushed past her nose, and suddenly her stomach churned.
Cecilia instinctively covered her mouth.
“Cecilia.”
Rainer rose from his seat at once and approached.
“Is something the matter?”
“No, it is just… Ugh!”
Before she could finish, the nausea surged again.
In that moment, silence fell over the dining hall.
Cecilia’s eyes widened.
‘…Could it be?’
As she slowly lifted her gaze, her eyes met Rainer’s.
He seemed to be harboring the same thought.

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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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