She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 17

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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 17. In Rainer’s Bedroom (2)

“…ni.”

A faint murmur leaked from between Rainer’s lips.

Cecilia blinked and looked down at him.

The man who was always strong and composed now looked infinitely fragile.

‘…Except for his grip strength.’

Cecilia tried to twist her wrist free, but Rainer’s hand was as firm as handcuffs.

“Don’t go… We, run away… Save me…”

Cecilia, who had been struggling to free her wrist, looked up at Rainer’s moaning.

Tears that had fallen from his eyes were flowing down his cheeks.

Was he having a nightmare?

‘…He would definitely be displeased if he knew I saw him like this.’

Her mind warned her that she should leave quickly.

But she couldn’t just turn away and leave him in his weakened state.

Cecilia carefully raised her hand and caressed his cheek.

“It’s okay, Rainer. You’re safe here.”

At her gentle voice, Rainer’s expression softened slightly.

This time Cecilia slowly patted Rainer’s chest.

Just like she used to do when putting Jeremy to sleep.

“Haah…”

As if it was effective, Rainer’s rough breathing gradually became steady.

His face also showed a much more peaceful expression.

“Still, he still has a fever…”

Cecilia murmured quietly as she touched Rainer’s forehead.

Cecilia gently removed Rainer’s hand from her wrist.

Then she pulled up the bed sheet and covered him up to his shoulders.

Throughout this, her gaze never left Rainer.

‘I should go back to my room now…’

But she couldn’t bring herself to get up.

This man’s vulnerable side, which she was seeing for the first time, weighed on her mind.

After hesitating for a moment, Cecilia eventually reached out again and took his hand.

‘Let me watch over him just a little longer. His fever might spike again. Just 5 minutes, no, 3 minutes.’

So this was really just to check his body temperature.

* * *

The next morning, Rainer slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing that came into view was the familiar bedroom ceiling.

He frowned at the headache that immediately washed over him.

“…Damn. Was it that dream again.”

Rainer let out a low groan and raised his hand to press firmly around his eyes.

The nightmare of the day his mother Mariana died would occasionally visit and torment him.

Calling desperately for his mother in the flames, then the collapsing ceiling.

It was always the same repeating scene in the dream.

On mornings after having the dream, he would always wake up somewhere other than his bed.

“…”

But today was different.

Although he was lying sideways, he was definitely on the bed.

‘Was it Harry? What an unnecessary thing to do…’

Rainer took a short breath and tried to sit up.

If Harry had meddled unnecessarily, he was planning to give him a piece of his mind.

“…Hand?”

Then, Rainer suddenly realized he was holding someone’s hand.

Bewilderment spread across his eyes.

“…Cecilia?”

She was asleep, curled up on the bed while tightly gripping Rainer’s hand.

Her long hair flowed softly down over her shoulders.

Rainer frowned at the situation he couldn’t readily understand.

‘Don’t tell me… this woman saw everything?’

Although he had no memory of it, judging by the mess his bedroom was always in, he could guess how much he had thrashed about during the night.

Today was the same.

He had kicked the headboard so hard that one side was dented.

“Damn.”

Rainer covered his face with one hand.

Harry, who knew all about his situation, tactfully never intervened in such matters.

Feeling like his shame had been exposed, he didn’t know what to do.

“Mmm…”

Then Cecilia stirred slightly.

Rainer hastily let go of Cecilia’s hand.

At the same time, her eyelids fluttered, revealing sparkling green eyes.

Cecilia blinked for a moment, then suddenly startled and sat up abruptly.

“Oh my… Rainer!”

Cecilia also looked greatly flustered by the fact that she had fallen asleep here.

She hurriedly pulled up the shoulder strap that had slipped down.

Even while doing so, she looked at Rainer with a worried expression.

“Are you alright? I was worried about you last night…”

“…”

Rainer silently stared at Cecilia.

Her thin nightgown softly embraced her body.

For him, who had never spent a night together with her, this was an unfamiliar sight he was seeing for the first time.

“…”

Rainer realized he was unconsciously letting his gaze travel along Cecilia’s shoulders, neckline, and arms, and hastily turned his head away.

After a moment of awkward silence, Rainer spoke in a low voice.

“You did something unnecessary.”

His subdued voice had an edge to it.

Cecilia’s eyes widened.

“…What?”

“Didn’t we agree not to invade each other’s private domains?”

Rainer got up from his seat and irritably took off his sweat-soaked shirt.

Below his broad shoulders, his solid back muscles could be seen defined.

As the dawn sunlight backlit him, he looked like a war god from mythology.

But his face was rigid as he took out a new shirt from the wardrobe and put it on.

“This kind of meddling is quite unpleasant.”

“…”

Is that what you say to someone who watched over you all night?

Cecilia’s eyes narrowed.

‘Should I give him a piece of my mind?’

She had struggled so much to move him to the bed.

If it weren’t for her, Rainer might have lain on the cold floor all night and caught a cold.

Instead of being grateful, he was actually scolding her.

‘…No, I’ll hold back.’

She wanted to argue with him point by point, but Cecilia soon composed herself.

Anyway, wasn’t Rainer her ally?

As repayment for helping Wendy, she decided to show some generosity for once.

“I’m sorry, Rainer. I was just—”

But at that moment, the bedroom door burst open.

“Your Grace! There’s an urgent letter from the Marquis of Guinevere… Oh, M-Madam, you were here.”

Harry, who had barged in without warning, wore an awkward expression.

Since he and Rainer had shared life and death on the battlefield, he had no reservations about entering the bedroom.

But today, of all days, Cecilia happened to be there too.

‘What, what’s this? They said it was a contract? Have they somehow become that kind of relationship?’

Then wasn’t he now a tactless intruder who had interrupted his superior’s honeymoon morning!

Harry stood there dumbfounded, fidgeting and not knowing what to do.

Rainer groaned through his teeth and rubbed his face with his hands.

Then he looked at Cecilia with cold eyes.

“Please withdraw now.”

* * *

“Please withdraw nowwwww.”

In the office, Harry pursed his lips and mimicked Rainer’s voice.

Rainer, who was sitting at his desk reviewing documents, frowned.

“What was that just now?”

“What do you mean what? That was Your Grace from a few days ago.”

Since that day, Cecilia and Rainer had become noticeably distant.

He openly avoided Cecilia.

Even when Cecilia spoke to him, he would only nod curtly, or often not react at all.

For Harry, who had been watching from the sidelines, it was frustrating.

‘I thought that workaholic duke was finally entering the embrace of family life.’

Of course, he still stubbornly insisted it was just a contract marriage.

But hadn’t Rainer’s behavior toward Cecilia been exceptional all this time?

So Harry had secretly hoped.

If Rainer had a family too, wouldn’t he also be freed from his excessive workload?

‘But that stoic duke ruined everything!’

Since that incident, Rainer had been reluctant even to enter his own bedroom.

He was clearly avoiding encounters with Cecilia as much as possible.

Naturally, the time spent in the office grew longer, and Harry’s departure time was delayed.

‘Should I also charge in like those people from Osburn County…?’

Harry pursed his lips while entertaining such ridiculous thoughts.

“I thought the cold northern air had descended all the way to Brisen that day.”

“…”

“Where in Listea is there a gentleman who treats a lady like that? Especially one he spent the night with.”

“Spent the night, you say.”

Rainer sighed softly and added.

“It’s not what you’re thinking. There were just circumstances.”

“Circumstances? What circumstances…”

As Harry asked out of curiosity, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

“Could it be because of that dream?”

“…”

Rainer affirmed with his silence.

At that sight, the corners of Harry’s eyes drooped.

He knew better than anyone how long Rainer had been tormented by nightmares.

Though he had no interest in it anyway, this was also a major reason why Rainer didn’t keep women by his side.

‘What woman wouldn’t run away after seeing a man cry out all night long.’

Once, when asked why he didn’t marry, Rainer had answered like that.

‘…Wait.’

Then, Harry’s eyes sparkled.

‘But Madam stayed by Your Grace’s side even after seeing all of that, didn’t she?’

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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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