She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 19
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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 19. Storm in a Teacup (1)
Rainer had prepared a music room for Cecilia.
When she had no special business, Cecilia would spend her time there playing the piano.
Due to not receiving proper lessons, her playing was clumsy at first.
But thanks to steady practice, she could now bring out the atmosphere of pieces quite well.
Beautiful melodies flowed each time her delicate fingertips brushed across the keys.
‘This much… wouldn’t it be alright to play for Rainer?’
When she said she would cultivate the refinement of a lady, Rainer had said he would look forward to it…
Suddenly, Cecilia unconsciously hesitated.
The piano melody that had been flowing smoothly came to an abrupt stop.
‘What am I thinking right now? Why am I thinking about playing for that person?’
Feeling embarrassed for no reason, Cecilia shook her head.
While doing so, she desperately made excuses in her mind.
“…It’s just because I’m grateful. He gave me the piano as a gift too. It’s not strange to express gratitude, right?”
While she was muttering to herself, she heard a knock.
“My lady, it’s Wendy. May I come in?”
Wendy, who entered after slightly opening the door, glanced around once before approaching Cecilia.
“My lady, I just heard this at the town square. Next week, Evan Machi and Rosena Osburn are going to exchange wedding vows at the church.”
“Wedding vows?”
So the two of them are finally getting married.
Cecilia had a calm expression as if what was bound to come had come.
Since Wendy found Evan and Rosena disagreeable, she spoke with pursed lips.
“Yes, her belly is quite big so a ceremony would be difficult, so they’re just going through the simple procedures for now. They say they’ll hold a proper wedding after the birth.”
“Is that so? Still, Rosena’s disappointment must be great.”
Cecilia chuckled softly.
Since childhood, Rosena used to say she would decorate her wedding with all kinds of flowers and jewels.
‘I’m going to appear like a queen of flowers. I’ll fill the aisle with rose petals, and wear a dress that’s completely sparkling. Then everyone won’t be able to take their eyes off me, right?’
Rosena used to walk around the house proudly, imagining herself as the protagonist.
But reality was just simple vows without a single decoration.
Cecilia could picture Rosena’s expression even without seeing it.
Her face twisted with disappointment before the shabby reality so different from her imagination.
And everything was exactly as Cecilia had expected.
* * *
“What is this…?”
On the day of Evan and Rosena’s wedding vows.
Rosena, who arrived at the church, couldn’t hide her disappointment seeing the bleak interior of the sanctuary without a single decoration.
Even for a simple procedure, she had hoped they would at least prepare what needed to be prepared.
“Evan, what about the flower decorations?”
“What flowers…”
Evan answered listlessly to Rosena’s question.
He was annoyed by the vows and everything else, only wanting to finish quickly.
But Rosena was different.
“We still have some time before the priest arrives, so at least some rose petals on the aisle—”
“Sigh, Rosie.”
Evan ran his hand through his hair with an irritated sigh.
“Did you forget? I just lost 3,000 crowns. I don’t have money to spend on flowers.”
“But today is an important day for us. The day we officially become husband and wife.”
Evan frowned at Rosena’s words.
‘That’s exactly what I don’t like.’
But he couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.
He could see the Viscount and Viscountess Osburn sitting behind Rosena.
‘Ugh.’
The two of them also looked displeased with their daughter’s shabby wedding vow ceremony.
If Rosena started complaining on top of this, he would obviously have to endure several more hours of torment.
“Ahem, Rosie. So what I mean is…”
Evan spoke while forcibly squeezing out his patience.
“This is just like a rehearsal.”
“A rehearsal?”
“Right, we’re going to have another wedding after the baby is born anyway. That’ll be the real wedding. You can do everything you want then.”
“Hmm…”
Evan had only said it to get through this moment.
But Rosena only heard the part about ‘you can do everything you want.’
And she liked that.
‘Right, Evan is definitely head over heels for me. I told you I’m good at marriage.’
So she should generously show her magnanimity for today.
Rosena, who was in a good mood, caressed her belly and asked.
“Still, you properly prepared a gift to please a lady, right? Our wedding rings. You didn’t forget about getting the biggest diamond like we agreed, did you?”
Rosena poked Evan’s side with her elbow.
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“Ah, that, that’s right. Of course. I naturally prepared it.”
Evan took out a small ring box from his pocket.
Inside the box was a fairly large diamond ring.
Seeing this, Rosena’s eyes gleamed greedily.
“My goodness. Evan, were you that happy to marry me? It’s so pretty!”
“Ahaha, right. Since you like it, I’m happy too…”
But Rosena didn’t know.
That cold sweat was running down Evan’s back.
‘…She seems to be fooled well, right?’
In fact, the diamond ring he had prepared was a fake.
And it was a very precisely made fake, born from the hands of a skilled craftsman.
It was something he had reluctantly obtained because Rosena kept talking about rings so much.
A marriage he already didn’t want.
It was a choice he made because he didn’t want to spend a fortune on a ring.
‘It just needed to look like a diamond at first glance.’
Since it was a wedding ring anyway, there would be no occasion to sell it, so there was no worry of being caught.
And most importantly, wasn’t Rosena so happy she couldn’t think straight?
Evan’s mood also improved considerably.
Since he had saved nine-tenths of the ring’s cost.
‘I really am a genius.’
And some time later, luck visited Evan once again.
* * *
“Did you hear that story? About Velvet Tea or something?”
“Ah, that tea that came from the Eastern Continent! Just recently, everywhere I go, people are making a fuss about that tea.”
“They say Countess Snowdon’s skin became smooth after drinking that tea.”
Recently, Brisen’s social circles were in the midst of a ‘Velvet Tea’ craze that supposedly came from the Eastern Continent.
At first, opinions were divided because of its unique fragrance.
But its popularity skyrocketed when rumors spread that drinking it made your skin smooth like velvet.
The person who brought this ‘Velvet Tea’ to Listea faster than anyone else was none other than Evan Machi.
He had also swiftly monopolized the distribution rights for the tea leaves in Listea.
“Boss! Here are today’s orders.”
The employee handed Evan the list of customers.
The list was packed with the names of noble families.
The imported stock had already sold out, and while a ship was scheduled to arrive next week, it would be nowhere near enough to handle this order volume.
“Great! This is going perfectly.”
Evan smiled with satisfaction.
In fact, Evan’s discovery of this tea had been purely by chance.
After his marriage, he had entered the Osburn Viscounty, but he often went out using work as an excuse.
The place he frequented most was Listea 62nd Street.
This was a street so filled with entertainment and pleasure that children were forbidden from passing through.
Evan regularly visited a shop here that had a tall female employee with beige hair who wore provocative clothing.
By showing off and buying several bottles of expensive liquor, they naturally began talking and grew closer.
‘Lucy, why is your skin so good?’
‘Oh my, really? Actually, this is a secret I’m only telling you, Evan…’
The story about velvet tea had also been a tip from that woman.
‘Next time I should buy her sapphire earrings as a token of gratitude.’
While he had given his wife a fake ring, he was thinking of buying real jewelry for another woman.
In truth, he had ulterior motives.
‘And maybe have some good times while I’m at it…’
Thinking of Lucy, whose deer-like appearance reminded him of someone, Evan smiled lecherously.
It was disappointing that her eyes weren’t green, but she was a satisfactory companion nonetheless.
“Boss.”
But soon a voice brought Evan back to a serious expression.
The one who entered through the door was his employee Thomas.
Evan straightened his posture and lowered his voice as much as possible to sound dignified.
“What is it?”
“We received word from the Blake Duchy. They’ll pay 50% more if we give them the entire next shipment.”
“What? Really?”
Evan’s eyes gleamed at the incredible offer.
He immediately shot up from his seat.
“What should we do?”
“We absolutely have to do it. Absolutely!”
“But there are places that already pre-ordered—”
“Who cares. Tell them to wait longer! They’re the ones who need it anyway.”
Evan waved his hand arrogantly.
After all, anyone wanting to get velvet tea in Listea had to go through him.
The feeling of having those haughty nobles dancing in the palm of his hand was thrilling.
‘…No, wait.’
But Evan immediately changed his mind.
When money was flowing in like this, wasn’t it the perfect opportunity to be even bolder?
“Thomas, starting next week, get two more sailing ships moving.”
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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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