She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 21

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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 21. Storm in a Teacup (3)

“What, what did you say…?”

Evan’s face turned pale at the unbelievable news.

The office, which had been buzzing with chatter just moments ago, instantly froze.

“S-surely not. There must be some mistake, right?”

Evan denied reality.

Of course, if asked about the safety of the tea… honestly, he couldn’t be completely confident.

But it was already a famous product even in the Eastern Continent, and no one had gotten sick from drinking it before.

At Evan’s denial, the smile completely disappeared from Harry’s face.

“So you’re saying the Duke’s family is lying right now?”

“N-no, that’s not what I meant…”

Harry stepped closer to Evan with a cold expression.

Only then did Evan realize the severity of the situation.

Cold sweat ran down his spine.

“The Duke’s family won’t formally raise an issue. The Duchess said she doesn’t want to make a big deal out of it. You should be grateful it’s just going to returns.”

Evan’s face instantly turned ashen.

Of course, the Duke’s family had given a lenient punishment.

But the situation was the worst possible.

Now that the Duchess’s salon was the biggest topic in high society, if rumors spread that Velvet Tea was being returned in full…

His business couldn’t avoid taking a hit.

“Wait a moment!”

Evan desperately grabbed onto Harry’s sleeve.

If he left like this, everything would be over.

“Th-there must be a misunderstanding. Let me meet the Duchess directly to explain—”

“Explain?”

But Harry’s voice remained cold.

“The Duchess is currently bedridden and needs absolute rest. And you want to trouble her again with explanations just to ease your own mind?”

“I-I didn’t mean it like that…”

Evan stammered.

If the Hays Ducal House changed their mind and filed charges, he couldn’t possibly win.

So he had no choice but to grovel.

Harry clicked his tongue and roughly pulled Evan’s hand away.

“Be grateful for the Duchess’s final mercy in letting this pass quietly. If you persist even once more, then His Grace will step in personally.”

In the end, Evan could only watch Harry’s retreating figure with a dazed expression.

He could almost hear the sound of the success and honor he’d built up over the past few days thanks to Velvet Tea crumbling away.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the Hays Ducal House…

“Cecilia!”

Rainer, who had been out briefly, returned with an urgent expression.

He immediately burst open the door to Cecilia’s room.

“…Rainer?”

Cecilia, who had been sitting alone reading a book, widened her eyes in surprise.

She looked far too fine for someone who had supposedly collapsed.

Rainer breathed heavily as he tried to understand the situation.

Outside, news was circulating that Cecilia had collapsed after drinking Velvet Tea.

He had rushed back as soon as he heard this.

But the Cecilia he faced had her usual peaceful expression.

“I heard that you had collapsed…”

“Ah.”

A brief look of confusion crossed Cecilia’s face.

“I told you about it before…”

“…”

Only then did Rainer recall the conversation he’d had with her a few days ago.

‘I’m going to prepare a salon. Of course, it won’t actually be held. It’s just a stage for Evan Machi’s downfall.’

He had definitely told her to do as she pleased back then.

But when he heard news of her collapse, his vision went white and he came running without thinking.

“You didn’t listen to me properly back then either, did you?”

Cecilia approached with a mischievous smile.

At that brightly smiling face, Rainer was momentarily at a loss for words.

“…In any case, I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Rainer, were you worried about me?”

“…”

Rainer turned his gaze away without giving any answer.

Cecilia looked up at him and smiled.

“Thank you, Rainer. This is the first time since Wendy that someone has worried about me like this.”

Cecilia shyly brushed her hair back and laughed.

At that sight, Rainer unconsciously raised his hand toward her before stopping.

He belatedly realized his hand was trembling finely.

‘…How unsightly.’

He clenched his fist and lowered his gaze.

It would be better to leave this place for now…

Just then, Wendy came running in breathlessly.

“My lady! My… Oh, Your Grace is here too.”

She hurriedly bowed in greeting, then held out the newspaper she was carrying to Cecilia.

“My lady, I just received an extra edition! There’s an article about Velvet Tea!”

“Oh my, that’s faster than I thought.”

She had expected it would take until tomorrow to appear as an article.

Since the Duchess’s salon had been the biggest topic in high society these past few days, the newspaper seemed to have moved quickly too.

「Velvet Tea: Thought to be an Angel’s Drink, but is it Actually the Devil’s Drink?」

Under the sensational headline, news that the Duchess had collapsed because of Velvet Tea was prominently featured.

The article went a step further, suggesting the possibility that the tea might contain poisonous components.

Cecilia’s eyes sparkled.

‘Perfect.’

She couldn’t know for certain whether Velvet Tea actually contained poisonous components.

Seeing that there had been no particular problems in her previous life, there might not have been any poison to begin with.

But suspicion alone was enough to bring down Velvet Tea’s popularity.

“Hmph, serves him right.”

Wendy unconsciously voiced her inner thoughts.

Then, realizing that Cecilia and Rainer were beside her, she hurriedly covered her mouth with both hands.

But Cecilia had the same thought.

‘Since you succeeded through word of mouth, you should fall through word of mouth too.’

Now all she had to do was wait for Evan’s ship to slowly sink.

“…”

Meanwhile, Rainer stood quietly watching Cecilia.

In front of her moving so meticulously, he felt foolish for having reacted with his body first.

‘Did you hear that news? The Duchess of Hays collapsed.’

‘What are you talking about?’

But just moments ago, when he heard Cecilia’s name from the mouth of a stranger passing by on the street, his vision truly went dark.

What if that frail, delicate woman collapsed and never opened her eyes again?

At that thought, his chest had tightened.

And even now….

“Rainer, take a look at this article.”

Wasn’t he the only one conscious of Cecilia as she casually approached his side?

‘Get it together, Rainer Hays.’

Realizing he had been staring at Cecilia’s face instead of the article she held out, Rainer quietly clenched his fist.

“Well then… that’s a relief. In any case, I’ve confirmed that you’re not hurt, so that’s enough.”

Rainer kept his gaze on Cecilia for a moment, then turned his head away.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Rainer? Since you’re already here, why don’t we have some tea together—”

But Rainer had already left the room.

Cecilia tilted her head and looked at the door he had exited through.

‘Is he very angry? But I told him in advance, and Rainer was the one who forgot, wasn’t he?’

Soon she shrugged her shoulders.

In any case, now was the time to focus on the velvet tea matter.

“My lady, please take a look at this article too!”

Wendy excitedly held out another extra newspaper.

Cecilia accepted it with a satisfied smile.

The storm had now left the teacup and was spreading throughout all of Brisen.

* * *

The impact of the article was tremendous.

The nobles who had been desperate to obtain velvet tea now competed to cancel their orders.

Evan ran around frantically, pleading that the article was fabricated false reporting.

But with the duchess’s salon already cancelled, no one listened to his words.

“Haah….”

Evan, sitting in his office, let out a deep sigh and rubbed his face.

Return request forms were piled high on his desk.

Three ships carrying contracted cargo had already arrived at the port, and one was still crossing the sea at this very moment.

It was inventory he had recklessly imported, confident of selling everything based on the atmosphere up until then.

‘Damn it… I even took out maximum loans from the bank!’

Thinking of the hundreds of thousands of crowns invested in importing goods and ship operations made his vision blur.

Evan glared at the return documents with bloodshot eyes.

“The Counts of Snowden, the Barons of Bern… these bastards were the ones begging and pleading to buy anything if they could….”

“B-Boss!”

As Evan gritted his teeth and muttered, Thomas came rushing in breathlessly.

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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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