She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 38

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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 38. Elise’s Evil Deeds (4)

 

“Hey! It’s dangerous to run around like that in the hunting grounds!”

 

A commotion could be heard from over there.

 

When he turned his head, a maid was running desperately toward them.

 

“You are…”

 

Rainer’s brow furrowed as he recognized Wendy.

 

“Your Grace! Please help me!”

 

Wendy collapsed to her knees in front of Rainer’s horse.

 

Her hair was disheveled and one shoe had come off, leaving her in a complete mess.

 

“What happened?”

 

“My lady has been captured and dragged away by the Dowager Duchess’s head maid and servants!”

 

“…What did you say?”

 

The moment he heard those words, Rainer felt the blood in his entire body turn ice cold.

 

He didn’t need to hear any more.

 

Rainer instantly turned his horse around and galloped away.

 

“Your Grace! Where are you going!”

 

He could hear Harry shouting in panic from behind, but Rainer didn’t look back.

 

As the horse’s hooves struck the ground, dust flew up.

 

Other participants were startled by the fierce speed and pulled their reins to stop.

 

Rainer’s horse shot through them like an arrow, cutting through the forest.

 

The eyes of Rainer mounted on his horse were coldly sunken beyond measure.

 

‘How dare she, that woman…’

 

The moment he imagined what the cruel Elise might have done to Cecilia, rage boiled up like blood.

 

Rainer gripped the reins even more roughly and spurred his horse on.

 

His mind was filled with nothing but the thought of saving Cecilia.

 

* * *

 

“What is this commotion?”

 

A low, cold voice cut through the room.

 

Cecilia and Elise’s gazes simultaneously turned toward the door.

 

Rainer stood before the door that had somehow been thrown wide open.

 

“Take your hands off my wife.”

 

“Rainer!”

 

Taking advantage of the moment when Margaret and the maids’ grip loosened, Cecilia quickly shook them off.

 

And she ran toward Rainer.

 

At this moment, she couldn’t have been more glad to see him.

 

“What in the world is this…”

 

With Cecilia positioned protectively behind him, Rainer took another step toward Elise.

 

The flustered maids hurriedly left the room as if fleeing.

 

Rainer stood tall and slowly surveyed the open box, the remaining pills, and even Elise’s hands.

 

His expression was calm, but veins bulged on his forehead.

 

“Were you planning to poison the duchess in the duchy?”

 

Even as Rainer approached closely, Elise didn’t bat an eye.

 

“Poison? There seems to be a misunderstanding. It’s merely medicine to prevent pregnancy.”

 

“…What did you say?”

 

“It’s for Evan’s sake, so you should understand.”

 

Elise was surprisingly shameless.

 

Her brazen attitude made Rainer’s hands tremble instead.

 

“You’ve been lying like it’s your daily bread since you were young. I can’t trust your words about making Evan the heir either, so I have no choice but to take measures my own way.”

 

“…Ha.”

 

A short laugh burst from Rainer’s lips.

 

Hearing her accuse him of being a liar brought back forgotten memories from the past.

 

Elise used to withhold meals from young Rainer for days at a time.

 

‘Are you hungry?’

 

‘Yes… I’m hungry…’

 

‘Then eat this.’

 

What Elise offered was rotten meat.

 

Toward Rainer who looked up with a bewildered face, she spoke mockingly.

 

‘Why? You said you were hungry. Were you lying again? Are you becoming like your lowly mother?’

 

In the end, that day too Rainer had to be beaten thoroughly.

 

There were countless days like this.

 

The memory of that day overlapped with this moment.

 

“If your words about passing the title to Evan are sincere, then hand it over right now. Or feed this to your wife.”

 

“…”

 

“Why, don’t you want to? See? You’re just like your burned mother, only your mouth is alive—”

 

Elise’s mockery couldn’t continue to the end.

 

Because Rainer momentarily lost his reason and grabbed her by the throat.

 

“Rainer!”

 

“Dowager Duchess!”

 

Cecilia and Margaret screamed simultaneously.

 

However, Rainer paid no heed and pulled Elise forcefully toward him while tightening his grip.

 

His eyes were filled with rage.

 

“You filthy, vile old hag.”

 

“You, you dare…”

 

Elise gasped for breath, suffocating.

 

But Rainer wasn’t shaken in the slightest.

 

“That noble life of yours, this lowly bastard will personally take it.”

 

“You, you! If you do such a thing—!”

 

“What’s the problem?”

 

Rainer smiled coldly.

 

But there was no trace of laughter in his fierce eyes.

 

“You know better than anyone that killing one person is nothing to the Hays, don’t you?”

 

It was a voice filled with murderous intent beyond anger.

 

Fear spread across Elise’s face.

 

Then, Harry, who had chased after Rainer, burst through the door.

 

“Your Grace!”

 

Harry’s face was colored with horror.

 

The loyal aide quickly grabbed his master’s arm.

 

“Please calm down! This will really cause big trouble!”

 

“This is what I do. I’ll end this bitter relationship with this old fox here today.”

 

But Harry’s persuasion didn’t work either.

 

Rainer’s grip gradually tightened.

 

Elise’s face was turning dark red.

 

“Rainer!”

 

At that moment, a clear, direct voice rang in his ears.

 

Immediately, gentle hands grasped his arm.

 

When he turned his head, worried eyes were looking at him.

 

“Rainer, please calm down, okay?”

 

“You…”

 

At Cecilia’s voice, strength gradually drained from Rainer’s fingertips without him realizing it.

 

Just her presence alone made him feel like he was regaining his composure.

 

As if she had done this before.

 

“Dowager Duchess!”

 

Meanwhile, Margaret quickly pulled Elise away.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

“Cough, cough! Cough!”

 

Elise, who had been coughing violently, glared with fury in her eyes.

 

“You… I will never let this slide! I’ll call the retainers immediately to strip you of your title—”

 

“No.”

 

At that moment, Cecilia stepped between Elise and Rainer.

 

In her hand was the box that had been on the table, clutched tightly.

 

“You’ll have to let today’s incident pass quietly. Otherwise, I’ll take this and run straight to the imperial palace.”

 

“What did you say?”

 

“I’ll report to His Majesty the Emperor everything—how the Dowager Duchess abused the Duke since childhood, and how she tried to force me to take this drug.”

 

“Are, are you daring to threaten me right now?”

 

Elise gritted her teeth and stepped closer to Cecilia.

 

“Who do you think would believe the words of someone like you? Unlike someone like you, I—”

 

“We’ll have to see about that!”

 

Cecilia widened her eyes, refusing to back down.

 

There was nowhere to retreat anyway.

 

“I’ll reveal to people the existence of Lady Mariana, my real mother-in-law. Won’t that cause quite a stir in the world?”

 

As the name that everyone had considered taboo was spoken aloud, the air in the room instantly froze.

 

But Cecilia didn’t stop.

 

“If it becomes known that you’ve been abusing the Duke simply because he’s not your biological son, no matter how much of a mother you are, you won’t be able to escape that criticism.”

 

“You…!”

 

At Cecilia’s bold words, Elise raised her hand to point accusingly but swayed.

 

“Ugh…”

 

“Dowager Duchess!”

 

Margaret hurriedly supported Elise.

 

Elise groaned and made pained sounds while holding her forehead.

 

But Cecilia looked down at Elise coldly, without letting her gaze waver even slightly.

 

‘In my past life, she always did this whenever things became unfavorable.’

 

Especially on days when Rainer came to visit, it was worse.

 

Each time, I would be startled and rush to support her.

 

‘That’s enough. There’s no need to hold onto this any longer.’

 

After Rainer left, she would stand perfectly fine on her own two legs as if nothing had happened.

 

And the next day, without fail, criticism and reproach would pour down on Rainer for abandoning proper respect toward his mother.

 

That was always Elise’s way of isolating Rainer from the family and social circles.

 

But this time, she couldn’t let things go according to her plan.

 

“Dowager Duchess, please come this way first…”

 

Margaret supported Elise toward the bed.

 

Elise followed along with her eyes closed, groaning and slumped over.

 

Cecilia quietly watched the scene, and when Elise passed by her side, she deliberately stepped lightly on the hem of her dress.

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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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