She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 39
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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 39. Spying
“Gasp!”
Elise, who momentarily lost her balance, screamed and flailed her arms.
She opened her eyes wide and stood firmly on both feet.
“….”
Though she didn’t fall, silence filled the room as her act was exposed.
Rainer’s low sigh could be heard from behind Cecilia’s shoulder.
“Dowager Duchess, such low-level theatrics won’t work anymore from now on. Please understand that, and we’ll take our leave now.”
Worried that Rainer might lose his reason again, Cecilia quickly stepped forward.
She then left the room with Rainer and the others, leaving the trembling Elise behind.
She didn’t forget to deliberately slam the door shut.
“Haa….”
Only then did Cecilia release her tension.
Right then, she felt something lean against her shoulder from behind.
“Rainer?”
“Ah, I-I’ll go silence the maids!”
When the quick-witted Harry tactfully left them alone, only the two remained in the corridor.
Rainer was still leaning against Cecilia.
‘The shock must be great….’
Though he said nothing, Cecilia could well imagine Rainer’s feelings.
She carefully stroked his head.
“You must have been very shocked. I’m truly relieved it ended with just this much.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you here alone.”
“It’s fine. The hunt was a scheduled event from the beginning.”
“Are you. injured anywhere?”
Instead of answering, Cecilia smiled and turned to look at him.
Their gazes met.
“….”
At that moment, Rainer’s gaze naturally moved downward, and his brow soon furrowed.
The front of her dress had come undone during the earlier scuffle, but Cecilia seemed unaware.
“…Anyway, thanks to you today, I was able to avoid crossing the line.”
Rainer slightly turned his head and took off his hunting jacket, casually handing it to Cecilia.
Cecilia instinctively caught the jacket with both arms, looking bewildered.
“Rainer? Why this all of a sudden?”
“Take it. It’s a gift.”
“What?”
Suddenly? And men’s clothing at that?
Cecilia looked up at Rainer with a puzzled expression.
Somehow, the tips of his ears were faintly red.
Perhaps it was the aftermath of the earlier commotion.
“I understand. Let’s go back and rest for today.”
Rainer nodded at Cecilia’s suggestion.
The two walked down the corridor together.
“But are you really giving me this jacket?”
“That’s….”
At Cecilia’s question, Rainer turned around and hesitated for a moment.
Cecilia had already put on his jacket.
“It’s much bigger than I thought. It seems too much for me to wear.”
She had thought to try it on since she received it, but it was indeed too big.
Though Cecilia was tall for a lady, she couldn’t compare to Rainer.
Besides, she had no particular need to go hunting.
“I should return this to you after all—”
“No. A gift is a gift.”
Cecilia tried to take off the jacket again, but Rainer quickly approached and stopped her.
He then reached out and began calmly buttoning it up, one by one, from the top to the third button.
‘He’s too close….’
In that brief moment, Cecilia unconsciously held her breath.
They were close enough that she could see his eyelashes trembling slightly.
Rainer himself had a nonchalant expression.
“All done. Let’s go now.”
After buttoning it all up, he calmly turned and started walking.
Cecilia took a deep breath inconspicuously and followed behind him.
“…nks.”
Then, Rainer’s low voice could be heard.
Cecilia, who missed this due to other thoughts, tilted her head and approached him.
“What? What did you say?”
“I said thank you.”
Cecilia stopped walking for a moment.
It wasn’t just because of his clear and distinct low voice.
Before she knew it, his warm hand was holding Cecilia’s hand.
Though they had held hands countless times while pretending to be newlyweds, today felt different.
“…It’s nothing.”
Cecilia lowered her head, feeling her face flush for no reason.
“What great thing did I do?”
“That’s not true. Being able to finish today’s matter safely was all thanks to you.”
Rainer stopped in place and looked down at Cecilia.
Gentle sunlight was softly illuminating his face.
“If it weren’t for you, I would have broken Elise’s neck without hesitation right there. After that, I would have inevitably been sentenced to death at a noble trial.”
“Surely not.”
“It’s not an exaggeration. Just now, I truly wanted to kill that woman.”
As Rainer clenched his fist tightly, veins bulged on the back of his hand.
“No.”
Cecilia carefully placed her hand over his.
“I know you’re not someone who would make such a foolish choice.”
Cecilia looked straight at Rainer.
Her green eyes were calm without a single rippling wave.
Soon those eyes narrowed mischievously.
“And it would be troublesome if you became a death row inmate during our contract period. It would complicate things in many ways.”
“Ah, the contract.”
Rainer burst into low laughter at Cecilia’s joke.
With that brief laugh, the tension that had flowed between them until just before melted away like snow.
Before they knew it, they had arrived in front of the bedroom.
“Though we got through today like this, the Dowager Duchess won’t stay quiet.”
“That’s right.”
“I have many things to take care of first, so you rest. Make sure to lock the door.”
“I understand.”
Cecilia entered the room and closed the door, leaving Rainer watching behind her.
“Phew….”
Cecilia leaned against the door and calmed her heart.
Strangely, the moment walking down the corridor together just now was more nerve-wracking than when she was dragged to Elise’s room.
The moment when Rainer was buttoning up her jacket was truly…
“Oh right, I forgot to mention the ledger.”
With so many things happening all at once, she had forgotten to bring up the most important matter.
Cecilia unbuttoned her jacket to take out the booklet she had hidden inside.
At that moment, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror.
“…Good heavens.”
Only then did Cecilia realize why Rainer had put the jacket on her.
Her white skin was completely exposed through the wide-open front of her dress.
“Ahhhhh, no way!”
To think she had been standing in front of Rainer looking like this!
Cecilia covered her face with both hands and threw herself onto the bed.
Then she pulled the blanket up over her head and writhed in embarrassment.
Her silent wailing continued for quite some time without pause.
* * *
A little while ago, when the commotion was at its peak in Elise’s room.
Rosena was wandering the corridor alone.
Her target was Elise.
If not now, when would she get another chance to be alone with the Dowager Duchess?
‘…Hm? The door is open?’
As she reached the bedroom, she noticed the door was slightly ajar.
Rosena’s eyes widened as she unconsciously peered inside.
‘What is the Duke… doing right now?’
Rainer was grabbing Elise by the collar, with people around him urgently trying to stop him.
She could see Cecilia soothing him and barely managing to pull him away.
Even amid all that chaos, Cecilia’s voice came through clearly.
“Just the story about how the Dowager Duchess abused you because you weren’t her biological child would be enough to draw attention.”
“…!”
Rosena almost let out a scream without realizing it.
‘The Duke is… not the Dowager Duchess’s biological child?’
Fortunately she covered her mouth with her hand, but she couldn’t stop her heart from pounding.
She had only come to peek around with the intention of acting coquettish, but ended up witnessing an incredible truth.
Only now did she understand Elise’s cold attitude that she had felt from the moment she first arrived here.
She had thought it was just the strict manner typical of high nobility.
“We’ll be taking our leave now.”
It seemed the situation inside had concluded, as there were signs that people would be coming out.
Rosena hurriedly fled to her room as if running away.
‘Good heavens. What did I just hear?’
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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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