She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 40
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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 40. Secret Alliance
Somehow.
It had been strange that even the Duke, not just Cecilia, was treating them coldly.
Hadn’t he always called Evan his son while subtly looking down on both Evan and her?
She had inwardly resented him, wondering why he had adopted them in the first place.
Now that she realized the adoption was meant to drive a wedge between him and Elise, everything made sense.
Rosena clenched her fist as the puzzle pieces finally fell into place.
Her nails dug into her palm.
‘If the Dowager Duchess had found Evan and brought him into the family, there would have been no need to suffer humiliation from someone like Cecilia.’
Rosena’s eyes flashed.
‘Now that it’s come to this, I can’t just sit still.’
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
If she joined hands with Elise, she felt she could drive out not only Cecilia but Rainer as well.
Perhaps her dream of becoming a duchess wasn’t so far away after all.
* * *
Two days later.
“Ha! How insolent of them!”
Crash!
A sharp sound of shattering echoed from Elise’s bedroom as a vase broke into pieces.
After the incident, Rainer immediately canceled the hunting festival using his ducal authority.
Officially, it was because a servant had forgotten where they had placed traps in the hunting ground.
But people roughly understood what had happened.
Rainer’s hasty return from the hunting ground, and the subtle atmosphere around Elise.
Most of the retainers knew about the secret power struggle within House of Hays, so they instinctively sensed something had occurred between the two.
In any case, an event held in her name had ended disgracefully.
For Elise, it was nothing short of humiliating.
“D-Dowager Duchess… Please calm yourself.”
Cold sweat beaded on Margaret’s forehead.
It was rare for Elise, who always maintained her dignity as a great noble, to display such anger.
Elise paced around the bedroom with a flushed face.
“Shut your mouth! Those creatures are trying to threaten and isolate me, and you tell me to calm down?”
After the hunting festival was canceled, Rainer held a dinner as an apology to the retainers.
But Elise was not invited.
Moreover, today Cecilia had gone out with other ladies.
The sight of them strutting around as if they were the rightful masters of this place, leaving her behind.
The sound of broken vase fragments being crushed came from under Elise’s shoes.
Just then, a cautious knock was heard.
“Dowager Duchess, the Young Duke’s wife has come to… Ah! Please wait! You must wait—!”
But before Elise could respond, the door burst open.
Rosena, with her fiery red hair, entered with a bright smile.
“Grandmother, did you sleep peacefully last night?”
“Young Duke’s wife!”
A maid urgently tried to stop her from behind, but she paid no heed.
Rosena’s eyes flashed with blatant purpose.
“Ha.”
Seeing this, Elise made no effort to hide her displeasure.
“I haven’t given permission yet, what is this rude behavior? Leave immediately.”
“Oh my.”
But Rosena didn’t bat an eye and smiled even more brightly.
“Don’t be so cold. I came to help you, Grandmother. You’ve been very upset because of His Grace lately, haven’t you? Don’t worry too much. I’m on your side.”
“Side?”
Elise twisted her lips into a mocking smile.
It was obvious why Rosena was acting this way.
Elise was also aware of the uncomfortable circumstances involving Cecilia, Evan, and Rosena.
“How amusing. Do you think I would welcome you after the scandal you caused in high society?”
“…”
“And Osburn, tsk tsk… If I had found Evan earlier, I would never have allowed a marriage to someone like you.”
When her family was disparaged, Rosena’s face momentarily hardened.
But she quickly forced another bright smile and said,
“I’m sorry for causing you concern. But what can be done now? Evan and I already have a son together.”
“Hah…”
“Even so, wouldn’t Evan and our Jeremy, who inherited your blood, be more legitimate heirs to Hays than Rainer Hays, who’s just a lowly bastard?”
Suddenly, the air in the room turned ice-cold.
Margaret held her breath and watched Elise’s reaction.
Elise glared at Rosena with furious eyes.
‘How presumptuous for someone from a mere baronial family…’
Normally, Elise would never have bothered with someone like Rosena.
The mere fact that she was sitting alone with such a woman having this conversation was unpleasant.
‘…But.’
Elise’s lips slowly twisted upward.
Rosena was certainly an arrogant and disagreeable woman.
But the ambition in her eyes and her attitude without servility were quite appealing.
Most importantly, there was a strong connection between them through Evan and Jeremy.
‘Now is the time to hold onto every card, even the unnecessary ones.’
Rainer was relentlessly pursuing her with his lowly blood, stopping at nothing.
So Elise couldn’t just sit still and take it.
She slowly nodded her head.
“Your attitude of not knowing your place is rather appealing. With that kind of spirit, you could do anything.”
“Thank you for looking upon me favorably.”
Perfect.
Rosena smiled triumphantly to herself.
She approached Elise and firmly grasped her wrinkled hands.
“I will surely repay them for the humiliation you suffered this time, Grandmother. From today, we’re in the same boat.”
* * *
That night.
Cecilia was showing Rainer the ledgers.
Due to the sudden cancellation of the hunting festival, they had been frantically busy for two days, so the two could finally face each other alone only late at night.
The two sat side by side on the day bed in their robes, looking at the ledger together.
“You mean… this man called Crowley is connected to the fire?”
“Most likely.”
Cecilia nodded.
“Look here, he was just an ordinary servant. What reason would such a person have to receive the large sum of 1,000 crowns in multiple payments over a short period?”
Cecilia pointed with her finger to the entries she had found in the ledger two days ago.
Rainer’s eyes darkened.
“I never thought to look this far.”
He was amazed by Elise’s meticulousness.
Since it was such an old matter, he had practically given up on finding evidence.
He had half-resigned himself to just taking harsh revenge on Elise.
Cecilia’s achievement this time was all the more surprising.
“How did you figure this out?”
“Hmm…”
At Rainer’s question, Cecilia simply shrugged her shoulders.
She couldn’t very well say she had memories of her past life.
“Let’s just say it’s my outstanding ability.”
“Your ability?”
“Yes. You promised, didn’t you? That I would help you. Of course, I’ve only just grasped a single clue so far.”
Cecilia crossed her arms.
“So, Rainer. Even if you return to Brisen tomorrow, would it be alright if I stayed here longer? I’d like to investigate more about that man called Crowley.”
“That would be difficult.”
“What? Why?”
Cecilia’s eyes widened at the firm refusal.
Rainer, who had been watching her for a moment, let out a small sigh.
“I can’t leave you here alone. Harry and I will handle the investigation from now on, so you should forget about it.”
“But—”
“Do as I say.”
Rainer shook his head firmly.
Even during the brief time he had been away hunting, Elise had caused trouble.
If he left for Brisen first, there was no telling what threats Cecilia might face alone.
“There’s no need to rush. The fact that Elise is involved won’t change anyway.”
“Still.”
Cecilia let out a small sigh, looking displeased.
It was frustrating that she couldn’t pursue things more aggressively when she had just found a lead.
Just as she was thinking of words to persuade Rainer.
“…!”
Suddenly, Rainer gently grasped and pulled her wrist.
“…Rainer?”
“Please understand, Cecilia. If something like that happens to you again…”
Because then something truly irreversible might happen.
Rainer closed his lips, swallowing his final words.
Cecilia blinked.
“If something happens, what?”
“…”
“Rainer?”
“…”
Instead of answering, Rainer’s fingertips tightened with strength.
A moment of silence passed, and after a long while, Rainer answered in a low voice.
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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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