She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 43
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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 43. What Happened at the Salon (1)
The palace gardens where the Crown Princess’s salon was held were already filled with the laughter of noble ladies and music.
The round tables were covered with spotlessly clean white tablecloths.
The silver trays and tableware placed on top sparkled in the sunlight.
“Now, everyone. Starting today, we have a special guest joining us.”
As Cecilia entered with Mary’s introduction, the noble ladies’ gazes turned toward her all at once.
“Oh my, the Duchess of Hays!”
“I knew you would come.”
“Welcome.”
The noble ladies competed to greet her.
Cecilia exchanged greetings with each person, making eye contact with dignified composure.
“Now, now, let’s all have some tea first.”
At Mary’s suggestion, the noble ladies sat around the table.
Pleasant conversation continued while servants poured tea.
However, the good atmosphere didn’t last very long.
“Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress wishes to see you for a moment.”
“Oh my, Her Majesty? I wonder what this could be about?”
Mary tilted her head at the head maid’s words.
But since it was a summons from the Empress, her mother-in-law, she couldn’t refuse.
“Everyone, I’ll be back shortly. Please continue your conversations.”
Eventually Mary rose from her seat.
“…”
And as soon as she left, the atmosphere changed.
In the quieted mood, subtle tensions arose among the noble ladies.
“By the way, Your Grace.”
Then, one noble lady broke the silence.
It was Nancy Devlin.
The Countess had been quite close to Rosena during their unmarried days.
‘Hmm.’
Nancy looked Cecilia up and down with arrogant eyes.
In her memory, Cecilia was a quiet woman who kept her head down behind Rosena.
Perhaps because of this, Nancy still didn’t hide her condescending attitude toward Cecilia.
“I see the Young Duchess, your daughter-in-law, didn’t come with you. You certainly could have brought her.”
Instantly, all eyes turned to Cecilia.
Nancy widened her eyes innocently and asked.
“Surely you didn’t deliberately leave her behind? The Young Duchess would have enjoyed such occasions too, so I’m concerned not seeing her here.”
The air turned cold at those words.
The noble ladies coughed awkwardly or fanned themselves, turning their gazes away uncomfortably.
Everyone knew about the situation between the two who had now become mother and daughter-in-law.
Cecilia herself, the person in question, looked directly at Nancy with a calm expression.
‘As expected, I knew this would happen.’
Rather, she would have been disappointed if such a reaction hadn’t come.
She smiled gently and tilted her head slightly.
“Rosena is currently devoted to her education above all else. She’s working day and night, saying she wants to cultivate the refinement befitting the future mistress of the Duke’s house. In fact, the Duke and I have to restrain her.”
“Oh my. Is, is that so?”
Nancy’s lips twitched.
Rosena receiving refinement education?
Anyone who knew that woman would scoff at such words.
Obviously Cecilia disliked Rosena and had deliberately left her behind.
“In my opinion—”
“But more than that, Countess.”
However, Cecilia cut off Nancy’s words.
“Count Devlin is doing well, isn’t he?”
“What? Why are you suddenly asking about my husband…?”
“I just thought of him suddenly. I heard you’ve been having a lot of emotional distress lately.”
“Wh-what are you talking about!”
Nancy’s face instantly flushed red.
In truth, her husband Count Devlin had recently become addicted to gambling, and their household finances were severely declining.
But for the sake of appearances, she was desperately pretending nothing was wrong.
‘How on earth does she know…?’
Watching Nancy break out in a cold sweat, Cecilia only maintained her dignified smile.
In her previous life, the news that Count Devlin’s family eventually went bankrupt and fled in the night had stirred up the entire Brisen social circle for quite some time.
A Count’s family wouldn’t collapse overnight.
Probably even now, the family was slowly sinking due to gambling.
“It’s not too late even now, so please be sure to control your husband. Later it will truly become irreversible.”
“Look here, what are you saying—!”
Nancy tried to stand up abruptly with a reddened face.
But just then, Mary returned from the Imperial Palace.
“Ah, everyone. There’s more new news.”
Nancy had no choice but to sit back down with a stiff expression.
Mary raised her arm and pointed to one side of the garden.
“The Dowager Duchess of Hays has joined us here today.”
From the entrance, Elise slowly revealed herself.
The moment she entered, the atmosphere of this place instantly changed.
“Thank you for the warm welcome, Your Highness.”
Though it was a humble greeting, Elise’s attitude was imbued with the authority characteristic of great nobility.
Her confident presence didn’t dim in the slightest even before the Crown Princess.
“…”
Cecilia’s eyes narrowed.
Moreover, Elise wasn’t alone.
“Your Highness, it’s an honor to be able to join you like this!”
Rosena was tightly linking arms with Elise.
She wore a smug expression as if she had become the star of the day.
* * *
“I want to go to Her Highness the Crown Princess’s salon.”
A few days ago.
Rosena had come to find Elise and made this demand without preamble.
“I can’t just stand by and watch Cecilia’s status in society rise by herself. I need your help, Grandmother.”
“Hah.”
At the bold words, Elise frowned while holding her teacup.
She had suspected there was an ulterior motive from the moment Rosena had rushed all the way to the estate.
But hearing such a childish wish mixed with jealousy left her speechless.
“You came all this way just to make such a request? What’s so special about the Crown Princess’s salon?”
“How can you say ‘just,’ Grandmother? Noble ladies who frequent Her Highness’s salon are treated differently in society.”
But despite Elise’s scolding, Rosena didn’t back down.
“And it’s not just because of me. You’ll need to return to Brisen soon anyway, Grandmother. Wouldn’t it be better to make a more dramatic entrance while you’re at it?”
That way they could properly take revenge on Rainer Hays and Cecilia.
As Rosena spoke with a voice full of greed, Elise sneered inwardly.
‘Hmph, what an excuse.’
But it wasn’t entirely wrong either.
Anyway, she was also preparing to go up to the Capital and elevate Evan as the next Duke.
‘If I just go normally, those lowly things will try to stop me by any means necessary.’
Elise didn’t want to admit it, but even setting foot in the Duke’s Mansion might not be easy.
It was unpleasant that she had to calculate so much just to enter a house bearing the Hays name.
It was also clear that Rainer was no longer the pushover he used to be.
However, if she borrowed the Imperial Palace’s authority like last time, even Rainer would have no choice.
“Good.”
Elise lifted her head as she set down her teacup.
Attending something like the Crown Princess’s Salon wasn’t difficult for her.
“I’ll arrange an appointment with the Empress that day.”
Tea time with the Empress was also like daily routine for Elise.
It was only natural that the Empress would show her favor.
“I’ll mention it then. That I want to introduce you to the Crown Princess.”
* * *
“Oh my, Dowager Duchess!”
“Please come in!”
“What an honor to see you here!”
The noble ladies all rose from their seats at once.
Though every member of this gathering was nobility, Elise’s prestige among them was overwhelming.
“Hmm.”
Elise nodded calmly as if everyone’s welcome was only natural.
“How nice to see you all. I’ll be joining with my granddaughter-in-law today, so please treat us well.”
At those words, Rosena lifted her chin even more triumphantly.
Elise, who had been scanning the surroundings, made eye contact with Cecilia.
“Oh, right. You’re here too.”
“Mother-in-law.”
Cecilia also stepped forward with a composed face.
She couldn’t show a flustered appearance when all three women of House of Hays were gathered together.
“I was actually waiting for when you might come to Brisen.”
“You? For me?”
Elise raised the corner of her mouth mockingly.
Not batting an eye even in this situation.
She was definitely ruthless.
But Cecilia didn’t lose her relaxed smile.
“Of course. Even if it’s her son’s house, Mother-in-law said we can’t ignore the family head’s dignity, so you sent word of your visit schedule in advance, didn’t you?”
“…”
“My husband also received the notice and was paying special attention to it.”
Of course, it wasn’t true.
Elise had never given advance notice, and Rainer hadn’t made any preparations to receive her either.
But with Cecilia’s single remark, Elise became someone who had to get Rainer’s permission every time she visited the Capital mansion.
“You—”
“Oh my, House of Hays is indeed thorough with etiquette.”
“Great noble families are truly different.”
“We should learn from them.”
“…”
Elise tried to retort, but had to swallow her words because of the admiring noble ladies beside her.
Mary didn’t miss this opportunity and stepped forward.
“Dowager Duchess, you’ve come at just the right time.”
Mary gave Cecilia a small wink.
It was a quiet signal of empathy exchanged between daughters-in-law suffering from their mothers-in-law.
Soon Mary returned to her bright expression and looked around as she spoke.
“They say the play preparations are all ready inside, so shall we all move there now?”
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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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