She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 6

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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 6. Rainer Hays (2)

Rainer furrowed his brow and turned to look at Harry.

“I told you to politely turn away most visitors.”

Ever since he had grown close to the Crown Prince, the Duke’s Mansion had been receiving a constant stream of guests.

Especially recently, nobles wanting to marry off their daughters to him, the Empire’s most eligible bachelor, had been lining up.

Of course, Rainer had rejected them all.

He never knew who might be connected to Elise.

He didn’t want to create unnecessary connections at this time.

Harry knew this well too, yet he had deliberately let a guest inside today, which was irritating.

“You should have filtered that out yourself.”

“It’s not like that…”

However, Harry’s tone was different from usual.

Soon, the name and purpose of visit that Harry conveyed made Rainer’s eyes sharpen.

“…Who just said what now?”

* * *

“To think I’d come here as a guest…”

At that moment, Cecilia was sitting in the drawing room of the Duke’s Mansion.

With Elise and the Duke going down to the estate together for Gilbert’s recuperation, only Rainer remained at the Duke’s Mansion in the capital.

In her past life, this was where Cecilia had stayed with Evan and Elise.

The surrounding scenery wasn’t much different from back then.

‘But will Lord Rainer really agree to meet me?’

She had been thinking about it constantly since turning her back on Rosena and her mother.

Who would be a reliable shield to protect her from the Osburn Viscounty.

After long deliberation, the name she came up with was Rainer Hays.

If she married him, she could escape from House of Osburn, and Duke Dylan wouldn’t dare easily challenge a ducal family.

‘I can help him too with my memories from my previous life.’

Cecilia knew that Rainer was not Elise’s biological son.

In her past life, Elise had repeatedly told her that she needed to be wary of Rainer.

At the time, she had only been surprised by the hidden side of the House of Hays, but now it had become her greatest weapon.

‘I know the Dowager Duchess of Hays’ secret. It’s a matter that could put Lord Rainer in the ducal position as early as tomorrow.’

The aide who had been politely asking her to leave changed his expression at Cecilia’s words.

Soon he said ‘please wait a moment’ and went to find his superior, which showed it was indeed a significant matter.

However, she still couldn’t be certain whether Rainer would come out personally.

‘What if he thinks I’m a crazy woman.’

In Cecilia’s memories, Rainer was always glaring at her and Evan with cold eyes.

That was natural since in her past life, she had been completely on the opposite side from him.

Overwhelmed by his silent mockery and overwhelming presence, Cecilia had often avoided facing him directly.

As a result, she had no memory of having a proper conversation with him in her previous life.

‘Can I really do this well?’

Cecilia unconsciously gripped the cufflink she was holding tightly due to nervousness.

Then, the drawing room door opened.

The man whom all the Empire’s newspapers had been praising endlessly these days appeared.

Behind him stood the aide she had seen earlier.

“It’s my pleasure to meet you, Lord Rainer.”

Cecilia tried to stand up from her seat to show proper etiquette.

But Rainer gestured for her to remain seated and sat down on the sofa across from her.

His deep blue eyes scrutinized Cecilia thoroughly as if searching.

‘For someone who caused such a scene at the wedding hall…’

Rainer too knew about Cecilia’s wedding commotion from newspaper articles.

A woman who publicly exposed her fiancé’s disgrace and even kicked him in the shins.

She was completely different from the shy noble ladies he had encountered so far.

However, the Cecilia he faced was completely different from the image he had imagined.

Soft-colored ash-brown hair, transparent and clear skin, a delicate impression.

Unlike what was known publicly, she had the kind of face that would cling and cry if her lover cheated on her.

Rainer felt momentarily intrigued about what business this unexpected woman had come to him with.

“So, what brings you here?”

Rainer raised his hand in a gesture telling her to speak.

The woman before him seemed to bite her lips and contemplate for a moment.

She looked like a deer standing before a black panther.

“…”

As the silence lengthened, Harry standing by the door looked at Rainer with a surprised expression.

Rainer was a man who had no patience when dealing with ladies.

Given his usual temperament, it wouldn’t have been strange if Rainer had stormed out by now.

Of course, Cecilia had mentioned Elise first, but even considering that, this was an unusual reaction.

Then, finally, Cecilia took a short breath and opened her mouth.

“I will make you the Duke of Hays.”

For a moment, Rainer’s eyebrow slightly raised.

He had heard it beforehand from Harry, but hearing it directly from those small, plump lips was even more absurd.

Even he, who received praise from the entire Empire, was bowing low and waiting for the right time.

What could that delicate woman possibly do to be so confident?

“Well… I’m not sure how I should respond to such a gracious proposal.”

Rainer shook his head and smiled crookedly.

His attitude dismissed her words as merely a joke.

But Cecilia didn’t back down and continued speaking firmly.

“Of course, you’ll have to give me appropriate compensation.”

“Compensation?”

“Please marry me, Lord Rainer.”

For a moment, silence fell over the drawing room.

Rainer chuckled as if dumbfounded.

Usually, women who courted him would boast about their cooking or embroidery skills and hint at marriage indirectly.

Of course, those transparent attitudes weren’t amusing.

Perhaps that’s why Cecilia’s straightforward approach was rather interesting.

Of course, he had no intention of taking it seriously.

“Well, that’s an amusing joke.”

Rainer leaned back against the sofa and crossed his long legs.

“How about trying to write a novel? It seems like it would sell well.”

“I don’t mean to become your real wife. Just maintain a marriage for 3 years. After that, I’ll leave cleanly.”

Cecilia answered calmly.

Three years. That was the deadline she had set for her revenge.

Through her previous life’s experience, she already knew what would happen within that time.

And she also knew what information Rainer desperately needed right now.

“Duke Hays has already passed away. Last month.”

For a moment, Rainer’s hand stopped.

But unlike him, Cecilia had a composed expression.

“The Dowager Duchess is hiding her son’s death while desperately searching for the grandson she abandoned. Because she doesn’t want to pass the title to you.”

“So, has mother found that grandson?”

Rainer asked nonchalantly, but a subtle tension was evident in his voice.

“Not yet. But she’ll find him soon after I leave here. Evan Machi is Duke Hays’ biological son.”

“…Who did you just say?”

“Evan Machi. My former fiancé.”

Disbelief spread across Rainer’s expression.

At his face demanding evidence, Cecilia unhurriedly pulled out cufflinks from her bosom and showed them.

“These are tokens of affection that Duke Hays gave to his maid lover. They were the only keepsake she left for her son.”

“….”

Rainer narrowed his eyes and glared at the cufflinks Cecilia held.

The letters G.H, intricately engraved, sparkled under the chandelier’s light.

It was certainly too luxurious an item for a commoner to possess.

It was also the kind of flashy design that Gilbert would have liked.

However, such cufflinks were something anyone could have made if they set their mind to it.

“…You cannot prove succession to the ducal family with just one such item.”

Someone might have learned about Elise’s news and prepared this.

There were plenty of fraudsters who claimed to be hidden children or illegitimate offspring of noble families, targeting their wealth.

But even at Rainer’s criticism, Cecilia spoke without showing any sign of panic.

“Go to the Public Medical Center in West Brisen. There should be records of a woman named Cella giving birth to a son 22 years ago.”

“Cella?”

“It’s the alias Evan’s birth mother used. She must have wanted to avoid the Dowager Duchess’s pursuit.”

Cecilia spoke with a confident tone.

In her previous life, Elise had ultimately found Evan based on these hospital records.

Since she had heard it directly from the Dowager Duchess’s mouth, there was no doubt about this information.

Unfortunately, that maid died of puerperal fever two days after giving birth, and the child was apparently left at an orphanage.

“So, do you feel like marrying me 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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