She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 63
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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 63. The Symbol of Hays
The Crown Prince, who had approached closer, also bowed politely to Cecilia.
“I heard that you took good care of the Princess. I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”
“Not at all, it was an honor for me as well. It was truly an enjoyable time.”
Those words were sincere.
The time spent with Mary had been an unexpected comfort for Cecilia as well.
In this life, and in her previous life too.
Excluding Rosena, she had never spent time with a friend her own age.
‘It was enjoyable, but now I must send her back to The Princess’s rightful place.’
Mary had precious family waiting for her.
Holding her son preciously in her arms, Mary turned to look this way.
“Duke, Duchess. Thank you for everything during this time. I will definitely repay this debt.”
“Rather than repaying, it would be best if you never came again—”
“Ahaha! No, The Princess. About the debt.”
Cecilia, who had poked Rainer’s side as he muttered beside her, hurriedly stepped forward.
Fortunately, Mary didn’t notice anything and smiled brightly.
Nicholas wrapped his arm around Mary’s shoulder beside her.
“Come, Mary. Let’s go now.”
The reunited Crown Prince couple held each other’s hands tightly and returned to the Imperial Palace.
Thus, the Crown Princess’s runaway incident came to an end.
Cecilia and Rainer stood side by side, watching the Crown Prince’s carriage disappear into the distance.
The air that had been noisy just moments before settled down as if it were a lie.
“It’s finally quiet now.”
“Indeed. I think it will feel empty for a while.”
“If it feels empty, should I quickly bring the Dowager Duchess here?”
“What kind of terrible thing are you saying?”
Cecilia lightly hit his arm.
She glared at him, but.
Seeing Rainer smile mischievously, she couldn’t help but let out a laugh herself.
Then, she noticed the maids belatedly organizing the carriage Cecilia had arrived in.
Only then did Cecilia remember something she had briefly forgotten.
“Oh, Rainer. I have something to show you.”
* * *
Cecilia’s bedroom, with a fire lit in the fireplace, was much quieter than outside.
On the table sat a box that the maids had carefully brought in.
Cecilia opened the lid of the box without delay.
“This is….”
Rainer’s gaze lingered for a moment on the brilliant light that flowed from inside.
His eyes, which rarely showed emotion, trembled slightly.
The tiara was proudly displaying its splendor and majesty without hiding anything.
Only then did Rainer recall something Nicholas had said to him before.
‘You should hurry and take a wife too. For couple gatherings and such. It would be perfect if the ladies wore peridot then.’
Those were words he had dismissed at the time.
He hadn’t placed much meaning on marriage or jewels.
So Cecilia’s explanation also felt refreshingly new.
“It’s said to be a treasure of Hays passed down from the Imperial Palace to the Duke’s family.”
Cecilia spoke calmly.
“Princess Glenda passed it down to the Dowager Duchess, and recently it came into Rosena’s hands.”
“Not yours?”
“No.”
“Oh my.”
Rainer let out a short breath.
If he had known this would happen, he should have looked into the family jewels beforehand.
Even though it was a contract marriage.
He was concerned whether Cecilia might have been hurt by this matter.
‘…Wait.’
A belated question arose, and Rainer looked up at Cecilia.
“But why is this in your hands now?”
“Oh, Evan did something very Evan-like again.”
Cecilia shrugged her shoulders.
“He used this as collateral to get a loan from the bank. Seeing that he couldn’t even pay the first interest payment, he must have lost big somewhere.”
“What a foolish man.”
Rainer was so astounded that he blurted out without thinking.
Of course, since he was also in business.
He knew well that sometimes bold decisions were necessary.
But using the family treasure as collateral to borrow money was not boldness but recklessness.
Moreover, Elise had surely handed it over under the premise that the jewel would be kept intact.
‘It seems they’ve been dealt a bad hand over there.’
Evan’s level of stupidity was so desperate that he almost felt sympathy for Elise.
Anyway, if the enemy was at that level, Rainer could only be grateful.
“So what are you planning to do with this now?”
“Well….”
At Rainer’s question, Cecilia fell into thought for a moment.
Just informing Elise of this fact would surely make her collapse from anger.
‘But that would be too bland.’
Cecilia had no intention of ending this matter as a small disturbance within the Duke’s Mansion.
Opportunities had to be seized decisively.
“For now, I’ll think about it until the Dowager Duchess returns—”
Cecilia, who had been speaking, paused.
Without realizing it, she raised her hand and touched the area around Rainer’s chin.
She noticed a cut mark as thin as a speck of dust.
“Rainer, what is this?”
Cecilia’s eyes widened.
Such a flaw on that handsome face.
Without realizing it, she felt it was a waste.
“Oh, this.”
Rainer, the actual owner of the wound, looked unconcerned.
He brushed his chin with his fingertips.
“I was trying to shave a bit more carefully. It will heal soon.”
“What? Shaving?”
“You said so yourself. That men also need to take care of themselves to avoid being abandoned by their wives.”
“Ah….”
Cecilia was momentarily speechless.
She had certainly said such things.
But she never thought he would still be paying attention to it.
She had already forgotten about it herself.
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“From something like this?”
Rainer smiled broadly.
For some reason, Nicholas came to mind.
To catch a wife’s attention, a single wound is more effective than a clean shave.
He thought he should let him know that too.
A mischievous glint flashed in Rainer’s eyes as he looked down at Cecilia.
“If I’m hurt, would you nurse me back to health?”
“What did you say?”
“Why, is that not enough? If you want, I could make the wound even deeper.”
“Wh-what kind of talk is that!”
Cecilia smacked Rainer’s back with her palm.
His shoulders flinched at her rather sharp touch.
“Don’t say such nonsense. What if you get an infection?”
“Yes, yes. I understand.”
“From now on, never say such things again, not even as a joke.”
Cecilia glared at Rainer.
Just imagining Rainer injured and lying in bed made her heart sink.
‘If my contract partner is bedridden, it would be troublesome for me.’
That’s what she told herself inwardly.
But somehow she hesitated to voice those words aloud.
“Anyway.”
Cecilia quickly changed the subject.
“I need to think about how to use this jewel more efficiently for a while.”
* * *
The opportunity came sooner than expected.
That day, both Rainer and Evan had left early in the morning.
Cecilia was also scheduled to meet with Madam Sabina for a final fitting of her ball gown.
It was when she entered the dining hall, planning to have a simple breakfast.
“Oh my, you’re here?”
“…”
As soon as she entered the dining hall.
Cecilia frowned upon seeing Rosena, who had already taken a seat.
On Rosena’s head sat that familiar tiara.
‘Now the puzzle pieces are falling into place.’
Since the real tiara was currently sleeping in Cecilia’s vault.
That one must definitely be a fake.
At first glance, it sparkled brilliantly enough to fool someone into thinking it was real, showing signs of very careful craftsmanship.
“Ah, you’re surprised by this right now, aren’t you?”
Rosena giggled as she looked at the speechless Cecilia.
She mistook Cecilia’s silence as being overwhelmed by the tiara’s brilliance.
“Hmm…”
Rosena deliberately raised her left hand slowly to brush back her hair.
The wedding ring Evan had given her sparkled on her ring finger.
“The quality of the jewels is exceptional, isn’t it? This is something Princess Glenda brought from the Imperial Palace when she married into this house.”
Rosena paused with a triumphant expression.
“Grandmother gave it to me. Not you.”
“Is that so? How wonderful.”
Cecilia answered with an indifferent face and took her seat.
The corners of Rosena’s mouth curled up significantly.
‘Hmph, she must be dying of envy. Acting like she’s not.’
Rosena lifted her chin even higher.
The story about the jewels wasn’t over yet.
“I heard it’s like a symbol of the Hays Ducal House? They say only the mistress of the family can possess it.”
Rosena deliberately twisted her body to angle the tiara so it would sparkle even more.
“So, when I wear this to The Princess’s birthday ball, everyone will immediately know who the real duchess material is, won’t they?”
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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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