She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 65

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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 65. Fake Jewel (2)

 

“That jewel, it’s the same as mine, isn’t it?”

 

Mary, who recognized the tiara at once, walked toward Rosena.

 

At this moment, Rosena was utterly ecstatic.

 

The Crown Princess was focusing entirely on her, and no one else.

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

Rosena bowed her head while creating the most elegant voice possible.

 

The tiara on her head sparkled even more brilliantly as it caught the chandelier’s light.

 

“It’s the same peridot as Your Highness’s necklace. In the past, Princess Glenda shared it with the Dowager Empress of Olkein… and it has been passed down to us ever since.”

 

Rosena put particular emphasis on the word ‘us.’

 

Her desire to stand on the same level as Mary was clearly evident.

 

“This time, the Dowager Duchess entrusted it to me. Isn’t that right, dear?”

 

“Ah, yes. Yes. Th-that’s right, Your Highness.”

 

Unlike the pride in Rosena’s voice.

 

Evan only nodded awkwardly.

 

‘Geez, I wish we weren’t getting so much attention…’

 

It was fine when he was enthusiastically making the replica.

 

But now that he had brought out the fake, his heart began pounding like a drum.

 

With the real jewel right in front of him, his nervousness doubled.

 

But since he couldn’t possibly confess this anxiety to Rosena.

 

Evan just bit his lips tightly.

 

Looking around, all the nobles in the banquet hall were already holding their breath and staring this way.

 

“The Hays jewel? No wonder it seemed extraordinary.”

 

“But if it’s such a jewel, shouldn’t the Duchess receive it first?”

 

“Right? Why does the Young Duchess have it?”

 

“I heard the Dowager Duchess only takes her grandson’s wife around. The rumors about the Duke’s family being split in two must be true.”

 

What started as admiring gazes gradually turned to questioning ones.

 

Some glanced at Cecilia while gauging the situation.

 

Mary also sensed this atmosphere.

 

At first, she hadn’t thought things through in her delight.

 

But the more she talked with Rosena, the more awkward Cecilia’s position could become.

 

“Anyway, thank you for coming. Since this is a special occasion, I hope everyone has a pleasant time—”

 

“My, how wonderful to see this like this.”

 

Just as Mary was about to quietly withdraw.

 

The tactless Crown Prince stepped even closer to Rosena.

 

“When I was young, I got scolded a lot for playing with Her Majesty the Empress’s necklace. She threatened that if I damaged it, I’d get in big trouble not just with Her Majesty but with the Dowager Duchess too. So I was always curious. What this jewel would look like.”

 

Rosena’s heart swelled with emotion.

 

She was having a private conversation with the Crown Prince!

 

“It’s, it’s an honor, Your Highness!”

 

“May I take a closer look?”

 

“Your Highness! Let’s go over there now—”

 

“Just for a moment. When else would I get to see this if not on a day like this?”

 

Though Mary poked his side, Nicholas paid no attention.

 

He just looked cheerful as he recalled memories.

 

“Yes! Of course!”

 

Rosena even removed the tiara and respectfully held it out with both hands.

 

‘Grandmother should have seen this scene!’

 

Elise was currently having tea with the Imperial couple.

 

She was scheduled to come to the banquet hall with them a little later.

 

Meanwhile, unlike the excited Rosena.

 

Evan’s face was growing paler by the moment.

 

He opened and closed his mouth.

 

‘Su-surely. Just looking at it wouldn’t tell.’

 

Didn’t Rosena fail to notice even though she looked at her wedding ring every day?

 

Evan decided to trust the craftsman’s skill.

 

Of course, he couldn’t help the cold sweat running down his spine.

 

“Ooh…”

 

Nicholas, who received the tiara, examined it from various angles with an interested expression.

 

Each time he changed the angle, the jewel cast mysteriously different lights.

 

“So this is what it looked like. I was always curious.”

 

Nicholas casually brought the tiara toward Mary’s necklace.

 

The two identical jewels were placed side by side.

 

“Really, Your Highness.”

 

Mary glared at her husband with a displeased expression.

 

But Nicholas just looked delighted.

 

“Come now, smile, Mary. Even the imperial jewels pale before your beauty.”

 

Nicholas’s gaze slowly swept over the necklace and tiara.

 

Then, he paused.

 

“…Hmm?”

 

It was just an instant.

 

The two identical jewels cast different lights.

 

It was a subtle difference that an ordinary person would overlook.

 

But Nicholas’s sharp eyes, trained with the finest imperial education, were different.

 

“Why is this…”

 

He moved his hand holding the tiara a bit more, changing the angle.

 

Mary’s necklace didn’t change color much even when it caught the light.

 

As if centered, the green color pooled quietly and deeply.

 

In contrast—

 

The tiara’s jewel subtly changed colors depending on the angle.

 

Sometimes it mixed with yellow, momentarily became cloudy, then brightened again.

 

“Strange.”

 

Nicholas muttered quietly.

 

However, he didn’t voice his suspicions aloud.

 

The other party was the House of Hays, relatives of the imperial family.

 

Moreover, wasn’t this originally Elise’s jewel?

 

If he questioned its authenticity here…

 

“Your Highness.”

 

Then, Cecilia stepped forward.

 

Everyone’s attention focused on her.

 

“May I examine that tiara?”

 

Suddenly, the banquet hall fell silent.

 

People who had been watching Cecilia’s reactions all along swallowed nervously.

 

“Du-Duchess!”

 

Mary quickly stepped forward.

 

She was worried that Cecilia might be hurt and acting on emotion.

 

“We’ve seen enough of the jewels, so let’s go over there together—”

 

“No, Your Highness.”

 

Cecilia herself had a calm expression.

 

She smiled lightly as if to reassure Mary.

 

But her next words fell like a bomb on the banquet hall.

 

“No matter how I think about it, that tiara seems to be fake.”

 

Every breath in the banquet hall stopped in an instant.

 

“…What did you say?”

 

Rosena also hesitated.

 

The smile completely disappeared from her face.

 

It was the jewel that had monopolized the Crown Prince couple’s attention until now.

 

And that was fake?

 

Even false accusations have their limits!

 

“Ce, no, Mother. Your joke goes too far. How can you say such things without any evidence—!”

 

“I do have evidence, Rosena.”

 

Cecilia looked back at Rosena with the most benevolent smile possible.

 

She had the appearance of a kind mother-in-law scolding her foolish daughter-in-law.

 

“The real tiara is with me right now.”

 

“Ha! That’s ridiculous!”

 

Rosena snorted.

 

‘She’s completely lost her mind from jealousy. Completely lost it.’

 

The tiara had been in her bedroom the entire time.

 

It had never left that room for even a moment.

 

When exactly did it go to Cecilia?

 

It’s not like it had legs.

 

“This is my jewel that Grandmother gave to me directly. No matter if you’re my mother-in-law, such groundless accusations—”

 

“No, let’s hear what the Duchess has to say first.”

 

Nicholas stopped Rosena’s words.

 

He too had been harboring suspicions, so Cecilia’s testimony was welcome.

 

The Crown Prince handed the tiara he was holding to Cecilia.

 

Watching this, Rosena trembled and quickly turned her head to the side.

 

“Evan! Say something… Evan? What’s wrong with you?”

 

Evan was trembling with his face pale as a sheet.

 

Just as Rosena was about to get annoyed at his strange behavior.

 

“Oh my!”

 

A scream erupted in the banquet hall.

 

Cecilia had pulled out a pin from her hair without hesitation and scratched the jewel.

 

Everyone froze at what happened before anyone could stop it.

 

“His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, and the Dowager Duchess of Hays are entering.”

 

At that moment, the servant’s voice rang out loudly once again.

 

The Emperor and Empress entered the banquet hall together with Elise.

 

At the appearance of the three most noble people in the Empire, everyone bowed their heads in unison.

 

However, the atmosphere in the banquet hall was endlessly heavy.

 

The Emperor frowned slightly.

 

“Everyone, what’s going on?”

 

But no one could answer the Emperor’s question.

 

Elise, who had been looking around from beside him, turned her gaze toward Cecilia.

 

Her eyes widened as if they would pop out.

 

“You! You damned wretch!”

 

Elise’s shout split through the banquet hall.

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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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