She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 75
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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 75. The New Continent Businessman (3)
“Oh, what are you saying now?”
Naijel chuckled as he looked at Tira, who was glaring at him.
But when she didn’t show any other reaction, he too closed his mouth.
Naijel slyly leaned his head against Tira’s shoulder.
“Now, now. What’s got you so upset? Hm?”
His mistress would throw tantrums like this whenever she got the chance.
Honestly speaking, he kept her by his side because he liked that feisty side of her.
“My little lark. Don’t be like that. Hm?”
Naijel spoke in a sultry voice as he wrapped his hands around Tira’s.
“I promised, didn’t I? That I’d help you build a good family here.”
“Hmph, what promise.”
Tira spoke mockingly.
“You think I don’t know you’re just trying to get rid of me because you’re scared your wife will find out?”
“Really now. If she finds out, am I the only one who loses?”
Naijel frowned.
“You’d lose too! That’s why I said I’d find you a wealthy and decent young man.”
“Then you should have started with that first. What am I supposed to do now that you’ve brought a duke from the beginning and raised my standards this high?”
“How was I supposed to know I’d meet a duke at the shooting club I went to for the first time today!”
Naijel blinked his eyes.
He never even dreamed that Rainer might have intentionally approached him.
He just thought he was lucky.
“Do you really like the duke?”
“Yes.”
“Really? Then why are you so upset?”
Naijel tilted his head.
“Weren’t married men usually your type, little lark? Just ask the duke to make you his mistress. Wouldn’t that work?”
Tira’s eyes narrowed at the ridiculous suggestion.
“That was before.”
“What’s different between before and now?”
“Now is obviously different. I want to have a stable family now too.”
Tira’s voice lowered.
She caught her breath for a moment and added.
“And… I want to become a duchess.”
“What did you say?”
Naijel’s eyes widened.
“Surely, you’re not serious?”
“Why? Is there some reason I shouldn’t aim for it?”
“Are you crazy? He’s a duke! And the only ducal family in the empire at that!”
“So what?”
Tira’s face was nonchalant.
Her confidence had its own basis.
It wasn’t uncommon for women from the New Continent to marry nobles from the empire or kingdoms.
Most of them were second wives to much older men, though.
But it wasn’t completely impossible, was it?
Tira lifted her chin defiantly.
“If you made a promise, keep it properly. Otherwise, I’ll tell your wife everything about our relationship.”
“This is driving me crazy.”
Naijel scratched his head vigorously.
He came to solve a troublesome matter, only to end up with an even bigger burden.
He spoke while gauging Tira’s mood.
“I’ll arrange a meeting first. I can’t control people’s hearts, so you’ll have to handle that yourself.”
“That’s enough.”
Tira smiled slowly.
Seducing a married man was far too easy for her.
Men were always chasing after new thrills.
That duke would be no different.
‘Of course, this time my goal is marriage, not being a mistress.’
Tira was confident she was different from other women.
She was confident she could keep her husband’s attention with new thrills and charm every day.
‘So, I just need to get that man in my hands.’
Tira’s eyes flashed with greed.
She was already certain.
Surely that ducal couple was also suffering from boredom while pretending otherwise.
* * *
That night.
Cecilia’s bedroom was lit only by the soft glow of a lamp.
Thin curtains hung by the window.
The night air seeped in, quietly cooling the room.
Rainer, having finished a long day, was leisurely taking his rest.
At some point, he had begun watching Cecilia brush her hair before bed from this place.
That time didn’t feel awkward at all.
Even without the excuse of having a strategy meeting.
“I went to the Seymour Hotel today.”
At Rainer’s words, Cecilia in the mirror opened her eyes wide.
“It’s been a while since I heard that name.”
“That’s right.”
“Back then, I used to call you Sir Rainer.”
Cecilia smiled slightly at the old memory.
“Now you’ve become a proper duke.”
“It’s all thanks to you.”
He straightened his posture.
“So today I went out and worked hard myself. To repay you even a little.”
How tired he was from going out since morning.
Rainer turned his head slightly and put on an act of being exhausted.
Cecilia, who was watching this through the mirror, chuckled softly.
“Was it very tiring? If I had known this would happen, I should have learned shooting earlier. I should have gone there instead.”
“That absolutely cannot happen.”
Rainer, who had been pretending to be tired, immediately became serious.
The gazes that swept over her hungrily even at banquets were already annoying.
There was no way he’d send this woman to a shooting range full of black-hearted men.
“I’ll invite Naijel Russ to the Duke’s Mansion soon. So don’t even think about going near the shooting range.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
Cecilia nodded obediently.
“Was there anything else?”
She asked again.
The New Continent was weeks away by ship.
No matter how excellent an information broker was, there were limits to what they could find out.
“If there was anything else…”
Rainer continued, recalling the day’s events.
“Naijel brought his daughter with him.”
“His daughter?”
“Yes, he said he’s looking for a groom for her in Listea.”
A groom.
Cecilia tilted her head.
If he had a daughter, the information broker should have been able to find out about her.
It was strange that the information broker who had discovered Naijel’s ship schedule had missed this.
Moreover, if she was in a position to find a groom.
Wouldn’t it be natural for her mother to accompany her as well?
‘There seems to be something going on.’
But people’s circumstances are hard to know.
She decided to quietly investigate for the time being.
She also had to avoid causing friction before the drug distribution rights negotiations.
“I understand for now. It would be good to build some rapport with that daughter as well.”
“Well, I think differently about that.”
“Why?”
Instead of answering, Rainer shrugged his shoulders.
He too found Tira suspicious.
“She seemed like a frivolous woman with many secrets. I don’t think there would be any benefit in associating with her.”
As he spoke, Rainer stood up from his seat.
Coming closer, he carefully took the brush from Cecilia’s hand.
“Rainer?”
He nonchalantly began brushing her hair.
Rather than brushing, it felt more like he was gently stroking her hair with the brush.
“…What are you doing right now?”
“Just, organizing my thoughts?”
“Why with my hair…”
“Just looking at it calms my mind. I thought touching it would be even better.”
What nonsense.
Cecilia gave Rainer in the mirror a coy glare as he spoke such absurd words.
But she didn’t dislike his touch.
So she quietly entrusted her hair to his hands.
“…About that woman.”
Rainer continued speaking slowly while brushing Cecilia’s hair.
“Even though she’s staying alone with Father in a hotel room, she was wearing a dress with excessive decorations. As if she was trying to show off to someone.”
Rainer’s visit had been unplanned.
So she wouldn’t have dressed up to receive guests.
A woman who had just arrived in the Empire wouldn’t have been planning to attend a banquet either.
“Couldn’t she just be someone who likes flashy things?”
“Of course that’s possible. But something feels untrustworthy.”
Rainer slowly shook his head.
The instincts he had developed from being tormented by women for a long time were quietly sending him warnings.
Tira would definitely become a very troublesome opponent.
Of course, he had no evidence to be certain of anything more.
“Anyway, being careful won’t hurt.”
“Well, I understand.”
Cecilia chuckled softly.
Rainer was right.
Being cautious twice or thrice would be advantageous for her as well.
“Then let’s rest now.”
Rainer put down the brush and lightly squeezed Cecilia’s shoulders before letting go.
Though it was brief contact, the sensation lingered on his fingertips.
He turned around and left the room.
“…”
Cecilia watched his retreating figure in the mirror for a moment.
Then she stood up from her seat.
“Wait a moment, Rainer.”
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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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