She Became My Friend’s Mother-In-Law - Chapter 82

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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 82. Overstepping Bounds (1)

The next afternoon.

Cecilia headed to Rainer’s study carrying a tray with a teacup on it.

The deal with Nigel Russ had been completed safely.

She had also delivered the medicine to Michel.

So for the time being, she planned to take it easy and wait.

And she wanted to spend that time with Rainer.

‘I’m not interrupting when he’s busy, am I?’

That thought crossed her mind briefly.

But still, Rainer would probably welcome her warmly when she visited.

As his gentle smile came to mind, her steps naturally became lighter.

However, when she arrived at the door.

‘Hmm? Is someone there?’

She could hear low voices coming from beyond the door.

‘There was no mention of any guests coming.’

Cecilia tilted her head in puzzlement.

Well, when doing business, urgent meetings could come up.

Thinking she shouldn’t disturb them, she turned to leave.

Crash!

Just then, a sudden sound came from inside the room.

Cecilia was so startled she nearly dropped the tray she was holding.

‘What was that sound?’

It sounded like a chair falling over.

Or perhaps the dull sound of something hitting the floor.

“Hey! Wake up!”

Soon she heard Harry shouting from inside.

Something serious had definitely happened.

Without hesitating further, Cecilia immediately opened the door and went inside.

“Rainer! What’s wrong—”

But Cecilia stopped dead in her tracks when she saw inside.

“Ah, M-Madam…”

Behind the flustered Harry.

Rainer was kneeling on one knee on the floor.

And in his arms—

“Oh, I feel so dizzy…”

Tira was lying limply, cradled in his embrace.

* * *

A little while earlier.

“Your Grace, may I serve you some tea?”

At the sudden voice, Rainer looked up.

At the doorway stood Tira, holding a tray with an ornate teapot and teacups.

“Father gave this tea set as a gift. I thought you might like it if you tried it.”

“…”

Though Tira continued speaking with a bright smile.

Rainer gave no response.

Instead, he shifted his gaze toward Harry.

His look demanded an explanation for why this woman was still in this house.

“Ahem…”

Harry cleared his throat awkwardly.

He too had tried to send Tira away.

But the doctor insisted her recovery was still slow, leaving him no choice.

Tira wasn’t even from this place to begin with.

He couldn’t very well coldly tell her to return to the hotel and find her own caregiver.

‘But how is that a patient? She’s obviously scheming.’

Not only was she walking around perfectly fine on her own two feet.

Now she was even offering to serve tea.

Perhaps her head was more afflicted than her body.

Harry shook his head at her audacious attempt to act familiar with the Duke.

He had already seen countless times how such presumptuous women ended up.

As proof of this, Rainer’s gaze had already turned coldly indifferent.

“The tea won’t be necessary.”

“Pardon? But since I’ve already brought it—”

“I don’t drink tea separately during work hours.”

Harry could tell.

That Rainer was currently exercising his maximum patience and courtesy.

‘Please leave now. His consideration for you as a guest only extends so far.’

But Tira didn’t back down.

“Then I’ll just leave it here. For later—”

“Miss Russ?”

Finally, Harry stepped in, unable to watch any longer.

“His Grace is in the middle of important business, so please refrain from disturbing him further.”

It was a polite yet firm request.

Tears welled up in Tira’s eyes.

“D-disturbing? That’s too harsh. I just wanted to deliver my father’s gift.”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

“Fine, I’ll leave.”

Finally, Rainer stood up from his seat.

He looked down at Tira with his hands in his pockets.

His gaze held undisguised displeasure.

“Miss Russ, I appreciate the sentiment, but that’s enough.”

“…Pardon?”

“And it would be best if you returned to the Seymour Hotel. There’s no need to invite unnecessary misunderstandings.”

Passing by Tira, whose eyes had widened in shock.

Rainer spoke coldly.

He couldn’t understand why he had to worry about people’s opinions and couldn’t simply send away one troublesome woman.

If he had cared about such things in the first place, he wouldn’t have burned all those letters from Brisen ladies.

“I’ll have someone pack your belongings. If you need a doctor, I’ll send one to the hotel—”

Crash!

But before Rainer could finish speaking.

Tira, who had been sobbing, lost her balance and collapsed.

Rainer instinctively caught her waist as she fell toward the desk.

And from the momentum, he fell to the floor with her.

“Y-Your Grace! Are you alright?”

A startled Harry rushed over frantically.

He shook the body of Tira, who was lying limply in Rainer’s arms.

“Hey! Wake up!”

“Oh, I feel so dizzy…”

But Tira remained in Rainer’s embrace, her chest heaving, refusing to get up.

“Oh dear, Your Grace. I’ll go call for a doctor.”

“Oh my, Your Grace. I’ll go and fetch a physician.”

It was just as Harry was getting up.

“Rainer! Is something wrong—”

Unexpectedly, Cecilia opened the door.

In an instant, the air in the room felt frozen.

“Cecilia….”

Rainer’s eyes wavered.

His usual composure was nowhere to be found, and his flustered state was evident.

Tira, who was in his arms, let out a faint moan.

“What’s going on?”

“Well….”

“Ah, my head….”

Meanwhile, Tira burrowed deeper into Rainer’s embrace.

Displeased, Rainer tried to push her away, but.

“Your Grace! Let me take a look!”

Just then, the physician entered.

Harry hadn’t even called for him yet.

The timing was impeccable.

“….”

Watching Tira being handed over to the physician and his assistants.

Rainer’s eyes narrowed.

He was infinitely suspicious, but.

He couldn’t press a half-unconscious woman in front of Cecilia.

“Come, this way!”

The physician and his assistants noisily supported Tira and left the room.

It seemed her stay would continue for some time longer.

“….”

After the door closed, silence descended upon the study once again.

The perceptive Harry had also followed the physician out, leaving only Rainer and Cecilia alone inside.

“That….”

After a moment of awkward silence, Rainer was the first to speak.

“Cecilia, don’t misunderstand—”

“Misunderstand what.”

Cecilia looked back at Rainer, pretending to be calm.

“You were just supporting someone who collapsed.”

“That’s right—”

“Ah, come to think of it, I had something to tell Wendy. I’ll be going now.”

Cecilia said this and turned away.

Somehow, she wanted to leave this place quickly.

“Cecilia.”

Rainer called from behind, but.

She pretended not to hear and hurriedly left the study.

She quickened her pace in case he might try to stop her.

‘Why am I acting like this?’

The scene from earlier wouldn’t leave her mind.

Rainer holding Tira in his arms.

Even Tira’s gesture of naturally burying her face in his chest.

Cecilia took a short breath.

‘He was just supporting someone who fainted. What else was he supposed to do? Leave her on the floor? How heartless would that be?’

But no matter how much she rationalized it.

An inexplicable emotion kept welling up inside her.

She wasn’t angry.

It didn’t seem to be displeasure or disappointment either.

‘Really, why am I like this.’

Confused by this unfamiliar sensation, Cecilia kept biting her lower lip.

But once the confusion had seeped in, it wouldn’t easily let her go.

* * *

The next day.

Cecilia was walking through the corridor with Wendy, giving various instructions.

Managing the vast Duke’s Mansion required a great deal of effort.

Just then.

“Hm?”

As they passed the music room, Wendy hesitated.

She turned toward the door.

“What’s wrong?”

“My lady, I think I heard piano music from inside.”

“What? That can’t be.”

Cecilia laughed softly.

The music room was her space—who could be inside?

“Wendy, haven’t you been overworking yourself lately? What you just mentioned can be done later, so go get some rest—”

But before she could finish speaking.

The sound of piano keys being pressed rang out from behind them.

The smile vanished completely from Cecilia’s face.

She immediately opened the music room door without hesitation.

Her face hardened coldly as she peered inside.

“What are you doing here?”

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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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