SBMFMIL 08

Episode 8. Verification (2)

“I simply want a fence to protect me safely while I take my revenge.”

“…Revenge?”

It was a rather sharp word to come from such a delicate woman’s mouth. Reiner frowned with a puzzled expression, and Cecilia nodded.

“Yes. Evan March, Rosena Osborne, and even the Osborne Viscountcy. I will return what I received from them. During that time, I wish for you to become the Duke and protect me.”

“…under.”

As he had felt before, this woman didn’t know how to speak in circles. It likely meant her goals were that clear.

“So, what do I gain?”

“The title of Duke of Hays, revenge for the abuse you suffered at Elise Hays’s hands, and…” Cecilia paused and looked around. After confirming no one was eavesdropping, she leaned in and whispered secretly.

“The truth about Lady Mariana’s death.”

“…!”

Shock swept across Reiner’s face. It was an expression not seen before on his usually composed self.

“How do you know about that…”

“Of course, I don’t know the full details either. But, I can help you.”

Revealing the truth of Mariana’s death was also an act of bringing down Elise. In her past life, Elise had caused Cecilia pain and ultimately tried to discard her miserably. Naturally, Elise was also included in Cecilia’s targets for revenge.

“…”

Reiner was speechless. He felt bewildered, as if a weakness he had shown to no one had been discovered. But… somehow, Cecilia seemed trustworthy. It wasn’t simply because she had forewarned him of Gilbert’s death. He could feel a strong will in the waves shimmering in her calm eyes, a determination to see this through.

“…Very well. Let’s proceed as you wish.”

After a moment lost in thought, Reiner straightened his posture.

“What do I need to do?”

Got him.

Cecilia tightly gripped her dress hem but maintained a composed expression.

“First, as I mentioned, marry me. Then…” Cecilia paused for a moment, then lifted the corner of her mouth meaningfully.

“Once you become the Duke, adopt Evan as your heir.”

“…What did you say? Adopt Evan March?”

At the absurd proposal, Reiner let out an incredulous laugh. He was only 26 this year, a mere 4 years older than Evan. The idea of him becoming Evan’s father was ridiculous.

There was an even bigger problem.

“Adopt my wife’s former fiance? All of Brissen’s gossip columns would have a field day.”

Marrying Cecilia alone would already be a hot topic for the public. Reiner scowled, but Cecilia shrugged nonchalantly.

“If left alone, Evan will become your nephew. Are you really going to give Her Grace the Dowager an opening for a counterattack?”

Having lost her only son Gilbert, Elise would be desperately searching for the grandson she had driven out by any means. Once she found Evan, she would stop at nothing to steal Reiner ducal title.

“It’s better to make Evan your nominal successor. That way, the Dowager will have no room to interfere.”

At the logical explanation, Reiner fell silent. Lost in thought, he slowly tapped the arm of the chair with his finger.

“Then wouldn’t it be better to just eliminate Evan March? No need to take such a risky step.”

To Reiner, that seemed like a simpler, more certain method. If Evan disappeared, the threat would vanish on its own. Rosena, having lost the child’s father, would struggle with childcare alone. In a way, revenge for the affair would be somewhat achieved.

“No.”

However, Cecilia shook her head firmly.

“Ending it like that is far too easy.”

Her expression and voice grew cold. If eliminating Evan alone was the end goal, she would have done it with her own hands long ago. But that wasn’t what Cecilia truly wanted.

“I will slowly, and thoroughly, squeeze the life out of both Evan and Rosena. Until they kneel at my feet, begging me to kill them.”

“…”

The depth of Cecilia’s hatred, dreaming of the pair’s complete downfall, was fully conveyed to Reiner. Reiner silently stared at Cecilia for a moment. This felt heavier and deeper than mere anger over an affair. What could have made her burn with such intensity?

“What on earth happened between you two?”

To Reiner’s question, Cecilia did not answer. Partly because she knew he wouldn’t believe her, but also because just recalling the end of her past life was painful.

“I can’t tell you right now. Instead…” Cecilia quietly changed the subject.

“I will give you the business Evan March runs. As a reward for your patience.”

“…”

Reiner looked at Cecilia with a sunken gaze. It was clear that for some unknown reason, Cecilia was reluctant to reveal the details of her entanglement with Evan and Rosena.

“Fine. I don’t need some hole-in-the-wall shop like that.” Reiner listlessly leaned back against the chair. He had already amassed sufficient wealth. If he coveted Evan’s business, he could just establish a larger company himself.

“Instead, my reward will be hearing your story.”
“That is…”
“Of course, when you’re ready.”

Cecilia’s eyes widened. Reiner gazed steadily into her emerald-green eyes and gave a light nod.

“I will definitely collect my reward for patience then.”

Meanwhile, Evan rubbed his forehead with an irritated expression.

“Rosena, please, be reasonable.”
“What? Evan, are you telling me to be reasonable right now?”

Rosena’s face twisted. It had been a few days since the wedding with Cecilia fell apart. Rosena had been incessantly demanding marriage, and Evan had been making excuses. Evan was sick to death of the repeated conversation.

“It hasn’t even been a month since the wedding ended like that. What will people say if I immediately announce I’m marrying you?”

Use your head if you have one. Evan almost scolded Rosena but closed his mouth and merely shook his head. He was already suffering under the sharpened gazes of people since that day. For a businessman like him, reputation was everything. Marrying Rosena, the other central figure of the scandal, in the midst of this? He could just imagine what people would excitedly gossip about.

‘Ugh. Dreadful.’ Evan exaggeratedly shuddered. Right now, he just wanted to lie low and stay quietly beneath the surface. But Rosena thought differently.

“Since things have come to this, neither of us can find another partner anyway. If that’s the case, what’s the problem with doing it quickly? Are you telling me to wear a wedding dress on a full stomach?”

Rosena’s voice rose with impatience. Her physical condition was changing day by day. If she was going to have this child, she wanted to become respectable in front of everyone. She also wanted to be the star at her once-in-a-lifetime wedding in her most beautiful state. Above all, she wanted to clearly show everyone, Cecilia included, that Evan was now Rosena Osborne’s man.

‘His status is regrettable, but still, Evan isn’t a bad choice.’ With his decent looks, top academy graduate status, and his own business, Evan March was a fairly popular bachelor in Brissen. Rosena herself had considered him too good to give to another woman, hence trying to marry him off to Cecilia. Now that things had turned out this way, she wanted to proudly show him off as hers and wash away the recent humiliation.

‘Huh, and when was it that you said you couldn’t marry a commoner?’ Evan looked down at Rosena with a grimace. Just a while ago, before the pregnancy was known, he was well aware she had been meeting suitors from noble families, saying they needed to marry quickly. But Rosena, acting as if nothing happened, tugged at Evan’s arm with an innocent face.

“Evan, we don’t have time. Let’s go find a priest tomorrow, even right now—”
“Ah, Rosena!”

Finally, his patience ran out, and Evan shouted. As Rosena flinched in surprise, Evan let out a deep sigh and spoke curtly.

“I’m not saying I won’t marry you. Just wait a bit. Why are you nagging like this?”
“Nagging? Do I look like a child throwing a tantrum to you?”
“Yes! It’s annoying, so please just stop it! Leah never acted like this—”
“What? Leah?”

The moment Cecilia’s name slipped out, Rosena’s eyes instantly turned fierce.

“What did you just say?”