I Became The Mother Of the Male Lead Who Lives With An Adulterous Man

A few days later, Cian and Rachel visited Berengella. Cian was in disguise with his mask and cloak.

Ding, ding, ding.

Berengella opened the door after several rings of the doorbell.

Rachel bent her knees slightly.

“It’s been a long time, Madam Berengella.”

It was a polite greeting in its own way to Berengella, who was of similar status but older.

However, instead of returning the greeting, Berengella frowned at Cian standing behind Rachel.

“What is this?”

She answered, holding back the urge to say, ‘This is His Highness the Archduke, who would normally never stand face to face with someone like you’.

“This is a bodyguard hired from the guild.”

“My God, you’re so funny, one would think I was trying to eat you.”

It seemed like she’d already forgotten what she’d done to Jane. The glass pieces stuck in Jane’s palm were small and numerous enough that they might’ve left a lasting effect.

“Well, anyway, come in. I don’t want anyone to see you.”

Berengella turned around and went inside.

Once Rachel and Cian were both inside, Peanut, the maid standing nearby, quickly closed the door.

Unlike a mansion, the townhouse was laid out so that the entrance and reception room were directly connected without a hall. The house was empty, as any item of value had been sold.

What was interesting was that there was only one chair in the room.

‘The others must’ve been removed on purpose. Anyway, she’s a terrible person for removing the chairs after inviting a guest.’

Berengella spoke as she sat down in the only chair.

“It’s no use looking for Theodore. I sent him out on an errand for a while because I knew he’d whine again if he were here.”

She’d never looked for Theodore, it seemed like there was a misunderstanding.

“Sometimes women need a chance to talk face to face. Isn’t that right, Rachel Elrosa?”

“I think you’re mistaken, I’m no longer an Elrosa. Besides, you don’t seem prepared to talk at the moment, Madame Berengella.”

“Of course not. I’ve prepared very thoroughly.”

“After all the letters you wrote, threatening me to come over, you didn’t even prepare a chair for your guests.”

“Why would you need a chair?”

Berengella, who’d been smiling the whole time, bared her teeth and growled.

“You should be kneeling in front of me, begging.”

Rachel hadn’t come here expecting to be treated well, but Berengella’s demeanor was far more overbearing than she’d expected. It was obvious that she was deliberately trying to ignore Rachel and be mean, but she wasn’t angry.

Rachel sighed.

“I haven’t done anything wrong, and I have no intention to get down on my knees. I’ll be going back now.”

“Going back? Wait!”

Seeing Rachel turning around without any hesitation, she jumped up from her seat.

“If you go back like this, I’ll send you another threatening letter! I won’t give you another chance to beg me for forgiveness!”

“It doesn’t matter if you send another letter. It’s also okay if you don’t give me another chance.”

“What…!”

Rachel knew that Berengella would be the one who would be disappointed if she left.

 

* * *

 

“It doesn’t matter if you send another letter. It’s also okay if you don’t give me another chance.”

Berengella’s face turned pale at Rachel’s words.

‘What’s with her attitude? Why isn’t she afraid of me? Didn’t she come all the way here because she was afraid of my threatening letters?’

Rachel spoke softly as she watched Berengella try not to show her panic.

“I came here to give you one last chance. I thought there might be something I could do to help you since you keep sending me letters, but it seems I was wrong.”

Berengella chewed her lip at the opportunity and the offer to help.

That’s right. Berengella needed help. As much as she wanted to see Rachel again and scold her, she also needed money.

Stripped of all her possessions and left penniless, Berengella couldn’t afford decent clothes or food. She hadn’t paid Peanut’s wages last month, and soon she would have to pay the rent for the townhouse.

‘I just need Rachel to come back. If she comes back and marries Theodore again, I can get back the money I gave her in alimony. With that money, I won’t have to hide out in this shitty townhouse.’

Dreaming of something ridiculous, Berengella panicked when Rachel turned away.

When Rachel left, she’d had to struggle for a while. She pretended nothing was wrong, but now she was even worried about paying for the paper she would need to write her letters.

Her quivering lips curled into a snarl.

“Wait! Since you’re already here, I think you should hear what I have to say!”

“Without a chair? We’re going to talk standing up?”

“That… Peanut!”

Peanut ran up to the second floor and brought down a chair.

As Rachel sat down, Berengella began to talk.

“I never thought I would even say something like this. Listen carefully. I guess I should start with how you guys came to be together. When I was young, when I first met your father, Count James Fram…”

Her words rambled on, with exaggerated gestures, false interjections, and plausible deniability.

Unable to keep listening, Rachel interrupted Berengella and summarized.

“In other words, you want me to marry Theodore again.”

“What do you mean, marry him again? You’ve been promised to each other since you were born, and were married not long ago, so let’s go back to the way things were.”

“No.”

“Why not!”

“Because I don’t want to.”

Berengella shuddered at the straightforwardness of her answer.

Rachel didn’t even bat an eyelash when Berengella used all the verbal skills she’d honed over decades of socializing. She really had no intention of reuniting with Theodore.

‘No! If they don’t reunite, it’ll be the end of House Elrosa and the end of my golden years!’

But there was no way. Rachel was more determined than she’d expected. She wasn’t swayed by threats or sweet talk.

For Theodore and Berengella, Rachel was their last hope, or rather, their source of money.

Theodore had been falsely accused of plotting a rebellion. Now in hiding for fear of being caught, she couldn’t even dream of the glamorous life she once had. Should she stay in hiding?

That wasn’t an option. Berengella had a very good idea.

‘I’ll move to the countryside. If I tell those country bumpkins that I’m a former countess from the capital, they’ll all be fooled. I have no choice but to enjoy the rest of my life there while being treated appropriately.’

The problem was money. To pretend to be a former countess from the capital, she needed a fancy villa and a few trendy dresses.

She chewed her lip.

‘Yes, money! There is no need for marriage. All I have to do is get the money! If I had money, I wouldn’t have to meet this disgusting Rachel again! Money, money… How do I get the money?’

Glaring at Rachel, Berengella suddenly remembered something.

That was it.

Something that Rachel had gifted to Theodore, something very expensive that everyone knew belonged to Theodore, and something that the emperor hadn’t been able to confiscate!

 

* * *

 

Berengella, who’d been frowning and pondering for some time, suddenly raised her voice.

“Shameless! If you hadn’t taken all our belongings, we wouldn’t be this poor!”

What kind of logic was this?

Rachel didn’t take anything. When she left Elrosa, all she brought with her were a few essentials necessary for daily life. She didn’t even take any of her expensive jewelry or fancy dresses.

On the contrary, thanks to Rachel, some things didn’t end up in Sigar’s vault. Such as Theodore’s love letters, which Lylus had burned.

She felt like yawning. When she didn’t get the response she was waiting for, Rachel felt the urge to get up from her seat and go back to her house.

Then Berengella shouted.

“Cufflinks!”

A twinkling light bulb turned on above Rachel’s head.

Berengella finally took the bait. She wondered what she would do if she couldn’t remember it, but Berengella, amazingly, remembered the item as Rachel had hoped.

“Those are Theodore’s cufflinks. Give them back! Now!”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t. You saw it that day, didn’t you? The Archduke took them.”

“You foolish Rachel Elrosa, how could you give them to the Archduke for free when they’re so valuable? You must go and get them back or compensate me for them!”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that either, you see, I’m a commoner. How dare I ask the Archduke to give me back what he took from me? I’m afraid.”

“You’re useless!”

“Now that I think about it, I heard some news about His Highness the Archduke not long ago. As you may know, the Archduke doesn’t often participate in parties or events, but I heard he was hosting a party.”

“The Archduke is hosting a party!”

Berengella’s eyes sparkled.

‘If only I could meet the Archduke at the party! Not only could I get back my cufflinks, but I might also be able to ask for compensation like I did with Rachel.’

One corner of Rachel’s mouth quirked up as she realized Berengella’s intentions.

Berengella, who usually maintained superficial relationships in social circles, would attempt to poison the atmosphere with words.

Unaware of Rachel’s thoughts, she felt triumphant.

“Alright. That’s great news! Rachel Elrosa, your day of helping me is coming!”

“But since it is a party hosted by His Highness the Archduke, commoners aren’t allowed.”

“I don’t care about that, I know all about parties, and sneaking in is no big deal.”

The son definitely took after his mother.

Originally, Rachel was going to sneak Berengella in, but when she decided to do it herself, Rachel realized she didn’t need to help her.

Berengella stood up and opened the townhouse door.

“Now that’s enough, get out of here, Rachel Elrosa! As long as I have those cufflinks, I won’t have to consider reuniting you and my precious son, you arrogant fool!”

Rachel said nothing in response to the slander. Sooner or later, Berengella would regret everything she’d just said.

 

Once out of Berengella’s house, Rachel turned to Cian in the alleyway a short distance from the townhouse.

“I apologize, Your Highness. You’re hosting a party all because of me.”

“Never mind that, as I told you when I first heard of your plan. If anything, I’m the one who should be apologizing, because it’s something the Capital Guard would’ve taken care of right away if you had a title.”

It was a ridiculous apology. It was the emperor’s job to bestow titles and issue nobility plaques. It was a problem that couldn’t be resolved quickly, no matter how brilliant Cian was.

“Don’t say that. I’m grateful enough for what you’re doing for me, and I’m sorry that I have to ask for help every time. Is there anything I can do to help you?”

“Help?”

“You asked me to be by your side in your times of need, and you haven’t asked me for anything yet.”

Cian hesitated, then spoke up.

“Come to think of it, there is something I need a woman’s help with.”

 

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