I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 105

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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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I’m a Mother-in-Law, But I Don’t Want Family Conflicts Episode 105

 

Rohan seemed quite flustered. He started to run his hand through his hair, then hesitated as he realized he shouldn’t.

 

“That friend you mentioned… are they suspicious of me?”

 

“No, I wasn’t talking about Rohan. I just had that kind of conversation in the past.”

 

Of course, I hadn’t told Rohan everything about my past.

 

I was just using the joke that ‘people who hide their identity are ability users.’

 

At first, he listened thinking it was a joke, but when I suddenly pointed my finger at him and pressed, ‘You’re the ability user,’ he was left speechless.

 

‘Seeing how he can’t deny it at all, he must be the type who can’t lie. He could have just dismissed it as ridiculous.’

 

If he had been the type to cheekily respond saying that couldn’t be true, he would have been difficult to deal with, but Rohan was the complete opposite.

 

I wondered why such an innocent person was hiding his identity and just moving food ingredients around.

 

As he continued to maintain his silence, I spoke first.

 

“I once asked Jane to investigate a man. He was called Lotos, an adopted son… no, a good-for-nothing, and she not only offered to investigate but also to handle the ‘cleanup’ herself.”

 

While I was grateful for Jane’s loyalty, thinking about it, it was strange.

 

I knew Jane was a capable merchant who had been making a name for herself at the main castle recently, but she didn’t have enough power to talk about handling a noble’s cleanup.

 

And Jane wasn’t the type to suddenly show confidence about impossible tasks either… which meant she had a collaborator I didn’t know about.

 

“Then there’s only one person left. Rohan, the only one who remained by Jane’s side in the half-ruined Goldrail. That’s you.”

 

Though it was reasoning based on circumstantial evidence rather than physical evidence, I was confident.

 

The reason I hadn’t brought this up until now was because I wasn’t particularly curious about Rohan’s identity.

 

‘He wants to hide it, and I don’t particularly want to dig it up.’

 

Considering the favor of him trying to save me in the Fairy Realm, I had intended to turn a blind eye to his disguise. As long as his purpose wasn’t House Layton, it didn’t matter to me.

 

‘Rohan doesn’t seem interested in the ducal house anyway.’

 

I couldn’t express it in words, but I had a strange intuition that Rohan wouldn’t harm us.

 

“I’m not trying to blackmail you. I’m just suggesting a deal.”

 

“A deal…”

 

“I’ll help you hide your identity.”

 

“…”

 

“I can use my status to act as a screen for you. It depends on who you’re hiding from, but it should still be helpful.”

 

I thought it was a reasonable proposal, but Rohan seemed to have something to say as his lips twitched.

 

“You… you’ll help me hide my identity. But you’re not curious about what that identity is…”

 

“Right, you wouldn’t want third parties to find out.”

 

“Third parties…”

 

He let out a short sigh and rubbed his neck.

 

His gesture was somewhat rougher than usual, and I was about to ask if something was bothering him.

 

“Fine. Let’s make a deal.”

 

His decision came faster.

 

“What you want is information about Count Tilim’s family, isn’t it? You’re curious about why Lady Chloe couldn’t participate in the reading club.”

 

“…It’s nice that you get to the point quickly. I never mentioned Chloe, did you hear about it from Jane?”

 

“This morning, after hearing the news, I confronted Officer Richt. The officer hinted that I shouldn’t trouble the Grand Duchess, so the commotion was settled for now.”

 

“…Right.”

 

Couldn’t she wait that long? Well, Chloe, Ilina, and Jane were all close friends.

 

“That’s good too, but first….”

 

I gave Rohan brief instructions. Of course, the Count Tilim Family’s situation was important, but there was other urgent information needed.

 

When I told him not to be picky about methods, Rohan nodded as if telling me not to worry.

 

“But… there’s something I’d like to ask. Why didn’t you ask Jane directly? She’s my employer, so this troublesome transaction wouldn’t have been necessary.”

 

Of course, if I had told Jane, she would have brought the information without expecting anything in return, even if it meant using Rohan.

 

“It would put Jane in a difficult position.”

 

But I didn’t want that kind of consideration.

 

“Even though she’s a member of the Reading Club, Jane is now Mikhail’s subordinate and a merchant. Trust is important in that profession, so what would Jane become if the lady of the house interfered in matters she was told not to get involved in?”

 

“She wouldn’t mind.”

 

“I would mind. Troubling one friend just to help another friend? That’s foolish. …Why do you look like that?”

 

Rohan’s face was flushed red.

 

I wondered if there was something offensive in what I said and asked again, but he shook his head as if it was nothing.

 

“Friend… I see. Grand Duchess, may I ask just one favor?”

 

“What is it?”

 

“If we’re going to share information regularly, I’ll need to visit the Annex Building periodically. The place where we have our conversations then… I’d like it to be in the Garden.”

 

Why is that a favor?

 

When I looked at him with eyes that didn’t understand the reason, he pointed to the Flower Garden in the Corner of the Garden.

 

There was a Garden Wall decorated with Spring Flowers and Garden Trees that the Gardener had carefully cultivated.

 

“That place would be good.”

 

“I don’t mind… but is there some meaning to having conversations in the Garden?”

 

“Since you mentioned friends, it brought back some memories.”

 

“Memories?”

 

For a moment, I had the illusion that he smiled sadly.

 

“Memories with a precious friend.”

 

I followed his gaze to look at the Garden Wall. It was quite an unfamiliar sight to me.

 

* * *

 

Even though Chloe couldn’t participate, the Reading Club was held.

 

This time, Mabel and Baroness Metokan, who had become new members, were scheduled to participate, so it couldn’t be canceled.

 

Still, since it was an occasion where new members were participating, we had already discussed welcoming them with a bright atmosphere.

 

“Lady Chloe isn’t here. …Ah, she’s absent? Her Husband disapproved of his wife’s socializing, and it finally came to this.”

 

“….”

 

Everyone fell silent at Baroness Metokan’s bombshell statement.

 

Fortunately, Mabel was reading a Fairy Tale Book with Mirinai in the Corner of the Study.

 

I calmed down Ilina, who was stammering, and asked Baroness Metokan, who was roughly chewing Candy.

 

She had recently started abstaining from alcohol, and it seemed she was putting sweet things in her mouth more often.

 

“Disapproved, you say? Are you acquainted with Count Tilim, Baroness?”

 

“We’ve only exchanged greetings.”

 

“But it sounds like you anticipated this exact situation.”

 

“I can predict what that type of person thinks.”

 

I realized anew just how sharp Baroness Metokan was when she threw off her mask. While I was used to it, others seemed unable to handle it as they widened their eyes in surprise.

 

‘Well, Baroness Metokan does have the image of a genius who doesn’t know worldly affairs…’

 

The rumors from high society came to mind. It seemed Baroness Metokan had no intention of putting on airs at the reading club.

 

“That type, you say?”

 

“The same type as my ex-husband.”

 

“…Ah.”

 

And even I couldn’t remain composed at those words.

 

As I looked at her with a complicated expression, she swallowed the candy she had been chewing and frowned as if just realizing what she had said.

 

“I’m sorry. When I think back to those times, my emotions still get intense…”

 

“No, it’s fine.”

 

I didn’t expect trauma to disappear in an instant. I nodded, indicating my understanding.

 

Then, Baroness Rollan, who was the first to regain her composure, asked a question.

 

“But Baroness Metokan, I know Count Tilim to have an excellent reputation.”

 

“I know that too. That’s why I invited him to the presentation… but social reputation and character don’t correlate.”

 

Since she had proven that point herself, no one could deny it.

 

Baroness Metokan counted on her fingers as she recalled her encounters with Count Tilim and Edwin.

 

“Just looking at what he showed at the presentation… he left his wife standing against the wall while talking to other women for about 30 minutes, flirted with nearby women three times during the presentation, and scolded Lady Chloe about five times in between…”

 

“You remember all of that?”

 

“Yes, it wasn’t even years ago.”

 

Among all those people, to remember everything about just two of them, scenes she would have only glimpsed from the corner of her eye – it was truly a genius-level memory.

 

And I could understand why she disliked Count Tilim.

 

Her ex-husband had also been quite the womanizer. She would have judged him more accurately than anyone else present.

 

“On the other hand, when Lady Chloe talked to other men, he became very aggressive. Toward Lady Chloe, of course.”

 

“Was he jealous?”

 

“I wish that were the case.”

 

Baroness Metokan didn’t bother explaining and just twisted up the corner of her mouth.

 

Seeing that, I could guess how Edwin thought of Chloe.

 

“I could see he wanted to isolate Lady Chloe. Even when introducing her to me, he said ‘my wife’ without giving her a chance to speak for herself.”

 

I had felt that too.

 

Edwin treated Chloe like a possession and naturally ignored her.

 

It was as if he was acting like a tired husband burdened with an incompetent wife.

 

“So when she said she wouldn’t attend, I thought Count Tilim’s influence was behind it. That type of man doesn’t want to send his wife to gatherings beyond his reach.”

 

Those words carried the weight of experience.

 

Baroness Metokan put another candy in her mouth.

 

Then, Ilina carefully raised her hand and asked a question.

 

“But it’s just a reading club. Is there really a need to stop her? It’s not like we’re doing political activities.”

 

Baroness Metokan crossed her arms with a “hmm” and crunched through her second candy.

 

With a cracking sound, her gaze turned toward me.

 

“I don’t know anything about the Count Family’s circumstances either. But… I do have some guesses. They might think a competitor has appeared.”

 

“…Why are you looking at me while saying that?”

 

“Oh, well, yes.”

 

I don’t know why she won’t give a straight answer.

 

Meanwhile, Jane and Ilina seemed to realize something and began communicating among themselves in words only they understood.

 

‘What on earth does “being caught” mean?’

 

The strange gazes from all three of them felt extremely burdensome.

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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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