I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 106

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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 106

 

After the strange standoff between me and Baroness Metokan passed, Ilina spoke with a tearful expression.

 

“Chloe didn’t tell me anything about household matters at all. There must have been discord after all, right?”

 

Given the circumstances, that seemed likely.

 

Among all the incidents so far, marital relationships were the most difficult problem to handle.

 

“If only they would just divorce…”

 

“Miss Ilina, you shouldn’t speak so carelessly.”

 

The Baroness warned Ilina in a low voice.

 

Ilina also seemed to think her remark was excessive, as she bowed her head apologetically.

 

Seeing this, Baroness Metokan spoke quietly.

 

“Divorce is not an easy matter. Not for Lady Chloe, nor for the Tilim Family.”

 

“Yes…”

 

“…Though of course, it would be the cleanest option.”

 

The Baroness frowned at Baroness Metokan’s additional comment.

 

“Baroness Metokan.”

 

“It’s merely my personal opinion. I also know that it would be difficult to accomplish in the first place.”

 

These were words that could only come from someone who had directly experienced divorce.

 

However, for the Baroness, who held somewhat conservative views, this seemed to be an issue she couldn’t simply ignore.

 

“Don’t you know how much of a wound divorce would be for Chloe?”

 

“Of course I know.”

 

Even if the husband was at fault and they divorced, it was the woman who would bear the stigma.

 

Baroness Metokan smiled bitterly and trailed off.

 

“But before that comes, it might be the last opportunity.”

 

‘That?’

 

I was curious about what she meant, but she didn’t seem inclined to explain further.

 

I also thought that continuing this conversation would spoil the atmosphere of the gathering, so I pointed to the book placed on the table with my fingertip to draw attention.

 

“Shall we start the reading club for now? You’ve all read the book, right?”

 

With those complex feelings set aside, we began the reading club.

 

Fortunately, thanks to Mabel participating with a bright expression, the atmosphere gradually brightened.

 

After the appreciation meeting for one book ended, I called Ilina to the terrace of the study.

 

“What is it, Grand Duchess?”

 

“Ilina, could you possibly write a letter to Chloe?”

 

“Of course I can!”

 

Even if I wrote a letter myself, it was certain that no reply would come.

 

It would be fortunate if it reached Chloe’s hands, but it would probably be disposed of before then with high probability.

 

However, a letter from Ilina, who was a longtime friend, would be no problem.

 

“Do you have something you want to convey? Perhaps a code or something…”

 

“Nothing like that. Just write a letter as usual, and add one thing.”

 

Ilina looked ready to bring out a notepad, but it was such a short message that there was no need to write it down anywhere.

 

“What I said last time is still valid.”

 

“What does that mean?”

 

Ilina tilted her head, wondering if it was really some kind of code.

 

I looked down at the garden below the terrace and spoke quietly.

 

“Just, there’s a promise we made.”

 

It would be fortunate if Chloe remembered, and if not, there was nothing I could do about it.

 

Since there was so little I could do, I only felt sorry that I had no words to offer her.

 

* * *

 

The top priority request that Wilhelmina entrusted to Rohan was none other than confirming Chloe’s safety.

 

‘Check how her physical condition is. That’s the most important thing.’

 

It was a very Wilhelmina-like statement that no information was more important than Chloe’s safety.

 

Rohan immediately headed to Count Tilim’s mansion. Since the Count had left his territory to a proxy and was living in the ducal territory, it wasn’t difficult to find him.

 

‘The security isn’t very tight.’

 

Perhaps because it was a craftsman family with few private soldiers, the security was lax for a count’s house.

 

Rohan climbed over the mansion’s wall. Then he climbed up a large tree in the garden and spotted what appeared to be the count couple’s bedroom.

 

As if she had come out to get some night air, Chloe was sitting on the terrace looking up at the sky.

 

‘She looks a bit haggard, but… there are no injuries.’

 

Fortunately, the situation Wilhelmina had been worried about didn’t seem to have occurred.

 

Now that he had confirmed Chloe’s safety, it was time to gather information.

 

Just as he was about to return outside the mansion, a strange trace caught his eye.

 

At the end of the terrace railing decorated with vines, a black wrapping cloth was hanging.

 

Surrounded by vines, it was in a position that would be difficult to spot even with a keen eye.

 

‘Judging by the location… is it a wrapping cloth for carrier pigeons?’

 

Next to the wrapping cloth, he could see a small perch prepared for pigeons to sit on.

 

Considering they were using a corner of the terrace rather than the office, Count Tilim seemed to be secretly exchanging carrier pigeons with someone.

 

Just then, a pigeon flew down from the roof and perched on the stand.

 

The pigeon, whose wingbeats were stealthy, clung to the black wrapping cloth and skillfully stuck its head inside the cloth.

 

‘It’s been magically processed.’

 

A mysterious light flickered from inside the black wrapping cloth.

 

When the pigeon pulled its head back out, a small letter was tied around its neck.

 

The wrapping cloth seemed to have convenience magic that automatically attached letters.

 

It showed an intention not to use human hands when exchanging letters.

 

The pigeon that had completed its mission began flying toward the opposite sky. At the same time, Rohan also left his position.

 

It seemed that pigeon would be of great help in uncovering the secrets of Count Tilim’s family.

 

‘It’s heading toward the slums.’

 

No matter how prosperous the ducal territory was, slums still existed. The slums where all kinds of criminals hid was a place Rohan had visited several times before.

 

The pigeon landed on the window of a shabby house. As if waiting for the pigeon’s arrival, the window opened and a man poked his head out.

 

“Hmm, quite a quick reply. Let me see…”

 

And just as he was about to take the letter from the pigeon-

 

Crash-!

 

“Guhk!”

 

Rohan, who had landed in front of the window, grabbed the man’s neck and slammed him against the window frame.

 

The man buried his head without even having a chance to see Rohan’s face.

 

“Urgh! Who are you!”

 

“Keep your voice down.”

 

“What the hell are you doing…!”

 

“I don’t give warnings twice.”

 

Zzzt- Curse magic seeped through his neck.

 

The man opened his mouth wide, expressing pain as if a large needle was piercing through his brain.

 

‘…The smell of blood.’

 

Through the gap of the open window, the smell of old blood vibrated. Not from beasts, but from humans. It was even a rusty smell that seemed to be dozens of days old.

 

The moment the window opened, Rohan abandoned any thought of being lenient.

 

“Answer my questions. If you lie more than twice, I’ll smash your head.”

 

“O-okay.”

 

“That’s a lie.”

 

“W-wait-!”

 

This time, dozens of needles pierced through his head.

 

Since the pain intensified when he tried to scream, the man bit his lips and struggled frantically.

 

But no matter how much strength he used, Rohan’s arm didn’t budge.

 

“Now you only have one chance left. Are there no companions inside?”

 

“N-no. I’m alone!”

 

“I see. Is this a communication post?”

 

“…Y-yes.”

 

In other words, this letter’s destination wasn’t here but somewhere else. This guy was a dealer who distributed letters to other places.

 

‘No, he probably doesn’t just distribute letters.’

 

Letters, treasures, or… corpses. Rohan examined the inside of the house through the window.

 

Under the dim candlelight, several unidentifiable lumps wrapped in sacks were piled up.

 

Black cloth bundle, carrier pigeons, security thorough enough to use a communication post, methods of exchanging corpses and letters… he could make out who these people were.

 

“Black Hand?”

 

“…!”

 

“Answer.”

 

His appearance of breaking out in cold sweat, unable to open his mouth, served as an answer instead.

 

‘I thought they had fled from the Eastern Region, but they were here.’

 

Black Hand. It was the name of an assassination organization that was once notorious among influential people.

 

They had a tradition of getting assassination confirmation from clients using dead people’s ears or eyeballs, so he could guess why corpses were piled up inside the communication post.

 

“H-hey. How about you back off now? If you’ve figured out our identity, you know it’s dangerous to go any further, right?”

 

“That’s not the answer I wanted to hear.”

 

“Come on, how about it? I could even turn a blind eye right now…”

 

Just as he was stalling for time, assassins in black robes appeared from the alleys around the communication post.

 

Rohan recalled that the man had said he had no companions ‘inside,’ but hadn’t said there were none outside.

 

“Did you think I’d say that! Hey, kill this guy right-!”

 

Before he could finish saying “kill him,” an unbelievable sound reached the man’s ears.

 

Thud, the sound of someone collapsing.

 

Roll- the sound of a head rolling.

 

Gurgle, the sound of blood flowing back and blocking the throat.

 

The five assassins patrolling around the communication post were all killed before the man could finish his words.

 

The man screamed again upon seeing the blood flowing on the floor and the head that had rolled over.

 

With his head buried in the window frame, it was a blessing that he didn’t directly witness his colleagues’ deaths.

 

“Wa, waaaaah-!”

 

“Your voice.”

 

“Mmph, mmph-!”

 

Since he wasn’t someone connected to Wilhelmina, there was no need to hesitate.

 

Rohan looked down at his arm that felt no pain even when using magic power and continued with his next question.

 

“Is Count Tilim’s family your client?”

 

“Th, that… I don’t know either. I don’t decide the destinations. I just deliver letters.”

 

‘This isn’t a lie.’

 

The soul pulse he felt in his hand was telling him the truth.

 

After all, Black Hand wouldn’t tell a subordinate in charge of just a communication post about client information.

 

He had thought it was just Count Tilim’s petty spite, but Black Hand was involved. It seemed things were getting complicated.

 

Rohan lifted the man up.

 

The man, covered in tears and snot, gasped when he saw Rohan’s face.

 

Perhaps because of his rough movements, Rohan’s hair had fallen back.

 

“Th, that face. Could it be, Duke…”

 

“You know my face? Your security training was done well, it seems.”

 

They seemed to have properly educated about the face of the person who drove Black Hand out of the Eastern Region.

 

“Then this will be quick.”

 

“Hii, hiiek- So, someone save…”

 

“You’re not dead yet. I need you to maintain this communication post.”

 

Rohan narrowed his eyes and spoke quietly to the pale man.

 

“Since you’ve seen my face, you have no choice. Either die here, or follow me.”

 

“I’ll follow, so please don’t kill me. And please, my memory too…”

 

“If you cooperate with me, I’ll let you live for that duration.”

 

Without listening to the man’s answer, Rohan dragged him into the communication post.

 

Of course, Rohan had no intention of sparing the man’s life.

 

He couldn’t let vermin set foot in the place where Wilhelmina lived.

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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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