I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 119

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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 119

 

“Sometimes, I wonder what it would have been like if the Grand Duchess had been a capital noble.”

 

I was sitting in the garden, enjoying a rare moment of rest, when Jane approached me with a compliment instead of a greeting.

 

“I am a capital noble, though? I was just in debt.”

 

“No, that’s not what I mean. I mean a noble who could engage in politics. If that were the case, the Empire’s landscape would have changed.”

 

“You’re exaggerating again. Tone it down.”

 

When I gave her a sharp retort, Jane let out a bitter smile.

 

She handed me a bundle of documents.

 

“What’s this?”

 

“It’s a list of those who were involved in the Elan Trading Company’s illegal activities. Of course, Count Tilim is among them.”

 

“…I never requested anything like this?”

 

Feeling a pang of guilt, I feigned ignorance.

 

Jane forcibly pressed the documents into my hands and let out a short sigh.

 

“I know you were hiding things for my sake, Grand Duchess. But I want to help Miss Chloe too.”

 

Elan – it was Edwin’s source of funds and the name of the trading company that investigators had raided.

 

“The employee who was fired from Elan – you encouraged them to report it, didn’t you, Grand Duchess?”

 

“How did you know?”

 

I thought I had hidden it quite well.

 

“It was such a typical solution from you, Grand Duchess. The way you solve other people’s troubles while also solving your own problems.”

 

Feeling as if my mind had been read, I subtly averted my gaze.

 

It seemed like Jane, just like Anna, was beginning to see through my thoughts.

 

After receiving a report from Rohan about the relationship between the Elan Trading Company and Edwin, I began working to mobilize the ducal house’s Investigation Department.

 

I recruited an employee who knew Elan’s secrets and manipulated the situation to make it appear as a natural whistleblowing rather than external interference.

 

The result was successful.

 

The Elan Trading Company was ruined overnight, and the nobles who had joined hands with them began to be exposed to the public one by one.

 

‘Actually, calling on Jane would have been the most convenient method…’

 

If I had just hinted to Jane to investigate Edwin’s account books, all this troublesome process wouldn’t have been necessary.

 

But I didn’t want to leave room for misunderstanding by starting an investigation without evidence.

 

I couldn’t interfere with Jane’s work just to solve my own problems.

 

“Please rely on me more next time. I’m always on your side, Grand Duchess.”

 

“…Thank you.”

 

Still, thanks to these documents, things became much easier. Expressing my gratitude, I pointed to the empty spot on the bench.

 

“Would you like to rest for a bit before you go?”

 

“No, I need to go right away. The cleanup of the Elan Trading Company isn’t finished yet.”

 

I thought they knew how to operate properly since they were a mid-sized trading company, but apparently they had committed far more illegal acts than expected.

 

If there hadn’t been a competent investigator like Jane, they probably would have continued thriving and serving as Edwin’s source of funds.

 

I waved my hand encouragingly as I saw her off.

 

After Jane’s figure disappeared, I spoke toward the wall.

 

“Rohan.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Rohan, who had been hiding using his cloak, revealed himself.

 

To avoid being discovered by outsiders, he would hide like this whenever guests came to the annex building.

 

“What is Edwin doing right now?”

 

“He’s holed up in the mansion. There’s no sign he’ll attend any banquets.”

 

“What about the Count’s Grand Madam?”

 

“She’s the same.”

 

“Hmm…”

 

I had hoped Kaine would take my side if possible, but there hadn’t been much opportunity for conversation.

 

“Should I try writing a letter? Can you slip it into her bedroom secretly?”

 

“It’s possible, but… wouldn’t she be on guard?”

 

“True, she seems to have a timid personality, so if she thinks she’s being watched, that would be a big problem in itself.”

 

If she came outside, I could at least try to meet her under the pretense of coincidence, but she hadn’t moved a single step from the mansion since Chloe disappeared.

 

‘It can’t be helped. I’ll worry about her later.’

 

Instead, I asked about the news I most wanted to hear.

 

“How about Baron Romd?”

 

“He’s been steadily attending banquets. Judging by the nobles’ reactions, the rumors seem to be spreading smoothly.”

 

Baron Romd.

 

He was a soldier who had once been a subordinate of the Margrave.

 

I had secretly asked for his help through Rohan.

 

When he learned that I possessed the Border Count’s Token, he readily accepted my request.

 

‘There’s a scoundrel who has abandoned his noble duties. I want to judge him.’

 

I had asked him for two things.

 

To spread rumors about Edwin widely in high society, and to inform me of any rumors about Edwin that he heard along the way.

 

Originally, gossips tend to gather around other gossips.

 

As Baron Romd spread rumors and gained popularity, others began to follow suit and open their mouths one by one.

 

The way rumors spread was no different here than in modern times.

 

‘It’s just light gossip, like “I’ve heard such rumors too.”‘

 

It didn’t matter whether those rumors were true or not.

 

If you create an environment where it’s easy to join in, loose-lipped people will naturally spill their own secrets.

 

Originally, when someone starts gossiping, others join in and add flesh to it, creating massive flaws.

 

That’s why early suppression was important to eliminate such rumors. If I were Edwin, I would have immediately gone to Baron Romd and warned him not to spread nonsense.

 

‘But Edwin couldn’t move. Because he thinks Baron Romd has a grip on his weakness.’

 

If it had really been nonsense, Baron Romd would have faced a counterattack instead, but the source of his information was me.

 

I had subtly mixed in real information with the rumors so that the person involved would have no choice but to be suspicious.

 

By now, Edwin must be mistakenly thinking that Baron Romd has figured out Black Hand’s identity.

 

Then the options left for him are…

 

“The letter that arrived at the communication post has been decoded, right?”

 

“Yes. It was a letter from Count Tilim wanting to assassinate Baron Romd. Since he even received promissory notes as advance payment, we should be able to use it as evidence.”

 

Upon investigation, most of Edwin’s liquid assets were being held by the Ellan Trading Company. It was probably hidden assets for tax evasion.

 

But once the Ellan Trading Company was handed over to the investigators, he had no remaining cash.

 

In other words, to employ Black Hand, he would have to use promissory notes or tangible assets.

 

I slowly folded my fingers as I recalled the completed tasks.

 

“Cut off his money supply, ruined his reputation, and got evidence in hand… now we just need to set a trial date?”

 

All that busy work had been worthwhile.

 

Though it hadn’t gone entirely smoothly, this was more than satisfactory compared to what I had initially planned.

 

“Has there been any contact from the capital?”

 

“Not yet. They said they’d send a messenger, so it should arrive by next week at the latest.”

 

“If by any chance the reply isn’t positive…”

 

“That won’t happen. Baroness Metokan guaranteed it.”

 

The letter sent to the capital and Imperial Palace had Baroness Metokan’s recommendation letter enclosed with it.

 

Incidentally, she was currently recuperating at home due to numerous experiments and report writing.

 

The Baroness was managing malicious rumors so that Chloe could return safely.

 

‘Once my problem is resolved, all preparations will be complete.’

 

I looked up at the tall castle beyond the garden. Before the trial began, I needed to conclude this mother-in-law conflict as well.

 

As I quietly gazed at the castle, lost in thought, I suddenly felt Rohan’s gaze.

 

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

“…I was thinking about what Jane said.”

 

“Jane? Oh, that story about the capital nobles?”

 

“Are you interested in politics, Grand Duchess?”

 

“Not at all. Absolutely none.”

 

I made an X with both index fingers to deny it. Rohan seemed flustered by my expression, which was even frowning, and trailed off.

 

“Is that so? But…”

 

“Don’t say it suits me well either. I did graduate from political science, but I’m not interested in that field.”

 

Of course, the Academy’s teachings had been useful.

 

Back then, when I had no modern memories, I just marveled thinking ‘So people can be this petty,’ but looking back now, those were lessons that became flesh and blood.

 

And the more you understand the utility of politics, the more you realize it’s not a world to carelessly jump into.

 

“This time I had no choice but to protect my lifestyle. I have no intention of jumping into the political arena.”

 

Once this matter was over, I planned to return to my usual life. When spring ended, the social circles would quiet down too, so there wouldn’t be anyone to disturb my comfortable annex building life.

 

However he understood my words, Rohan asked another unexpected question.

 

“Then you have no thoughts of going to the capital?”

 

“Of course not.”

 

“What about the Imperial Palace?”

 

“That’s the last place I’d want to set foot in.”

 

To begin with, it was questionable whether I could even leave the Western Region, but anyway, I didn’t want to stick my head into such a cutthroat world.

 

“Besides, my hair color is different too.”

 

The most prized colors in the Empire were blonde hair and blue eyes. The purer the imperial bloodline, the more distinct those colors were.

 

Their obsession with blonde hair was particularly enormous, to the point where most Imperial personnel had blonde hair.

 

…Of course, the current Emperor who usurped the throne had crimson hair that had nothing to do with tradition.

 

“Hmm, I see.”

 

“…?”

 

I had answered irritably, but for some reason his reaction seemed satisfied.

 

My resolve not to go to the Capital or Imperial Palace must have pleased him greatly, as Rohan nodded and muttered.

 

“…This should be grounds enough to refuse.”

 

Did he have plans to go to the Capital or something?

 

I deliberately turned my gaze away from Rohan, whose inner thoughts I couldn’t read.

 

Just then, Anna was coming out of the Annex Building.

 

“Grand Madam, there’s been contact from the Main Castle…”

 

It seemed the time to finally resolve the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflict was approaching.

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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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