I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 121

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

I’m a Mother-in-Law, But I Don’t Want Family Conflicts Episode 121

 

“I am….”

 

Even though I wanted to argue back, no words came to mind.

 

Rather, if I opened my mouth now, I felt like I would spew out anger unbefitting of a duchess.

 

That was something I could not tolerate. More important than her pride was the honor of being a duchess.

 

“Please leave. This conversation is over. I will not quit the business.”

 

“Edwin Tilim is….”

 

“Let’s talk after Chloe Tilim becomes a count.”

 

It was an extremely rude tone, but I wanted to escape the situation even if it meant speaking this way.

 

As if sensing Helene’s feelings, Wilhelmina let out a short sigh and stood up from her seat.

 

“Helene, no matter how much you deny it, Chloe will become a count.”

 

“….”

 

“Because I will make it happen.”

 

Unlike the Helene of the past, her confident attitude showed no hesitation in confronting prejudice. That sight made my chest tighten.

 

“…Mother.”

 

Helene asked Wilhelmina, who was about to leave through the door, in a strained voice.

 

“Why do you care so much about her? Is this trivial matter that important to you?”

 

It was a question I had always wondered about, but never voiced because I thought I could never get an answer.

 

Was there really a need to go this far for just a gathering member’s affairs?

 

The repercussions she would face if she failed couldn’t even be compared to the benefits of saving Chloe.

 

But Wilhelmina looked at her with a sharp expression, as if asking why she would ask such a thing, and said:

 

“Do you need a big reason to help a friend?”

 

“A friend… you say?”

 

“Yes, a friend. If it’s an unhappiness I can fix by struggling a bit, I’ll help as much as I can. She’s been unhappy all this time, so this much happiness is fine, isn’t it?”

 

Saying that she was made to talk about embarrassing things, Wilhelmina pouted and hurried out.

 

“….”

 

Left alone in the reception room, Helene leaned back against the sofa and covered her face with both hands.

 

“How foolish.”

 

The childlike answer that was neither noble-like nor typical of Wilhelmina was foolish.

 

But so was herself for being swayed by those few short words.

 

‘She helps because she’s been unhappy all this time?’

 

An unhappy young miss crushed by her family house. Making her the head of the family so she could grasp happiness.

 

It sounded like an answer directed at herself.

 

‘Then… what about me?’

 

The Previous Emperor’s words had been disturbing her mind since earlier.

 

‘Child, your duty is as an Imperial Princess.’

 

‘I cherish you, but that is….’

 

“…Because you are not the heir.”

 

Father’s words, gentle yet firm.

 

Father who said he loved his daughter, but didn’t need his daughter’s abilities.

 

Helene’s childhood, when she gave up her dreams saying she must follow the words of the head of house, the Emperor.

 

‘Why did a helping hand reach down to you? I never had one.’

 

Chloe’s face came to mind.

 

A delicate woman with impressive white skin and small lips. Her brown hair and calm eyes had a modest dignity befitting a Noble Lady, even if not glamorous.

 

To think such a woman would become head of house.

 

Despite countless efforts, she who couldn’t even receive succession order had ended up in this state.

 

“Mother, would you have said the same if you had met me in the past?”

 

There was no one to answer her.

 

Not wanting to see anything, she covered her face with her palms that seemed to smell of blood.

 

The blood from killing the Western Tyrant seemed to still not have disappeared.

 

‘…I want to see Mikhail.’

 

She needed Mikhail.

 

She wanted to be comforted by him and have it proven that she hadn’t made the wrong choice.

 

Even if she became a sacrifice to the Curse, that would be fine.

 

He was the only one who could fill this emptiness.

 

* * *

 

Chloe filed an official divorce trial application with the Imperial Palace.

 

Preparing for the response that the trial would be difficult due to unconfirmed facts, myself, Baroness Metokan, and Baroness Rollan put our names down as witnesses for the Divorce Papers.

 

The Imperial Palace immediately set a trial date.

 

“Normally they would have asked the husband’s opinion too. If it’s something that could be settled through agreement rather than trial, they recommend ending it that way. That would have taken two or three more months.”

 

Baroness Metokan, who already had trial experience, marveled that the Imperial Palace’s decision was exceptionally fast.

 

“I don’t know if it’s thanks to His Imperial Majesty’s new approach, but anyway it’s good for us.”

 

From what I heard, Edwin initially refused the trial, but eventually sent word that he would attend.

 

Chloe, who knew Edwin’s personality well, organized his thoughts with a sigh.

 

“Probably, he decided that divorce doesn’t matter. The Count title will be maintained even without me.”

 

“Even though he’s a Son-in-law?”

 

“As long as there’s no male heir by blood, I’m really an irrelevant person.”

 

That’s why Kaine was obsessed with having a son, Chloe said with a bitter smile.

 

I comforted her that she didn’t need to smile like that anymore.

 

‘Besides, he probably thought he could no longer avoid it.’

 

Edwin’s participation probably wasn’t just for the reason Chloe mentioned.

 

Right now he was in a cornered state.

 

Baron Romd hadn’t died because Black Hand remained silent.

 

On top of that, his reputation in High Society had plummeted, and to make matters worse, early rainy season had arrived, putting his Business in a difficult situation.

 

Dyeing in this era absolutely required sunlight. Due to the dark Sky, production of Wool Fabric was slowing down.

 

‘They’ll want to put out the most urgent fire first. The rumors about the trial have already spread everywhere.’

 

They probably judged that the divorce trial was the problem they could deal with first.

 

‘Not knowing that would be the beginning of their downfall.’

 

Having these thoughts made me feel like I’d become the mastermind behind everything.

 

Chloe, who was beside me, asked if something good had happened, but I avoided answering.

 

Eventually, the trial day approached.

 

All the reading club members except Mabel and Jane headed to the court together.

 

The Baroness and Baroness Metokan were Chloe’s advocates and witnesses, while the rest participated as spectators.

 

‘I’d like to defend her myself if I could.’

 

But I stepped back after hearing that getting involved might raise suspicions that the ducal house was orchestrating this whole situation.

 

Anyway, they said spectators could also express their opinions in trials in this world, so I could help if necessary.

 

Divorce trials in the Empire had simpler procedures than regular trials.

 

The husband and wife each brought advocates or witnesses, and the judge made a ruling based on their testimony along with the couple’s statements.

 

There were no processes like exchanging written documents to prepare arguments or filing appeals.

 

They even skipped the process of submitting evidence before the trial, making it closer to ancient Greek trials than modern ones.

 

That meant it was a subjective and impromptu trial.

 

“The procedures are simple because most cases are decided through agreement.”

 

“Agreement?”

 

“The judge will warn the husband with their authority, so the wife should endure… Most cases end that way. It’s called a trial, but they’re forcing reconciliation. The judge’s role is closer to a mediator.”

 

It meant the trial was used as a place for reconciliation rather than distinguishing between perpetrator and victim.

 

Baroness Metokan, who had no good memories of divorce trials, clicked her tongue.

 

Incidentally, she said she didn’t hesitate to use threats to get her divorce.

 

She threatened that if they wouldn’t grant her a divorce, she’d return her title and everything else, then bury all her inventions in the ground and go into hiding.

 

It was a method that worked because she was an inventor recognized by the Previous Emperor.

 

‘Well, aren’t we doing something similar?’

 

I looked at Chloe, who had her robe pulled down low.

 

Though she looked tense, her eyes held determination.

 

Judging by her expression, there seemed to be no need to worry.

 

We passed through the ornate entrance befitting a noble court and entered the designated courtroom.

 

“We pledge our loyalty to His Imperial Majesty…”

 

The court’s entrance and opening declaration were briefly concluded, and Edwin and Chloe took their respective positions.

 

An unknown middle-aged man stood beside Edwin, while the Baroness and Baroness Metokan accompanied Chloe.

 

Ilina, who saw the man’s face, whispered quietly to me.

 

“That man is Count Bildson.”

 

“Who’s that?”

 

“A subordinate who follows Edwin around like a parasite.”

 

“…Oh, I see.”

 

As if it didn’t matter to call him by name since he was no longer a count, Ilina disparaged Edwin and Count Bildson with anger.

 

I cleared my throat and turned my gaze away.

 

The judge was Count Royce, a legal officer from the Imperial Palace. With his cold appearance making an impression, he tapped his gavel to announce the start of the trial.

 

“Count Edwin Tilim of the Tilim family, and Lady Chloe Tilim, are you seated?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Good. Each witness Count Gobern Bildson, Baroness Daisy Rollan, Count Milliona Metokan, are you seated?”

 

Answers followed, and he narrowed his eyes as he read the documents on the platform.

 

“The one filing for divorce is the lady.”

 

“That’s correct.”

 

“Please recite the reasons directly.”

 

In place of Chloe, the baroness stepped forward.

 

“Count Edwin Tilim has emotionally abused Lady Chloe all this time, and has illegally misused the assets of the Tilrim County. Lady Chloe, who loves her family, has rebelled against this and filed for divorce.”

 

It was a vague reason.

 

The reason we saved evidence like this was because the husband’s side could also review the pre-written statements.

 

Just in case Edwin might bring counter-evidence, we hid all the important evidence.

 

And that strategy would probably be the same on Edwin’s side too.

 

“Hmm, I understand. Then Count Tilim’s side should also answer.”

 

“Understood, honorable judge.”

 

Count Bildson exaggeratedly bowed to the judge, then headed to the center of the courthouse as if dancing.

 

“First, I would like to state the fact that Count Tilim did not abuse his wife. As written in that statement, Count Tilim is an extremely domestic person. This is the evidence.”

 

He pulled out a document from his chest and handed it to the judge.

 

“This is…”

 

The judge who read it narrowed his eyes. It was a complex expression whose true feelings were unreadable.

 

“These are testimonies from the nobles and mansion servants who attended banquets with Count Tilim. The content states that the Count always arrived at his residence before going to sleep. And…”

 

‘No way, right?’

 

Without realizing it, I clenched my fist tightly and glared at Count Bildson.

 

Of course, I expected them to bring evidence favorable to themselves, but I never imagined they would bring such information.

 

“The Countess hated Count Tilim so much that even lying together in bed was painful for her.”

 

‘These crazy bastards.’

 

I could see that bastard, who wasn’t even worth being called human and was worse than a bug, secretly bursting into laughter at Count Bildson’s testimony.

 

“Moreover, for the past year, she has continuously ignored Count Tilim’s advances. In other words! It wasn’t the Count who rejected love, but the Countess.”

 

The judge looked like he didn’t want to ask, but opened his mouth as if he had no choice.

 

“By continuous advances, you mean…”

 

“Though it’s not something to say in a sacred courtroom – I mean marital intimacy. The Countess and Count Tilim’s bodies…”

 

They were boldly insulting Chloe before the law.

 

“Stop. That’s enough. What is the evidence for this claim?”

 

Count Bildson bowed his head respectfully and answered.

 

“It’s the testimony of Grand Duchess Kaine Tilim, who was concerned about the couple’s relationship.”

 

Ilina beside me muttered curses on my behalf.

 

“Bastards.”

 

I agreed.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————