I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 131

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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 131

 

‘Certainly… you said her relationship with her grandsons wasn’t good.’

 

I had heard about an incident involving Wilhelmina and her two grandsons.

 

While hiding the fact that she was their grandmother and playing with her grandsons, Helene discovered them and the atmosphere became awkward.

 

‘You described it as awkward, but it must have been a serious situation.’

 

So I could roughly imagine what feelings Minerva might have while watching Zeonil innocently playing with Wilhelmina.

 

The Baroness also knew that Minerva was a clever child.

 

Although Helene had never mentioned it, every private tutor who had taught Minerva went around praising her, saying she resembled Helene.

 

How might Wilhelmina appear to this intelligent child who had grown up with the family’s expectations?

 

“Miss Minerva.”

 

The Baroness smiled and approached Minerva.

 

Startled, Minerva hastily straightened her posture.

 

“Hello, Baroness Rollan.”

 

“This is our first time greeting each other like this. I’m Daisy Rolland.”

 

The two exchanged brief greetings.

 

Since Minerva seemed reluctant to face Wilhelmina, the Baroness led her away, pretending to head toward the corridor on the other side.

 

“I’m on my way to get a book from another room. Could you help me a bit?”

 

“Oh, of course.”

 

Minerva hurriedly followed behind the Baroness.

 

Of course, going to get a book was a lie.

 

The Baroness chose a distant path that would allow them to circle around the annex building and walked slowly.

 

“Have you completed all your missions, Miss Minerva?”

 

“Only one left. I’ve finished three of them.”

 

“My goodness, already? That’s impressive.”

 

Pleased by the Baroness’s praise, Minerva took out her necklace and showed it to her.

 

The paper necklace with blank spaces drawn on it had three colorful seals stamped on it.

 

Naturally, Wilhelmina’s seal was missing.

 

“I was lucky. I finished Baroness Metokan’s first.”

 

Minerva proudly explained her heroic tale.

 

‘So it was Miss Minerva who suggested that broom.’

 

After being the first to pass Baroness Metokan’s mission, Minerva immediately went to Ilina.

 

Though she struggled a bit with the fairy tale theme, she apparently convinced all the children instantly in the discussion with Chloe.

 

“It was a problem I had thought about before. So I won easily.”

 

“Indeed, Miss Minerva is different.”

 

The Baroness let out a bitter smile.

 

‘She had thought about it… does that mean she’s very interested in family affairs?’

 

Having thought about the wool fabric business meant she also knew how that business had proceeded.

 

While Count Tilim Family and Helene were the beneficiaries of the wool fabric business, the reputation in high society was the opposite.

 

Along with rumors that Wilhelmina had triumphed over Helene, her influence had greatly increased.

 

‘She didn’t go through her debutante, but Miss Minerva would have heard something about it.’

 

The Baroness secretly let out a sigh.

 

It was too complicated a matter for others to interfere in.

 

Instead, she gently guided the conversation so that Minerva could open up about her true feelings.

 

“Then, only the Grand Duchess’s mission remains.”

 

“…That’s right.”

 

Her previously elevated mood instantly plummeted.

 

No matter how clever she was, she was still a young child, and seeing her stark change in expression, the Baroness continued with a smile.

 

“Was the Grand Duchess’s mission difficult?”

 

“No, that’s not it. …I don’t even know what it’s about in the first place.”

 

Moreover, Minerva’s lips trembled slightly.

 

“The Grand Duchess might dislike me.”

 

“…What?”

 

The surprised Baroness widened her eyes.

 

Seeing that she called her Grand Duchess rather than Grandmother, the emotional distance seemed to remain, but the anxiety that followed was quite different from what the Baroness had expected.

 

‘Wasn’t it that she disliked the Grand Duchess?’

 

She had naturally assumed it was hatred that kept her from approaching.

 

At this passive attitude of not approaching because she feared Wilhelmina might dislike her, the Baroness was momentarily at a loss for words.

 

‘Then was her looking at young Zeonil also because of envy?’

 

Minerva lowered her head as if embarrassed.

 

“Actually, I was rude to the Grand Duchess last spring.”

 

“…What happened?”

 

“The family went on a spring outing together… and I ignored the Grand Duchess there.”

 

She had heard about that too.

 

But Wilhelmina had brushed it off as nothing, saying such a relationship between herself and her grandchild was natural.

 

Moreover, the so-called ignoring was merely an incident where she didn’t give Wilhelmina the flower crown she had made for Helene.

 

“Does that weigh on your mind?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

But there was no expression of regret.

 

The Baroness glanced at Minerva’s expression as she kept her head lowered.

 

‘She’s as kind as she is clever.’

 

While deciding her attitude for her mother, Helene, she also couldn’t let go of her guilt toward Wilhelmina.

 

The phrase “old soul” came to mind again.

 

‘It’s not easy for a child of this age to have both conscience and consideration.’

 

It seemed Helene was blessed with good children.

 

“…Miss Minerva, actually the missions you’re doing now are projects our Reading Club used to do frequently.”

 

“What?”

 

While she couldn’t interfere in family matters, she felt she could at least clear up this misunderstanding.

 

The Baroness looked down at Anna, who was moving new books below the railing, and continued speaking.

 

“Our reading club is different from other reading clubs—we have an exceptional amount of reading.”

 

Recitation meetings that discussed the beauty of sentences, tea time gatherings that invited authors—typical reading clubs had many static activities.

 

When there were many participants, reading was often neglected to the point where some members would leave without even sharing a single impression.

 

‘Recitation meetings often involve only surface reading, and author gatherings are really just excuses to invite guests and chat.’

 

Most reading clubs had long since become justifications for gatherings rather than having reading as their main focus.

 

But Wilhelmina was different.

 

She focused on books rather than members, saying, ‘If it’s a reading club, books are what matter.’

 

‘You didn’t have time to read the book? Then read it here. Would three hours be enough?’

 

‘You can’t criticize because the author used to be a marquis? Where is there such a law?’

 

‘Political talk? Do it if you want. It doesn’t matter as long as you don’t stray from the topic. But distinguish truth from lies.’

 

Thanks to her tendencies, the scope of the reading club’s impressions and discussions grew deeper and broader.

 

“Is, is that really okay? It sounds just like a political gathering…”

 

“It’s not the kind of gathering other nobles would enjoy. It’s not a coffee house, after all.”

 

The coffee house, famous in the capital as a venue for political discussion.

 

Wilhelmina’s reading club was similar in operation to that place, which was notorious as a men-only zone.

 

While Wilhelmina didn’t have much doubt about it, the Baroness and Baroness Metokan knew how meaningful this reading club was.

 

So the two strictly warned other members to keep the internal discussions of the reading club from leaking outside.

 

‘If word gets out that women are holding discussion meetings, they’ll obviously be looked down upon.’

 

“It’s true that it would definitely be a method that draws criticism. But… it seems like it would be enjoyable, right?”

 

“…”

 

Having only tasted a fragment of the reading club, the children were already so absorbed in reading.

 

Sharing opinions without regard for status or prejudice was more enjoyable than expected.

 

“The Grand Duchess believes that someday an era will come when everyone can speak freely. So she showed you the preparation process for that.”

 

Though they hadn’t spoken directly, Wilhelmina’s deeper intentions could be understood.

 

She always grumbled that she was a small person without the power to change culture, but in the Baroness’s eyes, she was already the eye of a magnificent storm.

 

“Don’t tell me, gathering young children to conduct this kind of camp was also…”

 

Minerva stammered with a look of shock.

 

It seemed she could see Wilhelmina’s ulterior motive in gathering children who would lead the western region’s future and arranging an open discussion forum.

 

Arranging such a forum for adults whose minds had already hardened would only earn sneers.

 

But teaching children the joy of discussion was relatively easy.

 

If this discussion became an annual event and many children gained discussion skills…

 

After hearing the Baroness’s explanation, it seemed this reading camp wasn’t planned as just a simple vacation.

 

“So that’s why she called it training, combat reading! For nobles, politics is war!”

 

She had never thought that far, but it was a persuasive hypothesis.

 

The Baroness nodded, saying it might be so.

 

“Uh… but what does that have to do with me?”

 

Minerva tilted her head, questioning the hidden meaning of the topic.

 

She understood that Wilhelmina had grand ambitions.

 

However, that had nothing to do with her relationship with Grandmother as grandmother and granddaughter.

 

Then the Baroness smiled and said.

 

“Since the Grand Duchess planned this, she made a request of us.”

 

“A request…?”

 

“She told us not to show any discrimination or special treatment.”

 

Don’t treat children differently because they’re of high status, and don’t ignore them because they’re of low status. Once they come to camp, these children are not nobles but students, she firmly requested.

 

Of course, my true intention behind those words was quite different from what the Baroness thought.

 

It was merely words to organize the event properly like a retreat.

 

Because treating everyone fairly would prevent complaints.

 

But the Reading Club members interpreted it differently as usual.

 

Only when everyone has equal status can there be fair discussion.

 

The members thought it was a rule for that purpose.

 

If Wilhelmina had seen this, she would have held her head and lamented.

 

At this rate, Wilhelmina’s nickname might change from mastermind to revolutionary.

 

“The Grand Duchess will treat Lady Minerva the same as any other Noble Lady.”

 

“…Really?”

 

“Of course. That’s what this event is for.”

 

Since it was a camp that treated students (trainees) fairly, it was certainly true.

 

It was truly different dreams in the same bed – the fair treatment that the Baroness and Wilhelmina had in mind had completely different underlying meanings, but it was enough to persuade Minerva.

 

After all, it meant she was the same as the other children.

 

“Then… I’ll try approaching her.”

 

Minerva seemed to steel her resolve as she clenched both hands and spoke.

 

“Good thinking. …Oh, and.”

 

The Baroness leaned close to Minerva’s ear and whispered.

 

“If you secretly call her Grandmother, she’ll be delighted.”

 

“Really? But she’s so young…”

 

“Actually, the Grand Duchess really loves family.”

 

‘So much so that she wants to embrace even a formidable daughter-in-law like Helene.’

 

The Baroness smiled bitterly.

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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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