I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 135

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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 135

 

After Wilhelmina left, Mikhail got up from the bed and headed to the bathroom.

 

He filled the bathtub with cold water and submerged his body in it.

 

As the cold water touched him, his dizzy mind seemed to gradually clear up.

 

He looked up at the translucent ceiling and muttered.

 

“It doesn’t matter who killed that wicked Late Duke… right.”

 

The problem that Mikhail and Helene had desperately tried to hide all this time, Wilhelmina had dismissed as if it didn’t matter at all.

 

‘It’s patricide, though.’

 

Recalling Wilhelmina’s nonchalant expression, a hollow laugh escaped him.

 

Patricide is one of the most serious crimes in the Empire.

 

This law originated from the First Emperor’s maxim ‘Love your family as your own body,’ and among these, particularly severe punishment was given to children who harmed their parents.

 

No matter how wronged the perpetrator might have been, it was one of the crimes where self-defense could never be recognized.

 

Even the Current Emperor faced suspicions of harming his own brother, leading to arguments that his coronation should be canceled, showing how sensitively the nobles regarded this crime.

 

Mikhail, who had inherited his title without a proper succession ceremony, also couldn’t easily escape from this suspicion.

 

Of course, in his case, it ended as mere light rumors.

 

It was a well-known fact that Mikhail had started handling official duties after the Late Duke was bedridden.

 

Moreover, the public thought that since the Late Duke didn’t have much time left, there would be no need to dirty his hands.

 

Half right, half wrong.

 

While it was true that the Late Duke’s life hung by a thread, there existed a way to extend his lifespan.

 

His fifth bride, Wilhelmina, who looked exactly like the woman he loved most.

 

If she had arrived at the Duke’s Estate, the Late Duke might have been revived.

 

In other words, Wilhelmina’s appearance created a reason why the Late Duke had to be killed.

 

‘We had no choice.’

 

As time passed, his evil deeds became increasingly atrocious, to the point where they held funerals for servants every week and were running short of coffins.

 

Despite the worsening situation, rebelling against him was unthinkable.

 

The power of the curse protected him constantly, day and night. No human could move freely around him.

 

It was the same even when he went to bed.

 

Moreover, the Annex Building at that time was an impregnable fortress surrounded by all kinds of magic barriers, so those outside could only hope that the Late Duke would die of natural causes.

 

…While sacrificing the lives of the Annex Building servants like offerings.

 

‘But Helene succeeded.’

 

Mikhail recalled the image of his father lying bloodied on the bed and Helene’s face beside him, holding a dagger with unfocused eyes.

 

Helene was a legitimate heir of the Imperial Family, the child who inherited the Blood of the Sun most deeply.

 

A little of the First Emperor’s power, who had subdued the Snow Queen, the ruler of the Western Region, dwelt within her.

 

Using that power, she broke through the Late Duke’s curse with her bare body and assassinated him.

 

It couldn’t have been easy.

 

Maintaining her sanity while enduring the pain of her entire body being torn apart and the nauseating disgust that made her mind go blank must have been overwhelming.

 

Yet Helene took up the dagger for her family.

 

‘No, Mikhail. You can’t see… You can’t. This is my sin.’

 

Her mind confused due to the aftereffects of the curse, she pushed Mikhail away and spoke haltingly.

 

All of this was something she had done.

 

It was an impulsive crime committed because I hated the Late Duke.

 

So you should pretend not to know.

 

‘That can’t be true.’

 

Poor Helene’s voice was still vivid even now.

 

Mikhail splashed cold water on his face and muttered.

 

“Who would believe that.”

 

Mikhail looked down at his body in the transparent water.

 

Burn marks carved into his abdomen, chest scarred from being slashed, and back deeply dented from being stabbed with the end of a cane.

 

As the curse worsened, the Late Duke’s abuse toward Mikhail also became viciously severe.

 

Every time she healed those wounds, Helene became gaunt as if she were the one in pain.

 

And the string of tension that had been building was finally snapped by Wilhelmina’s appearance.

 

In the end, she took a dagger and headed to the annex building.

 

Thus, murder occurred.

 

‘Ah, Helene… No, this isn’t your sin. This is Layton’s sin. And it’s my fault for failing to protect you.’

 

After that, Mikhail fabricated all the evidence.

 

He arranged it so that even if they identified the culprit, he would be the one pointed to, and helped Helene forget about this incident quickly.

 

‘For a while, Helene wasn’t in her right mind either.’

 

After the funeral, Helene avoided the annex building and went into recovery.

 

Most servants thought Helene had fallen into worry due to Wilhelmina’s appearance, but in fact it was because she suffered from the aftereffects of the curse.

 

So it was only after two months had passed that she was able to have a proper conversation with Wilhelmina.

 

For Wilhelmina, not knowing the circumstances, it must have felt like being confined in the narrow annex building.

 

“…Even after such treatment, she knew how to respond like a parent.”

 

It wouldn’t have been strange if Wilhelmina had complained to Mikhail and Helene about the injustice.

 

But she forgave their rudeness as if she were their real mother.

 

Mikhail smiled, thinking she was a much more remarkable person than he had thought.

 

‘She’ll be able to help Helene.’

 

Even if Wilhelmina hadn’t warned him, he had never once thought of killing Helene to preserve his own life.

 

And such resolve made Helene even more precarious.

 

Helene thought that sacrificing herself for Mikhail was the only way to atone.

 

Even though no one blamed her, even though no evidence remained… her pride could not tolerate such unfilial conduct.

 

If she heard Helene’s true feelings, what would Wilhelmina say?

 

‘…It’s certain she’ll be angry.’

 

Just like she had scolded him asking what kind of pathetic state this was when she saw Mikhail, she would scold Helene’s stubbornness as a mother.

 

She was the only person who could turn Helene back from walking alone toward the edge of a cliff.

 

‘Please, Mother. As you said, I’ll try to be a good son…’

 

Overcoming the curse and whispering love to Helene.

 

It wasn’t an easy task, but having received the lecture, he had to carry it out without fail.

 

Otherwise, he might end up getting beaten with a switch by his mother who would come to his room again.

 

‘…So please, I’m asking you to take care of Helene.’

 

Please save that child who crumbles under guilt the more love she receives.

 

Mikhail quietly offered his prayer.

 

* * *

 

Finally, the camp came to an end.

 

The final reading appreciation meeting was held, filled with sweets and beverages that the children loved.

 

The children each harbored different impressions as they enjoyed the camp’s final event.

 

“By the way, what do you think is the truth behind the Sky City fairy tale? The dreams of people who want to fly in the sky? Or a dragon’s fantasy?”

 

“I want to meet Author Dokartan. Does anyone know where he lives? The mystery novel he wrote seemed like something he experienced firsthand…”

 

Even while eating sweets, the children’s discussion continued without pause.

 

While the children who had discovered the joy of discussion were chattering happily, Minerva, who was drinking tea, muttered with a flushed expression.

 

“…Well, it was enjoyable.”

 

Minerva was a child who was poor at lying.

 

Though she didn’t want to admit it, this camp had been more enjoyable than any event she had experienced before.

 

She elegantly took a sip of tea while only rolling her eyes around.

 

Where Minerva’s gaze was directed was Wilhelmina, who was watching the children with a relaxed posture.

 

‘Especially, the Grand Duchess… Grandmother’s missions were the most interesting.’

 

Unlike the Reading Club members who each dealt with different topics, Wilhelmina set up missions according to the children’s requests.

 

When one child requested expensive toys, she brought newspapers with topics like ‘The monopoly of specific toy companies, is this acceptable?’ and held discussions.

 

With Jane’s help along the way, they reached the conclusion of ‘The emergence of competing companies, encouraging investment.’

 

For a child from the Southern Region who brought up the topic of ‘regional discrimination against the south,’ she brought literature about southern discrimination consumed as entertainment, teaching the boundary between laughter and prejudice.

 

They were all topics she had never thought about before. They were as interesting as they were unfamiliar.

 

Moreover, she neither gave her special treatment for being her granddaughter nor harbored any hatred toward her.

 

When the missions ended, her wariness toward Wilhelmina had also considerably diminished.

 

‘…Elder Brother seemed to not have had such wariness from the start though.’

 

This time she glanced at Zeonil, who was excitedly conversing with his friends.

 

At times like this, she envied Zeonil’s innocence.

 

If she could have been like that too, she might have been able to enjoy this event even more happily.

 

While having such thoughts, Minerva suddenly realized that Wilhelmina was looking at her.

 

‘Oh, she’s coming this way.’

 

Wilhelmina approached toward Minerva.

 

Minerva hastily put down her teacup and straightened her posture.

 

“Did you enjoy yourself, Minerva?”

 

“…Yes, Grand Duchess.”

 

Since the children were watching, she couldn’t carelessly use the term grandmother.

 

When Minerva answered politely, Wilhelmina let out a bitter smile.

 

“I was worried you might have felt uncomfortable. You said it was hard to get along with your friends.”

 

Minerva’s face turned red.

 

In truth, even though Wilhelmina didn’t give her special treatment, she couldn’t avoid the curious gazes of the children.

 

Minerva’s platinum hair clearly proved her noble origins to anyone who saw it.

 

She had once confided to the Baroness that this made her uncomfortable.

 

“It’s fine. It’s something I need to endure.”

 

When she answered with feigned bravado, Wilhelmina stroked her head as if proud of her.

 

That kindness felt pleasant yet burdensome, causing Minerva to unconsciously step back.

 

“Still, I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

 

“Yes, if you invite me next time, I’ll definitely participate.”

 

“Next time… I see.”

 

She spoke with expectations like wondering if the next one would be in winter, but Wilhelmina’s reaction was rather lukewarm.

 

‘Surely she wouldn’t end such a wonderful event as a one-time thing.’

 

Minerva, thinking thoughts that would have made Wilhelmina sigh deeply if she heard them, opened her mouth.

 

“I’ll tell Mother about it too. I’ll ask her to definitely encourage the next event.”

 

“Well, that’s… kind of you.”

 

“Don’t worry. Mother will give permission too. I’ll tell her that the Grand Duchess didn’t do it with bad intentions, that her thoughts will change if she meets you… She’ll definitely forgive you.”

 

“…Forgive.”

 

Wilhelmina smiled with an unreadable expression.

 

Her attitude was quite different from when she had praised her, and just as Minerva was about to ask why she was acting that way.

 

“I apologize.”

 

Zeonil appeared, blocking Minerva’s path.

 

With a firm voice and stern expression she had never heard before, he politely bowed his head to Wilhelmina.

 

“My younger sister didn’t say that with bad intentions. I’m sorry.”

 

“E-Elder Brother?”

 

Minerva grabbed Zeonil’s collar asking why he was acting this way, but he didn’t turn around.

 

He simply waited quietly for Wilhelmina to accept his apology.

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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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