I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 136

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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 136

 

“It’s alright.”

 

Wilhelmina patted Zeonil’s shoulder.

 

Then she told him to lift his head, and spoke to Minerva, who was still blinking in confusion, unable to grasp the situation.

 

“Yes, well then, give my regards to Helene too. But don’t worry too much about adult matters. It’s enough that you children enjoyed the event.”

 

She left without waiting for a response.

 

She departed to ask other children for their thoughts to wrap up the event.

 

After she left, Zeonil turned around. Then he grabbed Minerva’s hand and headed toward the garden exit.

 

“Wait, Elder Brother!”

 

“Let’s go back. We’ve exchanged greetings, so it’s fine to leave now.”

 

“That’s not it! Why did you apologize earlier? Let go of this and let’s talk!”

 

Minerva repeated her question.

 

Zeonil, who had maintained silence for a while, finally spoke only after they had moved far from the annex building.

 

Only then did Zeonil release Minerva’s hand.

 

“I don’t know. I just… thought I had to stop Minerva in that situation.”

 

“So what’s the reason?”

 

“I don’t know.”

 

Was it that strange intuition again?

 

Minerva frowned at Zeonil’s vague answer.

 

“Minerva… what do you think of the Grand Duchess?”

 

“What do you mean? The Grand Duchess is the Grand Duchess.”

 

Minerva was about to argue about why he was answering a question with a question, but she couldn’t continue when she saw Zeonil’s expression.

 

There was a strange sadness dwelling in Zeonil’s eyes.

 

“Don’t you think of her as Grandmother?”

 

“That, is…”

 

That word she could mention jokingly, but couldn’t comfortably say aloud.

 

Along with that title, she reflected on what she had said.

 

She had thought it was natural for Wilhelmina to apologize to Helene.

 

But when she tried to voice that reason, it felt like a heavy stone was pressing down on her tongue.

 

Uncertain problems hidden in the heart tend to emerge when formalized into words.

 

‘Because Mother is a higher-ranking person… right?’

 

That was what she had wanted to say to those annoying outsiders who used to try to compare Helene and Wilhelmina in the past.

 

But she had ended up saying it to Wilhelmina herself.

 

Even though the circumstances had changed since then.

 

Although she was a step-great-grandmother, Wilhelmina was now a proper Grand Duchess of the Layton Family.

 

A Grand Duchess whom all the children gathered at the camp unanimously respected, and whose existence was acknowledged even by the servants and retainers of the main house.

 

In front of such a person, Minerva had essentially said ‘get forgiveness from Helene.’

 

It was something she said because she unconsciously didn’t think of Wilhelmina as her grandmother.

 

Wilhelmina would have surely noticed Minerva’s inner feelings.

 

“Ah…”

 

Only then did I realize the true meaning behind the expression Wilhelmina had shown.

 

Minerva wanted Wilhelmina and Helene to get along well.

 

She wanted to call Wilhelmina grandmother without any guilt, and proudly show off their family bond without worrying about others.

 

And only now did she realize that the person who should make an effort to form a family wasn’t Wilhelmina.

 

“…Let’s go back.”

 

“B-but…”

 

“You said not to worry about adult matters. Let’s trust Grandmother.”

 

Zeonil tugged at Minerva’s collar again.

 

The road to the main castle felt longer than usual today.

 

“Do you think the Grand Duchess was very angry?”

 

“I’m not sure. But… Grandmother likes Minerva.”

 

“Me?”

 

Minerva, who had thought it was Zeonil she liked and not herself, asked back with an anxious voice.

 

She had felt that Wilhelmina treated her equally with other children, but she hadn’t felt any affection.

 

Zeonil firmly shook his head, saying that couldn’t be true.

 

“Grandmother was always watching Minerva. Even when I was by her side.”

 

It was something Zeonil could notice because he had approached her more comfortably than Minerva had.

 

Though she didn’t express it in words, Wilhelmina was always worried about Minerva.

 

Enough to come ask about her camp experience first.

 

While that fact made her happy, Minerva felt a familiar emotion from Zeonil’s words and carefully asked.

 

“Elder Brother, were you perhaps jealous?”

 

“…Minerva is smart, I was envious of that.”

 

Zeonil muttered while pouting his lips.

 

“I… couldn’t win awards like Minerva. Grandmother would surely like a smart grandchild more.”

 

The special award given to the child who passed the mission first.

 

It was just a paper certificate with a cute seal stamped on it.

 

Zeonil had also received an award, but that was an equal certificate given to all children.

 

Only Minerva had received a special award from Wilhelmina.

 

‘Could it be that Elder Brother acted friendly toward the Grand Duchess also because?’

 

Was it childish behavior because he wasn’t smart, so he wanted to be loved this way at least?

 

‘…I thought I was the only one who felt jealous.’

 

Seeing them secretly jealous of each other’s different personalities, they truly seemed like siblings.

 

Minerva stood next to Zeonil and this time firmly grasped his hand herself.

 

“Elder Brother, I’m going to apologize later.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Then, I should call her Grandmother instead of Grand Duchess, right?”

 

“…She’ll like that.”

 

“Yeah, just like when Elder Brother called her Grandmother.”

 

Seeing Zeonil’s eyes widen in surprise, Minerva smiled.

 

Next time she headed to the Annex Building, she must not forget that she was both Helene’s daughter and Wilhelmina’s granddaughter.

 

Thinking this way made her feel somewhat more at ease.

 

* * *

 

“I don’t want to work.”

 

Two days had passed since the camp ended.

 

Sitting on a bench in the darkening Garden, I muttered while looking up at the Sky.

 

“I wish I had a vacation too.”

 

It wasn’t something a Noble Lady who had nothing to do should say, but with incidents continuously occurring since spring this year, I couldn’t help but lament.

 

The time when I worked at the Trading Company after graduating from the Academy seemed more comfortable than now.

 

Though I only worked for a few months, back then my body was tired but my mind was at ease.

 

‘Let’s see, the problems I need to solve now are… Mikhail’s Curse, my relationship with Helene, investigating the second wife, and…’

 

Considering even the relationships that hadn’t taken shape yet, there were more problems piled up than I could count on one hand.

 

‘Somehow, I feel like they’re all connected.’

 

While Mikhail and Helene’s problems made sense since they were a married couple, I felt like even my personal problems were entangled in this.

 

There was no clear evidence.

 

It’s just that problems arising simultaneously like this usually had connecting links.

 

I’d have to solve them one by one, step by step.

 

While lamenting my situation like this, I spotted Rohan walking over from across the way.

 

“I heard you called for me.”

 

“Yeah, sorry for calling you in the evening, but do you have some time?”

 

Rohan nodded that there was no problem.

 

I briefly expressed my gratitude and led him toward the Annex Building.

 

“…Weren’t we going to talk in the Garden?”

 

Rohan asked hesitantly, seeming reluctant to enter the Annex Building.

 

“It’s summer so there are too many bugs. Besides, it’s the kind of conversation that would be trouble if someone overheard.”

 

“Then… are we going to the Study?”

 

“No, the Bedroom. The Soundproofing is good there.”

 

Thud-

 

Whether it was my imagination or not, I seemed to hear the sound of something heavy dropping to the Floor.

 

When I turned to look at Rohan, he was awkwardly placing his hand on his chest.

 

The expression “heart sinking” suddenly came to mind.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“…Where is Sir Nata?”

 

“He’s in the Bedroom.”

 

He let out a sigh that I couldn’t tell was relief or disappointment.

 

And he followed me with footsteps that seemed lighter than before.

 

Just then, Anna happened to pass by and spotted us.

 

She must have been bringing Tea to the Bedroom, as she was carrying a Tray in her hands.

 

She told me to call her if I needed anything, while glancing sideways at Rohan.

 

‘Why is she looking at him like that?’

 

It was a strange look. It seemed like she was being wary, but also expectant.

 

I muttered while watching Anna leave.

 

“By any chance, what’s the relationship between you two?”

 

“…Are you serious?”

 

I couldn’t even see his eyes, but I felt such an intense gaze that I turned my head away awkwardly.

 

I cleared my throat with a cough and opened the bedroom door.

 

Nata, who had been waiting inside, spotted me.

 

“Grand Madam.”

 

“You’ve got your wings out, aren’t you tired?”

 

“I’m fine. This way I can respond at any time.”

 

Nata had his wings extended.

 

It was because I had hinted that I would be doing something dangerous.

 

He maintained perfect readiness so he could protect me no matter what happened.

 

Only then did Rohan seem to realize the seriousness of the situation, as he stood on the opposite side of Nata and waited solemnly for my words.

 

“You can sit down for our conversation.”

 

I had prepared two teacups since I planned to leave guard duty to Nata, but he declined saying he was fine.

 

Somehow I ended up enjoying tea time alone with two guard knights by my side.

 

Feeling the serious gazes of the two men, I slowly opened my mouth.

 

“Today, I’m going to summon the Fairy King.”

 

I could feel Nata and Rohan tense up.

 

“Rohan, I called you because you seem to know a lot about the Fairy King. I also obtained a book about fairies for certain reasons… but I’m not as knowledgeable as you.”

 

Rohan didn’t deny his knowledge.

 

The Fairy King is treated like an ancient being in books, like a dragon, yet he had naturally dealt with him as if he already knew about him.

 

“You probably have knowledge about deals, oaths, and curses with fairies too, right?”

 

“…That’s correct.”

 

“So I want to ask for your help. They say meeting him brings nightmares… but something worse than those nightmares has happened to me. I think you could help when I make a deal with him.”

 

I could see a way to save those poor children, so I couldn’t run away just because of some nightmares.

 

Of course, that was my resolve, and I couldn’t force it on Rohan.

 

If Rohan refused, I intended to send him back without another word.

 

But Rohan nodded without hesitation.

 

“I’ll help you.”

 

“I’m grateful, but are you sure? This is different from Chloe’s case. I have nothing I can give you.”

 

“That’s…”

 

He moved his lips as if he had something to say, but eventually ended his words briefly.

 

“…It’s fine. It’s enough.”

 

I didn’t know what he meant by enough, but anyway I was relieved he agreed.

 

“In that case.”

 

I brought the book I had thrown on the bed.

 

The book titled 【Names of Fairies】 contained detailed descriptions of how to summon fairies.

 

‘First, establish a connection with a fairy, even by chance. Exchanging names is best.’

 

Orb knew both my past life and current names.

 

Since that guy could read minds, Rohan’s identity was naturally exposed too.

 

And I had been deducing Orb’s real name based on the documents the Late Duke had collected. I stayed up all night researching that.

 

Anyway, with this our connection was established.

 

‘Second, keep objects or living beings related to fairies nearby.’

 

Here, Nata helped out.

 

When I asked about this passage, he said that scattering fairy magic in the surroundings would serve as a sufficient medium.

 

Thanks to that, the bedroom was filled with Nata’s magic power.

 

‘Finally, the third…’

 

“Call the fairy’s name. If he doesn’t hear… break a promise with him or reveal his secrets, and he will definitely appear.”

 

Orb had said.

 

Please don’t mention memories of him or the Fairy Kingdom to outsiders.

 

He jokingly warned that nightmares would come if I did.

 

I planned to blatantly break that promise and summon Orb to this place.

 

So I spoke to Nata, who was a third party.

 

“Sir Nata, actually Rohan and I have met the Fairy King, Oberon.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Orb’s real name, Fairy King Oberon.

 

This was the first secret he had been hiding.

 

This wasn’t nearly enough, as I felt no sign of Oberon appearing. Then next was revealing secrets.

 

“I fell into a lake and was transported to the Fairy Kingdom. There I met Oberon and had a conversation.”

 

“I see.”

 

“He seemed to have lost his diary in this world. He said it was his dark history.”

 

“Dark history is… what?”

 

“A diary recording his pathetic past.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

Nata looked at Rohan with eyes that seemed to ask ‘This is a serious story, right?’

 

Rohan silently let out an awkward cough.

 

Dark history, this was the second secret.

 

Incidentally, to erase this dark history, Nata had asked Rohan to pretend not to see the ruins where the diary was hidden.

 

‘Even this much isn’t enough.’

 

Then the last one…

 

Now too tired to even respond, Nata listened intently with her mouth tightly shut.

“From what I’ve investigated, Oberon had a wife. A fairy named Titania. There’s nothing recorded about her except her name, but… one thing is certain.”

 

This was his final secret.

 

“Oberon was served divorce papers. So that guy is now… a divorcee.”

 

Crack.

 

This time the sound wasn’t my imagination.

 

I turned my head to look at the bedroom terrace.

 

The scenery outside the window was distorting.

 

A bizarre scene, as if someone in rage was crumpling up a landscape painting with their bare hands.

 

[Hey, Kim Hana.]

 

Oberon’s voice, having blown his top, pierced into my head.

 

[Do you want to die?]

 

‘…Was that too harsh?’

 

At least I’m grateful I didn’t use an expression like ‘garbage truck.’

 

If I had, I might have crossed a river of no return.

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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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