I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 139

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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 139

9. An Unexpected Encounter

So in the end, what do I need to do from now on to break the curse?

‘Nothing.’

Everything depended on Oberon and Mikhail.

Since I couldn’t give Mikhail any hints in advance, the resolution of this problem was essentially on hold until Oberon said his preparations were complete.

Then what should I do to resolve the next problem – my relationship with Helene?

‘I don’t know.’

As full summer began, the number of social events dropped significantly.

My chances of encountering Helene became even fewer, and the Main Castle was incredibly busy due to Mikhail’s absence.

Although Mikhail had recently returned, he was just as busy dealing with the backlog of work.

Even when I tried to force a family meeting, the only response I got was that it would be difficult for the time being.

‘It’s not like there’s any progress in the investigation either.’

The investigation into the Late Duke was ongoing, but since that was a matter time would resolve, there wasn’t much I could interfere with.

Moreover, information about the second wife had been thoroughly concealed by the Late Duke, so we couldn’t even find a clue to her identity.

‘In the end, there’s nothing I can do right now.’

So what was I doing with all this free time?

“…Grand Madam.”

“Hmm?”

“You’ve been sitting there for five hours now. Aren’t you bored?”

“Nope, this is nice.”

I was sitting in the coolest spot in the Annex Building, on the sofa in the study, enjoying my leisure time all day long.

After taking a sip of the tea Anna brought me, I lay down on the cool sofa and stared blankly into space for about an hour.

Then another sip of tea, then more staring into space. I repeated this cycle.

You could say I was enjoying contemplation, but honestly, I wasn’t thinking about anything in particular. It was fair to say I was just napping with my eyes open.

When I felt a bit bored, I’d read a book for a while, and when I got hungry, I’d pop a couple of sweets in my mouth.

‘This is heaven.’

Nata, who couldn’t sit still, seemed unable to understand my enjoyment and wore a complicated expression, but I loved this.

If circumstances allowed, I was confident I could spend the rest of my life in the Annex Building without taking a single step outside.

“For your health, how about taking a walk?”

“I walked for an hour this morning, that’s enough.”

“What about work…?”

“I do it before bed, so don’t worry. Besides, there’s not really enough work to call it work.”

Actually, it was strange that I had been so busy until now.

The son and daughter-in-law were handling all the family affairs, so the only things that required my seal were matters related to the Annex Building.

Things like restocking the food storage warehouse, or allocating activity funds for new sweet recipes… tasks that could be finished within 30 minutes if I put my mind to it.

It’s a lifestyle that perfectly fits the four-character idiom “living without work or purpose.”

When I was an academy teacher, I taught that “you shouldn’t become this kind of adult,” yet here I am enjoying exactly that lifestyle.

“Oh, speaking of which, Sir Nata, didn’t you have any nightmares? I heard Rohan was quite tormented by them.”

After the encounter with Oberon, Rohan said something came up and hadn’t visited the annex building for a while.

Instead, Jane brought news about him, saying his complexion didn’t look good at all.

From what I heard, he alternated between terrible nightmares that made him break out in cold sweats and rage-inducing nightmares that made him grind his teeth.

‘Since he met Oberon because of me, I should send him some nutritious food sometime.’

In contrast, Nata told me not to worry and answered confidently.

“Even if they are nightmares, they’re just situations I’ve always kept in mind, so it’s fine.”

“What kind of situations?”

“Things like preparation strategies for when war breaks out.”

“….”

‘Should I give him some vacation time to go get counseling?’

He always said he was fine, but watching him made me feel anxious.

“Are you alright, Grand Madam?”

“Yeah, I haven’t had any nightmares. I don’t usually dream much anyway.”

I was sleeping so peacefully that I suspected Oberon might have been trying to scare me.

Hearing my words, Nata asked with a curious voice.

“I’m glad you haven’t had nightmares, but it’s been extremely hot lately, so it hasn’t been easy to sleep well.”

The western region had large seasonal temperature differences. Winters were cold, and summers were hot and humid.

Because of this, many servants complained that they couldn’t sleep well at night.

I spoke seriously as if giving profound advice.

“After washing with cold water, open the window and just stay still—it’s cool. You should sleep at night, it’s hot because you move around unnecessarily.”

“….”

Then Nata stared at me quietly with an unreadable look in his eyes.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No… it’s just exactly the same advice I heard from the Count before…”

The Count—you mean the Margrave?

“…Wait, are you saying I’m talking exactly like that old man?”

Are you hinting that I’m talking like an old person right now?

When I narrowed my eyes and glared at him, Nata cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“But your recent schedule has been too sedentary, so I’m worried about your health deteriorating, Grand Madam. Normally you would have had reading club meetings at least…”

“It can’t be helped, everyone’s gone on summer vacation.”

Summer in the western region was the season for summer retreats. With no social events, many nobles either returned to their own territories or left for cooler regions.

Chloe and Ilina went together to a villa in the northern region, the Baroness went to the capital, and Baroness Metokan and Mabel apparently created magical cooling devices and were staying completely indoors.

Thanks to this, the reading club was also temporarily on hiatus.

“Perhaps you should go on a summer retreat too, Grand Madam…”

“It’s bothersome. It’s cool enough staying at home, so there’s no need to go out. It would just cost money.”

Nata’s expression changed to exactly the same look as when he talked about the Margrave.

But staying in this large and luxurious annex building itself felt like enjoying a vacation.

I didn’t feel the need to go on a trip.

“And it wouldn’t be easy to get permission either. The Western Region is buzzing with rumors about Helene and me, so going on a solo vacation wouldn’t look good.”

“What about the Duke….”

“Mikhail says he has to catch up on work, so he’s spending this summer without vacation. So there are no family trip plans either.”

Nata’s attempt to get me to go outside ultimately ended in failure.

Watching Nata who wanted to make me exercise somehow, I let out a sly smile.

“Give up, Sir Nata. At least I exercise every morning….”

Just then, someone knocked on the study door.

“Um, Grand Madam, you have a visitor.”

Anna carefully announced the visitor’s arrival.

When I asked back who it was since I hadn’t received any notice, the answer came not from Anna but from behind her.

“It’s me, Grand Madam.”

“Officer Richt?”

The old man with bulging eyes cleared his throat and offered his greetings.

Financial Manager Richt, Mikhail’s subordinate, was the man who had helped during Jane’s incident.

I let him into the study.

“Have you been well, Grand Duchess?”

“So-so, I heard you’ve been busy lately too, Officer.”

“Yes, I’m always like that.”

“Hmm, I see.”

I waited for Anna, who was bringing tea, to leave, then asked him a question.

“So what’s your business, Officer?”

“…Straight to the point, you’re still the same.”

“If you came here personally, Officer, it’s obvious you came to give me work.”

I had just heard Jane’s suggestion asking if I couldn’t stop by the Financial Department just once.

It seemed like they were subtly trying to give me work, so I had no reason to welcome his visit.

And as if my prediction was correct, Richt cleared his throat once more and avoided my gaze.

‘Though it’s comfortable for me too since he doesn’t bother with trivial etiquette.’

Richt was a very businesslike man. He was an easy person to converse with in that there was no need to exchange unnecessary flowery words.

Since Richt probably thought similarly, that’s why he came to visit so casually.

Eventually, Richt, who had moistened his throat with tea, opened his mouth.

“Grand Duchess, do you have any thoughts of visiting the capital?”

“I’ll decline.”

“….”

At my firm refusal, he seemed momentarily at a loss for words, but soon regained his composure and continued speaking.

“This summer, a big event will be held in the capital. Do you know what it is?”

“Since I didn’t know until now, I probably don’t need to know in the future either.”

“It’s His Imperial Majesty’s birthday.”

“….”

If I said it really was something I didn’t need to know… I’d probably be arrested for treason.

I rolled my eyes around to hide my true feelings.

“There have been many incidents, large and small, in the Western Region that prevented my participation, but this year is different. His Imperial Majesty personally wrote the invitation, so I must visit the Imperial Palace this year.”

“If Mikhail goes himself…”

“His physical condition is not good.”

“…You’re saying we need to choose a representative?”

“That’s correct.”

Now I understood why Richt had visited personally. He had come to find someone to go meet the Emperor in Mikhail’s place.

‘Right, it would be too much for Mikhail. He’s already pushing himself too hard as it is.’

Since I was the one who told him to overcome the curse, I had nothing to say. At least his physical condition should recover by the end of summer.

‘Helene also… won’t do.’

I recalled Helene’s confusion at the Emperor’s command during the year-end party.

It was certain that the Emperor had some weakness of hers, so I couldn’t let her face the Emperor alone.

If the head of the house and the lady of the house couldn’t participate, it was natural for the closest family member to attend.

Since the heirs Zeonil and Minerva were too young, only I remained.

“Actually, I repeatedly requested the Duchess, but I couldn’t get her permission.”

Not knowing the circumstances, Richt wouldn’t understand why Helene was refusing to go to the Imperial Palace.

Even if their relationship was bad, Helene was the lady of the ducal house and shouldn’t avoid such occasions.

I sighed and waved my hand dismissively.

“Fine, I’ll go alone.”

Mikhail needed to stay closer to Helene.

Deepening their love was also Oberon’s request, so it was better for me to take on this task.

As a mother-in-law, I should do at least this much, I thought, steeling my resolve, but somehow Richt’s expression looked strange.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, well… actually, there was a strange phrase in the invitation. His Grace the Duke told me to make sure to convey the invitation’s contents if the Grand Duchess accepted.”

“What kind of phrase?”

“This.”

Saying he couldn’t bear to speak it aloud, Richt pulled out a small notepad from his chest and handed it to me.

The notepad, which appeared to be a copy of the invitation, had a verse written on it.

[Looking forward to evening drinks with the blood-stained navy blue woman who will coolly refresh this sweltering summer night.]

I unconsciously gritted my teeth.

“‘Stained with blood’ – it’s such an ominous phrase that I wanted to interpret it somehow… but His Grace the Duke said the Grand Duchess would know.”

“…I know, of course.”

“What does it mean? If it’s some kind of threat…”

“It’s not that. It’s just a joke written to annoy people.”

“Pardon?”

How should I put it – I felt like Oberon when his youthful dark history was discovered.

‘Come to think of it, the Emperor was quite a lunatic too.’

‘The navy blue woman’ referred to me.

So when combined with the expression attached in front, one nickname is completed.

‘Blood-stained Wilhelmina.’

It was a name from the past I wanted to forget, one I had gained at the Academy.

‘Do you know the origin of how this nickname came to be when you use it?’

To write someone else’s dark history in a letter for my son and daughter-in-law to see, how very bold of you.

Hehe- Without realizing it, I let out a laugh like an old man (around the Margrave’s age).

Nata, who was beside me, flinched and trembled at the shoulders.

It seemed that the outing Nata had so desperately wanted would be accompanied by intense exercise.

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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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