I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 147

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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 147

The lodging the Emperor had prepared for me was far more luxurious than I had expected.

I thought he would just give me a single room, but he had lent me an entire villa that was larger than the Duke’s Annex.

Guided by the Ducal House servants and Imperial Palace attendants who were already waiting, I headed to the bedroom.

Unlike the bedroom in the annex that had a dignified charm, this was an overwhelming room decorated with jewelry and gold.

I threw myself onto the sofa.

Since Anna had stepped away to organize the luggage, only Nata and I were in the bedroom.

“Sir Nata.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think about the conversation with the Emperor earlier?”

At my question, Nata tilted his head with a complicated expression.

“Should I give you my opinion?”

“Any words are fine. I want to organize the situation while talking too.”

I stuck my head out over the edge of the sofa and looked at Nata.

If Anna had been there, she would have made me sit properly saying I needed to maintain dignity, but Nata wasn’t that strict.

“Hmm… First, do you think His Imperial Majesty thought we knew that secret?”

“Probably it wouldn’t have mattered whether we knew or not.”

“You mean he was testing us?”

“Half and half. If we knew, there would be no need to explain, and even if we didn’t know, he probably intended to gain leverage by revealing the secret.”

My reaction probably didn’t matter much to him.

What he wanted was justification to make a deal.

‘Though arousing his curiosity was my mistake.’

I could guess what kind of person the Emperor was.

He must be pleased to have found someone who could follow his line of thinking.

He must have been convinced that I had excellent intelligence capabilities to discover the Layton Family’s secret.

‘It feels like I’m dancing to that guy’s tune. Not good.’

That type is tiresome to get close to. They don’t hesitate to create incidents and accidents.

“Anyway, the Emperor probably planned this deal from the moment he heard I was coming to the Capital. Sending Kenneth was the beginning.”

Kenneth remained by the Emperor’s side. He would return as my guard from tomorrow, but I wasn’t particularly pleased, so we parted without even exchanging greetings.

He maintained a stone statue-like expression that showed no trace of guilt.

Though his inner feelings probably weren’t like that, it must mean his loyalty to the Emperor was tremendous.

“To be honest, I hoped Grand Madam would refuse the proposal. My top priority is guarding Grand Madam. But…”

“I had to accept it, what else could I do? The Emperor isn’t a fool either, so he won’t carelessly reveal secrets, but who knows what kind of justification this matter might serve as.”

I accepted the Emperor’s proposal without complaint.

Though I felt like I had lost in a battle of wits, I judged that now was the time to retreat.

“That aside, it seems I entered the Imperial Palace with too carefree a mind. To think I’d have to agree to such a deal.”

“…You don’t seem particularly discouraged though.”

When we arrived at the villa, Nata had shown naked hostility toward the Emperor, but I felt no particular emotion.

I disliked the Emperor’s methods, but since I hadn’t expected much from him in the first place, I wasn’t disappointed either.

The Layton Family was practically political enemies with the Emperor, so this was actually maintaining a mild relationship by comparison.

“Of course. I agreed to the deal, but I have no intention of playing along to the end.”

Nata made a puzzled expression at my words.

“Think about it carefully. What the Emperor wants is to catch Black Hand using me as bait, right? Then, I just need to steal his objective.”

“His objective, you mean…”

“We’ll catch Black Hand first.”

Surprised, Nata’s eyes widened.

Just then, the door opened and Anna entered.

“Oh? Were you in the middle of an important conversation? Should I leave?”

“No, come in. This is something Anna needs to hear too.”

Anna hurried over to my side with quick steps.

I looked at both of them and continued speaking.

“I’ll hold onto Black Hand’s information and make a new proposal to the Emperor. I’ll steal his justification and make a proper deal.”

“Is that possible? The Layton Family’s influence in the Capital is…”

“I’m not going to use the Layton Family. I need to separately recruit people who could become our allies.”

“Who would that be?”

“Sir Nata saw two people on the way here, didn’t you? The sharp-witted merchant and the Academy student.”

“…Ah!”

I gave orders to Anna, who was standing there bewildered.

“Anna, we’re going out for a while, so get ready. Request guard knights too.”

“Ah, yes!”

Neither the Layton Family nor I could exert much power in the Capital.

In that case, I just needed to move through the Capital’s residents.

Even without power, I had the best condition of all – being the ‘bait.’

‘I’ll wag my tail right in front of their eyes. They’ll have no choice but to bite.’

The Emperor wanted to put bait in a fish trap and wait for the fish, but I was different.

I planned to dangle myself as bait right in front of the fish and tempt them directly.

Seeing my expression, Nata muttered in a hollow voice.

“You just smiled exactly like the Emperor.”

“Sir Nata, do you want to get scolded?”

How dare he compare me to that orange-haired fellow.

* * *

Billia sighed as she looked at the tall main gate of the Imperial Palace.

It was such a deep sigh that people passing by on the street glanced at her.

‘I really am…’

She rubbed her chest. The hiccups that had been tormenting her until just now had finally stopped.

Having been separated from the Emperor and Wilhelmina due to her hiccups, she had gone to see the Imperial Palace’s medical officer.

The medical officer said there was nothing to do but drink water and calm down, so she sat with Jaina in the Imperial Palace’s inner courtyard waiting for the hiccups to stop.

But no matter how long she waited, her condition didn’t improve.

Jaina patted her back countless times, but there was no change.

‘I, I’ll go back now.’

A Baron’s Noble Lady hiccupping in the Imperial Palace. It was an embarrassing and strange situation that was hard to put into words.

Thinking that staying like this would only cause trouble for Wilhelmina and Jaina who had helped her, she declared that she would go back.

Jaina comforted her saying it would surely get better, but Billia’s mind didn’t change.

Though timid and weak, she was remarkably stubborn about not causing trouble for others.

Moreover, she heard that the Emperor and Wilhelmina had already parted ways.

Jaina suggested guiding her to the Villa where Wilhelmina was staying first, but Billia escaped the Imperial Palace with the excuse that she had an evening appointment.

Of course, there was no such appointment.

Her evening schedule was to return to the Dormitory, take off this cumbersome Dress, and have dinner.

‘I’m sorry, Mother, Father.’

The faces of her Parents came to mind, who had bought her Hair Dye and brought out the most expensive Dress from their family collection.

They had sent her to the Imperial Palace hoping she would somehow make good connections, but there were no results.

She thought that the Academy Library was indeed the only place that suited her.

“Sigh, when will the Carriage come.”

On the Main Street a little away from the Main Gate, Billia was waiting for a Carriage.

It was a Boarding Station for carriages that regularly picked up people and traveled around the City.

A private Carriage was a luxury for her who had no money.

To make matters worse, she had waited a full 30 minutes but no Carriage came.

Sometimes the dispatch intervals became longer, and it seemed like now was one of those times.

‘My Shoes are uncomfortable too, so it’s hard to walk. What should I do…’

While she was pondering, suddenly a large dark red Carriage appeared from across the Street and stopped in front of her.

The Carriage Door opened, and a voice mixed with ear-piercing noise was heard.

“Looking for a Carriage?”

“Du, Duke Venice?”

The Man she had met in the Imperial Palace Corridor, Duke Venice wearing a Black Suit and a strange Mask with no eyes, nose, or mouth, was looking down at her from inside the Carriage.

Duke Venice spoke to her as she tried to step back in surprise.

“I’ll give you a ride. Get in.”

“What? No, no! It’s fine! I can just wait!”

“Since we have a connection, I’ll take you there. I can’t leave a Woman I know alone in the middle of the night.”

It was almost sunset, and it was a gentlemanly act that didn’t seem to involve any personal feelings.

If an ordinary Noble had made such an offer, she would have gratefully accepted it.

But her counterpart was the Duke of the Eastern Region, said to be without blood or tears.

She wanted to run away, but she couldn’t dare refuse the Duke’s offer.

“I don’t make offers twice.”

“Yes.”

Billia, who had turned pale, obediently got into the Carriage.

Billia sat in the seat farthest away from Duke Venice.

Before she, who was extremely tense, could even express her gratitude, the carriage departed.

It was a quieter and smoother departure than any carriage she had ever ridden.

Her admiration for that was brief, as Duke Venice opened his mouth.

“You said you were an Academy undergraduate, didn’t you.”

“That’s correct. I’m Billia Kotona, a second-year undergraduate in the Economics Department and a library work-study student.”

At least she didn’t stumble over her self-introduction.

Relieved, Billia suddenly remembered that she had never told Duke Venice that she was an Academy student.

‘The Grand Duchess and the head maid would have heard my conversation with the seniors at the fountain, but the Duke wasn’t nearby then.’

Before she could continue her wondering, Duke Venice continued his questioning.

“Economics Department… that would be Professor Jenkins’ department. How is he doing?”

“Ah, yes. He’s in good health. Though he has been busy with writing research papers lately.”

“Haven’t you heard any particular stories from him? For example, about problems with trade routes in the Western Region.”

“No? He’s quite talkative, but such stories…”

“Then why did you send someone to the Western Region? It wasn’t an amount you could distribute on your own.”

“…!”

Only then did Billia realize Duke Venice’s intention.

He was interrogating her.

Her spine grew cold with anxiety.

‘No. I can’t show it. I’ll only invite unnecessary suspicion!’

Billia composed herself and answered Duke Venice’s question step by step.

“It was for Academy business. There were professors who wanted to research Western Region wool fabric. And…”

She didn’t know what Duke Venice was aiming for through this interrogation, but she answered honestly for now.

Working as a work-study student, she had been caught up in the interests between nobles more than once or twice.

In times like this, lying low was the best strategy.

And so the repeated questions and answers continued.

As time passed, Billia’s tension also disappeared, and she became able to express her opinions properly.

Eventually, the carriage arrived in front of the Academy dormitory.

“Yes, it was an enjoyable conversation. I’m sorry for only asking questions like this.”

“Not at all. I’m the one who should be grateful for the ride.”

“Thank you for understanding. If you have any problems with Academy life in the future, contact the Venice Ducal House, and we’ll help you.”

“Yes, yes.”

Perhaps pleased with Billia’s answers, Duke Venice’s attitude became gentler.

He even offered to help her – it felt like she had gained a lot from just a brief conversation.

Just then, the coachman opened the carriage door. As Billia was about to leave the carriage while expressing her gratitude once more.

“…Huh? Why are you two coming out together?”

She discovered Wilhelmina standing in front of the dormitory.

She looked at Billia and Duke Venice with curious eyes.

‘Why is the Grand Duchess here?’

Surprised, Billia’s mouth gaped open.

Then Wilhelmina, as if thinking of something, said “Ah-” while placing her right fist on her left palm.

“By any chance, did I interrupt a secret meeting?”

Then from inside the carriage, Duke Venice muttered in a rough voice mixed with anger.

“Damn it.”

It seemed like she could also hear the follow-up words ‘It’s always like this.’

At that moment, Billia noticed the strange atmosphere between the two.

‘Wait, could this be.’

Her suspicion was proven when Duke Venice got out of the carriage.

“Don’t misunderstand, Grand Duchess. Miss Billia was just going the same way…”

“There’s nothing around here except the dormitory. There are dining halls and taverns that students frequent, but… you’re not going there, are you?”

A clumsy excuse and Wilhelmina easily countering it. And the guard knight beside Wilhelmina letting out a sigh.

Billia had an intuition.

“…Anyway, it’s not what the Grand Duchess is thinking.”

‘I’ve seen this in romance novels before.’

Somehow her heart began to race.

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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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