I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 155

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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 155

At first, the Emperor neither accepted nor rejected my proposal to erase memories.

He was probably pondering how to figure out how I knew about that technique.

But when I mentioned the cause of my kidnapping, he eventually showed surrender.

If news spread that the Grand Duchess was kidnapped by an assassination organization, it would greatly damage the Imperial Family’s honor.

It was a deal where the conclusion was predetermined from the start.

“However, I can’t show you the process of manipulating memories. It’s not as omnipotent a technique as you think. The side effects are severe, and there’s a possibility of failure.”

“That’s enough. I wouldn’t be interested if it weren’t for this situation anyway.”

That was a lie.

It was obvious that someone had tampered with my memories, and I was determined to uncover their identity someday.

‘Speaking of which, side effects… It must definitely be a technique used by humans.’

I thought there would be some memory control chair like in SF movies.

But listening to the Emperor’s words, this technique seemed closer to magic wielded by people.

“There are two memories I want erased. The memory of a woman called ‘Belua’ and memories about House Layton including myself. Those two should be sufficient.”

“Isn’t that too little? His memories as an assassin should disappear for him to become docile.”

“Is it possible for that technique to look into hidden memories as well?”

“…It’s difficult. Unless you can specify something, you can only see fragments.”

From the explanation, erasing memories was similar to putting encrypted files into a computer’s recycle bin.

However, opening and checking them or analyzing them was impossible.

At best, you could read the title and roughly infer the content of the documents.

Extracting memories and manipulating them in detail was truly the realm of gods.

“Then erasing them would be a loss for us. I want to obtain all the memories Bean has.”

“He won’t accept it as an assassin. Even with torture, there’s a possibility he won’t reveal everything.”

“He probably will talk. I can guess what those guys are like.”

The Emperor seemed reluctant to believe my words, but I had my own confidence.

Even though it was a brief encounter, I could roughly guess the relationship between Belua and Bean.

The companionship of risking his life to protect Belua, the sense of responsibility that didn’t fall for frequent provocations, and the determination that didn’t yield to torture… Bean’s weakness was as clear as day.

‘It’s family.’

Bean’s actions revealed conviction.

An emotion too precious for an assassin to have – it was family that established that.

If I were to take the place of that family’s absence, his solid castle wall would quickly crumble.

The reason I chose this method was thanks to my student’s explanation that I recalled after a long time.

‘Among tragic stories, there are many with memory loss themes. This appears a lot in dramas too. You know, the kind where the female lead’s memory is erased and the male lead gets confused.’

‘Does that make sense realistically?’

‘Making that convincing is what plausibility is about, isn’t it?’

Wise words.

So I decided to create a reasonable situation that would inevitably lead Bean to misunderstand.

Actually, at first I hadn’t planned to make it this dramatic.

I thought it would be enough if I could just obtain information.

However, seeing the atrocities of those Duke Venice had brought changed my mind.

‘There’s never been such viciousness.’

What they had done was no different from criminal organizations in the real world.

They distributed illegal drugs to raise funds, killed ordinary people under the pretense of assassination practice, and encouraged noble heirs to commit patricide to incite war.

Each and every one was a crime worthy of exterminating three generations of a family.

Seeing their camaraderie and familial love, the Duke said this.

“It’s an organization that would be insulted by comparison to hypocrisy. There’s no need to show mercy.”

After hearing the circumstances, I didn’t feel good either.

To think they had such a vicious past, despite showing human-like behavior.

‘Right, hasty sympathy is forbidden.’

I’m neither a judge who weighs the severity of crimes, nor a priest who must be compassionate.

I had no leisure to consider the circumstances of those who would harm my family.

After making that resolution, I headed to the Imperial Palace Underground Prison to meet Bean.

Having started interrogation immediately upon imprisonment, his body was in tatters.

The Emperor, who had been waiting in front of the prison, pointed to Bean wrapped in a blanket.

“I’ve erased his memories. I erased more things than you wanted, but… anyway, when he opens his eyes, he’ll be in the state you desire.”

“Thank you. Ah, Your Majesty. Do you happen to know this man’s real name?”

“I don’t know. His lips were sealed tight.”

“Hmm… I understand.”

“The celebration will begin soon. There isn’t much time.”

“It’s fine. It’s enough.”

The Emperor sent me a suspicious look asking if it would really be okay, but I already had something in mind.

I pushed everyone to the corner of the corridor and sat in front of the prison.

When Bean opens his eyes, the first thing he’ll see is me.

Me, holding bandages and medicine, wearing a robe as if I had secretly entered the prison.

Soon Bean opened his eyes.

I called to him with a voice mixed with tears and worry.

“…Elder Brother, are you conscious? It’s me, Belua.”

The role I would act this time was ‘the unfortunate fiancée kidnapped by the Ducal House.’

From now on, Wilhelmina would take Belua’s place.

* * *

‘I didn’t know it would be this effective.’

At the center of the garden, in front of the fountain, I smiled back at Bean… no, Shirou, who was cheerfully waving at me.

The more information I extracted, the more I came to despise Shirou and the Black Hand, but it was still time to act as family.

‘The gaps in memory are convenient to use.’

Shirou had forgotten the existence of Belua, but he instinctively felt her absence.

I delved into the sensation that ‘someone precious had been by my side.’

Making up a story was easy.

When Black Hand fell, Belua was dispatched to the Western Region under orders from the organization’s leader, Thumb.

It was to secure a new refuge for Black Hand, but she happened to catch the eye of the Late Duke Layton and was kidnapped to become his bride.

A novel-like story where Belua, who had been separated so tragically and lost contact, came looking after hearing news that he had been captured.

‘A confined Grand Duchess of a ducal house risked danger to come rescue him… or so.’

Though it was material fit for a morning drama, it was a refreshingly original story that people of this world couldn’t even imagine.

Fortunately, it worked well on Shirou too.

He was delighted by the appearance of Belua, who was both his fiancée and family of Black Hand.

He was especially greatly swayed by the mention of a new refuge.

After their downfall, Black Hand had been living as wanderers to hide from the Venice Ducal House.

The freedom to come into the light and a safe refuge seemed to be concepts as necessary to them as family.

Anyway, Shirou was completely fooled by this lengthy and touching story.

Rather, he began adding his own memories about me, starting to regard me as a more genuine existence.

The result was this situation.

“Elder Brother Shirou, that person over there is a companion from Black Hand, right?”

“That’s right, she recognized the signals, so she’s definitely a companion. However, she introduced herself as Belua…”

At Shirou’s words, the captured Belua flared up and glared at me.

“I am, I am Belua! Wilhelmina Layton! What on earth did you do to Elder Brother!”

“What did I do… I only saved Shirou. To disguise him as my guest, I brought him to participate in this tea party together.”

After extracting Shirou from the underground prison, I gave him the identity of a relative of the Layton Family.

On the surface, it would look like a scheme to save Shirou’s life, but of course, this was all a performance arranged with the Emperor.

“Don’t lie, you witch! You, you arbitrarily changed Elder Brother’s memories!”

“Changed them…”

I covered my mouth with a bewildered expression.

Belua, even more enraged by my expression, tried to rush at me, but Shirou wouldn’t let her go.

“Stop! If you’re also family of Black Hand, you know what our taboos are!”

“That woman is not Black Hand!”

“You keep saying nonsense…!”

Shirou stood in front of me, preventing Belua from laying even a finger on me.

Though Belua’s skill was far superior to Shirou’s, given her personality, she wouldn’t be able to hurt Shirou. Everything was going according to plan.

‘The taboos were probably those stuffy rules about not killing family and obeying superiors’ orders. …How hypocritical.’

Clicking my tongue at their duplicitous nature, I spoke with sadness in my heart.

“Elder Brother, I think we should leave this place first. If we stay here any longer, we’ll draw attention. Let’s go to the Annex Building first. I spoke to the Count and borrowed a rest room. Let’s have our conversation there.”

“Ah, yes. If you, as the Grand Duchess, are away from your seat too long, it will raise suspicion.”

Shirou accepted my suggestion and dragged Belua along.

“What, what?”

“Let’s go together first. That you’re Belua… I can’t believe it, but I’ll still listen to your circumstances.”

Belua’s face flushed red with anger as she was about to spout curses again, but I cut her off.

“You can’t cause a commotion. Sir Kenneth and Duke Venice are nearby.”

“….”

I already knew that Belua’s power was inferior to Kenneth’s anyway.

She could escape on her own, but taking the brainwashed Shirou with her would be difficult.

“‘Belua’. Let’s go. I have no intention of hurting you. Really. Please trust me.”

Belua hesitated with a puzzled expression.

She seemed unable to quite understand this situation.

But no matter how much she tried to reason through the situation, she only had two choices left.

Either kill me and run away, or follow me.

And I was confident she would choose the latter.

Because she….

“Elder Brother, do you really… trust Wilhelmina?”

Loved Shirou.

Shirou couldn’t be included in the option of running away.

I walked past Shirou and approached Belua. Then I whispered quietly so only she could hear.

“It’s okay, trust me. I’m different from That Man who abandoned you.”

“You…!”

“Come to me, I’ll become your new family.”

Of course, it was a lie.

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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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