I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 163

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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 163

Just because one clue had been unraveled didn’t mean the schedule would change.

The birthday celebration was still ongoing, so all that remained was participating in the banquet.

The problem was that Mikhail and Duke Venice would be attending the banquet together with me.

‘My head is already complicated enough, and now I have to attend a banquet with two handsome men?’

The headache-inducing worry that had plagued me since the evening before was ultimately proven at the next day’s banquet.

Originally, entrance to banquet halls is often done by male-female pairs, married couples, or couples together, but when you’re at the level of Grand Duchess, it’s common to ask your children to escort you.

Or sometimes you enter sandwiched between a married couple.

But my case was a bit different.

Clearly my son was standing on the right, but on the left stood the Eastern Duke who was supposedly the Western Region’s enemy.

‘This composition… I’ve seen this a lot in comics.’

If someone were to draw a comic cover, they would use exactly this scene – it was that perfect.

If I had been an outsider, I would have watched this composition with interest, but being the person involved didn’t feel good.

“Mother, are you alright?”

“Grand Duchess, if you need it, I’ll lend you my shoulder.”

Perhaps thinking that my shaken mental state from the tremendous gazes pouring in from the banquet hall entrance was something like anemia, both men simultaneously took care of me.

Thanks to that, the intensity of the gazes doubled.

‘This kind of situation… really exists.’

I had expected attention to be focused on Mikhail.

Unlike Duke Venice, Mikhail rarely showed his face in the capital.

But when such a Mikhail served me so devotedly, the curious gazes of the nobles began to change.

‘Who does he think he is acting so presumptuous… that might be too childish.

Politically speaking, they probably think it’s strange that Mikhail and I get along well.’

Of course, there was definitely some jealousy mixed in as well.

Though he was a married man, Mikhail’s appearance was unrivaled even among the nobles.

If the gazes focused on me until yesterday were curiosity and wariness, now they were mostly suspicion.

‘They must have thought Duke Layton was treating the Grand Duchess poorly.’

Mikhail’s escort was an act that overturned that premise.

Now they must have changed their evaluation of me from ‘the Grand Duchess who was persecuted in the ducal house’ to ‘a mysterious woman who captivated the Duke.’

Some elderly nobles were already beginning to send disapproving looks.

I could roughly guess what kind of evaluation they were making.

‘And then there’s Duke Venice on top of that.’

Though he wasn’t the escort so our bodies didn’t touch, Duke Venice was also a problem as he approached so closely that he seemed ready to grab my hand at any moment if I allowed it.

Unlike Mikhail, this one was single.

His popularity in the capital was at its peak – so much so that he was more popular than the Emperor.

With such a man sticking right by my side, the gazes from this direction were full of jealousy, never mind suspicion or anything else.

‘Well, if we were both single it might be different, but in my position I’m a widow…’

Even trying to understand it that way, the fact that it was burdensome remained true.

There might be people bold enough to enjoy this kind of attention, but I certainly wasn’t one of them.

When Duke Venice briefly stepped away saying he’d bring something to drink, I grabbed Mikhail’s collar and pulled him closer.

“Mikhail.”

“Yes?”

“Duke Venice doesn’t have a separate partner?”

Mikhail rolled his eyes back and forth between Duke Venice and my uncomfortable expression. Then he smiled brightly and said.

“Well, he might have someone in the Eastern Region.”

“Ah, so he just doesn’t have anyone in the Capital?”

“I don’t know for certain either. It’s just, with looks like that… wouldn’t he have a lover or two back in his hometown?”

Somehow Mikhail’s tone was rather aggressive for him.

I nodded, thinking that might be the case.

“But why did he enter with us? Is there some political reason?”

“Ah- so that’s what you wanted to ask.”

Mikhail responded to a passing Noble Lady’s greeting with a smile as he spoke.

“As Mother said, it is for political reasons. His Majesty, myself, and Duke Venice all had generational changes around the same time, but we had no particular connections. This is an opportunity to show harmony.”

“…But do I need to be involved in that?”

“Originally Helene would have joined us too, but given the circumstances, please understand, Mother.”

When he put it that way, I had nothing more to say.

Helene had been summoned by the Imperial Family Members and headed to the Main Palace just before coming to the banquet.

Originally, this was a gathering Helene was supposed to skip, but the Emperor had strongly recommended her invitation this time.

Except for the Emperor and Helene, it was a gathering of powerless Imperial Family Members without even succession rights, but Helene had accepted.

“How unusual, I thought she’d refuse.”

“There was no justification to refuse.”

She had been using health as an excuse not to participate, but having shown herself like this, there was no justification to refuse.

‘Nobles really do love their justifications.’

Anyone in politics would be the same, but it was a culture I could never get used to.

Just then, Duke Venice approached carrying drinks.

This banquet was more like a music concert for appreciating musical performances rather than dancing, so everyone was holding alcohol or appetizers.

My mouth had been dry anyway, so I took the wine glass the Duke brought and moistened my throat.

“…Grand Duchess, that’s strong alcohol.”

It seemed to have been the drink he intended for himself.

He was awkwardly holding the pink fruit wine he had meant to offer me.

When I reached out saying I’d drink that too, Mikhail approached and snatched the glass away.

“Mother, there’s black tea over there.”

“I know that.”

“Shall I bring some for you?”

“…”

Now my son is monitoring his mother’s drinking too.

Of course, I wasn’t particularly strong with alcohol, but I wasn’t going to get drunk from this much.

I glared at Mikhail and then backed down on my own.

“Well then, Duke Venice, might you introduce me to someone? Since I’m not well acquainted with people from the capital, I was hoping to ask for your help…”

Just as Mikhail was skillfully about to lead the group, a man from the opposite side waved his hand and approached Mikhail.

“It’s been a while, Young Master Layton. Or should I call you Duke now?”

“…John Doe, it’s been a while.”

“I was thinking of having a drink together after such a long time, do you have time?”

The man called John Doe smiled as he called out to Mikhail.

Mikhail briefly glanced at me and Duke Venice, then whispered to me in a low voice.

“I’ll be back shortly. Please stay by Duke Venice’s side in the meantime.”

I felt like he was treating me like a child left by the water’s edge, but his attitude was so serious that I nodded for now.

Mikhail headed toward the corner of the banquet hall with the man called John Doe.

It seemed they were heading to the men’s lounge.

“…Duke, do you know that person called John Doe?”

“I don’t.”

“Right? The name itself is John Doe (unidentified person).”

To give a false name in front of two dukes, I was curious about the man’s identity and tried to crane my neck toward the rest room, but the Duke grabbed my hand.

“There’s probably no need to worry. He’s likely Duke Layton’s subordinate.”

“How do you know?”

“If he has the status to enter this banquet hall, it means he has that kind of background. If he’s not one of my people or His Majesty’s people, then what’s left is…”

“He must be Mikhail’s subordinate?”

“Most likely, yes.”

Then that conversation just now might not have been to catch up, but for a confidential report.

After hearing that, I understood Mikhail’s attitude from earlier.

‘That wasn’t the attitude he’d show to an outsider. It was exactly like how he’d treat a subordinate.’

The man called John Doe was also speaking casually, but his attitude in guiding Mikhail was respectful.

‘…And Duke Venice noticed all of this in that brief moment?’

I suppose great nobles really are different.

I looked at him with newfound admiration.

“What’s the matter?”

“Oh, nothing… Come to think of it, Duke. Why did you say that last time?”

I couldn’t tell him the real reason I was staring at him, so I changed the subject.

Meanwhile, I remembered our meeting at the previous banquet.

He probably wouldn’t tell me his true feelings anyway, but I thought I might at least get a clue, so I continued my questions.

“You said you’d let me know what the identity of this feeling was. What did you mean by that?”

“…”

“Perhaps, have you and I met somewhere before? Come to think of it, I heard the theme of past-life lovers is popular these days, is it something like that?”

“…”

“Duke?”

There was no answer.

When I looked at his face again, I could see a faint flush rising on his pale cheeks.

‘How cute.’

I naturally expected him to brush it off as nothing, but I was surprised to see such a visible reaction.

He looks like a black panther, yet he reacts like this from just a little teasing.

In front of me with my eyes wide open, he slowly opened his mouth.

“…I made a mistake.”

“A mistake?”

“Yes, that… I misspoke.”

“For misspeaking, it was quite a long statement.”

Logically speaking, can someone make a mistake that lasts until the end of a song?

His amusing reaction made mischief creep into me without realizing it.

I deliberately furrowed my brow as if disappointed.

“If it was just a mistake, that’s disappointing. I guess I was the only one who got my hopes up.”

“You got your hopes up…?”

“Yes, what woman wouldn’t be thrilled to hear such words from someone like the Duke?”

The line I just uttered was so cringeworthy that even I got goosebumps.

I really need to stop reading those romance novels Anna recommended – all sorts of lines are popping out.

Thinking this might not end as just a joke, I hurriedly apologized.

“I’m sorry, I was joking. Actually…”

“Are you serious?”

“…What?”

When I turned my head, the Duke had somehow approached right in front of my face.

Thanks to his towering height, my head naturally tilted upward.

His face was shadowed as he blocked the light, and his red eyes gleamed brilliantly.

“Really… did I make your heart flutter?”

Why is this man acting like this again.

‘Was my teasing… too much?’

The Duke had returned to black panther mode.

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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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