I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 164

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

I’m a Mother-in-Law, But I Don’t Want Family Conflicts Episode 164

“Well, that… I was excited.”

Who wouldn’t be excited when a beautiful woman approaches?

It was just that level of meaning, but somehow the atmosphere became too serious to pass off with laughter.

Usually at times like this, someone would interrupt and change the topic… but this time there seemed to be no corner to escape to.

His red eyes drew closer.

It was close enough to feel the emotions contained in his eyes vividly.

“I am not skilled at conversations like this. I don’t even have time to doubt what you’re saying.”

“…”

“So… please stop joking. I’ll end up believing everything.”

With those words, the Duke took a step back.

The moment the distance increased, I unconsciously let out a breath.

Whether it was because I had stopped breathing when he approached, or because I was concentrating on his words, heat rose to the back of my neck.

‘But at this point, isn’t he not even thinking of hiding it?’

Now that my head had cooled down, the Duke’s attitude seemed quite curious.

He seemed to hope I wouldn’t recall my memories, yet the attitude he showed was excessively favorable.

‘Does he want to forget the past and build a new relationship… If that’s right, it’s a bit disappointing.’

You erased my memories, and now you want to build a new relationship? There’s a limit to being selfish.

It made me want to get my memories back even more.

“…The music has changed.”

“…So it has.”

While we were standing there staring at each other blankly, the Orchestra began their next Musical Performance.

Since it didn’t seem like the conversation would progress if we kept standing like this, I pointed toward the Seating Area where we could watch the Stage.

“For now, shall we sit? My feet hurt a little.”

These were Shoes that Anna had put effort into preparing, but they weren’t good for my ankle health at all.

I kept my mouth shut because if I showed that I was uncomfortable, Nata would probably step forward saying I should exercise after all, but eventually pain began to set in.

The Duke frowned when he saw my ankle.

“I’ll bring you different Shoes.”

“No, it’s not that the size is wrong, I’m just not used to them… I’ll be fine if I rest.”

The Duke seemed displeased, but silently followed my words and came to the Seating Area.

When we came in front of the Stage, it felt like the gazes that had been following us continuously were blocked, and my chest felt relieved.

The Banquet Hall had a structure with a Ballroom in the Center where people could converse, and dozens of seats placed in front of the Stage. We sat in the most Corner seats among them.

‘They call it a concert, but no one is actually enjoying the Musical Performance. Well, I suppose the purpose is different.’

The Ballroom was noisy with Nobles trying to expand their networks.

Since there aren’t many opportunities for high-ranking Nobles to gather in one place, they were a crowd trying to seize this opportunity.

‘On the other hand, the people here are…’

I looked over the Nobles sitting in the seats.

A calm elderly couple with their Grandson sitting between them, a Noble Lady who seemed interested in nothing but the Musical Performance, a couple looking only at each other… They appeared to be people who had no interest in power or no need to have it.

Noticing my gaze, the Duke sitting beside me spoke in a low voice.

“That’s Lady Filtridge, famous as an artist. Over there are the former Count Camong and his wife. It seems they attended with their grandson.”

Afraid that speaking too openly might be overheard and misunderstood as judging them, we continued our conversation carefully while leaning back against the sofa.

“They look like they have a good relationship.”

“The Count Camong family is famous for their strong family bonds. I heard that to commemorate that grandson’s birth, they distributed 400 sacks of wheat to their territory’s people.”

“Hmm, an enviable family indeed.”

Since this world was also a place where people lived, there were nobles with good family relationships, but for most, appearances came first.

How else could expressing affection to one’s children be seen as unnoble behavior?

The educational theory book I read while struggling with the children’s training camp issue even contained the ridiculous statement that ‘praise makes people sick.’

In that sense, Mikhail’s attitude of loving his children without pretense and serving his parents devotedly was unusual.

It wasn’t for nothing that the nobles looked at Mikhail and me with shocked expressions.

“…Duke Layton and the Grand Duchess also seemed quite comfortable with each other.”

Perhaps I wasn’t the only one who thought so, as the Duke spoke with a look of surprise.

“Mikhail tends to treat me quite warmly.”

“I heard rumors that the Grand Duchess was living somewhat… uncomfortably.”

“Those are false rumors.”

Of course, to dismiss them as false rumors, they were believed by everyone from the Emperor to assassins.

I was truly living comfortably, but the nobles’ perspectives were incomprehensible.

‘…Or maybe not, Anna used to feel hurt quite often too.’

Suddenly I remembered how Anna and other loyal servants had worried about my situation.

To put these false rumors to rest, should I show some extravagant lifestyle when I return to the Duke’s estate?

“Ah, it’s the next performance.”

“If you’re staying longer, shall I bring more beverages?”

“Something strong, please.”

“I’ll bring non-alcoholic drinks.”

The Duke burst into laughter at me clicking my tongue in annoyance.

And so, on the sofa where people’s conversations were buried under the sound of music, we both silently enjoyed the performance.

* * *

John Doe.

The spy Mikhail had hidden in the capital, and his close friend, brought unexpected news.

It was information about the healer Raymond, which he had requested immediately after finishing his conversation with Wilhelmina.

Though it was the information he had desperately wanted, the actual content was completely different from his expectations.

What he wanted was Raymond’s identity and purpose, but what John Doe delivered was news of his retreat.

“Retreat?”

“That’s the only way I can describe it. Literally, Raymond abandoned all his support bases and fled. His secretly cultivated trading company, assets, facilities – everything. All he took with him were a few subordinates who appeared to be his close associates.”

“Did he eliminate evidence to avoid getting caught?”

“For that to be the case, he abandoned even forces we hadn’t detected. If he hadn’t so blatantly discarded everything, neither we nor the Imperial Intelligence Department would have known his true identity. If this really was cutting off loose ends… it’s like burning down a mansion to catch bedbugs.”

Just when they tried to find a clue, the culprit had thrown away the entire spool of thread and fled.

No matter how much he feared the Intelligence Department and the Duke’s family, this was someone who had secretly hidden in the capital and even operated an assassination organization.

I never thought they would retreat without even putting up resistance.

“Moreover, their tracks were revealed as they retreated. It seems they had no intention of hiding at all.”

“Where did they head?”

“To the Western Region. I don’t know the exact location, but… it’s certain they headed west.”

“When did they flee?”

“Right after you stopped by the villa, Duke.”

The more I heard, the less I could understand.

‘They fled to the Western Region, not the Southern Region? They must know we’re pursuing them. Abandoning most of their subordinates… what are they plotting?’

Attacking an empty house was impossible.

House Layton wasn’t something that could be breached by a mere few dozen soldiers.

Moreover, by now the ducal house, having received Mikhail’s message, would be thoroughly investigating the shop where Raymond had been staying. There was no place for him to return to in the Western Region.

And it was also puzzling that Raymond, who supposedly harbored hostility toward House Layton, had returned empty-handed.

‘According to Mother’s words, they’re definitely planning revenge against the ducal house. Then shouldn’t they be targeting me, the Family Head?’

Rather, gathering the remaining money to send an assassin after Mikhail seemed like a more realistic plan.

While Mikhail was pondering, John Doe, resting his chin on his hand, muttered as if finding it strange.

“I’ve chased many criminals, but this is the first case like this. There’s no purpose. It seems like they’ve given up, or perhaps they’re already satisfied…”

“…Wait, what did you just say?”

“Pardon? That there’s no purpose?”

“After that.”

“I said they either gave up or became satisfied.”

Given up, satisfied.

Those words rang like an alarm bell in his head.

‘To say they’re satisfied, there’s no successful operation. Black Hand was annihilated by Mother, and the trading company collapsed. I don’t see any achievements gained in the capital. Rather, it makes more sense to say they gave up. Then, what did they give up on?’

Hostility toward the ducal house… but for that, they retreated too easily.

All they had done was merely convey their intentions to Wilhelmina.

“Well, it’s been a while since I had a commission so I put in effort, but such a boring conclusion is disappointing. Well, aside from Black Hand, no one died…”

Unable to bear the silence, John Doe muttered to himself. And those last words solved Mikhail’s dilemma once again.

‘No one died.’

It was true. Except for Black Hand, not a single casualty occurred in this incident. Only Black Hand’s methods were wrong.

‘Black Hand and Raymond had a relationship of sponsored and sponsor. Not all of Black Hand’s assassinations were instigated by Raymond. Then…’

“Was the premise wrong from the beginning?”

“Pardon?”

John Doe blinked at Mikhail’s muttering.

Mikhail, awakening from his thoughts, looked at John Doe and spoke.

“John Doe, for example, if it were Father here instead of me, what do you think it would be like?”

“What would it be like… I’d be too scared to even lift my head.”

“Then, what about Mother?”

“The Grand Duchess? Well, that… wouldn’t she have had some trouble too?”

That was exactly it.

Raymond was someone who had witnessed the Late Duke’s misdeeds from close by.

“Let’s change the perspective a little. If Father were still alive, and that bride were still Mother… what would Raymond’s actions mean?”

“What do you mean? Wouldn’t it still be the same kidnapping?”

“Helping her escape from Father?”

“…Ah.”

Right, I had to change the premise.

Wilhelmina, John Doe, and the Layton Family’s subordinates know Mikhail’s true nature.

He was a benevolent ruler.

But to Raymond, Mikhail is the child of a tyrant.

Wilhelmina was a pitiful widow confined by that tyrant’s family.

“This is just a hypothesis, but think carefully, John Doe.”

“Yes, yes.”

“What if Raymond’s purpose wasn’t actually just revenge? What if this was actually a well-intentioned attempt to save Mother?”

The fact that he employed an assassination organization yet there were no casualties suggested quite a lot.

Despite all that chaos at the Academy, not a single person was injured, and most of the assassins threw away their lives just to block Wilhelmina’s guards.

Wilhelmina said it was ‘a completely meaningless attempt.’

But that’s being evaluated as a villain’s act – if Raymond had good intentions… the situation is reversed.

It becomes a story of Raymond sacrificing his subordinates to try to get Wilhelmina out.

That’s why his proposal was also ‘let’s take revenge on the Duke’s Estate together.’

“Then Duke, you think the reason Raymond withdrew was…”

“He must have felt there was no need to save Mother. All of this was a rescue operation for Wilhelmina Layton.”

John Doe opened his mouth with an expression of incomprehension.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————