I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 165

—————
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 165

“But why would that bastard Raymond go to such lengths? To say he did it out of a sense of justice, when he already joined hands with Blackhand…”

“It’s contradictory. He had good intentions toward Mother, but wasn’t righteous about it.”

“Maybe he just meant to use the Grand Duchess?”

Politically speaking, Wilhelmina was a weakness of the Layton Family.

John Doe seemed to consider Raymond as one of the political enemies trying to exploit her.

At John Doe’s question, Mikhail shook his head.

“If he only wanted to use her, there were plenty of easy methods. Taking her hostage, threatening her, or harming her to damage the family… But he retreated as soon as he heard her refusal. It’s hard to see him as having other motives.”

A villain who only suffers losses and runs away – he’d never heard of such a thing.

Of course, he shouldn’t be certain until other evidence emerged, but the circumstances revealed so far vouched for Raymond’s good intentions.

‘It would be easier to deal with if it were just resentment.’

There were countless enemies who held grudges against the Layton Family.

Those who abandoned righteousness and their future to resolve their resentment… If Raymond were one of those types, his tail would have been caught long ago.

It wasn’t a good situation for the Layton Family.

While malice and resentment had easily revealed behavioral patterns, unrighteous good intentions were difficult to predict.

‘In any case, uncovering the real reason Raymond approached Mother should be the top priority.’

It couldn’t be as simple as just wanting to save her.

The losses he suffered from this retreat were beyond description.

“It’s been a while since I came to the Capital, but there’s a mountain of work to do.”

Mikhail sighed and looked into the banquet hall.

He could see Wilhelmina and Duke Venice enjoying the musical performance without a care in the world.

“And now there’s even some wolf…”

Lamenting that he wished the birthday celebration would end quickly, he returned to the banquet hall.

* * *

Helene disliked the Imperial Family.

To be precise, since she took pride in her status as imperial family, she found the behavior of the current Imperial Family Members extremely distasteful.

“Is this the desert jewelry that’s been trending lately? What interesting craftsmanship.”

“You truly have an eye for beauty. You have no idea how long I waited to obtain this…”

A lazy Imperial Family member working in Imperial Territory and living off their salary, bragging about jewelry.

“The Academy admission standards seem to have lowered quite a bit lately. No matter how much they say birth doesn’t matter, for Southern Region nobles to exceed ten percent…”

“That’s right, they must have used some loophole. No matter what, the Capital Academy entrance exam couldn’t be easy for those people.”

The sight of them naturally discriminating against fellow Empire citizens.

“Come to think of it, I heard the Duke’s Estate has been doing business lately. There are rumors that the wool and dyes from the Western Region are quite beautiful.”

“Oh my, I heard that too. Duchess, which sales agency are you considering?”

The rudeness of scoundrels subtly trying to connect with House Layton.

Helene felt disgusted by the low-level nature of these people, to the point where being the same Imperial Family was shameful.

Of course, not all Imperial Family members were such greedy people.

Some maintained silence, watching the Emperor and Helene’s reactions.

The unfortunate thing was that there wasn’t a single person worthy of being called wise.

‘How well he’s left only such people behind.’

The ‘Platinum Society’, where about ten Imperial Family members gathered—Helene quietly observed Emperor Theorne, the host of this place.

Having received documents summarizing the meeting’s contents from his secretary, he was exchanging trivial jokes with the pot-bellied royal beside him.

The Emperor was the culprit who had intentionally lowered the level of the Imperial Family members.

The moment he ascended to the Emperor’s throne, he kept capable Imperial Family members on his side and excluded all the rest from central politics.

Political purges happen whenever a monarch changes, but the Emperor’s method was somewhat unique.

While appointing capable and loyal individuals, he placed incompetent and petty Imperial Family members in positions where it didn’t matter who sat there.

At first, she thought they had been deceived by sweet words, but eventually she realized his true intentions.

He intended to use these Imperial Family members as political checks and breakwaters against public opinion.

‘The Imperial Family members who lost power will resent these people, not the Emperor. And seeing their incompetence, the people will praise the Emperor even more instead of the platinum bloodline.’

The nobility of platinum had already largely disappeared from the capital.

The Emperor’s intention had worked brilliantly.

Since these people weren’t brave enough to risk their lives challenging imperial authority anyway, he had managed to deal with both public opinion and political enemies by providing them with generous salaries.

In short, it meant he was using the Imperial Family as disposable cards that could be discarded at any time.

If the remaining Imperial Family members were objects of disgust to Helene, the Emperor was the leader standing above them.

“…Your Majesty, since the meeting has ended, I shall take my leave now.”

No longer wanting to remain with this group, Helene slowly rose from her seat and offered her respects.

The Emperor, who had been smiling and conversing with other Imperial Family members, waved his hand dismissively.

“Ah, wait a moment. I have some conversation to share with you after such a long time.”

“I’m feeling a bit unwell…”

“Then I’ll call a doctor. If necessary, we can have our conversation in the villa you used to occupy.”

“…I understand.”

It meant he wouldn’t let her go easily. Helene let out an imperceptible sigh.

After bidding farewell to the other Imperial Family members, the Emperor guided Helene to a private chamber inside the palace.

As soon as they entered the private chamber reserved only for Imperial Family members, where even guards and attendants couldn’t enter freely, the Emperor spoke in a nonchalant voice.

“Now we can finally have a proper conversation. Sit over there.”

“…Yes.”

“Speak comfortably, there’s no one watching.”

Without even waiting for Helene’s answer, he approached carrying a teapot prepared in the corner of the private chamber.

As Helene sat down with an uncomfortable expression, the Emperor smiled annoyingly.

“Or should we have some sparring like before to help you relax?”

“How could I cross swords with Your Majesty?”

“That’s why I’m telling you to speak comfortably. I don’t want to wear a mask, at least in this place.”

“…”

Helene quietly stared at the Emperor.

He was a man whose true intentions were unknowable, but he wasn’t an ill-mannered ruffian either.

It seemed it would be fine to follow his words, at least for a short while.

In truth, it couldn’t have been comfortable for Helene either to use honorifics with her younger brother from the past.

“Yeah, I got it.”

“Good, this is much more comfortable. Honestly, hearing you speak formally to me didn’t feel good. It’s quite creepy.”

In the past, I would have scolded him to call me sister, not just ‘you’, but I had no intention of being that familiar with him.

Helene took a sip of the tea the Emperor had poured and asked.

“So, what’s the reason you called me here?”

“You have no intention of exchanging pleasantries at all.”

“Don’t beat around the bush. You wouldn’t be curious about my well-being anyway.”

For a moment, the Emperor’s smile crumpled.

He quickly composed his expression so Helene wouldn’t notice and continued speaking calmly.

“First, I want to hear about the circumstances that brought you and the Duke to the capital so suddenly. Is it because of Wilhelmina Layton again?”

This time, Helene’s expression briefly hardened.

She set down her teacup and caught her breath.

“…Yes, we heard news that Mother was in danger, so we came in a hurry.”

“Was that the Duke’s decision?”

“Why does that matter?”

“I’m curious. I wanted to properly hear how you think of her.”

Helene met the Emperor’s gaze.

The eyes of both people, clearly showing their intention not to reveal their true feelings, were as cold as if they were looking at enemies rather than family.

“It wasn’t my decision. But following one’s husband is a wife’s virtue.”

“…You’ve become quite passive since I last saw you.”

The Emperor chuckled lowly, saying it was a statement he couldn’t have imagined from the Helene of the past.

“Anyway, I understand. So the Duke also heard about Black Hand information a step too late. If he had known beforehand, he wouldn’t have acted so suddenly.”

“Has the Intelligence Department been tracking them from before?”

“Yes, the current problem isn’t Black Hand but their previous activities… Now that I think about it, the Duke probably doesn’t know that far either.”

The Emperor seemed lost in thought for a moment, tapping the table with his finger.

“The Duke is quite quick to act. Moving his body without properly investigating the situation first – is he impatient by nature?”

Helene frowned upon hearing the Emperor’s muttering.

“Mikhail’s judgment wasn’t wrong. He plans to resolve this problem quickly and take Mother away.”

“There should still be insufficient clues.”

“But Mikhail will succeed. That’s the kind of man he is.”

The Emperor twisted his lips at the strong trust felt in Helene’s words.

“Your faith in your husband remains unchanged. You think your husband can catch someone that neither the Imperial Intelligence Department nor Duke Venice could capture?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

It was an utterly resolute conviction.

The Emperor shrugged and backed down.

“Fine, then the next issue… Does House Layton currently have plans to expand into the southern region? I hear the wool business is doing quite well?”

“Business matters would be better discussed through Mikhail, not me.”

“That’s bothersome. I already know it’s a business you’re running anyway, so is there really a need to waste time?”

Helene answered the Emperor’s question with a sigh.

And so the two began sharing information about politics, economics, and high society.

It was a dry conversation where they tried to gain only mutual benefits without revealing confidential information.

About an hour had passed. When they were about to wrap up the conversation after exhausting all information, the Emperor spoke as if something had suddenly occurred to him.

“Come to think of it, when will you visit the temple? You haven’t been there even once since the funeral, have you?”

Behind the Imperial Palace, there existed a temple guarded by thorough security.

In the Temple of the Sun that enshrined the Past Emperors, the Previous Emperor who was both their father lay at rest.

Helene had never visited that place even once since the funeral.

‘…Father.’

The man she had once respected more than anyone else in the world.

There was a time when his every word had become a guideline for life.

Helene looked down at the completely cold black tea and murmured.

“Well, when I have the courage to meet him, I’ll go.”

Helene was still not ready to stand before the one who had been both the parent who guided her life’s path and simultaneously the bastard who had driven her into an abyss.

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