I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 168

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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 168

Emperor Theorne looked at Mikhail’s face and intuitively knew there was no way to make excuses.

When the small clues connected, it became a conclusion that couldn’t be seen as mere coincidence.

Only then did Theorne recall the infinite trust Helene had shown toward Mikhail.

‘Should I have never brought him into the capital from the beginning?’

Between the one hiding and the one revealing, it was needless to say which side was advantageous, but Mikhail’s speed exceeded expectations.

He had thought it would be Wilhelmina who would reveal the secret, but who would have expected it to be Mikhail.

It was a secret that would be revealed someday, but both the target and timing were different from what he had expected.

Because of that, his heart rather settled calmly.

“…When I heard the rumors about Grand Duchess Wilhelmina, I thought she was living a very unfortunate life.”

“What do you mean by that…”

“Indeed, her treatment that I witnessed at Layton’s year-end party was not good. Is she still staying in that small annex building in the forest?”

“…”

Mikhail closed his mouth.

He too must have felt that Wilhelmina’s treatment within the Layton Family was not good.

Theorne recalled Wilhelmina’s situation as reported by the Intelligence Department.

‘She lives confined in a small annex building with only about twenty servants. All letters directed to her are censored by the main castle, and she needs permission to meet outsiders or go out. She doesn’t appear in high society with her family…’

It was clear to anyone that she was a Grand Duchess being ostracized.

This wasn’t in the realm of speculation.

Wilhelmina’s position within the Layton Family was that complicated.

The very fact that she didn’t participate in the household’s major and minor affairs was an extremely humiliating situation for a lady of the house.

Even objectively speaking, Wilhelmina was being ignored by the family.

‘Though she probably doesn’t think of it that way herself.’

But that was something said out of not knowing Wilhelmina.

Theorne too had only realized after facing Wilhelmina that their family relationship was the complete opposite of what he had thought.

Wilhelmina wasn’t the type of person to remain still after receiving such disregard.

The reason she remained still despite receiving such treatment must be because she was satisfied with a comfortable life that wasn’t worldly.

That’s why Mikhail also had something to say.

The current situation wasn’t what he had wanted.

“I understand. Having experienced the Grand Duchess directly, she’s not the type to be swayed by such trivial discrimination. Even if the Duke wanted to change her treatment, it wouldn’t have gone as he wished.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“This matter is the same. The Duke must have personally begun investigating out of a desire to help the Grand Duchess. If the deduction is true, the Duke will surely try to protect the Grand Duchess’s secret.”

But Mikhail and Wilhelmina weren’t the only members of the Layton Family.

“Then what about Helene?”

Theorne continued speaking while recalling Helene’s face from when he met her this morning.

“I know well that the Duke and Helene truly love each other. Other Imperial Family members don’t seem to think so, but as her brother, I know her personality well. She’s never someone who would give her heart to a wicked person.”

Helene was a figure who represented the duties and customs of nobility.

The fact that she acknowledged Mikhail meant he was a person who met her standards.

The opposite was also true.

The two were such a perfect match that they would choose the same option for any decision.

Then what about Wilhelmina’s problem?

“If I affirm the Duke’s deduction here, it becomes truth. The Duke’s reasoning and assumptions become reality, and we become those who share the same secret. …A secret that must not be discovered by Helene either.”

Helene had also committed a sin.

The grave sin of killing her father-in-law, the Late Duke, with her own hands.

In fact, when Theorne heard the news that the Late Duke had died while Wilhelmina was traveling to the Western Region, he had already suspected the culprit.

The only one who could break through the Late Duke’s curse was Helene, who had inherited the Blood of the Sun most deeply.

Hiding that fact must also have been Mikhail’s doing.

Helene began to change because of the guilt from shifting responsibility for her sin onto her husband.

She who had lived without a single shame in the name of Imperial Family, had now reached the point of turning away from sin for the sake of love.

Could one force such a Helene to turn away once more?

Could one demand that your mother-in-law committed the same grave sin as yourself, but hide it for the family’s sake?

There are no secrets between husband and wife.

The moment Mikhail uncovered the truth and proved it, this matter would flow into Helene’s ears through some course of events.

“The Duke is always innocent. Standing on a very clean and righteous side that needs no guilt, observing with detachment. How convenient, isn’t it?”

“I am….”

“So, think about it once. When I acknowledge everything, how heavy will be the sin of turning away that will befall both Wilhelmina and Helene.”

That’s why it had to be Wilhelmina, not Mikhail, who revealed this secret.

Being exposed by others and confessing directly were completely different matters.

“Then now, I’ll ask again. Duke, do you want me to acknowledge this truth? Whether to end it as assumption or face it as truth is the Duke’s choice.”

Mikhail was competent.

His extraordinary intelligence and wisdom, bold action, all were excellent.

That’s why it was regrettable. For someone with such abilities, emotions were a luxury.

In the end, because of those emotions, he had to discard with his own hands the truth he had grasped.

“…Then, I will not listen.”

Mikhail’s face, who chose silence instead of acknowledgment, had changed quite differently from when I first saw him.

Theorne smiled sadly.

It seemed a long time was still needed to reveal all truths.

* * *

After Mikhail left saying he would meet the Emperor, I returned to the Imperial Palace.

I got off the carriage to return to the villa, and happened to discover a woman standing at the fountain in front of the Main Palace.

The woman standing with her back to the moon without even attendants was my daughter-in-law, Helene.

‘…Like a painting.’

With her back straight and facing away from the moon, she looked like the Moon Goddess from fairy tales.

Her platinum hair shone as it met the moonlight, spreading and sparkling on the fountain water.

She was quietly staring not at the fountain, but at the side path of the Main Palace.

Her gaze was as if she was looking at an enemy, so I couldn’t readily approach.

‘…Should I just go back.’

Fortunately, the path leading to the villa was in the opposite direction.

I gestured to Anna to be quiet, then tried to return to the villa…

“Good evening, Mother. Did you finish your business well?”

“…Yes.”

Helene called out to me in a low voice.

Having no choice, I walked toward her.

Only after getting closer did I notice that her face was slightly flushed.

The fragrant scent of wine was spreading around her.

“You smell of alcohol.”

“Yes, given the occasion, I shared a few glasses with the Imperial Family members.”

The scent was too strong for just that. It seemed like she had drunk at least a whole bottle.

“Didn’t Mother attend with the Duke?”

“Mikhail said he had business to attend to and left first. He’ll be back soon.”

“I see.”

We were having a conversation befitting a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, but her gaze still wouldn’t leave the direction of the Main Palace.

Not looking at someone’s eyes while conversing with a superior was clearly rude, but perhaps due to being drunk, Helene didn’t seem to realize it.

“…What are you looking at so intently?”

I turned my gaze to follow Helene’s.

Beside the Main Palace, there was an ornate path blocked by iron gates, and I couldn’t tell where it led.

Though I had spent several days at the villa, I hadn’t seen anyone using that path.

“It’s the path leading to the Temple of the Sun.”

“A temple…”

“It’s the tomb of the past His Imperial Majesty.”

Come to think of it, I had heard that the Emperor of the Peon Empire was revered as a Child of the Sun and was enshrined in a temple.

‘So that temple was in the Imperial Palace. Is it hidden away because it’s a sacred place?’

As a modern person who could only think of tourist sites when hearing about royal tombs and temples, I knew how remarkable the Empire’s faith was, so I didn’t add any comments.

“And it’s also where my father rests.”

“…Are you thinking of visiting?”

“Do you think I should go?”

Only then did Helene turn her head to look at me.

Though flushed red, her eyes were still cool and rational.

“Is my opinion important?”

This was the first time Helene had asked me a question in this manner, so I found myself asking back without thinking.

She seemed momentarily flustered, moving her lips slightly, then slowly nodded.

“I wanted to hear Mother’s thoughts.”

“Well, I think it doesn’t really matter either way. Mourning is something people do when they want to.”

“It doesn’t matter… you say?”

“Whatever kind of person he was, after death, he’ll be judged by the memories of the living. Helene, if you think he’s not worth meeting, isn’t that enough?”

How far mourning for the dead should be considered a duty was a problem that was endlessly debated even in modern times.

I thought it was better to leave it to individual choice after customary mourning was finished.

Even if they’re family, there’s no need to love all the dead.

Rather, there were cases where resentment deepened because they left without atoning for the evil deeds they committed.

“What’s important is that you don’t cling to the dead. He will live forever underground, but you must live under the sun. There’s nothing good about being bound to dead connections.”

“…You’re strong.”

“You have to be strong to survive.”

Somehow, Helene seemed weaker than usual.

I thought she would grit her teeth and say “How dare you give me advice,” but she gazed at me as if envious.

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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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