I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 170

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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 170

As I tilted my head at Nata’s cryptic words, a woman emerged from a building and called out to the Emperor.

“Mr. Teon! You can go up now~”

Judging by her casual tone, that woman seemed unaware of the Emperor’s true identity.

“…But Teon?”

Could it be that she’s calling him Teon because his name is Theorne?

For an Emperor, it was quite an adorable alias, and I stared at him with wide eyes.

With a slightly reddened face, he cleared his throat and spoke to the woman.

“I’ll be right there. Wait a moment.”

It seemed he had business in that building, so I tried to withdraw with Nata.

“Well then, have a good time…”

But the Emperor stopped me with a sharp voice, as if asking where I was going.

“You come along too. Don’t leave after making pointless assumptions.”

“I didn’t make any assumptions.”

“Your eyes say otherwise. I’ll explain directly why I came here, so follow me.”

‘Was my expression really that insolent?’

This time he didn’t seem to be joking, so I followed behind him without protest.

The building the woman had emerged from was quite a luxurious lodging facility for this street.

But for some reason, there were hardly any people using it, and Nata, noticing this, explained to me in a low voice.

“It only looks like hotels on the outside. It’s an empty building.”

Having heard Nata’s words, the Emperor, who was about to climb the stairs, let out a snort.

“Of course it is. It’s a building built for just one person.”

“Why?”

“You’ll understand when you see.”

We passed through a decent corridor for a building meant for just one person and headed toward the room where signs of life could be felt.

When the Emperor opened the door to that place, a fragrant floral scent spread out from inside, as if from a flower garden.

Inside the room, a woman was sitting on the bed.

Upon spotting the Emperor, she smiled faintly.

“It’s been a while, have you been well?”

The Emperor gave a curt greeting and gestured for us to come in.

As we hesitantly entered, the woman nodded her head toward us.

While returning the greeting, I carefully observed her appearance.

‘…She resembles him.’

The woman’s appearance was strikingly similar to the Emperor’s.

She appeared to be around fifty, and though she had faint wrinkles, they couldn’t hide her beauty.

Even without any adornment, she possessed a mysterious elegance.

“It’s nice to meet you. I am Wilhelmina Layton.”

I tried greeting her, but the woman didn’t respond and only continued to smile.

When I turned to look at the Emperor with a strange feeling, he sighed and muttered.

“You’re still the same.”

“Your Majesty?”

“Let’s go out. We can’t have a conversation here.”

The Emperor brought us back down to the first floor of the building.

He guided us to a room used as a reception room, then brought out beverages and tea and refreshments without even borrowing the help of attendants.

He threw himself onto the sofa, telling us to sit anywhere, and spoke in a tired voice.

“Now do you understand why I came here?”

“I don’t understand.”

I don’t even know who that woman is, so what am I supposed to understand?

When I blinked, the Emperor closed his mouth with a complicated expression.

Then the man standing guard by the sofa smiled and spoke.

“I’ll explain on his behalf. Ah, I should introduce myself first. I’m Coram, Tirsil’s personal doctor and also her son.”

“Tirsil?”

“That’s my mother’s name, whom you just saw. And she is also His Imperial Majesty’s aunt.”

This was the first time I’d heard that the Empress had a sister.

‘I wasn’t particularly interested in the Imperial Family anyway… But why is someone who’s the Emperor’s aunt living in a building like this?’

When I sent him a questioning look, Coram gave a bitter smile.

“Well, you see, Tirsil is the twin younger sister of Empress Chersil. And…”

“She’s a victim who drank poison because of my mother.”

At the Emperor’s words, the atmosphere in the room instantly became heavy.

Somehow this didn’t seem like a story I should be involved in, and I wanted to close my ears, but the Emperor continued speaking as if it were nothing serious.

“My mother, Empress Chersil, is a timid person. She found it burdensome to stand as Empress before others and to engage in politics. She was also looked down upon for being from the Southern Region… So she often entrusted that role to her twin younger sister, Aunt Tirsil.”

“Entrusted means… Tirsil pretended to be the Empress?”

“That’s right. Just like how I create clones with magic treasures, my mother also used my aunt as a stand-in. Then one day, she fell into a trap prepared by Marquis Valtanas’s side.”

“…The trap was poison.”

“Correct. My aunt who drank it lost consciousness and became like that. She can’t speak, has no memory. She just smiles and welcomes guests when they come. …Just like an Empress.”

Even though she had lost her mind, Tirsil was still acting as the Empress.

As if displeased by this, the Emperor clicked his tongue.

“You know what happened after that. Mother said she didn’t want to stay in the Imperial Palace anymore and went down to her hometown. Leaving your sister, who had to hide her identity, behind in the capital.”

“Why?”

“She became afraid that my aunt might suddenly regain consciousness. Because she might blame herself, she ran away alone.”

You might think she wouldn’t go that far, but since no one knew her better than the Emperor, I couldn’t carelessly add my words.

When I glanced at Coram, he also had no intention of denying it and was still wearing only a bitter smile.

“I wanted to bring my aunt to the Imperial Palace in place of my mother, but there have been various incidents at the Imperial Palace during this time, so it’s only now become possible. This visit was the final condition check for that matter.”

So, the Emperor continued.

“It’s not the strange meeting you’re thinking of.”

So this story connects like that.

But clearing up the misunderstanding seemed most important to the Emperor, as he sent me a look demanding an answer.

When I nodded and said I understood, he finally looked satisfied and turned his gaze away.

‘Well, I suppose I had to explain. Otherwise, strange rumors might have spread.’

From what I could see, Tirsil’s existence didn’t seem to be known to the public.

Since it had never reached my ears, even if people knew, it must have been something the Nobles kept quiet about among themselves.

In such circumstances, if I spread rumors and third parties became interested in this place, it would create an uncomfortable situation for the Emperor.

Rather, revealing the secret and keeping mouths shut was a more comfortable choice.

“Then was it His Majesty who prepared this Building?”

“Yes, I wanted to provide a more decent place, but at the time I lacked the power.”

“…That’s unexpected.”

“What is?”

“I didn’t know His Majesty was someone who would care this much.”

It might have sounded rude, but it was an honest impression.

When the Emperor mentioned Tirsil, his tone, though seemingly blunt, carried a sense of family affection.

Considering the Emperor’s usual behavior, this was a very unexpected side of him.

“What, did you fall for me?”

“I didn’t fall for you, but I did think it was admirable.”

I burst into laughter and nodded my head.

According to the Emperor, Tirsil was like a reverse scale to the Imperial Family.

If her circumstances were exposed, Empress Chersil and the Emperor’s prestige would fall, and it would serve as good justification for their political enemies, yet the Emperor called Tirsil a victim and tried to welcome her into the Imperial Palace.

This was an extremely private action that didn’t consider political gains.

‘I didn’t know he was someone with such tender feelings.’

If he were truly a cold and rational monarch, he would have focused on erasing Tirsil’s existence.

I felt like my low favorability toward the Emperor had risen a little.

Thinking that continuing to smile might really look like I was mocking him, I forced the corners of my mouth down, only to discover the Emperor staring with wide eyes.

“…Your Majesty?”

He was blinking his blue eyes and staring blankly, which looked strange, so I waved my hand in front of his eyes.

“Your Majesty.”

When I called him again, the Emperor finally came to his senses and muttered with a low groan.

“…You should, preferably, keep your expressions in check.”

It was the first time I’d ever heard the phrase “keep expressions in check.”

Wondering if my smiling face was that strange, I touched my face, when for some reason Coram, who had been holding back laughter beside me, quietly spoke up.

“He may not look it, but His Majesty is a kind person. When I said I wanted to care for my sick Mother, he arranged for me to take Doctor Lessons. He was really poor at the time…”

“Coram, shut your mouth.”

“How embarrassed you get.”

I quietly watched the two exchanging words like brothers.

It was fortunate I knew they were relatives, otherwise I would have definitely misunderstood them as having a special relationship.

“…But when is His Majesty planning to get married?”

“Suddenly what… why are you asking about that?”

“Well, seeing how you two act, I thought you should get married quickly to avoid misunderstandings.”

If things continued like this, even if not me, someone else would definitely misunderstand.

The Emperor frowned as if displeased and spoke curtly.

“When the time comes, I’ll naturally go. It’s just that no one has caught my eye yet.”

Well, a young Emperor’s marriage prospects would be blooming with flowers even without my worry.

If you’re an Emperor, no one could say anything even if your standards are a bit high.

“Then what will the Grand Duchess do?”

“For me, it’s already too late. My circumstances aren’t good either.”

Not just any ordinary Noble Lady, but a Grand Duchess of a ducal house remarrying? That alone would be enough of an issue to stir up the region.

There’s no law against it, but getting caught up in unnecessary controversy would be tiresome.

When I shook my head, meaning that while romance might be one thing, marriage was out of the question, the Emperor coughed awkwardly.

“Ahem, what if it were someone who could ignore those circumstances?”

“Is there such a person in the Empire?”

Marriage with any family would cause problems, so I don’t know what he’s talking about.

Then the Emperor averted his gaze and spoke haltingly.

“For example, someone from the Imperial Family.”

“If I married into the Imperial Family, the family house would split in two.”

Anyone could see it would be an invasion by External Forces.

“Or… there’s me.”

“…Pardon?”

“If it’s me, the Emperor, I could overcome any conditions.”

The Emperor’s face was serious. He wasn’t arrogant as usual, nor was he being sly.

I could feel a tense atmosphere, like a warrior standing on a battlefield.

But since it was such an unexpected topic, my honest thoughts slipped out before I knew it.

“Me? With His Imperial Majesty? Why?”

“…”

I didn’t think we had that kind of relationship.

Nata, who was behind us, let out a gasp this time.

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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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