I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 171

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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 171

Emperor Theorne had feelings for Wilhelmina.

That much was an undeniable fact.

After confirming her abilities through the achievements she had accomplished, he intuitively knew he had to create some kind of connection with her.

Theorne, who had entered the succession struggle without any supporting forces, understood the importance of talent better than anyone.

Gender and social status were merely superficial appearances before him.

When you see good talent, even non-existent feelings can spring forth.

Theorne approached Wilhelmina after seeing her abilities, and soon realized she was the same type as himself.

A ruler who appeared intoxicated by emotion yet was more rational than anyone, looking at people without prejudice.

Theorne’s affection and interest soon evolved into a sense of kinship…

‘His Majesty doesn’t know about me either.’

‘At least, I know you’re a rational person.’

‘If I were rational, I wouldn’t live like this. If there was no love, I wouldn’t even be here.’

That soon transformed into longing.

Theorne, who thought Wilhelmina was similar to himself, naturally assumed she was also a contemplative person like him.

Someone who accurately weighed the value of things, distinguished between sacrifice and practicality, and therefore could never fall for worthless emotions like love.

Until he heard about the importance of love and family from her in the Midnight Garden under moonlight, where she had subdued an assassin.

‘Have you ever loved someone?’

That question wasn’t asked out of mere affection or interest.

It was the question of a loser who didn’t want to admit that a friend he thought was on the same level had unknowingly surpassed him.

She was like him.

So he desperately hoped that she, like himself, wouldn’t be intoxicated by that emotion.

‘Yes, I’m still in love now.’

But Wilhelmina shattered Theorne’s expectations.

She showed him that you and I are different, then smiled brightly.

The moment he saw her with longing and wistful emotions in her eyes as she thought of someone she loved, Theorne imagined what it would be like if he were in that position.

He still thought that Wilhelmina and his essence were similar.

The difference was that Wilhelmina had embraced love.

If he could become like Wilhelmina, or if he were the object of love, wouldn’t this empty heart be resolved?

Since they were two similar people, couldn’t they understand each other better than anyone else?

As his longing for Wilhelmina grew, he readily showed interest when marriage was mentioned.

“Me? With His Imperial Majesty? Why?”

And his feelings were cleanly and utterly denied.

Like someone being proposed to for romance by a complete stranger for the first time in her life, Wilhelmina with her innocent expression kept firing off question marks.

It was such a rude reaction that Nata, who was nearby, gasped and inhaled sharply, but amusingly, Theorne wasn’t angry.

Even that appearance was quite cute and melted his heart, making him think his mind had completely gone astray.

‘Is even this going according to what she said?’

Wilhelmina’s words came to mind – that the person who falls in love first loses.

Theorne sighed and scratched his head vigorously.

Wilhelmina also seemed to realize she had made a mistake, as she offered an apology.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way…”

“It’s fine, I didn’t mean it that way either.”

Actually, he did mean it that way.

Theorne glanced sideways at Coram, who was gasping for breath because he couldn’t hold back his laughter.

His relative, who was no different from a bad friend, seemed unable to bear how enjoyable this situation was.

“I’ve never thought about having that kind of relationship with His Majesty. I think there would be a woman more suitable for His Majesty.”

“What kind of woman would that be?”

“Well… someone like Helene. Of course, I’m only thinking about personality.”

He roughly understood what kind of woman Wilhelmina was imagining.

But for Theorne, who knew Helene’s past, it was a story that only made him sigh.

“You’re saying that because you don’t know Helene’s past. I wouldn’t have been able to mention the word ‘bride’ about the old Helene.”

Even now, thinking of Helene from that time sent chills down his spine.

Wilhelmina looked at Theorne, who was reminiscing about the past, with curious eyes.

“Was Helene different from now?”

“At least she wasn’t gentle. …What, are you curious about Helene’s past?”

Wilhelmina nodded briefly.

Come to think of it, she was ignorant about the Imperial Family’s affairs.

Even the relationship between Helene and Theorne, which any Capital Nobles would have heard about, she knew nothing of.

‘…Right, it might be better to tell her about it now.’

For the stability of the Layton Family and understanding with Helene, it seemed good to tell Wilhelmina, who was the Grand Madam.

Whatever Helene might think, Theorne had to pursue reconciliation with the Ducal House as Emperor.

‘Helene wouldn’t open her mouth herself. Besides, telling her to ask someone else… that carries too much risk.’

The Imperial Family Members’ past was widely known, but the interpretations varied just as much.

They might distort the content for political reasons.

He didn’t want to plant unnecessary misunderstandings and prejudices in Wilhelmina.

“Fine. As a reward for keeping secrets, I’ll tell you some old stories. Since you seem to have come out to skip work anyway, we have plenty of time.”

“It’s not skipping work, it’s taking a break.”

“What are you talking about when you came out in disguise like me? Anyway, I’ll explain what others know.”

Revealing too detailed circumstances would be a terrible thing to do to Helene as well.

Providing information about rumors that had spread around, to the extent that Capital Nobles all knew, would be sufficient.

Theorne began his explanation, recalling the time when the Previous Emperor was still alive.

“…When I first saw Helene, she was close to being a doll.”

* * *

The Previous Emperor had three children.

Two children born to the Previous Empress, Ivana Baltanas: Prince Apoli and Princess Helene.

Prince Teorne, the child of Chersil Dafone, who became the next Empress after Empress Ivana died.

When Prince Apoli was born, the Previous Emperor, delighted to have a son, held a festival and received congratulations from all.

Since the Previous Emperor and Empress had their child at a late age, Apoli was nothing short of a blessing bestowed by the Sun God.

But the joy was brief, as the Previous Emperor couldn’t hide his disappointment when he realized that Apoli was not suited to be Crown Prince.

Apoli was a timid and foolish child.

He had ambition but lacked boldness, feared his parents but looked down on his subordinates—a typical young master commonly found in noble families.

Not even a speck of exceptional qualities could be found in him.

During this time, Ivana became pregnant with her second child.

‘Oh, my love. You strive for me.’

The Previous Emperor, quite disappointed in Apoli, hoped for an outstanding son to be born.

But contrary to his expectations, the Sun God only granted half of the Previous Emperor’s wish.

‘How could this child receive such a blessing… If only Apoli had even half of this.’

What was born was a girl, and ironically, she was born with the exceptional talent that Apoli lacked.

If not for the disadvantage of being a woman, she would have been more than enough to take Apoli’s place.

Afterwards, Empress Ivana passed away from a chronic illness shortly after giving birth to Helene.

The grief of losing his wife was brief, and the Previous Emperor, who found new love in Chersil Dafone, eventually gained his third child, Teorne.

Crown Prince Apoli, incompetent but inheriting the position of firstborn and platinum hair.

Princess Helene, whose exceptional talent made it regrettable that she was born a girl.

And Prince Teorne, born to a woman from the Southern Region, the ill-fated prince with crimson hair.

Thus, these three different children came to live together as a family.

‘Though you have different mothers, you are siblings who inherited the Blood of the Sun. I hope you will show deep affection for each other.’

Perhaps thanks to the Previous Emperor’s superficial command, the three maintained a fairly peaceful relationship.

Though Apoli was particularly jealous of Helene, Helene, who had realized her limitations from birth, continued living a doll-like, barren life.

Thanks to this, the two platinum-haired siblings grew up quietly without conflict, and since Teorne had no succession rights from the beginning, there was no reason to fight with him, so they could get along peacefully.

That peace was shattered by words the Previous Emperor impulsively uttered one day.

‘Helene, you are truly perfect.’

On the day when a swordsmanship tournament was held under Imperial auspices, the Previous Emperor said this while watching Helene, who had become the winner at a young age.

The Previous Emperor, who was drunk because it had been a long time since the last swordsmanship tournament, was particularly loose-tongued that day.

‘If it were you, it wouldn’t be inappropriate to pass my position to you.’

Whether those were thoughtless empty words or sincere ones, no one knew.

What was certain was that those words had given Helene, who had been living like a doll, a signpost.

‘Is it true, Father? If I… become perfect, will something change?’

There was no way the Previous Emperor could understand what feelings she had when saying those words.

An incompetent Elder Brother. Helene, who was more outstanding than anyone else, had lived between him and Younger Sister who was discriminated against for having different hair color. Without purpose, she was merely a doll who lived going with the flow.

To a doll, the master is an absolute existence. A doll raises its arm when the master tells it to raise it, and walks when told to walk.

The master who ruled the Empire, the Previous Emperor, commanded Helene.

‘Of course, all paths in This World change according to effort.’

Fairy tale-like words that anyone who knew the reality of the Empire would scoff at.

But for young Helene, there was no declaration more beautiful than that.

After the one who had given her hope left, Helene spoke to her final opponent, Theorne.

‘Theorne, I… think I can do better.’

Toward those sparkling eyes he had never seen before, Theorne answered.

‘Damn, do you believe those words?’

What came back was a strong Knuckle Rap that knocked him unconscious.

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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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