I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 176

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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 176

The birthday celebration schedule had finally come to an end.

Starting from the last banquet, the countless nobles who had gathered in the capital began returning to their respective territories.

Our Layton Family was no exception.

Unlike when I came to the capital alone, this time I would be returning with my son and his wife.

The number of guards and servants had also increased, creating what had become the largest group leaving the capital.

‘It’s just like a celebrity entourage.’

Perhaps because Mikhail had received the most attention after the Emperor during this celebration, an enormous crowd had gathered even for our departure.

While some people pressed gifts into our hands saying they would definitely visit Layton next time, there were also troublesome people who brought their children, clearly mindful of Zeonil and Minerva’s engagement.

I had already escaped and was the first to board the carriage.

I was now sick of conversations with nobles.

Just as I closed the carriage door and leaned back comfortably to rest, someone knocked.

“Grand Madam.”

The door opened, and Anna cautiously called out to me.

“Um, His Majesty is…”

I could guess without her saying more, so I sighed and nodded.

The door opened, and the Emperor climbed into the carriage with his usual imposing presence.

“I came to see you off on your journey home, but you weren’t there.”

I glanced toward the front of the procession beyond the carriage, where people were bustling about.

Looking closely, I could see orange hair mixed among the crowd.

“There’s no need to use a clone. You could have just called for me.”

“This is the real body. That one over there is the clone. Besides, you’d obviously be annoyed if I called you to a crowded place.”

“…”

Ever since our meeting in the back alley, the Emperor’s attitude had been strangely gentle.

His considerate behavior to the point of being burdensome was unlike him.

When I looked at him with a complicated expression, the Emperor frowned deeply and said,

“Could you stop looking at me like an animal that you personally dislike but others love has attached itself to your leg?”

“…That’s a very specific example.”

“I sneeze whenever I see cats.”

It was such a perfect analogy that I couldn’t deny it.

I forced myself to smile.

“I remember we already said our farewells yesterday.”

We had even danced once at the last banquet.

We exchanged meaningless farewells about how enjoyable the capital trip had been and how I would treat him well if he ever visited Layton Territory.

“It was a farewell that lacked sincerity. After all, you were distracted by other matters at the time.”

‘…I did feel a bit sorry about that.’

I had just finished my conversation with Rohan, so my mind was unsettled.

As a result, I couldn’t concentrate even while dancing with the Emperor.

If Baroness Roland had been nearby, she would have scolded me with a stern reprimand.

Feeling apologetic, I cleared my throat and offered an apology.

“I’m sorry, there were personal circumstances…”

“Is it because of Rohanos?”

“…”

Seeing that he called him Rohanos rather than Duke Venice, it seemed he had some idea about what was going on.

As I quietly looked into the Emperor’s eyes, he continued speaking while resting his chin on his hand as if it were nothing serious.

“For reference, I didn’t figure it out by looking at you. I found out because Rohanos’s condition was a mess.”

“What kind of condition was he in?”

“He looked like someone who had just killed a person or two. It was the first time I’d seen him like that since returning from the battlefield.”

He clicked his tongue and turned his head to look outside the carriage.

His clone was exchanging exaggerated smiles with Mikhail.

“What conversation did you have?”

“It would be better to hear it directly from the Duke.”

“He absolutely won’t tell me. He believes that I’m trying to restore your memories.”

“…What?”

I frowned, wondering what he meant by that, and the Emperor sighed as if asking whether I didn’t know.

“You talked about Coram in front of him, didn’t you?”

“Ah.”

“He’s misunderstanding that I deliberately showed you Coram.”

Come to think of it, the timing was quite coincidental for it to be mere chance.

When I was struggling to find my missing memories, I had a conversation with Coram whose memory was intact, and that became the biggest clue.

From Rohan’s perspective, it was reasonable to think the Emperor had sided with me.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen…”

“It’s fine. Even without Coram, I thought you would eventually find a clue. The timing was just a bit earlier than expected. That aside… from what I hear, it seems you haven’t completely recovered your memories.”

“Yes. I only figured out the circumstances, but I don’t know what the actual memories are. Would Your Majesty tell me?”

“It would be troublesome if Rohanos started a rebellion, so I’ll decline.”

The Emperor made a joke and shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, even for you, it won’t be easy. There’s no information left even in the Imperial Intelligence Department.”

“I might be imagining things, but it seems like Your Majesty wants me to recover my memories.”

“It’s fifty-fifty.”

I was curious about what he meant by fifty-fifty, but the Emperor naturally changed the subject as if he had no intention of answering.

“Rather, I’m glad things turned out this way. Honestly, I was quite uncomfortable wondering whether I should keep deceiving you. And I want to remain an ally to you.”

“I’ve never thought of Your Majesty as an enemy.”

“But you judged that there would be nothing good from associating with me, didn’t you?”

That was true.

Seeing my expression, the Emperor smiled with an amused look.

“You’re good at maintaining a poker face, but you can’t hide your distaste. Anyway, even if I helped Rohanos in the past, there’s no reason I have to do so in the future. I’ll be rooting for you, so do your best.”

“…Thank you.”

I nodded reluctantly. Since he said he would help, it was awkward to refuse.

“Anyway, if it becomes difficult to stay in Layton, come find me anytime. The Imperial Palace will always welcome you.”

“Did you come here just to say that?”

“If I had said it in front of Duke Layton, I would have doubled my enemies.”

If it had been before, I would have understood those welcoming words as meaning he would accept me as a subject, but now it was different.

I looked at the Emperor’s face, which held a hint of laughter but whose eyes were serious, and said.

“I will definitely remember. If such a time comes.”

“…Good.”

What it meant to invite a woman to the Imperial Palace was obvious.

I politely declined. Though I could guess what charm he found in me, I didn’t have the luxury to follow him.

After meeting him in the back alley and hearing his roundabout confession, I had pondered for a long time why he was interested in me.

The conclusion I eventually reached was singular.

‘The Emperor sees me and himself as the same kind of person.’

A sense of kinship that this person would understand him… it was an emotion that could easily develop into affection.

On the day we captured Black Hand, the Emperor interrogated me while comparing family and self-love.

He regarded me as a rational person, but when my answer went against his expectations, he showed confusion.

Actually, I had similar thoughts while looking at the Emperor.

His schemes and methods of action had many similarities to mine.

If the place and circumstances of our meeting had been different, I might have been the one to develop feelings first.

‘Of course, there are no “what ifs” in love.’

As if he had finished what he wanted to say, the Emperor moved to get out of the carriage.

“Well then, see you next time. I hope we can have a more comfortable conversation then.”

“Yes, thank you for your consideration. Your Majesty, next time too…”

To him stepping outside, I showed a smile that wasn’t false this time.

“Let’s meet as ‘Teon.'”

“…How irreverent.”

Though his words were sharp, his voice was tinged with laughter. It was a sign of permission.

“Oh, and Your Majesty.”

Before closing the door, I stopped him with a thought that had just occurred to me.

“What? If you’re saying you’ll come to the Imperial Palace now…”

“It’s not that. Please give my regards to ‘Rohan’ too. And add that he’s welcome to come visit again.”

“…That doesn’t seem like something to say to someone who was rejected.”

“It’s a request.”

The Emperor, whose smile had instantly disappeared, narrowed his eyes. Soon he let out a deep sigh and nodded.

“Fine. I’ll pass it along if I have time.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t smile. It makes me more attached.”

He grumbled and closed the door.

‘How cute.’

Before leaving, I saw the tips of his ears turn red.

Perhaps the Emperor was a simpler person than I had thought.

* * *

Atop the clock tower of the Imperial Palace that overlooked the capital clearly, Theorne watched the procession of departing carriages and let out a deep breath.

‘It’s finally over.’

Even though it was a festival held for various political interests, he hadn’t expected it to be this exhausting.

His subordinates praised him saying he was truly His Imperial Majesty, but Theorne was gradually reaching his limit as well.

Dealing with dozens, hundreds of nobles one by one was overwhelming even for Theorne.

Being holed up in his office dealing with work would have been a hundred times better.

Among the departing procession, House Layton, a particularly splendid noble family with many guard soldiers, caught his eye.

Though there had been various incidents during the celebration, if he had to choose the most memorable event, he would pick his encounter with Wilhelmina.

Recalling the nickname ‘Teon’ that came from her lips, he chuckled softly.

“She knows how to captivate people.”

She didn’t possess stunning beauty or charm that would shake a man’s heart, yet he found himself swayed by a single word from Wilhelmina.

‘So that’s why Rohanos ended up in that state.’

He recalled Rohanos from the past, who had been so sharp that it was difficult to even speak to him.

As soon as he saw his appearance, Theorne had anticipated that something must have happened with Wilhelmina.

Before, he had been curious about how she had managed to win over that stone-like man, but now he could understand.

“…Family.”

Theorne reflected on Wilhelmina’s sincerity.

Her belief, which Rohanos had so desperately wanted to change, remained unchanged even now.

‘Answer me. I want to know what you would prioritize between family and justice.’

The question he had asked her on the day he captured Belua had been filled with certainty.

Because he believed that the current her would choose him over family.

He thought someone who devised such cold strategies couldn’t possibly be swayed by emotions.

But the answer that came back was no different from the past Wilhelmina that Rohanos had spoken of.

‘I choose both. I will stand up for my family. And I will accept the punishment together for failing to stop my family.’

Her determination not to abandon her family remained firm even now.

That’s why Rohanos had sworn to keep her secret.

To stop her from confessing to the crime of betraying her family and killing her father.

‘Either way, I need to resolve this quickly. At this rate, I’ll lose both love and friendship.’

Still, the first step had been taken well.

According to his plan, the stuffy customs of this Empire would soon change.

An Empire where platinum hair would no longer be a symbol of royalty, and capable children would naturally inherit succession rights.

A world where the evil custom of not examining guilt when patricide occurred would also be naturally abolished.

No one yet knew that this future was the common purpose that led to his alliance with Rohanos.

“Well then, shall I return to work.”

There was a mountain of work left to do.

While instructing the butler to prepare sweets, he erased Wilhelmina from his mind.

To indulge in affection, the duties of an emperor who might be the Empire’s last were far too heavy.

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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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