I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 187
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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 187
It was purely by chance that Rohanos ended up joining forces with Mikhail.
After finishing the celebration schedule, he had intended to return straight to the Eastern Region.
There was no reason to remain in the capital any longer, and he needed to prepare for when Wilhelmina would regain her memories.
If he couldn’t stop her, he would have no choice but to change the world.
Just as Rohanos was about to leave the capital, the Emperor stopped him.
‘Wilhelmina asked me to tell you to come see her again. She even went so far as to call you by the name ‘Rohan’.’
To Rohan, not Rohanos.
It meant he could come as Rohan, not as Duke Venice.
When she discovered his secret, he thought they would never meet again.
He judged there would be no way to restore their relationship and tried to give up hope.
However, Wilhelmina held onto him.
As if telling him not to run away anymore but to face things head-on, she calmly invited him.
Even as time passed, it was still Wilhelmina who held Rohanos’s reins.
Rohanos didn’t deliberate for long and used the Wind God’s Cloak. His destination was naturally the Western Region.
Before carrying out his plan, he decided to meet her one last time and confess his feelings.
After teleporting there, what greeted him was…
‘…Duke Venice?’
It was Mikhail, who had been investigating the house that Rohanos was using as a hideout.
The shocked Mikhail and the frozen Rohanos faced each other for a long while.
After a brief commotion where the Knights who had followed Mikhail surrounded Rohanos and Nata calmed them down, only then did Rohanos and Mikhail begin to have a calm conversation.
In truth, he should have pretended it was a coincidence, but lies didn’t work on Mikhail, who had keen observation skills.
Only after a sharp argument did Rohanos reveal his circumstances.
‘So… you’re saying you disguised your identity and frequented Layton Castle in order to see Mother?’
The Knights beside Mikhail burned with hostility as if they would attack at any moment.
It was a natural reaction. Rohanos’s actions were dangerous enough to provide grounds for war between the Western and Eastern Regions.
To travel between different regions without being detected by anyone, and even to enter the main castle using Disguise Magic.
It wouldn’t have been strange if military secrets had been exposed.
However, Mikhail calmly brushed aside such sensitive issues. Instead, he even proposed a deal using Rohanos’s transgression as bait.
‘I was searching for traces of someone called Raymond in this area. If I had known these traces belonged to Duke Venice, I wouldn’t have made this wasted trip… Anyway, I don’t have time. Please help me.’
Mikhail judged that Rohanos, who had traveled between the Western Region and the capital, would also be helpful in tracking Raymond.
Since there was no justification to refuse, Rohanos agreed to the alliance with Mikhail.
When asked if it was really okay to settle with just such an exchange, Mikhail answered with a serene expression.
‘I felt sincerity from Duke Venice. If you love Mother that much, there would be no reason to harm the Layton family.’
Even Rohanos was left speechless by such firm confidence.
As the investigation team grew larger, the time needed to track Raymond was significantly shortened.
Just two days after they began investigating together, the two men uncovered Raymond’s purpose.
‘All of these were traces deliberately left behind. …We’ve fallen into a trap.’
‘The reason for setting the trap was…’
Naturally, to create Mikhail’s absence.
Realizing this, the two headed to Layton Territory with all their might. As a result of traveling day and night, they were barely able to save Wilhelmina.
‘Thank goodness we weren’t too late.’
Unable to enter through the main gate due to the retainers’ watchful eyes, Rohanos climbed the castle wall to infiltrate.
Fortunately, thanks to Raymond’s scheme, there were many gaps in the security, allowing for easy infiltration.
Mikhail, noticing that there were no signs of people in the main castle, predicted that Raymond would be in the temple.
Following his words, Rohanos donned a cloak inscribed with stealth magic and headed to the temple.
It was a magical treasure he had used when tracking Edwin in the past.
Eventually, he discovered Wilhelmina bound by magic and pale as a sheet.
“How dare—”
His vision turned bright red with boiling rage.
He wanted to immediately cut off Raymond’s head and take Wilhelmina out of this damned Sun God’s Temple.
But what calmed his anger was neither Raymond’s shocked expression nor Jane’s restraint, but Wilhelmina’s gesture.
“Don’t…”
Wilhelmina in his arms desperately grabbed at his collar.
Despite being in such pain that even breathing was difficult, she forced her lips open to speak.
“Don’t dirty your hands… with such trash.”
“…Wilhelmina.”
“And if you’re going to beat him, do it after everything’s over. It’s not finished yet.”
“…”
It was a moment when he realized once again that she hadn’t changed.
“How could you…”
Raymond, realizing Rohanos’s identity, stepped back, even forgetting to maintain his magic.
While Mikhail was expected, Rohanos’s appearance was not written in his plans.
To Raymond’s question mixed with despair, Wilhelmina, taking a deep breath, answered instead.
“Do you need to know the reason? What matters is the result that you failed.”
She slowly rose from her position with Rohanos’s support.
The black book had been taken, and the hostage had been freed.
Frustration crossed Raymond’s face as he realized that his means of achieving revenge had disappeared.
Even though it was a situation where losing one’s head wouldn’t be strange, Wilhelmina turned her head not to Raymond, but to Helene.
“Helene, don’t approach Jane.”
Helene had already approached close to Jane.
Jane, startled, clutched the black book she was holding to her chest.
Meanwhile, Mikhail, who had been breathing heavily while being wary of Raymond, widened his eyes seeing the confrontation between Helene and Wilhelmina.
“Helene?”
“…You obstruct me until the very end.”
“I’m not obstructing you. I just haven’t given up yet.”
Helene smiled bitterly and gestured to Mikhail.
Understanding her meaning, Mikhail slowly headed toward Jane. It was to retrieve the black book.
Meanwhile, Wilhelmina approached Helene with staggering steps.
“I thought all this time that Helene hated me. I expected a daughter-in-law who would get angry as if everything was her mother-in-law’s fault. …But you were different from what I thought. Rather, you were clumsy at expressing hatred and tried hard to separate public and private matters.”
“…I still hate you even now.”
“For someone who feels guilty about hating her mother-in-law, you speak well.”
As Wilhelmina slowly approached, Helene unconsciously stepped backward.
Even though she was shorter and younger than herself, Helene felt a strange power emanating from her mother-in-law.
“You spent nightmarish days because of that terrible father-in-law, and bowed your head to your young mother-in-law to act as the perfect lady of the house.”
It was a continuation of the conversation they had before Jane appeared. Wilhelmina slowly revealed the words she hadn’t been able to say.
“I acknowledge you deeply in my heart. Not as a daughter or as imperial family, but as one human being.”
“…!”
And she grabbed Helene’s arm.
Even though she could shake her off immediately if she used force, Helene shrank back and retreated.
It was an awkward gesture, like someone unaccustomed to receiving kindness.
“Helene. Who was it that instilled that pride in you? Who tormented you for life with the mask of conviction?”
Father, the Previous Emperor.
Knowing what Helene would answer, Wilhelmina continued speaking without waiting for a response.
“After giving you such irresponsible responsibility, did he trust you until the end? Did he ever praise you for keeping your convictions?”
Of course, no.
The Previous Emperor feared Helene’s growth. He told her she needed to know her place as a daughter and took away all her opportunities and future.
The higher one climbs, the greater the pain when they fall.
The very person who gave humanity to Helene, who had been living like a doll, made her return to being a doll again.
How painful that process was, Helene never confessed to anyone.
Because it was Father’s order.
Because as imperial family, following the Emperor’s commands was natural.
“But I am different.”
Wilhelmina slowly caressed Helene’s cheek.
As if aftereffects still remained, Wilhelmina’s fingertips trembled faintly.
“I respect you. Your achievements, your abilities, I respect and acknowledge them.”
“You are…”
“Even if it’s a relationship like playing house, you are my child.”
How does this person only say the words I’ve been longing to hear?
Helene pressed her lips tightly together. As if representing her emotions, her eyes trembled violently.
“It’s okay if you hate me. Even if you can’t acknowledge me as your mother, I won’t argue back. But don’t belittle yourself.”
“….”
“You mustn’t dismiss your own efforts. There’s no need to diminish the kindness you showed despite your guilt. You did enough, you did your best.”
Tears welled up in Helene’s green eyes.
Words she had wanted to hear her entire life, but had never heard from anyone.
Even if Mikhail had said them, she would have only been grateful for his kindness but wouldn’t have truly believed it.
Since her parents had passed down misguided pride, it was also a parent’s role to break it down.
“So now you can live for yourself. You don’t have to sacrifice anymore. You can be happy. Your mother… I give you permission.”
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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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