I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 190
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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 190
It took quite a long time to wrap up the incident.
First and foremost was the punishment of the servants and retainers who had plotted the rebellion.
Officer Richt was placed under house arrest, and dozens of soldiers, servants, and knights were each sent to prison.
Since the retainers around Richt were also investigated to see if there were other traitors, Jane ended up taking over the officer’s vacant position by chance.
Jane screamed about the work that would pile up ahead and made her exit.
Rohan was the first to leave.
I was about to tell him to stay a bit longer as repayment for saving us, but he said that outsiders shouldn’t interfere in family matters and suggested we meet again after some time had passed.
‘Thank you, you worked hard.’
Since I had nothing to give him, I offered a greeting with a smile, and he let out a deep sigh before giving a short reply.
‘This is why I can’t just leave you alone.’
‘…What am I, some child?’
Rohan smiled silently and disappeared.
On the other hand, Raymond requested that we contact the Imperial Palace. He meant for us to prepare his trial.
Furthermore, saying he would pay for his crimes, he disclosed everything – documents recording his actions and even the wealth he had hidden away.
Mikhail tried to say there was no need to rush like this, but he firmly shook his head.
‘Since last night, Adeline hasn’t been crying. That alone is enough.’
It was an answer that didn’t match the question, but everyone present understood.
Whether Adeline’s soul had truly ascended to heaven or his delusions had ended was unknown, but at least we could feel he was prepared to pay for his crimes.
‘However, I have one request. Please… send Adeline’s coffin to the lake.’
Raymond’s territory had long since left his hands.
That place was indeed the lake where I had met Oberon, and now it was being managed by Layton’s retainers with no owner.
Mikhail said he would move the coffin and leave that place vacant, telling him to return anytime after paying for his crimes.
Raymond only smiled with his wrinkled face and didn’t offer any words of gratitude.
After giving up his revenge, his vitality was withering overnight like a flower taken from a water bottle. Whether he would be alive after everything was finished was uncertain.
Raymond left the castle like that.
After offering a brief apology to Helene, he headed to the capital with Layton’s knights.
His steps were modest, unsuited to the long journey of revenge he had walked until now.
Having witnessed all those scenes, I finally returned to the annex building.
“Grand Madam!”
Anna, whose eyes were swollen from crying so much, was the first to greet me.
Soon Rose, the butlers, Nata, and Mirinai welcomed me while stamping their feet.
“It wasn’t even far away, you stayed in the castle, so why all this commotion.”
“But we couldn’t leave the Annex Building! We wanted to come see Grand Madam right away too…”
I smiled bitterly as I comforted Anna.
Initially it was Helene who prevented the servants from the Annex Building from coming to the castle, but the reason access was blocked afterward was for security.
‘The people in the Annex Building were the only ones who were innocent.’
Since the Annex Building was independent from the main castle, it wasn’t included in the investigation targets. So we completely separated the work to avoid interfering with the investigation.
“Sorry, I should have contacted you in advance.”
“As long as you’re safe, that’s enough. What a relief. You don’t know how worried we were… Oh, I’ve tidied up the bedroom. Would you like to go up?”
“No, I just stopped by briefly to see your face. I need to go back to the castle.”
“What? Why?”
I grinned at Anna who was showing question marks.
“To torment my daughter-in-law a bit.”
And I left the Annex Building again, heading to the main castle.
The situation at the main castle was still chaotic. Knights were busily running around every corner of the castle, and several summoned retainers were waiting for Mikhail’s punishment with pale faces.
Since going to the office would obviously result in being assigned various tasks, I avoided Mikhail and headed to the castle’s bedroom.
The bedroom door was firmly closed, but the knight guarding the door recognized me and opened it.
When I looked at him as if asking why he was opening the door without even announcing me, the knight said quietly.
“…Grand Madam said to open the door whenever you came.”
Helene seemed to have anticipated my visit.
As I entered the room, Helene, who had been lying on the bed, slowly sat up.
“You came.”
“Stay comfortable. You don’t need to get up.”
I sat beside the bed and quietly observed Helene, who was wearing a nightgown.
Her complexion was a bit poor, but she still looked much healthier than when she had collapsed.
Come to think of it, this setup was quite familiar. When Mikhail had collapsed due to the curse, I had faced him from exactly this spot.
“How are you feeling?”
“Yes, I’m planning to return to my schedule starting this evening.”
“Don’t overdo it.”
“…Yes, thank you for your concern.”
“…”
A long silence followed.
Helene somehow couldn’t look directly at my face and was directing her gaze somewhere ambiguous.
Meanwhile, I was receiving a fresh shock from seeing Helene’s relaxed appearance for the first time.
‘With her hair down and wearing a nightgown, she looks even younger than me.’
They say beauties escape the passage of time, but Helene was so young that the noble lady makeup she usually wore seemed like a waste.
I feel it anew, but it’s an unfair world.
“I heard Raymond headed to the capital.”
“Yes.”
“The registry can be corrected someday. Even if it takes a little time…”
“Right.”
“My butler who deceived Mother has also been imprisoned. If there’s any punishment you desire, please let me know.”
“I understand.”
“…Is there anything you’d like to say?”
I raised the corners of my mouth in a grin and leaned my head toward Helene, who was avoiding my gaze.
Helene, forced to make eye contact, wore a reluctant expression.
“It seems like the one who has something to say isn’t me, but Helene.”
“…”
Helene’s cheeks turned slightly red. A child who looked like a romance fantasy female protagonist wearing a nightgown with flushed cheeks made quite a picture.
Indeed, Mikhail has high standards, I was thinking such thoughts when Helene finally opened her mouth.
“I have caused great trouble. I’m sorry. Please forgive my rudeness thus far. From now on, I will surely ensure there are no shortcomings…”
“Wait.”
Though she was sitting on the bed, it was such a respectfully polite greeting that it was admirable. But this wasn’t what I wanted.
“Words of gratitude feel better than apologies.”
“…Thank you?”
“Yes, that’s it. That’s enough.”
Helene frowned around her eyes as if finding it absurd.
“But you came here because you were angry with me…”
“No. If I were really angry, I wouldn’t even look at your face. I’m looking more because I like you.”
Helene’s face turned even redder.
For reference, I had said these same words to Mikhail earlier.
Mikhail, who had been seriously apologizing saying you’ve suffered all this time, it’s all the family’s fault, nodded with the happiest face in the world saying ‘I feel the same way!’ when I said this.
“You really came just for words of gratitude? For this one phrase?”
“Yes. So now I’m going to return.”
“…Was there a reason this had to be right now?”
Helene blinked as if she couldn’t understand me returning after hearing just one phrase.
She doesn’t get it. I clicked my tongue and advised her.
“Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts are better ended quickly.”
“Conflicts should end with apologies though.”
“Well, this visit isn’t only important to you. I need to show the main castle retainers. So there’s no need to go as far as apologizing.”
“…Ah.”
Only then did Helene realize the meaning of my visit.
The morale of the retainers and knights currently working in the castle was terrible.
While the servants could be kept quiet, the atmosphere of mutual suspicion continued due to the betrayal of Richt and several knights who had been Mikhail’s close associates.
To consider it over just because Raymond had left, the seeds of conflict had taken deep root.
This wasn’t a problem that even Mikhail could easily fix.
‘The biggest cause among them is the relationship between me and Helene.’
Ominous rumors were even circulating that this rebellion was caused by the conflict between Helene and me.
Since they didn’t know the circumstances about the curse, it must have looked like I, who was confined, had been betrayed by Helene.
That’s why this trivial visit was important.
It was to show that Helene and I are victims, and that we have a harmonious relationship with each other.
“If I leave behind words saying I apologized, it would make Helene truly at fault.”
“I don’t deny my wrongdoing….”
“I’ll deny it for you. Forget about the fault.”
Normally, Helene would have quickly understood this level of justification battle, but since she was tired and I didn’t want to burden her, I took the lead first.
‘That said, I don’t want to tell Helene to come to me.’
I learned later that the annex building was a place of nightmares for Helene. If that was the case, it was more comfortable for me to visit her instead.
‘Of course, I also wanted to hear words of gratitude.’
I hid my true feelings and spoke nonchalantly.
“Anyway, that’s the end of my business. I’ll visit often until the rumors die down.”
“…Yes.”
Once wouldn’t be enough, so it seemed good to meet frequently for a while.
Helene came out to the door to see me off. I could see the knight and attendants waiting in front of the door.
Just as I was about to gesture for her to go back inside.
“…See you next time, Mother.”
Helene muttered with her face still red.
I smiled mischievously and said.
“You could call me Mom too.”
“….”
Helene glared at me with wide eyes, but even that looked like my daughter-in-law’s cute rebellion.
She didn’t answer and slammed the door shut. Seeing how she loosened her strength slightly just before closing it, she didn’t seem truly angry.
I left the main castle with light steps.
I finally felt the reality that the long mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflict had ended.
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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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