I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 191

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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 191

Time flew by like an arrow.

While I wasn’t busy, Mikhail and Helene were running around every day dealing with the aftermath of the rebellion.

Thanks to my promise to visit them often, I stopped by the Main Castle every other day to share meals or have tea, and each time I could feel how busy the castle was.

Not wanting to interfere and end up with unnecessary responsibilities, I quietly returned to my life in the Annex Building.

And as soon as I returned to my daily routine, I held a Reading Club meeting.

“It’s really been so long since we’ve seen each other.”

“How has everyone been?”

This Reading Club meeting was more about catching up with each other than discussing our reading impressions.

What the Members were most curious about was my news, so I briefly explained everything excluding sensitive information like the curse.

‘The rumors will spread to some extent anyway. It’s better to tell them before they start speculating.’

Rather, it wasn’t bad to explain the situation to the Members and shape public opinion in order to quiet the gossip in High Society.

By the time I finished talking about the past that began from when I got married and Raymond’s secrets, an hour had already passed.

Wondering if it had been a boring story, I looked around and met eyes with Chloe, whose eyes were sparkling.

“I had no idea there were such circumstances! My goodness, what a twist that the culprit was your former Father-in-law!”

Perhaps because she usually enjoyed mystery novels, Chloe kept exclaiming in an excited tone.

This was the first time I’d seen such an intense reaction from Chloe, so I looked at her with a bewildered expression.

“C-Chloe. This actually happened, so…”

“Oh, r-right! I’m sorry…”

“No, it’s fine.”

Usually Chloe would stop Ilina, but this time it was the opposite.

Chloe, who received a look from Ilina telling her to tone it down, hurriedly bowed her head and apologized.

“Still, it’s such a relief that the Grand Duchess wasn’t seriously hurt.”

Baroness Roland let out a sigh of relief.

Since she tutored various families and was well-informed about rumors, she seemed to have heard about my situation beforehand and worried greatly.

On the other hand, Baroness Metokan frowned and criticized the Layton Family’s situation.

“You just let such a scoundrel go? What if he runs away? No, more than that, is leaving the trial to the Imperial Palace the right decision? The Ducal House should obviously handle the punishment.”

“Punishment, you say?”

“Obviously, dea…”

The Baroness, sensing what word would follow, stopped Baroness Metokan.

“Baroness.”

Baroness Metokan, stung by the Baroness’s glare, cleared her throat and continued speaking.

“Anyway, I can’t understand it. The Grand Duchess went through such an ordeal, yet you’re leaving the punishment to others. If it were me, I would have punished him immediately.”

Being a Family Head herself, she seemed to view the situation more straightforwardly.

And she wasn’t wrong either. If you heard it excluding the causality from the curse, Raymond was a criminal who wouldn’t have been out of place being executed on the spot.

Having no intention of explaining further, I smiled bitterly and said,

“Well, I’m just following Mikhail’s judgment. I agreed with it too.”

“Sigh, I’m saying this now, but… Grand Duchess, you need to learn to get angrier.”

“…Me?”

But I get angry quite well?

When I tilted my head wondering what this was about, somehow even Ilina and Chloe, who had been quietly listening, nodded as if they agreed.

“You were threatened with assassination even in the capital, weren’t you? Then you should have at least protested to the Imperial Palace. Even if you couldn’t stop the birthday celebration, you should have at least gotten a promise to return to Layton early.”

Baroness Metokan gritted her teeth in indignation, saying it made no sense to hold the celebration to the end when there were assassination threats.

“That’s because I was lacking…”

“No! Even though you went all the way to the capital, it’s the fault of the Duke and Duchess for not protesting. No matter how unstable the Grand Duchess’s position is within the Duke’s estate, to not even protest!”

“Uh…”

Staying in the capital was my own will, and I wasn’t just passively taking hits from the enemies either.

Black Hand was destroyed, and the brainwashing operation that I couldn’t tell the members about was also my plan. I was the one who gave back as good as I got.

Besides, Rohan was always by my side so it wasn’t dangerous, but I had no way to explain that.

I wished Jane was at least by my side, but she was in a state where she couldn’t even set foot in the annex building due to her heavy workload.

“That’s right, you almost got seriously hurt. I think it would be better if you paid more attention to safety.”

‘…To hear such words from Ilina.’

Had the child who used to wear corsets tight enough to make her vomit because of her friends’ opinions grown enough to give such advice?

I should have felt deeply moved, but somehow my feelings were strange.

Next was Chloe.

“Come to think of it, Grand Duchess, you only travel with Sir Nata, don’t you? No matter how skilled Sir Nata is, someone of your status should have more guard knights.”

“That’s… true, I suppose.”

Having few guards was something Nata often mentioned too.

Since I really didn’t like traveling around with many people, having Anna attend to me and Nata guard me had been our way until now.

Considering that high-ranking nobles usually have about 10 guard knights and soldiers accompanying them when they go out, I was indeed a special case.

“…Safety insensitivity?”

Mabel, who was reading a book with Mirinai at the next table, quietly defined my situation.

I thought about making a joke that it wasn’t that bad, but the members’ eyes looking at me were so intense that I couldn’t bring myself to open my lips.

‘This is strange, it was supposed to be a time for exchanging pleasantries.’

My shoulders gradually shrank under the gazes of people filled with half worry, half anger.

I sent a pleading look to the Baroness for help, but she too smiled faintly as if this was only natural.

‘I need to clear up this misunderstanding… but how should I do it.’

Even though I had added at the end of my explanation that Helene and I had reconciled well, they didn’t seem to believe it.

Instead, I heard sympathetic murmurs of ‘Our kind Grand Duchess has been deceived.’

…If Ilina had been my daughter, I would have given her a good knock on the head.

Just as I was about to bring up the topic that Helene and I were now on good terms, Baroness Metokan spoke with a firm attitude.

“Anyway, Grand Duchess, you’re not someone who should receive such treatment. You should take this opportunity to get angrier. Both the Duke’s estate that stood by and watched, and especially the Duchess’s…”

“The Duchess’s what?”

Just then, a familiar voice was heard from the entrance of the study.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward the door.

“Helene?”

“Excuse me, Mother.”

Helene was there. After greeting briefly, she approached us with natural steps as if she were entering her own room.

Not only I, but all the members were momentarily overwhelmed by her appearance as a pure and composed Duchess.

“…So you’ve come.”

Baroness Metokan muttered quietly. Her tone and expression were as if the final boss had appeared.

Meanwhile, it was quite a sight to see the other members making similar expressions.

“Since this is a gathering Mother created, I realized that your daughter-in-law hasn’t shown her face all this time, so I hurried over. I’m sorry for not contacting you in advance, Mother.”

“No, that doesn’t matter… Are you alright?”

Since others were watching, I switched to Mother’s tone and examined Helene’s complexion.

The annex building was a place Helene had so disliked. Since she used to feel uncomfortable even entering it, I was worried.

Then Helene smiled briefly so only I could see and answered.

“I’m fine now.”

And without me even saying anything, she headed toward the seat to my left where Jane should have sat.

She took her seat gracefully but quickly and looked around at the members.

Baroness Metokan, who had suddenly changed to an expressionless face, spoke.

“I never expected to see such an esteemed person as the Duchess only now.”

Strictly speaking, it should have been a sentence with “like this” rather than “only now,” which didn’t quite fit.

But Helene seemed to understand the underlying meaning and greeted her elegantly.

“I’m sorry for coming to see you so late, Baroness Metokan. I’ve been too busy with work to participate until now.”

“…It sounds like you’re planning to keep coming in the future as well.”

Chloe asked in a timid voice. But even her tone was unusually sharp.

Wondering why the atmosphere had become like this, I looked around and found that Baroness Metokan, leading Ilina and Chloe, had somehow formed a united front against Helene.

Even the seating arrangement was strange.

To my left sat Helene and the Baroness, while to my right sat Chloe, Ilina, and Baroness Metokan.

When Helene pulled her chair closer to my side, Chloe also stuck right next to my right side. Needless to say, Ilina who was nearby did the same.

Adding Baroness Metokan glaring at Helene with her arms crossed, the formation looked quite fierce.

‘What is this, a debate arena?’

I wanted to go read fairy tale books with Mabel and Mirinai at the next table.

“Will you keep coming?”

To Chloe’s repeated question, Helene slowly nodded.

“Yes, Tilim… Count. Even if I can’t participate every time, I plan to join if Mother permits it.”

It was surprising that she introduced Chloe as Count rather than Countess, but it was shocking that she mentioned joining the reading club.

‘Helene? In my reading club? Why?’

This was a casual gathering I created because of the burden of having to hold social meetings, and suddenly Helene wants to participate.

Just thinking about how nobles hoping to participate would bother me already gave me a headache.

It was only three months ago that I was already racking my brains over the summer camp.

If they were friends of Chloe and Ilina it might be different, but I had no intention of bringing in someone of Helene’s standing.

“Helene, that’s…”

“It would be fine, wouldn’t it, Mother?”

As if knowing I would refuse, Helene placed her hand on mine as she spoke.

Her subtly affectionate voice, so unlike Helene, made my whole body freeze for a moment.

“Please, I’m asking you.”

I have no idea where she learned to tilt her head slightly and make requests like that.

Should I have a stern talk with Mikhail?

Anyway, being weak to beautiful women was something both my son and I had in common.

“A-alright.”

“…Grand Duchess.”

Baroness Metokan’s voice, sounding utterly exasperated, pierced my ears.

Well, what’s wrong with… granting my daughter-in-law’s wish or two?

Ahem, I let out an involuntary cough.

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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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