I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 196

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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 196

To put it nicely, you could say her popularity had risen, but it wasn’t as if only clean rumors were spreading.

“And in the midst of all that, some old… no, some Baron dared to criticize the Grand Duchess’s conduct.”

“It’s certainly a topic they despise.”

A widowed woman having a scandal with a Duke from a distant region, especially the Eastern Region that had been at odds with the Western Region – it was perfect material for conservative nobles to sink their teeth into.

Ilina fumed, saying “Who does that person think they are to torment our Grand Duchess!”

“Still, compared to the rumors, things are relatively quiet, so don’t get too angry.”

“That may be true, but… the fact that it’s thanks to the Duchess is a bit…”

‘It is an unwelcome truth though.’

Just before the bad rumors about Wilhelmina could grow larger, Helene personally appeared in social circles.

She even escorted Wilhelmina herself, portraying the beloved daughter-in-law and respected mother-in-law.

It was probably a kind of acting to quell the controversy, but the effect was excellent.

After that, most of the people who had been trying to badmouth Wilhelmina shut their mouths and disappeared.

Whatever rumors they might spread behind the scenes, at least they couldn’t act like they used to.

However, for the Reading Club members who thought Helene was the very person who had caused Wilhelmina’s reputation to fall, this harmony was not easy to accept.

‘If she was going to act like this, she should have been good from the beginning.’

Wilhelmina might not know since she didn’t listen to gossip about others, but the Reading Club members had been sick at heart over the malicious talk about Wilhelmina that had been circulating in social circles.

For them, who knew Wilhelmina’s true worth, the low evaluation spreading through social circles was displeasing.

It got so bad that when she heard a story about a young miss from a fallen household rising to success, Ilina almost flipped the table right then and there.

Baroness Rollan managed to smooth things over that time, but how heartbreaking it had been to see Wilhelmina not receiving her family’s protection in such situations.

And now that same Helene was acting like a good daughter-in-law.

Even knowing they should be supportive, they couldn’t readily embrace it – that was their true feeling.

“…Come to think of it, we haven’t seen Count Tilim lately either.”

But feeling this wasn’t a suitable conversation for this setting, Baroness Metokan changed the subject.

“Ah, Miss Chloe is also busy with business. That’s why she hasn’t been able to come to the Reading Club for two weeks, just like the Count.”

As the wool and dyeing business began to gain momentum, Chloe was also running around here and there.

As a female family head leading a major business, she was a celebrity who frequently became a topic of conversation.

Even those who had initially sneered that she wouldn’t succeed were now desperate to make an impression as her business proceeded smoothly.

“In the past, we would have gone autumn leaf viewing with Miss Chloe around this time… I miss it a little. It feels like she’s going far away by herself.”

Ilina muttered while staring blankly into space.

Though the two boasted an unchanging friendship, there were times when they felt hurt precisely because of that friendship.

One couldn’t remain a child forever.

“Come to think of it, many things seem to have changed since we met the Grand Duchess. Miss Chloe became a Count, and I no longer worry about my friends’ opinions… If someone had said this a few years ago, I never would have believed it.”

Baroness Metokan felt the same way.

She smiled bitterly, recalling Mabel’s greeting that she had heard before leaving home.

‘Mother, what time will you be home today? Butler Kalsemo is making barbecue for dinner tonight. I’d like to eat together…’

Though expressionless, Mabel’s eyes were filled with anticipation.

In the past, I would have found Mabel’s such coquetry unfamiliar, but now it was just adorable.

Learning about the joy of family was thanks to Wilhelmina.

And this kind of experience wasn’t just felt by Baroness Metokan alone, but by all the Reading Club members.

‘Though she herself makes excuses saying she didn’t do anything.’

When such topics came up in the Reading Club, Wilhelmina would put on a serious face and deny it.

Being someone with low self-esteem, she would always brush it off saying, ‘That’s because you all are amazing.’

Contrary to Wilhelmina’s words, for the members, the Reading Club was a precious gathering that had changed them.

It wasn’t just the members who thought this way.

“The number of people wanting to join has increased a lot too.”

“That’s right! I was happy at first, but now it’s tiring.”

Ilina nodded vigorously at Baroness Metokan’s words.

While it was true that they became famous because Helene joined, there were also those who approached them wanting to change their circumstances after seeing Chloe’s case.

There was even a noble lady who asked for divorce counseling.

Though everyone was declining out of consideration for Wilhelmina’s situation, somehow the Reading Club’s reputation was starting to spread in a strange direction.

Even Baroness Metokan, who had little connection to high society, could feel it, so someone like Ilina who had many friends had her ears hurting wherever she went.

“Last time, Miss Chloe was even invited to the Elderly Ladies’ Gathering! At first I thought it was because of business…”

“Excuse me…”

Just as Ilina was continuing her words with a sense of injustice, someone approached them.

It was a woman of small stature, who stood out for wearing a spring-colored dress despite it being autumn.

In contrast, her expression was dark compared to her bright clothes.

“You’re Baroness Metokan and Lady Millize, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Emily from the Baron Vesta Family.”

It was a family name I’d never heard before. That meant they weren’t known in high society.

Seeing that she knew Baroness Metokan and Ilina’s names, she seemed to be someone with business regarding the Reading Club.

Baroness Metokan asked in a somewhat sharp tone.

“Yes, nice to meet you. But what brings you here?”

Emily fidgeted while clasping her hands tightly together.

After choosing her words for a while, she carefully opened her lips.

“My cousin insisted I must meet the Grand Duchess, so I came.”

“Your cousin? What’s the matter?”

“I came to ask you to help me find my husband.”

“…What?”

I thought it would be divorce or family disputes at most, but an unimaginable problem had emerged.

Baroness Metokan and Ilina looked at each other simultaneously.

Emily continued with tears welling up in her eyes.

“I know this is sudden. But please, couldn’t you give me a chance to meet the Grand Duchess? I’ll pay any amount as compensation.”

“Wait a minute. I don’t understand… Why are you asking the Grand Duchess about a problem with your husband?”

If he had gone missing, she just needed to contact the guards.

Baroness Metokan frowned, unable to understand why Wilhelmina’s name suddenly came up.

Then Emily bit her lower lip tightly and spoke in a small voice that only they could hear.

“Because… the one who took my husband away is the Grand Duchess’s father. The Grand Duchess must surely know something about it.”

‘What kind of nonsense is this now.’

I heard that Wilhelmina’s father had definitely passed away, hadn’t he?

At the bewildering answer, Baroness Metokan couldn’t bring herself to speak.

It didn’t seem like something she should decide on her own.

Baroness Metokan exchanged glances with Ilina. But even Ilina didn’t have a clear solution.

“…Very well, I’ll contact the Grand Duchess. First, please tell us the detailed circumstances.”

Having finally decided to relay the message, Baroness Metokan calmly listened to Emily’s story.

And the explanation that followed… was somehow familiar, a very recognizable story.

* * *

“So, her husband accumulated massive debts that would ruin the family, and some man appeared out of nowhere saying he’d pay off the debts if they let him adopt their son into another family?”

“Yes.”

“And the husband who decided to sell his son suddenly disappeared, and he took the family seal with him so they can’t even reverse the contract?”

“That’s correct.”

I let out a hollow laugh as I listened to Baroness Metokan’s words.

It was like the beginning of my own story with only the characters changed. The story was so familiar that I wondered if it might actually be an act.

“I investigated, and the Baron Vesta family was from the Southern Region. It’s an area close to the Western Region, but they’ve never shown their faces in the social circles here. Their participation in the recital was also thanks to using black market tickets.”

“…They must be quite desperate.”

“Yes, in my estimation… their lodging probably isn’t a proper place either.”

A noble lady wandering alone in a foreign land searching for her husband – if this appeared in a novel, it wouldn’t be strange for her to have the setting of a tragic protagonist.

The pitiful circumstances were one thing, but the problem was the story that followed.

‘The man who tried to buy the son was Windsor’s man.’

No fool would believe the absurd story of selling children.

Yet the reason Emily’s husband signed the contract was because the other party had noble status.

And the other party used Windsor as his family name.

‘So he was wandering around the black market doing this kind of work.’

From what I heard, the timing was right after our family’s downfall, so after Father’s death, and Emily’s husband, who was being chased by debts, stamped his seal without even checking Windsor family’s current situation.

“How did you know my family was Windsor?”

“Her cousin told her. She said Windsor was the family name of someone she respected…”

“Younger sister?”

“The younger sister’s name was Billia Kotona.”

Only then did I realize why Emily had come looking for me.

Billia Kotona, it was the name of the child who had been an assistant instructor at the Academy that I met in the capital.

She who had dyed her hair platinum and was ignored by the surrounding nobles seemed to have told Emily information about me.

Since she could access academic records, she would have been able to know my surname from before marriage too.

“She came here grasping at straws, believing that Windsor’s man must have been involved in her husband’s disappearance.”

I let out a sigh. After hearing this, I couldn’t not help her.

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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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