I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 203

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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 203

‘Anyway, there are two clues we need to take with us. One is the clue about Lord Windsor as I mentioned earlier, and the other is this family’s secret.’

The secret of Count Jormon’s family.

Though it sounded grandiose, Jace’s tension disappeared the moment he saw his fiancée, Sophia.

‘What? She’s exactly the same?’

Though Sophia’s expression was a bit stiff, she wasn’t much different from how she looked when they met to decide on their engagement.

Sophia appeared with a parasol, bowed politely to Jace, and spoke in a stammering tone.

“I-it’s been a while, Lord Jace.”

“You don’t need to be so formal. Just speak comfortably.”

“But…”

“I said it’s fine. It’s disgusting to be called ‘Lord’ by someone my age.”

‘Of course, Gideon is an exception.’

He thought that guy should definitely show him respect no matter what.

Jace led Sophia toward the mansion’s greenhouse.

When he said he wanted to have a quiet conversation between just the two of them, Sophia had recommended the greenhouse.

The servants who followed behind her in a crowd voiced their opinion that the greenhouse wouldn’t do, but they backed away when Jace glared at them once.

‘There are too many attendants, aren’t there?’

He had heard she was a cherished daughter, but even considering that, too many servants were following her around.

Moreover, the servants’ gazes were strangely suspicious.

Rather than serving, it felt more like they were conducting surveillance.

Furthermore, that category included not only Jace but Sophia as well.

Since he couldn’t make an issue out of mere insolent gazes, Jace suppressed his anger and continued his conversation with Sophia.

“I think it’s been almost two years since we met. Have you been well?”

“Yes, I’ve been well. How about you, Jace?”

“I’m the same as always. Studying at the Academy, going home during breaks… But what about you? Aren’t you enrolling in the Academy?”

Though Academy enrollment wasn’t mandatory for noble children, he found it strange that a family like Count Jormon’s, which valued honor, hadn’t enrolled her.

Sophia seemed momentarily flustered and moved her lips hesitantly.

“Ah, um, Mother said tutoring would be sufficient.”

“Well, tutoring would be better. But the reason nobles attend the Academy isn’t just for studying.”

It was something any noble would know, so Jace frowned at her strange excuse.

“Well, never mind. By the way, where is your younger sister?”

“Younger sister… you mean?”

“Your youngest sister. I haven’t seen her since yesterday.”

Wilhelmina had said at breakfast that she wanted to meet all the family members, but only the Count couple and Sophia had appeared.

Sophia’s younger sister, who would probably become Gideon’s fiancée—the youngest daughter—was nowhere to be seen.

Since Sophia hadn’t enrolled in the Academy, he naturally assumed the youngest would also be at the mansion.

Wilhelmina had indirectly asked where the youngest was, but the Count couple awkwardly changed the subject.

‘There’s definitely something going on.’

After the meal ended, Jace and Gideon parted ways as if they had made some sort of agreement.

Jace went to meet Sophia, while Gideon went to find the youngest.

Jace naturally thought Sophia would know about the situation…

“I don’t know. Mother will handle it.”

“…”

What came back was a stiff and formal answer.

‘Was Sophia always like this?’

Sophia with her doll-like rigid expression somehow looked unfamiliar.

Jace silently observed her, then glanced at the Servants who were staring intently at them.

‘Could it be…’

With a sudden question that came to mind, he pointed to one of the flowers in the Flower Garden.

“This flower is pretty. Did you grow it?”

He actually already knew the answer.

When he had received a Letter from the Countess in the past, it was a flower that had been attached, saying Sophia had grown it.

Tending to a Flower Garden was something any Noble Lady would do, so he hadn’t thought much of it at the time.

The reason he asked anyway was to check if Sophia remembered this flower.

“It’s a Nerine.”

“That’s an interesting name.”

“The flowering period is from September to November, the Bulb stem should be planted facing upward, and it’s a perennial plant. Since it grows up to about 50cm, pruning work must be done frequently, and water should be given every other day, making sure the soil is moist…”

“Uh, huh?”

Jace was flustered by the information that suddenly poured out.

He had only meant to ask who grew it and the name of the flower, but Sophia spilled out words as if reciting a Script.

“…Also, the flower language of Nerine is ‘until we meet again’.”

“…”

After finishing her explanation, she moved her lips with a pale complexion.

Jace looked at Sophia’s earnest eyes that seemed to be waiting for a grade from a Teacher.

‘Something’s strange.’

He recalled the Sophia from his memories.

She had been somewhat timid, but she wasn’t a child who clumsily read from a Dictionary like this.

Rather, Jace’s Father had praised Sophia as a smart child.

Could a person change this much in just 2 years? Especially when her appearance was no different from back then?

‘…No, what if only her appearance is the same?’

Only then did he realize what the suspicious feeling he had about Sophia was.

Her appearance was the same. But her gait, her way of speaking, and her memories were all different.

It felt like he was having a conversation with a different person who had the same face.

“Wait, you, don’t tell me…”

“Jace?”

“You’re not Sophia, are you?”

“…”

“You, who are you?”

…At that moment, the servants in the distance all rushed toward Sophia at once.

* * *

Unlike Jace, Gideon couldn’t freely roam around the mansion.

A butler from the Count’s house had already been assigned to his side.

Feeling the butler’s subtle condescension and cold gaze, Gideon could easily guess what he thought of him.

‘Already treating me like an adopted child.’

An adopted child who gets ignored at that.

Since he was an adopted child to be used as a son-in-law, the servants’ attitudes weren’t friendly either.

But since Wilhelmina had asked him, he had to move without yielding to such gazes.

“Um, where is the study by any chance? I’d like to read some books….”

“…Hmm.”

The butler who stuck close to his side kept acting cold, but Gideon wasn’t the type to lose in a battle of wills either.

Knowing his appearance was handsome, Gideon moistened his eyes and pleaded.

“Can’t I? Our house is poor, so I’ve never properly read any books.”

In the end, the butler couldn’t withstand the boy’s acting that mixed lies and truth.

“Very well. I’ll guide you. However, please keep the books clean.”

“Wow! Thank you.”

Gideon followed the butler while wearing a smile he rarely made.

Count Zormon’s study boasted quite a grand scale befitting the size of the mansion.

Gideon looked around the study with sparkling eyes, constantly expressing admiration.

The butler seemed proud, as if introducing new civilization to a child from the countryside.

However, the admiration was just acting, and Gideon was greatly disappointed seeing the study.

‘The level is quite low. Even with fewer books, the Grand Duchess’s study is much better.’

A study is a place that represents the owner’s political inclinations, tastes, and level.

In that sense, Wilhelmina’s study stood out with its diverse genres and deep scholarship.

From fairy tales that children love to human rights education, laws, and overseas literature, there was nothing missing.

And it wasn’t superficial knowledge either, as all the books brought in were said to be read and chosen by Wilhelmina herself.

On the other hand, Count Zormon’s study could immediately be seen as a space for display, not for reading.

It was full of philosophy books and history books with flashy covers that looked like they had never been touched.

‘There are many duplicates too. Did they really buy books by color… No, let me stop. There’s no end if I evaluate like this.’

He already knew that Count Zormon’s level was low.

He didn’t come to the study for such evaluation.

“Are there children’s books by any chance….”

“Over there.”

“Thank you!”

Gideon greeted the butler and walked toward the section with children’s books.

Fortunately, the butler didn’t seem to have any intention of surveillance here either, and began resting while pretending to inspect the nearby cleaning.

‘The Grand Duchess said so. Children’s education is bound to be done in the study.’

That was the reason Gideon had come to the study.

Unlike the books near the entrance, Gideon picked through the well-worn children’s books one by one.

And he quickly discovered something strange.

‘Judging by the handwriting, three people used these.’

Since Count Jormon’s family was said to have three daughters, this wasn’t strange. But the frequency was odd.

Basic arithmetic—here, three people’s handwriting remained.

‘Two of them were clever, solving problems well. On the other hand, the third handwriting, which appears to be the youngest, struggled a lot.’

Elementary mathematics—but from here, suddenly only two people’s handwriting remains.

Still showing clever solutions, it seemed to be the First Daughter and Second Daughter based on the circumstances.

‘Did the third give up studying? No, wait…’

Then intermediate mathematics. Suddenly the two people’s handwriting disappears. Instead, only the third’s handwriting remains.

Still seeming to struggle with problems, the textbook was filled with the third’s messy and complicated handwriting.

There were traces of writing mathematical formulas dozens of times in empty spaces to memorize them. There were even tear stains alongside them.

‘Intermediate mathematics was a textbook used until mid-teens. Since the First Daughter got engaged early and left home, she probably stopped studying from here. …Then why did the Second Daughter suddenly disappear?’

Even if he had misunderstood the order of the three sisters, it was strange.

Originally, there were two daughters in this house. Two people’s handwriting should rightfully remain.

‘Did they stop making her study? But the one who studied until recently was The Most Inexperienced Child. Where did The Clever One go?’

If they were going to continue education, common sense would be to keep The Clever One.

Though it was just clues from a few books, alarm bells kept ringing in Gideon’s head.

“It’s exactly like one person vanished…”

As if hearing his muttering, the Butler suddenly appeared and grabbed his wrist.

“Gasp!”

When startled Gideon dropped the book, the Butler gave a twisted smile.

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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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