I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 210
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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 210
Though a great commotion had passed, the banquet continued as if nothing had happened.
The nobles blessed Jace and Sophia’s new choice, sharing wine glasses among themselves and cheerfully evaluating today’s events.
The humiliation of Count Jormon’s family was, for them, merely a topic of conversation to enjoy for a season.
‘But I never expected no one would interfere. At times like this, the nobles’ indifference gives me chills.’
Though I dealt with them with a smile, I was feeling disgusted by their changed attitude.
Since they were directly invited, they must be acquaintances of Count Jormon, yet they offered neither sympathy nor comfort.
Perhaps thinking they’d fall out of my favor if they got involved with him, they thoroughly ignored Count Jormon.
Watching the couple who had become wallflowers despite being the hosts of the banquet hall, even my non-existent sympathy began to stir.
But since I couldn’t do anything rash, I asked Gideon to take care of the two.
“You can handle it well, right?”
“Of course. They’ll be my adoptive parents now.”
Actually, I had no intention of sending Gideon as an adopted son.
When I asked if it wouldn’t be better to stay with his own family even if poor, Gideon’s conviction was firm.
‘What Mother needs isn’t me. It’s stability. And even if I live at the Count’s house, I plan to visit Mother often. Even though my status has changed, I haven’t given up being Mother’s son.’
I didn’t know if that’s what Emily wanted, but outsiders couldn’t easily interfere in such matters.
In fact, Emily herself seemed more afraid of losing her place to live than of having her son taken away.
Gideon calmly approached the Count couple.
Since he’s as clever as he is smart, he’ll probably have this family under his thumb before long.
This time I looked at Sophia.
Still awkward about showing her face, she was conversing with people while habitually touching her hair.
Last night, she said she wanted to become a botanist.
Cultivating the flower garden was actually to observe plants, and she had secretly read several botany books without her parents knowing.
But the Count couple, who treated their daughter like merchandise, would never give her more education than necessary.
So I recommended that she enroll in the Academy.
‘If she enrolls, she’ll get dormitory housing and can be separated from her parents, killing two birds with one stone.’
Plus, the Academy could block the Count couple’s violent acts.
Of course, special admission wasn’t easy, so I wondered if I should protect her in the annex building like Isobel, but Jace solved that concern.
‘If you use the Grand Duchess’s name, they’ll easily allow it, right? The professor who wrote my absence letter is in charge of admissions.’
‘Does he like me that much?’
‘Try visiting when you’re bored. He’ll really worship you like a god.’
I had no intention of meeting him, but anyway, the corruption of high nobles was sweet.
According to Jace, since all nobles get in through donations anyway, this much could be overlooked.
For a plan conceived in such a short time, everything fit together quite well. Even if it wasn’t a happy ending for everyone, I had sufficiently achieved my purpose.
Before I knew it, time was heading toward midnight.
I came out to the terrace for a rest and leaned against the railing.
And I faced the man who had silently followed me.
“Do you have business with me, Count Borgus?”
His identity was Count Borgus, Count Jormon’s rival and the person with the second highest status after me at this banquet.
He approached me with a hearty smile.
“Haha, this old man has too much curiosity. I really wanted to have a conversation with the famous Grand Duchess Wilhelmina.”
“Well, didn’t you need evidence to report to Mikhail?”
“…You knew.”
Count Borgus’s expression, who had maintained a gentlemanly attitude, hardened coldly.
I shrugged my shoulders and sat down on the garden bench.
“I noticed long ago that Count Borgus received a request from Mikhail.”
“I don’t think I acted in a way that would arouse suspicion.”
“The problem was that you weren’t suspicious. Because you were different from other people, Count.”
You didn’t flatter me, didn’t mock Count Jormon, and thoroughly maintained the attitude of an observer.
It was a posture that couldn’t come out without ulterior motives.
“You deduced it from just that?”
“There’s more, but… I don’t think I need to tell you.”
I had no intention of mentioning that I saw Count Borgus’s name in Helene’s business progress report before coming.
It might sound like I was meddling in someone else’s business.
Count Borgus was one of the nobles who volunteered to be Layton’s ears.
“Huh, to think you were such a wise person, the rumors were indeed an underestimation.”
“No, it’s an overestimation. What I did wasn’t much.”
“How modest of you.”
Count Borgus, who was chuckling, seemed to have no intention of listening to my words.
Since this kind of misunderstanding wasn’t just once or twice, I waved my hand and changed the subject.
“So what do you want to ask? If it’s about the reason I came here, I already revealed it to Mikhail long ago.”
“His Grace the Duke was worried and sent me. My purpose wasn’t to investigate you, Grand Duchess, but to protect you. Count Jormon is somewhat… hot-tempered, you see.”
Indeed, he was someone who raised his fist at his daughter even with spectators present, so it was understandable to be worried.
When I return, I’ll probably get quite a scolding from Helene.
“The incident has been resolved, so there’s no need for protection now. Why did you come to see me?”
“Haha, didn’t I tell you? It’s because of curiosity. I wanted to observe up close what kind of person you are, Grand Duchess.”
“So, what’s your impression?”
“…Magnificent.”
He spoke with a voice filled with ecstasy, his lips curved upward but his eyes not smiling.
“I thought you would solve the problems of House Jormon, but I didn’t know you would wrap it up so perfectly. From the acting at the beginning to the charisma that captivated the public, it was so wonderful that words cannot fully express it.”
For praise, these were rather burdensome expressions.
Somehow the atmosphere felt strange, so I frowned.
“If Grand Duchess had been in the position of a ruler, the Western Region would be by now…”
“Stop.”
I thought he was just a spy, but he was someone with twisted loyalty.
“I don’t want to hear any more. I’ll take it as praise that I did well, so please stop.”
“…I understand, I was being foolish.”
When I clearly showed my intention that I didn’t want to continue the conversation, he stepped back and let out a laugh.
“I’ll report to His Grace the Duke that the Grand Duchess resolved the matter well without needing my help.”
“Do as you please.”
“If you ever have occasion to visit the Northwestern Region again, please do seek out this Count Borgus. I would help with anything concerning the Grand Duchess. Even if it’s not a matter of the Western Region…”
“Count.”
When I left him alone, he gradually crossed the line.
I glared at him and spoke quietly.
“I clearly said I don’t want to hear any more.”
“…Haha, I made another mistake. I apologize.”
If he bothered me any further, I was planning to call Nata, but fortunately he had enough perception for that, as Count Borgus bowed his head and stepped back.
“Then I’ll take my leave now. I hope to see you next time at a truly joyous occasion. …Oh, and also.”
What more did he have to say? When I frowned, he glanced toward the corner of the terrace and said.
“Be careful with secret meetings. Some worthless rat might spread rumors.”
And he returned to the banquet hall.
After he left, silence fell over the terrace.
As autumn arrived and the night breeze became quite cool, I pulled my shawl tighter around my shoulders and spoke toward the corner.
“So he says. If the Grand Duchess is caught having a secret meeting, it would cause quite a scandal, wouldn’t it? Especially if the other party is a Duke from the Eastern Region.”
“…”
Whoosh-
With the sound of wind, the transparent veil lifted, and Rohan revealed himself.
His hair was still the undyed black color.
“Did you know I would come?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Of course, I hadn’t thought he would be hiding on the terrace. I only noticed because Count Borgus tipped me off.
I straightened my back that had been leaning against the railing and said.
“You’re trying to erase Lord Windsor’s traces, and I came looking for the Zormon County that dealt with that Lord Windsor, so I thought I would definitely see you once I finished the job.”
Moreover, since we held such a grand banquet, any noble in the Northwestern Region would be paying attention to this place.
If it was Rohan with his information network, he would have quickly noticed my movements.
“You came at just the right time. I was just thinking about various things after encountering Sophia and Isobel.”
“…”
The fact that Father and Lord Windsor were twins was an important clue to solving the gap in my memory.
I straightened my back and looked up at the sky. Unlike modern times, the autumn sky with the Milky Way spread across it made me feel distant.
“The reason you chased Lord Windsor was to erase the clues to my memory… wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“There was no other reason?”
Rohan didn’t answer. Since he was bad at lying, he tended to maintain silence rather than give unnecessary answers.
“You wanted to confirm whether Lord Windsor’s identity was my father or my uncle, didn’t you?”
Two men with the same appearance. Which one of the two survived?
If this secret is revealed, the victims will be clearly determined.
And the reason Rohan wants to reveal it is….
“You don’t know either whether I killed Father or Uncle, do you?”
“….”
Leaning my arms against the railing, I looked at Rohan again. My hair fluttered in the wind, obscuring his expression.
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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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