I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 220

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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 220

Theorne couldn’t even begin to guess where Wilhelmina had caught on.

‘Did Rohanos tell her? …No, that guy would never break his oath.’

Recalling the face of his friend who wouldn’t open his mouth even with a knife to his throat, Theorne feigned composure.

“What an insolent opinion. Do you think I, who rules the Empire, would agree with such ideology?”

“If you deny it, I won’t mention it further. I was simply speaking based on what I observed.”

“…But it is intriguing. Tell me more.”

Wilhelmina seemed ready to back down as if she didn’t want to argue, but he couldn’t just let it go.

If she were to tell this plan to someone else, it might bring about a fight worse than a struggle for imperial power.

Perhaps reading the wariness in Theorne’s eyes, Wilhelmina sighed as if tired.

“I’ve never told anyone else. Naturally, I have no intention of interfering with His Imperial Majesty either. I simply wanted to confirm that Rohan was involved in this matter.”

“How can I trust your words?”

“As I mentioned earlier. I’m someone who planned to abandon my noble status in order to survive.”

“That’s…”

He also recalled how she had acted as a soldier giving congratulatory speeches, something nobles typically avoided.

It was a proven fact that Wilhelmina had no prejudice regarding social status.

Even so, the risk was too great to tell her the truth.

He trusted Wilhelmina, but that didn’t mean her surroundings were safe.

Especially Helene, who was quietly drinking tea beside her, was a problem.

‘…I can’t read her expression.’

Though her face was impassive, he couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

Helene was more serious than anyone about her pride and responsibility as a member of the Imperial Family.

How else could she have given up her dreams and held a wedding ceremony, saying she had to follow the Emperor’s decision?

Noticing Theorne’s gaze, Helene set down her teacup and spoke calmly.

“I am the Lady of the House of the Layton Family. Since I married out, I have no right to interfere in Imperial Family affairs.”

“What do you mean…”

“Since the Layton Family cannot presume to judge His Majesty’s will, I will forget everything I heard here. Of course, if my family faces threats, my position would be different then.”

In other words, she would let this matter slide.

If it had been the Helene of the past, she would have been furious, asking if he was denying the blood bestowed by God. It was a surprising change.

‘No, is the surprising one Wilhelmina, who changed Helene?’

Considering Rohan’s case as well, it was suspicious enough to wonder if Wilhelmina had some kind of mind control ability.

In any case, thinking he could no longer deny it, Theorne answered with a displeased tone.

“Sigh, fine. You’re right. Rohanos helped gather young people who sympathize with my ideology. Starting with eliminating the legitimacy of Imperial Family blood and lowering the barriers for nobles…”

Wilhelmina stopped him as he was about to explain everything.

“That’s enough.”

“What? Aren’t you curious about the final purpose of the plan?”

“What I’m curious about is the connection with Rohan, not the Empire’s future.”

This time it was truly words that wouldn’t be strange to dismiss as seditious thoughts.

Theorne let out a hollow laugh.

“He just said that he helped me.”

“What’s important is whether he acted as part of a deal, or whether he agreed with His Majesty’s ideology.”

“Couldn’t you just ask him directly?”

“I don’t think he’d ever answer.”

‘True enough.’

Agreeing with this ideology was tantamount to declaring war against this world.

Rohan would never answer Wilhelmina about that.

Theorne pondered for a moment, then nodded his head.

“He joined because he agreed with it. He also seemed to want something from the changed world.”

“…Did you hear what it was he wanted?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t ask that far.”

‘Though I can roughly guess.’

Wilhelmina seemed to have the same thought as Theorne, smiling with a relieved expression.

“…At least he hasn’t forgotten his promise, it seems.”

After exchanging glances with Helene, she spoke to the Emperor who was sipping his cold tea.

“I’d like to meet with Rohan. I have no means to contact him, so I was wondering if Your Majesty could…”

“I’ll pass along a message. What do you want to tell him?”

Wilhelmina briefly conveyed her message.

Since Theorne had means to communicate with Rohan, it wasn’t a difficult task.

“…So in the end, the reason you came to see me was all because of Rohanos?”

At Theorne’s words, Wilhelmina rolled her eyes pretending not to hear. Then she stood up from her seat along with Helene.

“Well then, we’ll take our leave now. Thank you for taking time out of your precious schedule.”

Theorne frowned at their anticlimactic exit after visiting so early in the morning.

“You’re leaving like this? After disrupting my morning?”

“I’d like to share breakfast together if I could, but I can’t disturb Your Majesty when you’re so busy.”

“I could make time for you.”

“Actually, I’m the one who’s busy.”

Of course you are.

Theorne waved his hand dismissively as if telling them to hurry up and leave.

It had been quite enjoyable to converse after meeting for the first time in a while, but she still seemed to have little interest in Theorne.

Just then, Wilhelmina stopped at the door and turned her head as if just remembering something.

“Ah, Your Majesty.”

“Yes?”

“I’m in no position to help Your Majesty, but… I wanted to tell you that I respect you.”

Respect – it was a word that didn’t suit Wilhelmina at all.

Wondering if she was joking, he narrowed his eyes and glared at her, but Wilhelmina continued with a serious expression.

“I don’t think Your Majesty’s goal is just a pipe dream.”

“…Surprising. I thought you were a rational person.”

Somehow, he felt a sense of déjà vu, as if he had said these words before.

He never expected someone like Wilhelmina to defend such words about an individual trying to change a culture that had continued for countless long years.

Wilhelmina slowly shook her head.

“It’s a reckless challenge. Inequality exists in any world, and rebelling against it is foolish sacrifice. But… His Majesty confronted it. It’s something I could never even imagine doing.”

It was an unfamiliar reaction for Theorne, who had never confided his plans to anyone else.

Theorne opened and closed his mouth with bewildered eyes.

“Why do you say you can’t do it?”

“Because my family’s happiness is more important to me than the Empire’s happiness. I’m someone who cares more about my family’s scratches than the tragedies on the far side of the continent. That’s how small and narrow my boundaries are.”

It was quite a passive story coming from Wilhelmina.

He thought she was someone who could get her hands on anything she wanted.

Wilhelmina lightly denied such fantasies from Theorne.

“That’s how I’ve always turned away from great inequality. When someone praised me as if I were the most merciful noble lady in the world, I would often ignore them with a ‘stinging’ expression. In the end, I was just like other hypocrites, someone who ran away because I was afraid to face reality.”

“…You’re severely underestimating yourself.”

“Should I only underestimate Your Majesty?”

In the cold winter, she had the kindness to give a hand warmer to a child whose hands turned red from doing laundry in cold water, but she had never tried to fix a society where young children had to work.

For Wilhelmina, her kindness was nothing more than small hypocrisy to protect her heart.

However, Theorne was different.

“Your Majesty was not afraid. You overcame prejudice and became Emperor, and chose to challenge the world to change it. It’s foolish, but I think it’s a wonderful belief. It’s an aspiration I couldn’t dream of even if I lived twice.”

“…It doesn’t seem like empty words.”

“I’ve always been sincere. I truly respect Your Majesty.”

And as if this was truly the end, she opened the door again and headed outside.

“So I’ll cheer you on. Your Majesty was the person with the most noble beliefs I’ve ever seen. I don’t know how it will end, but I will definitely remember those beliefs.”

Theorne unconsciously covered his face with his hands.

If Wilhelmina saw this, she would surely burst into laughter.

To somehow act like his usual Emperor self, he answered with a deliberately calm voice.

“If you stayed by my side, you’d be able to see the ending better. Isn’t the Western Region too far for watching?”

Just before the door closed, Wilhelmina spoke as if it was out of the question.

“Going after someone who’s taken makes you a bad Emperor.”

Click-

Finally, the door closed.

Left alone in the room wrapped in the cold and silence characteristic of dawn, Theorne stroked his reddened neck with his hand and muttered.

“Even when I try to give up, she always acts like that.”

When she builds a wall, she always builds it in a way that makes you want to climb over it.

Theorne leaned back against his chair and spent a long time cooling his anger to control his mind that felt like it was melting.

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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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