I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 229

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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 229

A witch lives in the western tower.

One day, such rumors began to spread quietly throughout Venice.

Venice, the largest metropolis in the Eastern Region, was filled with all kinds of superstitions and ghost stories, but this rumor was somewhat different in nature.

Unlike baseless rumors such as ‘if you visit the oasis at dawn, you’ll see your future husband,’ the witch of the western tower had sightings reported from various places.

‘The red-haired witch looks down at the city from atop the tower when the sun sets.’

‘Come to think of it, the Duke brought a red-haired woman as his partner to the banquet last time…’

‘Maybe she’s a witch who enchants people?’

‘They say the witch also created the waterway near the farmlands this time.’

‘…Is that really a witch?’

As unbelievable sightings continued to emerge, curiosity about the witch amplified endlessly.

Among them, rumors even spread that she might not be a witch, but rather a messenger sent by the Wolf God.

The Wolf God was the deity who ruled over the desert and oases before the Eastern Region was unified under the Sun Emperor.

Since the Wolf God was also said to have red fur, people naturally began to associate the witch with the deity.

‘A witch and a divine messenger… Both are beings that grant wishes.’

A witch who grants wishes for a price, a divine messenger who bestows grace upon the Desert People – the meanings were different, but it was clear that she was at the center of change.

All kinds of changes had begun in Venice since her appearance.

Seeing that Duke Venice was tolerating it, these changes must have been made with his permission.

What could the witch’s true identity be to wield such influence?

Eventually, public attention focused on the western tower… and the same was true for Livia, the Noble Lady of a fallen Viscount Family.

‘If she’s really the Wolf God’s Messenger… she’ll grant our wish.’

Livia’s family, Ulloz, was a priestly family that had served at the Wolf God’s temple in the distant past.

Although the family’s power gradually declined after the Eastern Region was incorporated into the Empire, they could still make ends meet thanks to their vast grounds and pilgrims visiting the temple.

Previous Family Heads also had no material desires, so they showed no interest in business ventures.

The family’s sudden downfall was due to the sabotage of Hostile Nobles. They trapped Livia’s Father and made him suffer from debt.

The family that fell overnight had to return their land and mansion, and the Hostile Nobles took advantage of this gap to seize the temple.

They believed there would be tremendous treasure in the temple’s underground.

‘There’s nothing but stinking water down there!’

Livia believed that the divine messenger would resolve this situation.

Having lived her entire life for the Wolf God, shouldn’t she receive at least this much in return?

Her father seemed to accept this hardship as God’s will, but Livia could not.

How could remaining silent in the face of others’ evil deeds be God’s will?

If it were the Wolf God from mythology, he would rather choose revenge.

Thus, Livia set off on an adventure toward the western tower.

Dressed in bright red priestly robes to please the Wolf God, she arrived at Duke Venice’s castle, which boasted strict security.

“…Is this the place?”

Livia looked around while examining the map.

Unlike the Imperial Palace in the capital famous for its splendor or Layton Duchy Castle that boasted of its history, Venice Ducal Castle had low floors but boasted an enormous site. Thanks to this, it was common to get lost without a guide.

Since the matter was what it was, she couldn’t call for anyone, so she had secretly entered through the back gate that priests used to frequent in the past.

And she moved her steps toward the Western Tower that stood alone towering at the edge of the castle, but…

“I’m lost.”

She couldn’t reach the tower even after the sun had passed over.

“What’s the reason? I clearly walked while looking straight at the tower…”

The only tall buildings in the castle were the towers in the east and west.

That’s why she thought she would naturally arrive at her destination if she walked using the tower as a landmark.

But no matter how much she walked, the tower didn’t get closer. It felt like being trapped in an invisible maze.

Livia bit her nails while examining the map.

Even the map of the castle recorded by her ancestor had no answer.

‘Is there really magic cast here or something?’

She suddenly remembered the fairy tale about witches creating illusions to torment children. She got goosebumps on her arms from the eerie feeling.

“Should I just… go back?”

Her determination to raise her family was about to fade away in just half a day.

She had somehow managed to hide her body until now, but if she continued wandering like this, she might get caught by the guards. Then she’d go straight to prison without even being able to make excuses.

‘…No, I can’t go back. I don’t even have a home to return to.’

The image of her parents, who had lost their home and were staying in the temple storage, flickered before her eyes.

Her devout believer parents would just be offering water and praying.

She was the only realistic one. She crumpled the map and put it in her pocket while speaking in a determined voice.

“Whatever, whether I get caught or not. Going back would be the same hell anyway.”

And she moved her steps without hesitation.

Since the sun was setting, she could clearly see where west was thanks to the sunset light.

This time, she didn’t rely on the map or the appearance of the tower, but quickly moved forward relying on the sunset light visible in front of her.

Though she was charging forward without looking around, she miraculously didn’t encounter any guards.

After walking like that for another hour, when night was about to fall and even the sunset light was no longer visible… a man blocked her path.

“Who are you?”

“…Wow.”

Livia raised her head, confirmed the man’s face, and her mouth fell wide open.

He was a man so beautiful that just looking at him made her mind feel dizzy.

Black hair that seemed to absorb light, mysterious purple eyes, androgynous features… it was like a statue was speaking.

“A, are you…”

“Yes?”

“Are you the Wolf God’s Messenger?”

It was a question that came out unconsciously, even though she knew the Wolf God’s Messenger had red hair.

It was because she thought someone with such unrealistic appearance would be fitting for the Wolf God’s Messenger.

Then the man with purple eyes frowned with a complicated expression.

“Wolf God… Don’t tell me you came to see the Lady?”

“The Lady?”

“Yes, you are the owner of this tower.”

The man pointed behind him with his chin.

Only then was Livia able to tear her gaze away from the man’s face, and she realized that she had somehow arrived in front of the western tower.

“The owner of the tower means… the Wolf God’s Messenger is living there right now, right? Not a witch, but the Wolf God’s Messenger!”

“That person has never revealed their identity as either a witch or messenger.”

“He never revealed your identity as a witch and a lion.”

Her words began to get jumbled due to panic and urgency.

Panic and urgency caused his words to become a jumbled mess.

“We haven’t received any notice about a guest coming, so don’t tell me you snuck in?”

“Uh… I had no choice. This was the only way to see the Messenger.”

“I never received any notice that a guest was coming, but surely you didn’t sneak in here, did you?”

He slowly looked Livia up and down.

“Hmm….”

“They say when coincidences pile up, it becomes a miracle. I never thought someone would show up in this state after breaking through the magic barrier and guards…”

“What?”

Priestly robes soiled with dirt and leaves, a haggard complexion from walking half the day, and completely torn shoes… The man sighed as he took in his appearance.

Without waiting for an answer, the man turned around and walked toward the tower. Livia, who ended up following him in bewilderment, asked urgently.

“What?”

“I said I would guide you to the Lady.”

“I mean the Wolf God’s Messenger!”

The man turned around without waiting for an answer and walked toward the tower. Livia, who found herself following him before she knew it, asked urgently.

The man started to give some answer but soon gave up and sighed.

“I told you I would guide you to the madam.”

Like that, the two slowly climbed the tower.

The stairs were longer than expected, and she gradually began to get out of breath.

“That person is… *sigh*, never mind. Why don’t you ask the lady directly.”

‘He’s kinder than I thought.’

A brief silence followed. Livia wanted to continue asking questions, but the man closed his mouth as if he had nothing more to say.

“Excuse me.”

“We’ll arrive soon, save your questions for later…”

I started to get out of breath from the stairs that were longer than I expected.

“…I am a Guard Knight.”

‘He’s a kinder person than I thought.’

Livia pouted her lips and said.

“It makes me uncomfortable. My name is Livia. Livia Ulroz. What about you?”

“Excuse me.”

“So you’re Sir Nata.”

“That’s not it. I wanted to ask for your name. I can’t keep calling you ‘hey you’ forever.”

After exchanging names, she felt much more at ease. It was because she realized that the man before her was a real person, not some mythical being.

“…I am a guard knight, though.”

It meant there was no need to reveal my name to you.

Livia said with a pout.

“I’m sorry for the inconvenience. I’m Livia. Livia Ulloz. And you are?”

“…Please call me Natara.”

“You must be Sir Nata.”

For a moment, it seemed like I heard someone muttering, “This person is odd too.”

After exchanging names, I felt much more at ease. It was because I truly realized that the man before me was a real person, not some mythical being.

‘But if a guard knight is this handsome… what kind of face would the messenger have?’

There were several eyewitness accounts about the Wolf God’s messenger, but none of them included any evaluation of their appearance.

While Livia was letting her imagination run wild, they finally arrived at their destination.

“This is the place. Wait a moment…”

Nata, standing in front of a door on one side of the stairs, placed his index finger over his lips, signaling for quiet. Then he slowly knocked on the door.

“Lady, you have a guest.”

“…Come in.”

It was a low but calm voice. Somehow, just hearing the voice made her feel relaxed.

Nata opened the door and entered the room together with Livia.

Unlike the somewhat bleak exterior of the western tower, the room was so splendid it made her eyes widen.

In the corner of the room, beautifully decorated with expensive paintings and ornaments that seemed too precious to touch, a woman was lying on a spacious sofa.

‘Red… hair.’

To be honest, the woman’s appearance couldn’t compare to Nata’s.

Her pale red eyes and red hair that reached down to her waist, along with her refined features, suited the word “mysterious” more than “beautiful.”

The most peculiar thing was her atmosphere that even calmed Livia’s restless mind.

‘This person is the Wolf God’s messenger.’

She could understand why people were confused about whether she was a witch or a messenger when they saw her.

Her mysterious charm made one feel both sanctity and blasphemy at the same time.

“…Are you done looking?”

“Ah, yes, yes?”

“I asked if you’re done staring.”

She chuckled at the flustered Livia and stretched. Then she slowly got up from the sofa and approached Livia.

“Sir Nata, is this child the guest?”

“Yes, but she’s not a registered guest of the Duke’s estate. She says she infiltrated here alone in secret.”

“Is it impressive skill, or simple coincidence?”

“It’s probably coincidence.”

“Hmm, I see.”

A strange light flickered in the woman’s eyes. She spoke to Livia, who was still gaping.

“So, what’s your situation?”

“Pardon?”

“You came here because you wanted to tell me something, didn’t you? Tell me, if it moves my heart… I might help you.”

At the sight of the woman’s rising smile, Livia suddenly started hiccupping.

Her resolve to bow first and earnestly plead when she met the messenger had long since vanished.

“I, I… came to make a wish.”

“A wish?”

“Our family has fallen into ruin. We’re a priestly family, so to the messenger…”

And she began to explain her situation haltingly.

Though she couldn’t speak clearly due to her confusion, the woman seemed accustomed to such situations and led the conversation while responding encouragingly.

“…So, those hostile nobles were after the treasure in the temple’s underground?”

“Y-yes, that’s right. But there’s nothing there except water with a terrible smell. Father always keeps the door locked, saying anyone who enters there will receive divine punishment.”

“Desert, underground, smelly water… How interesting.”

She crossed her arms and fell into thought.

‘Will she grant my wish?’

Thinking that her life and death depended on her answer, her barely calmed heart began to waver again.

As she rubbed her cold hands while waiting, the woman suddenly gestured to Nata.

“Sir Nata, bring a hand warmer. And some warm milk too. The child seems cold.”

“Yes, yes? No, I’m fine. I couldn’t possibly trouble the Lioness…”

“I’m saying this because it’s hard for me to watch, so stop flustering and sit down.”

Livia sat on the sofa as the woman guided her. And when she tightly grasped the hand warmer the woman offered, her heart finally calmed down.

“So Livia wants to borrow my power to reclaim her family house, right?”

“That’s right. I’ll pay any price. Please…”

“There’s no need for that. I’ve also become interested in that water beneath the temple.”

The woman sitting across from her crossed her legs and gave an enchanting smile.

“You said your father was a devout believer? That’s why he hid the secret of the temple underground.”

“Yes, the scripture says that place can only be entered by the High Priest.”

“Then… if Livia reclaims the temple and becomes the High Priest, she’d gain legitimate authority to enter that place?”

“…That would be the case, wouldn’t it? But I’m a woman, so I can’t become High Priest.”

“That depends on how you rewrite the scripture.”

“Re-rewrite it…?”

She had never heard of rewriting the words of God. Even seeing Livia’s shock, the woman continued speaking nonchalantly.

“Alright, Livia. I’ll grant your request. But there’s one condition.”

“What is it?”

“You become the High Priest and gain authority over that water. Then, let’s make a deal.”

The moment she saw the word “deal” and the woman’s deepening smile, Livia had an intuition.

‘Ah. This person isn’t a messenger.’

What she said about rewriting scripture, and there was no way the Wolf God’s Messenger would smile so eerily.

“Depending on how it’s used, that water becomes excellent fuel. Livia, after you reclaim your family house, I’ll make you rich. So… would you like to join hands with me?”

Perhaps she was a witch.

Or maybe something even more dangerous than that – a demon.

Yet she couldn’t escape the temptation because of some mysterious charm that penetrated Livia’s heart.

“Ah, I haven’t introduced myself yet, have I? My name is Rohana. Livia, will you join me?”

“…Yes, I’ll join you.”

The red-haired witch, Rohana, extended her hand, and Livia grasped it.

Little did she know that this would save Livia’s life and become an opportunity to transform Venice once again.

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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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