I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 238

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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 238

Special Side Story 1. The Emperor’s Holiday

“I need to rest for a while. Don’t come looking for me for some time.”

Emperor Theorne Lu Peon suddenly declared he was taking a vacation and disappeared. While he had occasionally vanished without notice before, this was the first time he had issued an imperial command not to be sought out before disappearing.

Since it was already a busy period, Theorne’s sudden disappearance brought great chaos to the Imperial Palace.

“The Western Region has proposed an ancient magic regulation policy. They’re demanding an immediate signature… How are we supposed to find an ancient magic authority?”

“Monsters have appeared at the border between the Eastern Region and the capital! Duke Venice is requesting permission to deploy!”

“Everything requires His Imperial Majesty’s permission! I’m just an administrator – I can’t stamp these documents!”

Screaming administrators, high nobles who had quietly slipped away sensing troublesome matters ahead, and an avalanche of documents… The current Imperial Palace was truly comparable to hell.

Despite knowing full well the palace’s situation, Theorne did not return.

That period lasted a full week.

The reason he had so irresponsibly chosen to take a vacation was quite simple.

“I am tired.”

It was an action born from the thought that he might die from overwork if things continued this way.

His schedule was so packed and demanding that it couldn’t even guarantee four hours of sleep per day. For him, taking this vacation was essentially a matter of survival.

While he might have considered slacking off instead, declaring a sudden vacation when everything revolved around the Emperor was unprecedented.

As for where this Emperor at the center of controversy was currently enjoying his vacation…

“The capital’s mornings are still noisy.”

He was on the top floor of an old, ordinary four-story house located twenty minutes away from the Imperial Palace.

Theorne yawned widely while looking out the window at the Imperial Palace.

In the early morning, the capital bustled with the energy of people heading to work. Since citizens lived on the lower floors, the commotion of those preparing for work could be heard through the thin walls.

Using that noise as his music, Theorne comfortably enjoyed his rest.

And he muttered with a voice mixed with mockery.

“Well, they should have used me more moderately.”

It was a complaint directed at the Imperial Palace administrators.

To Theorne, the administrators seemed irresponsible. And for good reason – their work skills hadn’t improved in the several years since he became Emperor.

‘I created twelve departments and tripled the staff, so why is the work efficiency still so terrible?’

Theorne couldn’t understand their incompetence. As the Empire continued to improve, the amount of work flowing to Theorne only increased. While he had declared this vacation for his own rest, part of him also hoped the administrators would realize their own incompetence.

…Of course, the administrators weren’t truly incompetent as Theorne claimed. They were doing their best in their own way.

They only appeared incompetent because they were caught up in Theorne’s tremendous work processing speed and innovative policies.

Over the past few years, Theorne had completely recreated all sorts of documents and legal codes, reformed the tax system, and reorganized the structure by dividing departments.

In short, he had single-handedly accomplished a work revolution that should have been refined over several generations.

For the genius Theorne, these were naturally necessary tasks, but for the ordinary administrators, they were revolutions too difficult to keep up with.

As a result, work naturally became concentrated on Theorne.

“Hmm, maybe I should establish a school.”

Unaware of these circumstances, Theorne could only see the administrators as unwilling to learn their work.

He even began to have the fanciful thought that perhaps establishing a school to train officials might make some difference.

‘School, school… Come to think of it, both Wilhelmina and Rohan were Academy graduates.’

Theorne turned his head to look at the window on the opposite side of the bedroom. This residence was among the taller buildings in the area, so he could see the city center on the other side quite well.

On the opposite side of the Imperial Palace, there was the Academy.

‘Rohan said he first met Wilhelmina at the Academy.’

Their first meeting was amusing even when he recalled it now.

‘Wilhelmina stained with blood.’

Every time he mentioned that nickname, Wilhelmina would glare at him, but it stuck to his tongue and wouldn’t easily come off.

‘Should I have attended the Academy too?’

It was a time when he was running around busily to become Emperor, so he had never expected such a peaceful life. But now that he was older, he felt an absurd regret that he should have lived more freely.

‘No, to be precise, it’s not that I want to play around… I want to meet her.’

There was no need to lie to himself while contemplating.

Theorne rested his chin on his hand and recalled Wilhelmina’s appearance.

Her rarely seen indigo hair, intelligent eyes and leisurely gestures, even her low but comfortable voice.

‘I never thought that type was my ideal.’

Wilhelmina was a strange woman. She showed different sides every time they met, and she had an annoying way of digging into people’s hearts.

Since Theorne had made something like a confession before, his feelings for her were naturally more than friendship.

If only she didn’t have feelings for Rohanos, Theorne would have courted her more actively.

‘…Still, it doesn’t seem like it would work.’

Theorne clicked his tongue with a dissatisfied expression. Thinking about her made his chest feel restless for no reason.

Even if Rohanos wasn’t there, he felt that Wilhelmina wouldn’t come to him.

It wasn’t a matter of incompatible personalities or appearance issues.

From his experience, Wilhelmina was the type who wouldn’t extend her hand unless there was a special connection.

‘Unless it’s something like a fateful meeting, she probably wouldn’t even think about a life partner.’

She had the typical personality of someone who had no problem living alone.

She could make lovers, but had no thoughts of marriage… Should I say she was the type of person who didn’t feel loneliness?

To create romantic feelings for her would require special meetings, fateful opportunities, and all sorts of things. And Rohanos was a man who had passed through all of that.

That made him envious all over again.

If he had also studied at the Academy, if he had met her first instead of Rohanos, wouldn’t it be me in that position?

“…How foolish.”

Being alone, his thoughts gradually developed in a negative direction. Theorne got up from the bed and stretched. If he continued like this, he felt he would become not the Emperor of the Empire, but a pathetic man who couldn’t forget his first love.

‘Let’s not have pointless delusions and forget about it.’

Just staying cooped up in his room during vacation wasn’t entirely good either. To shake off this unpleasant feeling, he thought he might go outside for a walk, so he dressed appropriately and stood in front of the door.

‘I should tell the guards.’

No matter how much it was a vacation he was enjoying alone, it wasn’t without guards. While thinking of calling them out to go to the bathhouse together, he suddenly sensed a presence in front of the door.

‘Who is it?’

Except for the guards, no one should know about this house.

Preparing for any possible situation, Theorne picked up the sword beside the door.

Then, he heard a guard knight’s voice from the other side.

“Um… Lord Theo.”

Theo was his alias used during vacations.

Theorne asked back in a low voice.

“What’s the matter?”

“Well… guests have arrived.”

‘Guests?’

Since they didn’t seem to be enemies, Theorne carefully opened the door.

And he stopped breathing when he saw who stood before the door.

“It’s been a while.”

At the door stood the woman he had just been picturing in his mind.

Indigo hair that shone even more attractively than before, eyes mixed with mischief that didn’t suit her, and even a small smile that Theorne rarely got to see.

“Wilhelmina?”

The culprit who made Theorne’s heart flutter shamelessly just by facing her closely, Wilhelmina spoke with laughter in her voice.

“May I come in?”

“…”

For a moment he wondered if it was an illusion and rubbed his eyes. But Wilhelmina before his eyes still didn’t disappear. Rather, she stuck her head further through the gap in the door, bringing her face closer, making it hard to look away.

“Why aren’t you answering?”

“Wh… why are you here?”

Since this was a vacation where he had resolved to set aside his imperial duties, casual speech came out without him realizing it. The same was true for Wilhelmina.

“I’m here because I have business. That aside, when are you going to let me in?”

“No…”

“If you say no, I’ll shout ‘I wish to see His Imperial Majesty!'”

“…”

Why did I like this woman again.

Suddenly his head started to ache.

“Just… wait.”

He closed the door and turned around to survey the room.

The state of the house was a mess. It had two rooms and one living room, but the living room was already in chaos with liquor bottles and trash. Since he had prevented even his usual attendants from entering, it was only natural.

‘I can’t… let Wilhelmina into this room.’

He could picture her expression of hollow laughter the moment she entered. Setting aside imperial dignity, he didn’t want to show her such a pathetic sight. Hadn’t he been acting as a ‘capable man’ all this time?

“Please open the door!”

“I said wait!”

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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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