I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 245

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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 245 Special Side Story

Special Side Story 2: Helene

Helene’s mornings are early.

She rises as early as the attendants who check the fireplace. Since it’s a time when sunlight hasn’t even begun to peek out, her husband Mikhail couldn’t even open his eyes.

But she didn’t blame Mikhail.

She knew he was faithfully attending drinking parties he didn’t enjoy for the sake of the family. Yesterday he had gone to a banquet for the soldiers, or so he said.

‘If I wake him, he’ll tell me to wait while he makes coffee for me. I should go out alone today.’

Helene finished washing her face, changed her clothes, and left the bedroom. It was a day with a tight schedule, so she didn’t have time to indulge Mikhail’s affection.

She moved calmly but quickly down the corridor, speaking to the butler who had somehow come to follow her.

“Where is Mother?”

“Grand Madam is still sleeping. She will probably wake up…”

“Not until lunchtime. She must be tired from work, so don’t disturb her.”

“Understood.”

Her mother-in-law, Wilhelmina, had also been living a busy life recently. Whatever conversation she had with the Emperor, all sorts of nobles had been seeking her out since she returned from the capital.

Not wanting to burden Mikhail and Helene, she received the nobles alone in the annex building.

‘Probably to gain the Emperor’s favor.’

Even without being told, various information flowed into Helene’s ears.

Recently, the Emperor had declared he would employ young intellectuals while implementing radical policies.

Progressive young nobles and scholars were the targets, but since the Emperor had only one body, even with an abundance of talent, it wasn’t easy to have a direct audience with the Emperor.

So they sought out the Grand Duchess of the Duke’s estate, Wilhelmina. Rumors had spread that gaining recognition from her would provide an opportunity for an audience with the Emperor.

‘Hyena-like creatures.’

Helene didn’t like that crowd.

She despised their scheme to build friendship with Wilhelmina in order to catch the Emperor’s eye, but she was also disappointed in Wilhelmina for not refusing their proposals.

‘Mother’s heart is too kind, that’s the problem. She should know how to refuse.’

In fact, Wilhelmina was currently in the middle of a marital fight with Rohan. Not wanting to return to the Eastern Region, she was staying longer than planned under the excuse of needing to help with imperial palace affairs.

In other words, Wilhelmina was voluntarily acting as an interviewer.

But Helene thought as she pleased.

Whatever the circumstances, it was certain that these guests were interfering with her and Mother’s precious time.

‘I must invite her to dinner tonight. Zeonil and Minerva are also looking forward to it… We need to spend time together as a family in intimacy.’

Mikhail and Helene, Zeonil and Minerva, and Wilhelmina.

This was the most perfect family composition in Helene’s mind.

Wilhelmina always wanted to invite Rohan, but Helene couldn’t welcome it.

If it had been the old Helene, she might have gladly accepted. Regardless of who the other party was, she couldn’t refuse without justification.

But now it was different. Since Helene had decided not to lie in front of Wilhelmina, she also expressed her feelings of dislike directly.

‘I don’t want my time with Mother to be interrupted. Mother’s romantic affairs with Duke Venice are none of my concern, but when you’re with me, please focus on me.’

Wilhelmina’s expression at that time was remarkable.

“Lady, what would you like for breakfast…?”

Perhaps because she had been too deeply immersed in her recollections, Helene responded belatedly to the butler’s words.

“Prepare something simple. I don’t need coffee.”

“Understood.”

“Rather than that, let me check my schedule. Bring me the spring debutante plans. And there should be a report about the incident at Count Valen’s house that arrived, bring that too…”

There were five matters to review before noon, and she had to go out before lunch, so she needed to finish the paperwork quickly.

The butler bowed and left to fetch the requested documents.

After finishing her brief meal in the dining hall, Helene headed straight to the training ground. With about an hour until the butler returned, she planned to do her morning exercise during that time.

“You’ve arrived, Lady.”

“Good morning, Sir Nata.”

At the training ground, Wilhelmina’s knight, Nata, was already warming up. He was also one of those people who rose early in the morning like Helene.

As if accustomed to Helene’s appearance, Nata brought defensive equipment and a wooden sword from the corner of the training ground and offered them to her.

Helene changed into training clothes in the changing room, then stood before Nata.

“Shall we skip the warm-up exercises?”

“My schedule is busy today, so let’s start right away.”

“Understood.”

Since both were usually people of few words, no lengthy conversation was necessary. They simply carried out their purpose for coming to the training ground faithfully.

“I’ll go first.”

Nata launched the first attack. Helene calmly counterattacked and instead aimed for his opening.

“…!”

The ensuing offense and defense. It was an intense sparring match that resembled actual combat despite being training.

‘I’ve definitely gotten dull.’

Helene clicked her tongue, blaming herself for being led by Nata’s sword. Perhaps because she had taken a long break from actual sparring after putting down her sword, her skills weren’t being properly displayed.

When she protected Zeonil and Minerva last time, she had easily defeated the assassins, but there was an incomparable difference in skill between them and Nata.

Half-hearted techniques didn’t work either.

“Ugh…!”

Eventually, the match was decided quickly. Nata’s sword touched Helene’s chin.

Helene frowned and bowed slightly. It was a knightly greeting that the defeated gives to the victor, but Nata, who received it, had a complicated expression. Even though there were no ranks on the training ground, he could never get used to receiving greetings from the Lady of the House.

“Shall we go again?”

“Of course.”

The first sparring match was decided in just 10 minutes. Helene continued to spar with Nata for the remaining time. The result of five total matches was, naturally, Helene’s complete defeat.

‘The genius acknowledged by the Margrave isn’t just an empty reputation.’

Though Helene was once praised as a swordsmanship genius, Nata was also quite a monster. Moreover, he had never skipped training even while staying at the Duke’s estate.

His current state was so strong it was on a different dimension from when he first came to the castle. He had probably surpassed even the Margrave’s swordsmanship.

Trying to defeat him with brief rehabilitation training was reckless.

‘In about a month from now… my sword will touch his body.’

An overwhelming gap in power. But Helene didn’t give up. Just as Nata was, Helene was also a genius who never gave up on effort.

Perhaps sensing such fighting spirit from Helene, Nata smiled rarely and said.

“Magnificent. I can feel that Lady’s swordsmanship is growing day by day.”

“That’s excessive praise.”

She had grown accustomed to curtly refusing praise. Nata continued speaking while organizing Helene’s armor and weapons.

“I have never trained an Apprentice Knight before, so I apologize for not being of much help with your swordsmanship, Lady. If it were the Margrave or Duke Venice, it would probably be a more varied form of sparring…”

“No, I prefer Sir Nata.”

“That is… why?”

“Because Sir Nata swings his sword without caring that I am the Lady of the House.”

“…”

Nata’s eyes widened as if he hadn’t thought of that.

“The position of Lady of the House of a ducal family deserves respect. Their treating me with difficulty is also part of etiquette, but…”

“…it’s unnecessary consideration in sparring.”

“Exactly.”

Even when told to spar without worrying about status, people’s hearts weren’t that simple. The moment they faced Helene, they wouldn’t be able to give their all.

Once mercy enters one’s hands, the meaning of sparring fades.

‘Duke Venice would be different, but… I don’t want to associate with him.’

Moreover, she was still in the process of regaining her former skills. To fight him in a half-hearted state and lose – just the thought made cold anger surge within her.

“That’s why Sir Nata is suitable. You always respond to sparring sincerely, regardless of status or gender.”

“That’s… right. That is correct.”

Somehow Nata’s reaction was lackluster. Helene frowned and asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just… those are words I desperately wanted to hear in the past.”

“Wanted to hear?”

“It’s nothing. I was just admiring your determination, Lady.”

Nata smiled brightly as if everything was truly fine.

“Understood. I will continue to give my all in sparring from now on.”

That was what she wanted.

Helene nodded in response.

Now that she had worked up a sweat, it was time to return. She could see the Butler at the entrance of the training ground, holding an armful of documents.

She was about to bid farewell and leave when Nata suddenly asked as if something had occurred to him.

“By the way, Lady, why did you suddenly start sword training? For exercise, it seems rather intense…”

In truth, for the sake of dignity, she shouldn’t show such behavior to outsiders, but Helene had her own circumstances.

“Mother said she wants to travel when the Empire stabilizes. On a small scale, intimately.”

“Ah, yes. She often says that.”

“At that time, wouldn’t it be good for family to join together? She would dislike bringing many guards…”

Helene’s lips curved upward in a grin.

“If family members act as Guard Knights, we could reduce the number of people.”

“…!”

Nata opened his mouth with a look that said ‘surely not.’

The Lady of the House of a ducal family was trying to steal the job of mere Guard Knights.

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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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