I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 247

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

I’m a Mother-in-Law, But I Don’t Want Family Conflicts Episode 247 Special Side Story

“Helene? Are you feeling unwell?”

“…No, let’s go.”

An indescribable emotion surged up.

It wasn’t the heart-pounding feeling she had when with Mikhail, but rather an unconscious desire to lean on Wilhelmina… Helene, who had never experienced such feelings before, didn’t know that this was what people called acting spoiled.

The arm linked with Wilhelmina’s stiffened like stone.

Wilhelmina was…

‘I heard she’s been doing sword training lately, her arm is quite firm.’

Just having such carefree thoughts.

“Come to think of it, you acted in the reading club in my place, didn’t you? Anna told me about it.”

“It’s a daughter-in-law’s duty.”

“Thank you. Helene’s acting, I would have liked to see it myself. What a shame.”

“I memorized all the script lines. Shall I perform them for you now?”

Seeing Helene’s eyes light up, Wilhelmina shook her head with a reluctant expression.

“No, it’s fine. That’s not necessary.”

“I see.”

“Y-yes… Ah, how were the reading club members? Has the number increased a lot?”

Helene was also a reading club member, but due to her heavy workload, she hadn’t been able to participate for a while.

Since there were members she had never met, Wilhelmina seemed worried about whether she might have felt awkward.

“Helene, you’re a bit shy around strangers, aren’t you.”

“…Me?”

Helene blinked blankly as if hearing such words for the first time in her life.

Sometimes there were moments when she couldn’t understand what Wilhelmina was saying.

“In front of people you meet for the first time, your expression stiffens and your speech becomes rigid.”

“…”

That wasn’t her doing anything wrong, she was simply maintaining proper etiquette befitting a high noble.

She became newly curious about what she must look like through her mother-in-law’s eyes.

“Last time, Miss Chloe said…”

Walking slowly, the two had a leisurely conversation about the reading club. It had been a long time since they had talked alone together.

The main topic was the reading club, when suddenly a question occurred to Helene.

“I heard the first member of the reading club was the Young Lady of Baron Millize, is that correct?”

“That’s right. I invited her during the Margrave’s celebration.”

Ilina took pride in being the number one member.

She would boast here and there about being the first one invited by Wilhelmina.

That point puzzled Helene.

“What conversation did you have in the rest room? I heard her health wasn’t good and that Mother took care of her…”

“Ah, come to think of it, I never explained it in detail.”

Helene only knew the result, but didn’t know why Wilhelmina and Ilina had become close.

“What happened was…”

Wilhelmina briefly explained her encounter with Ilina. Of course, she omitted sensitive topics so as not to make Ilina uncomfortable.

When she explained that Ilina had heard harsh words at the debutante ball and had overexerted herself by wearing inappropriate attire because of it, Helene spoke quietly.

“She met some rude people. If I had been the host, I would have educated them about the proper etiquette they should observe.”

Wilhelmina imagined Helene with a stern expression in the banquet hall, lining up the children and scolding them. It suited her quite well.

“But the habit of being overly concerned about their criticism isn’t good either. There’s no need to be hurt by such things.”

“…Really?”

“Once you’ve set foot in high society, slander is unavoidable. Before blaming that, one must overcome their own inferiority complex. She shouldn’t have avoided that situation in the first place. If there’s nothing to be ashamed of, one should always stand with confidence.”

It was a rational and sound argument. Since it’s difficult to silence those who slander, it would be a more constructive choice to close one’s ears and focus on self-improvement.

Wilhelmina smiled bitterly and avoided answering. Seeing this, Helene tilted her head.

“Is there something wrong with what I said?”

“No, Helene is right. …Too right, that’s the problem.”

“What do you mean by too right?”

“Hmm, it’s not significant enough to explain.”

Wilhelmina seemed reluctant to bring up this topic, but Helene disliked leaving any conversation half-finished.

Eventually, when Helene stared at her intently, Wilhelmina let out a short sigh.

“Have you ever heard the saying that sound arguments can be painful and rude?”

“Yes.”

And Helene thought that saying was just an excuse. She couldn’t understand people who hesitated to make the right choice.

“People who avoid problems each have their own reasons. It might seem weak and cowardly to you, but people can’t always be strong.”

“But if they don’t make an effort, they’ll keep getting hurt forever.”

“I’m not denying effort. I’m saying there are situations where it’s not possible. And Ilina has made enough effort.”

“Then what is there to be ashamed of? If one is honest with oneself, their prejudice and slander should just be meaningless nonsense.”

“…Helene, do you know her well enough to evaluate the extent of Ilina’s pain?”

“That’s…”

Helene couldn’t continue her words.

“Others’ evaluations aren’t needed for the reasons one gets hurt.”

Wilhelmina stopped walking for a moment.

“Helene, if you were Ilina, you would have made the most right choice. You wouldn’t have been hurt like Ilina was. But that doesn’t mean Ilina shouldn’t have been hurt. It’s the same for everyone. Including me.”

“…Even you, Mother?”

“Yes.”

Wilhelmina pointed at herself with her finger and smiled self-deprecatingly.

“Helene, if you had been Wilhelmina, would our family’s tragedy have occurred?”

Helene recalled Wilhelmina’s background stained with downfall, betrayal, and murder.

Though she thought it shouldn’t be this way, she had already worked out a solution in her mind.

Toward Helene who couldn’t answer, Wilhelmina spoke instead.

“It wouldn’t have happened, would it? You would have faced it head-on with honor.”

“…Yes.”

“Conversely, what if I had been you, Helene?”

Helene thought for a moment, then once again quickly provided an answer.

“It seems like we would have become quite a harmonious family.”

Unlike the former Helene who didn’t speak unnecessary words, Wilhelmina believed that no emotions should ever be allowed to accumulate. She would have treated Zeonil and Minerva much more affectionately than Helene did.

‘Besides, mother is so sharp.’

Even though she always underestimated herself, in Helene’s eyes, Wilhelmina was a proper Grand Duchess. She would have commanded the Duke’s Estate with grace and warmth.

Wilhelmina let out a bitter smile once again.

“Everyone receives different sizes of wounds and has different reasons to make efforts. You can have sympathy, but you shouldn’t judge arbitrarily.”

Just as people’s happiness varies, so does their pain.

Just as each person’s happiness is different, so too is their suffering.

While one could empathize with pain, passing judgment as if it were one’s own emotion was an arrogant act.

While one could empathize with pain, making judgments as if it were one’s own emotion was an act of arrogance.

She understood Wilhelmina’s heart. And she could also accept that her own perspective had been somewhat self-righteous.

However, at the thought that Wilhelmina seemed to regard Ilina specially, an uncomfortable feeling sprouted in one corner of her heart.

He understood Wilhelmina’s feelings. And he could also accept that his own perspective had been somewhat self-righteous.

“…Mother, if I were in the same situation as her, what would you do?”

As if family were leaving them behind….

“That is…”

Helene was quite flustered by the words that had slipped out without her knowing.

“What do you mean how?”

It was a meaningless hypothetical and foolish behavior. Just as Helene was about to cover her mouth with her hand and ask her to forget it.

Helene was quite flustered by the words that had slipped out without her realizing it.

“…I see.”

Embarrassed, Helene covered her face.

It was a meaningless assumption and a foolish act. Just as Helene covered her mouth with her hand, about to ask him to forget it.

“Even if it weren’t such a situation, I’m always on Helene’s side.”

“…I see.”

“No matter what situation Helene is in, no matter who you fight with, it’s the same. I’m unconditionally on Helene’s side.”

“I, I understand. Please stop…”

But Wilhelmina wasn’t finished speaking.

“I said stop.”

‘Really, I can’t let my guard down.’

But the corners of Helene’s mouth were trembling. It was hard to keep holding back her laughter.

“O-okay. Stop…”

It was as if she had peered into Helene’s heart.

“I told you to stop.”

Now she could understand how reassuring it was to have someone understand her.

“Mother, really.”

‘Seriously, I can’t let my guard down for a second.’

It was her first smile of the day that had been busy since dawn.

‘How does Mother always know exactly what I want to hear?’

“Helene? Mother too! What are you doing over there?”

It was as if I had peered into Helene’s heart.

When I first met them, I thought this sensation was unpleasant, but now it was different.

Now she could understand how reassuring it was to have someone who truly understood her.

“Mother, really.”

Finally, Helene burst into a small laugh.

It was the first smile of a day that had been busy since dawn.

Just then, a familiar voice came from the direction of the main palace.

“Helene? Mother too! What are you doing there?”

Mikhail stood there. On either side of him, Minerva and Zeonil waved their hands.

“Let’s go eat, Mother!”

“Grandmother too!”

At the call of the two grandchildren, Helene and Wilhelmina looked into each other’s eyes.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes, let’s.”

The day was not yet over. After all their hard work, a warm and happy meal awaited them.

They walked toward their family.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————