I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 253

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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 253 Special Side Story

After that, Mikhail continued to meet the ancestors.

Since they didn’t exist in order, he realized that there were many ancestors who had died without feeling guilt.

Whether they were ancestors who pretended not to know while blaming everything on the curse, or ancestors who tried to find comfort by asking forgiveness from descendants who weren’t innocent victims, both types were terrible beings.

Only then did Mikhail realize the true value of this trial.

‘Is this what I’ll become after I die?’

Would he also become such a miserable human after killing Helene and passing the curse to Zeonil?

These beings were both the past and future of the Layton Family. Oberon seemed to want to show him that fact.

‘You humans haven’t changed one bit… is what he’s saying.’

Oberon’s personality was beginning to become clear.

He continued to break through the trials with the Family Heads. Fortunately, unlike the previous souls, the Family Heads didn’t directly harm him.

Instead of physical pain being reduced, Mikhail’s mental strength was being worn away by that much.

Imagining the failure stories of his ancestors and his own future brought unexpectedly great fatigue.

‘How many have I passed? Ten? Are there still more?’

Ancestors begging to be killed, ancestors arbitrarily smashing their heads on the floor, ancestors calling out the names of their wives and children while seeking God…

After going through that persistent trial, Mikhail was finally able to reach the end.

Whether the order was mixed up, the last place he arrived at was the same position as when he first challenged the trial.

In other words, the one waiting there was.

‘…Adeline.’

It was Adeline, the second wife that Mikhail’s father had truly loved.

Mikhail couldn’t carelessly approach her. Even he, who had faced hundreds of souls, found it difficult to carelessly measure the magnitude of the original sin his father had committed.

‘Her life… it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it was ruined by marriage.’

Mikhail recalled memories from the past.

During his childhood that he couldn’t even remember, Adeline was the only woman in the Duke’s Estate who believed in and loved Nikolai.

She, who trusted Nikolai endlessly, silently stayed by his side despite severe violence and curses. If it had been a fairy tale story, God in heaven would have been moved by her devotion and lifted the curse.

But her end in reality was miserable.

Her name was erased from the Noble Registry, and she lived imprisoned in the underground of the Annex Building until she died.

He couldn’t even imagine what Nikolai, who tortured his own children in front of his daughter-in-law, had done to Adeline.

“…”

What kind of apology should he make in front of her? What kind of curse would she pour out upon seeing Mikhail, who resembled Nikolai?

His feet wouldn’t move due to anxiety and worry.

But he couldn’t retreat. Only by overcoming the trial could Mikhail protect his family.

“You are…”

As he approached her, life returned to her dim eyes.

She opened her eyes wide and looked at Mikhail.

‘As expected, you look exactly like Mother.’

Wilhelmina and Adeline resembled each other so much that you could believe they were family. It looked as if Adeline had been reincarnated as Wilhelmina after her death.

That appearance made Mikhail even more nervous.

As if she could see right through his heart.

“Mikhail, it’s Mikhail.”

“….”

“You’ve grown so much, a lot of time must have passed.”

Adeline smiled dimly. The moment he saw that expression, Mikhail realized anew that she was not Wilhelmina.

Wilhelmina would never smile so pitifully. Rather, that resembled Mikhail’s own smile.

The kind of smile one merely puts on to hide their true feelings.

“He must be… dead. Yes, much time would have passed already. He couldn’t have overcome the curse.”

Unlike the other souls, Adeline possessed clear reason.

The souls driven mad by anger and guilt couldn’t even perceive where this place was, let alone have any concept of time.

But she was different.

“Is this place the afterlife? No, then there would be no reason for Mikhail to be here.”

She seemed to have some idea of what state she was in.

Mikhail tried to give some answer, but ultimately closed his lips. He couldn’t know the extent of what apology was required.

Then Oberon flew to his ear and whispered.

“I’ll make a special exception. This much conversation is fine. If it becomes a problem, I’ll stop it.”

“The rules are quite arbitrary.”

“Can’t help it. What she wants is different from the other souls.”

Mikhail took a deep breath and slowly opened his mouth.

“I… came here to apologize to you.”

He didn’t mention the trial. It might make his sincerity questionable, and he had an intuition that he shouldn’t speak of Oberon.

Adeline also didn’t seem inclined to ask about the reason, tilting her head with a troubled expression.

“An apology… But I don’t have any feelings toward you.”

“I am the Family Head. I have a duty to take responsibility for the Layton Family’s original sin.”

“Even if you say that, feelings that didn’t exist won’t suddenly appear. This death was between him and me in the first place, not something for a child to be concerned with. You’re the child of a previous wife I never properly met, so what could I possibly say to you?”

“That’s…”

At such utterly reasonable words, Mikhail was momentarily at a loss for words. It felt like hearing a rational opinion for the first time in this absurd nightmare.

Seeing Mikhail’s dazed state, Adeline smiled bitterly.

“Looking at you like that, it seems you’ve been through a lot before meeting me.”

She looked around, then suddenly sat down on the floor.

“It would be nice if there were chairs, but it can’t be helped. Come sit in front of me for now. Let’s have a conversation.”

“A conversation…”

“I’m curious about what happened to the Duke’s Estate after I died. And how you grew up too. How about substituting that for an apology?”

“I don’t mind, but would that be enough?”

“Of course it would. Rather, I’d like to ask you for it.”

Mikhail sat facing her with a complicated expression. He wondered if such a simple thing could really constitute an apology, but since the person involved wanted it, there was nothing he could do.

He slowly began his story starting with Nikolai’s death.

“Actually, Father didn’t die from the curse. It began with…”

Perhaps it was his imagination, but Adeline listened with an expression of keen interest.

The new Emperor’s ascension, Helene’s impulsive murder, and Wilhelmina’s subsequent adoption… As the story continued, her reactions became more intense.

Upon hearing about Helene’s murder.

“My goodness, what a strong heart! How well you managed to break through those guards!”

he exclaimed in admiration.

When hearing about Wilhelmina’s anecdotes.

“To think such a brilliant child is my daughter-in-law… Really, it’s like reading a fairy tale.”

he said with a laugh.

When Mikhail questioned why Adeline wasn’t angry about Nikolai’s death, she answered nonchalantly.

“What good would it do to blame someone who’s already dead? Besides, it was I who loved Nikolai, not Helene or you, right?”

My love could become an enemy to others, she added.

The next story naturally led to Raymond’s incident.

‘Would it be alright to tell her his story?’

After a brief moment of consideration, having resolved to tell everything, he revealed Raymond’s plan.

The revenge he desired, the people who were sacrificed because of it, and even his exit.

“…Behind all those events, there was Mr. Raymond.”

“Yes, our Father…”

Adeline moved her lips slightly, then soon let out a bitter smile. It was a smile meant to hide her emotions, just like when they first met.

“I’m sorry, it’s due to my lack of ability that I couldn’t stop him.”

“No, it’s fine. You don’t need to apologize for Father’s mistakes. As I said earlier, I don’t want to hear an apology from you, Mikhail.”

Instead, she mumbled hesitantly.

“Did Father… accept it? Did he confess his sins and not resent you?”

“He turned himself in. Saying it was all his fault, he testified directly at the Noble Court.”

Raymond’s crimes could not be reduced. He had used an assassin organization, humiliated nobles, and drove countless people to death – more than could be counted on both hands.

But Mikhail did not blame him.

Because he knew he was also another perpetrator.

“I see, that’s fortunate.”

With those words, Adeline bit her lips. She seemed to be holding back tears.

At that moment, Mikhail noticed that Adeline’s feet were gradually becoming blurred.

It was a phenomenon similar to when other souls disappeared.

‘They said souls disappear when they pour out all the words they’ve kept in their hearts. If so, what she desires is…’

Before his thoughts could finish, Oberon whispered in his ear.

Unlike before, it was a voice without any hint of playfulness.

“Keep talking to her. The trial isn’t over yet.”

Those words somehow sounded like Oberon was cheering for Mikhail.

“But thanks to Mr. Raymond, my family was able to open up about their true feelings to each other. And I got the opportunity to break my curse.”

“You can… break the curse?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

When Mikhail spoke with certainty, tears welled up in Adeline’s eyes.

“I see. People like me won’t appear anymore. That’s fortunate. So fortunate.”

Her body became even more blurred.

Mikhail kept his mouth tightly shut as he watched Adeline cry endlessly.

‘Ah, how much-‘

A kind and noble person.

Her lingering attachment was different from others.

It wasn’t resentment toward the Family Head, selfish guilt seeking forgiveness, or despair lamenting death, but rather the kindness of hoping that no one else would become a victim like herself—that was her lingering attachment.

What she wished for wasn’t an apology, but a happy ending where ‘everyone became happy.’

…Even though she was no longer part of that story.

At her good but foolish appearance, Mikhail found himself speaking with an unconsciously sharp voice.

“I couldn’t meet Father in this place.”

This wouldn’t be the answer Adeline wanted. But he didn’t want to hide the truth.

“He felt no lingering attachment to life, let alone guilt. He doesn’t want to receive an apology, nor does he intend to apologize. Even though he’s that kind of person, you don’t resent him?”

Why on earth?

How could you love that demon?

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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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