I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 258

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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 258 Special Side Story

“People should be flexible, no matter how much hostages were taken, to go that far… Haah.”

Wilhelmina sighed as if it were her own business.

Mikhail looked at such Wilhelmina and let out a bitter smile.

Even while saying she wasn’t a good person, she was a mother who couldn’t turn away from someone’s suffering.

“I’d like to tell all of this to the Emperor and completely undermine the Imperial Palace’s prestige, but…”

Wilhelmina glanced sideways at Mikhail. As if he had never smiled, Mikhail had a serious expression.

His eyes said that was one thing, and this was another.

If he brought this news to the Current Emperor, he would welcome it with open arms and use it, but Mikhail didn’t want unnecessary conflict.

Wilhelmina composed herself and faced Titania again.

“Titania, was that memory the trigger that made you hate humans?”

Unlike Wilhelmina, who had clear distinctions between people she liked and didn’t like, her conversation with Titania, who held hatred for an entire race, ran on parallel lines.

So Wilhelmina asked Titania to clearly explain the cause of her emotions, which led to the beginning of this long reminiscence.

“Yes. After that, I gave up all expectations of humans.”

Just because you give infinite love doesn’t mean you’ll receive infinite love in return.

This obvious fact that humans would realize around their first love, Titania, who was immortal, realized far too late.

It was a story deserving of sympathy. Guilt was deeply etched on Mikhail’s face as he listened. It was a shameful truth that his ancestor, and the Empire’s Founder, was such a lowly human.

On the other hand, Wilhelmina calmly continued with her next question.

“…Then conversely, what was the trigger that made you love humans?”

“The trigger that made me love them?”

Titania, who was about to ask why she was curious about that, suddenly felt flustered when she realized the memory wouldn’t come to her.

Perhaps because it was such a distant memory, it was quite different from the still vivid resentment.

“That was, probably…”

Only after a long while could Titania open her mouth.

“I once met some children.”

She explained about the trigger that first made her interested in humans.

“They were children who lived near the Fairy Lake. Playing with those children, I came to know humans. And I played happily with them until they grew old and were finally laid to rest in the Lake Cemetery.”

“…And then?”

“That’s the end.”

The reason she came to hate was long, but the reason she came to love was short.

Watching the children grow up and age, Titania felt love.

‘What brilliant and sorrowful beings they are.’

Greatly moved by watching humans live their short lives vigorously, Titania rejected Oberon’s advice and revealed herself to the world.

Carrying an armful of delicious Lokum Jelly, to meet other boys and girls.

That was the reason why the King of the Western Region, Titania, began to make her name known in the human world.

“Now that I’ve said it, it’s not such a grand story.”

Titania muttered.

But Wilhelmina shook her head, saying that wasn’t the case.

“Just because the emotion of love is special doesn’t mean the reason has to be special too. Just as it’s hard to find reasons for disliking something, the same goes for liking something.”

“Then what about you? For what reason did you come to love your family?”

Suddenly, Titania became curious about Wilhelmina’s story as well. What could be the story of a mother who boldly claimed her rights before the Fairy King?

Wilhelmina answered with a complicated expression.

“My story wouldn’t be very interesting. It’s nothing remarkable either…”

Then Mikhail, who was beside her, smiled bitterly.

“No, Mother. From an outsider’s perspective, your story isn’t ordinary either.”

“Really?”

Having lost her divine power and unable to read others’ hearts like Oberon, Titania asked Wilhelmina for an explanation.

After thinking for a moment, Wilhelmina slowly began her story.

“I was sold as the Late Duke’s fifth bride.”

And just as Mikhail had done with Adeline, she too explained her past to Titania. Though it was a plain story devoid of emotion, Titania listening was swept up in a mysterious feeling.

‘She says she has no interest in humans… but she seems more interested than anyone.’

Wilhelmina’s story was always about humans.

A young girl who blamed herself for others’ gazes, a merchant who wanted recognition for her abilities, a daughter who tried to make her parents look back at her, a lady who tried to reclaim happiness… Despite claiming to aim for a peaceful life, she had lived quite earnestly.

And somehow, such contradictory behavior from Wilhelmina felt endearing.

‘Ah, yes. This emotion is…’

It was the same emotion she felt when she met the children at the lake in the past.

In Wilhelmina, she saw the beauty of humans living their short lives with dignity.

“Amazing. You are wiser than I, who abandoned my duty. But…”

Titania was about to give her own commentary after hearing the entire story, but another question arose.

“It was an interesting life, but it doesn’t answer my question. So why did you come to love your family, not just humans? From your story alone, it seems you’d have more reasons to hate Helene and Mikhail.”

While the Ducal House hadn’t oppressed her, that didn’t become a reason to love them either. In some cases, she could have resented Helene.

Then Wilhelmina frowned as if asking why she needed to explain this.

“Why should I hate these wonderful children?”

She crossed her arms and continued calmly.

“You praised me as wise, but that’s an overestimation. Not just you, but many people misunderstand me.”

At that moment, Mikhail tried to say something, but Wilhelmina stopped him with her gaze.

“I’m an ordinary person who lives according to the times. I try to resolve the injustices around me, but I’m a cowardly noble who doesn’t act to change the system. The praise of being wise suits other people better. For example-”

A revolutionary who would burn themselves to change the Empire, and furthermore, the world.

A warrior who single-handedly cleaned up the desert that had been ruined by repeated succession competitions.

And…

“Mikhail, who always strived to be a good person.”

Her son who, despite hatred and anger boiling within him due to the curse, never lost his smile and remained a benevolent ruler.

“Helene, who gave up her dreams to become a fair and just person.”

Her daughter-in-law who lost even her life’s purpose to the world’s injustices, yet still shouldered the responsibilities of those in power.

“They are the ones who deserve praise.”

Wilhelmina quietly closed her eyes.

“In the past, I threw away my life to protect a child, but even so, I couldn’t obtain their nobility. Even if I were reborn, in the end, only my life and those around me would matter.”

But they were different.

They had convictions more precious than their own lives.

A nobility she could never possess in her lifetime, nor would she want to.

Wilhelmina admired them, her son and daughter-in-law.

“How could I not love them after seeing them strive so beautifully?”

Those who work hard should be rewarded.

She wanted a world where good people are loved.

To Wilhelmina like that, Mikhail and Helene were people who deserved to be praised a hundred times over.

And these two people were her own children, her daughter-in-law.

Could there be anything more proud than this?

“That’s why I oppose you, Titania.”

Wilhelmina opened her eyes and looked at Titania with unwavering pupils.

“I sympathize with you. You are someone who rightfully deserves revenge against ‘humans.'”

She emphasized the word humans.

“But I hope you’ll make an exception for my children. I know my request is selfish. However, I—”

“…Because you’re a mother.”

“…That’s right. Because I am their mother, I cannot help but be selfish.”

I sympathize with you and wish for your revenge, yet I hope it won’t be my children.

What a contradictory thought this was.

But after hearing all of Wilhelmina’s story, she couldn’t carelessly deny it.

‘Like Wilhelmina, wasn’t I also a contradictory fairy?’

She realized this while recalling the humans she had loved in the past.

Hatred and love were separate things. They didn’t work like numbers—adding them didn’t make things better, subtracting them didn’t create hatred.

She still loved the children of the lake, but she hated the Emperor.

Though they were both human, they were different people.

Realizing this, she couldn’t deny Wilhelmina.

“Wilhelmina, I…”

Just as she was about to give her final answer.

Thud—

A loud impact sound came from somewhere.

The three people, startled, turned their gazes toward the source of the sound.

There was Helene, setting down a large-built man on the floor.

Covered in wounds and dripping blood, she looked down at the man who was in an even more miserable state than herself, then slowly raised her head.

“Was I too fast? Please continue your conversation.”

“Uh, well…”

Soon, silence fell.

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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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