I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 89

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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 89

 

Before the second part began, Baroness Metokan, who had heard about the situation, said she wanted to offer a separate apology and urged me to please stay.

 

Since it was getting late, I tried to politely decline, saying it was fine.

 

‘I want to repay the Grand Duchess.’

 

…she said, even grabbing my hands as she approached.

 

Even the Butler beside her was pleading with tears welling up in his eyes, so I had no choice but to nod.

 

After the second part ended, I followed the Butler out of the Banquet Hall.

 

‘The stares are a bit annoying though.’

 

Leaving behind the gazes of Nobles that seemed to be either wariness or jealousy, I headed to the Reception Room of the Mansion.

 

It was indeed an inventor’s mansion. The Reception Room was filled with strangely shaped objects.

 

I tried hard to resist letting my eyes wander to the Clockwork Sofa and the Mirror with Arms.

 

‘And this one… is she planning to stay here the whole time?’

 

Next to me sat the cause of the incident, Baroness Metokan’s daughter.

 

Her name was Mabel, I think.

 

She was about the same height as Mirinai, still wearing a large Mask and maintaining complete silence.

 

Mabel had been following me around since the second part of the presentation began.

 

The Butler had suggested she go to her Bedroom, but she firmly refused.

 

‘I want to stay here.’

 

Unable to break Mabel’s stubbornness, the Butler looked at me with pleading eyes, and I nodded to indicate it was fine.

 

It seemed the Servants of this family were quite soft when it came to Mabel.

 

‘Speaking of which, this Mask is really well made. I wonder if our kids would like it.’

 

As I was absentmindedly observing Mabel’s Mask to pass time, Baroness Metokan entered after finishing the cleanup.

 

“Sorry for being late, Grand Duchess. The farewells took a bit longer.”

 

“No, it’s fine.”

 

Though I honestly wanted to clock out quickly, I still acted composed as I greeted her.

 

She took off her Outer Garments and handed them to the Butler as she spoke.

 

“Kalsemo, bring some drinks. Ah, Grand Duchess, would you like…?”

 

“I’m fine, thank you.”

 

When I politely declined, she didn’t insist further and plopped down on the Sofa across from me.

 

‘…She’s not leaving.’

 

Even though her mother had arrived, Mabel didn’t move from her spot.

 

Baroness Metokan didn’t seem to mind this either.

 

Baroness Metokan took off her Glasses and let down her tied hair as she caught her breath.

 

Soon the Butler brought a Glass Cup filled with light brown liquid.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Baroness Metokan, who gulped it down, finally let out a sigh as if she could live again.

 

“I’m sorry, my throat was parched.”

 

“I understand. It was a long presentation.”

 

“…Though there were few who truly understood.”

 

She wore a vague smile that could have been bitter or mocking.

 

‘Somehow, the atmosphere is quite different.’

 

Her manner of speaking was quite different from the clumsy Baroness Metokan I had seen in the banquet hall.

 

I had seen several nobles whose personalities changed depending on the situation, but it had been a while since I’d met someone so completely different.

 

“First, I’d like to express my gratitude. Our Mabel is indebted to you. If it weren’t for the Grand Duchess, I can’t even imagine what would have happened to the presentation.”

 

“Not at all.”

 

My recognition of Mabel’s invention was purely coincidental.

 

Thanks to my conversation with Chloe, I happened to be standing in the corner of the banquet hall, which allowed me to recognize the true nature of that blood-colored trick art.

 

If I had been watching from the center like the other nobles, I might have been caught up in that commotion as well.

 

I was about to offer words of comfort saying it was a child’s mistake, so everyone would probably think of it as a minor accident, when Baroness Metokan suddenly began explaining.

 

“Probably, this happened due to a mistake in dye management. Since it was an evening banquet, she would have tried to use fluorescent dye.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

A shrill voice escaped me without my knowing, but she continued speaking without concern.

 

“However, fluorescent dye quickly oxidizes to red if not properly sealed. Since she put a large amount of dye in the box, gaps formed in the packaging, causing oxidation to occur. Moreover, since there was no stock of dye anti-oxidant, there would have been no way to prevent it, and wooden boxes to begin with…”

 

The explanation filled with technical terms continued for quite a while.

 

About 10 minutes passed. After explaining even the structure of the box, she nodded with an indifferent expression.

 

“…That’s how it happened.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

Somewhat tired from the long explanation, I answered reluctantly.

 

Finally noticing my expression, she gave a short cough.

 

“I’m sorry. When experiments fail, finding the cause has become a habit.”

 

Well, that was truly an inventor’s mindset.

 

Since this was difficult to empathize with by saying ‘I understand,’ I just nodded briefly saying ‘I see.’

 

“…”

 

After explaining like a machine gun, now she began maintaining silence. Thanks to this, the reception room became filled with an awkward atmosphere.

 

‘She’s a bit difficult to get along with.’

 

I glanced at the butler for no reason, then brought up the comfort I had intended to offer.

 

“She probably wanted to show the guests wonderful paintings and music. She wouldn’t have intended to ruin Baroness Metokan’s presentation.”

 

“…”

 

“Besides, my recognition of the child’s painting was purely coincidental, so you don’t need to worry too much about…”

 

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but Grand Duchess. Did you hear that from Mabel?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Is showing paintings and music to the guests truly Mabel’s purpose?”

 

Though her words were somewhat sharp, I didn’t feel any thorns in her voice.

 

It was a question born purely from curiosity, which made it even more bewildering.

 

“I didn’t hear it… directly.”

 

She’s being considerate of her own child, so is that really what matters?

 

I turned my gaze to Mabel, but she was still wearing her mask so I couldn’t confirm her expression.

 

“Then you mean there was another reason?”

 

“If she’s a child of the Metokan Family, she wouldn’t commit such an irrational act. She must have had a valid purpose, so we should view it as something she dared to do.”

 

“….”

 

Could it be that the Metokans weren’t an inventor family, but a military family?

 

I was momentarily speechless at this family tradition that was unusual for a noble family.

 

“Moreover, even if it was well-intentioned, bringing out a failed work to the presentation was a big mistake. Originally, our family’s presentation is attended by His Imperial Majesty….”

 

It wasn’t just me who was flustered by her words, as the butler beside us carefully spoke up.

 

“Th-that, my lady. The young miss worked hard to follow your example.”

 

“Kalsemo, that’s not what’s important.”

 

“…Yes?”

 

“She brought a failed work to a presentation where she should have brought a successful invention. Whatever the purpose, the result is clear.”

 

She tilted her head as if the butler’s reaction was puzzling and continued speaking.

 

“Mabel failed. It’s natural to hold her accountable for that. This is a completely different story from ruining the presentation.”

 

“….”

 

The butler and I fell silent together.

 

‘I roughly understand what kind of person Baroness Metokan is….’

 

She hadn’t once told Mabel to apologize since entering the reception room.

 

She probably thought that since a family’s mistakes are the family head’s mistakes, apologizing was also her job.

 

Come to think of it, she had also personally offered words of gratitude.

 

Similarly, her reason for scolding Mabel was the same.

 

She wasn’t scolding her because she was her ‘mother.’

 

As the ‘family head,’ as a fellow inventor, she wanted to blame Mabel for her mistake.

 

However, I couldn’t feel any parental affection in this scolding.

 

‘Is this family just unusual?’

 

I wanted to casually brush it off saying “Children can make mistakes sometimes,” but I couldn’t carelessly add words since it was another family’s business.

 

If everyone was used to this kind of family tradition, my consideration might seem like unwanted interference.

 

Just as I was about to step back appropriately instead of nagging about family matters.

 

“….”

 

I discovered that Mabel, who was sitting beside me, was tightly gripping the hem of my dress.

 

Her small, stubby fingers trembling, both feet pressed close together under the sofa, and her head slightly lowered.

 

“Hah.”

 

I unconsciously let out a short sigh.

 

Right, what child would be indifferent to their mother’s evaluation that they had failed?

 

Even if Baroness Metokan was a mechanically upright and rigid person, there was no guarantee her daughter would be the same.

 

Now I seemed to understand why Mabel had tried not to leave my side.

 

‘This is how children feel when they’re being scolded.’

 

In short, it was a signal asking me to take her side.

 

The quieter a child was, the more they expressed their feelings through their body.

 

The reaction of a smart and mature child who knows what her mistake was, so she doesn’t make excuses and quietly listens to the cold evaluation.

 

‘I shouldn’t meddle unnecessarily.’

 

I’m an outsider.

 

I have no right to interfere in someone else’s child-rearing methods.

 

It wasn’t like Jace where someone had asked me for help.

 

So I should back down… but my mouth moved contrary to my thoughts.

 

“Is it Baroness Metokan’s judgment that Mabel’s invention is a failed work?”

 

At my question, Baroness Metokan momentarily frowned.

 

Even though she tried to manage her expression, she was so inexperienced that the change was clearly visible.

 

“…That’s right.”

 

“Why is that?”

 

“Didn’t she fail to manage the dye?”

 

“Did Mabel say that? She might have intended to make it red from the beginning. And I’d say she achieved her purpose of drawing a painting.”

 

It was absurd, forced logic.

 

From the moment she used fluorescent dye, everyone knew the outcome was predetermined.

 

But what was needed now wasn’t such valid logic, but a pretext to win an argument.

 

“That’s sophistry. Didn’t everyone who was there fail to understand that painting? If she had used fluorescent dye clearly…”

 

“Is something a failed work if it’s not understood?”

 

“…”

 

I smiled as I faced her.

 

Her face, which had become sharper, was much more impressive than what I had seen at the banquet hall.

 

“Mabel never said this was a failed work. Baroness. Are inventions that aren’t understood by the public failed works?”

 

‘Though there were few people who truly understood it.’

 

Sophistry using the words she had said.

 

But sophistry that would be unpleasant to deny.

 

Once again, an uncomfortable silence circled the reception room.

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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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