I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 96

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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 96

 

Mabel, separated from Jace, discovered a bench in a corner of the plaza.

 

Since it was a bench not used during tea time, there were no children around either.

 

She set down the canvas she was carrying next to the bench and took a seat.

 

And following her, Jace also approached the bench.

 

The members who had been showing interest in Jace were pushed away by his threatening warning not to follow.

 

“…Hey.”

 

Jace smoothed his furrowed brow with his fingers to hide his irritated expression.

 

Since he couldn’t explain his relationship with Wilhelmina, he had no justification to start a conversation.

 

‘She also said I shouldn’t mention helping.’

 

It was a troublesome request in many ways.

 

But he couldn’t just back down like this.

 

‘Since I succeeded in creating a crack, next I need to find out what happened.’

 

Jace was the type who had to see things through to the end once he started.

 

As he pondered how to break the ice, his gaze happened to fall on the large canvas beside Mabel.

 

“That thing, aren’t you going to exhibit it?”

 

“…”

 

On the other hand, Mabel had no intention of becoming friends with Jace.

 

While she had the goal of making friends, she had no desire to befriend the scary-looking Jace.

 

‘I don’t want to explain…’

 

Mabel turned her head slightly, not wanting to make eye contact with Jace, but Jace, who had stepped closer, picked up the canvas.

 

The canvas was covered with fabric, so it was impossible to tell what kind of painting it was.

 

“The exhibition time will end soon, right? Didn’t you bring it to show?”

 

“…Put it down. There’s someone else I want to show it to.”

 

For a moment, Mabel’s eyes turned toward Cornell’s group.

 

‘This is it.’

 

Seeing that, Jace instinctively knew this canvas was the clue to solving the case.

 

“What kind of painting is it? What, did you draw some masterpiece?”

 

“…Give it back.”

 

Mabel, uncomfortable with Jace’s strange sense of distance, tried to snatch the canvas from his hands.

 

But Jace wouldn’t let go easily.

 

He even forced a smile as if determined to check the contents somehow.

 

“No, I just want to see what kind of painting… Ah.”

 

At that moment, Mabel’s hand, which was pulling at the corner, happened to get tangled in the end of the fabric that was tying the canvas.

 

The fabric covering the canvas fell to the floor, and Jace came face to face with the painting’s identity.

 

However, what was drawn on the canvas was completely different from what Jace had expected.

 

‘What is this? Math problems? Drawing shapes? No, this isn’t just a painting…’

 

Suddenly, Wilhelmina’s words flashed through his mind.

 

With the information that an art exhibition was planned for the next Western Sun gathering, she anticipated the events that would unfold.

 

‘Plagiarized works will definitely appear. The kids who actually create original work… probably about half, I’d guess.’

 

The background of noble children, an art exhibition with no teachers to inspect, a gathering meant for showing off… Wilhelmina’s advice, seeing through such circumstances, hit the mark precisely.

 

She spoke with a sigh, as if she had experienced such things before.

 

The only thing wrong with her prediction was the fact that Jace possessed such good aesthetic sense that he didn’t need art education.

 

Laughing that it would be convenient since there was no need to educate him, she added her advice.

 

‘The better the household, and the more central to the group, the more they’ll plagiarize famous works, so target that.’

 

‘That guy Zephyro actually brought a plagiarized work. But this painting that Mabel brought…’

 

Jace looked at Mabel with a dubious expression.

 

“Hey, this…”

 

“Not hey. I’m Mabel Metokan.”

 

“Ah, right. I’m Jace Mylo. You, this thing… don’t tell me you brought a blueprint?”

 

“Yeah, that’s right.”

 

“Did you make this?”

 

“Of course. This is my invention.”

 

“But you drew it really badly. Why is it so crooked? The circle looks like a trapezoid.”

 

“…It was my first time drawing a blueprint on canvas.”

 

Mabel’s voice, which had answered with pride at first, gradually grew quieter.

 

Setting aside her terrible drawing skill, Jace let out a low sigh at the sincerity he could feel from the blueprint.

 

‘Don’t tell me the reason she brought this blueprint is…’

 

With this many clues, even simple Jace could easily deduce the situation.

 

A problem inventor who suddenly brought a blueprint to an art exhibition rampant with plagiarized works.

 

The intention to show it to just one person.

 

A peculiar drawing that didn’t look like artwork no matter how you looked at it.

 

Cornell’s birthday party that Mabel had attended.

 

And Wilhelmina who had emphasized plagiarism and imitations.

 

“Did you get plagiarized or something at the last gathering?”

 

“…”

 

Mabel remained silent, and Jace had an intuition.

 

‘Don’t tell me this is all… part of the Grand Duchess’s plan too?’

 

At this timing when he had picked a fight with the president’s group telling them not to show off with plagiarized works, Mabel came with a blueprint.

 

Wilhelmina’s inscrutable expression came to mind.

 

If he asked, she would definitely brush it off saying ‘it’s all coincidence,’ but still, he couldn’t deny that the preparations had come together amazingly well for a coincidence.

 

‘Does that person have prophetic ability or something?’

 

Anyway, with this, the conflict could be resolved quickly.

 

Jace tried to push away his fear of Wilhelmina and whispered to Mabel.

 

“Well, I’m not saying this for your sake. But your recommender…”

 

* * *

 

‘What on earth is happening!’

 

Yufina Anette, the person who recommended Mabel to the western gathering and the Noble Lady of the Inventor Family, bit her lips and cursed today’s misfortune.

 

She was already displeased that this western gathering’s theme was creative works, which she hated most, and now even the new member was causing problems.

 

Yufina’s plan to get close to Cornell by using the favorable impression that had continued since the birthday party had gone up in smoke.

 

‘I needed an opportunity to be alone with Cornell!’

 

Despite acting stern, Cornell’s heart was no different from other boys his age.

 

When his favorite toys appeared before his eyes, he would forget his usual composure and show interest.

 

Thanks to using Mabel’s surprise box, their relationship had rapidly grown closer.

 

For Yufina, who had been ordered by her father to become close with Cornell’s family, the Marons, this was a golden opportunity.

 

And Jace had interfered with that.

 

‘What? That painter called Chakil or whatever? Why should I know such a person? He may be handsome, but how rude!’

 

Zephyro getting caught for plagiarism was annoying, but she was more angry at Jace, who had interrupted Cornell’s appreciation despite being just a newcomer.

 

She wanted to scold him for butting in without knowing the subject, but considering the Milo Family’s status, it was difficult to speak first.

 

Even among the wealthy, unlike the Metokan Family which was isolated for rarely showing their faces in social circles, the Milo Family was a rising new family that drew attention in the Western Region.

 

‘Cornell could handle him though…’

 

Perhaps intimidated by Jace’s sharp yet logical rebuke, Cornell had been pushed back without saying a word.

 

Cornell’s family could have dismissed Jace’s argument and had him removed, but he was too indecisive in this regard.

 

So focused on somehow comforting Cornell, Yufina belatedly noticed that the atmosphere of the gathering had changed.

 

‘Fools, who are you going to?’

 

Moreover, the members who were usually marginalized began approaching Jace.

 

Their intentions were obvious.

 

They must be rejoicing that finally someone had appeared to represent their grievances.

 

Yufina didn’t like their timid movements.

 

‘…Pathetic losers.’

 

It annoyed her how they couldn’t even open their mouths when confronted directly, yet were secretly looking for opportunities.

 

She wanted to scold them, but Cornell was the priority right now.

 

“It’s okay, Cornell. How could we know such an unknown painter?”

 

“R-really?”

 

At least it was fortunate that Yufina’s work hadn’t caught Jace’s attention.

 

Her work was also plagiarized, so if he found fault with it, she would obviously be embarrassed.

 

‘It would be better to just finish quickly.’

 

Not wanting her turn for her work to come, Yufina suggested to Cornell in a gentle voice.

 

“Cornell, how about we have tea time? Everyone seems a bit tired…”

 

“That’s right, Cornell. We can appreciate the works while sitting down too.”

 

“But…”

 

Cornell hesitated, glancing at the remaining works.

 

There were still half the works left that he hadn’t properly seen.

 

‘Acting like the president at a time like this.’

 

But Yufina wasn’t the only one thinking this way.

 

Those who didn’t want to be caught plagiarizing egged Cornell on.

 

Eventually, he was led by the group toward the table.

 

Then the Vice President tactfully began gathering the members.

 

“Well then, we’ll now begin tea time. Everyone please take your seats…”

 

Though it was a forced start to tea time, naturally no one objected.

 

Jace was worrying, but for some reason he just sat in a corner seat quietly watching people.

 

And beside him…

 

“Mabel?”

 

Mabel, who she thought had been driven away, was sitting there.

 

‘I suppose she came to get revenge?’

 

Yufina, who knew Mabel’s personality, secretly sneered.

 

Since Mabel didn’t hesitate to try again even after failing, she had expected her to come back.

 

But Yufina was already prepared.

 

‘I already told the kids everything.’

 

The members wouldn’t believe anything Mabel said.

 

After Mabel ran away, Yufina had officially apologized to the members.

 

She shed fake tears pretending to be the victim, asking them to forgive her cousin’s rudeness.

 

The friends who sympathized with Yufina comforted her, saying Mabel was the one who did wrong, so why was she apologizing.

 

On top of that, she had finished her plausible persuasion that Mabel seemed to have mistaken the invention Yufina had shown when they were young as her own.

 

In this situation, no one would take Mabel’s side.

 

Yufina knew well that the best way to deal with Mabel, who lacked speaking skills, was through ignoring and humiliation.

 

‘She won’t be able to speak properly once she’s put on stage anyway.’

 

Yufina recalled Mabel’s appearance from the last gathering.

 

Though she didn’t express it in words, it had been a thrilling moment.

 

Even when shedding fake tears, she didn’t know how hard she had tried to hold back her laughter.

 

‘A genius? How ridiculous.’

 

It was time to be repaid for all the inferiority complex from being compared, the sight of her parents being looked down upon, all of it.

 

Her bad mood from Jace began to lift gradually upon seeing Mabel.

 

Her heart fluttered at the thought of being able to embarrass Mabel once again.

 

‘You still think I’m a fool, don’t you? That’s why you came back with such a confident expression.’

 

But Yufina had also been fully prepared to bring down Mabel from long ago.

 

The moment Mabel stepped forward with a canvas as the appreciation meeting was ending, Yufina shuddered with joy.

 

“…Idiot.”

 

The foolish genius had appeared before her again to be ignored once more.

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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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