I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 98

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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 98

 

It was a situation that perfectly fit the saying “digging one’s own grave.”

 

The atmosphere worsened further due to Cornell’s absurd yet childishly age-appropriate defense.

 

Of course, many children frowned at Cornell’s baseless defense, but the arrow was aimed at Yufina.

 

“How many lies must she have told Cornell…”

 

“Cornell trusts people too easily, that’s his problem.”

 

Rather than blaming Cornell, they criticized Yufina who was receiving his defense. Finding an easy target to curse was also a characteristic of high society.

 

Cornell tried to tell them to refrain from such criticism, but Jace reached out and covered his mouth.

 

“Hey there, Cornell. That’s enough.”

 

“Mmph…”

 

Unlike when they first met, Jace gave him half-hearted treatment befitting a count’s son and pulled him away from Yufina.

 

“It’s ‘their problem,’ isn’t it? Let them handle it themselves.”

 

“I want to help Miss Yufina…”

 

“Help or whatever, Cornell is partly to blame for how things turned out, so just stop.”

 

“What, what?”

 

So he really didn’t know. Jace let out a sigh.

 

Cornell was an innocent person.

 

His attempt to defend Yufina must have been an action born purely from goodwill.

 

He truly believed that Yufina was a genius inventor.

 

‘He probably never even suspected anything.’

 

Because he had never been betrayed before.

 

It felt like facing a child raised in a greenhouse after a long time.

 

It felt exactly like looking at himself, and disgust surged up.

 

Of course, Jace wasn’t as kind or innocent as Cornell, but…

 

‘I used to think I could be forgiven for anything I did.’

 

Having no doubt about what he was doing was similar. It was the attitude of a young master who had never been denied by anyone.

 

Jace left Cornell being pushed back helplessly behind him and turned his gaze to Yufina and Mabel who were confronting each other.

 

‘So what now.’

 

He hadn’t expected to find the culprit who drove Mabel away so quickly.

 

The situation escalating this far was due to the efforts of both Yufina and Mabel.

 

Yufina wanted to deny Mabel head-on, and Mabel had no intention of running away.

 

With Wilhelmina’s help added on top of that, an irreversible duel-like atmosphere had been created.

 

On the other hand, for the children, this was entertaining spectacle.

 

The fall of a popular person who had been riding high, or the birth of another scapegoat for the group’s entertainment – either way, it was a play they didn’t want to miss.

 

‘Disgusting.’

 

Looking at the interested expressions of the children surrounding Yufina and Mabel, Jace spat out a short curse.

 

“Sister, that invention was made by me. You’re the one who stole it.”

 

“…”

 

“I don’t know why you did such a thing, sister. But I’m a Metokan, so I don’t make counterfeits. So… apologize.”

 

Being an inventor was the Metokan Family’s identity.

 

It was admirable filial piety, not wanting to tarnish her mother’s name, but those very words struck a nerve with Yufina.

 

“What’s so great about that family?”

 

No matter how much she tried to imitate High Society, she was still a child – the fourteen-year-old’s mask crumbled easily.

 

“Our Anette Family are scholars too. We’re a family that has even received an award plaque from His Imperial Majesty! I’ve never made counterfeits – that was my invention!”

 

Just then, a mocking laugh could be heard from somewhere.

 

“…The Anette Family being inventors was a long time ago.”

 

Yufina whipped her head around to glare in that direction, but the culprit had already disappeared.

 

‘So Yufina was from the Anette Family.’

 

Only now did Jace realize why Yufina had targeted Mabel.

 

The Anette Family had been a famous scholar family in the Western Region in the past, but recently had no achievements to speak of, barely maintaining their Baron status.

 

However, despite the family’s declining prestige, they had strong influence in Social Circles. This was because they had married all their children to high-ranking nobles.

 

‘Now I understand why Yufina was so obsessed with Western Sun.’

 

He had once overheard at the Academy a mocking compliment that they had no power but were good at “child trafficking.”

 

If that was the case, he could guess both her circumstances for joining Western Sun and her reasons for becoming close to Cornell.

 

“And you were the ones who stole first. Our family’s nickname, our honor! Your mother took it all!”

 

On the other hand, the Metokan Family’s rise to prosperity had begun with Mabel’s mother, Miliona Metokan.

 

The nickname “creative” had transferred to the Metokans, and they had gained tremendous wealth as inventors.

 

Ironically, as the Anettes fell, the Metokans rose to prominence at exactly the same time.

 

“Mabel is a genius, the Metokans are really different – I was constantly compared to her. Because of those strange inventions you sent as birthday gifts! Why can’t you make things like this, they always said…!”

 

“That was for your sake, sister…”

 

“If it was really for my sake, you shouldn’t have appeared before me at all!”

 

At Yufina’s scream-like voice, Mabel backed away with a terrified expression.

 

Yufina had already lost all self-control.

 

Perhaps because she was pouring out her true feelings for the first time, she lost both her dignity and resolve, endlessly vomiting out her accumulated resentment.

 

“Do you know what kind of feelings I had when I participated here? You don’t know anything about how important this place is to me!”

 

“But my inventions have nothing to do with that.”

 

Mabel gathered her courage and interrupted, but Yufina’s expression became even more twisted.

 

“You came here to interfere with me. Bringing your amazing inventions to mock me. You’ve always been like that. Every time we met, you’d show me inventions I didn’t want to see and treat me like a fool. This time is the same!”

 

“I just needed friends…”

 

“That’s exactly it! You don’t need such things. You already have everything!”

 

Tears streamed down Yufina’s cheeks.

 

“Have everything…”

 

Just as Mabel was about to ask back with a confused expression, not understanding what she meant.

 

“You can become the family head!”

 

“…!”

 

“With that brilliant mind of yours, you can succeed. You have many other paths. I have nothing but this!”

 

At the words “other paths,” Mabel unconsciously held her breath.

 

“You want to make friends – does this place look that enjoyable to you? Do you really seem desperate because you want to make friends? You don’t know the pressure of having to find a fiancée, or the loneliness of not being invited to gatherings alone!”

 

It was a cold and ugly reality that Mabel had never once considered.

 

The reason for existence of Western Sun, called a small social circle, ten-year-old children trying to act elegant, the reason they struggled desperately to create their own place somehow…

 

These were hardships that had no connection to Mabel, who was destined for the position of family head.

 

But just as there was pain Mabel didn’t know, Yufina also couldn’t understand Mabel.

 

“Do you know what I worried about most when you said you’d participate in the gathering? I thought, what if you become close with Cornell? Cornell likes inventions, so he’s interested in smart children! If that happened, then I would be…”

 

Yufina roughly wiped around her eyes with the back of her hand.

 

Even knowing that all the words she was spitting out were excuses, she couldn’t stop.

 

“I’d become useless. I can’t be like my older sisters. Unlike you, for me, this place is…”

 

It was a place where she could prove her own worth.

 

That’s why Yufina couldn’t tolerate Mabel’s participation.

 

If she hadn’t participated at all, it would have ended with just jealousy. She could have lived like others while turning away from her own circumstances.

 

But the moment Mabel appeared, even the chance for self-rationalization disappeared.

 

Yufina didn’t have the confidence to handle the comparison.

 

Looking at her, she felt so pathetic for approaching Cornell with a smile she didn’t mean.

 

“For me, this is all I have.”

 

She had long since realized that she was the one in the wrong.

 

Even knowing that Mabel had done nothing wrong, her jealousy and malice grew endlessly.

 

Yufina’s arrogant appearance as she mocked Mabel was nowhere to be found.

 

Her eyes glaring fiercely at Mabel were full of anger and resentment.

 

“Sister…”

 

Just as Mabel was about to approach Yufina, someone blocked Mabel’s path.

 

“How ridiculous, don’t act like a victim now.”

 

The one who snapped harshly as if he would curse at any moment was none other than Jace.

 

Jace spoke sharply to Yufina on behalf of the hesitating Mabel.

 

“What? This is all you have? You’re worried? What changes by revealing your reasons for bullying? Anyone listening would think Mabel did something wrong to you.”

 

“I, I…”

 

The flustered Yufina’s lips trembled.

 

“You’re the one who insulted people first. Don’t push ridiculous reasons. If you hadn’t trapped Mabel from the beginning, this wouldn’t have happened.”

 

Though it was sound logic, Yufina, who didn’t want to acknowledge it, widened her eyes and shouted at Jace.

 

“What do you know! While I’ve been compared all this time, how much I’ve…”

 

“Then go confront the people who compared you! Don’t take out your anger on innocent people!”

 

“Hic…!”

 

However, overwhelmed by Jace’s momentum, she unconsciously stepped backward.

 

It was such fierce anger that the other children watching were terrified.

 

“Why should I care how hard it was for you? If your past is unfair, curse your family, not Mabel.”

 

Taking a deep breath, Jace spoke with self-loathing as if talking to himself.

 

“Whatever your circumstances, as long as you bullied someone, you’re clearly a perpetrator too. Don’t make excuses pretending to be unfortunate and saying you had no choice. It’s disgusting to watch.”

 

He recalled his past when he treated his friends like subordinates because of the contempt he faced at the Academy and Count Jormon’s pressure.

 

His foolish self who spoke harshly to attendants as if he were a king and even swung his fists.

 

Feeling like he was seeing that image, he couldn’t stand by and watch Yufina’s attitude.

 

Jace clicked his tongue rudely with a “tsk” and then turned toward Mabel.

 

And he grabbed Mabel’s cheeks with both hands and lifted them up as she blinked.

 

He pulled so hard that a stretching sound spread through the air.

 

“Same goes for you.”

 

“Huh, huh?”

 

“This is the problem with half-hearted good guys, why are you being swayed by such words?”

 

“I am…”

 

“Why are you sitting there feeling sorry for her? What’s your purpose for coming here?”

 

The moment she heard those words, her resolve not to tarnish Mother’s name flashed through her mind.

 

“If you back down here, that’s not being a good person, that’s being a pushover. Get your head straight and stop acting stupid.”

 

“Push, pushover…”

 

Mabel’s lips trembled at the harsh words she was hearing for the first time in her life.

 

Regardless, Jace let her go again and pushed her back.

 

“Now, sort this out properly. Don’t ruin it at the end after working so hard.”

 

And so Yufina and Mabel faced each other again.

 

Yufina, a mess from crying, and Mabel, still not fully composed, stood there blankly looking at each other.

 

The first to speak was Mabel.

 

“Sister Yufina. I… you…”

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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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