I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 16

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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 16

The servants expecting me to be a good person was also a burdensome matter.

If I were truly a good and remarkable person, I would have stepped up to tell them not to make children work, or I would have used the annex building’s wealth to resolve their unfair wages.

I can’t do such things. What I give is merely personal kindness, and hypocrisy to make my own heart feel at ease.

“…If Mirinai were by my side right now, she would probably say I have a sharp expression.”

“Mmm.”

Thinking about this world’s frustrating culture made my expression harden. After forcibly smoothing my face with my fingers, I headed outside the castle.

* * *

When we arrived at the military camp, Anna and I faced such a huge shock that we forgot to breathe.

“Hey, hey, trip his legs!”

“Are you kidding me! Where did all that meat you ate yesterday get digested! Put some strength into it!”

“He’s going down-!”

In front of the military camp was a large training ground, where numerous men had gathered for training.

Like wrestling, they had drawn a large circle and were fighting inside it. Those thrown outside the circle seemed to lose… the problem was their attire.

“M, Madam!”

“What?”

They had removed all their upper garments. Some even had their pants half down or torn, creating unseemly sights depending on the person.

Anna blocked my way with a face flushed bright red.

“You can’t look, you can’t look! Such shameless behavior!”

“Why?”

“Why, why do you ask!”

I pulled down Anna’s hands that were trying to cover my eyes.

‘Her hands are quite chapped. I should make some hand cream.’

With such peaceful thoughts, I watched the men fighting earnestly in the training ground.

“Is it strange to take off your shirt while training?”

“But… that’s a bit…”

“We didn’t come somewhere we’re not allowed to enter. The training ground has no doors, and they don’t think it’s shameful either.”

“…Madam, are you perhaps enjoying this?”

“It’s quite a feast for the eyes.”

Anna looked more shocked than when she had driven away the stable master earlier.

The battle of bronzed muscles and bodies glistening with sweat was more entertaining than I had expected.

‘The variety in physiques is interesting too. I thought knights and soldiers would all be tall like beanpoles.’

While impressive bodies were nice to look at, it was also entertaining to watch smaller men use various techniques to topple their opponents. This might be why they say the best spectacle is watching fights.

Just as I was considering moving closer for better observation, I heard a familiar voice.

“Grand Duchess? What brings you here?”

I spotted a large elderly man hurriedly approaching from the opposite side. I pushed aside Anna, who was flustered and dazed.

“It’s been a while, Count.”

“Welcome, Madam. What brings you here…?”

He must have been training too, as his beard was soaked with sweat. At least he had the dignity of a noble, wearing a comfortable tunic.

He tried to greet me with a flustered expression, then shouted at the men who were fighting and cursing in the training ground.

“You fools! A guest has arrived! Clean up right now and go back! Put on your clothes too!”

“…How disappointing.”

“Excuse me? What did you say?”

“It’s nothing.”

I had planned to leisurely discuss the celebration while watching the physical combat, but that seemed to have failed.

Ignoring Anna who was looking at me with suspicious eyes about my true intentions, I followed the Margrave into the military camp.

Since there was no separate reception room in the military camp, we sat in a corner of the dining hall instead.

It seemed rare for guests to visit this far, as I could sense soldiers wandering around outside the dining hall, unable to contain their curiosity.

“Hmm, a celebration.”

When I asked about the celebration, the Margrave rested his chin on his hand and fell into thought.

“So… you’re curious about what kind of celebration would be good?”

“Yes, I’d like to hear if there are any requests.”

“I think they’d be happy with just alcohol and food.”

As if this was his first time dealing with such concerns, he trailed off with a troubled expression.

“It’s being held in the garden at the castle, isn’t it? It would be difficult to enjoy things like balls or plays… and they don’t prefer such things anyway.”

Unlike the stiff atmosphere of banquets, he added that celebrations for soldiers always involved drinking parties.

It was an ordinary drinking party where they piled up cheap wine and beer like mountains, eating their fill with barbecue.

“Haven’t there been any usual requests? Things they wanted to eat?”

“Well. They’re not the type to easily voice such things… it is the army, after all.”

True, it didn’t seem likely that soldiers would tell their commander things like ‘I’d like to cut steak instead of barbecue.’

I recalled the soldiers who had moved briskly when the Margrave shouted.

“Then is there anything you’d recommend, Count?”

“I don’t have anything particular either. I don’t drink alcohol anyway…”

The widowed Margrave said he didn’t drink alcohol even at his own celebration.

It would be the same at celebrations the soldiers enjoyed. When I rested my chin with a troubled expression, the Margrave let out a groan.

“Hmm… I do know someone suitable for this kind of problem.”

“Who is it?”

“Not a soldier, but a knight. He tends to speak honestly, but…”

“But?”

“I’m worried you might find him rude, Madam.”

I shrugged to indicate I was fine with it. I was the one who came asking for help, so I had no intention of demanding etiquette here.

“Hmm, understood. I’ll call him over. If anything makes you uncomfortable, please let me know anytime.”

The Margrave went outside the dining hall to call the knight. I thought he could just call a servant, but looking around, I realized there was no one in the dining hall except us.

Anna, who also found this strange, whispered in a small voice.

“Are there no servants here?”

“They might prefer to do their own work.”

Anna looked incredulous.

Well, it was indeed a rare sight to see someone of Count rank moving personally. Perhaps this showed just how much of a true soldier the Margrave was.

After waiting about 5 minutes, the dining hall door opened and someone walked in.

“Good day to you.”

Seeing the appearance of the approaching person, Anna and I simultaneously held our breath.

‘What a beauty.’

The person wearing the knight uniform was a beauty so stunning that words could not adequately describe them.

With black hair reaching down to the neck tied back, uniform buttons fastened all the way to the collar, an overall simple outfit… yet their radiant appearance could not be concealed.

Round eyes that gleamed with a deep amethyst color, lips as red as if painted with rouge and a straight nose, a slender chin and thin eyebrows emphasized an androgynous beauty.

With lips pressed in a straight line and eyes wide open creating a stern impression, even that looked charming due to their stunning beauty.

‘Their beauty is comparable to Helene’s.’

If Helene possessed elegance and the perfect beauty of nobility, the knight before me had neat and delicate features.

They approached us, knelt down, and offered a respectful greeting. I was about to accept it when Anna muttered in a surprised voice.

“A, a female knight?”

“Anna.”

I called her name to scold her for the mistake. Anna’s eyes widened as if asking what was wrong, and I let out a short sigh.

“…It is my first time meeting you. I am Knight Nata Sonon. The Commander had some urgent business, so I came ahead.”

“Please rise. I apologize for my attendant’s mistake.”

“It’s quite alright. It’s a misunderstanding I receive often.”

Only after hearing Nata’s low voice did Anna realize her mistake, her face turning red as she hurriedly bowed her head.

“I, I’m sorry! You’re so beautiful, I thought you were a woman…!”

“Not at all. It’s a misunderstanding caused by my inability to keep my hair neat due to duties. The lady need not apologize.”

Nata brushed off Anna’s apology as if accustomed to it and headed to the opposite side of the table. When I gestured that they could sit, they politely pulled out a chair and sat down.

“And I am not male either. If I must say, I have no gender.”

“You mean genderless?”

“That’s correct. Since I am of the Fairy Folk.”

At the mention of Fairy Folk, Anna was about to clap in amazement but quickly straightened her posture after catching my eye.

‘Fairy Folk, then…’

I recalled the knowledge I had learned at the Academy in the past.

Fairy Folk. A race known to be born from nature, they were a rare people seldom seen in the human world.

They had birth stories incomprehensible to human common sense, such as being born from hundred-year-old trees or volcanoes.

Not being born from within a body meant there was no need for gender.

Though they resembled humans in appearance, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they were completely different beings physiologically.

At the Academy, there were serious discussions about whether they should be considered a type of spirit or a branch of races.

‘To me, they just look human though.’

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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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