I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 18

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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 18

“I happened to have no carriage available. I called for one from outside.”

“….”

The Margrave frowned and turned his eyes toward Anna.

Frightened Anna lowered her gaze, so I stood in front of her to block his view. Why is he acting like that toward a child?

“…I’ll prepare a carriage.”

He called over a passing soldier and ordered him to prepare a carriage. The soldier answered crisply and brought a carriage in an instant.

“Wow….”

Instead of an ornate carriage that nobles would ride, a colorless carriage that anyone could see was meant for military use appeared. The carriage pulled by no less than six horses was so massive it seemed like a tank.

“We could just call for a regular carriage.”

Honestly, I didn’t want to ride this thing. Anyone who saw it would think we were going to war.

“Don’t decline and please get in. The ride should be comfortable.”

He was recommending it with a smile, making it awkward to refuse twice.

In the end, Anna, myself, and the guard knight who had been waiting climbed into the large carriage with no less than 20 seats and headed toward the Duke’s estate. For some reason, the Margrave also rode along.

“I happened to be heading out anyway.”

“Ah, yes.”

It wasn’t like I’d had many opportunities to converse with the Margrave, but he was strangely friendly toward me.

I had no intention of rejecting his goodwill, but since he was someone I would never have exchanged a word with in my lifetime if I hadn’t become the Duchess, my feelings were complicated.

“…Grand Duchess, do you remember what I told you last time?”

“Last time?”

“Yes, in the garden.”

I carefully recalled that time.

‘I think… he asked who I had romantic ties with?’

And he had said that absurd thing about someone I met at the Academy waiting for me.

When I nodded to indicate I remembered, he spoke with a serious expression.

“Please forget it.”

“Pardon?”

“I spoke falsely. Please forget everything I said then.”

“….”

Does memory disappear just because he says so? If anything, it would probably stick in my memory even more.

But the atmosphere didn’t seem right for jokes, so I nodded awkwardly.

He again asked me to forget and demanded a definite answer, and I replied that I understood.

Anna, who was beside me, whispered in my ear with a suspicious expression.

“That… when you say garden, you mean the evening of the celebration, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Did, did something happen between you and the Count there?”

We only had a conversation, but answering that way made me worry about the promise I’d just made. I muttered quietly in a tone suggesting it was nothing.

“He says nothing happened.”

“So there was something?”

“I said there wasn’t.”

“My goodness.”

And Anna covered her face with both hands as if she was shocked.

‘Why is she acting like this again?’

I was about to ask, but just then the carriage arrived at the castle, so I kept my mouth shut.

“Huh? That’s Helene.”

At that moment, I saw a familiar person standing in front of the main castle.

She was having a conversation with the butler, and as soon as Anna saw the person bowing his head in front of them, she exclaimed excitedly.

“Oh? Uncle Jackson!”

“Who’s that?”

“The Stable Master! The one who said he couldn’t lend a horse to Grand Madam!”

“Ah.”

I had already forgotten his face, but Anna raised her voice as if asking how I could forget.

“…Couldn’t lend a horse?”

The Margrave, who had just heard the circumstances behind why there was no carriage, frowned. Regardless, the carriage slowly parked in front of the main castle.

As the military carriage, which seemed twice the size of a regular carriage, approached, confusion lingered on Helene’s cold face.

That expression changed to a sharp look, as Mirinai would describe it, the moment I got off the carriage with the Margrave’s escort.

“…Mother?”

“Good afternoon, Helene.”

“What happened?”

Was she asking why I went out and came back, or why I was with the Margrave?

While I was pondering, the Margrave stepped forward first.

“She came regarding the celebration, and on her way back she said there was no carriage, so I personally escorted her.”

“…I see. Thank you for your kindness.”

“Not at all, it’s only natural as a knight. I couldn’t let a noble lady return alone.”

It was a strange battle of nerves. Helene looked at the Margrave with cold eyes that felt devoid of any warmth, and the Margrave faced her as if he were my spokesperson.

‘Is he getting angry on my behalf?’

He knew well how absurd an excuse it was that the Grand Duchess had no carriage to ride.

The Margrave must have also guessed that I wasn’t receiving very good treatment at the Duke’s estate.

But I wasn’t sure why the Margrave was helping me.

Because I planned the celebration for him? He wouldn’t want to get on the Duke’s bad side for just that much.

“I’ll be returning now. Grand Duchess, I’ll see you next time.”

“Yes, next time, take care.”

Since the celebration was next week, there was no need to make any particular arrangements.

The Margrave gave a polite greeting that I had never received before, then got in his carriage and left.

‘…What am I supposed to do about this awkward situation?’

I glanced over at the Stable Master who was bowing his head in front of Helene.

He was dripping with cold sweat, to the point where you could believe he was a criminal standing before the guillotine.

It seemed like he was being scolded, but what mistake was he being scolded for? The crime of not lending me a horse? Or for being negligent in his duties?

“We’ll prepare Mother’s carriage and horse for you soon.”

It was Helene who first broke the awkward atmosphere.

“However, it’s difficult to immediately obtain a horse suitable for the Ducal House. A new horse and carriage will arrive at the stable before the year-end party.”

“What about the horse that was at the annex building?”

“That belongs to the Duke.”

So she’s saying they’ll buy me a horse, but can’t give me a prized horse. Having somewhat expected this, I shrugged my shoulders and gestured to Anna. It was to return to the annex building.

“And Mother, I heard that this person has not been diligent in his duties.”

“Huh?”

Just before turning around, Helene called me to a stop. She pointed to the stable master and spoke.

“So I intend to punish him, but I’d like to know what you think, Mother.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“I’d like to hear Mother’s opinion on what degree of punishment to impose.”

I quietly observed Helene’s face. There was a glimpse of firmness that suggested she wouldn’t lose even if we had a staring contest for 10 minutes in this spot.

Her beauty is certainly remarkable. But with only such a cold expression, she looks like a stone statue rather than a person.

“What crime?”

“The punishment for neglecting the main house’s horse at the annex building and not preparing the necessary horse and carriage for Mother.”

She seemed determined to say until the end that the annex building’s horse wasn’t mine. Rather, she was planning to charge him with the crime of ‘why did you keep the main house’s horse at the annex building all this time.’

“…”

Anna, who had been listening, lightly grasped the back of my collar from behind. The perceptive girl seemed to know what Helene was demanding.

Helene had pushed the villainous role of scolding a servant onto me. But if I just forgave him unconditionally, not only would my dignity as Grand Madam decline, but it would also amount to acknowledging that the annex building’s horse belonged to the main house.

‘I don’t have any dignity to lose anyway, and the main house’s horse claim is correct, so I don’t really care.’

Seeing this petty pride battle over such a trivial matter made me think that mother-in-law conflicts are indeed bothersome.

“G-Grand Madam…”

I let the stable master’s tearful voice, filled with injustice and desperation, go in one ear and out the other.

“Then let me ask just one thing, Helene. That stable master, so his name is…”

“It’s Jackson, Grand Madam.”

“Right, thanks, Anna. Which side does Jackson belong to?”

“…What do you mean by that?”

I pointed to Jackson and spoke.

“I mean clarify whether Jackson is a servant of the annex building, or Helene, your servant. If he’s an annex building servant, then my fault for poor servant management would be greater. But if it’s the opposite…”

As if this was an unexpected statement, Jackson and Anna simultaneously held their breath.

Expressed in words, it was an even clearer proposition.

If Jackson was an annex building servant, then the horse he was managing would also be ours, and if he was a main house servant, it would be the opposite.

Helene would want the latter, but if she acknowledged that, it would conclude that ‘Jackson’s fault is Helene’s fault.’

‘I wasn’t planning to scold Jackson harshly even if he was our servant.’

Not imposing punishment would result in losing the annex building’s horse and declining dignity?

Then I had to secure at least one more thing. The servants’ loyalty.

From the beginning, I had no qualms about lowering my authority and gaining a reputation for taking care of my people.

I don’t easily punish my people. It’s my fault for not educating them. Therefore, in the former case, I would not punish Jackson.

While conveying this, I was simultaneously asking back.

‘But what will you do, daughter-in-law?’

I had forgiven her, but could she forgive herself? Would she be able to confess the truth to her mother-in-law, admitting that it was indeed her fault?

With that meaning in mind, I quietly urged Helene for an answer.

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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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