I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 20

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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 20

“Go out and find Sister Dahlia in the dining hall. She’ll have everything prepared.”

“Yes!”

Perhaps they were really looking forward to the meal, as the children ran to the dining hall in perfect unison. Following the children who ran like the wind, we also got up from our seats.

“I’m fine. I’m here on assignment, and now even a meal…”

“It’s fine, so follow me.”

Since I usually ate alone in my room, it had been a while since I went down to the dining hall. I had given Anna advance notice, so by now the guests’ meals should be ready too.

“If we go down here…”

“Squad Leader, why on earth did you volunteer to come with Sir Nata?”

Just then, men’s voices suddenly came from below the stairs.

“What’s the matter?”

“Don’t you know that Sir Nata looks down on us apprentices?”

I stopped my steps that were about to go down the stairs and glanced at Nata. Nata avoided my gaze with an uncomfortable expression.

“As I’ve said many times, that’s a persecution complex.”

“Whatever he says, that’s what we feel.”

Derek’s tone seemed like he was admonishing the apprentice knight, but it contained laughter. It was a voice that seemed to agree.

“Isn’t it just jealousy?”

“Squad Leader, I’ve been an apprentice for five years now. Do you know what I think when I see Sir Nata who became a knight in three years thanks to his looks?”

“Your skills must be lacking.”

“Squad Leader!”

“Haha, just joking. I know your skills well.”

For a conversation exchanged in jest, the content was extremely vile. I quietly grabbed Nata’s arm and tried to step back, but he stood rigid like a stone and glared down the stairs.

“Honey trap, I know that works. I even think it’s impressive. But right after becoming a knight, he barely shows up at the training ground and doesn’t come to training on time. Having to serve such a knight with no skills… doesn’t feel very good.”

‘That’s different from what the Margrave said?’

The Margrave had praised Nata, saying he simply had no sparring partners, but his skills were flawless. The Margrave’s judgment would be more accurate than a mere apprentice knight’s.

‘He can’t acknowledge the skills because he hasn’t seen them… is closer to it. No, even if he saw them, he wouldn’t acknowledge them.’

Perhaps feeling wronged by the apprentice knight’s slander, Nata muttered in a small voice.

“Training… I just did it at dawn.”

He meant he was secretly training so as not to interfere with others’ training.

“Haha, yes, of course. Even among us, Sir Nata’s skills are, well, somewhat talked about.”

‘That Derek fellow is quite something too.’

Here he should scold the apprentice like a proper colleague, but instead he’s adding fuel to the fire.

“But what can we do? Is there anyone among us beautiful enough to be assigned to the Duke’s Estate? People each have different strengths. In that sense, the Commander’s order is very reasonable. We do the physical work, and she escorts the Grand Duchess, which is effective.”

“Someone gets to work so comfortably… Did you call us to do the heavy lifting?”

“What can we do? The soldiers have joint training, so those who are free have to go. Besides, I’m more comfortable when you’re there. Work goes well when we’re in sync. I’ll buy you a drink when it’s over, so let it go.”

“If you put it that way, Squad Leader…”

There were plenty of places to interject.

Subtly calling Nata ‘she,’ lying that escorting me was Nata’s mission when I never asked for it, and subtly concluding that he was incompetent.

‘She has political talent?’

Lifting up the apprentice knights with praise while putting down Nata wasn’t something she’d done just once or twice.

While doing so, she was quite skilled at maintaining the image of a generous superior. I was suddenly reminded of when I had defended the Stable Master.

“Come on, hurry up and go. Since it’s the Duke’s estate, lunch will be delicious too.”

Derek’s voice grew more and more distant.

When no sound could be heard from below the stairs, I grabbed Nata’s arm.

I spoke in a sharp voice toward him as he hung his head low.

“Sir Nata, lift your head.”

“…Yes.”

I wondered if he might be crying, but fortunately there were no tear stains. With his still beautiful face, he acted out a cold expression to hide his dim eyes.

I don’t understand the psychology of someone whose abilities are being disparaged. I’ve never experienced it. If it had been my immature younger self, I might have been one of those people in that group.

But even without experience, I’m not cold-blooded enough to ignore the emotions of the child in front of me.

“Win the martial arts tournament. You must.”

“…Grand Duchess.”

“There aren’t many ways to overcome those meaningless accusations.”

There were simpler and more direct methods available.

Report them, prove your skills right in front of them, and crush the pride of those who insulted you. However, unfortunately, such methods bring side effects.

No world is kind to whistleblowers.

Even if they listen to Nata’s grievances for a moment, they’ll eventually choose the path of pushing out him, the troublesome nail that sticks out.

‘What a damn situation.’

This is why group activities were uncomfortable. The reality was that minority victims get pushed out endlessly, regardless of justice or anything else.

Then there’s no choice but to crush them with overwhelming ability.

“Show them skills that no one can deny. Since it’s a tournament where faces are covered and identities unknown, they absolutely won’t be able to ignore it.”

“If I win… will I be able to prove myself?”

“Well.”

Just because he proved his skills didn’t mean they would sincerely apologize. Even if they admired him outwardly, it was obvious they’d gossip behind his back.

“But they won’t be able to deny it.”

So what? Defeat cannot be erased. No matter how much they insult and disparage, results only speak the truth.

“Trust me. The skills you’ve built won’t betray you.”

And outstanding skills always bring rewards. I patted Nata’s shoulder and smiled.

“So hold your head high and take up your sword. If they try to look at anything other than your swordsmanship, forcibly grab their faces and make them look at your sword.”

“…!”

“If you’re a knight, if you’re a swordsman, shout that you’ll prove it with your sword. I’ll create the opportunity for you.”

On the day of the celebration, the Margrave’s army will receive congratulations and suffer disgrace at the same time.

At my prophetic words, Nata nodded vigorously.

“Yes!”

* * *

Margrave Teitan Isonon was watching Wilhelmina.

At first it was because of a request from a young man who had helped him in the past, but after meeting her, she turned out to be a more unusual person than he’d thought, so his gaze naturally turned toward her.

When he heard the news that she had missed her own celebration banquet to care for a young lady from a baron’s family, he thought it was a lie to avoid the occasion.

He assumed that she, being from a fallen noble house, had been forced to attend under pressure from her family.

But when he saw her face directly, he instinctively knew she wasn’t the type to tell such trivial lies.

‘I can feel her spirit.’

The Margrave’s first impression of Wilhelmina was not of a sold-off fallen noble, but of the Grand Madam of House Layton.

Confidence, dignity, elegance. She lacked nothing as a member of the ducal house.

Even when facing the Margrave, she showed none of the tension or wariness typically displayed by ladies. Rather, she showed a composed demeanor as if this garden belonged to her.

To the Margrave, who placed great importance on a person’s atmosphere and impression, this came across favorably.

‘From what I hear, she gets along well with the servants.’

The Margrave had conducted his own investigation of her. Though he didn’t have many ears planted in the ducal territory, the news from loose-tongued servants was all praise.

These were more intuitive and well-founded words than the sinister rumors about her circulating in high society.

So when he heard the news that she was planning the soldiers’ celebration banquet, he had considerable expectations.

‘She seems quite eccentric, so won’t she create an interesting event?’

Sure enough, she came up with a masked martial arts tournament, something he had never heard of or seen before.

It was an opportunity that knights who loved sparring would be enthusiastic about, and an interesting event that would also provide entertainment.

Most of all, he liked the participation condition of hiding one’s identity.

In the military where hierarchical culture was rigid, there were often hesitations about sparring. The masked martial arts tournament was also an opportunity to eliminate such problems.

‘Of course, I’ll need to manage it so it doesn’t turn into insubordination… but it should be a good opportunity for those lazy senior bastards who’ve grown complacent from continuous victories to snap out of it.’

The day of the long-awaited celebration banquet dawned. Receiving a grand welcome from the ducal house, he arrived at the garden where the arena had been built.

“I greet the Grand Duchess.”

“Welcome.”

Wilhelmina welcomed the Margrave, accompanied by servants. When the Margrave raised his hand, the knights participating in the celebration banquet saluted with precision.

“I’m concerned that we might have arrived too early.”

“It’s fine. The food will be out soon… Those who aren’t participants, please go to your respective seats.”

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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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