I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 27

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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 27

Now that I had removed my mask, he knew he had no chance of winning.

And that all the schemes he had pulled, the Margrave and I had known about from the start.

“Return to your position, Sir Derek. Sir Nata. Let’s have another match. This time without any coincidences, fair and square, with skill alone. I’ll be watching.”

I deliberately returned to my seat slowly. Going back to the judges’ seats, I held the ridiculous cat mask in my hand and waited for an answer.

It was obvious whose answer I was waiting for.

The cowardly knight who no longer had any hidden tricks.

“…I forfeit.”

It was Derek.

He declared defeat in a voice filled with devastation and humiliation that he had never used before.

Not to me, but to Nata.

* * *

As an epilogue, I bestowed a sword upon Nata in the silent arena where the audience’s cheers had faded.

It was supposed to be a ceremony for giving the victory prize, but somehow after revealing my identity, the atmosphere became solemn.

‘This is why I wanted to remain as a commentator.’

Anyway, I bestowed the sword upon Nata, whose eyes seemed clear as if he had resolved something, and offered words congratulating his victory.

Derek, the runner-up who had only shown an ugly side, disappeared somewhere following the Margrave.

‘If it were up to me, I’d want to torment him more provocatively.’

Suddenly, I recalled what I had said to Nata before.

‘If I win… will I be able to prove myself?’

‘Who knows.’

Right now, the audience and colleagues would be admiring Nata’s skills.

There might be people reflecting on themselves, saying he wasn’t the person they knew, regretting the gossip they had spread.

But it was obvious that wouldn’t last long either.

‘If this were a problem that could be solved so easily, the global village would have been peaceful.’

I already knew the ending to this problem. Recognition of other races would only be momentary entertainment; the public would start discriminating again.

It was revenge that would be forgotten anyway, and though I wanted to finish it more spectacularly…

Getting involved any further seemed excessive, so I held back with effort. I reminded myself again that I was an outsider to the Margrave’s army.

“…I’m surprised. I didn’t expect you to resolve things this way.”

“Count.”

While watching the celebration with alcohol, meat, and music from the annex building, the Margrave approached.

Glancing down below the window, I caught sight of Derek sitting on a bench under a tree where people couldn’t see him, his head hung low.

“Are you done with the lecture?”

“What lecture is there to give? I only briefly mentioned the disciplinary action he’ll receive going forward.”

“Sir Derek wasn’t the only one at fault.”

“Unfortunately, it would be difficult to hold everyone accountable.”

That would be the case.

I had secretly hoped that the other colleagues who had tacitly condoned Nata’s isolation and gossip would also receive stern discipline, but that was too unrealistic.

Rather, it might create aftereffects of the Margrave showing favoritism toward Nata. It would be more efficient to punish one or two ringleaders as an example.

“Nata… has suffered a great deal.”

“Did you hear from Sir Derek?”

“Yes, on the way here I caught a few apprentice knights and interrogated them about the situation.”

The Margrave added that things they would normally have kept quiet about came pouring out, as if this incident had made them realize something.

Then he smiled bitterly, a tired smile that seemed to have aged him ten years in just a short time.

It seemed that what they had done to Nata was not simply bullying.

They had maliciously altered duty schedules, omitted supplies, and delayed delivering training schedules important for personnel evaluations… repeating petty harassment that could appear to be mistakes at first glance.

‘The fact that they didn’t lay hands on him directly… must be because his colleagues knew Nata’s abilities.’

In some ways, it was more vicious. If they had come forward like knights to settle disputes through sparring, the situation wouldn’t have become this serious.

The reason they couldn’t do that was probably because his battlefield comrades who knew Nata’s skills had tacitly prevented it.

“However, I’m glad we could resolve even a little of Nata’s grievances through this opportunity. It’s all thanks to the Grand Duchess.”

“Yes, well.”

I won’t deny it. It is thanks to me.

When I crossed my arms and nodded my head, the Margrave chuckled.

“I heard that the Grand Duchess never entered high society or politics before marriage, but that seems like a lie. You were very skilled at captivating the public.”

“So were you, Count.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“You deliberately didn’t block the sword that flew toward me, didn’t you?”

“…”

There were several things I noticed while watching Nata and Derek’s duel. One of them was that knights in this world truly possessed superhuman strength.

The impact when Derek’s sword clashed with Nata’s fist was like witnessing the power of weaponry I’d only seen on the news.

When they started using magic power, they had already transcended human limits.

And the Margrave was the leader of such monster-like knights, a person renowned as the greatest knight in the Western Region.

I thought there was no way he couldn’t have blocked an attack that even Nata could react to.

Then why didn’t he block the sword?

“You wanted Nata to block it, didn’t you?”

“I felt it during the tournament too… you have good insight.”

“Don’t beat around the bush.”

“You’re right. Of course, if Nata had been late, I would have blocked it before it reached you. It’s just that in that situation, it would be more… if Nata blocked it prepared for disqualification.”

“Dramatic?”

“That’s an accurate expression.”

‘This cunning old man.’

I frowned and looked at the Margrave.

I didn’t like that he had weighed a person’s safety, but I felt worse about him trying to praise me while pretending not to know.

In a way, this situation wasn’t just my plan, but something accomplished with his tacit consent.

“Are all soldiers like this?”

“When you’re in the position of commanding an army, there are things you learn whether you like it or not. Reading the atmosphere is one of them.”

I didn’t particularly want to agree with him, so I turned my head back toward the celebration.

Nata had already left, so the arena was filled with drunk knights and soldiers noisily enjoying the banquet.

“From now on, Nata will…”

“I’d rather hear that from Sir Nata himself, not from the Count.”

“That’s true. I was being presumptuous.”

Despite being interrupted several times, he burst into a leisurely laugh and nodded.

Somehow his attitude toward me seemed more friendly than before. If previously he had observed me closely as if evaluating me, now he was as affectionate as if he were a grandfather.

“I plan to return to the border once this celebration ends.”

“Is that so?”

“I won’t be able to attend the year-end party. As for the New Year’s party, I haven’t set a schedule yet, but I’ll try to participate if possible.”

“I see.”

But why is he telling me this?

I was responding ceremoniously when he approached me. Then he suddenly knelt on one knee.

“Count?”

“Come to think of it, I haven’t had a proper chance to pay my respects. Grand Duchess Wilhelmina Layton, I am Count Teitan Isonon, the Margrave in charge of the western border.”

I widened my eyes, wondering why he was bowing.

He respectfully lowered his head and continued speaking.

“I apologize for exposing you to danger due to my greed. If you wish to punish me, I will gladly accept whatever it may be.”

I never expected to receive a bow from the Margrave.

In the west, the Margrave’s honor was incomparably higher than mine. For him to offer such a respectful apology.

“…It’s not necessary. I would have done the same if I were in the Count’s position. And it wasn’t really that dangerous.”

“No, I remember that the Grand Duchess was trembling after the match ended. It must have been because of Derek’s sword.”

…That cunning man just has too good a memory. He seemed to have noticed me taking deep breaths as memories of my past life came flooding back.

“From Nata’s suffering to this celebration. Everything is my fault. Even if you say you won’t punish me, I don’t intend to end this with mere words of apology.”

He took something from his chest and held it out to me. His attitude was like a subject offering treasure to a king, which made me feel complicated.

“What is this?”

“It’s the seal of my house, the Seal of Isonon.”

It was a seal bearing a large sword beneath a shield, with a wolf wrapped around them. I carefully received it.

“I, Teitan, guarantee that Lady Wilhelmina is the legitimate Grand Duchess.”

“…”

“No matter what anyone else might say, Teitan will prioritize Grand Duchess Wilhelmina’s words first.”

Not saying he would take my side completely was very noble-like. But it was undoubtedly a groundbreaking proposal.

The value of this couldn’t be converted to money. To think that the hero of the western swordsmen and the Empire’s war hero would trust me.

“Don’t you think this is too hasty a decision when you don’t even know me properly?”

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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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