I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 28

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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 28

He rose from his seat. Then, noticing the seal that had somehow disappeared into my embrace, he smiled and said.

“No, I know more about the Grand Duchess than she thinks I do.”

Since his tone suggested I shouldn’t worry, I chuckled as well.

“As I mentioned before, married men aren’t my type.”

“…Yes, I prefer my wife as well. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”

This is the right way to use it, right?

The Count and I burst into loud laughter together.

* * *

A few days after the celebration ended.

Someone came to visit our Annex Building.

The Main Castle sent him to the Annex Building without even assigning a servant to guide him, saying he was my guest.

Wondering who would be let in without prior notice, I went out to see a man carrying a bundle as large as an adult entering the Annex Building.

Rather than the luggage he was carrying, the servants nearby momentarily held their breath upon seeing his beauty beneath his disheveled hair.

Having grown quite accustomed to it, I asked without showing any reaction.

“What brings you here, Sir Nata?”

Nata, wearing casual clothes instead of knight’s armor, knelt before me.

As I thought about how he maintained perfect posture while carrying all that luggage, he spoke to me with a voice full of passion.

“I, Nata Sonon, have come to become Grand Duchess Wilhelmina’s knight.”

“…”

I wondered if knights originally came calling so brazenly like this.

When I glanced back at Anna, she who should have answered my question was stamping her feet going ‘What to do, what to do’ with the face of a resident who had stumbled upon a movie set.

Since she didn’t seem likely to listen to me, I gestured to another servant nearby. The servant who understood quickly went up to my room.

“If the Grand Duchess does not need me, I will work here as a servant. Coachman, cleaner, porter – I can do any kind of work. I want to work by the Grand Duchess’s side.”

“…Sir Nata would have many good positions available besides me.”

It wasn’t empty words. Though positions in the Western Region would be difficult due to the rumors spread by his damn colleagues, if he went to the Capital, there would be many who would welcome a knight like Nata with open arms.

“But the Grand Duchess is the only one who would accept me as Nata, not as a fairy.”

“…”

I didn’t deny it.

“And the Fairy Folk have one tradition. The tradition of devoting body and soul to the person to whom one has voluntarily shown their wings.”

“What?”

Surely it wasn’t some ridiculous tradition about becoming a bride?

The thought of having such a beautiful spouse made me feel like I’d get indigestion just thinking about it. My stomach churned.

“Of course, it’s only a tradition passed down through words, so there’s no compulsion. But… the only one I want to offer my loyalty to is the Grand Duchess.”

Fortunately, it didn’t seem to have that kind of meaning.

“Please, accept my inadequate sword.”

“…Sigh.”

I hadn’t planned on accepting a knight like this… but there’s no helping it.

I slowly approached Nata. In the meantime, a servant who had gone to my room handed me a document.

I took it and held it out directly to Nata, who was kneeling.

“What’s this?”

“A knight recommendation letter. I was going to give it to the Count.”

Nata’s eyes shook greatly.

It contained formal content stating that Wilhelmina Layton wished to employ Sir Nata Sonon as a guard knight.

“Even if you hadn’t come to me like this, I would have sought you out first. Sir Nata.”

“Grand Duchess…”

“I’m no longer the Grand Duchess. You should use the proper title. We’re family now.”

I helped him to his feet.

‘Normally I should bestow a sword… but well, since there was a victory prize last time, let’s call it even with that.’

Hiding my petty thoughts, I patted his shoulder.

“I’m counting on you, Sir Nata.”

“…Yes! I pledge my loyalty. My lord!”

“My lord” seemed too stiff. I pondered, placing my index finger to my lips and going “hmm,” then corrected the title.

“No, Grand Madam would be better.”

I am this family’s Grand Madam, the grandmother after all.

And so I gained my first knight, more than I deserved.

“Oh, but Sir Nata. Did you tell the Count before coming?”

“Yes, I threw my resignation letter at him saying I was quitting this damn job. Since it was during a meeting, everyone was shocked.”

“…Huh? Why?”

“Well… I wanted to try it at least once. Throwing a resignation letter was my dream.”

Office workers think the same way in this world too, I realized anew.

* * *

Recently, the annex building gained a regular visitor. None other than Jane Goldreail, a merchant from the Goldrail Trading Company.

After our brief business conversation last time, she began visiting the annex building under the pretext of delivering food ingredients.

‘They approve this kind of thing so easily.’

I thought they’d interfere with things like inviting guests since I’m treated as a burden, but Jane apparently passed through the castle gate quite smoothly.

I don’t know if it was Mikhail’s influence or Helene’s consideration. It might be thanks to the results from the last celebration.

I heard that the Margrave sent generous thanks to the main house.

Thanks to that, our servants who had been receiving cold stares from the main house could now hold their heads high, saying “As expected of our Grand Madam.”

“…So the spice trading company from the capital was actually a front company used to drain funds from the headquarters’ jewelry trading company.”

“They have quite the nerve. Trying to do business in another region with that kind of company.”

“It means they looked down on the Western Region that much. I can’t deny it either.”

She expressed her gratitude several times, saying the concepts I taught her were a great help and changed how she viewed trading companies.

But I also felt some unnecessary anxiety. I worried whether she might misuse what I taught her to grow her trading company.

“…As I keep saying, don’t think about exploiting that. It’s dangerous.”

“Of course.”

“It’s perfect for getting stabbed by a sword.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I wasn’t sure if she understood or not. When I looked at her with an awkward expression, she muttered while flashing her characteristically sharp eyes.

“But now that I know, I can at least warn those who try clumsy tricks.”

“Hmm….”

It seemed like a conversation I shouldn’t interfere with, so I decided to ignore it.

I picked up a sweet from the table and turned my head to see if I should give one to Nata too, when I noticed him standing behind me, staring down below the window.

‘What is he looking at?’

Outside the window, a man was moving the food ingredients that Jane had brought.

Long hair covering his eyes, a tunic with a thick collar… It was that Errand Boy he had brought when we first met.

“Is that man your subordinate?”

“Hm? Oh, he’s a colleague. I hired him as both a guard and errand boy.”

Isn’t that a subordinate? I wondered if she was just using different words, when Nata, who had been watching quietly, whispered softly in my ear.

“That person is skilled.”

“She said he’s a guard.”

“His skill is beyond what I can measure.”

“….”

To that extent?

For Nata to acknowledge someone meant they were stronger than most swordsmen in the Western Region’s border region.

I looked again at the man who was easily moving large boxes like playing Tetris.

‘Even if Goldrail is a nouveau riche trading company, would they use someone like that as a guard?’

But they’re making such a skilled person play box Tetris? They really have money to spare.

When I turned my gaze to Jane, she had been looking at Nata meaningfully and cleared her throat softly.

“His identity has been verified. You need not worry.”

“Is he a Knight?”

“No. But… I can promise you on my name that he is not an evil person.”

So ultimately there was something she was hiding. Well, Jane probably had her own secrets too. There’s even a saying in this world that excellent merchants always carry a hidden dagger.

Time passed quickly as we talked about various things.

When tea time was nearly over, Jane stood up, excusing herself for a moment.

“Anna, please show her the way.”

“Yes.”

She had been drinking the excellent tea continuously, and seemed to need the restroom. When I signaled to Anna, she stepped outside the reception room to guide Jane.

Jane followed with quick steps, and I absentmindedly looked down below the window.

The man who had finished moving all the food ingredients was taking a break, leaning against a tree.

‘He has a strangely atmospheric presence.’

His appearance wasn’t pleasant due to his unkempt long hair, but the way he calmly took his rest made for quite a nice picture. There was a leisure about him that you wouldn’t expect from a merchant’s guard.

‘I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere.’

His appearance was unfamiliar, but I felt a sense of déjà vu from his atmosphere.

I was certain I had no personal connection with him.

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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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