I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 29

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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 29

From my memory, I could count on my fingers the number of times I had conversed with a man of such impressive build, and all of them had given off a different impression than this man.

That would mean I had either passed by him somewhere, or he resembled someone else.

I couldn’t recall who it might be at all. It felt like I was reliving a déjà vu from a dream.

‘…Did he just look this way?’

The man’s head tilted up slightly.

It was a small change, but since I had been watching continuously, I was able to notice it. He seemed to have raised his head toward the second floor reception room where I was.

Whether he had sensed my gaze or it was a meaningless action, I couldn’t tell because his hair obscured his eyes.

“…”

For the few minutes until Jane returned, the man and I continued this strange standoff.

Jane, who had returned to the reception room following Anna, bowed her head and apologized instead of sitting on the sofa.

“I’m sorry, I was rude…”

“It’s fine. Will you have more tea?”

“No. The transport seems to be finished, so I should take my leave now.”

Well, quite some time had passed. The trading company work must be busy, so I couldn’t keep her here any longer.

“Thank you for another beneficial conversation today.”

“…Yes.”

Throughout our conversation, I had only been listening anyway. While I do enjoy hearing news from outside, I wasn’t sure in what way such conversations were beneficial to her.

When I nodded somewhat awkwardly, she smiled faintly and headed outside.

After she politely bid farewell and left, Nata, who had been watching her, spoke to me.

“…Is that person an official merchant?”

“Ah, right. I didn’t introduce her to you beforehand, Sir Nata.”

Jane was visiting for the first time since Nata had started working by my side.

He had been busy receiving briefings from the other guard knights, so I hadn’t had a chance to explain about Jane.

I briefly told him about how I had met Jane.

“That must be difficult. Being a shop owner at that age…”

“She says she’s struggling because her capital is also limited.”

“That’s part of it, but the trading company called Goldrail has quite a few… problems.”

“What kind of problems?”

That was the first I’d heard of this. While I knew they were nouveau riche who had just become nobility, I didn’t have detailed information about their internal affairs.

“Well… there are many ambiguous things, so I’ll organize the information and let you know later. It’s stories that were circulating within the army.”

“Alright, take your time.”

Information was better than having none.

Since tea time was over, I thought I’d clean up and then take a stroll in the garden, so I got up from the sofa when someone knocked on the reception room door.

“Come in.”

An attendant cautiously opened the door and entered.

“Grand Madam, we have a visitor coming.”

“Now?”

I hadn’t heard any news about someone visiting today. When I tilted my head, the attendant continued with a troubled expression.

“A message came suddenly. They said they would like to see you right now…”

“Who is it?”

“It’s Baroness Rollan.”

It was surprising that the Baroness who teaches etiquette would visit so suddenly.

If it had been someone else, I might have hesitated, but the Baroness was a different matter.

I ordered them to clear the reception room table and prepare again to receive a guest.

The Baroness arrived 30 minutes later.

‘I suppose sending word in advance so we could have time to prepare was typical of the Baroness.’

Despite the sudden visit, there were no flaws in the Baroness’s appearance.

Wearing a dress with knife-sharp pleats, a neat hat, and gloves that didn’t reveal the back of her hands, she slowly bowed to me.

“I apologize for visiting so suddenly.”

“Not at all. I can always make time for the Baroness’s business.”

“Thank you.”

Her rigidly stiff expression finally relaxed a bit. Unlike usual when she would ask about my well-being first, she brought up her business as soon as she sat on the sofa.

“I came to see you because I have a favor to ask of the Grand Duchess.”

“Please tell me.”

A favor from the Baroness.

Since I already owed her so much, I tried to lighten the mood by saying she could speak comfortably.

She spoke while gazing at the tea in her teacup with dark eyes that felt almost tragic.

“It’s about a problem with a student I’m currently in charge of.”

After meeting with me, she had taken on another student.

He was the son of a wealthy viscount house in the northwestern region, and despite being enrolled at the Academy, he had been entrusted to her.

The reason he left the Academy to be educated by her was complicated. Due to family circumstances, his fiancée had already been decided, so the family had arranged for him to learn etiquette in advance.

“You teach male students too?”

“Etiquette doesn’t discriminate by gender.”

Truly wise words.

Anyway, that child was receiving education while even boarding at the Baroness’s mansion… and that’s when problems began to arise.

“He has no manners.”

The Baroness gave what was the worst evaluation she could make.

“He has aesthetic sense for art, excellent scholarship, and is remarkably capable for his age… but the problem is his lack of manners. He hurls abuse at servants, saying he won’t listen to my orders. He’s even made fellow students who board with him cry.”

“How old is that child, by any chance?”

“He’s twelve years old.”

Wow, a twelve-year-old in his rebellious phase. Just hearing about it brought to mind the countless difficulties I could feel as an educator.

“So this favor is…”

“I would like the Grand Duchess to meet with that student once.”

“Me?”

No matter how I thought about it, there seemed to be no connection. When I trailed off with a confused voice, she slowly nodded.

“The Grand Duchess possesses everything that child lacks. If I were that child’s parent, I would have entrusted his education to you.”

“That’s… too kind of you to say.”

It was extremely serious praise. The hardship of educating an ill-mannered child was enough in my previous life.

How much trouble I went through finding the smartphone I hid in my pencil case and the cigarettes I hid in the academy’s fire extinguisher.

Besides, I don’t know why she thinks so highly of my character, but that’s a different matter from having the qualities of an educator.

“Please, I beg you. I’m terribly sorry for making such a sudden request, but it’s beyond my capabilities.”

The Baroness’s house was a kind of boarding academy that taught etiquette, but as the Young Master of Viscount House continued causing problems, she seemed unable to handle it anymore.

The longer he boarded, the more violent the child became, and eventually the problem spread to the point where it affected other students’ education.

“Can’t you just apologize and send him back?”

“The Baron, upon my recommendation, consistently sponsors the nearby children’s facility. So…”

I heard that the Baroness often goes to volunteer at children’s facilities.

Given her position, it would be difficult to refuse a sponsor’s request.

“I understand. But did some major incident happen? You seem a bit… urgent.”

“There was a fight with other students. It was a situation where we absolutely couldn’t keep them together… I apologize once again for this unannounced visit.”

“No, it’s fine.”

For the Baroness to be breaking out in cold sweat, there must have been quite a serious fight.

Well, when kids fight, separating them first would be the top priority.

Should I feel good or burdened that she came to me instead of other nobles?

“I understand the situation is complicated. Have you discussed this with the Viscount House?”

“They said to please take care of it, and sponsored another enormous amount to the children’s facility.”

“That’s really…”

It’s a familiar method somehow. Are wealthy neighborhood parents similar everywhere?

“Since you’re entrusting him to me, the student’s education is my authority. If problems arise from this, the responsibility lies with me.”

There was no room to refuse using parents as an excuse. When I fell silent with a troubled expression, the Baroness bowed her head politely again.

“If you could just have a conversation with him even once…”

“Please raise your head. For now… I understand.”

I never imagined the Baroness would make such an absurd request. It would be more reasonable if she asked to borrow money.

‘No, does she have that much pride as an educator?’

Well, there were teachers like that at the academy too. Good people who, even when faced with unmanageable children who refused education, wouldn’t give up as long as they had affection.

A teacher who could acknowledge her own lack of ability and endure embarrassment for her student’s sake. The Baroness was that type too.

“I’ll meet him once. But don’t expect too much. I can’t say anything that remarkable.”

“Of course.”

I don’t know what the Baroness saw in me, but it was obviously going to fail.

I learned firsthand in my past life how difficult it is to soothe a child entering puberty. I repeatedly told her I’d do my best but not to expect much.

“But where is that student?”

“He came with me. I couldn’t leave him alone in the mansion without me… I told the servants, so he should be waiting by now…”

Crash-!

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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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