I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 35

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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 35

“We didn’t have lessons though? I only solved problems.”

“That must have its meaning too.”

‘What meaning!’

From Jace’s perspective, Wilhelmina was expressing with her whole body that she found everything bothersome yet was forcing herself to participate in the lessons.

Thinking he wouldn’t be able to communicate with the Baroness, Jace ignored her and headed toward his room.

Just as he was about to tell a passing attendant to bring dinner up to his room, the Baroness spoke in a blunt tone.

“Correspondence has arrived from House of Count Zormon.”

“…What did you say?”

House of Count Zormon.

It was the family Jace was engaged to, and since his father would scold him several times a day about becoming a son-in-law worthy of the Count’s house, it was a name he had heard until his ears were sick of it.

Jace’s face turned deathly pale as he quickly snatched the letter paper the Baroness held out.

“…”

After reading it repeatedly several times, Jace returned the letter paper with a lifeless gesture. Though she naturally expected him to take it, he pushed it back as if he couldn’t bear to look at it anymore and turned away.

The Baroness watched with puzzled eyes as Jace trudged up the stairs toward his room.

‘What could the contents be?’

This was the first time she had seen that little thunderbolt act like this.

Though she knew she shouldn’t look, the Baroness found herself unfolding the letter. However, the contents written inside were ordinary.

Most of it appeared to be greetings sent by Countess Zormon, written in handwriting so neat and beautiful and with sentences so delicate that the Baroness was impressed.

‘What’s the problem? It’s ordinary…’

“Ah…”

Just as she was about to read it once more, she discovered something strange. This letter, perfect even down to its poetic metaphors, contained an unsettling repetition.

[…please. …are you doing? Hoping for young Jace’s growth… our House of Count Zormon expects young Jace with his promising grades… hope and … request and … support him to learn many things.]

‘It’s heavy.’

There were many expressions of hoping and requesting.

Only then did the Baroness notice the atmosphere contained in this letter.

It was a letter too heavy with responsibility and duty to give to a mere twelve-year-old child. The Countess beyond the letter was cheering Jace on dozens of times while urging him to bear the burden.

It wasn’t difficult to imagine that expressions an adult would dismiss as empty words would weigh heavily on a child.

“Perhaps what made that child like this was…”

The Baroness let the letter in her hands drop limply. Jace, who would normally have gone up making loud footsteps, was unusually quiet today.

* * *

Dawn broke again, and Jace headed to the Duke’s Estate.

It was only the second day, yet his steps were already heavy. It was because of the aftermath of the letter he had seen yesterday and the mountain of problems he had to solve ahead.

‘There are so many annoying problems.’

The workbook Wilhelmina had given him had an infuriatingly diverse range of problem types. The continuous stream of problems that seemed to test the solver’s persistence was more irritating than any workbook he had solved at the Academy.

‘If it weren’t for that strange contract, I would just abandon this.’

If the Academy had given this kind of homework, he would have had his subordinates make the answer sheet, or somehow used underhanded methods to avoid it. But in a situation where the student was alone, it was difficult to use any tricks.

‘No wait, I’m not exactly alone though.’

Jace had arrived at the annex building before he knew it. Following the servant waiting at the entrance toward the study, he could see pages sweeping leaves outside the window.

Among them, the first one to catch Jace’s eye was Mirinai.

‘That guy’s an idiot though.’

There was no way he could ask Mirinai to solve the workbook for him. Mirinai’s level was worse than Academy freshmen.

‘What good does a pretty face do.’

Even while having such harsh thoughts, Jace’s gaze toward Mirinai was quite favorable. A blush even appeared on his cheeks, which didn’t suit his thunderous personality.

“Welcome.”

That pleasant moment was brief, as Jace arrived at the study and faced Wilhelmina. She seemed still half-asleep, yawning and rubbing her eyes.

Even though it was unrefined behavior for a Grand Duchess, it strangely suited her somehow.

Jace ignored Wilhelmina’s greeting and approached his desk. The workbook was spread open on the desk as if indicating he should start solving from there.

“Ask if there’s anything you don’t know.”

There was no way the prideful Jace would ask questions, but Wilhelmina ended with just those words. Instead, she picked up a book with a drowsy gaze and began reading. It meant she wouldn’t interfere anymore.

‘What kind of lesson is this!’

It wasn’t a lesson teaching new knowledge, nor was it etiquette teaching noble manners.

Jace grumbled inaudibly to Wilhelmina, wondering what meaning there could be in this lesson that just made him repeatedly solve complex problems.

‘If this was the plan, why even write a contract?’

He couldn’t understand Wilhelmina’s intentions at all.

At first he thought it was spite meant to torment him, but she actually seemed to have little interest in him.

She acted more like a teacher when dealing with Mirinai.

He had never wanted attention, but being ignored didn’t feel good either.

Pouting and gripping his pen roughly, Jace began solving problems violently.

Unlike his quickly moving hand, the pages barely turned. The problems were more complex than yesterday.

Troublesome and headache-inducing problems appeared consecutively, as if the workbook’s author hated the students who would solve them.

“Ugh…”

Feeling like tearing up the workbook, Jace let out an irritated breath.

If this were the main house, he would have cursed at the tutor who gave such homework and thrown the workbook at them.

Jace glanced at Wilhelmina with fierce eyes. It was a gaze full of resentment, but…

‘She’s, sleeping?’

Paying no heed to such a gaze, Wilhelmina had fallen asleep leaning against the sofa.

She was only leaning back, and due to her straight posture and faint breathing, it looked like she was just closing her eyes rather than sleeping.

But after watching carefully, she was indeed sleeping.

The Western Region’s most prestigious noble family’s lady was taking a nap leaning on the sofa. And in front of a guest, no less.

“…I’m not doing this.”

Seeing that sight, what little motivation he had vanished instantly. Jace slammed down his pen, got up from his chair, and headed toward the study door.

He was just angry at the unreasonable situation, so his steps didn’t have any particular destination.

Maybe he’d go out and pressure the servants to bring tea and refreshments, he thought as he was about to open the door.

“Oh, Jace.”

Mirinai appeared. Mirinai was carrying an armful of worn notebooks, holding the handle with one hand, making it look precarious.

Jace, who had shown the unusual courtesy of opening the door for her—something he would never normally do—looked at Mirinai with a displeased expression.

“What, you’re going to study?”

“Yeah, there’s not much work, so it’s break time. That’s why I came to see Grand Madam.”

Though Jace wasn’t yet accustomed to Mirinai’s clumsy way of speaking, he could roughly understand what she meant.

“What’s so good about studying…”

Jace, who had been about to abandon his homework and run away, felt irritated as Mirinai’s innocent expression seemed to reproach him. So in his anger, he snatched away the bundle of notebooks Mirinai was holding.

“Ugh, dirty.”

The notebooks were grimy not only with handprints but also with unidentifiable grease stains. It was dirt that had accumulated from Mirinai studying during breaks from work, but Jace had no way of knowing that.

Jace casually flipped through pages stained with furniture wax and found an empty page.

“Why didn’t you solve this part?”

“I didn’t understand what it meant, so I was going to ask Grand Madam.”

“Are you stupid? You don’t even know this?”

To Jace, these were problems so easy they didn’t need to be compared with other pages.

Mirinai stared quietly at Jace, who had snorted derisively. Jace had intended to mock her, but when Mirinai’s reaction was lackluster, he awkwardly cleared his throat.

“I’ll teach you, follow me.”

It was an impulsive statement made to avoid embarrassment. Jace tried to return to his desk, but Mirinai hesitated to follow and muttered.

“Um… but Grand Madam…”

“That Grand Madam is sleeping, isn’t she?”

“…She really is.”

Seeing Wilhelmina with her eyes closed, Mirinai pouted as if disappointed.

Jace forcibly seated Mirinai at the desk and began slowly teaching her arithmetic.

“Look here. This is…”

Unfortunately, Jace had no talent for teaching others. Though his instruction focused on memorization, fortunately the page was quickly filled thanks to Mirinai’s excellent comprehension.

“Thank you for teaching me.”

Seeing Mirinai bow her head with a faint smile seemed to improve his mood somewhat. Jace awkwardly snorted as he accepted her thanks.

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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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