I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 38

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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 38

A bundle of documents he’d never seen before fell from the answer sheet. It was a thin, worn stack of about three or four pages.

The problem was the name written on the cover.

[1022 Layton Knights Budget Execution (Second Half)]

“Wh-why is this here?”

Jace grabbed the documents with trembling hands and checked the other answer sheets just in case. Fortunately, there were no problems with the others except for the last answer sheet.

‘Should I… should I return it?’

He recalled Anna’s urgent expression and the commotion among the servants. It was clear that even returning it wouldn’t solve things simply.

Moreover, Jace knew well that documents with the word ‘budget’ written on them were precious.

His father often spoke during meals about ‘treasuring the territory’s budget.’ Along with anger that anyone who wasted money carelessly deserved execution.

And he possessed such confidential information. Budget documents from a ducal house that couldn’t even be compared to a baron’s!

‘How should I return this? Should I say I found it by chance? Or should I say I stole the answer sheet? Anyone can see I wrote it. Wait, and the one who brought this was…’

Just then, the study door opened with a click.

“Hic!”

Jace hiccupped involuntarily and covered his mouth when he saw who entered through the door.

“Hm? Ah, you were studying?”

It was Wilhelmina. She strode into the study and plopped down on the sofa as usual.

Jace quickly shoved the documents and answer sheet into his bag, worried she might see them.

“Ah, I’m so busy. Really, why did those documents suddenly disappear?”

She swept her hair back and sighed audibly as if for him to hear. Jace unconsciously hugged his bag tightly and stammered as he spoke.

“Is s-something wrong?”

“Some important documents disappeared. And of all people, the suspect is Mirinai.”

“It might not be Mirinai’s fault.”

“…”

Wilhelmina, who had been fixing her hair, stopped moving. And her calm eyes quietly stared at Jace.

“Why do you think that?”

“Well… I heard earlier that someone could have secretly entered the office, right?”

“Hmm.”

She slowly got up from the sofa and approached Jace. Wondering if she had discovered the documents in his bag, Jace even hunched his body and took a defensive posture.

Regardless, Wilhelmina paid no attention to that and picked up the workbook that was on the desk.

“That’s impossible. Nata was guarding in front of the office. The only people who entered there this past week were me and Mirinai.”

“Maybe it’s stuck between some bookshelf gaps…”

“Even the butler is out looking for it now and it’s not there. At this point, it’s definitely disappeared.”

“…”

There was increasingly nowhere to escape. Jace broke out in cold sweat and avoided her gaze. Meanwhile, Wilhelmina glanced at Jace and slowly checked the answers in the workbook.

“Th-then what happens to Mirinai? There’s no evidence. But to say she’s the culprit…”

“He’ll be fired.”

“Gasp!”

Jace, who had heard about Mirinai’s circumstances before, was horrified.

Mirinai has no relatives. He has lived solely by depending on the Duke’s Estate, and knows nothing about the outside world.

Moreover, with a Page Boy’s low wages, it would be difficult to establish himself and survive in this City.

‘No, no. Rather, if I take him with me…’

“And they’ll hold a trial, and punishment will be handed down too.”

“What… punishment?”

“Since there’s suspicion of theft, they’ll prevent him from working in noble houses, and he’ll be beaten with a Rod. The trial will… be held informally, similar to what you and Rose went through.”

This was only such a light punishment because he was a child. If it had been another Servant, an unspeakable punishment would have been handed down.

Jace’s complexion turned pale.

‘Because of me… Mirinai is being kicked out?’

If he was even branded as a thief, Jace would have no justification to help him.

If he handed the Documents to Wilhelmina right here and now, it might become as if nothing had happened.

If he confessed that it was something he had ordered Mirinai to do, that it was an accident that happened while trying to steal the Answer Sheet…

‘…But what if House of Count Zormon finds out about that?’

The burden pressed heavily on his chest.

They would never forgive Jace’s misdeeds. And they would report all of Jace’s actions to Baron Milo’s House.

He, who had been called the pride of the Viscount House and received everyone’s support and expectations, would become the Family House’s shame in an instant.

‘I don’t want that.’

He was afraid. Just imagining the condemning gazes that would turn toward him, as much as the expectations he had received so far, was terrifying.

Neither Nanny who had comforted him, nor Baroness who always preached good deeds, would take his side. Well, he had only done things to displease them all this time.

The only person who would become his ally was…

‘I’ll take it for you instead.’

…no longer there.

Jace hugged his Bag tightly and lowered his head.

“All correct. Excellent. You’re truly outstanding.”

Just then, Wilhelmina, who had finished reviewing all the answers, put down the Workbook on the desk.

“I’m going to be busy from now on too, so I’ll have a shortened lesson today. You can go back first.”

Then she gently patted Jace’s shoulder.

“Oh, would you like to eat before you go? All the Servants are busy so you’d have to eat in the Dining Hall, but if I tell them in advance…”

“…I want to go back.”

Jace shook off Wilhelmina’s hand and got down from the Chair. Then, still holding his Bag to his chest, he ran toward the Study door.

Thud thud thud thud-!

A child’s escape, after all, only looks like running around to an adult.

Watching Jace flee with all his might, Wilhelmina muttered in a small voice.

“Now, what will you do?”

Finally, tomorrow, the day when Jace’s education would end, was approaching.

* * *

‘What should I do?’

Jace, who had returned to the Baroness’s Manor, shut himself in his room without even eating.

He pulled the blanket over his head and sobbed under the crushing weight of guilt and burden.

The cry that he must save Mirinai echoed in his chest, but the burden of not disappointing Father pressed against his throat.

All sorts of worries and thoughts began to fight savagely in his head.

It’s my fault, no it’s not, this is just a coincidence.

I should be the one getting punished, but if only Mirinai gets punished, it can quietly pass over.

Even if he gets beaten, they won’t kill him, so couldn’t I just secretly bring him some ointment? Since she’s the Grand Duchess, maybe she won’t make Mirinai into a vagrant.

But what if not? Winter is just beginning, and if Mirinai can’t endure the cold and dies? Would he be able to forget Mirinai?

If only he hadn’t known about the answer sheet’s existence. No, if only they hadn’t given such a problem. If only the Baroness hadn’t entrusted him to the Grand Duchess…

The self-questioning and answering continued, too heavy for a mere twelve-year-old child to bear.

How long had he been shut away under the blanket? Just when he was reaching the point where even breathing became difficult, the sound of morning bells came from outside.

It was the Baroness’s signal to wash up and come to the dining hall.

“Ah…”

Today, which he had been waiting for so eagerly just yesterday, had finally arrived.

Jace stared blankly at the brightened window outside, then slowly got down from the bed. Without washing or changing clothes, he went down the stairs with staggering steps.

For some reason, the Baroness was waiting for him on the first floor. She looked at Jace quietly, then asked.

“Will you be heading to the Duke’s Estate?”

“…Yes.”

“Very well, get in the carriage.”

Why she wasn’t asking any questions, Jace’s confused mind couldn’t figure out the reason.

He quietly boarded the carriage that was waiting at the main gate. The Baroness was with him as well.

During the journey to the Duke’s Estate, the two didn’t exchange any conversation.

“We have arrived.”

Finally, the coachman politely opened the door. Jace, clutching his bag tightly to his chest… ran to the Annex Building.

* * *

Day had broken. It was the morning of the trial day to pass judgment on Mirinai.

“Is it really necessary to go this far?”

“Yes.”

Jane, wearing judge’s robes she had obtained from somewhere, looked at me with a complicated expression.

A roughly made gavel was held in her hand, and perhaps because of her heavy makeup, she had quite a different image from her usual self.

Now she looked more like a real medieval lawyer than a merchant.

“If we just give him some corporal punishment…”

“You’re surprisingly like Nata.”

“…Grand Madam, that’s not a compliment, is it?”

Nata, who was nearby, suddenly asked, but I ignored 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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