I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 44

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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 44

“That’s right! We were playing a game guessing the names of winter flowers in that flower bed over there. It’s different from books, so we never could settle who won. Teacher, can’t you tell us instead? Please?”

And then came the expectant gazes that followed. The already adorable children were clutching at my hem with sparkling eyes, making my heart begin to soften despite myself.

I looked at Nata with a message for help, but he was only smiling warmly as if thinking ‘That’s our Grand Madam for you.’

‘They’re completely different from Jace.’

Unlike Jace who had been like a hedgehog, these two children had an untainted innocence about them.

It was the behavior of children who had grown up loved, ready to be loved. I could see their confidence that they would never be rejected.

…Or perhaps it was the desperate struggle of children who wanted attention even through means like this.

‘It wouldn’t be the latter.’

There was no way the Duke’s children would be lacking in affection.

With a sigh, I took hold of the children’s hands that were gripping my hem.

“Big sister… no, Teacher is a bit busy. I only have a short time, would that be okay?”

“Yes, that’s great!”

“Break time is 30 minutes so it’s fine! We have a schedule after that!”

Playing with the children for a bit was possible. Taking Zeonil who answered with a bright smile and Minerva with her crisp way of speaking, I walked toward the flower bed in the garden.

* * *

Recently, Helene had been so busy she was forgetting her schedule.

Writing invitations for the Western Nobles, renovating the banquet hall and training servants, promoting in high society… countless tasks that couldn’t even be counted on fingers were tormenting her.

She couldn’t rely on Mikhail. He too was staying up all night immersed in work to finish his year-end duties as head of the household.

Household events were the lady of the house’s responsibility, and focusing on that meant tasks with lower priority kept getting pushed back.

For example, her duty as a mother… meeting with her children.

‘I haven’t been able to keep my promise for three weeks now.’

She recalled the nanny’s advice that she should play with them at least once a week for the children’s emotional well-being.

Of course, she had arranged schedules so they wouldn’t lack for anything even if they couldn’t meet, but she still felt a bit guilty.

It was closer to a sense of responsibility to accomplish her mission rather than maternal love, but for Helene, that was natural.

Even when dining together, there wasn’t time for deep conversations, but it couldn’t be helped. The year-end party preparations needed Helene.

She thought providing the best environment for the children was sufficient.

Besides, the increased workload right before the year-end party was half Wilhelmina’s fault.

‘It’s a radical plan. Vulgar too.’

The plan Wilhelmina had brought forth contained content that Helene couldn’t relate to.

Rationally speaking, Wilhelmina’s plan was extremely emotional and irrational.

On the other hand, Mikhail and the retainers admired it as an excellent method.

She couldn’t understand why everyone supported such a plan, but she judged that once it was decided, helping with her best effort was the lady of the house’s role.

So for the success of the year-end party, she changed existing plans and supported Wilhelmina.

Thanks to that, her appointment to meet the children was also postponed.

‘I won’t have time until after the year-end party ends. By then they’ll both be entering the intermediate class soon… the next playtime should involve arithmetic and logic. I should have them prepare textbooks.’

For Helene, playtime with the children was like an exam proving the processes they had studied so far.

She would pose problems, and when the children got the answers right, she would give them gifts. Just that level of concept. That’s why the time spent meeting with the children was also a kind of work.

However, she also considered it ‘wrong’ that she hadn’t even had a conversation with the children for nearly a month.

‘I did make a promise with Minerva.’

Unlike Zeonil, whose emotions showed outwardly, Minerva was a sharp child.

Since Minerva knew that Helene was busy, even when they occasionally met during meal times, she didn’t pester Helene and quietly asked only about her schedule.

‘Mother, when is the garden walk time?’

Of course, there was no such schedule. Helene answered curtly.

‘Then… if you happen to have time, could you come to the garden anytime from 2 to 3 in the afternoon? That’s our break time too. If it’s okay, I’d like to see you even then.’

For Minerva, these were words she had mustered courage to say. But since Helene didn’t know the weight of those words, she answered lightly.

‘If the meeting ends early, I might have time around Wednesday or Friday. If that’s okay with you…’

‘That’s fine!’

And now it was Saturday, all the promised days had passed.

Even she could tell that Minerva must be disappointed.

She recalled the image of Minerva smiling brightly while clenching both fists tightly.

‘…It should be okay just once today.’

Today too, Helene’s schedule was packed. After lunch time ended, she was planning to head to the reception room to greet the guests who would arrive.

But today’s guests were from the viscount house and baron house, people who wouldn’t have any problem waiting about 10 minutes.

With guests of that level, it wouldn’t be bad to prioritize the children.

“Butler, prepare some snacks.”

“What shall I prepare?”

“Minerva likes things too sweet, so prepare something Zeonil likes.”

“Understood.”

Meanwhile, having chosen less sweet snacks, she put on her overcoat and left the office. The place she was heading to was the castle’s garden where the siblings would stop by whenever their lessons ended.

As she walked slowly, she suddenly saw a maid quickly emerging from the costume room at the end of the corridor.

‘That’s… was her name Anna?’

She was the maid of Helene’s mother-in-law, Wilhelmina.

Perhaps to mend formal attire, Anna was carrying black clothes neatly folded in her arms. She seemed not to have noticed Helene and hurriedly headed down the stairs.

The butler, who had been watching that scene together, spoke in a small voice.

“…Should I have her retrained?”

“Never mind. It’s annex building business, so don’t interfere.”

The rule for servants was to look around to see if there were any masters nearby before walking into the corridor.

If a master was walking from the opposite direction, they had to bow silently and wait, then leave their position after the master had passed.

Her posture remaining steady even while walking quickly was praiseworthy, but not noticing Helene was impolite behavior.

‘The servants of the annex building… they’re said to have high loyalty.’

Pride and satisfaction could be glimpsed on Anna’s face. It was a sincere appearance that was hard to see even among the attendants of the main castle.

Until the Late Duke was alive, the annex building was notorious as a place of exile for servants.

If you caught the Late Duke’s eye, it was hard to see anything good, and since the work intensity was harsher than the main castle, it was a place everyone hated being assigned to.

Only some of the attendants could request work reassignment, while most servants headed to the annex building with tears in their eyes.

But as Wilhelmina lived there, the attitude of the annex building’s servants began to change.

‘I received reassignment applications, but no one applied.’

Whether the work had become easier, or Wilhelmina treated them well. From what she heard, it was both, but Helene couldn’t understand it.

If one wanted to get promoted, they had to work in the main castle. No matter how good your performance was in the annex building, it was impossible to become part of the family household.

Salary increases were also worse than the main castle, and since there were fewer workers, there were fewer holidays too.

But even knowing this, the servants didn’t apply for reassignment.

Finding it strange, she had once reported this matter to Mikhail, and he smiled cheerfully.

‘Mother must be well-liked.’

It was a typical response from Mikhail, but it still didn’t resolve Helene’s doubts.

If she accepted that as the answer, it would sound like Wilhelmina was more respected than Helene herself.

Perhaps she would have preferred a twisted answer that Wilhelmina was bribing the servants.

The inferiority complex that even Helene herself wasn’t aware of clouded her judgment. That’s how uncomfortable Wilhelmina’s existence was for Helene.

Even though she treated her mother-in-law respectfully on the surface, a voice in her heart that couldn’t acknowledge her grew louder.

‘…But if this matter goes through well.’

Despite having such complicated feelings, Helene didn’t voice any complaints about Wilhelmina’s plan.

Because it was clear that Wilhelmina was acting purely for the sake of House Layton.

As the mistress of the ducal house, she had to separate public and private matters.

She controlled her emotions and maintained a firm attitude so that her personal hatred wouldn’t turn into disadvantages for the family.

‘I think Helene is a wonderful daughter-in-law.’

Suddenly, words Wilhelmina had said in the past came to mind. That sickeningly hateful praise seemed to represent the relationship between Wilhelmina and Helene.

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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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