I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 49

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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 49

Soon, when the man’s figure completely disappeared, the Baroness let out a small sigh and whispered in my ear.

“I’ll take care of things here. Please go rest for a bit.”

“I can’t trouble the Baroness…”

“You haven’t looked well since earlier.”

‘Do I look that tired?’

I unconsciously touched my cheek. There had been so much going on lately that my expression had probably stiffened. Acting seriously during the congratulatory speech had been exhausting too.

Since I truly did want to rest, I thanked the Baroness and stepped away.

Those who tried to follow me stopped at the Baroness’s kind yet firm call, and I was able to slip away comfortably.

Normally I would have put on an overcoat and gone out to the terrace, but there seemed to be many people there too, so I headed toward the corridor of the banquet hall.

Fortunately, there was no one in the corridor, so I could move around freely.

“But this military uniform is so uncomfortable.”

I thought it would be comfortable since it was pants, but they made the clothes fit tightly to preserve the silhouette, making it uncomfortable with every movement.

Just as I was about to head to the rest room to change clothes, an intimidating voice reached my ears.

“Hmm? Going to change clothes? It suits you well though.”

It wasn’t familiar, but it was an unforgettable voice.

With a sinking feeling, I slowly turned my head to see a man approaching from the end of the corridor.

Bathed in moonlight streaming down from the window, his crimson hair gleamed bewitchingly.

His eyes, full of arrogance and conceit, were the same blue color as Helene’s.

I struggled to suppress the urge to frown and opened my mouth.

“Your Imperial Majesty.”

“No need to greet me twice. That earlier one was impressive enough.”

The Emperor, Theorne, smiled casually and waved his hand.

“Those clothes suit you very well. I’d like you to keep wearing them until the year-end party ends. Ah, it’s not an order.”

“…Thank you for the compliment. If that’s His Majesty’s wish, by all means.”

“Don’t take it the wrong way. I meant it as a kindness.”

He stood before me with a casual posture. It was a noticeably different attitude from what I’d seen in the banquet hall.

“Are you heading to the rest room? I’ll escort you.”

“That’s fine. The nobles waiting for His Majesty…”

“Another me will take care of that, so don’t worry.”

“…Another you?”

“A clone. Like that necklace on your chest, I also have a decent treasure.”

He grabbed and showed me the cloak he was wearing. Up close, I could feel a strange energy from it.

“Using this, I can create a clone identical to myself. It’s troublesome having to split my thoughts in two, but it’s quite useful.”

“Is it alright to tell me about this?”

“Hmm? Are you going to tell someone?”

“No.”

“Then it’s fine. Those with loose lips tend to have short lives too. I’d like you to live long.”

It was a question asking why he was telling me such things, but what came back was just a joke.

‘No, is this a threat? That he’ll kill me if I speak of it elsewhere?’

Considering the Emperor’s past record, that seemed like the more accurate interpretation.

“Then His Majesty who is currently in the banquet hall is…”

“A clone. I was a bit tired from the march, you see. I sent a clone and rested in my carriage.”

It was the kind of statement that would make his subordinates’ loyalty plummet if they heard it.

The Margrave’s letter came to mind again. He had described him as having a strong will and being faithful to his desires. It couldn’t have been a more accurate assessment.

“Actually, I wanted to have a conversation with you, even if through a clone, but the Duke and Duchess kept blocking me. I had no choice but to come find you directly like this.”

He didn’t really need to come find me though.

I forcibly suppressed the complaint that was about to burst out.

“That aside, your congratulatory speech was truly magnificent. Where did you learn oratory? The Academy?”

“No. It was thanks to everyone in the family helping me.”

“What a joke. There’s no way the Imperial Princess would have helped you.”

By Imperial Princess, he must mean Helene.

I quietly studied his face. I couldn’t guess what kind of scheme he was hiding behind that handsome face.

When I kept my mouth shut at his sarcasm, he smiled and extended his hand.

“Fine. If you have no intention of answering.”

“This is…”

“I’m offering to escort you to the rest room, aren’t I?”

“…”

With even my excuse gone, I couldn’t refuse again. I tried to hide my reluctance as I took his hand.

The two of us began walking slowly down the empty, silent corridor.

Looking out the window, the snow had stopped at some point, revealing a clear, high night sky.

“Actually, I believed you would do well.”

“I’m honored to have met your expectations.”

“I know that’s a lie. Well, you don’t know me, so I suppose that’s understandable.”

I had already noticed that the Emperor was using me as a chess piece.

It was true that thanks to that, I hadn’t been kicked out of the ducal house, but conversely, if I stayed still, I might end up dancing in his palm.

I couldn’t just believe the Emperor’s words at face value.

But the words that followed couldn’t be dismissed.

“You’re too valuable a talent to waste away in this place.”

“…?”

“Won’t you become my companion?”

What kind of nonsense is this? I looked at him with suspicious eyes.

“…Do you perhaps like rubber?”

“Hm? Rubber? Are you talking about rubber trees?”

“No.”

Suddenly asking me to become his companion, I wondered if he was a rubber man. I subtly changed the subject.

“I’m not joking. I still lack talented people. I need intelligent and decisive companions like you. If you want, I could even change that uncomfortable title of Grand Duchess to another position.”

“…”

I couldn’t fathom his true intentions at all.

No matter how peculiar the Emperor’s personality might be, could he really make such an offer to someone he’d just met? And calling me a companion rather than a subordinate – it was incomprehensible.

“That seems like an offer beyond my capabilities.”

“No, my eye is accurate. You are a fascinating person.”

I recalled the Margrave’s advice again. Greedy, authoritative, and… what else was helpful?

‘He likes calm, beautiful women.’

…No, that can’t be it.

But I had a friend in my previous life who used to say this: if you wonder ‘Does that person like me?’ the answer is no, but if you think ‘Surely that bastard wouldn’t…’ then it’s usually right.

…Still, it can’t be that.

How could someone who’s become Emperor harbor feelings for someone like me?

I forced my mouth to move as if chewing sand.

“I have no intention of remarrying.”

“Huh? Why? I’m the Emperor though?”

‘This son of a…’

This is bad.

This guy was a mix of Mikhail and a romance novel-style tyrant.

* * *

Emperor Theorne had two expectations when going to the Layton Duchy.

The first was the joy of meeting his sister Helene.

What kind of expression would she make when she saw him as Emperor?

When observing the proper etiquette between Emperor and subject, would she still be able to maintain that statue-like strong attitude?

Just thinking about it was delightful.

Having retraced his humiliating past every night, he finally felt that the time for revenge was approaching.

Meanwhile, his second expectation was about Wilhelmina.

‘She’s a fascinating person.’

He recalled the words his irreplaceable companion had said.

Wilhelmina was the one person that man, who was stingy with evaluating others, had genuinely praised.

Theorne couldn’t understand his companion’s praise.

According to his investigation, Wilhelmina was just a young lady from a fallen noble house with a somewhat pitiful past, lacking any special abilities.

Looking at her portrait, she was somewhat pretty at best.

Her Academy grades were terrible. She barely graduated, and her attendance rate was poor too.

The evaluation from the trading company where she briefly worked was ‘an employee with no presence but who does her work well’ – just that much.

He couldn’t even guess what there was to rate so highly.

He wondered if his companion had hit puberty at the time and developed that habit men often suffer from – excessively idealizing their first love.

So when he made the unreasonable demand for her to give a congratulatory speech, he was curious how she would respond.

If his companion was right, Wilhelmina would successfully complete the congratulatory speech, but if not, she would meet the ending Theorne most anticipated.

The interesting conclusion of witnessing the Layton Family being humiliated right before his eyes.

But Wilhelmina had succeeded. And quite magnificently at that.

‘To His Imperial Majesty Theorne Lu Peon— Salute!’

A splendid victory ceremony that brought back memories of when he had conquered the Imperial Palace. It was such a magnificent sight that he regretted having watched it through a clone.

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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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