I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 5

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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 5

Though it wasn’t even the dead of winter yet, she wore an overcoat so thick she looked more like a blanket than a person, her dark blue hair—the first of that color he’d seen here—hanging down as she stared intently at the ground.

‘I need to pull the weeds…’

He couldn’t just pass by where the woman was, as that spot was particularly overgrown with weeds.

Johan cautiously approached her.

Judging by her attire, she didn’t look like a noble.

The nobles he knew wore fancy clothes adorned with jewelry and traveled with a string of attendants.

They weren’t the type to wear blanket-like clothes.

“Excuse me, I need to… pull the weeds.”

“…I see.”

She looked at Johan.

Her dark blue eyes, the same color as her hair, gave off an unapproachable atmosphere.

She quietly stood up and took two steps back.

Johan bent down to pull the weeds while wondering about her identity.

“Are you Johan?”

He was startled while pulling out a weed.

Before Johan could ask how she knew his name, she continued speaking.

“I heard about you from Mirinai.”

“Ah…”

It seemed the woman was an acquaintance of Mirinai.

“She said you’re really good at pulling weeds?”

“Uh… yes.”

“And that you’re smart too. She said she likes you because you’re a kind older brother.”

‘Is she complimenting me?’

The content was affectionate despite her blunt tone.

Whether she knew about his confused state of mind or not, she suddenly sat down beside Johan again.

‘…She smells nice.’

It wasn’t the perfume that nobles wore, but a mixture of sweet butter and herbs.

He had smelled this fragrance somewhere before.

As he was retracing his memories, she suddenly put her hand into her coat and said,

“Do you like potatoes?”

“Pardon?”

Then she pulled out a potato wrapped in a handkerchief from her coat.

Steam was rising from it warmly, appearing to be freshly steamed.

The potato had a cut in it, with a spoonful of butter spread inside.

“It’s not a spring potato, but the current potatoes are delicious too, you know?”

‘Ah.’

Eat the potato, potato.

Upon hearing those words, I remembered where I had smelled this fragrance before.

It was the scent from the past, when Grandmother and Mother were still alive.

The fragrance of Grandmother brewing herbs good for colds in the kitchen, and Mother making bread, was flowing from this woman I was meeting for the first time.

“Shall I peel it for you? I also have cinnamon tea here.”

She was too friendly for me to refuse.

* * *

The conversation with Johan was quite enjoyable.

Perhaps it helped that I deliberately hid my identity, but when I gave him a warm potato and let him take off his overcoat, his tongue loosened, and we were able to converse comfortably.

‘He was very guarded though, so we couldn’t become closer.’

Even when I approached him using my experience as an academy teacher, I couldn’t completely break down all the walls around his heart.

Especially since he stubbornly refused to enter the Annex Building, all we could do was sit on the garden bench and share potatoes.

But there was progress.

‘Um… would it be okay if I came to see you again?’

When I told him I would be here every Wednesday morning, he said it happened to be the day he pulled weeds and asked if he could come to see me.

‘Of course. I’ll have potatoes ready.’

Whether he was looking forward to the potatoes or longing for the warm touch of an adult, Johan nodded with a shy smile.

‘He was clever though.’

Since I didn’t know the situation outside the castle in Layton Territory, I was thinking of employing Johan to investigate.

‘I’ve become the lady of Layton, so I should at least know the territory’s situation.’

And while I’m at it, give Johan some work too.

As I was about to return to the Annex Building, saying I looked forward to next week, I saw a man walking from the garden entrance.

From his upright gait and tall stature, I realized he was the Butler from the Main Castle who had guided me to Helene.

“My lady, have you been well?”

“Yes, what brings you here?”

Had he come to keep the promise with Helene?

I believe the year-end party is still about two months away.

“I have a message from the lady, so I’ve come to see you on her behalf.”

“Helene must be very busy.”

“Yes, please forgive her with your generous understanding.”

It meant she didn’t want to discuss even trivial matters face to face.

I understood. While she could maintain courtesy as a daughter-in-law, she had no intention of becoming close.

‘This isn’t exactly rude either.’

Just sending her trusted Butler instead of a regular servant showed her sincerity.

“Go ahead.”

“In one week, there will be a small banquet. It’s a celebration to honor the Margrave’s achievements.”

When it came to the Margrave of the Western Region, there was someone I could guess.

“The Madam will be absent due to a summons from the Imperial Palace. Therefore…”

“So you want me to go in her place.”

“…The Grand Madam recommended you, hoping you would become familiar with the Western Social Circle.”

To put it bluntly, I was a substitute.

Of course, if you interpret it literally, it could also be an opportunity to practice before the year-end party….

Well, Helene didn’t seem like the type to be considerate in that way.

If anything, she should have lectured her about having the proper mindset of a noblewoman and not bringing shame to the Layton family.

“It’s a small celebration attended only by some Ducal Retainers and those acquainted with the Margrave. It will help with practice.”

True, since I had no experience in High Society, it would be good to get a taste of it.

Well, I had no experience in high society, so it was good to get a taste of it.

I nodded my head readily and agreed.

He nodded his head vigorously in agreement.

Besides, since it was a celebration I was attending as a substitute, I could just play a supporting role, which put my mind at ease.

“Thank you. Then I’ll invite a Tailor and a lady well-versed in etiquette.”

Besides, since it was a celebration I was attending as a substitute, I just had to play a supporting role, so I felt at ease.

“Yes. Since this is your first time attending the Western Social Circle, you’ll need guidance on rules that differ from where you’ve been, won’t you?”

“Ma’am?”

Of course, I wasn’t childish enough to get upset over such implications.

It was true that I didn’t know, and there was nothing wrong with learning.

I meant you should get some education since you don’t act like nobility.

“Is there a reason?”

It was true that I didn’t know, and there was nothing wrong with learning.

I said it confidently.

I’d had enough of studying in the mornings back in Korea.

“Is there a reason?”

And so my first schedule as the Grand Madam was born.

He said confidently.

The person who came as the Etiquette Training instructor was Baroness Rollan, a famous tutor in the Western Region.

I heard that after her Husband died, instead of continuing the family line, she volunteered to become an etiquette teacher and raised countless Ladies.

At my words, the butler blinked in apparent confusion for a moment, then soon bowed in understanding.

‘Would she get angry if I said I sympathized with her Husband’s death?’

The person who came as the etiquette instructor was Lady Roland, a famous governess from the western region.

At first she made various harsh comments, but perhaps my blood, sweat, and tears paid off, as now I could receive quite a bit of praise.

“…Your Grace has a composed bearing. Your attitude of not panicking even when making small mistakes is impressive.”

She’s the author of a book called “Modern Etiquette for Ladies,” which is treated as a bestseller even in the capital. Of course, I’ve never read it.

“There are still some inadequate parts, but… the celebration should be no problem. Your Grace won’t need to dance anyway.”

She and I were in different situations. Let’s not stir up unnecessary trouble and just focus on the training.

That was convenient for me.

I planned to just casually greet the guests and then sit at a table to pass the time.

At first, she would make all sorts of harsh criticisms, but my blood, sweat, and tears must have paid off because now I could even receive some decent praise from her.

“…The great lady maintains such composure. Your attitude of not being flustered even by small mistakes is quite impressive.”

“It’s thanks to my wife.”

“There are still some inadequate parts, but… the celebration should be fine. The Grand Lady won’t even need to dance.”

Since I don’t have a partner, I won’t be dancing at the banquet.

It was easy for me.

I was just planning to briefly greet the guests, then go sit at a table and kill some time.

“And lastly, um… I’ll teach you about a madam’s attitude toward ladies who have just had their debutante ball.”

The baroness was continuing her education when she suddenly seemed to feel dizzy, placing her hand on her forehead and trailing off her words.

She soon regained her composure, but her haggard complexion couldn’t be hidden.

“Madam, if this is education that can be done with words, shall we sit down?”

“…Let’s do that.”

I led the baroness toward the sofa. I briefly went near the fireplace, then returned to sit beside her.

“Grand Madam?”

“Here, please hold this.”

On the upper shelf where the heat from the fireplace reached, there were cute little wrapping cloths placed there – hand warmers used by the pages.

“There are stones inside. If it’s too hot, use a handkerchief as a buffer.”

“Why are you giving this to me…?”

“Your hands are cold.”

The baroness was wearing gloves, but during the education I had seen her remove her gloves several times to clasp her hands together. It was a characteristic of people with cold hands.

She could just take off her gloves, but the book said it was etiquette for outsiders to keep their gloves on.

A teacher couldn’t break the rules she herself had stated.

“…Thank you.”

She widened her eyes slightly in surprise, as if wondering how I had noticed. Then she quietly accepted the hand warmer.

“This is quite a unique hand warmer.”

“The pages brought the stones. I just covered them with wrapping cloth.”

“Did you buy this wrapping cloth?”

“No, I made it.”

“…For the pages?”

I nodded my head.

“Yes, it’s not difficult work anyway.”

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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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