I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 53

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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 53

The Baroness, who had been helping with the cleanup, approached me while gathering her hat and overcoat.

“Grand Duchess.”

“Yes?”

“Are you acquainted with that man called Rohan?”

The Baroness still seemed concerned about him.

“No, Jane has brought him a few times, but this was the first time we’ve had a conversation.”

“He seemed to know you though.”

“Hmm…”

I’m not oblivious either, so I was aware that he had been watching me.

There are a few reasons I can think of. Either he’s an acquaintance from the past that I don’t remember, or he’s someone interested in the Layton Family.

“You said you attended the Academy in the Capital. Could it be a connection from then?”

“I don’t remember him. Well, even if I did…”

“Even if you did?”

“I wouldn’t want to acknowledge him. At the Academy… well, I don’t have many good memories.”

The Baroness’s expression hardened coldly. She seemed to be imagining some unfortunate situation, so I waved my hands in denial.

“I mean it was uneventful, with neither good nor bad memories. I wasn’t exactly a diligent student.”

“…Is that so?”

But the Baroness didn’t seem to believe me.

Well, she knew about my previous status too. There’s no way the daughter of a debtor family would have had a good time at the Capital Academy where distinguished nobles attended.

“So I’m not particularly interested, but… he could be an intruder trying to investigate House Layton.”

“No, that’s probably not it.”

But the Baroness firmly denied my speculation.

“Huh? Why not?”

“If he really had business with House Layton, he would have targeted the Main House, not the Annex Building. And that man’s gaze toward you was, well…”

The Baroness looked at me quietly. Wondering what she meant by that look, I met her gaze, and suddenly she burst into a small laugh.

“I might be mistaken.”

“…I don’t understand what you mean.”

“It’s nothing. I just find it delightful to see such a student-like side of you, Grand Duchess.”

I still don’t understand what she’s talking about. Regardless, the Baroness put on her overcoat with the attendant’s help and said as she headed outside.

“If you happen to have a conversation with that man next time, please tell me about it.”

“Is that man so suspicious?”

“No, it just seems like it would be interesting. It’s an old woman’s hobby.”

She gave a brief farewell saying she would be going now and left the Annex Building.

I returned to the Reception Room and watched Anna, who was diligently tidying up the surroundings, while thinking.

‘Does that mean I should invite that man Rohan to the next book club meeting too?’

Somehow, the book club that started as a way to pass time seemed to be heading in a strange direction.

While watching Anna skillfully wipe the table, I suddenly looked around.

It was because Nata, who was always by her side, was nowhere to be seen.

“Anna, where did Sir Nata go?”

“He went out saying he had some business to attend to. Should I call him back?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Did he leave because the book club was boring? Since the rest schedule was just for resting anyway, I decided not to bother looking for him.

* * *

Jane was walking through the garden with Rohan.

Their destination was the castle’s main gate. Since the book club had ended, they were planning to return to the shop.

‘Hmm, is he upset that I suddenly called him?’

Feeling burdened by the silence that had continued from the annex building to the garden, she glanced up at Rohan. It was still that cold face whose expression was hard to read.

‘Did I meddle unnecessarily…’

After doing it, regret came flooding in for no reason. For her, it was something she did hoping Rohan and Wilhelmina would become closer, but she also thought her method was too childish.

While she was contemplating whether to apologize first, Rohan stopped Jane.

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

“Over there…”

At that moment, something flew toward the back of Rohan’s head.

Before Jane could even scream, Rohan turned around and caught the object that had attacked him.

“A, a wooden dagger?”

Its identity was a practice wooden dagger without a blade.

While she was surprised that a dagger light enough for even a child to wield had flown as fast as an arrow, Rohan, who had been attacked, glared at one side with an expressionless face.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“…”

What appeared from behind the bare winter forest was a handsome knight. He was a familiar figure to Jane.

‘Sir Nata?’

It was Nata, a knight with jet-black hair and beautiful amethyst-like eyes.

He glared at Rohan with sharp eyes she had never seen before, slowly approaching.

“That’s my line. Who are you?”

“My name is Rohan. As you can see, I’m Miss Jane’s…”

“The lie about being a bodyguard won’t work. Does a mere trading company employee go around using recognition-hindering magic?”

‘We, we’ve been caught!’

With the secret they had been hiding all along exposed, Jane looked at Nata with a pale complexion.

“When I received word that Miss Jane was coming to visit, I waited in stealth at the castle gate for you to arrive. When the castle guards tried to verify your identity, you used magic to hinder recognition.”

“…”

“And when you arrived at the annex building, you released the magic again and met the Grand Madam. What exactly do you do?”

He never expected that the magic treasure he had only used at the castle gate to avoid suspicion from Wilhelmina and to freely enter and exit the castle would be his downfall.

Jane glanced at Rohan’s wrist. Though nothing was visible, his hand was adorned with a treasure bracelet that couldn’t be bought even for all the money in the world.

“…You’ve been suspicious of me all along.”

“Yes, I couldn’t believe that someone with your level of skill was just a bodyguard.”

Nata, an outstanding knight and a fairy folk sensitive to magic power, had seen through Rohan’s abilities from the very beginning.

It was natural for a guard to be wary of the strong. Rohan had also acted cautiously out of concern for this, but he couldn’t withstand Nata’s persistence.

Nata, who had somehow approached right in front of him, placed his hand on his waist. He grasped the handle of the sword he had received from Wilhelmina.

“So, what is your identity?”

“…I cannot answer that.”

“Then let me ask just one more thing.”

Killing intent filled Nata’s purple eyes. Magic power so strong that it made Jane, standing beside him, get goosebumps, burst forth with him at the center.

“Are you my lady’s enemy?”

“…”

Rohan opened his mouth very slowly.

* * *

Time passed quickly, and the New Year’s banquet approached.

On December 31st, there was a major event of having dinner with the main house family, but Mikhail, Helene, and I just had a glass of wine and a nice meal in a quiet atmosphere before dispersing.

It wasn’t a gathering for intimate conversation or discussing plans for the new year.

It was a brief meeting that started at 6 PM and ended at 8 PM. Since the couple would be welcoming the new year with their children afterward, I excused myself.

Mikhail invited me to join them, but seeing Helene’s ice-cold expression, I shook my head.

‘If I meet those kids now, who knows what might happen.’

Minerva and Zeonil hadn’t met even once since that incident. I wanted to avoid any complicated situations that might arise from an unnecessary encounter.

According to Anna’s informant at the main house, the children had been living their daily lives without any particular problems since then, so I had no intention of interfering.

Honestly, it seemed like it would be better for Helene if I didn’t interfere like this.

‘Instead… the hostility seems to have intensified.’

I couldn’t express it clearly, but Helene’s attitude had become colder than before. Her actions and tone remained the same, but I could continuously feel that subtle hostility.

Is this the reality of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts?

A mother-in-law who isn’t hated by her daughter-in-law might be too distant an existence for me.

Anyway, time passed like that, and the New Year’s banquet began.

Unlike the year-end party, the New Year’s banquet was centered around the Western Nobles.

Minor nobles who couldn’t participate before also visited, and a festival-like atmosphere filled the castle.

I heard that the Emperor headed to the Eastern Region this time. Year-end party in the west, New Year’s banquet in the east – should I say he’s surprisingly diligent?

The New Year’s banquet was held for a total of three days, but since I didn’t have much to do anyway, I didn’t participate except for the opening ceremony on the first day.

Mikhail sent several invitations for me to participate, but I gently declined them all.

This was because the New Year’s banquet wasn’t just a banquet for eating and drinking, but was surprisingly an active festival.

‘Ice lake sightseeing in this cold weather? Finding snowflake jewels hidden in the garden? …No thanks.’

Perhaps thanks to the Late Duke’s disappearance, they had revived traditional Western Region games, but I wasn’t particularly interested.

So I was holed up in my bedroom, earnestly trying to enjoy my vacation… when an unexpected uninvited guest came to visit.

“It’s been a while, Grand Duchess.”

It was Margrave Teitan Isonon.

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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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