I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 54

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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 54

He stroked his beard with his hand as he entered the Annex Reception Room. Despite the snow falling outside, he had walked without an umbrella, appearing with snow piled on his shoulders and head.

His appearance was so much like Santa Claus that I almost burst out laughing.

“It’s been a while, Count. Is it alright for you to come to the Annex Building? Everyone must be waiting for you at the banquet.”

The Margrave was one of the most respected figures among the Western Nobles.

Just his appearance at the banquet would have dozens of nobles flocking to make their presence known to him, so I wondered if it was okay for him to come to the Annex Building.

“Not at all. My wife dislikes drinking parties, and this is more comfortable for me anyway.”

He spoke playfully as he sat down on the sofa.

“Ah, if the Grand Duchess finds this uncomfortable…”

“It’s fine. There are things I’d like to hear about anyway.”

The Margrave was an easy person to converse with. Among the nobles here, only the Margrave, the Baroness, and Jane were enjoyable to talk with.

Before sitting on the sofa across from the Margrave, I called to Nata who was standing by the door.

“Ah, before that… Sir Nata?”

I had called him to give the Margrave and me time to talk, but he seemed lost in thought, staring at the floor.

It was strange for Nata, who never missed even the smallest sound. As I was about to call him again, the Margrave stopped me.

“Leave him be. I’ll have a word with him later. For a guard to be so absent-minded.”

“He’s been like this often lately.”

“Did something happen?”

“I don’t know the reason, but it seems the Reading Club was the problem.”

I briefly explained what had happened at the Reading Club.

The Margrave listened with interest at first, but when Jane’s name came up, his face slightly crumpled. When I questioned his expression that seemed like he was either holding back laughter or getting angry, he said.

“No, it’s nothing. Whether you call it indifference or coincidence…”

And trailed off.

After hearing all about the Reading Club situation, he glanced at Nata and spoke with a laugh.

“He’ll be fine soon. He’s just encountered a big puzzle.”

“…Was my Reading Club such a big problem?”

“Something like that.”

After finishing with ‘But I’ll need to give him a warning later,’ he took a sip of tea from the table as if to change the subject and continued.

“That aside, how was your meeting with His Imperial Majesty? I heard the Congratulatory Speech was magnificent, but I’m not sure if my information was helpful.”

“He was hitting on me.”

“…Excuse me?”

“He made moves on me like a street thug. His Imperial Majesty did.”

“That sounds like an interesting story indeed.”

The Margrave clasped his hands together and listened attentively, asking me to please continue.

I slowly began explaining what had happened when I met the Emperor.

* * *

‘Phew, coming to the Annex Building was definitely the right choice.’

After the conversation with Wilhelmina ended, the Margrave came out to the garden of the Annex Building. Having heard one interesting story after another, he felt an inexplicable heat rising within him.

He would have liked to swing a sword around to release this laughter, but since he couldn’t do that, he planned to cool down his excitement by walking through the garden.

Since it was winter, the sun set early, and the moon had already risen high in the sky. The snow had also stopped, so under the clear sky, he slowly enjoyed his stroll.

Wilhelmina, who had told him to come in before dinner time, headed to the study with Anna. She said she had to help the Page Boy with his studies.

As he was looking around the well-maintained garden, Nata happened to come out of the Annex Building and approached the Margrave.

“Your Excellency.”

“I’m no longer your superior. Speak comfortably.”

“…Count. I apologize for not being able to greet you properly.”

“It’s fine. I can guess the reason.”

The Margrave chuckled and went to sit on the bench in the center of the garden.

Nata stood before him and asked cautiously.

“Do you know the identity of the man named Rohan?”

Setting aside all the usual greetings like asking how he’d been or whether the journey was difficult, and going straight to the main point was so very like Nata.

The Margrave crossed his arms and leaned back against the bench.

“You tell me first. What did you notice when you saw him?”

“He’s a strong Knight. Probably… even stronger than me.”

A flash of competitive spirit crossed Nata’s eyes for a moment.

Nata was a Knight of considerable skill even among the Western Army. In one-on-one combat, excluding the Margrave, the number of people who could guarantee victory against him could be counted on one hand.

If someone like him evaluated Rohan as strong, it would be safe to say he had no enemies in this Western Region.

“Of course. If he lost to you, his name would be meaningless.”

“So you do know his identity?”

“Indeed I do.”

Letting out another laugh, he recalled the past.

It felt like yesterday when he had swept across the battlefield together with that man, Rohan.

“Do you remember when I recaptured the Second Occupied Territory?”

“Are you referring to that battle where you launched a solo Surprise Attack and achieved the feat of taking the Enemy General’s head?”

“Yes, while I was holding the front lines to make you all retreat, I instead seized the opportunity to recapture the enemy’s occupied territory.”

That was one of the Margrave’s heroic achievements.

During a retreat when defeat seemed imminent, the Margrave stayed until the very end for his allies, and in the midst of that, when a gap appeared, he instead broke through the enemy forces to seize victory – it was a story that could only come from a novel.

No matter how much war was about victory or death, it was such an incredible achievement that even the Officers who were his close associates could hardly believe it.

“The one who helped me then was that man – Rohan.”

“…Really?”

“Do I have any reason to lie to you?”

It was certainly an achievement impossible to accomplish alone, but he hadn’t expected there to be a hidden ally. Moreover, Rohan didn’t even look like he was from the Western Army.

If he was such an incredible man, he should have at least heard his name on the battlefield, but even thinking back, it was an unfamiliar name.

“Is this man named Rohan some kind of hermit genius…?”

“Hahaha! You’ve been reading too many novels.”

The Margrave said with a laugh to the red-faced Nata.

“He’s hiding his identity. His status is far more impressive than you think. The reason he came to meet me… let’s talk about that another time. He and I simply had aligned purposes. I wanted to drive out the Foreign Tribes, and he wished for peace in the Western Region.”

“Why is such a person now serving as a merchant’s guard? Is there something about Goldrail?”

“No, Goldrail is a worthless trading company, as you know.”

Not having received a good impression of Goldrail, the Margrave frowned with a displeased expression.

“I just needed that position.”

“So your target was the Grand Madam after all?”

To Nata’s question, the Margrave chose silence instead of an answer. It was a wordless affirmation.

“When I asked if he was an enemy, he said no. And he apologized.”

“…Apologized?”

“He said he was sorry for making me, the Grand Madam’s guard, wary of him.”

Well now, that was just like Rohan to say.

“Was there nothing else he said?”

“He said he couldn’t reveal his identity. I tried to get an answer even if it meant using force, but Jane stopped me. Since she’s the Grand Madam’s guest…”

When Jane stepped forward, risking her life to vouch for Rohan’s identity, he couldn’t draw his sword.

Besides, it was Nata who had pressed him without clear evidence.

Moreover…

Just as the western duchy had done, the eastern ducal house also began the New Year’s banquet with great splendor.

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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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