I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 65

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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 65

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Finally, when a month had passed, I scheduled a meeting with Mikhail.

Since he happened to have an appointment with the financial officer of Layton Territory, I suggested we meet together.

After all, the financial officer needed to hear about this matter too.

So I headed to the Main Castle carrying the products I had prepared.

The meeting place was not the Reception Room but the financial officer’s Office, and I deliberately timed my visit for tea time.

Mikhail still welcomed me with his cheerful face.

“Please come in, Mother.”

“It’s been a while.”

It was indeed a long time since this was the first meeting after the New Year banquet.

When I entered the Office, I saw an elderly man who appeared to be the financial officer kneeling and greeting me.

When I replied that it was fine for him to stand up, he slowly raised his head.

He had a stern-looking impression. An elderly man with straight eyebrows, a straight mouth, and piercing eyes.

“It’s my first time meeting you, Grand Duchess. My name is Richt Chamber.”

Though it was a polite greeting, I didn’t sense any respect in his eyes.

This was also a sensation I hadn’t felt in a long time.

The guarded look that treated me like an outsider.

Actually, this was natural, but it contrasted greatly with Mikhail beside him who was so friendly.

When Richt stood up from his seat, Mikhail tried to guide me toward the Sofa.

“Please sit down, Mother. I’ll prepare some tea and refreshments.”

“No, let’s get to the main point before drinking tea.”

I couldn’t waste time drinking tea for no reason.

The meeting time with Mikhail was only one hour, and I had to settle things within this time.

‘If it’s not enough, he suggested we continue over dinner… but I don’t want that.’

I wanted to eat comfortably alone at the Annex Building.

Not working outside of business hours was my principle carried over from my previous life.

Though it was rarely kept.

“Is it about the Annex Building? Helene was away for about two days for a gathering, so if it’s about the Annex Building, we could handle it then.”

“No, it has nothing to do with Helene. This isn’t business Inside the Castle.”

“Then…”

“I want to propose a business venture.”

Richt’s eyes sank even deeper.

It was obvious what he was thinking.

‘He probably sees this as some ignorant young lady’s childish challenge.’

It wasn’t wrong either, so even if I were Richt, I would have looked at it the same way.

Rather, it was good that his expectations had dropped.

If he had curious eyes like Mikhail, the aftermath would be greater when I failed to meet those expectations.

“First, would you take a look at this?”

I handed them the business plan I had written by hand. It was fortunate that I had copied it into two parts.

Richt and Mikhail unfolded the documents I had given them.

Mikhail gave it an interested look, while Richt looked back and forth between me and the documents in surprise.

“Did you… write this yourself, Grand Duchess?”

“Is there anyone else in the annex building who would write it?”

“No, there isn’t.”

While the annex building had a butler who handled personnel matters, there was no staff to handle clerical work.

‘I guess the document format is within acceptable range.’

It was a document I had written by referencing past documents in the annex building and creating a reasonably clean format.

Drawing the columns and graphs by hand was difficult, but it was quite a rewarding task.

They spent a long time carefully reading the business plan.

After about 30 minutes had passed, their hands finally returned to the cover.

“This method of expression is… quite unique.”

‘Oops, was that too futuristic?’

When Mikhail admired the line graph, I cleared my throat to divert attention.

Even if he asked how I came up with that, it would be difficult to answer.

“Ahem, as mentioned in the introduction, I’ve developed three products. Two types of moisturizer, and a dehumidifying deodorizer. I want to sell them.”

Moisturizers existed in this era too.

But most were oil-based products, and their shelf life was short due to rancidity.

There were even ominous rumors about people using lotions made with arsenic.

Compared to those, the moisturizer I made was relatively cheap and had a longer shelf life.

Being a product of modern technology, its effectiveness goes without saying.

And the situation for dehumidifying deodorizers was even more dire.

At best, they used unidentified mineral powder. Nobles used dried herbs and wood, but those were very expensive materials.

‘Now I understand why Ilina went around like that.’

That pale makeup, the sticky lotion texture that didn’t match her body-hugging corset.

Seeing that gave me the idea for these products.

I quickly continued my explanation to the two who were still reading the documents in shock.

I planned to push through all at once so they wouldn’t have unnecessary thoughts. It’s a characteristic of aggressive salespeople.

“The hand lotion, hand cream, is good for cracked or dry hands. It has skin-soothing effects, so it’s even more effective for people who do rough work.”

I took out a bottle of hand cream from my pocket.

This was something the pastry chef had ambitiously made, a hand cream made from ingredients of plants that grow in the southwest region.

Fortunately, even without aloe, there was a similar cactus available, so I was able to complete it.

Moreover, it grows so well it’s almost troublesome, so it’s also cheap.

While adding explanations about the financial benefits and ingredients of the hand cream, I also took out the second product to introduce – a lotion for the face.

“This has a slightly different viscosity, but similar ingredients. Instead, I’ve added several herbs that are excellent for whitening. I can also make additive-free products for people with sensitive facial skin.”

The last product was truly my masterpiece.

I held out a container filled with powder to them.

Originally I would have used the name baby powder, but since its effects wouldn’t be clearly understood here, I changed the name.

“It’s a localized dehumidifying deodorizer.”

“…What?”

At my words, Mikhail’s face turned red, and Richt froze like ice.

I never expected to see Mikhail look like that. I was quite surprised myself.

“Are the words too difficult? Then for use on the crotch or armpits…”

“W-wait a moment! Mother, you must maintain your dignity!”

“What dignity is there in product explanations? If you want to worry about such things, do it at social gatherings.”

Ignoring Mikhail’s objections, I pointed to a section of the business plan that Richt was holding.

I had a gut feeling that I needed to win over Richt for this presentation to succeed.

“Mikhail, you’re a knight too, so you’d know, right? When wearing armor, when riding a horse, how many problems occur in localized areas. You get heat rashes and bedsores, don’t you?”

“That’s… true. That’s why I frequently remove my armor and wipe my body.”

“But what about soldiers? Or knights during war? If they don’t have time, they’d have to endure the itching, right? Iron armor is hard to remove without attendants, isn’t it?”

“…That’s correct.”

“We do sell dehumidifiers, but they’re not good for the skin so they can’t be used frequently, and if left alone, skin diseases would spread to other areas.”

This was something I had asked Nata about too.

The areas where baby powder is most frequently used are places with folds, like armpits or buttocks.

So I asked Nata for his opinion on whether baby powder would be useful if it came out.

He answered (though he really seemed reluctant to respond) that knights would probably apply it to their buttocks, crotch, and back.

Wearing thick armor in summer causes heat rashes all over the body, and on marching days, even pus forms on the lower body.

He did add that he doesn’t get such things because he’s a fairy, but I ignored that.

It wasn’t information I was particularly interested in.

“It’s the same for women. Corsets tightly constrict the waist, making ventilation poor. That’s also why women stop by rest rooms. They need to loosen their corsets to wipe away sweat.”

This applied not only to corsets but also to heeled shoes and dresses that came up to the chin.

My analogy seemed quite impressive, as Richt’s eyes changed to a serious expression, unlike before.

“This product is used at such times. Come on, give me your hand.”

I grabbed Mikhail’s hand and applied the powder to the back of his hand. Then I patted it a few times and spread it widely.

“How’s the fragrance?”

“…It’s nice. Is it rose?”

“The spring roses happened to fall due to the rain, so I tried using them. The fragrance can be changed anytime. And… it’s soft and smooth, right?”

“Indeed it is.”

Since the spring rain was so heavy, both the castle and the annex building were full of moisture.

In such places, the effects of baby powder can be felt even with a rough application.

Richt also tried applying it to his own hand and exclaimed in a small voice with admiration.

‘Well, of course, considering how it was made.’

The hardships I went through making this were beyond description.

Especially to obtain the mineral powder that was the main ingredient, I had so many arguments with the alchemists.

“…So I want to sell these three products. I’d like the main house to help.”

Both of them had bewildered expressions after my torrent-like explanation.

If everything stated in the business plan was true, it was a business with no grounds for refusal.

The cost calculations I wrote with Jane’s advice should be somewhat discernible to Richt, who is the financial officer.

It wasn’t really my place to say since I wrote it, but I could confidently assert that this was the most innovative Business Plan in the world.

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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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