I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Dislike Conflict with My Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 83

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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 83

 

“What’s this lovey-dovey stuff again?”

 

Perhaps because of her transformation, Orb’s personality seemed to be gradually resembling hers.

 

I often scolded her not to confuse reality with novels, and it seemed Orb needed that kind of nagging too.

 

“Well, when the protagonist gets captured, there’s bound to be a touching scene. Like hearts fluttering because of accidentally overheard inner thoughts, or suddenly feeling attracted to someone they had no interest in before.”

 

As expected, she seemed to be hoping for a romantic situation, just like her.

 

“Sigh, don’t talk nonsense. Rohan and I aren’t that kind of relationship, and there are no inner thoughts to confess.”

 

“…Well, is that really so?”

 

Orb rolled her eyes and looked at Rohan.

 

Curious about why she was looking at him, I also shifted my gaze to Rohan, and he scolded Orb with a stiff voice.

 

“That’s nonsense.”

 

See, he’s speaking so firmly, yet I don’t understand why she’s so desperate to pair us up.

 

“Hmm, Wilhelmina, don’t you really know? Why Rohan came here?”

 

Is she going to continue this topic?

 

I sighed and covered Orb’s mouth.

 

“What are you doing, mmph mmph.”

 

“I’m not particularly curious. Besides, even if there were inner thoughts, I shouldn’t hear them from your mouth.”

 

And those inner thoughts couldn’t possibly be the lovey-dovey secrets Orb wanted.

 

We were people who had barely even had many conversations to begin with.

 

Rather, a scenario where Rohan was an assassin after my life, or a loan shark who came chasing after me to repay debts would be more convincing.

 

‘…Wait, that’s quite specific for a scenario?’

 

Thanks to staying at the Duke’s Estate, I had never felt threatened, but thinking about it, it was something that could happen.

 

Especially the loan shark part was very specific.

 

How enormous must our family’s debt have been.

 

As I pondered seriously, Orb dropped her shoulders, saying she was fed up.

 

“Ugh, forget it. Even when I try to create some atmosphere, it’s useless. Hey, Wolf. You have it tough too.”

 

“…”

 

For some reason, Rohan didn’t deny it.

 

After the exchange of conversation, the atmosphere became softer than before.

 

Rohan no longer showed hostility toward Orb, and Orb also seemed drained and slumped.

 

“Then let’s get back to the main point. Orb, you had a reason for provoking Rohan, right?”

 

“…Why do you ask?”

 

“If you want something from him, say it here and now. Don’t you want to make a deal?”

 

Orb looked at me with wide eyes. Then she let out a breath as if she found it absurd.

 

“Make a deal now? There’s no hostage.”

 

This little brat, openly calling it a hostage.

 

I wanted to give her a flick on the forehead, but I held back.

 

“Is it such a simple request that you’d give up just because there’s no hostage?”

 

“That’s…”

 

“You wanted a chance to talk, didn’t you? Then try asking. I might listen even without compensation.”

 

“…”

 

“We’re different from you, so we can’t read minds. If you want something, say it directly. Don’t beat around the bush. You’re a king too, right? Even if you’re a bit rude, no one will say anything.”

 

Orb gaped with her mouth wide open, at a loss for words.

 

‘Why is she so surprised?’

 

As I was reconsidering whether there was something strange about what I said, Rohan standing beside me suddenly let out a laugh.

 

It was the first time I’d heard his laughter.

 

“Still the same.”

 

“What did you say?”

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

How bland.

 

I turned my gaze back to Orb.

 

She was trembling with her face buried in her knees.

 

“Orb? What’s wrong?”

 

“Ah… Should I just keep you around? This is the first time since Titania, something like this…”

 

“What are you muttering about?”

 

“It would have been nice if you had appeared about 500 years earlier. I shouldn’t have cursed Wolf back then.”

 

I have no idea what she’s talking about.

 

When I narrowed my eyes and glared at her, thinking she was saying this to tease me again, she suddenly raised her head.

 

“Well, it can’t be helped. It’s in the past, and the past won’t come back no matter how much we regret it. Right?”

 

“Y-yes.”

 

I couldn’t understand what she had been pondering and realized on her own, but I nodded and expressed agreement for now.

 

“Good, you there.”

 

“Why don’t you call me by my name?”

 

I don’t know why she’s being particularly cold to Rohan.

 

When I intervened, she cheerfully corrected herself.

 

“Yes, Rohano… I mean, Rohan!”

 

“…Right.”

 

For some reason, even though he was called by his name, Rohan ground his teeth audibly.

 

“I’d like you to stop the excavation of the Southern Ruins of the Empire. It’s under Imperial supervision, right?”

 

I thought it might be too much to ask of Rohan, but he actually seemed calm about it.

 

‘I thought his background seemed unusual, so he must be a noble after all.’

 

Well, otherwise, such etiquette couldn’t have been ingrained in him.

 

Since I had somewhat expected that Rohan was a noble, I quietly listened to their conversation.

 

“Disturbing that place is dangerous. It should be stopped for the Empire’s sake too.”

 

“The reason?”

 

“Those ruins are where I used to live. There should be a book I wrote left there. It can’t fall into human hands.”

 

In this world, ruins referred to buildings from ancient times that didn’t even have proper records.

 

Since it was so long ago that hundreds or thousands of years would be laughably recent, I was newly reminded of Orb’s age.

 

That aside, a book…

 

“Is it perhaps a diary?”

 

“Similar.”

 

She’s trying to hide a diary she wrote in the past.

 

“…Then dark history?”

 

“…”

 

Is this term too modern?

 

But Orb seemed to understand what kind of word it was, squeezing her eyes shut and muttering.

 

“Endure it, endure…”

 

I shouldn’t poke at it any more.

 

The tree roots that attacked Rohan might come after me.

 

She deliberately ignored me and spoke to Rohan.

 

“Phew… That book has a curse on it. If humans read it, something uncontrollable will happen. You might covet the ruins’ treasure, but at least give up on that.”

 

“It’s a business with massive capital investment. Without proper evidence, they won’t give up.”

 

“Then just leave it alone. Whatever disaster befalls humans isn’t my concern.”

 

Rohan rested his chin on his hand and fell into thought for a moment.

 

After a while, he opened his mouth with a suspicious voice.

 

“No, if it really had nothing to do with you, you wouldn’t have come to make a deal. Is there information in that diary you don’t want revealed?”

 

“…”

 

Orb frowned and avoided answering.

 

‘As expected, it’s dark history…’

 

“Wilhelmina, that’s not it.”

 

I told you not to read minds carelessly.

 

“Fine, I’ll tell you. That book contains not only a curse, but also a lot of information about fairies. I was hoping to ask because I don’t want other fairies to suffer because of my mistake.”

 

“Won’t you take action yourself?”

 

“Going back out to the filthy Human World is disgusting. Instead, I might send my ‘toys’.”

 

Rohan seemed to have some idea, twisting his lips crookedly.

 

“I understand. I’ll try to persuade them to stop. However, I can’t be certain. I don’t have that kind of power…”

 

He glanced at me once, then cleared his throat and continued.

 

“I just have an acquaintance in the Excavation Team.”

 

He seemed to want to maintain his position as a merchant’s guard.

 

I had no intention of prying either, so I kept my mouth shut.

 

“…Really? You’ll listen to my request?”

 

Orb herself didn’t expect Rohan to agree so readily, asking back with a bewildered expression.

 

“You know how many treasures are in there, right?”

 

“Yes, I heard the preliminary investigation results.”

 

“They’re treasures that can’t be replaced even with mountains of gold and jewelry. The level where a single treasure could start a war.”

 

“They did say it was rare treasure.”

 

“But you’ll give up on it?”

 

Rohan let out a short sigh.

 

“Again, I can’t be certain. There’s a possibility they’ll push forward even if I speak up.”

 

“But still….”

 

“However, no matter how great a treasure it might be, it can’t be more precious than the lives of the Empire’s citizens.”

 

Though his eyes were still hidden behind his hair, I didn’t sense any falsehood in his expression.

 

Besides, if it’s Orb who can read minds, she would be able to discern his true feelings.

 

Seeing Orb’s eyes wavering greatly, I could guess what kind of thoughts Rohan was having.

 

“Have humans changed so much while I haven’t been outside? They wouldn’t normally pass up such an opportunity.”

 

‘No, Rohan is probably just unusual.’

 

If it were an ordinary person, they might express lies with their mouth while harboring different thoughts in their heart, but Rohan was different.

 

Human convictions wavering before treasure was the same in any era.

 

Moreover, people who could guarantee their patriotism in front of someone who could peer into their inner thoughts were even rarer.

 

“….”

 

Orb fell into deep contemplation for a long while.

 

Eventually, as if she had finished organizing her thoughts, she sighed and opened her mouth.

 

“If you’re this sincere, I feel like a bad fairy for playing tricks. To think the day would come when I’d owe a debt to a human.”

 

Orb looked much more relieved.

 

‘Well, a diary (dark history) is important.’

 

“I said that’s not what it is, Wilhelmina!”

 

Since this time I had also thought it jokingly, I smiled back at Orb.

 

“It was good that you spoke up directly, wasn’t it?”

 

If she had only read minds, such a deal would never have come to fruition.

 

At my words, she frowned around her eyes.

 

“I have nothing to say. I suppose I should listen to Teacher’s advice and see. …Really, it would have been nice if I had met you much earlier.”

 

“…You know that sounds exactly like a confession, right?”

 

“That’s exactly what I mean. If it had been 500 years ago, you would have become a queen.”

 

When I shut my mouth in bewilderment, she let out a “hee-” laugh.

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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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