Episode 32 of “I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Don’t Like Conflicts with My Daughter-in-Law”
She had already made plans on how to deal with Wilhelmina.
She was certain that if she shouted, “I know your true identity,” Wilhelmina would panic and lower her head like the other subordinates.
But a teenager’s imagination was very limited.
She hadn’t even decided exactly what she wanted Wilhelmina to apologize for. If she had to name a reason, it was for making her feel unpleasant the day before.
Moreover, she wasn’t happy that the Viscountess had entrusted Wilhelmina with her education.
She already hated the Viscountess’s etiquette lessons, but being nagged by someone from a fallen noble family was unbearable.
Surely, her father wouldn’t want his proud son to be looked down upon either.
After dropping Jace off at the duke’s estate, the Viscountess left. Jace, feeling that no one was left to stop him, confidently arrived at the annex.
“Huh?”
He stopped in surprise at the people standing in front of the annex door.
“You’re just in time.”
In the garden, the victim of yesterday’s incident, Rose, was kneeling.
Standing in front of her were Wilhelmina, Nata, and an unknown servant. Nata held a bundle of documents in her hands.
Jace was startled because there was a bundle of luggage placed beside Rose.
“As I said earlier, Rose, you’re suspended for a month. Reflect on your actions during that time.”
“Sniff… Yes, Madam.”
Rose, with clearly fake tear stains from makeup, looked up at Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina gently patted her shoulder and nodded to the servant.
The servant picked up Rose’s luggage and headed to the annex entrance. Rose followed with her head bowed low.
‘She’s getting punished?’
Though he hadn’t heard the earlier conversation, the atmosphere made it clear that Rose was being punished for what happened yesterday.
‘Serves her right!’
He had been annoyed that the incident was brushed over too easily.
On the way back to the mansion, the Viscountess had given him a long lecture about why one should be kind to those of lower status. But Jace felt only anger—not at his own wrongdoing, but at the person who caused him to endure such a lecture.
“Heh.”
Just then, Rose and the servant passed by him. Seeing Rose’s bowed head, Jace let out a small laugh.
“You’re here early.”
“Well, I woke up at six! You wouldn’t believe how much the Viscountess nagged me!”
“Oh really? That’s unfortunate.”
Wilhelmina’s words were sympathetic, but her face showed no sign of guilt.
“Oh! And about what you said to me yesterday…”
“Before that, could you do me a favor? I need you to fill out a document.”
“Huh?”
Jace was about to complain, but Wilhelmina cut him off, took a document from Nata, and handed it to him. At the bottom of the form filled with difficult words was a signature line with Jace’s name.
“What is this?”
“It’s the confirmation of disciplinary action for Rose. Want me to read it to you?”
“I can read just fine!”
Jace, who was among the top of his class at the academy, snapped and began reading the document slowly.
Though the vocabulary seemed difficult at first, the meaning wasn’t too hard to grasp.
‘So… it’s saying the maid is being punished for being rude to me.’
His name was needed because he was the person affected by the rudeness, so his confirmation and signature were required.
“Read it carefully before signing. You’re putting your family’s name on this—there’s no undoing it…”
“If I don’t sign this, does that mean her punishment gets canceled?”
“…That’s right.”
‘Then I have to sign it!’
Jace quickly took the pen from Nata and signed. Though the handwriting was crooked, he clearly wrote Jace Milo.
[…The maid Rose has violated Jace Milo’s orders and committed disrespect. As such, the disciplinary action against the maid Rose is confirmed.
Jace Milo (signature) ]
He handed the document back to Wilhelmina. She brushed her hand lightly over the signature and gave a small smile.
‘What’s with that smile?’
It was strange—not a happy smile at all. A chill ran down his spine.
“Alright, confirmed. Now then… here’s the next one.”
“There’s more?”
“Yes. The next one is your bill.”
At the word bill, Jace’s eyes widened.
Now he understood why Nata had been holding a whole bundle of papers even though he’d only been handed one.
Those were all documents meant for him.
“W-What is this?”
“It’s the appraisal and invoice for the flowerpot you broke. It’s a piece made by the Roheina family 15 years ago, so the price is here. Standard imperial bank interest is applied, so if you delay payment…”
“Why do I have to pay for this?!”
Jace tried to throw the papers away, but Wilhelmina grabbed his hand tightly and leaned in to meet his gaze.
“Well, because you broke the flowerpot.”
“I told you, it was the maid’s fault! That’s why she’s being punished!”
“Yes, she was punished. For being rude to you. That’s all.”
“…Huh?”
Wilhelmina pointed to the section of the document Jace had just signed.
[This confirms the full punishment of the maid Rose.]
Which meant Rose had already been fully punished.
So if she had received all the punishment, then who was responsible for the broken flowerpot?
Smart as he was, Jace could figure it out from just reading the documents. The answer was himself.
“This is a scam!”
Jace screamed at the outrageous amount listed in the appraisal.
“I’m not signing this! It was her fault!”
“Rose already received her punishment.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m the one at fault!”
“Did the flowerpot break itself, then? Jace, there were other witnesses too.”
Wilhelmina calmly took the document bundle back from him and said,
“So Jace, you’re saying you don’t agree with Rose’s punishment?”
“Of course not.”
“But you signed it.”
She waved the signed document in her hand.
“I told you before—this is your family’s name, and it’s irreversible. If you refuse, I’ll have to submit this to the Imperial Court.”
“C-Court?”
“Because of your false signature, your father would be summoned too. You’ve essentially created a fraudulent contract under the name of House Milo.”
Jace wanted to scream that it made no sense—but the thought of “what if” made him hesitate.
The Milo family had a history with the Imperial Court.
A gold mine had been discovered near the Milo estate.
Due to ownership disputes, the Viscount had frequented court proceedings for a while.
Any noble from the western region who liked gossip knew that story well… and of course, so did Wilhelmina, who was close to the Viscountess.
“Well, your father will just have to suffer a bit, I guess.”
“Ugh…”
Jace, who had come to confront Wilhelmina about her identity, demand an apology, and refuse education—no longer looked confident.
No matter how bold a kid may act, his father’s fierce punishments were still terrifying.
“But I don’t have that kind of money…”
“If you can’t pay right away, there’s one way.”
As Jace muttered, Wilhelmina, as if waiting, flipped to the last page of the document bundle.
There, under a large bolded title “Alternative Payment Method in Case of Nonpayment”, it read:
“Attend Wilhelmina Leighton’s lectures.”
“You’ll attend my lessons consistently for ten days. If you do that, I’ll forget all about this.”
“Ugh!”
Only then did Jace realize the entire situation had been a setup.
“I’m actually being generous. I traded a priceless vase for some easy class attendance.”
“…”
“So, go ahead and sign.”
Wilhelmina handed him the final page.
The message was clear: You will write your own punishment with your own hand.
At the bottom, in light letters, was the signature field:
[I, Jace Milo, pledge to sincerely attend Wilhelmina Leighton’s lectures.]
Jace had no choice but to pick up the pen.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to just give him a beating?”
After Jace was sent to the study, Nata asked while organizing the documents.
“Was all that acting really necessary…?”
He was questioning whether it was worth preparing all those papers just to trick one brat.
