Episode 12 of “She’s a Mother-in-Law, But I Hate Mother-in-Law Drama”
“There’s a shop that sells flour, salt, sugar… and the shopkeeper’s name is Jane, I think? That lady is really something.”
Johan began explaining more about the shopkeeper named Jane.
Aside from her appearance and way of speaking, she was the youngest of the Goldrail family and an ambitious merchant.
Apparently, she came up with creative advertisements to sell flour and even held tasting events to let people try expensive sugar.
One such event was halted due to opposition from employees presumed to be from the headquarters. That’s why Johan found her peculiar.
‘She even cursed at an employee who tried to stop her.’
She’s stubborn, ambitious, and from a nouveau riche family. She seems fairly competent, too.
‘She’s perfect.’
I didn’t expect such an ideal person to appear right away. It really was the right move to get Johan involved.
I took a pen and notepad out of my pocket. I quickly jotted down a greeting, followed by a note asking to meet and talk.
“Johan, could you give this to that Jane person?”
“What is it?”
“A letter. I’d like to have a conversation with her.”
Johan tilted his head but soon folded the paper neatly and tucked it into his pocket.
“Are you starting some kind of business?”
“Well…”
I’d have to meet her in person to decide the details, but I already had a few ideas in mind.
Developing inventions was out of reach. So I thought of suggesting practical products that combined this world’s level of technology with modern-day convenience.
Of course, I wasn’t going to jump straight into a business pitch. The letter only contained polite greetings and a wish to get to know her.
“I’ll just see what I can do.”
“Good luck!”
“Thanks for the support.”
I patted Johan’s head and got up from the bench.
It was already nearing lunchtime.
Johan had to go tend the garden, and I was heading to the main house.
“Huh? Where are you going?”
“I have to meet the Duchess.”
“Gasp…”
Johan covered his mouth with a worried look at the mention of meeting a noblewoman.
I waved him off to reassure him, then slowly made my way to the main house. The Duchess Helene’s butler was waiting by the garden entrance and followed behind me.
Earlier that morning, he had come to me with a message from Helene.
Though full of flowery language, the gist was that she wanted to talk about the celebration banquet.
It was annoying to walk all the way to the castle, but I couldn’t exactly summon the real lady of the house to the annex, so I agreed.
‘The topic’s obvious.’
It was about the incident at the celebration.
After all, she had attended the banquet as the Duchess, but skipped out midway to care for the viscount’s daughter.
The Margrave had said it was the duty of the lady of the house, but… well, are there really that many people in high society with pure intentions?
‘It’s better if I take the blame. That way, rumors about Illina will die down.’
Gossip tends to focus on one person. If I became the main target of rumors, the incident with Illina would naturally fade from attention.
If Helene expressed discontent, I planned to offer a polite apology.
After a long walk, we arrived at the drawing room. The butler opened the door, and I stepped inside.
And immediately froze at the sight of the man who greeted me.
“Ah! You’re here! Have a seat. Helene, relax your expression.”
“……Yes.”
“This isn’t a fight, right?”
The man—Mikhail—seated me and grinned cheerfully.
“Finally, the three of us are meeting together. Mother, what kind of tea would you like? I’ll make it myself.”
The Duke… offering tea to the fake matron?
And in front of the servants, no less? While his wife was glaring at me like she wanted me dead?
‘This bastard… is a flower field.’
This is bad.
I recalled what one of my students, who used the regression trope to make money, once warned me.
“Teacher, the ones you really need to avoid in novels aren’t actually the villains.”
“Villains are the bad guys, though.”
“No, there’s someone worse. They’re hated across every genre—romance fantasy, light fantasy, you name it…”
“How about having lunch here together? You haven’t eaten yet, right?”
“It’s the naïve airhead character.”
Mikhail was that airhead character.
When I first met him at the celebration, I thought he might just be playing dumb while hiding a scheming side.
That was the image I had of nobles in medieval settings.
‘But no—this guy’s the real deal.’
Judging by his tone and Helene’s expression, he wasn’t faking it.
He’s oblivious, overly optimistic, and irritatingly righteous.
He didn’t realize how inappropriate it was to take my side in front of his wife—because he didn’t really think of me as his mother. He simply couldn’t understand Helene’s feelings.
I looked between Mikhail’s beaming face and Helene’s icy one.
“I heard you wanted to see me.”
“Yes, I thought it was about time for the three of us to meet.”
I was addressing Helene, not Mikhail, but he answered instead.
“We were actually going to come to the annex…”
I sighed softly at Mikhail’s needless explanation.
He had no idea how humiliating it would be for the Duchess to visit her young mother-in-law.
Even I, someone unfamiliar with noble customs, knew that much.
‘Let alone the fact that she’s never even met her mother-in-law before—what a disgrace.’
I firmly rejected Mikhail’s suggestion.
“There’s no need for you to come to the annex. Since people are watching, it makes more sense for me to come here.”
“Is that so?”
Is that so? Seriously?
My words seemed unexpected. Helene’s eyes trembled slightly.
“If it’s not urgent, you can send a letter. I’m sure both of you are busy.”
In short, let’s not go through the trouble and just communicate in writing.
But that gentle suggestion crumbled against Mikhail’s airheadedness again.
“How could we, as members of the same ducal family, do that? How about having tea together once a week? A family gathering would be nice.”
No, thank you.
Enjoying tea in this tense atmosphere? I’d rather sit in a frozen garden eating ice cream.
Helene must’ve felt the same. She gently interrupted him.
“Dear, I have something to tell Mother about the recent banquet. Could you give us a moment?”
“Oh! I see. I’ll step out, then?”
Mikhail smiled brightly and excused himself.
Helene composed her expression and looked at me.
“I heard about the viscount’s daughter from House Millijay.”
“It was a minor disturbance.”
“Yes. And because of that, you were absent from the Margrave’s celebration banquet.”
I had waited long enough to make an entrance, but left without offering congratulations—so yes, it could be called an absence.
When I silently agreed, Helene pulled out a letter and handed it to me.
Pink stationery sealed with wax—it was a letter from the viscount’s daughter.
“She sent a thank-you note.”
“……Thank you for delivering it.”
The seal was untouched.
It meant she hadn’t read it.
I had expected it to be censored—this was a surprise.
“You handled it well. For the viscount’s daughter, it was her debutante ball. If she had made a mistake, it would’ve left a deep stain on her reputation.”
All she did was gag a little—calling it a stain is dramatic.
“But the absence of the Duchess at such an event is also considered a scandal.”
“But Helene—”
“Mikhail, she hasn’t finished speaking yet.”
I cut off Mikhail sharply, sensing he was about to say something like ‘Mother did nothing wrong.’
He looked surprised but respectfully kept quiet.
“……So I’d like you to oversee the next celebration banquet, Mother.”
“The next banquet?”
“This one was for the Margrave. The next one is for the Margrave’s soldiers and the border knights.”
As she explained, I realized the first banquet had been for nobles like the Margrave, while the upcoming one was more of a feast for soldiers and knights.
Since my absence might have been perceived as a slight against the military, she was offering me a chance to make up for it.
‘What a band-aid solution.’
Oh Michael