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Chapter 7. How to Deal with a Taciturn Father-in-Lawa
Right.
You’re the kind of man who’d rather pin the blame on a pitiful maid than admit your wife was at fault.
Hobshin gave his neck a stiff, authoritative tilt and issued his order.
“Punish that maid with ten lashes, and strip her of her position starting today.”
Though Hobshin was the one giving orders, it was entirely Sophia’s responsibility to carry out the household affairs.
Sophia hesitated for a moment at his words, but in the end she lowered her head and replied.
“…Yes, dear. I’ll do as you say.”
And the expression that crossed Emma’s face at that moment—
In the end, Emma was dragged away in a wretched state by the other maids Sophia had summoned.
“Madam! I’ve done nothing but stay loyal to you! Madam…!”
Sophia turned her back on Emma’s desperate pleas to the very end.
The expressions on the maids dragging away the sobbing Emma weren’t good either.
Now the other maids must have realized it too—this is what happens even if you stay loyal to Sophia.
Sophia had made a truly terrible move today.
Thanks to today’s events, it would become a little easier for me to make my mark in this household.
Pretending to be heartbroken, I kept my head lowered—and secretly curled my lips into a grin.
After Emma was dragged out, the drawing room fell quiet once more.
Leaning back against the sofa with a weary look, Hobshin spoke to me.
“…You suffered because of that impudent maid.”
Even now, he refused to acknowledge his wife’s fault.
Still, I nodded and played along with his act.
“No, Father. Mother must have suffered even more, having a maid like that.”
“What?! …Ha, ha, ha. I-I suppose so.”
Sophia, who had nearly bristled at my words, quickly checked Hobshin’s expression and changed her tone.
“As expected, only my daughter-in-law understands all my hard work. Ha. Ha. Ha….”
Excuse me, but your lips are trembling.
Inside, I let out a quiet, satisfied chuckle.
Of course, on the outside, I still looked like the demure daughter-in-law, head bowed.
Watching me with a pleased expression, Hobshin suddenly said,
“That scar will mar such a pretty face.”
Oh? So he does at least know my face is pretty?
For a taciturn man like him to say that, he must really feel quite guilty about this incident.
Well, my bandages had been soaked with blood, and I’d even lost some hair.
It was the kind of thing that would’ve sent most daughters-in-law running for the hills.
Just then—
Hobshin rummaged through the breast pocket of his formal jacket, pulled out a small pouch, and handed it to me.
“So you don’t get a scar, call a physician and get proper treatment.”
Ohhh.
Is this a sort of consolation payment?
At his words, Sophia widened her eyes beside him and began glaring at me.
Her expression clearly said she wouldn’t let this slide if I accepted it.
The old Aileen would have declined her father-in-law’s money, watching her mother-in-law’s mood.
And Hobshin would’ve been displeased, thinking his goodwill had been rejected.
But now, I—
“Thank you so much, Father!”
I exclaimed brightly and promptly took the money pouch from his hand.
Men like him—especially conservative types—like it when their gifts are received gladly.
I subtly weighed the pouch in my hand.
It was fairly heavy—enough to more than cover treatment for the wound on my forehead.
Aileen had never once received even a small allowance.
Whenever she needed money, she had to swallow her pride and beg Sophia for it.
She even needed permission just to buy a single flower to place at her parents’ grave—so that says it all.
Which made this money all the more precious.
“Oh my, how generous! As expected, Father, you’re the best!”
When I made a big show of admiration, drawing on ten years of customer-service experience, the corners of Hobshin’s lips lifted slightly.
“Ahem. Ahem! All right, then go and get some rest.”
“Yes, Father!”
I kept smiling brightly until the very end, bowed, and left the room.
And just before fully closing the door, I deliberately lingered for a moment. Soon, Hobshin’s furious shout rang out through the crack.
“Just what exactly have you been doing managing this household?!”
“N-no, that’s not what I meant—”
Worried about appearances, the conservative man only scolded his wife after his daughter-in-law had left.
Feeling as satisfied as if I’d just downed a glass of rich soy milk, I quietly closed the door.
After Aileen left, the drawing room.
Sophia endured her husband’s scolding for a while, but finally snapped back.
“But I can’t stand her!”
She, too, knew very well how to handle her patriarchal husband.
Before Hobshin could erupt in anger, Sophia quickly placed a hand on his chest and spoke in a coy, tearful voice.
“I never thought that girl would marry our son! You haven’t forgotten, have you? That fire incident….”
“Ahem!”
Hobshin flinched in panic and cut her off.
Then he anxiously scanned the drawing room, where only the two of them were present.
Soon, with a much gentler expression, he coaxed his wife.
“…I understand how you feel. But you need to know when to stop.”
“But dear—”
“Do you really not understand that if Aileen were to run out of this house, we would be the ones in trouble?”
“But still! It’s already been ten years since that happened—”
As she tried to argue back, Hobshin’s face twisted instantly.
Seeing his expression, Sophia snapped her mouth shut.
With his face hardened frighteningly, Hobshin muttered in a low voice,
“Don’t speak carelessly. This is a matter that determines whether the Morgans family survives or not.”
In the end, Sophia had no choice but to nod, bitterly swallowing her resentment.
Returning to my room with the heavy money pouch, I lay down on the old bed and sank into thought.
Good. I’ve secured money—next comes going out.
Aileen rarely went out. No—more accurately, she couldn’t.
The Morgans family not only treated her like a maid, but also prevented her from freely going into town alone.
They were probably afraid she might run away, or complain about what went on in the household.
Aileen was never allowed to attend social parties, and even if she did, she had to stay glued to Sophia’s side.
Under normal circumstances, even with money, going out would’ve been difficult—but now I had a perfect excuse.
An excuse Sophia herself gave me.
I immediately got up from the bed, took out some spare bandages, and began wrapping them tightly around my forehead.
That evening, after the sun had set.
In the dining room of the Morgans estate, only the clinking of tableware echoed.
The patriarchal Hobshin disliked anyone speaking freely during meals except himself.
I, too, ate silently so as not to upset him.
Fortunately, with Hobshin present, there were no childish pranks played on my food.
I should eat as much as I can right now.
Normally, Sophia only gave me cold leftovers.
As I was diligently eating the onion soup served as an appetizer—
“Oh my, Makaila, you’re here.”
A woman with fiery red hair cascading over her plump shoulders walked into the dining room.
That woman is…
Information from both the original story and Aileen’s memories surfaced instantly.
Makaila Morgans.
She was the second child of the Morgans family—Dufel’s younger sister.
From what I remembered, she perfectly fit the image of a small-time villain from the Morgans clan.
Incompetent, greedy, and burdened with low self-esteem born from that gap.
It’s impressive how consistent this family is.
That burning red hair, too. Is this the power of genetics?
“Ahem… Don’t be late to meals,” Hobshin said curtly, displeased.
Makaila replied in an overly shrill, childlike voice.
“I’m sorry. Makaila accidentally fell asleep during her nap….”
Ugh.
At her strange habit of referring to herself in the third person, I nearly gagged mid-sip of soup.
As I barely held back my nausea, she blinked innocently at me and said,
“Big sister should’ve woken Makaila up. You just hurried ahead and came without me?”
