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Chapter 2 — My Mother-in-Law, But I Don’t Want In-Law Conflict
Everything was handled so quickly that before I even realized it, the marriage contract had been stamped, and by the time the carriage departed, my surname had already been changed to that of the elderly nobleman.
‘At this rate, I’ll end up beaten to death by some eccentric old aristocrat. Maybe I should steal some jewels and run away.’
With thoughts like that, I absentmindedly enjoyed the carriage ride.
In truth, I knew it was a hopeless fantasy.
I knew neither magic nor swordsmanship. In this situation, there was nothing I could do except pray.
Perhaps heaven took pity on my desperate prayers.
“Th-The… Master has passed away.”
When I arrived at the old nobleman’s territory, I received completely unexpected news.
The man who had bought me.
The elderly noble who was supposed to become my husband, Duke Layton, had suddenly collapsed from a heart attack and died the previous day.
Just now…
In other words, he had died the day before our wedding.
It was frustrating enough that I had gotten married for the first time in both my lives, but at this age, I had become a widow.
And not just any widow—the widow of the Layton Ducal House, said to be the greatest noble family in the West.
‘After that, I lived in the detached residence.’
The previous Duke’s sudden death threw the entire ducal household into chaos.
The wedding was hastily changed into a funeral, and every retainer was mobilized to prepare for the inauguration of the new Duke.
Which meant no one had any time to pay attention to the newly arrived lady of the house.
After awkwardly attending the funeral, I was banished to the detached residence that had served as the late Duke’s bedroom, without even getting a tour of the estate or introductions to the family.
For the next two months, I didn’t take a single step outside the annex.
‘At least the servants are kind.’
The late Duke must have been an exceptionally violent man, because the servants in the annex were extremely cautious around their master.
All I had done was tell them they didn’t have to work themselves so hard and improve their working conditions a little.
Apparently, that left quite an impression on them, because they started treating me far better than necessary.
In their eyes, I seemed to be nothing more than ‘the poor young lady who had been sold here and then abandoned by the ducal family.’
Well…
They weren’t exactly wrong.
‘I wonder how long this will last.’
I finished the last of my tea and placed the empty teacup onto the tray.
Seeing the tray neatly cleared made me oddly satisfied.
‘Once things settle down, they’ll probably throw me out. What couple in the world would want a stepmother—or mother-in-law—they’ve never even exchanged a word with?’
Living in luxury certainly felt nice, but I never expected this lifestyle to last.
Once I left here, maybe I’d return to the capital and start a business.
Or perhaps I’d travel to the East.
While mulling over my future, I quietly prepared myself for the inevitable end.
Anna had already cleared away breakfast, so I was just thinking of relaxing with a book when—
“Madam.”
The door opened, and a butler entered.
He wasn’t the butler assigned to the detached residence.
He was one who served in the main mansion.
He was also the man who had guided me when I first arrived at the ducal estate.
He looked to be around thirty.
A handsome man whose refined appearance balanced youthful vigor with seasoned composure bowed respectfully.
“Her Ladyship wishes to see you.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
If he said Her Ladyship…
Then he meant the Duchess of Layton.
As I frowned slightly, the butler continued in an even tone.
“It concerns your future arrangements.”
‘Speak of the tiger, and the tiger appears.’
I had only just been reminiscing about the past and enjoying my little vacation, and already she’d come to issue my eviction notice.
Letting out a short sigh, I rose from my seat.
“My clothes…”
“Her Ladyship said you may come comfortably dressed.”
“…Very well.”
Since the weather had begun turning cold, I simply draped a shawl over my shoulders before following the butler.
The moment I stepped outside, I spotted Anna hesitating anxiously in the hallway.
I waved to reassure her before leaving the detached residence.
“Lady Mother, there is something I should tell you first.”
“What is it?”
“I ask that you use the proper manner of speech with Her Ladyship.”
The proper manner of speech?
I tilted my head, unable to understand what he meant.
Was he telling me to know my place and speak respectfully?
“Though the circumstances are complicated, you are Her Ladyship’s elder. Lady Helena is someone who observes hierarchy without exception. She wishes to be treated as your daughter-in-law.”
“…I understand.”
It was the complete opposite.
Rather than speaking politely, I was being asked to speak down to her.
‘So that’s why he said “proper.”‘
The nickname I’d only heard through rumors suddenly came to mind.
The Perfect Noble Lady.
The Proud and Virtuous Jewel of the West.
Did that mean rules mattered more to her than her own pride?
‘That’s incredible mental discipline.’
Even as someone from the modern world, I didn’t think I could manage that.
Matching my slow pace, the butler guided me leisurely.
Silence fell again, so I looked around to pass the time.
Layton Castle was beautiful.
Even in autumn, not a single fallen leaf could be seen in the gardens.
The white-and-gold castle shimmered beneath the sunlight, looking like something straight out of a fairy tale.
If I were still my former self, I would have enjoyed it like visiting a historical landmark.
“We’ve arrived.”
At last, we reached the reception room of the main castle.
The butler opened the door, and I stepped inside.
A woman sat gracefully upon one of the sofas.
Several maids stood quietly nearby, attending to her.
Her sapphire-blue eyes fixed directly upon me.
“Welcome… Mother.”
She rose slightly from her seat in greeting.
There wasn’t the slightest trace of disrespect in her demeanor.
She seemed completely unbothered by treating me as her superior.
“At last… we meet, Helena.”
“I can only apologize for contacting you so late.”
Taking the seat opposite her, I quietly observed her.
‘Helena Feon Layton.’
A woman of imperial blood and the mistress of the House of Layton.
Whenever people spoke of the perfect noble lady, her name was always mentioned first.
The star of high society.
The role model every noble daughter aspired to become.
Even someone like me, who had never associated with noble families in my previous life, had heard her name while living in the capital.
“Have you been keeping well?”
“I have. And you, Helena?”
“I’ve been rather busy.”
So that’s why you couldn’t summon me earlier. Don’t take offense.
Was I reading too much into it?
Trying to force myself into the speech of an elder made my mouth feel dry.
I quietly waited for her to continue.
After instructing the maids to serve tea, Helena looked at me with unwavering eyes.
“First, I would like to discuss our plans going forward.”
“Going forward…?”
“We would like to accept you as a member of the House of Layton.”
“What?”
The words were so unexpected that my voice rose without thinking.
I’d assumed she’d summoned me to tell me to leave.
Instead, she was saying they wanted to accept me into the ducal family?
“After you become a true member of the House of Layton, I would like you to attend both the year-end banquet and the New Year’s reception with us.”
She even added that she wanted me to participate in the major social events held at the end and beginning of the year.
Even someone like me, who had never participated in noble society, knew how important the Layton family’s year-end banquet was.
If I attended such an event, gossip would be unavoidable, no matter how prestigious the ducal house was.
‘And Anna mentioned that an important guest would be attending the year-end banquet.’
If the House of Layton called someone an honored guest, they had to be someone of extraordinary status.
And she intended to introduce me there?
Honestly, I wanted to ask if she was in her right mind.
‘I hate to say it myself, but I’m basically the Layton family’s greatest embarrassment.’
If I were in her position, I’d hide me where society would never see my face.
Besides, what daughter-in-law would welcome a mother-in-law who was younger than herself and of insignificant birth?
If Helena wanted complete authority over managing the household, it would be far easier if someone like me simply didn’t exist.
‘She’s not doing this out of pity… is she?’
This wasn’t like giving alms to a passing beggar.
No one would bring an elder of the household into the family over such a trivial emotion.
The title of mother-in-law carried genuine authority.
‘…No. Unless this isn’t really her own decision?’
Suddenly, I remembered what the butler had said on the way here.
‘Her Ladyship is someone who observes hierarchy without exception.’
It certainly reflected Helena’s nature—someone who valued proper order above personal pride.
But…
Was I really above Helena in that hierarchy?
I slowly pieced together the clues.
The year-end banquet attended by countless nobles.
The fact that I was the fifth wife of the notoriously violent previous Duke.
Helena, a member of the imperial family.
And the distinguished guest said to be coming from the Imperial Palace.
The House of Layton was one of only two ducal houses in the Empire.
Which meant there was only one person capable of exerting pressure on them…
“…His Majesty the Emperor?”
“…!”
‘I was right.’
