IMDL 10

 Chapter 10 — Mother-in-Law, but I Hate Mother-in-Law Conflicts

I had sent away all the attendants I’d brought along to be considerate of Irina, so I ended up walking alone through the unfamiliar Ducal grounds.

“Hm?”

As I looked around, thinking this must be about where the garden was, I spotted a small lake. It was at the edge of the garden.

There was a covered walkway around the lake, and a middle-aged man was standing still, gazing at the water.

*’He’s big.’*

That was the thought that came to mind as I looked at the man.

He must have been at least two meters tall, and even though he wore a rather plain formal suit, his warrior’s build was unmistakable.

He looked to be in his early sixties. His graying beard handsomely adorned his chin.

I recognized him at a glance as the Marquis of the Borderlands. I’d never seen a guest like him at the banquet.

I approached him slowly.

*’Hm? There’s another one.’*

As I got closer, I noticed the Border Marquis was in conversation with someone.

The garden was structured so that stairs around the large lake connected to the walkway, and another man was standing at the bottom of those stairs.

*’Was he hidden by the trees? It’s like he suddenly appeared…’*

From this position, I couldn’t see below the stairs, so I couldn’t be sure, but he seemed to be as large as the Marquis.

What caught my eye before his height was his unusual attire.

*’Eastern clothes?’*

His outfit had fabric with unique patterns and colors added to it, looking like Eastern clothing not easily seen in the West or the capital.

Equally eye-catching was the helmet he wore.

The metal helmet, which didn’t match his clothes, reflected the moonlight shining on the lake as I drew closer, creating a strange sight.

Thanks to the quiet surroundings, I could hear fragments of their conversation as I approached.

“……Are you sure you don’t need to meet her? You were so looking forward to it.”

“It’s fine. Now is not the time.”

“Then when? Surely you’re not still hung up on that strange book of poetry?”

“……No.”

“They say the scariest person is the one who reads just one book… How about consulting someone instead? I bought that book of poetry and read it, and it seemed like it was written by someone who knows nothing about love…”

*‘Are they having a counseling session?’*

It didn’t sound like the kind of conversation two large, rugged men would be having.

But I had business with the Border Marquis, and I couldn’t just pretend I hadn’t heard and turn back. So I slowed my steps.

“This kind of trouble happened because…….”

“I don’t want to approach it that way…….”

Just as I was wondering if I should wait behind the tree line until their conversation ended, I accidentally stepped on a fallen branch.

The moment the rustling sound occurred, both men looked at me.

“Oh…….”

The Border Marquis gave me a sharp once-over and gave a brief bow of his head in greeting.

“……The Grand Madame, I presume. It’s an honor to meet you. I am Marquis Isonon.”

“Likewise, I am Wilhelmina Leyton.”

The Isonon March. A famous Border Marquis of the West, and an idol among swordsmen.

He certainly lived up to his reputation – I felt a presence I hadn’t sensed in anyone I’d met before.

If we’d met in the banquet hall, I might have been tense… but the situation was quite strange.

I glanced at the man in the helmet.

The one who had been speaking fluently just moments ago had turned as stiff as a statue. He was so rigid it was hard to tell if he was even breathing.

To break the awkward atmosphere, I forced myself to make polite small talk befitting the Grand Madame.

“I apologize for not participating in the celebration banquet. I had some business to attend to.”

“I heard about the circumstances. It was my duty as the host of the banquet to understand. Please don’t worry about it.”

His words were short and concise, but his voice conveyed sincerity.

It was a relief that the guest of honor had forgiven me.

“Thank you for your consideration. ……By the way, who is that gentleman?”

“He’s an acquaintance of mine.”

The Marquis answered my question quickly, as if he’d been waiting for it.

I, who had naturally expected him to take off his helmet and greet me, nodded awkwardly.

The man in the helmet remained fixed on me without moving a muscle. I couldn’t see his face, so I had no idea what he was thinking.

*‘Does he not want to reveal his identity?’*

Surely a suspicious person wouldn’t have infiltrated the Ducal residence, so it was probably best not to pay him any mind. There was no benefit in getting entangled.

Ignoring the helmeted man’s presence, I continued my conversation with the Border Marquis.

“I heard there will be a drinking session later.”

“Yes, I don’t drink alcohol myself, but…… since I received an invitation, I should attend.”

It seemed he had stepped out to take a break from the drinking party.

There were no passing servants near the lake, so it was an ideal spot for some quiet rest.

But it was unexpected. In this world’s noble culture, alcohol and tea were inseparable. It was interesting that there were people who chose not to drink even here.

“Do you dislike alcohol?”

“No… it’s just that my wife advised against it.”

*Ahem.* The Marquis cleared his throat awkwardly.

*‘He seems to be a devoted husband, surprisingly.’*

His expression softened slightly when he mentioned his wife.

He seemed like the type who was tough as nails but went weak in the knees in front of his wife.

“So, will you be joining the gathering in the inner courtyard, Grand Madame?”

“No, I came here to see you, Marquis. I came to pay my respects, and since I’ve met you here… I should probably head back.”

“I believe His Grace the Duke was looking for you earlier…”

“I can tell when my presence isn’t needed, Marquis.”

“……I see.”

That gathering was probably for his closest confidants, and I didn’t want to barge in cluelessly. The one who could participate there wasn’t a fake hostess like me, but Helene.

Perhaps understanding my situation well, the Marquis nodded with a firm expression.

“……?”

At that moment, I saw the helmeted man, who had been standing silently listening to my words, clench his fist tightly.

The Marquis must have felt it too, as he abruptly ended the conversation.

“Well then, I hope you have a pleasant evening, Grand Madame. I’d like to see you off myself, but…”

“That’s alright. I can call a servant on my way. I hope you enjoy the gathering as well, Marquis.”

I was starting to feel like heading back to the annex for some rest.

I thought I’d shown enough courtesy and was about to leave when the Marquis stopped me, as if something had occurred to him.

“Grand Madame, may I ask you one quick question?”

“Yes? Of course. Please go ahead.”

“Have you perhaps had any romantic entanglements with a man before?”

What on earth is this about?

I suppressed the urge to furrow my brow. Then, I tried to politely decline.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not particularly interested in married men…”

“Huh? ……No, that’s not it! I love my wife as well!”

As if to say “What are you talking about?”, the Marquis suddenly stepped closer to me.

Startled by his large frame approaching, I took a step back, and he gasped in surprise, waving his hands frantically.

He then whipped his head around to look at the helmeted man. Letting out a sigh of relief upon seeing him still standing there like a statue.

“I heard you were an unusual person, but truly…”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing. Just muttering to myself. Anyway, you were enrolled at the Academy, correct?”

“Ah, yes, I was.”

This was back when I still couldn’t recall Kim Ha-na’s memories.

It felt like a distant memory, partly because I had few fond memories from the Academy. I had been a very quiet student back then.

“Would you believe me if I said someone you met there has been waiting for you?”

“…….”

I slowly steadied my breathing. Just like before, I changed my tone to be as kind as possible.

“Well, I don’t really believe in fate.”

‘Your lost connection will return if you perform a ritual for the ancestors.’

Isn’t that something you’d say to someone asking if they believe in fate?

At my words, the Marquis’s expression crumpled.

“……Don’t make fun of me.”

I’ve been caught.

I let out a small chuckle.

To summarize, I had never dated anyone at the Academy. I had a couple of close friends, but we lost touch after graduation.

That was only natural, as I had entered the job market while they, being nobles, returned to their families.

Neither during my studies nor after graduation was there even a hint of the kind of romance you’d see in a teen drama.

If anything, I was bullied and wasn’t particularly diligent in attending classes.

“That’s strange. You’re saying you never even received a confession? Then why…”

The Marquis seemed shocked by my explanation.

“Could you possibly be confusing me with someone else?”

“There can’t be another person quite as unusual.”

Is this man calling me unusual now?

I felt a brief twinge of annoyance but accepted it calmly, as befitting the Grand Madame.

“The way you talk makes it sound like you got rejected after confessing… No, wait, so it was all just his delusion?”

Listening to his muttering, it seemed the Marquis’s acquaintance had fallen in love with a woman at the Academy.

Whether that woman was mistaken for me, or whether his acquaintance had lied, was unclear.

“Regardless, I had no such connection.”

“How strange. You say you never even received a confession.”

“I think it’s strange too. I thought I might be somewhat popular, but it turns out I wasn’t. I was confident, though.”

“……Excuse me?”

“Hm?”

“……Ah, yes.”