MILND 16

Chapter 16 

I’m a Mother-in-Law, but I Don’t Want Conflict

Being expected to be a kind person by the servants was a burden in itself.

If I were truly a kind and admirable person, I would’ve stood up to stop them from making the children work or opened the annex’s treasury to fix their unfair wages.

But I couldn’t do that. What I gave was nothing more than personal kindness—hypocrisy to make myself feel better.

“…If Mirinae were here, she’d probably say I look annoyed right now.”

“Mhm.”

Just thinking about the frustrating customs of this world made my expression stiffen. I forcibly smoothed my face with my fingers and headed outside the castle.

When we arrived at the military camp, Anna and I were so shocked we nearly forgot to breathe.

“Hey, trip him!”

“Are you kidding?! Where did all that meat you ate yesterday go?! Use some strength!”

“He’s going down—!”

In front of the camp was a large training ground, where many men were gathered and training.

They were fighting inside a circular ring, much like a wrestling match. It seemed like the person thrown outside the ring was considered the loser… but the real problem was their outfits.

“L-Lady!”

“What?”

They were all shirtless. Some of their pants were halfway down or even torn, making their appearance quite indecent depending on the individual.

Anna, face bright red, stepped in front of me.

“You mustn’t look! It’s indecent!”

“Why not?”

“Wh-What do you mean, ‘why not’?!”

I gently pulled down Anna’s hand, which had been trying to cover my eyes.

Her hands are so chapped. I should really make some hand cream or something.

Thinking idly to myself, I looked at the men fighting hard in the training ring.

“Is it weird for them to take their shirts off during training?”

“But… still…”

“We didn’t sneak in somewhere we’re not allowed. The training ground doesn’t have doors, and they clearly don’t find it shameful.”

“…Lady, are you enjoying this?”

“It is entertaining to watch.”

Anna looked more shocked than when she had chased out the stable hand earlier.

The sweaty, muscular bodies gleaming in the sun as they clashed were unexpectedly captivating.

It’s interesting how varied their body types are. I thought knights and soldiers were all supposed to be tall and bulky.

It was pleasant to look at well-built bodies, of course, but it was just as fun to see smaller men using technique to throw their larger opponents. No wonder people say the best entertainment is watching a fight.

Just as I was contemplating getting a little closer for a better look, a familiar voice called out.

“Duchess? What brings you here?”

I saw an elderly man approaching hurriedly from the opposite side. I moved the dazed Anna out of the way.

“It’s been a while, Count.”

“Welcome, Duchess. What brings you to this place…?”

He, too, seemed to have been training—his beard was drenched in sweat. At least he had the decency to wear a casual tunic, keeping some noble decorum.

Just as he was about to greet me properly, he turned to the fighting men and shouted:

“You rascals! A guest is here! Clean up and get dressed right now!”

“…Shame.”

“Pardon? What was that?”

“Nothing.”

I had planned to leisurely discuss the celebration while watching some good, old-fashioned brawling, but that was clearly not going to happen.

Ignoring Anna’s suspicious gaze, I followed the frontier count into the military camp.

Since there was no proper reception room in the camp, we sat at a table in the dining hall instead.

It must’ve been rare for guests to come all the way here, because I could feel the soldiers pacing around curiously outside.

“Hmm, the celebration…”

When I asked about the upcoming celebration, the frontier count rested his chin in his hand and fell into thought.

“So… you want to know what kind of celebration would be good?”

“Yes. If there are any requests or preferences, I’d like to hear them.”

“I think just having food and drink will make them happy.”

He seemed genuinely troubled, as if this were the first time he’d considered such a question.

“It’s being held in the castle garden, right? It’s not like we can enjoy a ball or a play… and the men don’t really prefer that sort of thing anyway.”

He added that, unlike the stiff atmosphere of a formal banquet, the soldiers usually just threw drinking parties.

They’d pile up cheap wine and beer like mountains, grill meat, and eat until they were full. A simple, hearty celebration.

“Is there anything they’ve wanted to eat? Any requests?”

“I doubt it. They’re not the kind to say things like that… after all, this is the army.”

True. It wasn’t like a soldier could just go up to their commander and say, “I’d rather have steak than barbecue tonight.”

I recalled how the soldiers had quickly responded when the count shouted earlier.

“Then, do you have any suggestions, Count?”

“I can’t think of anything either. I don’t drink myself…”

The count, a devoted husband, admitted that he hadn’t even drunk at his own celebration.

So he wouldn’t be drinking at the soldiers’ celebration either. I rested my chin in my hand, a bit troubled, and the count let out a sigh.

“Hmm… I do know someone well-suited to this kind of thing.”

“Who?”

“A knight. He’s rather blunt and honest, though…”

“And?”

“I’m worried you might find him rude, Duchess.”

I shrugged to show I didn’t mind. I came here to ask for help—not to demand politeness.

“…Very well. I’ll call him over. If he causes any discomfort, please let me know.”

The count left to fetch the knight himself. I wondered why he didn’t just call a servant—but then I noticed no one else was around in the dining hall.

Anna also whispered in a low voice, puzzled.

“Are there no servants here?”

“Maybe they prefer to do things themselves.”

Anna looked unconvinced.

It was certainly rare to see a nobleman like the count personally move about like this. Perhaps it showed that he was truly a soldier at heart.

About five minutes passed before someone entered through the dining hall doors.

“Greetings.”

The moment Anna and I saw the approaching person, we both sucked in a breath.

What a beauty.

The person in knight’s uniform was impossibly beautiful—too stunning for words.

Their long black hair was tied back, and the high-collared uniform buttoned to the neck was simple and neat… but none of that could hide their dazzling looks.

Their deep amethyst eyes, ruby lips, straight nose, delicate chin, and light eyebrows gave them a striking, androgynous beauty.

They kept their mouth straight and eyes sharp, giving off a cold impression—but even that seemed like part of their charm.

Their beauty could rival Helene’s.

While Helene had the elegance and noble perfection of a true aristocrat, this knight had a clean, refined beauty.

They knelt before us and gave a respectful greeting. I was about to respond, when Anna whispered in surprise.

“A f-female knight?!”

“Anna.”

I called her name, gently rebuking her mistake. Anna blinked in confusion, and I let out a short sigh.

“…It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Knight Nata Sonon. The commander had urgent business, so I came ahead.”

“Please rise. I apologize for my attendant’s mistake.”

“It’s all right. I’m used to that kind of misunderstanding.”

Only after hearing Nata’s deep voice did Anna realize her mistake, and she quickly lowered her head, face flushed red.

“I-I’m sorry! You were so beautiful, I just assumed you were a woman…!”

“It’s nothing. My duties keep me from grooming properly, so I understand. A lady need not apologize.”

Nata brushed off the apology with ease and moved to sit on the other side of the table. When I gestured that it was fine to sit, he politely pulled out the chair and took a seat.

“And I am not a man either. To be precise, I have no gender.”

“You mean you’re agender?”

“Correct. I am a fae.”

At the word fae, Anna nearly clapped her hands in surprise, but stopped herself at my glance and corrected her posture.

If he’s fae…

I tried to recall what I’d learned at the academy.

Fae—beings said to be born from nature, an extremely rare race in the human world.

They were known to emerge from ancient trees or volcanoes—places far removed from human understanding.

Since they weren’t born from a womb, they had no need for gender.

They looked like humans, but physiologically, they were an entirely different species.

At the academy, there was always debate over whether to categorize them as spirits or as a race of their own.

To me, they just look human.