Chapter 34

After parting ways with Ashbaton, the Margrave and Patrick's father, we left the border area and headed for the central town of the domain. That walled town is where Patrick's family home is located.

Ryu, on whose back I was riding, asked me:

"Hey, is Patrick's mother a scary person? His father told me to be careful."

"Ah, Mother... She's usually normal, so I don't think there will be any problem."

Patrick said this hesitantly. I couldn't quite picture what his mother was like.

However, I had expected there would be some tension between us. For generations, brides and mothers-in-law have engaged in endless conflicts. It's usually the case, even though I've never actually seen it happen.

And Patrick has an older brother, whom I'd like to greet as well.

"By the way, what's Patrick's brother like?"

"Ah, will my brother meet Yumiera? I don't think he wants to see anyone."

Is he disliked even before meeting? My stomach started to hurt.

We eventually came into view of the town. There was a slightly tense atmosphere due to the current situation, but no major chaos was visible.

"Um, where should we land?"

"That central building is the lord's manor. Please land in its courtyard."

Ryu slowly descended toward the manor Patrick pointed to. That's Patrick's home. The spacious area, which likely serves as a training ground, should be enough for Ryu to land without any issues.

A woman suddenly ran out of the manor. She waved her hands widely at us, and her long silver hair shimmered in the sunlight.

She must be around my age, a bit older. Since Patrick doesn't have a sister... is that his brother!? I didn't know his brother was so cute.

"Could that be Patrick's—"

"Yes, that's Mother."

Well, a cross-dressing brother and a too-young mother, the latter seems more plausible.

While I was thinking these silly thoughts, Ryu gently landed on the ground.

Alright, here's the first mother-in-law and daughter-in-law battle. I'll launch a preemptive attack with level 99 power.

I jumped off Ryu and ran to Patrick's mother, bowing deeply.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Yumiera Dorkness. Please take care of me, Mother-in-law!"

"Oh, you don't have to bow so deeply?"

"Thank you for your consideration!"

Due to a high-level political decision, the preemptive attack was canceled.

When I raised my head, Patrick's mother was staring at me intently. I wondered what she was thinking when she suddenly grabbed my cheeks and moved them up and down.

"Cute! Just as Patrick said, your face hasn't changed at all. But he can read your expressions, you know."

"Mother, Yumiera is uncomfortable."

"No, I'm not uncomfortable at all. Please touch as much as you like."

If a good relationship can be built just by touching cheeks, that's fine with me.

While my cheeks were being played with, I observed Patrick's mother. She really looks young, like in her twenties.

With a young mother, a quietly excellent and handsome son, Patrick might have a high potential to be a protagonist in a dating sim. But, there doesn't seem to be a character in a unique heroine position.

After playing with my face for a while, she led us into the house.

"Come in, come in. Ryu, you can't come in, but it's okay, right?"

"Yes, it's fine."

I turned back to see Ryu dozing off with his tail as a pillow. He's so cute. He must be tired from flying a considerable distance today.

Ryu can sleep anywhere, and so can I. Children take after their parents.

It's amazing that Mother-in-law is so considerate of Ryu. Preconceived notions are unreliable.

We were led to a room that looked like a parlor. As Mother-in-law opened the door and turned back to speak,

"Patrick, go somewhere else. Since you're back home after a long time, there are people you want to see, right?"

"…I have a report about the attack from that country—"

"It's fine, I'll hear it from Yumiera."

She interrupted Patrick.

I had almost forgotten, but we were in the middle of a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law war. Separating Patrick was a dirty trick...

He sighed and said,

"Don't say anything strange in front of Yumiera. And Yumiera, don't do anything strange either."

What, is Patrick leaving? And I won't do anything strange.

Before entering the room, he whispered in my ear,

"Don't mention the word 'Remrest' in front of Mother."

His breath on my ear made me shiver. Stop it, I didn't fall for Patrick because of his voice. I really don't want you to do this. If you really want to, maybe once, or twice or three times, or even more, but it's not my preference.

...What did Patrick just say? I couldn't focus on the content. Ah, I can ask him again! For accurate information transmission, it's necessary.

I was about to ask him to repeat it three more times, but Patrick was already gone.

I know, once the son leaves, some people change completely. I've seen it in daytime dramas.

Feeling uneasy, I listened as Patrick's mother spoke.

"Don't just stand there, come in and sit down. I'm so happy you're here, Yumiera. I've been looking forward to meeting you."

"Yes, I'm sorry."

Does "I've been looking forward to meeting you" mean she was looking forward to bullying me? I decided to sit down in front of her.

"So, how far have you and my son progressed?"

"How far...?"

"Ah! You're blushing a little! Yumiera, you're so cute!"

"A, eh?"

Wait, maybe she's just a kind and gentle person? I'd be embarrassed if I was just imagining things. Thinking about it, since Patrick is coming to the Dorkness family as a son-in-law, I'm not actually a daughter-in-law. There was no mother-in-law and daughter-in-law war to begin with.

Besides, such a kind person wouldn't change so drastically.

"But first, let's talk about the war. The attack from Remrest, right? The Remrest army has retreated. The Margrave will stay at the border fort for a while... Mother-in-law?"

"Ha! Those Remrest vermin! If they're going to run back with their tails between their legs, they shouldn't have come in the first place. If I were there, I would have pursued them to the ends of the earth and made sure they never saw the sun again!"

...I was amazed at how quickly a person could change.

Her eyes glowed fiercely, and her mouth twisted into a sinister smile. She was terrifying.

"A, but... there was no damage, right?"

"Damage!? How can you call it not being able to properly welcome you damage!? Remrest must be eradicated."

Wow, I seem to be quite important to her. I'm happy, but it would be even better if she could calm down.

Patrick must have been warning me about this. His voice wasn't the issue.

I need to calm Mother-in-law down quickly. I need to say something considerate...

"If you're going to destroy Remrest, I'll accompany you."

Ah, I just poured oil on the fire. But, I thought, if it would make her like me, it might be worth it...

It's okay, if it comes to it, Patrick and the Margrave will stop her. Both of us, like young women, only have the accelerator and gasoline. The brakes and coolant are left to the men.

I thought my statement would further heat her up, but suddenly, Patrick's mother's expression changed. A blank expression is the scariest. I'm not one to talk, but...

I could hear my heart pounding. Her blank expression lasted only a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity to me.

Suddenly, Mother-in-law smiled. It was scary.

"...Oh, I'm sorry, I got a bit carried away. I shouldn't involve you, Yumiera."

"It's fine, I'm not bothered. I think that country will be fine for now. It seems to be in a state of internal division, and they won't have the resources to launch another military campaign, I think."

"That's good to hear. Then, let's talk about how you met my son. He tends to gloss over the important parts."

"Well, we first talked during a field exercise—"

I continued the conversation as if nothing was wrong, but inside, I was terrified of when she might change again.

◆ ◆ ◆

After talking for about half an hour, Patrick finally returned. It was late.

"Yumiera must be tired from the long journey. Let's end it here for today."

"I'm sorry, Yumiera, I got carried away."

"No, I enjoyed it too."

That's a lie. It was really scary.

As Patrick led me to the guest room, he asked,

"Can you get along with Mother? You didn't mention that country's name, did you?"

"...I did."

"Ah, I'm sorry, I should have been there too."

More importantly, I was curious about why she changed when the country's name was mentioned.

Before I could ask, Patrick explained.

"Well, people in this area generally dislike the neighboring country, but Mother is extremely so. No one else is as extreme as she is."

"I understand that."

"The reason Mother hates the neighboring country so much... is because her wedding was ruined."

"Eh?"

The wedding, the one with the wedding dress, cake cutting, and vows?

"Mother is from a central marquis family. Her marriage to Father, who would inherit the Margrave title, was strongly opposed by her family. Despite this, she finally managed to arrange the wedding. But the day before the wedding, a skirmish with the neighboring country broke out. The wedding was canceled, and Father had to go to the border to reinforce the troops."

Indeed, if a once-in-a-lifetime important event was ruined, one would be angry. If my wedding with Patrick was interrupted... wait, that's not good? I don't have to wear a dress, and I don't have to behave properly in front of everyone, right? In fact, it might be lucky?

"Hey, are we going to have a wedding? I mean, in the future?"

"Of course. No one will interfere, and we will definitely have a grand wedding, no matter what."

"...Maybe we don't have to? Patrick, you don't like such things, right?"

"I don't particularly like grand events, but I think a wedding is different."

Are you serious, Patrick? Why are you so enthusiastic about it?

"A wedding..."

The event, which is usually associated with happiness, didn't seem to fit me.

Since it's still a long way off, I'll put it on hold for now.