When I Quit Being A Wicked Mother-in-law, Everyone Became Obsessed With Me

“…Lily.”

“To do that, I need to become a wonderful Duchess like you, Mother, and a Duchess has to learn many things…”

Just then, as Lilyana was expressing such admirable thoughts,

“You can’t just focus on sword training to achieve that!”

Elliot poked his head in, having somehow come outside, and added teasingly.

Lilyana glared at Elliot, her temper flaring.

“Elliot, you really!”

“Why? It’s true, isn’t it?”

The two kids began to bicker.

Anriche watched them with a fond smile.

‘So much has changed, indeed.’

She recalled the first time Lilyana stepped into the Balua Duchy.

The little girl had been so timid, constantly worrying about everyone’s opinions.

‘But… the Lilyana now is different from back then.’

She could express her likes and dislikes clearly and even hold her own in a debate with Elliot, demonstrating her strong sense of self.

Perhaps it was because she had gained confidence in herself.

‘Thank goodness, truly.’

At that moment, someone gently interrupted their conversation.

“What interesting things are you discussing?”

It was Alexei.

Anriche was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise.

“Uh, when did you arrive?”

“Well, I’ve been here for at least five minutes.”

“…Ah.”

Indeed, she was so oblivious…

Trying to hide her embarrassment, Anriche replied.

“Lily was asking if we could help the Everitt Orphanage celebrate the feast day too.”

At that, Alexei looked down at Lilyana with an approving gaze.

“Lily, you are very thoughtful. Our Elliot should learn from you…”

“Why do you always have to bring me into it, Dad?”

Elliot shot a pouty look at Alexei.

And then,

“Right? Why are you putting down our child?”

Delfina, who had come closer, wrapped her arms around her grandson while giving Alexei a sidelong glance.

Elliot dove into Delfina’s embrace.

“I only have Grandma!”

“Exactly?”

Delfina smiled warmly and then turned to Alexei with a question.

“So, are you going back to the Duke’s residence now?”

“No.”

Huh?

At that unexpected answer, Delfina tilted her head in confusion.

Alexei smiled brightly.

“Since we’re finally out as a family, I thought I’d visit my father after a long time.”

“What?”

Father.

That word made Delfina’s eyes tremble slightly.

Alexei was referring to the late Duke, his father.

“I also want to introduce Elliot and Lily to him.”

“…Alexei.”

“Of course, you will come along, won’t you, Mother?”

Delfina was momentarily at a loss for words.

Having had a very good relationship with her husband, she had suffered greatly since losing him.

Though she had recovered a lot compared to before, she still hadn’t completely escaped that pain.

To make such a proposal to her…

‘Is he considering my feelings?’

That thought made her feel a bit grateful, yet somehow her nose tingled with emotion.

“Y-You should have told me earlier.”

Delfina turned her head away, pretending to act nonchalant.

“If I had known we were going to see Aiden, I would have dressed up a bit more nicely.”

And then she threw in a cute thank-you.

“Well, thank you.”

At that moment, Alexei gave an unexpected reply.

“You should thank the lady, not me.”

“…Huh?”

In an instant, Delfina’s eyes widened in surprise.

Alexei shrugged lightly.

“Yes, because the first person to suggest it was you.”

Goodness!

Delfina gasped and quickly turned to look at Anriche.

Anriche flinched, meeting her gaze.

‘Oh no, we locked eyes.’

Well, since this had happened,

Anriche tried to give a bright smile.

“…”

Delfina stood there for a long time, unsure of what to do.

After taking several deep breaths, she couldn’t hide her embarrassment as she stole glances at Anriche.

Finally, she managed to say,

“…I see.”

Her lips moved in a small whisper.

The problem was that her voice was quieter than a mosquito’s buzz.

Anriche instinctively asked,

“What?”

“I-I said thank you!”

Delfina raised her voice, her face turning red.

Then she quickly turned away.

“Let’s go! Aiden is waiting!!”

Delfina, who had been walking ahead, turned back to scold them.

“Why is everyone taking so long? Hurry up!”

Anriche, who had been watching the scene, struggled to hold back her laughter.

‘My mother-in-law really has some unexpectedly cute sides to her, doesn’t she?’

She glanced to the side and saw Alexei wearing the same expression as her.

“Shall we go, my lady?”

Alexei suggested to her.

“Yes, let’s. Kids, let’s go.”

Anriche gathered the children,

“Elliot has to hold his daddy’s hand tightly.”

Alexei quickly took hold of Elliot’s hand.

Thus, the four of them followed Delfina as she led the way.

***

The Balua Duchy’s family mausoleum was an impressive stone building that exuded a sense of antiquity.

“Oh dear.”

Delfina made a flustered face just as she was about to step inside the mausoleum.

“I didn’t bring a single flower to lay at the grave.”

But at that moment,

the caretaker of the mausoleum handed Delfina a bouquet of pure white lilies.

“…What’s this?”

“I received a message from the young lady in advance.”

The caretaker smiled brightly.

“She mentioned that the madam would be visiting the mausoleum, so I took care to ensure there would be no inconvenience during your visit.”

“I see…”

Delfina’s expression softened a little.

“Um, let’s go inside.”

Thus, the Balua family entered the mausoleum.

The first thing that caught their eyes was the sight of impeccably clean marble tombstones standing side by side, without a speck of dust.

A faint fragrance lingered in the air.

“Kids, we have to be quiet in the mausoleum. Got it?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Okay, dear lady.”

In response to Anriche’s warning, the two children nodded obediently.

Delfina stood in front of the tombstone of the late Duke.

Bending down, she tenderly wiped the surface of the stone.

“It’s been a long time, my love.”

Her voice was filled with deep affection.

“How have you been? It’s gotten quite chilly these days; I wonder how you’re doing over there.”

As if her husband were still alive, Delfina spoke softly and then glanced back at Elliot and Lilyana.

“You’re seeing our grandchildren for the first time, aren’t you?”

She beckoned the children over.

“Come here, kids. Say hello to your grandfather.”

The children hurried to their grandmother’s side.

“Hello, Grandfather. I’m Elliot.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Lilyana Everitt.”

Hearing their bright voices, Anriche suddenly turned her gaze to Alexei standing beside her.

‘The late Duke… passed away without seeing my son’s wedding.’

It was a year before Alexei and Anriche married that the late Duke of Balua suddenly passed away.

This meant that Alexei had to inherit Balua and work tirelessly right after becoming an adult.

‘Just because he turned into an adult doesn’t mean he instantly became mature.’

Anriche could hardly imagine how tough that must have been for him.

Feeling a wave of sympathy, she couldn’t take her eyes off the side of Alexei’s face.

“My lady?”

Noticing her gaze, Alexei turned to look at Anriche.

“Is there something you wanted to say?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Anriche quickly shook her head and forced a shy smile.

“By the way, we should also offer flowers, right?”

Just then, Delfina and the children finished laying their flowers and were coming back.

Alexei smiled and nodded.

“Absolutely.”

The Duke and Duchess of Balua stood side by side in front of the tombstone.

Alexei picked a lily from the vase on the ground and handed it to Anriche.

“Oh, thank you.”

Anriche accepted the lily and respectfully placed it in front of the tombstone.

Alexei also offered a flower.

Both of them pressed their palms together and bowed their heads silently.

‘Thank you so much for allowing me to meet Alexei, Elliot, and Lilyana.’

After sincerely offering their silent prayers,

Anriche raised her head.

At that moment, Delfina quickly asked,

“What did you say to my husband that made you pray for so long?”

“Oh, well…”

Anriche smiled brightly.

“I told him thank you.”

“Thank you?”

“Yes. Thanks to him, it’s as if I’ve been able to meet the Duke and Elliot.”

At that answer, a gentle smile spread across Alexei’s face as well.

But it seemed Delfina wasn’t fully satisfied with that answer.

She asked with a playful tone.

“And what about me?”

“Huh?”

“Don’t you owe me any thanks?”

Delfina exclaimed, her eyes lit up with excitement.

“I’m the one who carried Alexei for ten months and raised him!”

“…”

“…”

A heavy silence fell over them.