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

***

That evening, a small banquet was held to welcome the First Prince.

Renald and the Valois family took their places at a long table, sitting side by side.

“What a splendid banquet,” Renald remarked.

“You’re too kind,” came the reply.

Thus, a few pleasantries were exchanged.

While she casually let the conversation drift in one ear, Anriche reflected on the contents of the letter sent by the Empress: “The multi-passenger carriage initiative in the Valois Duchy has yielded quite remarkable results, hasn’t it?”

The official reason for Renald’s visit to the Valois Duchy.

“Therefore, I wish to send my son to acknowledge and commend this.”

In the elegant handwriting characteristic of court women, the letter was filled with flattery that sounded polished on the surface.

However, as Renald sat in the banquet hall, he said, “As the Duchess knows well, the Saxon Marquisate does not support me.”

He did not mention a word about the multi-passenger carriage initiative.

Instead, he continued, “Therefore, as the Duchess of Saxony, you should naturally support me, right?”

Without even touching the meticulously prepared banquet, Renald was preoccupied with trying to win over Anriche.

“Moreover, as the mistress of Valois, your support would naturally translate into Valois’s support.”

Watching Renald chatter away excitedly, Anriche struggled to hide her exasperation.

“As expected, he came with political intentions.”

She finally began to understand why the Empress sent Renald, even going so far as to send a letter herself.

“The carriage initiative was just an excuse.”

His true intention was likely to ask her to side with him on the succession issue.

Oh dear.

Anriche sighed internally.

“How can he be so transparent in his attempts to win me over?”

Glancing at the increasingly stiff faces of Alexei and Delphina, Anriche opened her mouth.

“Well, as you mentioned, Your Highness, I am now the Duchess of Valois.”

At her smooth response, Renald’s expression hardened slightly.

Anriche smiled softly.

“Therefore, I believe it is right to maintain neutrality as a member of Valois.”

“However, Valois is the most prominent noble family in the Empire,” Renald retorted.

“If we only maintain neutrality in such a family, it will only lead to greater chaos in the succession….”

“No, it is precisely because it is Valois that we must maintain neutrality,” Anriche firmly shook her head.

“Valois is known as ‘the sharpest sword of the Imperial Family,’ isn’t it?”

“Uh, Duchess…”

“I believe that families closer to the Imperial Family should not act recklessly but instead strive to maintain a balance among the nobility.”

At her response, Alexei and Delphina wore expressions of relief, as if a painful tooth had been pulled.

“Anriche is wise today, too.”

“Yes, this is our Anriche.”

Though they would have been thoroughly appalled if they heard this, the two mothers meant it sincerely.

“Moreover, this is my first meal with Your Highness the First Prince.”

Anriche straightened her back and looked directly into Renald’s eyes.

“There is no need to freeze the atmosphere with complicated political discussions in such a pleasant gathering.”

Anriche briefly glanced at the two children.

“Above all, there are children present.”

Elliot and Liliana were sitting quietly, but they couldn’t hide their bored expressions.

“Isn’t it a bit heavy for the children to hear Your Highness’s words?”

“…That’s true.”

Renald bit down hard on his teeth at her impenetrable response.

With that, the meal resumed.

Except for Renald, everyone was enjoying the meal immensely.

***

Finally, the meal came to an end.

“The adults have things to discuss, so you two should leave first. Understood?”

Anriche entrusted the children to a maid and sent them away.

After that, Alexei spoke up.

“Your Highness the First Prince, if you have a drink you enjoy, please feel free to let us know.”

It was customary for guests visiting the castle to share a drink and engage in conversation after the meal.

Guests would typically not refuse unless there was an unavoidable reason, but…

“No, thank you.”

Renald bluntly rejected the offer as if he didn’t care about such customs at all.

“Well, of course.”

Anriche worked hard to hide her discontented expression.

“He clearly showed his displeasure as soon as I rejected his support for the First Prince earlier.”

But Renald’s rudeness did not stop there.

“I’m feeling quite tired today, so I will take my leave early.”

Suddenly, Renald shot up from his seat and left the dining room without a second glance.

At the same time, a scoff escaped.

“Ha.”

The voice belonged to Delphina.

Having quietly observed the situation, she couldn’t hide her incredulous expression.

“I had heard rumors that the First Prince was quite arrogant.”

Delphina narrowed her eyes.

“I never expected him to act so rudely within the Valois Ducal residence.”

Anriche cautiously turned to the two.

“Did I perhaps respond incorrectly today?”

“No.”

“Not at all.”

Both Delphina and Alexei shook their heads in unison.

“Well, it’s obvious why he acted like that.”

Alexei spoke sullenly.

“You know that Prince Frederick has entered the Imperial University, right?”

“I’ve heard. He’s in his final year…”

“They say he has achieved various accomplishments at the university.”

Alexei shrugged his shoulders.

“Perhaps that’s why he has the Emperor’s considerable trust.”

“Indeed… The First Prince might feel anxious about that,” Anriche nodded with a frown.

Renald, who only seemed interested in frivolities, contrasted sharply with Frederick’s trajectory.

It was clear which of the two princes the Emperor would likely favor.

“Moreover, the Emperor hasn’t even designated the Crown Prince yet.”

Delphina clicked her tongue and chimed in.

“Anyway.”

To lighten the mood, Alexei softened his gaze.

“You handled that very well, Liche.”

“Yes, you did a great job even though it might have been difficult.”

Delphina quickly chimed in.

As Anriche returned their smiles, she sighed and added, “I just hope nothing happens before the First Prince leaves Valois…”

***

At that moment, Renald was stomping down the corridor, refusing even the guidance of his attendants.

“How dare he!”

Renald gritted his teeth.

“I, the First Prince, came all the way to the Valois Duchy!”

Clenching his fist, his well-groomed nails dug deep into his palm.

However, Renald didn’t even feel the pain.

It was overwhelmed by his rising fury.

“To talk about neutrality in such a situation?!”

Just then, a girl rounded the corner and bumped her head against Renald’s thigh.

Renald raised his voice in surprise.

“What is the meaning of this…?!”

“I-I’m so sorry!”

The girl backed away in shock like a startled rabbit.

In that moment, Renald narrowed his eyes.

“That girl is…”

Liliana Aberrit.

The fiancée of the Valois baron,

“…the last descendant of Aberrit.”

Renald smirked slightly.

“It’s all right. Are you hurt?”

She nodded vigorously.

Liliana, with her youthful face, nodded her head.

Renald bent down to meet her gaze.

“By the way, you’re called Liliana, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then you must be the daughter of Count Aberrit and his wife.”

As he stroked his chin, Renald looked at Liliana with a serpentine gaze.

“Do you happen to know how your parents passed away?”

“W-Well, it was due to a carriage accident…”

“…That’s right. It was.”

Renald’s smile deepened.

It was a sinister smile.

“Did you inherit your family’s estate well?”

…Why on earth is he asking this?

Liliana cautiously gauged Renald’s mood.

However, it was impossible to refuse the First Prince’s questions.

“Yes, everything has been transferred to my name.”

“Then what about the management?”

“Currently… the Valois Duchy is managing it for me.”

At that, Renald asked with a significant tone.

“Lady Aberrit must be quite sad since her parents passed away, right?”

“Yes? That’s only natural…”

“Before your parents passed away, did you hear anything from them?”

Why was he prying into such sensitive matters?

Feeling uneasy, Liliana trailed off her words.

“N-No, I didn’t hear anything…”

“Oh, is that so?”

With that, Renald straightened up with a satisfied expression.

“It was a pleasant conversation. Oh, right.”

As if he just remembered something, Renald added, “You’ll keep it a secret that I asked such things, won’t you?”

“Excuse me?”

“Since the Duke of Valois was a close friend of Count Aberrit.”

Renald rested his chin on his hand over Liliana’s head.

“…”

Feeling goosebumps all over her body, Liliana quietly pulled her lips together and asked, “Is it because you’re afraid of upsetting the Duke’s feelings?”