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

With that remark, Alexei sulked and retorted, “Do you think I’m your mother? You’re just making Riche suffer.”

“What did you just say?”

The two of them began to bicker.

Watching the scene, Elliot shook his head.

“Really, Mom is having a hard time.”

“……Huh?”

“But I understand, Mom; apparently, men remain children even when they grow up.”

Where on earth did he learn that?

Anriche looked down at her son with wide eyes, questioning him.

“Aren’t you a boy too?”

“Not me.”

Elliot puffed out his chest in defiance.

“I’m a prepared man.”

“Prepared, you say?”

“Of course. I’m already ready to be a wonderful husband for Lily.”

Elliot glanced sideways at his father.

“When I grow up, I won’t act childish like you, Dad.”

“…….”

“…….”

At that, both Alexei and Delphina couldn’t hide their astonishment.

Meanwhile, Liliana fervently nodded, supporting Elliot’s words.

“Oh my, I can’t take this anymore.”

Anriche burst into laughter despite herself.

***

A few days later.

The Balua family arrived at the palace in time for the New Year’s ball.

On the day of the ball,

“Phew.”

Anriche sighed as she gazed into the mirror.

Despite being elegantly dressed for the ball, her expression was quite complicated.

“……I don’t know how to face His Highness the First Prince.”

Just then,

“Riche.”

She heard a voice calling her.

At the same time, an arm reached around her waist from behind.

It was Alexei.

“You look incredibly beautiful today.”

“Well, I don’t really have anything to show for it.”

At her playful response, Alexei chuckled.

“‘Nothing to show’? I’d rather not let anyone else see you.”

Alexei placed a light kiss on her ear before pulling away.

“Of course, that wouldn’t be right.”

In response, Anriche flashed him a shy smile.

“Well, it feels nice to hear you say that.”

Then Alexei suddenly spoke up.

“You’re finally smiling.”

“Pardon?”

“I thought your expression had been a bit stiff.”

Ah, was it?

Anriche blinked in surprise.

As she processed that, Alexei cautiously asked,

“It seems like you’re worried about His Highness the First Prince, am I right?”

“Yes, a little.”

She nodded sincerely.

Alexei added soothingly, “The investigation is underway, so try not to worry too much.”

However, Anriche still wore an uncomfortable expression.

After a moment, she cautiously asked,

“……Is it alright not to inform His Majesty?”

“It’s still fine for now. The Balua family has independent investigative authority over the Duke’s territory’s matters.”

But despite his intention to reassure her, Alexei’s voice wasn’t particularly bright.

“However, it depends on how far the investigation goes.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“It means that, depending on the situation, we may have to report to His Majesty.”

The couple fell silent for a moment.

After all, the First Prince was the Emperor’s only legitimate heir.

It was clear he wouldn’t be pleased to see his son being suspected.

Just then,

“Hey, are you ready?”

A cheerful voice broke the heavy silence.

The owner of the voice peeked through the door—Delphina.

“Oh, Mother.”

Anriche hurriedly composed her expression.

As Delphina examined her daughter-in-law closely, she smiled slyly.

“Really, Alexei should be thanking me.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m the one who accepted the marriage proposal from the Marquis of Sachsen.”

At that, Alexei couldn’t hide his incredulous expression.

But regardless of what her son thought, Delphina looked quite pleased with herself.

“Without me, would Alexei have been able to marry you?”

She then shot a sidelong glance at her son.

“So, you’d better treat me well from now on. Got it?”

“……”

Alexei couldn’t hide his incredulous expression.

Regardless, Delphina immediately linked arms with her daughter-in-law.

“Come on, let’s go.”

“Mother, that’s….”

Feeling at a loss and glancing at Alexei, Anriche felt her heart drop.

‘What should I do?’

Alexei seems upset already…?

“W-well, my partner today is Alexei…”

Anriche tried to gently decline her mother-in-law’s insistence.

“Come on, he’s not a child; he can keep up.”

Delphina merely pouted in response.

Furthermore, she narrowed her eyes and glared at Alexei.

“Even if Anriche is your wife, she’s still my daughter-in-law.”

“……”

“So she’s going to the ballroom with me.”

Alexei couldn’t hide his disbelief.

“No, Mother…”

Ignoring him, Delphina continued with her own agenda.

“In exchange, I’ll return her to you at the ballroom. How about that? Fair, right?”

“Fair? What are you talking about?”

“Oh dear, we’ll be late for the ball at this rate. Come on, dear.”

Delphina hurriedly pulled Anriche away.

…How did it come to this, competing with my mother for my wife?

Alexei couldn’t hide his dismay.

***

For this New Year’s ball, the royal family opened an entire summer palace.

“Come here, Riche.”

As soon as they entered the palace, Alexei immediately snatched Anriche’s hand away from his mother.

And he firmly declared, “From now on, Riche is my partner. You know that, right?”

“Hmph.”

Delphina, unable to retract her words, turned her head away sulkily.

Anriche narrowed her eyes and whispered to Alexei, “Your mother is upset. What will you do now?”

Alexei looked down at his wife with a hurt expression.

“Are you more concerned about my mother than me, Riche?”

“……Huh?”

“I gave up Riche to her until we reached the ballroom.”

Well, technically that’s true…

Anriche couldn’t hide her astonishment.

However, Alexei’s gaze was serious.

“I’ve done enough. I can’t yield any further.”

“B-but…”

“At the ballroom, I’ll be sticking to Riche no matter what.”

He declared this while tightening his grip on her hand.

‘You know, this is why Elliot keeps calling you childish every day…’

Anriche swallowed the retort that rose to her throat.

At that moment, the announcement declaring the Balua family rang out loud and clear.

“His Grace the Duke of Balua, the Duchess, and the Grand Duchess are entering!”

Anriche, Alexei, and Delphina stepped into the grand banquet hall.

The crowd’s gaze immediately shifted toward them.

The first person to capture everyone’s attention was, of course, Delphina, who had returned to the palace after a long time.

“Isn’t that the Grand Duchess of Balua?”

“Indeed, she usually stays in the duchy…”

“It seems it’s been ages since we saw her in the imperial palace.”

This was understandable, as Delphina had secluded herself in the Balua Duchy ever since the previous duke passed away.

Among the crowd, one lady spoke up in surprise.

“To be honest, I never expected to see all three of them together at an official event…”

“Well, that’s true.”

The ladies exchanged glances, intrigued.

In truth, even someone completely uninterested in high society couldn’t be unaware of the long-standing tensions between the two mothers-in-law.

But then, in the next moment, the crowd’s prejudices shattered.

“Hey, wait a moment.”

Delphina approached Anriche and carefully adjusted her dress.

“Your brooch is crooked.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

Anriche beamed at Delphina.

At that unexpected display, everyone—men and women alike—looked astonished.

“Is it true that the two of you have really improved your relationship?”

“I didn’t expect you to be this close.”

Just then, Alexei moved closer to Anriche and tightened his grip on her hand.

“Riche, Mother.”

“Alexei?”

Anriche looked up at her husband in confusion.

At the same time, Alexei narrowed his eyes and glared at his mother.

‘Didn’t you promise?’

Delphina took a step back with a sulky expression.

“Really, how petty.”

She grumbled loud enough to be heard, but Alexei paid her complaints no mind.

Meanwhile, the ladies were surprised once again.

“Oh my, did the duke just use a pet name?”

“I heard that too.”

Of course, from Alexei’s perspective, he was subtly trying to stop his mother from stealing his wife away again…

“The family looks really harmonious.”

This sight elicited unexpected reactions from the onlookers.