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

Chapter 130



As Renald stepped into the lounge, he shot a glare at Frederick.

“No matter how hard you try to get on the Duke’s good side, it won’t help you at all.”

“…I’m not trying to get on his good side.”

“Everyone here is nothing like you, who was born to a lowly maid.”

Frederick’s face slightly hardened at the immediate insult.

‘Isn’t that too much?’

Anriche gasped in shock.

However, Frederick simply lowered his head in submission.

“I am truly sorry for having disturbed your mood, Your Highness.”

Renald’s anger flared as he glared at his half-brother.

“Your Highness? Don’t you dare call me that! How dare you…!”

“Your Highness the First Prince, that remark is…”

Unable to hold back any longer, Anriche opened her mouth to speak.

But Frederick was quicker.

‘It’s okay.’

The look in Frederick’s eyes as he turned to Anriche carried that message.

Frederick stood up.

“I think I should take my leave.”

“Y-Your Highness the Second Prince…”

“It was a pleasant conversation.”

With a slight nod, Frederick left the lounge.

With him gone, Renald began to ingratiate himself with the Valua family again.

“It’s truly a pleasure to meet you.”

“…Yes, I see.”

Alexei nodded slightly.

He didn’t even respond with a courteous “I’m glad to meet you” as one normally would.

For a moment, Renald’s expression hardened slightly, but

‘I must maintain a good relationship with the Valua family at all costs.’

His mother’s repeated words suddenly came to mind.

Renald forced a smile onto his face.

“Thank you for your kind hospitality last time.”

“I’m glad to hear you enjoyed your time in Valua.”

Alexei replied with a face that showed he was not pleased at all.

An uncomfortable silence fell between them.
“……”

“……”

After a moment, Renald took a deep breath and resolutely opened his lips.

“I apologize for my rudeness in leaving the Duchy back then.”

The unexpected apology left the Valua family all surprised.

‘That rascal of a prince is apologizing?’

‘Is the sun rising in the west today?’

‘Did he eat something wrong?’

That was the common sentiment among the three of them.

Alexei accepted the apology with a sullen expression.

“No, it’s alright. We were both quite emotional at that time.”

“Now that you say that, I feel much relieved.”

With a satisfied look on his face, Renald turned to Anriche this time.

“By the way, how is Count Everitt’s daughter?”

“Lilia? …Yes, she is doing well.”

Why is he suddenly asking about Liliana?

Anriche couldn’t hide her mixed feelings.

If he was going to ask about someone, shouldn’t he also ask about Elliot?

However, Renald, as if he had finished all his business, merely stepped back.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

“Yes, have a pleasant time.”

Alexei replied curtly.

Click.

The door to the lounge closed.

At the same time, Delphina let out a big sigh.

“Ugh, it’s suffocating. I can’t stand being at a ball for too long.”

“Shall we go back now?”

“It’s fine. I’ll head back first; you all can stay a little longer.”

Delphina replied rather coldly.

Hearing this, Anriche smiled brightly.

“No, how can we let Mother go back alone?”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Delphina cleared her throat a couple of times and glanced at Anriche from the corner of her eye.

A smile was already resting on her lips.

‘Indeed, a well-raised daughter-in-law is worth ten sons.’

How can she say things so beautifully!

Delphina felt quite pleased.

“I’m also starting to miss Lilia and Elliot.”

At Anriche’s words, Alexei added with a bored expression,

“Well, at these kinds of balls… couples usually stay for a while and then leave.”

Aside from being annoyed that his mother kept trying to steal his wife away, Alexei also agreed that he didn’t want to stay here any longer.

It was bothersome to have the First Prince trying to engage in unnecessary conversation, and as a Duke of Valua, there were plenty of people looking for him here.

‘Rather than that, it’s better to hurry back to the townhouse and spend time with Richette.’

That was his true intention.

“Alright, if you all say so.”

Delphina nodded and stood up with a shudder.

“Let’s hurry back then.”

Thus, the Valua family exited the ballroom.

***

The three of them returned to the townhouse.

As they entered the living room, the children, who had been dozing off side by side, perked up at the sight of their parents and grandmother.

“Did you come back?”

“Why are you so late?”

Lilia and Elliot rushed out, hugging Anriche tightly.

The children’s eyes were heavy with sleep as they rubbed their cheeks against her.

Instinctively pulling the two children closer, Anriche asked,

“Why are you still awake?”

“You told us not to wait and just go to sleep.”

Alexei chimed in.

At those words, Elliot puffed out his cheeks.

“But we wanted to see Mom, Dad, and Grandma.”

“Me too!”

Lilia quickly nodded in agreement.

The maid, Jane, who had been standing behind, spoke up with an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry; I tried to get them to sleep, but…”

“It’s alright.”

Anriche waved her hand with a smile.

The two children, whom she loved dearly, were surprisingly stubborn.

When they decided to resist, it was hard to calm them down.

“Shall we go to the room with Mom?”

The children kept yawning as they took Anriche’s hand.

“Mom, could you read us a fairy tale?”

“I like ‘The Great Adventure of Squirrel Tori’!”

“Alright, alright.”

As Anriche expertly coaxed the children, she turned to Alexei.

“I’ll put them to bed, so you go wash up first.”

“Understood.”

Alexei nodded.

Watching this, Delphina asked with a pout,

“What about me?”

Oops.

Anriche hurriedly opened her mouth.

“May you have sweet dreams too, Mother.”

“Yes, you sleep well.”

At that, Delphina’s expression finally softened.

‘Really, sometimes Mother can act like a child…’

Shaking her head internally, Anriche headed to the room with the children.

***

The children fell asleep almost immediately, having read just a few pages of the storybook.

‘Well, they must have been quite tired from staying up late.’

They probably kept their sleepy eyes wide open, waiting for their parents to come back.

Imagining that scene made Anriche chuckle softly.

‘They’re just too cute.’

Now, all she needed to do was move the children to their respective rooms with the maid’s help…

But just then, the door opened silently, and Alexei peeked his head in.

He had changed into light clothes after washing up.

“Richette.”

He glanced around the room and smiled faintly.

“The children… seem to be asleep.”

“Yes, they just fell asleep.”

The children were huddled together on one bed, sound asleep.

Alexei carefully picked up Elliot to avoid waking him.

“Let’s go.”

Nodding, Anriche made sure Lilia was comfortably settled before returning her to her room.

After sending Elliot back as well,

Alexei glanced down at his wife.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“No, not at all.”

In response to his question, Anriche shrugged her shoulders lightly.

To be honest, she hadn’t done much at the ball today.

She had danced a couple of songs and exchanged a few words in the lounge; that was all.

“…Is that so?”

In that moment, Alexei’s eyes lit up.

As if he had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, his gaze was filled with joy.

“Well, since the children are asleep now… and it seems like there won’t be any more interruptions from my mother…”

At the same time, Alexei subtly suggested,

“Would you like to have a drink?”

What’s this? Alexei is making such an invitation?

Anriche’s eyes widened in surprise before she broke into a short laugh.

“Wait a minute, are you saying my mother interrupted us?”

Alexei pouted like a child.

“Didn’t you see her at the ball? She kept sticking to you.”

“Did she? I didn’t notice…”

“She did.”

His voice was firm.

The tone was so sorrowful that Anriche felt a twinge of guilt toward Alexei.

“Well, if that’s the case…”

Anriche took Alexei’s hand and gave him a round-eyed look.

“Let’s spend this night just the two of us.”

At that suggestion, Alexei’s face lit up like a lamp.


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.