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

“……Riche.”

Alexei gazed at her with a blank expression.

“I… don’t know what I’m interested in.”

Anriche, who had huddled her shoulders tightly, looked so small and fragile.

“I don’t know at all.”

He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“I don’t know… I don’t know anything…”

Tears fell from Anriche’s eyes.

Startled, she hurriedly wiped her eyes.

“I-I’m sorry. I think I might have drunk too much.”

She used her hands and even the sleeves of her clothes to repeatedly dab at her eyes.

But it was no use.

Tears continued to pour down, soaking her collar and sleeves.

‘Why, why do I keep crying?’

This isn’t good.

I’ve been so happy until now.

What if I ruin the mood because of this…

Anriche didn’t know what to do.

But then,

A large hand gently cradled Anriche’s cheeks.

‘Huh?’

Anriche blinked her wet eyelashes in surprise.

His blue eyes were looking at her affectionately.

“Well, then, why not try doing the things you want to do in the future?”

“……What?”

“We have plenty of time ahead of us.”

At those kind words, Anriche’s eyes widened.

“If you want to find a hobby, then you can.”

His fingers slowly brushed away the warmth around her eyes.

His fingers, which had gripped a sword for a long time, felt very warm…

“Or if you want to rest, you can rest as much as you like whenever you feel like it.”

“……Alexei.”

“While you do all of that, I…”

Slowly, solemnly.

Alexei lowered his lips to his wife’s wet eyes.

A gentle whisper resonated.

“I will stay by your side.”

“……”

Anriche’s eyes contorted painfully.

A perfect hostess, an elegant lady.

A sister who naturally sacrifices for her beloved younger brother.

Everyone only wanted her to play the roles that were set for her.

But Alexei.

‘Tell me that I can do the things I want to do.’

The moment she realized that,

Anriche unconsciously wrapped her arms tightly around Alexei’s neck.

“Can I be a little spoiled?”

“Of course.”

Alexei answered without a moment’s hesitation.

His hands were now gently stroking the back of his trembling wife.

“Someday, when the children grow up and become adults, and they no longer need their mother…”

For a moment, his hand paused.

“So… even if I can no longer be of help to you…”

Anriche buried her face in his embrace like a young animal.

“……Promise me you won’t abandon me.”

“……”

Alexei fell silent for a moment.

And then,

“Riche.”

He gently pulled Anriche away from his arms.

Anriche spoke desperately.

“I’ll work hard from now on. So…”

“Well, I think this way.”

Facing his wife, who looked up at him with frightened eyes, Alexei calmly opened his lips.

He poured out his utmost sincerity.

“Family isn’t a relationship where you have to prove your worth to each other.”

“But…”

“Just being next to each other brings happiness… and makes you smile.”

His gentle voice continued without wavering.

“Because I love you.”

“……”

His voice conveyed an absolute truth, as if stating that the sun rises in the east and rain falls from the sky.

“And so, we naturally became a family together.”

Alexei’s eyes softened with a warm smile like spring sunlight.

“And Riche is my closest family, isn’t she?”

“My closest family…”

Anriche pondered those words in awe.

Alexei gently patted her back again.

“Of course. Riche is my wife.”

…Oh, what should I do?

Anriche bit her lip.

She thought she had finally stopped crying…

Drop.

Tears like pearls fell beneath her cheeks.

“……”

After a moment of silence,

Anriche whispered with a choked voice.

“Please tell me you love me.”

“I love you.”

Alexei said that without the slightest hesitation.

“……Ugh.”

Anriche buried her face once again in Alexei’s embrace, her eyes filled with tears.

She felt something deep in her chest melting away.

It was warm.

***

Soft breaths echoed.

Alexei looked down at Anriche, who was sound asleep in his arms.

“……Riche.”

He gently brushed his fingers over her flushed eyes.

He thought she would be alright now.

Having escaped, even if just a little, from the constraints of the Marquess of Jaxen, he thought she was finally free.

“I can’t believe you didn’t even have a hobby…”

His mouth felt bitter.

Anriche’s face, which had only shed silent tears, continued to linger in his mind.

As he pressed his lips together, Alexei stretched out his arms and pulled Anriche tightly to him.

“What on earth am I supposed to do with you…?”

She looked so pitiful.

He resented himself for thinking that everything would be fine by now.

Alexei couldn’t fall asleep.

***

In the late hours of the night, when all living things were asleep, there was still a place that hadn’t been dimmed.

That place was the Empress’s drawing room.

“Your Majesty, why are you still awake?”

Renald looked at the Empress with a dissatisfied expression.

It was understandable, as he had been abruptly summoned from enjoying a lively ball.

‘Just when I was having so much fun…’

As Renald grumbled inwardly, the Empress suddenly spoke up.

“About the Duchess of Valois.”

“……Why are you suddenly mentioning the Duchess?”

“That woman, she’s quite formidable.”

With that remark, the Empress cast an annoyed glance at her son.

“I can understand a little why you came back from the Valois estate feeling that way.”

“No, Mother, I wasn’t just the one being mistreated…”

Renald, feeling offended, tried to protest.

The Empress waved her hand dismissively to silence him.

“She didn’t even flinch when I mentioned my mother.”

Anriche’s response was still fresh in her mind.

‘I would prefer to establish a direct connection with Your Majesty rather than using my mother as a bridge.’

The Empress furrowed her brow deeply.

“How insolent.”

Her low murmurs were filled with clear animosity toward Anriche.

A moment later, the Empress turned sharply to her son.

“How was your day?”

“Excuse me?”

“I heard you ran into the Valois family.”

The Empress’s eyes narrowed.

“Tell me you didn’t just go and puff up your pride again?”

“I offered my apologies, so please don’t worry too much, Your Majesty.”

Renald replied nonchalantly.

The Empress questioned him again.

“Was there no other issue?”

“There wasn’t.”

Renald answered without blinking.

He had completely forgotten about openly ignoring Frederick in front of the Valois family earlier.

It was only natural.

For Renald, disregarding and insulting that lowborn was as instinctual as breathing.

“Alright, I see.”

Only then did the Empress slowly nod her head.

But her brows still showed no signs of relaxing.

“By the way, I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Why is that?”

“The Emperor seems quite interested in the multi-passenger carriage business.”

The Empress trailed off, deep in thought.

“If things go wrong, it could strengthen the Valois family even more than now…”

“Can’t you stop it, Your Majesty?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

The Empress shook her head and gazed at her son with an unimpressed look.

“There’s no justification for that.”

“Well, even so…”

“You know the Emperor has a significant interest in the people’s livelihoods, right?”

The Empress clicked her tongue briefly.

“After all, he sent you down to the Valois estate to score some points, and look what happened; you made a mess of things.”

“…….”

With nothing to say about that, Renald subtly averted his gaze.

At the same time, the Empress narrowed her eyes.

“Oh, by the way, you…”

“Yes, yes?”

“If you’ve caused trouble, you should be keeping a low profile. Why are you wandering around so much these days?”