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

Renald flinched.

“Oh, that’s… I’ve been going undercover.”

“Undercover?”

“Yes. As a member of the royal family, I thought it might be good to take a look at the lives of the citizens…”

“Are you really going to observe the lives of the citizens? You?”

The Empress crossed her arms and tilted her head skeptically.

Renald hurriedly continued speaking. “You said it yourself, mother. To earn points with Father, I should at least pretend to care for the citizens…”

“Hm.”

It seemed the excuse didn’t sound too bad, as the Empress’s expression relaxed a bit.

“If that’s the case… then do well.”

The Empress reiterated her point.

“Make sure you don’t fall behind the Second Prince.”

“Who am I? I’m your son and the First Prince of this Empire!” Renald nodded seriously.

“I won’t let you down.”

“Well, if you say so.”

Only then did the Empress nod in approval.

“I’ll give you one chance.”

***

About thirty minutes later.

Renald stepped out of the Empress’s palace, his face pale.

“Ugh.”

He let out a long sigh and brushed his chest.

‘Why am I wandering around so much these days?’

The Empress’s fierce question still sent chills down his spine.

After all, the reason he had been going out at night frequently lately was…

“Enough, a person should know how to enjoy life.”

Shaking his head, Renald puffed out his chest and started walking toward the First Prince’s palace.

“Really, my mother worries too much.”

After all, the Emperor is going to be me.

A carefree smile had crept onto Renald’s lips.

***

And the next day.

Anriche, groaning from a hangover in bed, welcomed some unexpected guests.

Those guests were none other than:

“Mommy!”

“Mother!”

Elliot and Liliana burst into the bedroom unexpectedly.

Anriche, startled, sat up.

“W-What are you kids doing here?”

At the same time, Anriche reflexively touched her forehead.

“Ugh.”

A throbbing headache, like being poked with needles, surged through her.

The children looked up at her with worry-filled eyes.

“Mom, what’s wrong?”

“Are you sick?”

Questions poured in rapidly.

Anriche felt flustered.

‘It’s just that I drank too much yesterday and have a hangover…’

But of course, she couldn’t say that.

Trying to compose herself, Anriche looked down at the children.

“More importantly, what are you doing here?”

“Well, Dad said that you wouldn’t be able to have breakfast with us today.”

…Huh?

Blinking her eyes in surprise, Anriche quickly glanced at the wall clock.

8:50 AM.

A look of shock spread across her face.

‘Oh my god, I overslept?!’

And all because of the alcohol?

How could she face her mother and Alexei now?

Just then, a voice filled with a worried tone reached her ears.

“Kids, your mom is sleeping, so you shouldn’t just barge in…”

Just as the saying goes, “mention a tiger and it appears”—it was Alexei!

He held a tray with a covered dish.

Anriche felt her face flush hot.

‘What should I do?!’

Memories of what happened yesterday flashed through her mind like a panorama.

How her emotions had gotten the better of her due to drinking.

How she had cried for no reason at all, feeling upset about something trivial—everything came rushing back.

‘Oh no, I feel like I’m going to die from embarrassment!’

Anriche glanced at Alexei out of the corner of her eye.

At that moment, she swallowed hard.

‘Gasp.’

Why did our gazes have to meet at this exact moment?!

She wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.

To comfort her, Alexei softened his gaze.

“Did you sleep well?”

“…Y-Yes.”

Anriche pretended to look down at the children and hurriedly lowered her head.

It was to hide her flushed face.

Elliot and Liliana’s eyes widened.

“Wow, Mom! Your face is super red!”

“Shouldn’t you lie down right now?!”

Hearing the kids’ shrill voices made Anriche want to cry.

‘Thank you for worrying, kids, but that’s not what I need…’

Anriche glanced at Alexei, hoping he would help calm the children down, but instead, he approached her with an equally flustered expression.

“Liche, do you have any discomfort anywhere?”

“Thank goodness, it doesn’t seem like you have a fever.”

After checking her forehead, he let out a sigh of relief.

She shut her eyes tightly.

‘Oh, this is so embarrassing…’

***

After that.

The children were led away by Delphina for breakfast.

But Anriche couldn’t help but overhear.

‘You owe me one, right?’

Before leaving the room, she heard Delphina teasingly whisper to her son.

‘You should remember that my contributions are substantial in allowing you and Liche to have breakfast together, just the two of you.’

‘…….’

‘So next time, make sure to let Liche come to me.’

Clank.

The door closed.

“Ugh.”

Shaking his head, Alexei placed a tray in front of his wife.

“……What is this?”

“I asked for some food to settle your stomach from the kitchen.”

At his calm voice, Anriche felt both embarrassment and gratitude at the same time.

“Thank you. I, um, about yesterday…”

She couldn’t finish her sentence and shyly averted her gaze.

‘Ugh, this is so embarrassing.’

A voice barely louder than a mosquito escaped her lips.

“I’m sorry for causing a scene.”

“What do you mean by causing a scene?”

At her cautious words, Alexei tilted his head and looked back at her.

“On the contrary, I was glad.”

“……Huh?”

“Well, it’s rare for Liche to honestly express her feelings.”

Anriche paused for a moment.

Somehow, it felt like he had hit the nail on the head.

“However, it would be better to moderate your drinking.”

Anriche felt a bit downcast.

‘Well… I did act a bit troublesome yesterday…’

Just then, as if to clarify, Alexei added, “It’s not good for your health.”

“…….”

Anriche looked at her husband with a strange feeling.

‘Somehow, it feels like I’m overly sensitive to every word Alexei says.’

Yet strangely, she didn’t feel bad.

Maybe it was because she realized that everything he did was for her sake.

“Here you go.”

Alexei opened the lid of the dish.

A warm steam and a savory aroma wafted up.

It was a creamy stew, simmered slowly.

Then, he finally placed a spoon in Anriche’s hand.

“Eat quickly.”

For some reason, her throat felt tight, so Anriche nodded vigorously instead of replying.

As she took a spoonful of stew, the warm and savory taste danced on her tongue.

“……It’s delicious.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Alexei smiled gently.

“…….”

Feeling an unusual warmth welling up in her eyes, Anriche quickly shoved more stew into her mouth.

Just then, a worried voice followed.

“Eat slowly, or you’ll choke.”

“……Yes.”

Alexei stayed beside her until she finished the entire bowl of stew.

***

After confirming that his wife had finished her meal.

Alexei gathered the bowls and utensils on the tray and stood up.

“Today, there’s a meeting at the nobility council, so I’ll be coming home a bit late.”

“……Okay.”

Anriche replied in a slightly downcast voice.

‘Of course, I know he’s busy with work, but I still wish we could spend some time together…’

As she thought this absentmindedly, she quickly shook her head in her mind.

‘What on earth am I thinking?’

I’m not a child; this is ridiculous.

I shouldn’t interrupt Alexei while he’s working.

“…….”

Even so, feeling drained, she let her shoulders droop.

At that moment.

Alexei, who was just about to go outside, glanced back.

“Oh right, Liche.”

“Yes, yes?!”

Anriche startled and raised her head.

“Could you spare a little time later?”

“Time?”

At his unexpected question, her violet eyes widened in surprise.

Alexei smiled playfully.

“Well, I need to go find out what your hobbies are.”

“…….”

Anriche stared blankly at Alexei.

A moment of silence passed.

“Yes!”

Anriche beamed with a bright smile, as radiant as sunshine.

***

“Excuse me, Lord.”

Someone called out to Alexei just as he was about to get into the carriage.

Alexei turned around with a puzzled expression.

“Is that you, the butler?”

The person who called him was the butler, who rarely wore a serious expression.

“I have something to discuss.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about the matter you asked me to investigate previously.”

In an instant, Alexei’s gaze sharpened.

“Is it about counterfeit currency?”

“Yes.”

The butler nodded heavily.