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

***

The atmosphere in the party venue was very relaxed.

People were gathered in small groups, engaging in conversations while enjoying light snacks and drinks.

While there were familiar faces mingling, couples made up a significant portion of the attendees.

Anriche felt somewhat surprised.

‘Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever attended a couples’ gathering like this.’

It was, after all, quite natural.

The two had been distant throughout their marriage.

That’s why this change made her even happier.

“Liche.”

At that moment, Alexei gently took Anriche’s hand.

He then whispered softly.

“I’m glad.”

Anriche looked at him, puzzled by the sudden comment.

“What do you mean?”

“That I’m attending a couples’ gathering with you right now.”

“…”

Anriche gazed up at him blankly.

‘I didn’t expect he’d be thinking the same thing.’

A warm smile spread across her lips.

Just then, her gaze fell on a servant passing by.

No, to be precise, it was on the cocktail glass that the servant was carrying on a tray.

‘Just one drink should be fine, right?’

Anriche swallowed hard.

At the same time, Alexei asked playfully.

“What kind of expression is that?”

“Yes, yes?”

“Are you perhaps wanting a drink?”

Anriche’s face turned sulky at the mischievous question that seemed to look right into her heart.

The painful memory from a few days ago resurfaced.

“…No, it’s just…”

“Shall I bring you one?”

Alexei casually asked again.

Anriche shot him a glare.

‘You know I have a dark history with drinking, and you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?’

That thought almost escaped her lips, but she held it back.

Keeping her mouth shut was the way to win here.

Of course.

“No, I’ll be abstaining from alcohol.”

She answered sullenly.

Then, Alexei responded with a chuckle.

“Really, you’re not going to drink?”

Anriche narrowed her eyes at him.

“Excuse me, aren’t you being a bit too mischievous?”

“Well, you probably don’t know my feelings, Liche.”

As Alexei replied, he looked directly into her eyes.

His gaze was full of affection.

“I just want to tease you because you’re too cute.”

In that instant, Anriche felt her face heat up.

‘Doesn’t Alexei ever get embarrassed? How can he say such things with a straight face?’

But the most absurd thing was how her heart soared at such a predictable comment.

“…Are you a child?”

Anriche shot back, pretending to be aloof.

“Wanting to tease me because I’m cute? What are you, a seven-year-old?”

In response, Alexei shrugged his shoulders playfully.

“Well, I know that lately, you’ve been treating me like you do with Elliot.”

“…”

“So, to meet your expectations, I’m trying to act a bit childishly.”

Dumbfounded, she whispered to him.

“Alexei, you’re the only duke in the empire. You need to maintain your dignity.”

“What’s wrong with my dignity?”

“People might start gossiping that you’re a lovesick husband.”

Despite the somewhat teasing question, Alexei simply nodded.

“Well, that might actually be true.”

“…”

…It was impossible to win against him when he said such things.

Anriche pouted and sealed her lips.

Alexei looked at his wife with a fond expression.

‘What should I do?’

Every little expression of hers was so adorable.

‘I can’t take my eyes off her.’

Even if he heard rumors about being a lovesick husband or being completely wrapped around his wife’s finger, he couldn’t help it.

What was he supposed to do about it?

A moment later.

Alexei suggested.

“Rather than that, why don’t we try doing something that fits a couples’ gathering?”

“What kind of activity fits a couples’ gathering?”

“Hmm, for example…”

Alexei gestured towards a table nearby.

Couples were gathered there, chatting happily.

“Why don’t we mingle and chat with the other couples?”

“Hm, well…”

Anriche nodded slightly, a playful look on her face.

“Sounds good.”

***

The duke and duchess walked side by side toward the table.

As they got closer, the conversations became clearer.

Among the voices, one in particular caught Anriche’s attention.

“Did you hear? The Marquess of Saxony has taken over the villa he disposed of.”

Huh?

Anriche stiffened her shoulders.

Alexei also instinctively stopped in his tracks.

Unaware that the ducal couple was listening, the people continued their conversation.

“What? Where did he get the money?”

“I’m not sure. I heard he succeeded in some investments…”

“Looking at how cheerful the Marquess’s wife seems lately, it seems he’s financially well-off.”

One lady chimed in with a disapproving expression.

The gentleman who first brought up the Marquess lowered his voice and continued.

“Honestly, the Marquess was never in a financial state to invest in business to begin with, right?”

“Sure, just a few months ago, he was going around borrowing funds…”

“Exactly. I heard rumors he applied for a loan at the bank.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“Oh, and this is something my husband mentioned.”

Another lady who had been listening chimed in.

“Recently, the Marquess of Saxony has been fervently supporting the First Prince as the next emperor.”

“That’s quite a sudden change. He didn’t seem very interested in the succession issue before…”

“Right? Plus, he’s been spending a lot of time with the Marquess Anderson, hasn’t he?”

“I didn’t think they were that close. How did they become friends?”

Alexei’s expression slightly hardened.

The topics they were discussing were the very questions he had been pondering himself.

Meanwhile, their conversation continued to gain momentum.

“Well, it seems the First Prince is becoming more proactive about the succession lately.”

“Indeed, I heard he’s going out incognito to gauge public sentiment.”

…Incognito?

Anriche couldn’t hide her surprise.

The First Prince I know has no interest in public sentiment whatsoever!

Stealing a glance at Alexei, she saw he wore the same perplexed expression.

It meant he found it hard to believe as well.

“Well… it’s a good thing to listen to public sentiment.”

“True enough.”

The people nodded somewhat reluctantly.

In fact, none of them were unaware of the First Prince’s temperament.

Though they couldn’t openly speak about it.

“…”

“…”

Anriche and Alexei exchanged quick glances.

Then, Anriche stepped forward.

“What do you mean by that?”

Her sudden voice startled the group, and they turned around.

“Uh, Duchess of Balua?”

Anriche maintained a faint smile while gazing at the people.

They turned pale.

“W-well, it’s nothing.”

“If you’re upset because we spoke carelessly about the Marquess of Saxony…”

The gentleman who first spoke hurriedly tried to explain.

Anriche quickly shook her head.

“No, I’m not here to scold you. I’m just…”

Her smile deepened.

A smile like a blade.

“I just want to hear more details about that rumor. Is that too much to ask?”

Of course, no one could refuse the duchess’s request.

“Well, um…”

“It’s just a rumor, but…”

They began to pour out everything they knew like a dam breaking.

***

The duke and duchess left the party early.

“I’ll spend a little more time here.”

Delphina was excitedly playing with her new lady friends.

Anriche nodded with a smiling face.

“Have fun!”

“Thanks!”

And so, only Anriche and Alexei returned to the townhouse first.

As soon as they got into the carriage, Anriche opened her mouth.

“If you think all of this is strange… am I being too sensitive?”

“No, I feel the same way.”

Starting with the discovery of counterfeit currency in Balua, there had been numerous changes.

The sudden friendship between the Marquess Anderson and the Marquess of Saxony.

The Marquess of Saxony’s unexpected support for the First Prince as the next emperor.

And the fact that the Marquess of Saxony now had enough financial resources to reclaim the villa.

“…”

“…”

A heavy silence fell between them.

Both of them instinctively felt it.

That this situation was quite bizarre.