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

Anriette was filled with worry, but surprisingly, the two kids seemed to be adapting well to the academy.

In Liliana’s case, she was a bit of an outsider, but she didn’t seem to be fighting or struggling with anyone.

“After all, the Count Everitt’s daughter is the only girl among the swordsmanship students,” someone remarked.

“Really? There are no other girls at all?”

“That’s right for the Swordsmanship Department,” the instructor nodded, continuing. “Other students may find it a bit awkward to be around a girl, but she’s managing quite well.”

Only after hearing this answer did Anriette feel a little reassured.

Most importantly, she felt at ease knowing that Elliott was always by Liliana’s side.

“Liliana!”

“Oh, Elliott. You’re here?”

The two kids were famous for their close relationship at the academy.

Their habit of waiting for each other after swordsmanship class became a notable sight at the academy.

Moreover, there were no students bold enough to pick on the fiancé of the young duke Balua.

Thus, a peaceful period continued for quite some time.

“I watched the seniors train in the Swordsmanship Department today.”

“Oh wow, really?”

“Yes. As expected of the seniors, their sword techniques were incredibly sharp…”

Liliana had recently developed a habit of sharing everything that happened at the academy in great detail.

Her expression was not as dark as it had been when she first arrived at the orphanage.

Anriette turned to Elliott.

“So, how about you, Elliott?”

“Me? Nothing special happened…”

Elliott trailed off but suddenly exclaimed, “Oh!” as his eyes widened.

“By the way, I met Lady Tornian today.”

“Lady Tornian?”

Now that she thought about it, she had heard that the Tornian lord had a younger sister. Was it her?

But what kind of connection could Elliott possibly have with that young lady?

Anriette was a bit puzzled.

Elliott propped his chin on his hand and squinted.

“She’s kind of… not great.”

“Oh my, why not?”

“Well…”

Elliott first met Lady Tornian while he was waiting for Liliana’s class to finish.

Suddenly, a girl popped her head over and spoke to him.

“Oh, Young Duke! Here you are!”

Who was she to act so familiar all of a sudden?

More than anything, shouldn’t she introduce herself first since it was their first meeting?

Elliott stared blankly at the girl before asking, “Who are you?”

“Oh, my name is Anita Tornian!”

The name “Tornian” made Elliott frown without realizing it.

It seemed connected to the boy who was engaged to the Baron Rondini’s daughter.

However, Anita didn’t seem inclined to let go of Elliott.

“So, what are you doing here, Young Duke?”

“I’m waiting for Liliana.”

“What? Why would you wait for her?”

Shaking her head, Anita smiled brightly.

“Why not come play with me instead?”

“What?”

“You’re not a little kid; Liliana can go home by herself, right?”

Anita suggested confidently.

She had a look that implied she didn’t believe Elliott would refuse her invitation.

“It’s just a carriage ride.”

“I don’t want to.”

“What? But I know a coffee house that sells really delicious cakes…”

“I said no. I’m not going anywhere without Liliana.”

At those firm words, Anita’s face twisted in disappointment.

However, Elliott had already lost interest in her.

In the distance, he spotted a light blonde girl swaying like spring flowers.

“Liliana!”

“Oh, Elliott!”

Liliana greeted Elliott, who was running toward her with a bright face.

Then, noticing Anita left behind him, her eyes widened.

“Elliott, isn’t that Lady Tornian?”

“What? Don’t worry about it.”

“Huh? But…”

“She’s been annoying me since a while ago. Clueless.”

At Elliott’s cold response, Anita’s face turned bright red.

Regardless, Elliott pulled Liliana’s hand toward him.

“Let’s go, Liliana.”

As Elliott recalled that moment, he seemed to feel annoyed and muttered in a sulky voice,

“…I told you, didn’t I? Who does she think she is, telling me to leave Liliana behind?”

“I see, but you shouldn’t speak so harshly to a friend,” his mother replied.

Upon hearing that response, Elliott looked at his mother with an expression as if he had been betrayed.

At that moment, Anriette smiled slyly.

“But you did well.”

“Really?”

Wasn’t she just saying not to speak harshly to friends?

Elliott looked up at his mother with a puzzled face.

“The two of you will be a couple in the future, so you should always support each other first and foremost.”

At that, Elliott asked Anriette proudly, “Right? I did well, didn’t I?”

“Of course. I’m not encouraging you to fight with your friends, but…”

Ahem, Anriette cleared her throat and clenched her fists.

“If anyone disrespects Liliana like that again, give them a good punch. Got it?”

“Yes!”

The two of them were thrilled.

Watching them, Liliana blushed and smiled softly.

On a bright, sunny afternoon.

The students of the Swordsmanship Department, who had just finished their training, were talking about the only girl who had recently joined them.

“Lady Everitt isn’t bad, surprisingly?”

“Yeah. I thought it would be uncomfortable to be around her, but it’s not really like that.”

“At first, I just thought she was a weird girl…”

Liliana Everitt.

A girl who looked so fragile that she could barely hold a single flower.

Initially, they had subtly underestimated her, thinking, “What can a girl really do?”

But now…

“Honestly, Lady Everitt came just to observe, so she doesn’t really have to participate in the training, right?”

“Even we guys get tired and drop out, but she stays until the end.”

“Right? I was a bit surprised.”

Since starting her observation, Liliana had been keeping up with the same training as the male students.

The students had even placed bets on how long Liliana could endure and whether she would eventually give up.

“Plus, to be honest, I thought she’d be pretty full of herself since she’s the fiancée of the young duke Balua…”

“She’s surprisingly down-to-earth, right?”

“Yeah, and she’s really polite too.”

The students nodded in agreement, exchanging glances and smiles.

“She’s actually pretty good…”

“What do you mean she’s good?”

But just then, a fierce voice interrupted their conversation.

It was Peter Tornian.

“Do you guys have any shame?”

“Uh, Peter, it’s not like that…”

“Are you really okay with a girl coming to observe the Swordsmanship Department?”

Peter, glaring at the students with wide eyes, yelled,

“How can you be so nonchalant about a girl possibly competing with us?”

“B-but. It’s not illegal for a girl to attend a sword school…”

One timid student’s protest was completely dismissed by Peter’s fierce voice.

“Damn it, you guys have no pride at all!”

“…”

“…”

The students glanced at each other and kept their mouths shut.

Peter Tornian was known as one of the top students in the Swordsmanship Department, highly regarded by the instructors.

Rather than cause trouble by opposing him, everyone chose to keep their heads down.

“Do you even know what kind of girl she is? She used to be a maid at an orphanage!”

Peter sneered, as if he wanted everyone to hear.

“It’s ridiculous to see her puffing up now, claiming to be the fiancée of the young duke Balua!”

“Uh, um!”

One of the students, hearing Peter’s sneering, pointed behind him with a startled expression.

Peter, already furious, shouted, “What?!”

“B-behind you!”

“Behind me, what?!”

When Peter turned around abruptly, his face hardened.

Liliana and Elliott were standing behind him.

“Did you say everything you needed to?”

Elliott, glaring at Peter with a fierce look, stepped forward.

“Why do you keep picking on Liliana?!”

“Elliott.”

But Liliana grabbed the sleeve of Elliott’s shirt.

Elliott, gritting his teeth, looked back at Liliana.

“Liliana, why are you stopping me?! He just insulted you!”

“I know.”

Her voice was strangely calm.

Elliott, who had been all worked up, hesitated and stiffened.

“…Liliana?”

“This situation…”

Liliana bit her lip and continued in a slightly trembling voice,

“I want to resolve it myself.”

“What? Why you?”

Hearing that Liliana wanted to step in, Peter felt a bit relieved.

She was just Liliana, not the young duke Balua.

He thought that a girl like her could be easily pushed around, and she wouldn’t stand tall again.

No, rather…

‘Since the young duke and the kids are gathered here, it might be better to suppress her here instead.’