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

In a way, this was an opportunity to clearly show who had the upper hand.

Who knows?

If Liliana were to witness a humiliating defeat, perhaps the young duke Balua would abandon his illusions about his merely nominal fiancée.

“Why, isn’t it important to say what needs to be said?”

Peter retorted to Elliott with a brazen face.

“That’s right; after all, Liliana is nothing without the Balua family!”

“What?!”

Fury sparked in Elliott’s eyes.

Meanwhile, Liliana calmly fixed her gaze on Peter.

“…What Tornian said might actually be right.”

“Liliana!”

Elliott raised his voice sharply.

But Liliana was sincere.

Ever since Anriette rescued her from that terrible orphanage, she had lived under the protection of the Balua family.

Wasn’t Elliott trying to shield her again, despite everything?

The kindness shown to her by the Balua family brought her immense joy.

She was so happy that sometimes she wondered if she was living in a dream.

…But.

“I can’t rely on the Balua family forever.”

Taking a deep breath, Liliana spoke clearly.

“The Balua family has given me affection beyond what I deserve. So…”

Her light green eyes, which had once appeared so fragile like newly sprouted buds, now held a sharp determination.

“…I want to prove my own worth and live up to that affection.”

“Prove your worth? What a laugh, what can you possibly do?”

“Both Tornian and I are students learning to wield swords.”

Liliana stated firmly.

“So let’s talk with our swords.”

“Wait, are you saying you want to fight me with swords?”

A crooked smile appeared on Peter’s lips.

It was a clear sneer.

“You, a chick like you?”

“Yes.”

Despite Peter’s mockery, Liliana simply nodded calmly.

Flames of fury erupted in Peter’s eyes.

“Fine, you’ll regret this today!”

Peter stomped toward the training ground.

At the same time, Elliott grabbed Liliana with an anxious expression.

“Liliana, what are you thinking?!”

“I’m going to fight him with swords…”

“And what if you get hurt?!”

At Elliott’s exclamation, Liliana flinched slightly but then smiled softly.

“Don’t worry too much. You said I look the strongest, right?”

“Still…!”

At a loss for words, Elliott could only chew his lips.

Just then, other kids rushed in to surround Liliana.

“Are you really going to be okay?”

“Peter is the strongest among us…”

“Thanks for worrying about me,” Liliana replied clearly, shaking her head.

“I can’t just keep listening to Tornian disrespecting me.”

Elliott stared at Liliana.

This was the girl who had always been shy and timid.

Somehow, the Liliana before him seemed a bit different from usual.

Now, she looked like…

‘She really seems determined to face Peter head-on.’

Although she couldn’t hide her tense expression, she stood tall with her shoulders straight.

Liliana was trying to overcome a long-time fearsome opponent.

‘Liliana, that’s kind of impressive!’

Elliott really liked this side of her.

***

The training ground quickly filled with students.

The rumor that Liliana was going to face Peter had spread quickly.

Of course, Anita was among those students.

“I still think Peter will win, no matter what.”

“Yeah, Peter is the strongest among us.”

“The instructors said that Peter might be appointed as the next royal knight.”

The students seemed to have already decided that victory was in Peter’s hands.

In that atmosphere, Anita raised her nose and put on airs.

“Of course, my brother will win. Isn’t it obvious?”

At that, Elliott glared at Anita with bulging eyes.

“Don’t speak carelessly; you can’t know the outcome without competing.”

“B-But, Duke Valua?”

“I believe Liliana will definitely win.”

With that retort, Elliott sharply turned his head toward Liliana.

“Liliana, do your best!”

Elliott clenched his fists and shouted.

Liliana, who had been tense, relaxed her body only after hearing Elliott’s shout.

“Phew.”

After taking a short breath, Liliana stared quietly at Peter across from her.

In the past, just seeing the Rondini baron family and the Tornian family made her feel terrified and stiffen up.

But now…

‘It’s okay.’

Her light green eyes settled coolly.

‘The Duke told me I have talent in swordsmanship. I…’

Strength entered her grip on the wooden sword.

‘He accepted me as his disciple.’

It was the first time she had discovered something she could excel at.

And it was also the first time someone recognized Liliana’s talent.

She had always thought she would never become accustomed to the word “confidence” in her lifetime.

So…

‘I can do this.’

Liliana calmed her mind.

‘What’s this?’

Meanwhile, Peter looked at Liliana with a skeptical gaze.

She had been all hunched up when she entered the training ground.

‘But the moment she grabbed the wooden sword… her eyes changed instantly!’

At the same time, Peter clenched his jaw.

…Am I nervous right now?

His opponent was Liliana, who had always been beneath him!

‘No, that can’t be.’

To shake off his unease, Peter deliberately tried to act tough in front of Liliana. “I’ll let you go first since it’s ladies first.”

“Thank you.”

And Liliana did not refuse that concession.

With her sword held tightly, Liliana charged at Peter like a beam of light.

Startled, Peter took a couple of steps back.

Clang!

A sharp strike hit the wooden sword.

Feeling a jolt in his wrist, Peter’s eyes widened in disbelief.

‘W-What?!’

Was this really the strike of a seven-year-old girl?!

However, Liliana’s movements did not stop.

Clang, clang, clang!

As the relentless strikes came, Peter hurriedly lifted his wooden sword, barely managing to defend himself.

Peter gritted his teeth.

“Ugh!”

Creak—thud!

As he put force into pushing away Liliana’s sword, she gracefully pulled back and retreated.

Breathing heavily, Peter staggered back.

Cold sweat ran down his back.

‘What the hell is going on?!’

Peter had heard rumors about Liliana.

That Duke Valua had taken her as his disciple, and that she had endured a grueling training regimen that even sturdy boys could not withstand.

But he thought it was all just gossip.

How could such a small and frail girl possibly know swordsmanship?

But…

‘…Is it true that she has actually learned swordsmanship?’

Her calm light green eyes stared at Peter.

Her gaze was that of a predator watching its prey.

“Since I let you go first just now…”

Liliana slowly lifted her wooden sword.

The tip of her sword was aimed precisely at Peter.

“Now it’s my turn to concede.”

“Y-You?!”

Peter’s eyes bulged out.

How could a girl who was merely a maid to my fiancée say such a thing to me, a promising talent in the swordsmanship club?!

A girl I could easily crush with just a fingertip!

Peter gritted his teeth as he gripped the wooden sword tightly.

“You’ll regret saying that!!”

Peter swung his wooden sword down toward Liliana.

“Gah!”

“Oh no!”

“If she gets hurt…!”

Groans erupted from the onlooking students.

The wooden sword thrust fiercely at Liliana’s chest.

That movement was closer to an attack meant to injure the opponent rather than a sparring match.

Elliott gritted his teeth and shouted.

“Liliana!”

Clang!

At the same time, the sound of wooden swords clashing and sliding echoed.

Liliana stepped to the side to evade the attack, extending her wooden sword to deflect Peter’s strike.

The series of movements by Liliana was as smooth as flowing water.

And then…

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

One step, then another.

Liliana advanced, swinging her wooden sword, slashing, and thrusting.

Her trajectory was so fast it was hard to follow with the eyes.

Peter bit his lip hard enough to draw blood as he defended himself with his sword.

“Ugh!”

Liliana remained expressionless.

It was as if her sole objective was to aim the sword at Peter’s neck.