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

Anriche, who had been looking at Liliana with admiration, finally nodded her head slightly.

“Alright, if Liliana thinks so.”

“Thank you.”

“But as I always say, if you’re ever having a hard time, I hope you’ll come to me for advice.”

Suddenly, Anriche extended her pinky finger with a playful smile.

“Can you promise me that?”

With her cheeks flushed, Liliana linked her pinky with Anriche’s.

“Yeah, I promise.”

“Good.”

“Hey, hey, you two are getting along well again.”

Elliot, who had been staring at the two with a sulky expression, eventually crossed his arms and turned his head away.

Seeing Elliot’s adorable reaction, Anriche smiled as she looked back at her son.

“By the way, didn’t you get an invitation, Elliot?”

“Well, they said it’s only for girls this time.”

Elliot shrugged and grumbled to himself.

“Because of that, I can’t be with Liliana, can I?”

“…I see.”

Somehow, it felt like Elliot was being excluded from protecting Liliana.

Am I being too sensitive?

Anriche narrowed her eyes.

***

After sending the children off.

Anriche called for the butler.

“I’d like to hear what you know about the Torniain family.”

According to what the butler told her:

Lady Londini and the Torniain heir had been engaged for about three years.

As long as there were no significant issues, they planned to marry the children as soon as they came of age.

Additionally, the two children of Torniain were currently being educated through a combination of academy and home lessons, and the home tutor of the Torniain heiress was…

‘Look at that?’

Anriche raised an eyebrow.

The tutor was none other than Lady Ivan.

‘Well, even if the Ivan family moved to the countryside, Lady Ivan stayed behind.’

Perhaps due to the connections she had built with various noble families until now.

It seemed Lady Ivan had not lost her job as a tutor.

Thanks to the rumors circulating in high society about her being a ‘villainess,’ she had managed to portray herself as a rather pitiful victim, ensuring her work continued without interruption.

“Is it true that she no longer punishes the children?”

At Anriche’s pointed question, the butler smirked.

“Apparently, since there was an incident with Lady Liliana.”

“Liliana’s incident?”

“Yes. It seems she’s being a bit cautious now.”

Well, if she didn’t watch her behavior, she might lose the job she had barely managed to secure.

Anriche clicked her tongue.

‘Before, I overlooked the fact that Lady Ivan was still working.’

No matter how poorly it ended, Lady Ivan had been Liliana’s previous tutor.

She had worried that being too harsh with her might tarnish Liliana’s reputation.

…However.

‘This really won’t do.’

Her violet eyes grew cold.

There was no evidence that Lady Ivan had a hand in the upcoming tea gathering.

But she had a strong instinct that something was off.

Especially with the condition that Elliot couldn’t attend the gathering because it was for “girls only,” it raised suspicions.

After all, tea ceremonies were common cultural practices that anyone, regardless of gender, could partake in.

‘Someone must have given advice on this.’

Unless it was a skilled adult experienced in social events, one wouldn’t come up with such an idea.

A moment later, Anriche raised her head.

“Butler.”

“Yes, milady.”

“I’d like to send a small gift since Liliana will be attending the tea gathering soon.”

Anriche smiled brightly.

“Could you prepare some treats and tea that the children would enjoy?”

“Leave it to me.”

“Oh, and make sure to send the best and most expensive ones.”

“Of course, milady.”

Nodding, the butler looked at his mistress with a newfound appreciation.

After all, Anriche’s gift carried multiple meanings.

‘First and foremost, it’s to wish for our Lady Liliana to get along well with them.’

Delicious treats and fragrant tea would surely help ease tensions.

At least for the other children attending, they might develop a favorable impression of Liliana, even if the Torniain heiress disliked her.

And the second meaning was…

‘Duchess Balua is personally keeping an eye on the tea gathering.’

In fact, this was the true underlying intent.

Among all the families in the Empire, no family could feel at ease in front of the name ‘House Balua.’

Even the imperial family treated House Balua with special consideration, which was only natural.

Yet the head of such a family was watching over even the trivial tea gatherings of children, which indicated how much she cared for Liliana.

‘Though the young Torniain siblings may not fully understand the intent…’

Lady Ivan or the Torniain heiress would likely grasp the meaning behind it.

That alone would be enough to raise awareness.

‘Moreover, such a small gift wouldn’t give anyone a reason to nitpick.’

Of course, there was an unwritten rule that it was better for adults not to interfere in children’s matters.

However, sending tea and snacks was more akin to adults wishing for children to have fun and offering goodwill.

The butler looked at Anriche with a proud expression.

‘Indeed, our mistress seems to have changed quite a lot.’

And it was in a very positive direction.

The butler left the duchess’s office, filled with a sense of pride.

***

A few days later.

On the Day of the Tea Gathering

Liliana stood in front of the club room, offering an apologetic smile to Elliot.

“You didn’t have to come all the way here to drop me off.”

“What are you talking about?”

With a shrug of his shoulders, Elliot flashed a cheerful smile.

“I’ll just wait in the lounge inside the student council building. Have a good time.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Nodding, Liliana stepped into the tea club room.

The children’s gazes instantly shifted to Liliana, then to Elliot, who was just leaving.

“Wasn’t that the Duke Balua’s younger son standing by the door just now?”

“Oh my, he personally walked her here?”

“They say the young duke is very fond of Lady Everett…”

The children whispered among themselves, their eyes wide with curiosity.

Up until that point, the atmosphere surrounding Liliana hadn’t been particularly hostile.

But then…

“Long time no see, Liliana?”

A girl with a mischievous expression greeted Liliana.

Liliana froze in place.

“…Lady Londini?”

It was none other than Lady Londini herself.

But wait, I didn’t hear that Lady Londini would be attending the tea gathering.

Lady Londini waved her hand dismissively and laughed lightly.

“Oh, what’s with the formalities? You can just call me Jenit.”

She spoke as if she were granting a great favor.

In the past, she would have insisted on being called “Lady” instead of “sister.”

Jenit narrowed her eyes and scrutinized Liliana from head to toe.

“So, you’re doing pretty well since you’ve become engaged to the Balua Duke’s son.”

Today, Liliana was dressed beautifully, like a fine porcelain doll.

And Jenit found that very irritating.

‘She was just someone who served me, and now she’s the fiancée of the Balua Duke’s son…’

Tsking her tongue, Jenit opened her mouth with a voice full of malice.

“When I look at you, I think of how a frog forgets its tadpole days.”

Why is she suddenly picking a fight with Lady Everett?

The other children who had been sitting down earlier exchanged anxious glances, unable to decide how to react.

But Anita seemed ready to chime in with Jenit’s words.

“True, Lady Everett suddenly rose in status, didn’t she?”

Anita quickly interjected.

“Maybe that’s why… she doesn’t seem to remember how hard it was for her in the past.”

“Oh my, do you feel the same way, Lady Torniain?”

Jenit’s eyes widened as she turned to Anita.

Anita shrugged her shoulders.

“Of course. Honestly, no matter how much of a childhood engagement it is, the status of the Everett family and the Balua family is completely different, right?”

“That’s a valid point.”

“Given the situation, if I were in Lady Everett’s position, I would be a bit more cautious in my behavior.”

Anita pretended to worry about Liliana as she added her remarks.

“Given the limitations of one’s innate status, at the very least, one shouldn’t do anything that could lead to gossip. Don’t you think?”

“Goodness, Lady Torniain really gives practical advice.”

Jenit quickly agreed with Anita’s statement.

Meanwhile, Liliana listened to their chatter with an expressionless face.

Anita, who had been subtly gauging Liliana’s reaction, couldn’t help but raise the corners of her lips in a smirk.
‘What’s going on? They’re saying this so openly, yet she’s not even defending herself?’

Indeed, Lady Ivan’s words were right!

With that certainty, Jenit continued to speak in a voice filled with triumph.