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

“D-Duchess?”

Anriche rose from her seat calmly, flashing a gentle smile.

“Since things have come to this, why don’t we at least meet her face-to-face?”

***

Viscountess Ivan stood at the entrance, struggling to contain her anger.

‘How dare they treat me like this when I was once a tutor to the lady of this household!’

In the past, things weren’t like this.

Whenever she visited, at the very least the head maid would come out to greet her…

Then suddenly,

“Viscountess Ivan.”

At the sound of her name, Viscountess Ivan raised her head sharply.

Lady Tornian was looking at her with a cold expression.

“I believe I already told you. Tornian no longer has any intention of employing you.”

“But, my lady!”

Viscountess Ivan hurried over to Lady Tornian.

“I don’t understand why I was dismissed. I…!”

Her words trailed off as she stopped in her tracks.

Because behind Lady Tornian, a beautiful woman had appeared.

A gentle greeting floated through the air.

“It’s been a while.”

For a moment, Viscountess Ivan’s eyes widened.

And no wonder—because that woman before her was…

“D-Duchess Valois?!”

It was Anriche!

Anriche tilted the corners of her mouth into a slight smile.

“Have you been well?”

Well? Not at all!

Hearing Anriche’s casual greeting, Viscountess Ivan clenched her fists tightly.

Having lost all her jobs, her means of living now uncertain, she had the nerve to greet her so nonchalantly…!

‘Wait.’

Suddenly, a chill ran down Viscountess Ivan’s spine.

The fact that every family that had employed her had simultaneously sent dismissal notices.

The Tornian family, which had been betrothed to the Rondini family, had invited Duchess Valois to their townhouse.

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And even Anriche’s attitude, which showed no sign of doubt regarding the current situation.

‘…Could it be?’

Viscountess Ivan looked at Anriche with a suspicious expression.

Anriche gave a calm nod.

“Yes, I spoke to the other families.”

“Oh my goodness, Duchess Valois!”

A shrill cry burst from her lips.

“Even if our relationship isn’t ideal, don’t you think this is too extreme?!”

Growing even more agitated, Viscountess Ivan pointed her finger accusingly at Anriche.

“How could you endanger someone’s livelihood over personal feelings?!”

But Anriche didn’t flinch. Instead, she tilted her head slightly.

“Well, considering you seem so good at discerning right from wrong.”

Her composed voice struck Viscountess Ivan’s ears like a dagger.

“Would you go so far as to incite the child you were teaching to try and cause harm to Lilliana?”

How did she know?!

Viscountess Ivan’s eyes flew open in shock.

Anriche continued in the same calm tone.

“Did you truly think you could do such a thing and get away with it?”

“B-but…!”

Viscountess Ivan bit down on her lip so hard she almost drew blood.

A sense of intense danger engulfed her.

‘This can’t go on.’

Her instincts told her that Anriche truly intended to see her ruined.

“But wasn’t I once a teacher to you, Duchess!”

Desperate, Viscountess Ivan pleaded with Anriche in the most pitiful voice she could muster.

“And even if only for a short time, I also taught Lady Everett!”

“It was out of respect for that connection that I turned a blind eye to your work as a governess with other families.”

Anriche shook her head gently.

“And now, I believe that connection has been repaid in full.”

“D-Duchess!”

“Return to your family.”

At her firm command, Viscountess Ivan flinched and froze.

“And I would strongly advise against even thinking about returning to the capital.”

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“Duchess, please!”

“You said I was endangering your livelihood out of personal feelings, didn’t you?”

Anriche smiled, her face blooming like a radiant flower.

“Then, I wonder how it would feel to have something more than just your livelihood at risk?”

“…Pardon?”

“If you want to experience firsthand what else the Valois family can take away from Ivan…”

Anriche’s smile deepened slightly.

“You don’t have to follow my advice.”

“……”

“……”

A chilling silence hung in the air.

Lady Tornian swallowed nervously.

Even as a bystander, she felt as though a blade was pressed to her throat.

So how much worse must it feel for Viscountess Ivan?

‘This is… like a mouse cornered by a predator.’

Viscountess Ivan was now trembling like an aspen leaf.

Her face had turned so pale that, despite knowing what she had done, it was almost pitiful.

“Of course, the choice is yours, Viscountess Ivan.”

Anriche finished her sentence in a feather-light tone.

After hearing those words, Viscountess Ivan’s reaction was predictable.

She fled the townhouse as if she were running for her life.

With the situation mostly settled,

“Um, Duchess.”

At the cautious call, Anriche raised her eyebrows and looked at Lady Tornian.

“I’m curious about something, if I may ask?”

“Of course, feel free to ask.”

“The orphanage building you recently acquired—how do you plan to use it?”

“Oh, that?”

Anriche’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

“That, you see…”

***

“This has to be a joke!”

Zenit gritted her teeth and threw the newspaper she had been reading.

Thud!

The newspaper hit the floor, displaying the front page for all to see.

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The headline, “The Fall of the Rondini Baron Family!” was eye-catching in its sensationalism.

Below, there was a detailed account of the Rondini family’s downfall, how everything had been taken from them.

The Valois family, who reported the Rondinis, and even the emperor, had shown no mercy.

With praises for the empire’s justice system, the paper was filled with glorification of the imperial family and the Valois family.

“What… what am I supposed to do now?”

Large tears rolled down Zenit’s cheeks.

And understandably so—she had nothing left now.

Her parents had both been imprisoned, and the Tornian family had sent her a letter of annulment.

And now, rumors were spreading that even Viscountess Ivan was being sent to the countryside.

‘All because of that girl, Lilliana!’

Zenit clenched her teeth.

All this misfortune because of that one girl—how many people had suffered!

Then, Zenit pressed a hand to her forehead.

“…Ouch.”

Her head throbbed painfully.

Her throat and lips were parched, as if all the moisture had been wrung from her body.

Perhaps she had cried too much.

But with all the servants gone from her desolate mansion, there was no headache medicine or water prepared for her.

So Zenit stumbled outside, unsteady on her feet.

Despite her dismal mood, the weather was bright and sunny.

Entering a clinic, Zenit licked her parched lips.

“…One headache pill, please.”

The clerk looked her over, taking in her pale face and disheveled appearance from head to toe.

Then, with a look of distaste, as though seeing something filthy, he placed the headache pill on the counter.

“Hurry up and leave; you’re disturbing the other customers.”

“……”

Zenit clenched the glass bottle containing the headache pill.

It was her first time.

The first time she had bought something at a store without sending a maid.

The first time she had visited a clinic frequented by commoners rather than calling for a doctor.

‘Usually, Lilliana would be the one doing these menial tasks!’

Clenching her teeth, Zenit quickened her pace.

Then she overheard people chatting in the plaza.

“Did you hear? The Rondini orphanage is reopening.”

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…What?

Zenit stopped in her tracks, freezing in place, as if entranced, she strained her ears to listen.

“Actually, it’s not really the Rondini orphanage anymore.”

“Right, they say the Valois family took over and even renamed it.”

“Yeah. The new name is…”

The man paused, then exclaimed in realization,

“Oh, yeah! It’s Everett!”

Zenit suddenly felt dizzy.

The Rondini orphanage had now been renamed the Everett orphanage.

Which meant…

‘That girl Lilliana has practically inherited everything of Rondini’s!’

All the social prestige the Rondini family had gained from caring for orphans, the wealth they had accumulated through the orphanage…

Everything had fallen into Lilliana’s hands!

“No way!”

She felt like she couldn’t breathe.

Zenit scratched at her throat.

Her face had gone pale, completely drained of color.

“Haa, hnn…!”

Her head was spinning.

Gasping for breath, Zenit collapsed to the ground.

People turned their eyes toward her.

“Miss! Are you all right?”

“Please, stay with us!”

She heard voices calling her from afar.

‘How could this happen? How?’

Consumed by a fierce rage, Zenit lost consciousness right there.