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

One Month Later

The Valois family stood in front of the freshly renovated orphanage.

“Um, Mother.”

Lilliana carefully tugged on Anriche’s skirt.

“Am I really going to be able to sponsor the orphanage in my name…?”

“Of course,” Anriche replied coolly.

Lilliana’s pale green eyes trembled violently.

Anriche tilted her head in question.

“What, don’t you want to?”

“No, it’s not that…!”

Lilliana shook her head frantically and spoke in a timid voice.

“…It just feels like too much for me.”

Anriche had set up a new foundation under Lilliana and Elliott’s names, directing that foundation to support the orphanage.

In the process, the orphanage’s name had been changed as well.

The Everett Orphanage.

That was the new name of the old Rondini Orphanage.

Lilliana, nervous and restless, continued.

“Wouldn’t it be better if the orphanage’s name were somehow related to the Valois family…?”

“Lilliana, why are you so worried about it?”

Just then, Elliott poked his head in and joined the conversation.

“Mom, Dad, and I all said it was fine, didn’t we? Right, Dad?”

“Yes.”

Alexei nodded without hesitation at his son’s question.

Lilliana glanced sideways at the orphanage.

It looked brand new.

The worn-out parts had been completely repaired, new furniture had been brought in, and it was freshly painted.

The Rondini Orphanage was now truly Lilliana’s orphanage.

Her mother’s warm voice echoed in her ears.

But still…

‘Is it really okay for me to accept this orphanage?’

She had already received kindness so immense that she could never repay it in her lifetime, and now she was receiving even more.

Even though her mother told her not to worry about it…

As Lilliana fell into deep contemplation,

“Lilliana!”

A voice calling her name made her lift her head in surprise.

At the same time, her eyes grew wide.

“Huh, wha—?”

No wonder: the children were running toward her in a big group.

The kids gathered around her in a circle.

The girl who had called her name first scratched her cheek, looking slightly bashful.

“Oh, should we be calling you Lady Everett now?”

“Don’t be silly, Ivy!”

Lilliana panicked.

Ivy.

She was the older girl Lilliana had been close to during her time at the orphanage.

Without Ivy’s help, Lilliana probably wouldn’t have made it through her days at the orphanage.

Ivy gave her a cheerful wink.

“Thank you so much, Lilliana.”

Huh?

As Lilliana blinked in surprise, Ivy continued with a warm smile.

“The Duchess said that thanks to you, the orphanage wouldn’t disappear.”

“Ivy…”

“And in return, she asked me to stay close to you from now on.”

Ivy suddenly held out her hand to Lilliana.

“So, let’s keep being close, okay?”

Lilliana, looking down at the offered hand with a heart full of joy, grabbed it without hesitation.

“Yes, me too!”

Meanwhile, Elliott, who had been watching Lilliana from a distance, pouted.

“Geez, Lilliana is my fiancée….”

“Oh my, are you upset that Lilliana seems close with other kids?”

“Of course I am.”

To Anriche’s playful question, Elliott replied with a sulky voice.

“But Lilliana can’t just live her whole life with me alone, right?”

“…Really?”

“Yes. So I’m not planning to interfere if she makes other friends.”

Elliott shrugged.

But despite his mature answer, he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Lilliana.

Anriche found her son both adorable and admirable, so she smiled faintly.

At that moment, Alexei spoke.

“Somehow, it feels like both children have grown up so much.”

“I agree.”

The couple looked at the two children with gentle eyes.

The warm afternoon sunlight shone down on them as if blessing their moment.

***

Engagement Ceremony

Alexei had recently found himself in a somewhat uncomfortable situation.

The reason being… he was constantly aware of a certain gaze that was following him.

And the owner of that gaze was…

‘…Why on earth is my wife doing this?’

It was none other than Anriche.

She had been giving him an intense gaze for three days now.

At first, he tried to brush it off, but it was beginning to really get on his nerves.

Unable to hold back any longer, Alexei turned to Anriche.

“Dear.”

“Ah!”

Startled, Anriche, who had been staring at him, jumped back a couple of steps.

Alexei furrowed his brow and asked her,

“Is there something you’d like to say to me?”

“Huh? Oh, um?”

“You’ve been staring at me for days.”

“…Ah-ha.”

Anriche scratched her cheek with an awkward expression.

Was I really staring that intensely?

“Well, there is something I wanted to talk to you about.”

“What is it?”

“How about we hold an engagement ceremony for Lilliana and Elliott?”

“…An engagement ceremony?”

Alexei’s eyes widened at her unexpected suggestion.

Anriche quickly continued.

“Yes. Recently, Lilliana was looked down upon at the academy, and I believe that happened because her position hasn’t been properly recognized.”

“But isn’t Lilliana already Elliott’s fiancée?”

Alexei asked, sounding puzzled.

“It’s all officially documented, after all.”

“Of course, it’s clear on paper.”

Anriche shook her head lightly and spoke.

“But sometimes a formal ceremony for others to see is important, too.”

“A ceremony…?”

“Yes. I believe the recent incident at the academy happened because we haven’t shown enough care for Lilliana.”

Then, clenching her fists with determination, she added.

“The more we openly show our affection for Lilliana, the more she’ll be respected.”

“Well, if that’s what you think.”

Alexei nodded.

He felt there was some merit to her words.

Upon his approval, Anriche beamed.

“Don’t worry; I’ll take care of everything!”

Her violet eyes sparkled with determination.

“I won’t trouble you, Your Grace…!”

“Oh, I don’t mind about that.”

Huh?

Anriche blinked, caught off guard by his unexpected response.

After a brief pause, Alexei spoke carefully.

“We’re husband and wife, aren’t we?”

“…Pardon?”

“So, if you need help, just let me know anytime.”

With a faint smile, he added a final comment.

“Don’t try to handle everything alone.”

“…”

Anriche stared blankly at him.

Because his face, with that faint smile as he looked at her…

‘Is… is he too handsome or what?’

Anriche gulped.

He truly had the looks worthy of the father of their adorable son, Elliott.

To think that a man like that was her husband!

Meanwhile, Alexei tilted his head slightly, puzzled by her sudden silence.

“…Dear?”

“Huh!”

Anriche snapped out of her daze and gave him a shy, smiling look.

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.”

Alexei’s smile grew a bit warmer.

At that moment, the butler appeared in the distance, calling out to Alexei.

“Oh, Your Grace. There you are!”

“What is it?”

“Well, it’s… there’s a mountain of paperwork waiting for you.”

The butler, looking rather distressed, urged Alexei to follow him.

“…”

Why now, of all times?

He was finally having a good conversation with his wife after such a long time…

A deep frown settled on Alexei’s forehead.

“Then, I suppose I’d better head to the study.”

“Yes, take care.”

Anriche saw him off with a smile.

‘Hmm, come to think of it…’

Watching her husband’s retreating back, Anriche tilted her head slightly.

Lately, Alexei’s attitude seemed strangely warmer than before.

…Or was she imagining things?

***

Striding purposefully, Alexei suddenly stopped and called out.

“Butler.”

“Y-Yes?”

The butler’s face paled, instinctively feeling nervous.

That was understandable, given the rather intimidating tone of Alexei’s voice.

“From now on, be more considerate. Understood?”

“…Pardon?”

The butler looked at Alexei, completely baffled.

Alexei gritted his teeth and emphasized once again.

“Did you understand or not?”

“Oh, I-I understand…”

Though he had no idea why the Duke was acting this way, the butler found his intense gaze terrifying.

The butler hurriedly nodded.

Only then did Alexei turn away with an indifferent expression.

‘Why… why is he acting like this?’

No matter how much he thought about it, he was just diligently doing his job…