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

At that cry, Alexei suddenly regained his composure. It was Anriche.

“Stop it.”

“…Madam.”

“The children are watching.”

At her worried tone, Alexei’s grip loosened.

That’s right.

The children were here.

“Cough, cough! Hack…”

The Marquess of Sachsen, sitting on the floor, coughed violently.

Tears welled in his eyes, making him look pathetic.

Alexei turned to Anriche.

“Madam, please take the children and go back.”

“But—”

“Don’t worry about this place.”

Saying that, Alexei reached out.

After a moment of hesitation, he gently touched her swollen cheek with his finger.

His blue eyes darkened.

“Make sure to get treatment for your face.”

“…Yes.”

Anriche, who was about to say more, nodded silently.

At the same time, Alexei turned his gaze to the Marquise of Sachsen.

“Marquise of Sachsen, you should leave now as well.”

“How could I leave my son behind?!”

“Are you serious?”

At that calm question, the Marquise froze in place.

“If that’s the case, I will have to call the attendants and have them forcibly escort you out.”

“Y-You wouldn’t!”

“Would you prefer that, or…”

Alexei’s tone was clipped as he continued, “Would you leave on your own?”

“…”

In that moment, the Marquise felt a chill run down her spine.

‘The Duke of Balua… is serious.’

If she left her son behind, she had no idea what might happen.

She hurriedly asked, “W-What are you going to do to my son?”

“Balua ensures its debts are paid.”

His red lips drew a chilling line.

“Therefore, you must be held accountable for this incident.”

“W-What do you mean?!”

“Is there anyone here?!”

Suddenly, Alexei’s voice erupted like thunder.

Attendants, who had been waiting outside, rushed in.

“Did you call, Your Grace?”

“Yes.”

Nodding, Alexei gestured toward the Marquise of Sachsen.

“Please escort the Marquise of Sachsen out respectfully.”

“Yes!”

The attendants firmly seized the Marquise’s arms.

Horror filled her eyes.

“Let go of me! Denis, my son!”

“Mother, Mother!”

The Marquise struggled desperately, but there was no way she could overpower adult men.

Bang!

The door slammed shut.

The Marquise rushed to the door.

“Denis! Denis!!”

However, the firmly closed door showed no sign of opening.

***

Alexei turned slowly.

The Marquess of Sachsen, panting heavily, looked up at him with a face filled with fear.

“Huff, huff, Your Grace…?”

His beady little eyes trembled wildly.

Unable to withstand the rising fear, the Marquess began to babble nervously.

“I—I showed you a terrible sight!”

“…”

“My sister has been acting so thoughtlessly that… cough!”

But the Marquess couldn’t finish his sentence.

Alexei’s powerful kick had struck him in the solar plexus.

“Cough, hack!”

A rough groan escaped the Marquess’s lips.

Unfazed, Alexei expressionlessly raised his foot.

Thud!!

A quiet and merciless assault came crashing down.

The Marquess tried desperately to escape, but it was futile.

Alexei persistently held him down.

“Please, let me go…!”

Eventually, the Marquess, with a face that looked as if he might faint, clutched at Alexei’s ankle.

His face was now marred with blood and bruises.

“How unfortunate.”

Alexei twisted the corners of his lips upward.

“Do you really think I would kill the Marquess of Sachsen?”

“Y-Your Grace…!”

“He is my wife’s younger brother, after all.”

With that, Alexei slowly withdrew his foot.

“What that means, in other words…”

“Ugh, cough, hack…!”

“If it weren’t for my blood relation with my wife, I might have truly killed the Marquess of Sachsen.”

Even with someone writhing in pain before him, his voice was chillingly indifferent.

…And that made it even more terrifying.

‘I want to get rid of this scoundrel right in front of me.’

Alexei bit his lip.

‘Anriche.’

His wife weighed heavily on his mind.

No matter how disgusting this man, crawling like a bug before him, might be.

‘The Marquess of Sachsen is my wife’s brother.’

So, he had to issue a warning but also neatly conclude the matter so that there would be no further gossip.

And Alexei had one means to conclude it.

The very thing the Marquess had been craving to the point of reaching for his own sister’s cheek.

‘Money.’

A crooked smile appeared on Alexei’s lips.

It was a cold sneer.

He then took out a wallet from his pocket.

“Here, take this.”

A few pieces of paper fluttered down onto the Marquess’s body.

The papers were checks signed by Balua.

The amount written on each check was enough to purchase five townhouse properties in the capital.

“Isn’t this the money you love so much, Marquess of Sachsen?”

The mocking tone of Alexei’s voice pierced the Marquess’s ears.

However, the Marquess neither became angry at the mockery nor could he bend down to pick up the checks rolling on the floor.

He was only trembling, overwhelmed by the excruciating pain gnawing at his entire body.

“If something like today happens again…”

Alexei slowly lowered his body to meet the Marquess’s gaze directly.

His eyes were cold and heavy, like the depths of the ocean.

“Then you can handle it as you see fit.”

“Your Grace, Your Grace…”

“If such a situation arises, I won’t know what I might do, you see.”

That was the end of it.

Looking down with a contemptuous gaze at the Marquess writhing on the floor, Alexei opened the door.

Click.

“Denis!!”

At the same moment, the Marquise of Sachsen rushed into the room, breathless.

“Oh my, our son!!”

A voice filled with horror erupted.

Regardless of that, Alexei quickened his steps.

He had to meet with Anriche as soon as possible.

***

Meanwhile, at that moment.

Anriche was cooling her swollen cheek with an ice pack.

Liliana and Elliott clung closely to their mother, looking on the verge of tears.

Jane, inspecting Anriche’s cheek, murmured with concern.

“What are we going to do? Your cheek is really swollen…”

“I’m fine.”

Anriche shook her head.

At that, the two children said with serious expressions, “What do you mean you’re fine? Mom, your cheek is twice its size!”

“Elliott is right.”

“Hmm… is that so?”

Seeing even gentle Liliana’s eyes blazing with intensity, it seemed her appearance was indeed quite a mess.

With a puzzled expression, Anriche turned to Jane.

“By the way, how is the engagement ceremony going?”

“Madam, are you worried about the engagement ceremony even at a time like this?”

Jane scolded Anriche with a tearful face.

Anriche forced a smile.

“Well, I can’t help but be concerned.”

“…The butler said he would take care of the aftermath.”

“Really?”

Anriche’s face brightened.

It was a relief that the butler was there.

Just then, there was a knock.

Knock, knock.

With the short sound, Alexei stepped into the room.

“Daddy!”

“Your Grace!”

The two children rushed toward Alexei.

After briefly patting the children’s shoulders, Alexei cast a glance at Anriche.

“Madam, are you alright?”

“Oh, yes.”

Anriche nodded awkwardly.

No wonder, as his blue eyes were filled with concern.

Alexei received the ice pack from Jane.

“Jane, you may step back now.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Jane bowed her head and stepped out of the room.

Alexei settled down beside Anriche and carefully placed the ice pack against her cheek.

“Could you lift your chin a bit?”

“Oh, yes…”

Anriche slightly raised her head.

After a long moment of heavy silence, Alexei suddenly spoke up.

“Since when has this been going on?”

“Excuse me?”

“…I mean with the Marquess of Sachsen.”

At that moment, a slight tension gripped Alexei’s hand.

“When did he start… being violent toward you, Madam?”

Alexei quietly posed the question.

Earlier, he had sensed something off about Anriche’s demeanor.

That unease stemmed from the fact that she seemed more angered by having been hit than surprised by it.

That in itself meant…

‘She must have had experiences like this several times before.’

Just that thought alone filled his mind with a white-hot fury.