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

‘Where is Elliot?!’

Before she knew it, Elliot was sinking beneath the water, his body going limp.

The child’s arms and legs flailed helplessly in the current.

The moment Anriche saw his pale face, she felt her mind go blank.

‘No, no!’

Anriche kicked her legs with all her might.

The abundant fabric of her dress soaked up water, weighing her down like a heavy rock.

Stretching out her arm, her fingertips grazed the child’s wrist.

‘Got it!’

Anriche seized Elliot’s wrist.

But there was a problem.

She lacked the strength to pull him up to the surface.

At that moment, a large hand forcefully grasped her arm.

“Madam!”

As he called out, Anriche and Elliot were suddenly thrust up above the water.

“Huah!”

Her lungs, pushed to the limit, gasped for air.

“Haah, haah…”

Anriche took in ragged breaths.

Elliot, cradled in her arms, was coughing up water and struggling to breathe.

“Cough, cough!”

“Elliot…!”

In that instant, Anriche felt a strong arm guiding her.

With forceful strength, it pushed her and Elliot out of the water.

Before she knew it, she found herself sitting back on the boat.

“Mother! Elliot!”

Liliana rushed towards them with a face that looked as if she might faint from shock.

Anriche felt her body trembling.

‘It’s cold.’

It was bitterly cold.

What had felt pleasantly cool on that autumn day had transformed into a sharp, biting chill as she soaked in the frigid water.

Shivering in the biting cold, Anriche quickly brushed the water from Elliot’s face.

“Elliot, are you okay?!”

“Uh, Mom…”

Elliot clung to Anriche, sniffling.

Anriche anxiously checked his entire body.

“Are you really okay? You’re not hurt anywhere?!”

Splash—!

At that moment, a loud splashing sound echoed.

Anriche turned around while holding Elliot close.

Alexei was staring at her with a face full of horror and anger.

“Have you lost your mind?! Jumping into the water in a dress like that could have serious consequences…!”

“P-Please check on Elliot first!”

Anriche immediately pushed Elliot toward Alexei.

While she didn’t see any visible injuries, it was still possible he might be hurt.

Desperately, she asked again, “Is Elliot okay?!”

“…”

Suppressing his boiling anger, Alexei reached out to his son.

He, too, was worried about the young boy.

As Alexei carefully examined Elliot, he gritted his teeth and nodded.

“…He seems fine for now.”

“Waaah, Dad…!”

Elliot burst into tears.

Only then did Anriche feel a deep sense of relief wash over her.

“Th-That’s a relief…”

All the strength drained from her body.

Feeling the tension release, Anriche sank down on the spot.

Alexei, who had been hurriedly turning the boat around, looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“Madam, are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m…”

I’m fine. She was sure she had answered that way.

She thought she had nodded her head…

“Madam? Madam!”

Alexei’s voice calling her felt distant and far away.

With that, her vision went dark.

***

She had no idea how she returned to the townhouse.

“Phew…”

Alexei let out a sigh for what felt like the hundredth time.

The townhouse looked like a beehive that had been stirred up.

It was only natural, considering the lady of the house had been brought back unconscious.

‘Goodness, my lady!’

‘What on earth happened?!’

‘Call a doctor immediately!!’

And so, here he was.

Alexei stood with a troubled expression, watching his wife lying on the bed.

‘She’ll be fine after some rest.’

The doctor had definitely said that.

“…”

Her eyes were quietly closed.

Her shallow breaths barely stirred the air.

Her slender wrist, protruding from the blanket, looked almost weightless.

‘…Was she always this fragile?’

With that delicate body, she had raised the children, sent them to the academy, and organized the engagement ceremony.

Hadn’t she even endured the pressure from the Marquis of Saxon?

Only recently had he realized how many wounds she hid deep within her heart, despite always wearing a bright smile.

“…”

Alexei bit his lip tightly, struggling to contain his emotions.

‘I should have noticed sooner.’

Hadn’t he been deliberately ignoring the troublesome issue just because their relationship was strained?

‘Was she… very lonely?’

The thought pierced his heart like a knife.

Then, at that moment—

Knock, knock.

With a brief knock, the door creaked open.

Elliot and Liliana peeked their heads in from behind the door.

“Dad.”

“Duke.”

The two children hung onto the door, looking up at Alexei with worried eyes.

“How is Mom…?”

“Is she still sleeping?”

The children whispered, anxious that Anriche might wake up.

Alexei looked down at them, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

“She hasn’t woken up yet, so it might be better to come back later…”

“…It’s okay.”

That was when they heard her hoarse voice.

Startled, Alexei turned around.

“Madam?”

Anriche, having woken up, was slowly sitting up.

However, it seemed difficult for her to move, and a groan escaped her lips.

“Ugh…”

“Why are you getting up so soon? The doctor said not to overdo it…!”

Alexei hurried over to her.

Anriche, leaning back against the pillow, let out a weary sigh.

“Haah.”

Then she turned to the children, who were nervously hanging by the door, and smiled brightly.

“Elliot, Lily.”

“Uh, Mom.”

“Mother…”

She opened her arms wide.

“Come here.”

At her call, the children rushed into Anriche’s embrace, their faces contorted with worry.

“Waaah, Mom…”

“Mother…!”

Before long, the children couldn’t hold back their tears and began to cry, overwhelmed with relief.

Anriche looked down at them with a bewildered expression.

“Why are you crying? I didn’t scold you.”

“Waaah, I thought I’d never see you again…!”

“Mom, Mom! Hic, hic…”

The children were now sobbing loudly, burrowing deeper into Anriche’s arms.

Unsure of what to do, Anriche cast a glance at Alexei.

‘W-What should I do?’

In response to his wife’s silent plea for help, Alexei narrowed his eyes and called out to their son.

“Elliot.”

Gasp!

Startled, Elliot turned to his father.

With a timid expression, he cautiously replied, “Y-yes…”

“Before you cry like that, don’t you have something to say to your mother first?”

At those words, Elliot flinched, his shoulders stiffening.

As if having made a decision, his face grew resolute, and he wiped his eyes with his fist.

Then, with tear-filled eyes, he looked up at Anriche.

“Mom, I’m sorry.”

“Uh, what?”

“Earlier… at the lake…”

He had cried so hard that his eyes were now swollen and red.

“…You told me not to hang onto the railing, but I did anyway.”

So, you fell into the water…

Unable to finish his sentence, Elliot let more tears spill down his cheeks.

Anriche, flustered, quickly pulled him into her embrace.

“It’s okay, it’s enough that you realize you did something wrong. It’s alright.”

“B-but what if something really bad happened…?”

“It’s okay. Nothing like that happened, right?”

As she gently patted his back, Anriche carefully pulled him away from her embrace.

She then asked with a firm tone, “So, you will listen to your mother from now on, right?”

Noddle, noddle.

Elliot nodded vigorously.

Anriche chuckled softly.

“Good, then that’s settled.”

At that moment, Liliana hurriedly joined the conversation.

“Mother, are you really not in pain anymore?”

“Of course. The doctor treated me, so I’m not in pain at all.”

“I’m so glad…”

Liliana gazed at Anriche with tear-filled eyes.

While Anriche comforted the children, she suddenly turned to look at Alexei.

Huh, why was he standing so far away, just watching?

“Duke?”

“Ah, yes.”

Alexei, who had been staring at her in a daze, suddenly snapped back to reality.

Anriche narrowed her eyes and gestured for him to come closer.

“Why are you just standing there? Come here.”

“…Understood.”

As he walked towards his wife, Alexei slightly tilted his head in confusion.

It was strange.

He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Anriche before him.