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

What, what did you say!?

Upon hearing that name, Liliana gasped in shock.

No matter how ignorant a child might be, she could not possibly be unaware of the “Valois family,” the only ducal family in the empire.

She had heard that the Duke of Valois could bring down a bird with just his gaze.

‘S-so, the formidable duchess herself… has come to find me?!’

At that moment, as Liliana swallowed hard, Anriche dropped a bombshell in a gentle voice.

“I’m your fiancé’s mother, ‘Elliot von Valois.'”

“F-fiancé?”

I’m engaged to the young Duke of Valois?!

With a series of overwhelming revelations, Liliana’s small head felt like it was about to burst.

At that moment, Anriche gently wrapped her arms around Liliana’s shoulders and started to walk.

“Yes. Shall we go inside to discuss the details?”

She needed to meet with the Baron or the Baroness… so she could confront them.

With her head held high, Anriche smiled fiercely.

How dare they abuse my precious daughter-in-law?

Just wait a moment; I’ll show them the true nature of a wicked mother-in-law!

The first impression of the interior of the orphanage was…

‘…it’s not as bad as I thought.’

The wallpaper was clean, and the nutritional status of the orphans seemed fairly good.

However, Anriche’s mood sank even further as she observed the scene.

‘The other children look healthy, but our Liliana is so skinny.’

The reason was likely because the government regularly conducted inspections of the orphanage.

The caretakers probably took care not to neglect the children enough to fail those inspections.

Instead, Liliana, not being a registered orphan, was likely worked harder than the others.

Then, Anriche’s eyes widened.

Liliana, who had been walking ahead of Anriche with quick steps, bent down to pick up trash that had fallen on the floor.

“…”

Anriche watched Liliana’s back with a heavy heart.

Liliana stuffed the trash into the pocket of her worn apron and then gathered up the discarded clothing scattered on a chair.

As they walked down the hallway, the way she casually dumped the clothes into the laundry basket felt so natural.

That alone seemed to prove that Liliana had been treated like a servant until now.

‘Oh, our Liliana, what should I do? She’s so pitiful…’

It hurt her heart immensely.

When reading descriptions of “the heroine being abused” in the novel, she had thought, “Oh, I see,” but seeing it with her own eyes was far more horrific.

Just then, Liliana turned around and flashed a bright smile.

“Ah, are you coming this way?”

“…Yes.”

Feeling somewhat choked up, Anriche nodded a bit late.

Finally, the two arrived in front of the orphanage director’s office.

Knock, knock.

Liliana swallowed hard, knocking on the office door a couple of times.

“Who is it?”

The sharp voice cut through the air like a whip.

Terrified, Liliana shrank her shoulders, resembling a snail retreating into its shell.

“I-it’s Liliana. I… um…”

But before Liliana could finish her sentence, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from inside.

Bam!

The door swung open with ferocity.

The Baroness of Rondini, her eyes wide with anger, poked her head out of the office.

“This useless thing! I told you to never interrupt when my daughter is here…!”

A sharp scream echoed through the air.

However, the Baroness couldn’t finish her sentence.

This was because Anriche, with narrowed eyes, stepped forward.

“Baroness of Rondini.”

“Y-you, Duchess of Valua?!”

The Baroness of Rondini froze in place.

Why on earth was the Duchess of Valua here at our orphanage?!

At the same time, a cold voice rang out.

“You need to clarify the situation right now.”

Anriche’s expressionless face clearly showed that she was suppressing her anger.

Tilting her chin slightly, Anriche asked again.

“Why is the child who is to become my daughter-in-law living in an orphanage instead of the Rondini Baron’s townhouse?”

“Uh, th-that is…”

“Moreover, Liliana is not an orphan belonging to the orphanage but the Baroness of Rondini’s sixth cousin.”

Anriche continued in a sharp voice.

“Why is the Baroness being referred to as ‘the orphanage director’ instead of ‘aunt’?”

Her violet eyes scanned the inside of the office.

The first person she noticed was the Baroness of Rondini’s daughter.

With a mountain of fancy desserts piled up in front of her, she was enjoying tea time, staring at them with wide eyes.

Wait, they were discriminating even with food?!

How hurtful it was to discriminate over food!

Anriche clenched her teeth.

“The young lady of the Rondini Barony is currently enjoying…”

Anriche let her words trail off as she looked the young lady up and down.

On her curly hair sat a beautiful jeweled pin, and she wore a dress adorned with frills.

“…a glamorous dress and lovely accessories.”

At those words, the young lady of the Rondini Barony flinched, her shoulders stiffening.

Anriche glanced back at Liliana.

She wore a worn apron stained in places, a shabby blouse, and a brown skirt patched with scraps of fabric.

Since she was wearing clothes that were not appropriate for her age, her bony ankles were visible under the excessively short hem of her skirt.

At the stark contrast between the two girls, Anriche’s gaze naturally darkened.

“It feels like I’m looking at a young lady and a maid. No, even maids wouldn’t be dressed in such shabby clothes.”

“Y-you, Duchess Valua! That is…!”

The Baroness of Rondini, who was hastily trying to come up with an excuse, promptly shut her mouth.

The icy stare from Anriche sent chills down her spine.

Anriche coldly asked, “Both girls should be under the protection of the Baroness. Why is it that Liliana is in a position worse than that of a maid?”

The Baroness was truly at her wit’s end.

‘No, I’ve never cared about Liliana before!’

To be precise, it was closer to disdain than indifference.

The Everitt family was an old noble family, but they were neither powerful nor wealthy.

Compared to the Duke of Valua, which Anriche was currently the mistress of, the Everitt family was a far cry from even her parents’ family, the Marquesses of Sachsen.

Anriche had lived her life looking down on everyone.

So there was no way she would have any fondness for Liliana.

Moreover…

‘The Duke of Valua has already sent someone here!’

In fact, the Duke of Valua was not an easy person to deal with.

When leaving his only remaining daughter, the sole child of his close friend, to the Rondini Baroness, he would have ensured there was a safety net in place.

Thus, the Duke of Valua periodically sent a trusted person to check on Liliana’s well-being.

But the cunning Baron and Baroness of Rondini had completely undermined that safety net.

With money.

“Thank you for your cooperation, Head Maid Meg.”

“Of course, just trust me.”

The head maid of the Duke of Valua smiled confidently as she tucked a pouch of gold coins into her bosom.

“I’ve been following the family head from the Duke of Valua’s estate.”

“Oh my, that means…”

“It means that I am the one the family head trusts the most.”

She shrugged her shoulders and added, “Besides, the family head is so busy that they don’t have the energy to concern themselves with trivial matters like this.”

It was the truth.

The Duke of Valua was the Emperor’s most trusted companion and the sharpest sword of the Empire, diligently engaged in national affairs day and night.

Additionally, the reports he regularly sent to the Duke of Valua were impeccably perfect.

So…

‘There’s really no reason for the Duchess of Valua to come looking for Liliana.’

Turning to the dazed Baroness, Anriche spoke clearly.

“I intend to raise Liliana myself from now on.”

“What? W-what do you mean? We are Liliana’s relatives…!”

“In that case, I will be the one who becomes Liliana’s mother-in-law.”

Anriche shrugged slightly.

Though her tone was light, her violet eyes were filled with anger.

“To ask me to leave Liliana with the Rondini family after seeing this…”

Anriche twisted her lips into a scornful smile.

“…Do you think I’m an idiot, Baroness?”

“Ah, I won’t do that anymore. I swear… and Liliana too!”

Why would Liliana suddenly…?

Anriche couldn’t hide her disdainful expression.

“Liliana wouldn’t want to leave us either!”

…What? Is that even human?

Anriche shivered at the Baroness of Rondini’s brazen shout.

However, ignoring Anriche’s reaction, the Baroness was now looking at Liliana with eyes wide open.

“Lily? Liliana! I’m your relative!”

The Baroness grabbed Liliana’s shoulders roughly.

The pressure on the delicate shoulders was so strong that Liliana let out a painful groan.

“Ouch…”

“I’ve raised you this much, haven’t I? To say you’re leaving me now…!”

“Hey, Baroness Rondini.”

At that moment, a hand suddenly gripped the Baroness’s shoulder.

“Who do you think you’re threatening Liliana in front of?”

“Ahh!”

At the same time, the Baroness was violently pushed back.

Losing her balance, the Baroness of Rondini staggered backward and tripped.

Crash!

Anriche looked down at her fallen form with a cold gaze.

“Don’t impose your wishes on Liliana.”

“…What?”

“That must be very disappointing. You won’t be able to extort any more money from her under the guise of living expenses.”