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

“…Dad?”

“Oh dear, Eliott. I guess I woke you up.”

Alexei forced an awkward smile.

Eliott yawned repeatedly and opened his arms to his father.

As Alexei adeptly embraced his son, he suddenly noticed an empty cup on the table.

Judging by the dried brown liquid residue, it seemed to have contained cocoa.

“Is this the first time Mag allowed you to have cocoa before bed?”

Gently patting the child’s back, Alexei spoke with mixed feelings.

Although suspicious circumstances had come to light regarding the Rondini family…

‘At least Eliott has… Mag to be with him. Thank goodness for that.’

Unlike the cold and distant Anriche, Mag always treated Eliott with a warm smile.

If Mag weren’t there, how lonely Eliott would be…

Just then, Eliott shook his head.

“Mag didn’t give it to me.”

“Then who did?”

“Mother brought it to me.”

…Anriche?

For a moment, Alexei’s hand, which had been gently stroking Eliott’s back, froze.

How could she, who showed not a shred of interest in her own child, have brought cocoa, something children love?

After a moment, Alexei composed himself and smiled brightly.

“I see. Did she wash it well?”

“Yes, of course.”

Eliott replied with a youthful smile.

After glancing at the time, Alexei laid his son back down on the bed.

“Alright, it’s late, so you should sleep now.”

As he gently patted Eliott’s shoulder, the boy quickly fell back into a deep sleep.

After leaving a kiss on the child’s cheek, Alexei rose from the bed.

‘…What on earth is Anriche thinking?’

A deep furrow formed on his brow.

Anriche’s behavior today had been odd in many ways.

Not only had she brought Liliana here and taken such care of her, but she had also brought cocoa for Eliott…

‘Something seems… different from before.’

As Alexei unconsciously thought that, a look of disillusionment crossed his face.

What on earth was he thinking?

After all, it was ‘that’ Anriche.

The arrogant, extravagant woman who looked down on everyone.

The woman who treated no one with dignity.

It was ridiculous how he could still harbor hopes for her after being disappointed countless times.

“…Hah.”

A short sigh escaped Alexei’s lips.

It was pointless to dwell on Anriche.

She wouldn’t change anyway.

With tired eyes, he stepped out of the room.

***

The bright sunlight woke him, and it was already morning.

In a drowsy state, Anriche blinked her eyes and suddenly felt a small warmth stirring in her arms.

“…Liliana?”

Calling the girl in a hoarse voice, the child peeked out and smiled widely.

“Good morning, Mother! Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, did you sleep well, Liliana?”

Anriche smiled back at the child.

As she gently stroked Liliana’s soft cheek, the girl rubbed her face against Anriche’s hand like a young animal.

“Are you going to eat breakfast?”

“Oh, I’m okay. I think I’m not hungry yet because I ate dinner late last night.”

“Hmm, really?”

After all, they had eaten dinner quite late yesterday.

And didn’t she have a cup of cocoa before bed?

Anriche nodded.

“Then, what do you want to do today, Liliana?”

“Me?”

Liliana’s green eyes widened in surprise.

‘What do you want to do?’

That question felt foreign.

Because no one had ever asked Liliana what she wanted to do until now.

After a moment of thought, Liliana cautiously parted her lips.

“I want to spend time with you, Mother.”

“You want to spend time with me?”

“Yes. If I can be with you, I don’t really care what we do.”

Liliana nodded resolutely.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Anriche patted Liliana on the head a couple of times.

“Well then, how about we bake some cookies together today?”

She remembered how much Liliana enjoyed the cookies served as dessert yesterday.

Upon hearing that suggestion, Liliana’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“We’re baking cookies? With you, Mother?”

“Yes. If you’re not in the mood…”

“No, I like it! I think it’ll be fun!”

Liliana exclaimed, her voice rising with excitement.

Then, as if startled by her own loud voice, she glanced at Anriche.

Anriche smiled gently, signaling her not to worry.

“Alright. Then let’s get up first. We can’t just lie in bed all day, can we?”

“Yes, yes!”

Liliana jumped off the bed.

As Anriche followed her out of bed, she beckoned Liliana closer.

“Before we go down to the kitchen, we should wash our faces first, right?”

“Yes, Mother!”

Liliana scampered over to Anriche.

The sight of the girl following her like a chick trailing its mother made Anriche laugh out loud.

Just as Anriche was stepping out of the bedroom, she noticed that Liliana was holding a doll in her arms.

It was the doll Anriche had bought as a bonus while fitting Liliana for a dress at the tailor’s.

Anriche raised an eyebrow in curiosity and asked, “But why are you bringing the doll?”

“Huh? Well, it’s a precious doll that you gifted me, Mother.”

Liliana replied with a bright smile.

“I try to bring this doll with me whenever I spend time with you.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because, you know, every time I see this doll, it reminds me of the happy times I spent with you!”

At that adorable statement, Anriche blushed and covered her mouth with her hands.

So precious! Our Liliana is just too cute and clever!

Just then, Anriche noticed Eliott peeking around the door.

“Oh my, Eliott?”

Anriche’s eyes widened in surprise.

It was unusual for the boy to come this close to her bedroom.

Eliott gulped nervously and raised his head stiffly.

“I came to say thank you.”

“Thank you? For what?”

Eliott bowed his head toward the puzzled Anriche.

“Thank you for bringing me cocoa yesterday.”

…He came all this way just to say that?

Anriche tilted her head in confusion.

At that moment, Liliana greeted Eliott.

“Hello, Duke Balua.”

“…Hello.”

Eliott pretended to be uninterested in Liliana, looking down at his toes as he responded.

But Eliott’s neck had already turned a bright shade of red.

‘Aha.’

A playful smile crept onto Anriche’s lips.

Thinking back, it seemed Eliott had taken quite a liking to Liliana from the moment he first saw her.

‘So, the thank you was just an excuse to come to my room.’

It seemed Eliott had come to see Liliana once more.

Well, in the original story, they were lovers who couldn’t live without each other, so it made sense.

Anriche watched with curiosity as the two children interacted.

Eliott was focusing intently on Liliana’s doll.

He seemed too shy to look directly at her face, unsure of how to start a conversation.

Realizing the intensity of Eliott’s gaze, Liliana cautiously offered her doll to him.

“Um, Duke, would you like to hug my doll?”

“No, no, I can’t. I’m a boy.”

“Really?”

“Boys are supposed to play with swords or toy carriages.”

As he said that, Eliott abruptly turned his head away.

Anriche, who had been listening to their conversation, narrowed her eyes and spoke up.

“Oh my, Eliott. Why would you say that?”

“Huh?”

“It’s not legally mandated that ‘boys can only play with swords and toy carriages,’ is it?”

Caught off guard, Eliott looked bewildered.

Anriche shrugged lightly.

“Girls can play with swords or toy carriages too, and boys can play with dolls.”

“…B-but.”

“Since Liliana offered, if you want to, you should give it a hug.”

At the same time, Liliana handed her doll over to Eliott.

Then she looked into Eliott’s eyes and smiled shyly.

With a spring-like smile, Eliott’s expression softened.

“Uh… um?”

After a moment of hesitation, Eliott realized he had been making a rather foolish face.

His cheeks flushed bright red as he hurriedly returned the doll to Liliana.

“No, no, that’s enough.”

Muttering absentmindedly, Eliott dashed away.

Liliana looked confused as she murmured, “Why is Duke Balua acting like that?”

“Well, who knows why?”

Anriche replied mischievously as she led Liliana toward the kitchen.