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

A heavy silence lingered.

“……”

“……”

The two women exchanged glances for a moment.

Then,

“Riche, dear.”

The first to speak was the former Marquessess.

Anriche let out a hollow laugh.

The former Marquessess always spoke in such a sweet tone only to Denis.

“I heard it all. Is it true that Beatrice will inherit the title of Saxon Marquess?”

…Where did she hear that?

Anriche looked at her mother with a cold expression.

“The Duchy of Valois has a very close relationship with His Majesty the Emperor, doesn’t it?”

Why suddenly bring up the Emperor?

Anriche narrowed her eyes.

The former Marquessess continued to ramble.

“Besides, Beatrice is still too young to inherit the title. So…”

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

Unable to listen any longer, Anriche interrupted her like a stretched taffy.

The former Marquessess frowned deeply.

‘That girl dared to interrupt me?’

But right now, they had come to Anriche to make a request.

The former Marquessess’s eyes gleamed with expectation.

“Could you ask His Majesty the Emperor to restore your younger brother as the Saxon Marquess?”

…Is she serious?

Anriche stared at the former Marquessess in disbelief.

But the former Marquessess’s expression was serious.

“How could a mere nine-year-old girl govern a territory? Inheriting the marquisate would only be a headache.”

Her tone was so triumphant it was almost comical.

Listening to her, one could get the impression that they were doing Anriche a favor.

“Leave it to Denis; he’ll surely do well.”

“That’s right, just trust me!”

Denis quickly chimed in.

It felt as if they were already acting as if Anriche had given her permission.

“I’ll decline that offer.”

“……What?”

The two looked back at Anriche, bewildered.

They never expected her to refuse.

“Seriously, how can you consider entrusting the esteemed Saxon Marquessate to a nine-year-old girl?”

Denis protested with a flabbergasted expression.

“Stop being stubborn. There’s no way you can just say no without a valid reason.”

“How strange. Why do you think there’s no reason?”

Anriche shrugged in response.

“It’s because I find it disgusting how shameless, selfish, and outright conniving you are.”

The former Marquessess’s face turned pale at Anriche’s blunt words.

Along with that, a sound resembling a deflating balloon could be heard around them.

“Pfft.”

“Ahem, cough!”

The sources of the sounds were the guards stationed at the townhouse.

The former Marquessess and Denis looked so foolish that the guards were barely suppressing their laughter.

Anriche smirked.

“Feel free to laugh out loud.”

“Oh, no, my lady… ahem!”

The former Marquessess shouted, her face flushed red.

“Isn’t this too much? I am your mother, and Denis is your only younger brother!”

“That’s right, we’re the only family you have!”

Before long, Denis had completely dropped his honorifics.

Watching the two with a steady gaze, Anriche suddenly spoke up.

“I’m really glad to hear that.”

“What do you mean by that?!”

“I think it’s great that you two haven’t changed at all.”

With that, Anriche turned around without hesitation.

“You two should be on your way home now. I’ll make sure you’re seen off properly.”

“Yes, my lady!”

“Understood!”

The guards bowed sharply and approached Denis and the former Marquessess.

Soon after, a ripping scream echoed from behind.

“This wicked girl, do you really not care if your mother and brother starve to death?!”

“We’ll see how well you live alone, sister!”

Well, whatever they had to say, it was none of Anriche’s concern.

***

That evening.