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

Flustered, Elliot quickly wiped Magg’s tears away.

“I got it, I got it!”

“Y-young master.”

“I’ll keep it a secret, so please don’t cry.”

Elliot nodded with a sympathetic expression.

In response, Magg clasped Elliot’s small hand tightly.

With a voice filled with gratitude, she exclaimed, “T-thank you!”

“No, Magg is like an aunt to me.”

Elliot’s voice was filled with affection for Magg.

Ah, our naive young master.

It feels rewarding to have nurtured you this far.

This is why I cherish you.

Magg barely suppressed a laugh that threatened to burst out.

***

After parting from Elliot, Magg lifted the hem of her apron to wipe away the tears that had gathered in her eyes.

In her now sharp gaze, not a trace of moisture remained.

‘Did the young master see me take the brooch?’

Magg glanced back over her shoulder.

The hallway where Elliot had just left was silent and deserted.

‘Well, he probably didn’t see it. Moreover…’

The corners of Magg’s lips twisted upward.

It was a clear smirk.

‘Above all, the young master follows me so well, doesn’t he?’

The reason why Magg, who didn’t particularly like children, had endured the annoyance of taking care of Elliot all this time was to gain his blind trust.

The governess most favored by the young duke of Valois.

Using that position to secure influence in Valois.

‘So, it’s certain he won’t say anything that could be detrimental to me.’

And that trust was now proving to be very effective.

Just a few drops of tears, and Elliot had kept quiet.

Even though it was a situation that clearly warranted suspicion.

‘Well, considering how much effort I put in, it’s only natural he should trust me.’

Magg hummed a soft tune as she walked lightly down the hallway.

Her footsteps were headed toward Liliana’s room.

***

Anriette leaned against a sunlit window, gazing out at the flourishing spring garden.

Her face was filled with a radiant smile.

“Oh, my two little ones! They’re so cute I could die!”

Her violet eyes were glued to Elliot and Liliana, who were playing in the garden.

If spring fairies were to take human form, they would surely look like those children.

Just at that moment, she heard a stiff voice.

“Um, my lady.”

Anriche’s eyes widened as she turned around.

The butler stood there, looking at her with a grim expression.

“Um, I have something to report.”

“To me?”

“Yes. It’s about the matter you asked me to look into earlier.”

As soon as she heard those words, the warm smile that had been on Anriche’s lips disappeared without a trace.

She quietly nodded her head.

“Go on.”

The butler swallowed hard.

By now, Anriche had fully assumed the imposing presence of the lady of House Valois.

The butler cautiously began to speak.

“Earlier, Magg…”

***

The conversation with the butler had finally ended.

After confirming that no one else was around, the butler was the first to leave the parlor.

Instead of following him immediately, Anriche waited a little while.

‘I should give Magg some time to act.’

Having successfully stolen the brooch, Magg would surely start mobilizing the maids.

To create a damaging rumor against Liliana, multiple testimonies would be needed.

Magg, who currently had the maids’ blind loyalty, would undoubtedly try to manipulate them to build a case.

‘I hope she doesn’t do it, though.’

Anriche furrowed her brow.

She sincerely hoped that Magg wouldn’t do anything wrong, considering Elliot’s trust in her.

‘If Magg does something truly wrong, Elliot will be hurt.’

Magg was the servant whom Elliot trusted the most.

If he found out that his beloved nanny had stolen a brooch and tried to frame Liliana for it…

His heart would undoubtedly be wounded.

After enough time had passed.

‘This should be enough time for her to make her move.’

Anriche also left the parlor and began walking down the hallway.

“…”

As she crossed the corridor, she could feel several maids’ gazes following her, as if they were observing her every move.

‘Just as I expected…’

Anriche felt a mix of emotions at how accurately her prediction about Magg and the maids’ behavior had come true.

“You there.”

Feigning a calm voice, Anriche called one of the maids.

“I’m thinking of adjusting my outfit. Could you help me?”

“Y-yes, of course!”

The maid hurried over to Anriche’s side.

Once back in her room, Anriche sat down in front of her vanity.

As the maid began brushing her hair, she cautiously asked a question.

“Um, how would you like to style your hair accessory?”

As if hoping Anriche would open the jewelry box.

Anriche casually shrugged her shoulders.

“It might be nice to change it up for a fresh look.”

Upon hearing that, the maid’s face brightened with excitement.

Anriche opened the drawer and took out the jewelry box.

The maid swallowed nervously.

‘Good, as soon as the Madam discovers the brooch is missing…’

That’s what Head Maid Magg had said.

She emphasized that they needed to make a huge fuss to blow the situation out of proportion.

‘Once the house is turned upside down, it will be easy to frame that girl from the Averitt family as the thief.’

That smug voice echoed in her ears.

‘I made sure to hide the Madam’s brooch among that girl’s belongings.’

Click.

The jewelry box opened.

Anriche looked down at the contents of the jewelry box with an unreadable expression.

‘…It’s true.’

Her mouth filled with a bitter taste.

Just as the butler had said, the amber brooch was gone.

‘They deliberately took one of the brooches I use often.’

That way, I would notice the missing item quickly.

The meticulous malice behind this plan disgusted her.

Anriche bit her lip.

“Madam, is something the matter?”

At that moment, the maid asked a question.

There was a faint hint of anticipation in the maid’s voice.

Anriche gave her a soft smile.

“Oh, I was just thinking about which hairpin to use for a moment.”

She then picked up a hairpin studded with tiny rubies.

“Let’s go with this one.”

“…Pardon?”

“What’s the matter? I said let’s use this one.”

Anriche’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Uh, what?

The maid’s eyes widened in surprise.

Despite the noticeable empty spot where the brooch used to be, Anriche’s expression remained calm.

‘If it were the Madam from before… she’d be shouting at the top of her lungs by now, wouldn’t she?’

But Anriche calmly closed the jewelry box.

After placing the box back into the drawer, she looked up at the maid with a puzzled gaze.

“What are you doing? Standing there so blankly.”

“O-Oh, yes, of course!”

The maid snapped out of her daze and hurriedly started working with a flustered expression.

Through the mirror, Anriche quietly observed the maid’s face.

Her violet eyes had grown cold.

***

Some time later.

The two children, having played to their hearts’ content in the garden, came running toward Anriche.

“Mother! Look at this!”

In Liliana’s tiny hands were various flowers she had picked.

“I thought they would look pretty in your vase, Mother!”

“Oh my, thank you.”

“I didn’t pick them without permission! I got the gardener’s approval before I picked them!”

Even the way she explained herself so earnestly was too adorable.

Anriche smiled warmly.

She took the bouquet and buried her nose in the flowers.

“They’re as beautiful as they smell lovely.”

At that, Liliana blushed and smiled bashfully.

Meanwhile, Elliot seemed to be deep in thought about something.

Anriche gently prodded him.

“Elliot, is something wrong?”

“Huh?”

“You looked pretty serious.”

“Ah… well.”

Elliot furrowed his brow for a moment before cautiously speaking.

“Uh, Mother.”

“Yes?”

Elliot opened and closed his lips several times but ultimately couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

“No, it’s nothing.”

Honestly, Magg had looked very suspicious earlier.

But… he had promised not to say anything.

If I can’t trust Magg, then who can I trust?

Magg is like family to me.

“……”

So it should be okay.

With that thought, Elliot shook his head.