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

“Is it true that all the clothes and shoes that girl was wearing from head to toe were bought by the mistress?”

Listening any longer would only lead to more slander about Liliana.

Anriche, who was about to enter and stop the maids, unconsciously paused her steps.

The topic had somehow shifted to her.

“By the way, why did the mistress suddenly bring that girl here?”

“Right? It was nice to just follow the head maid’s orders until now…”

“Could it be that the mistress intends to get directly involved in household matters from now on?”

“Oh my, I would hate that! What kind of whim is the mistress having all of a sudden!”

Anriche was overcome by a strange sense of discomfort.

In fact, she didn’t mind the maids gossiping about her.

Well, people even badmouth their lords behind their backs.

Besides, the Anriche before her possession was a wicked woman who only sought her own stability.

It was only natural that she had lost the maids’ favor.

However, what bothered her was…

‘…It seems the maids are following Meg much better than I expected.’

No matter how much Anriche had stepped back from household affairs until now, it was unsettling that they would dislike the very situation of ‘the hostess participating in household matters’ to this extent.

For some reason, it felt like Meg had more influence than she did…

Was it just a misunderstanding?

‘It seems I need to address this issue at least once.’

Taking a deep breath, Anriche stepped into the kitchen.

“Looks like you all have some free time? Just chatting away like this.”

“Ma, Mistress!”

“Welcome, Mistress?!”

The frightened maids jumped up from their seats.

Seeing their faces turn pale, it seemed they all feared Anriche.

That was only natural.

In the original story, Anriche was a woman who wouldn’t hesitate to punish maids she disliked.

If they were gossiping about Liliana, whom ‘that wicked mistress’ brought herself…

…it meant the maids disliked Liliana to that extent.

Anriche felt her mood sinking even further.

“I’m really sorry for making you prepare food when it’s not mealtime.”

“M-Mistress, that’s not it…”

“But if you were unhappy about it, why didn’t you just come to me instead of gossiping behind my back?”

At her calm question, the maids couldn’t bring themselves to speak.

After all, it was their duty.

To prepare meals, serve the family, and manage the townhouse.

As they worked for a proper wage, they had to be diligent in their assigned tasks.

Moreover, Balua offered a significantly higher salary than other households.

“I might have forgotten, but I was at the dining table with Liliana earlier, not just her.”

“Y-Yes? B-but…”

“Also, it was I who commanded you to prepare the meal.”

At those words, the maids stiffened.

Anriche held her head high.

“Then why are you only gossiping about Liliana and completely ignoring me?”

“……”

“……”

As the maids remained silent, only Anriche’s voice rang sharply.

“To me, it seems you only talk behind the back of the seemingly easy target, Liliana.”

“M-Mistress…”

“Yet, you, who have been harshly ruled by me, dare not utter a word.”

Punctured by her words, the maids now silently stared at their toes.

Anriche calmly continued speaking.

“Liliana is Elliott’s fiancée and will be the future mistress of Balua.”

A faint surprise flickered in the maids’ eyes.

Until now, their mistress had treated those of lower status like insects.

And the Everitt Count family was objectively far inferior to the Balua Ducal family.

Thus, the maids had unconsciously thought this way:

‘Although it’s true that the mistress personally brought Liliana here, she wouldn’t cherish her like her own child.’

How could the cold mistress, who was harsh even to her own son, Elliott, treat a low-status daughter-in-law with care and affection?

Yet, for such a mistress to assert that…

‘Liliana is Elliott’s fiancée and will be the future mistress of Balua’?

“You are all very capable and intelligent maids.”

Anriche’s cold voice pierced through the confused maids’ ears.

“So, I believe you know well how those who gossip end up.”

It was a graceful warning to be cautious with their words.

The maids swallowed dryly.

But Anriche’s words were not finished yet.

“And about the things you’ve been carelessly talking about me…”

At that moment, shock spread across the maids’ faces.

Could it be that she heard everything about them discussing her?!

Anriche, who had been staring at the maids, continued in a calm voice.

“I won’t punish you this time.”

…Did she just say she wouldn’t punish us?

Not just anyone, but that wicked mistress?

The maids couldn’t hide their puzzled expressions.

“It’s true that I’ve been neglecting household matters until now.”

The maids, frozen in place, cautiously glanced at Anriche.

If it were the usual Anriche, she would surely be shouting to drag those girls out and punish them right away…

“However, you all need to remember this from now on.”

Anriche straightened her back and looked at each of the cowering maids intently.

“The mistress of Balua is me, and I am the ultimate decision-maker who cares for Balua.”

This should be enough.

With the maids unable to utter a word, Anriche let out a short sigh inwardly.

Since she had already decided to change her image, there was no need to grip the maids like a vice.

Doing so would only strengthen the image of the wicked woman.

However, the hierarchy had to be clearly established.

It would be problematic if there ever came a situation where Meg’s orders took precedence over Anriche’s.

“…Yes, Mistress.”

“I-I will keep that in mind.”

The maids nodded vigorously, trembling.

A moment later, Anriche shrugged her shoulders and changed the subject.

“Well, I’ll stop lecturing you here. Please prepare two cups of cocoa.”

“C-Cocoa?”

“Yes. What, are you saying it’s too much trouble to make a cup or two of cocoa?”

“Of course not, Mistress!”

The startled maids hurriedly moved about.

As Anriche watched them heat the milk and take out the container of cocoa, she fell into deep thought.

‘My thinking was short; not everyone sees Liliana in a positive light.’

Until now, Anriche had thought everyone would naturally look kindly on Liliana.

Because Liliana was the heroine of this world.

So, she assumed it was only natural for her to be loved…

“…Hah.”

Her mind was tangled like a knot.

Anriche unintentionally let out a long sigh.

‘Do the other maids of Balua think similarly to the kitchen maids?’

However, at least one intuition arose within her.

It didn’t seem like it would be easy for Liliana to be recognized as the “young lady of the house” by Balua’s servants.

***

Anriche held two cups of cocoa on a tray and headed for Elliott’s room.

‘…It would be a relief if Elliott doesn’t throw a fit when he sees me.’

Suppressing her complicated feelings, Anriche knocked on the door a couple of times.

Knock, knock.

A moment later, with a clatter, the door opened.

It was Meg who opened the door.

As soon as she made eye contact with Anriche, Meg’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Mistress?”

…Again with Meg?

Anriche felt a strange unease.

Of course, she was well aware that Meg had been taking on the role of a nanny instead of the inattentive Anriche.

However, a child’s room was usually a private space that only parents could enter.

Unless it was a very young child who would struggle without a guardian, Elliott was already seven years old.

That meant he could manage just fine on his own…

“…Are you going to keep staying in this room?”

“Of course, I’m also the Young Master’s nanny.”

Meg flashed a gentle smile.

“It’s only natural for me to stay by the Young Master’s side until he falls asleep, right?”

Her answer, which seemed to flaunt her close relationship with Elliott, made Anriche furrow her brow involuntarily.

‘Even if she is a nanny, isn’t it a bit strange for her to be so close to the child?’

At that moment, Elliott peeked out from behind Meg.

“Hello, Elliott?”

“Uh, mother?”

At her awkward greeting, Elliott’s eyes widened in surprise.

What on earth was his mother doing here?

His eyes clearly conveyed that thought.

“Ah, were you getting ready for bed?”

Anriche made sure not to get too close to Elliott and placed the tray on the table.

She didn’t want to approach carelessly and have him burst into tears like before.

Elliott was watching Anriche with wary eyes, his expression resembling that of a little kitten with its fur bristled.

“Um, you don’t need to be that wary.”

Anriche gave a somewhat awkward smile.

“I just came to give you a cup of cocoa.”

“…Cocoa?”