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

The cost of renting a carriage was a bit burdensome for the average citizen.

Which meant that those visiting 285-7 Harriet Street…

‘…must at least be wealthy enough to afford rented carriages each time they go.’

Indeed, the people who frequented that location were quite unique.

Not only were wealthy commoners visiting, but there were even records of nobles going there several times.

Some of those nobles were names Anriche herself recognized.

Her gaze grew cold.

‘…I’ll need to find out what kind of building that place is.’

***

“Riche.”

At the sound of his voice, Anriche turned around.

Alexei was looking at her with a curious expression.

“Why that look?”

“Well, it’s about that building you asked me to investigate.”

Recently, at Anriche’s request, Alexei had been investigating 285-7 Harriet Street.

Anriche looked puzzled and asked, “Yes, what about it? Did you find anything suspicious?”

“No, not a single suspicious thing.”

Alexei shook his head right away.

Anriche frowned.

“…That doesn’t make sense.”

People were going out of their way to rent carriages and keep their destination discreet, all for that location.

And yet, nothing unusual about the building itself?

“The building is perfectly clean. It’s just a normal townhouse, like you’d find anywhere.”

“Hm, is there any debt on it… or any peculiar details?”

“None whatsoever.”

Alexei answered firmly.

Anriche was a bit taken aback.

If he was that confident, then it really must be a clean building…?

‘Could that really be?’

But then.

“Which is why… I find it suspicious in a different way,” Alexei continued in a calm voice.

“It’s not the kind of place that would naturally attract people.”

“…What do you mean?”

“It’s not in an entertainment district, nor is it a particularly unique location. It just looks like an ordinary home.”

A home?

Anriche felt a strange sensation.

Denis of all people, frequenting an ordinary house?

“The strangest part is that very few people around the building seem to notice anyone coming or going.”

“That… does that even make sense?”

“For that to make sense, one condition must be met.”

Alexei shrugged slightly.

“The people visiting the building would have to be taking special care to avoid drawing attention.”

“….”

“That’s the only way it could work.”

In other words—

Those visitors were being extremely careful to avoid suspicion.

“I’ll look into it a bit further.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“Well, this is simply ‘an investigation out of concern for family.’”

“Family?”

“Yes. After all, the Marquis of Sachsen is your one and only younger brother, Riche.”

That was true.

Anriche nodded.

“If I say I started this investigation out of worry for my wife’s brother, most people will believe it.”

“Then I’ll leave it all to you, Alexei.”

“Alright. By the way, Riche.”

“Yes?”

Alexei added with a mischievous tone.

“If you show me a smile, I think I’ll be able to investigate a little more enthusiastically.”

“….”

“Could you?”

At his playful question, Anriche couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

And then—

‘Oh.’

She blinked.

Now that she thought about it, this was the first time she’d smiled all day.

‘Could it be…’

Was he trying to make me laugh, out of worry?

Just then, Alexei gently patted her shoulder.

“It really gives me strength.”

Anriche stood on her tiptoes and gently kissed Alexei on the cheek with a little mwah.

His face instantly turned red.

“R-Riche?”

“We’re married, aren’t we?”

Anriche deliberately squared her shoulders and looked her husband in the eyes.

“There’s no need to blush so easily.”

“…Well, you’re blushing just as much,” he countered.

At his response, the composure Anriche was trying so hard to maintain fell apart completely.

“H-Hurry up, let’s go!”

“Alright, alright.”

Alexei chuckled as he left the room.

***

As the street lamps began to light up in the early evening, a carriage stopped by the roadside.

A man, looking around cautiously, quickly climbed inside.

Moments later, the carriage sped down the street, with another carriage discreetly following behind from a distance.

“It’s the Marquis of Sachsen,” the knight reported to Alexei, peering carefully through the carriage window.

Alexei nodded slowly.

“Alright, follow him carefully without being noticed.”

“Yes, sir.”

The knight started their carriage.

Alexei recalled the hint Anriche had given him that morning.

“The Marquis of Sachsen requested a carriage rental from Lorraine’s Carriage Company.”

“Alright. Let’s track the carriage.”

And so, with the knights of Valois dispatched and waiting at the rental carriage stand, their patience had paid off.

“…I didn’t expect to actually run into the Marquis of Sachsen.”

A faint bitterness lingered in Alexei’s mouth.

Meanwhile, the rented carriage sped off, heading toward the heart of the capital.

Eventually, it stopped at its destination.

‘As I thought, Harriet Street again.’

Harriet Street—a luxury residential area, home to mid-ranking nobles and their townhouses.

The rented carriage drove along the neat, well-kept road and stopped in front of a building.

Alexei’s blue eyes narrowed.

‘285-7.’

At the end of his gaze stood a pristine two-story building.

It looked like an ordinary family home, with none of the extravagant flair typical of the Marquis of Sachsen’s usual indulgences.

“Your Grace!”

The knight watching through the window widened his eyes slightly.

“The Marquis of Sachsen is entering the house!”

“Alright.”

Alexei nodded gravely.

“For now, let’s just go in with you, me, and Sir Patrick.”

“Are you sure that’s wise?”

At the knight’s worried question, Alexei chuckled.

“What, are you worried I might get hurt in there?”

“No, it’s not that…”

The knight looked a bit sheepish.

Honestly, who was he to be concerned? His lord was renowned as the Empire’s finest knight.

No matter what kind of trouble was brewing inside that building, not a single thread of Alexei’s clothing was likely to be touched.

“Today, I’m here—officially, at least—to check in on the Marquis of Sachsen, who’s my wife’s younger brother.”

Alexei shrugged.

“If I bring too many guards, it’ll look suspicious, won’t it?”

“…Though, on that note, it might look suspicious for Your Grace to bring guards at all,” the knight added.

“Is that so?”

Alexei chuckled briefly.

But only for a moment.

His blue eyes sharpened like a finely honed blade.

“The knights are all in position, correct?”

“Of course,” the knight nodded quickly.

“We’re keeping watch with no gaps. No one will be able to leave that building.”

“Good. And the signal to enter?”

“We agreed that breaking the window will be the signal to enter.”

“Alright, then.”

Alexei nodded as he stood up.

“It’s time to find out what’s going on in there.”

***

Alexei and the knights entered the building with ease.

There were a few guards blocking the entrance, but…

“Who are you?”

“You can’t just enter here.”

Alexei looked at them impassively and gave a slight nod of his chin.

“Remove them.”

The knights bowed their heads slightly and swung their fists.

“Ugh!”

“Ahh!”

With just one punch each, the guards were all knocked out cold.

Alexei added calmly, “Leave them to the knights stationed outside.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Make sure they receive treatment so they’re not too badly hurt,” he instructed.

This was in case this place turned out not to be as suspicious as they expected; he wanted to avoid causing unnecessary problems.

“Though I doubt that’ll be the case.”

With a twisted smile, Alexei stepped into the building.

After looking around inside, his assessment was…

“…What a sight.”

It was scathing.

“I agree,” one of the knights added.

“To think an establishment like this would thrive in the capital…”

The knights shared a similar sentiment to Alexei’s.

And for good reason—where they were standing was an illegal gambling den.