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

***

There was about a week left until the trial.

Balua did her best.

She spared no effort in hiring the best lawyers and gathering evidence.

However, there was an unexpected obstacle, and that was…

“Lily.”

Liliana.

“How are you feeling today, Lily?”

“I’m fine.”

Liliana forced a smile.

But as Anriche faced that smile, her heart grew heavier.

‘She can’t possibly be fine.’

No matter how much the family cared for her, it was difficult to heal the deep wounds in Liliana’s heart.

Of course, Liliana tried to pretend everything was alright for the sake of her family.

But she was still a child.

She couldn’t completely hide her feelings.

‘…She has definitely changed.’

Anriche looked at Liliana with a somber expression.

For example, in sword training.

In the past, Liliana had participated in sword training enthusiastically.

In contrast, nowadays, she wouldn’t even pick up a wooden sword.

It was as if she had lost her will for everything.

She couldn’t focus on anything properly and often sat there in a daze.

The most troubling thing was…

“Aaaaah!!”

She had been having nightmares every night.

“Lily, wake up! Lily!!”

Anriche had already shaken the girl awake more than half a dozen times after hearing her piercing screams.

“Uh, Mom… Dad…”

Liliana struggled to open her eyelids.

But she could only manage to wake up, her hazy eyes lacking focus.

At that moment, all Anriche could do was anxiously urge the child.

“Lily, are you okay? Do you recognize me?”

“Uh, Mother.”

Only then did a faint glimmer return to her mint-green eyes.

At the same time, tears began to roll down the pale cheeks of the girl.

“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry…”

“What are you apologizing for?”

“If, if I cause trouble for Balua this time…”

Her voice, breaking into fragments, pierced Anriche’s heart.

She desperately comforted the girl.

“Don’t think that way.”

“But…”

“If you think like that, it makes me sad too.”

She gently patted the child’s back.

“So for my sake, I hope you won’t think like that.”

“…Ugh.”

At those words, a sound like a moan escaped Liliana’s lips.

They had even consulted a doctor about the girl’s condition.

“This is a matter of the heart.”

“Then…”

“I can provide support, but fundamentally…”

Only somber responses returned.

“Liliana must overcome this herself.”

…That’s right.

Liliana, what am I supposed to do about you…

Just as Anriche was drowning in despair,

“Mother, I’m really fine.”

A gentle voice pulled her back to reality.

“…Lily.”

“So please don’t make that face.”

Shaking her head, Liliana struggled to lift the corners of her lips.

Anriche was at a loss for words.

“…”

Even in this moment, Liliana was trying to comfort Anriche.

“…Lily.”

Anriche embraced Liliana.

The child gently buried her face in Anriche’s arms.

The fact that this was the only thing she could do for Liliana right now…

made her feel incredibly sad.

***

Finally, the day of the trial arrived.

‘I heard the trial would be conducted in three stages.’

Zenith stood in front of the mirror.

The pale-faced girl stared back at her from the reflection.

‘Will everything really be okay?’

Unable to shake off her nerves, Zenith let out a deep sigh.

“…Hah.”

Her mind wandered back to the past.

The reason she was standing in this courtroom as a plaintiff, despite still being a minor, was because of a woman she had met.

‘Her Majesty the Empress.’

The mere thought of that title weighed heavily on her chest, as if a stone had been placed there.

Zenith had met the Empress about three weeks ago.

It was shortly after the entire empire had been stirred up by an illegal gambling scandal.

At that time, Zenith was living a life that was worse than that of an ordinary commoner, having lost the luxurious life she once enjoyed.

Of course, she hadn’t sought work.

Having lived as a noble lady her entire life, she had never even dipped her fingertips in water.

Moreover, she was embarrassed at the thought of starting work, fearing that others would laugh at her.

So, she had spent her time holed up in her room, wasting away what little money she had.

Then one day…

Bang! Bang! Bang!!

Someone knocked harshly on the door.

‘Ah, damn!’

She covered her ears, but it was of no use.

Finally, Zenith, full of irritation, got up from her spot.

‘I told you I would pay the rent soon…!’

As she swung the door open roughly, she paused.

Standing before her was a woman with a large hat that obscured her face.

Not wanting to attract attention, she was dressed in simple clothing.

However, the material of that clothing was incredibly luxurious.

‘W-Who are you…?’

Zenith’s voice trembled slightly.

She instinctively knew that the middle-aged woman before her held a considerable status.

The woman lifted her hat slightly and scanned Zenith’s frail, shabby appearance from head to toe.

‘I have a proposal for you.’

‘A proposal?’

Without even revealing who she was, the woman immediately got to the point.

Her tone was incredibly presumptuous as she spoke informally.

Yet Zenith couldn’t muster a proper retort to her demeanor.

A loud alarm bell rang in her mind.

‘I must not antagonize this lady.’

The woman nodded.

“Yes. It seems we need to go inside to talk.”

“…P-Please, come in.”

Zenith stepped back to allow the woman to enter her room.

The woman walked in confidently, as if she were entering her own home.

“Hmm.”

The woman took a quick look around the shabby room.

Then she frowned and spoke.

“This place looks like a rat’s nest.”

“…”

“It’s dirty, messy… vulgar.”

Zenith felt a surge of anger, but she couldn’t dare to lash out at the woman.

The calmness she exuded, as if she had been born with it, intimidated her.

“Well, to get to the point.”

The woman glanced at Zenith out of the corner of her eye.

“As you may already know, your parents are currently rotting away in prison.”

Zenith’s eyes widened at the blunt statement.

The woman continued in a teasing tone.

“Balua’s wrath won’t subside easily, so they may have to spend their entire lives locked away.”

“That can’t be…!”

“And I am one of the few people who can improve your parents’ treatment.”

At the confident remark, Zenith stared blankly at the woman’s face.

“Who are you, milady?”

The question, barely above a whisper, caused the woman’s expression to harden.

“How amusing.”

The woman’s snake-like, cold eyes pierced through Zenith.

“You, who would never dare to speak to me under normal circumstances, have the audacity to ask a question.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Zenith, frozen in fear, bowed her head repeatedly.

The woman continued in a soft tone.

“From now on, you should be more careful with your words.”

“…”

“If you want to cling to your worthless life for even a moment longer.”

Zenith could no longer muster the courage to speak.

Just then, the woman shrugged lightly.

“But, I suppose revealing who I am will encourage you to cooperate more.”

Then she concluded gracefully.

“I am the Empress of this Empire.”

Did she just say what I think she said?!

Zenith doubted her ears.

The Empress took a step closer to her.

“Liliana Everit, was it? The name of that girl who played a part in your family’s downfall.”

“…”

In that instant, resentment flickered in Zenith’s eyes.

The Empress whispered softly.

“If I were you, I would want to take revenge on that girl. Wouldn’t you?”

“I-I…”

“You’ll be rotting away in this miserable room for the rest of your life…”

The Empress exaggeratedly swept her gaze around the room.

“And that girl is living happily in the House of Duke Balua, isn’t she?”

“…”

Zenith bit her lip until it bled.

The Empress leaned in and whispered sweetly.

“So, how about it? Are you considering cooperating with me?”