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

At that moment, the carriage came to a stop.

They had arrived at Jenit’s house.

“Well then, stay put until I contact you again.”

With those words, the Empress swiftly exited the carriage, leaving a cold breeze in her wake.

Jenit stared blankly at her retreating figure.

‘Something went wrong.’

It felt as if she had stepped into a swamp.

When she regained her senses, she found herself in a situation where she could neither advance nor retreat.

‘But now, I can’t just back out.’

She had committed perjury, claiming that the Zasac family was involved in the production of counterfeit money while framing both the Everitt and Valois families.

Would the Valois simply let her go?

‘Of course not.’

Jenit clenched her teeth.

‘The Empress is right.’

Because of that girl, Liliana, the Londini family was unjustly brought to ruin.

‘So… that girl should suffer just as much as I do.’

A fierce fire ignited in Jenit’s eyes.

That flame was named hatred.

Anriche and her group returned to the townhouse.

Delfina and Elliot, who had been anxiously waiting for them, couldn’t hide their shock.

Liliana, who had seemed fine when they left, was now pale and nestled in Alexei’s arms.

“Oh my, why is Liliana in your arms?”

“Lil, are you okay?”

The two of them threw questions back and forth.

Liliana gazed at them blankly.

‘I have to say I’m okay.’

She had promised herself she wouldn’t cause any more worry.

…But her lips wouldn’t move.

However,

‘No, I shouldn’t let them see me suffer any more than this.’

Liliana steeled her resolve.

She was already in a situation where both the Everitt and Valois families were falsely accused because of the incident.

“I think Liliana is just a bit in shock.”

At that moment, Anriche interjected into the conversation.

“I think it’s best for her to rest in her room for a while.”

“…Alright, let’s do that.”

Delfina nodded with a concerned look on her face.

“….”

Liliana felt guilty even for being the center of their worried gazes.

She buried her head deeper into Alexei’s embrace as if to escape.

Everyone tried to comfort Liliana in any way they could.

‘Lil, about this incident…’

‘It’s definitely not your fault, okay?’

But sadly, none of those comforting words reached Liliana.

‘I’m sorry, I just want to be alone.’

‘…Alright, if that’s how you truly feel.’

Anriche stepped back with a sympathetic expression.

‘But if there’s anything troubling you, please be sure to tell me, understood?’

‘Yes.’

Liliana nodded weakly.

Days passed.

She remained holed up in her room.

Unable to stand seeing his fiancée like this, Elliot decided to step in.

***

Knock, knock.

A knocking sound echoed.

“Lil.”

“……”

No matter how long he waited, there was no response.

Elliot looked somewhat perplexed.

‘Is she sleeping?’

He first placed the snack tray he had brought, worried that Liliana might be hungry, on the floor.

When he turned the doorknob slightly, he found the door was unlocked.

Elliot narrowed his eyes slightly.

“I’m coming in.”

“……”

Once again, there was no reply.

With a click, Elliot opened the door and stepped into the room, feeling a jolt in his heart.

The room was dark, with the curtains drawn.

Liliana lay under the blankets on the bed.

‘Could it be that she’s been like this all day?’

Elliot wore a helpless expression.

“Lil, you haven’t eaten all day, have you?”

“……”

“You can’t just lie there like that forever.”

“……”

“Really, is this how you want to be?”

Elliot couldn’t hide the worry in his eyes.

As he set the snack tray on the table, he tried to engage her again.

“You need to eat something, okay?”

But then, a small whisper reached his ears.

“It’s because of me.”

“What?”

Elliot couldn’t conceal his shock as he looked down at Liliana, wrapped up in her blanket like a cocoon.

“It’s because of me… that Valois is in trouble.”

“Lil.”

“Really… could my mom and dad have really circulated counterfeit money?”

Liliana bit her lip tightly.

Counterfeit money.

Even at her young age, she understood how serious an issue it was.

‘Lil, come here.’

‘Our beloved daughter.’

Her parents’ warm voices echoed in her ears.

Until now, she had firmly believed that they would never do such a thing.

‘But.’

What if Jenit’s words were true, even just a little bit…?

“That can’t be.”

Just then, a firm voice interrupted Liliana’s thoughts.

It was Elliot.

“Lil, just look at me for a moment.”

“……”

“Huh?”

After several coaxing attempts, Liliana finally peeked out from the blanket.

Her amethyst eyes, resembling Anriche’s, gazed straight at Elliot.

“Do you really think your parents would do something like that?”

“No!”

But just as she had become defensive, she weakly shook her head.

“Still… it’s true that I don’t know the details about this situation.”

Unable to hold back her rising emotions, Liliana clenched her tiny fist tightly.

“If something like that really happened….”

“No.”

“Huh?”

At Elliot’s reply, Liliana blinked in confusion.

“If, by any chance, something like that happened, our mom and dad would have told you beforehand.”

His voice was filled with unwavering trust in her parents.

“Have our mom and dad ever lied to you?”

“…No.”

“See?”

Elliot shrugged lightly.

“Your parents haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Elliot.”

“More than anything, your parents wouldn’t want to see you so downcast.”

As he spoke, Elliot placed a fork in Liliana’s hand.

Then he gently whispered, “Remember? There was a time you came to find me with some snacks.”

“When… oh.”

A faint light shimmered in her verdant eyes.

He was referring to the time when Elliot felt frustrated watching Liliana’s swordsmanship and took up a brush to overcome it.

“It really helped me when you did that back then.”

“Well, that was…”

“So I want to be a source of strength for you too.”

His voice was filled with sincerity.

Liliana quietly looked down at the fork she was holding.

After a moment, the fork moved.

Liliana cut a large piece of the potato pancake and put it in her mouth.

The savory taste filled her mouth.

“…It’s delicious.”

With her mouth full of pancake, tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Thank you, Elliot…”

***

Meanwhile, Anriche was deep in thought.

‘For everything to be resolved, the truth about the counterfeit money needs to come to light.’

If they could find out who was behind the production and circulation of the counterfeit money, both the Everett and Valois families could naturally clear their names.

Moreover, Alexei had testified that he witnessed the empress with Jenit.

While others might misinterpret things, Alexei was not one of them.

He was the Empire’s greatest knight and possessed physical abilities superior to anyone else in the Empire.

‘I suspect the empress has some involvement, but I have no evidence to back it up.’

At the very least, if they could understand how the counterfeit money was circulated, it would make things easier…

“Haah.”

As Anriche sighed deeply, a thought struck her.

‘Wait a minute. The distribution network?’

In an instant, she felt as if a hammer had struck her head, and her eyes widened in shock.

There was someone.

An expert familiar with the distribution network throughout the Empire.

Moreover, someone who wouldn’t be swayed by the temptations of the empress and the first prince.

That person was…