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

Trying to Be the Lady of the House

Anri-che had completely replaced the maids who had been in cahoots with Maeg.

Not only that, but she also began to frequent the office, a place she had never entered before.

The servants were astonished by their lady’s transformation.

“Did you hear? The lady has been reviewing the budget plans herself lately.”

“Really? Wow, I never thought I’d see the day.”

“The butler has to report to her regularly now, too.”

In the past, she would have likely dismissed such matters, thinking, “The butler should handle this!”

With the lady’s attitude changing as easily as flipping a hand, the servants felt as if they had entered paradise.

Of course, some held a skeptical view, thinking, “How long will this last?”

“Lately, I feel like the lady has become much kinder than before.”

“Right? Things that would have drawn her wrath before are now overlooked.”

There were many examples that proved Anri-che had genuinely changed.

For instance, there was an incident where a maid accidentally splashed a few drops of water on Anri-che’s dress while cleaning.

“Oh no! I-I’m so sorry, my lady!”

The maid’s face turned as white as a sheet.

Although it was just a tiny stain that would go unnoticed unless looked at closely…

“Oh no, I’m done for!”

The problem was that the owner of the dress was none other than the notorious “wicked lady” Anri-che.

At that moment, when the maid was trembling with fear…

“It’s okay.”

“I’m so sorry, please forgive me just this once… Huh?”

“I said it’s okay.”

Anri-che nonchalantly gestured toward the bucket of water.

“That water is clean anyway, isn’t it?”

“Yes? Yes, it is, but…”

The maid nodded blankly.

Since she was sweeping the floor at the time, the water was indeed clean.

Upon hearing that, Anri-che shrugged her shoulders.

“Well, then that’s enough.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It’s not even noticeable.”

With that, she breezily walked past the maid.

The maid gazed blankly at Anri-che’s retreating figure.

After that day, she spread the miraculous news of her experience throughout the neighborhood.

Following that incident, numerous testimonies began to emerge, all “proving that the lady had changed.”

“So, where is the lady now?”

“Huh? Well, of course…”

The maid, proud of the lady’s transformation, concluded with a satisfied voice.

“She’s in the office.”

***

At that moment, Anri-che was slumped in the office chair.

Her eyes, filled with exhaustion, blankly stared at the mountain of documents piled high.

“No, no matter how many times I look, these documents never seem to end…”

If I had known it would be like this, I should have just continued being a lazy lady!

She buried her face in her hands and squirmed in frustration.

Anri-che’s misfortune had begun with a thoughtless suggestion she had made.

“I want to be involved in household management from now on.”

The instant she said that, a look of joy filled the butler’s face.

“Is that really true?”

“Uh, yeah? It really is, but…”

“Hurrah!”

The butler, wearing a cheerful expression, started stacking documents neatly on Anri-che’s desk.

With a stunned look, Anri-che shot a question at the butler.

“What is all this?”

“These are the budget plans for the townhouse that you need to review immediately.”

All of these massive documents… are just related to the townhouse budget?

Anri-che swallowed hard.

But the butler’s words were not finished yet.

“I’ll organize the reports coming from the Duchy of Valua and send them back to you.”

“So you’re saying these documents aren’t everything?”

“Of course not. There are a few more minor territories we own as well.”

Clenching his fists excitedly, he murmured with a dreamy voice,

“Finally, I can sleep for more than five hours a day…”

…Hearing such things, there was no way Anri-che could turn her back on the butler.

She couldn’t overcome her pangs of conscience, and so she had opened the gates to hell for herself.

“Haah.”

Letting out a long sigh, Anri-che picked up a stack of documents.

Despite mentally grumbling about various complaints, her hands were meticulous as she carefully examined the papers and checked for any discrepancies.

Then, suddenly…

“Huh?”

Anri-che furrowed her brow.

She had discovered something unusual.

It was…

“Something’s off with my allowance.”

Narrowing her eyes, Anri-che looked down at the records of her allocated funds.

She received a substantial allowance every month.

Until now, she had thought that amount was simply set to accommodate the lavish lifestyle of the previous Anri-che before her reincarnation, but…

“More than half of the allowance is being sent to the Duke of Sachsen’s household?”

The Duke of Sachsen was Anri-che’s family home.

After the passing of the former duke, her younger brother had inherited the title.

The previous Anri-che had apparently assumed it was only natural to send that allowance to her brother…

“No, why should I be giving this?”

Now, Anri-che could only look down at the documents with a skeptical gaze.

She tried to recall her memories step by step.

The current Duke of Sachsen—her younger brother—was a person who took “the sacrifices of the family” for granted.

Unlike Anri-che, who would become a member of another family after marriage, her brother was the precious son who would inherit the family name.

He was the center of their family.

Having grown up monopolizing their parents’ love, her brother even treated his older sister like a subordinate.

And Anri-che had crawled on her hands and knees before him.

She believed that only by not crossing her brother’s mood could she receive her parents’ affection.

“Hm…”

While Anri-che was lost in deep thought, a short knock sounded.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

The person who entered was none other than the butler.

He carried a tray with some snacks and a teapot.

“How are things going? Are you managing?”

“Um… I’m extremely tired… but I know, it’s all my karma.”

The butler smirked at her pained voice.

As he placed the tray on her desk, he added in a kind tone,

“Oh, these cookies were made by Lady Liliana and Young Master Elliot themselves.”

“Really?”

“Yes. They asked me to tell you, ‘Hang in there.’”

Ugh, how cute!

Anri-che imagined the two children making cookies with their tiny hands.

Covering her mouth with both hands, she began to tap her fingers excitedly on the armrest of her chair.

Ahh! Our little ones are just too adorable!

“Why don’t you take a break and have some tea?”

“Sure, I’ll take care of this first.”

Anri-che took a bite of a chocolate chip cookie and pulled out one of the documents.

The butler, glancing at the document absentmindedly, was suddenly taken aback.

“This is the record of your allowance expenditures, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. And…”

Picking up a pen, Anri-che drew a bold line through the words “Duke of Sachsen.”

“From now on, don’t send a single penny to the Duke of Sachsen’s household.”

“B-but is that really okay? That was the amount you instructed to be sent…”

“So what? I’m the one who instructed to give that money, so I can also instruct not to send it from now on.”

Anri-che replied nonchalantly.

Then, as if she had just remembered something, she added,

“Oh, and I’m planning to reduce my allowance by half.”

“W-what?”