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

So, does that mean Alexei requested the tax investigation?

At that moment, the Baroness of Rondini raised her voice.

“It’s an astonishing amount—3,000 groschen!”

…3,000 groschen?

The unexpectedly huge sum took Anriche by surprise.

How much money had they embezzled to incur such a fine?

“We are relatives of Liliana, and we have raised her well until now, haven’t we?”

“So can’t you somehow help us prevent this tax investigation?”

The Baron and Baroness of Rondini began to cling to Anriche, each trying to speak over the other.

Anriche couldn’t hide her incredulous expression.

Was this really all they had to say?

And why should she help them avoid a tax investigation?

“Why are you asking me for help?”

“Well, it’s because the Duchess must have requested the tax investigation…”

“Why are you so sure that I requested it?”

At her retort, the Baron and Baroness froze in place.

‘W-Wait, does that mean the Duke himself requested it?’

Meanwhile, Anriche felt slightly annoyed by their reaction.

‘What’s this? I’m not scary, but the Duke is scary?’

How frustrating.

Anriche’s voice turned automatically cold.

“No organization exists without some dirt.”

“…”

“…”

“That’s why, even during a tax investigation, I believe they usually take circumstances into account.”

This was true.

Just as fish cannot survive in excessively clear water, tax matters were similar.

If you scrutinize too closely, they would only hide deeper into the shadows.

In such a situation, if they were fined to such an extent…

‘It means they didn’t even have the minimum required documents prepared.’

Anriche narrowed her eyes.

“I won’t say you should operate so cleanly that a tax investigation would pose no problems at all.”

“W-Well, still…!”

“But to be able to overlook things to some extent, they should at least consider the circumstances, don’t you think?”

In front of the dazed couple, Anriche shook her head disapprovingly.

“But in that situation, if you’re fined such an astonishing amount…”

Anriche twisted her lips into a smirk.

It was a clear mockery.

“It’s not that you’re ‘dusting off dirt,’ but rather that you’re at a level where ‘dust is gathering even while standing still,’ isn’t it?”

“That’s a valid point.”

At that moment, a cold voice echoed.

The three startled individuals turned around.

Alexei was looking at them with a blank expression.

“Y-Your Grace, the Duke…”

“It’s just that…”

The Baron and Baroness of Rondini tried to make excuses in unison, their faces appearing as if they had just been caught off guard.

But Alexei stepped further into the parlor, as if he didn’t even want to hear their excuses.

With a soft thud of his footsteps, the Baron and Baroness stiffened in place.

His voice, sharp as ice, struck like a whip.

“What kind of rudeness is this towards my wife?”

My wife?

Did the Duke just refer to me as ‘my wife’?

Anriche questioned her ears in disbelief.

***

A moment earlier, just after the noble council meeting had concluded.

Throughout the journey back, Alexei’s mind was filled only with thoughts of Anriche.

‘…She said she would no longer provide financial support to the House of Sachsen.’

Why was that?

Did it mean she wouldn’t rely on her family anymore?

Why the sudden change?

Lost in deep contemplation, Alexei entered the townhouse.

The butler bowed politely.

“Welcome back, my lord.”

“Yes. Is the lady inside?”

“Ah, well…”

The butler hesitated for a moment.

“The Baron and Baroness of Rondini are in audience with her.”

“…The Baron and Baroness of Rondini?”

Alexei narrowed his brows.

Why on earth were they visiting the townhouse of Balua?

Moreover, it didn’t seem like Anriche parted on good terms with the Baroness when she brought Liliana along…

“I see, I need to check on this.”

Alexei quickly made his way forward.

Just as he was about to knock on the parlor door, a sharp voice rang out.

“In such a situation, if you’re facing such an enormous fine…”

It was Anriche.

Without realizing it, Alexei found himself attentively listening to her continuing remarks.

“It’s not that you’re ‘dusting off dirt,’ but rather that you’re at a level where ‘dust gathers even while standing still,’ isn’t it?”

A faint smile spread across Alexei’s lips.

With a soft click, he opened the door.

The Rondini couple looked at him as if they were about to faint.

However, in Alexei’s eyes, only Anriche stood out.

His wife, with her eyes wide open like a startled rabbit, looked oddly cute to him.

“That’s a valid point.”

Regaining his composure, Alexei spoke in a cold tone.

“What kind of rudeness is this towards my wife?”

Under Alexei’s piercing gaze, the Baron and Baroness of Rondini closed their lips tightly.

“To begin with, I was the one who initiated the tax investigation myself.”

“Y-you, Your Grace…”

“So, why are you arguing with me?”

Alexei asked with a hint of sarcasm.

“Instead of bothering my wife unnecessarily.”

A heavy silence hung in the air.

The couple, who had just been babbling away in front of Anriche, now found themselves at a loss for words.

The fact irked Alexei strangely.

Did they think that while they were too afraid to speak up, his wife was an easy target?

His eyes narrowed even further.

“How strange. Just a moment ago, you were blabbering in front of my wife…”

His cold question burrowed deep into the ears of the Rondini couple.

“…Why is it that you can’t say a word in front of me?”

“Y-your Grace, that’s not it. We…”

“The taxation issue is something His Majesty is quite concerned about.”

At the mention of His Majesty, the Baron and Baroness of Rondini shrank even more.

Alexei continued in a sarcastic tone.

“I’ve heard that aside from Liliana’s assets, you’ve been embezzling a substantial amount of the funds allocated to the orphanage by the state.”

Wow, they’ve even embezzled funds meant for the orphanage?

Anriche looked incredulously from one frozen couple to the other.

Perhaps unable to refute his statement, the Baron and Baroness merely clenched their jaws tightly.

“If I were in your position, I would be grateful to resolve the issue with just that fine.”

Alexei tilted his head slightly, letting out a short scoff.

“Are you suggesting that I should defy the Emperor’s command to my wife?”

“No, we would never dare to…”

“Hmm, so it’s unacceptable to defy His Majesty, but…”

Alexei tilted his head slightly, as if he were hearing something very amusing.

Yet his azure eyes were as deep and still as a frozen lake.

“Bothering my wife, the lady of Balua, is acceptable, then.”

“Y-yes…?”

“Otherwise, you wouldn’t come here so brazenly to see my wife.”

It was indeed strange.

Even though Alexei wore a gentle smile, there was an uncanny pressure in the air.

It felt like standing in front of a predator ready to pounce.

‘Is this what it feels like to be in danger?’

Anriche subconsciously raised her hand to rub her suddenly chilled arms.

Her skin was prickling with goosebumps.

If Anriche, merely observing, felt this way, how much more so the Baron and Baroness of Rondini facing this intensity?

“We- we’re sorry…”

“W-we… that is…”

The couple was trembling by now.

“Well, I believe you’re finished with your business here.”

Alexei gestured toward the door with his chin.

It was a clear indication that they should leave immediately.

“I won’t bother to see you out.”

The Baron and Baroness of Rondini, their faces turning beet red, slinked out the door.

Oh, how neatly the situation had been resolved.

Anriche lifted her head, beaming with a bright smile.

“Wow, thank you!”

“Y-yes?”

“Thanks to you, I could get rid of those leeches so early, right?”

Alexei was momentarily spellbound, his gaze fixed on Anriche.

Her radiant smile was simply too beautiful.

At that moment, Anriche tilted her head curiously.

“But what brings you here?”

“Ah.”

Snapping back to reality after being lost in thought, Alexei cleared his throat a couple of times out of embarrassment.

“I have something I’d like to ask.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“I heard you stopped funding the Sachsen Margrave.”

“Oh my, how did you find out?”

Anriche looked at Alexei with her round eyes, though there was no sign of reluctance to answer.

“I heard it from the Margrave himself.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Why did you do that?”

Why is he asking so seriously about something so trivial?

Anriche felt a bit puzzled but answered willingly.

“I was just reconsidering the parts I’m responsible for.”

“Parts you’re responsible for?”

“Yes. I am now the lady of Balua, and I have the duty to manage Balua’s affairs.”