When I Quit Being A Wicked Mother-in-law, Everyone Became Obsessed With Me - Chapter 157

***

Lilliana had no idea in what state of mind she had boarded the carriage.

She gazed blankly at Anriche, who was lying inside, her eyes glazed over.

“Mother.”

The child’s lips trembled slightly.

‘It seems she’s been poisoned.’

The doctor who had rushed over earlier had said this with a serious expression:

“You need to get her professional treatment as soon as possible.”

So, after only receiving basic first aid, Anriche was laid in a carriage heading to the Valois townhouse.

Throughout this time, Lilliana had never left Anriche’s side.

‘I can’t cry…’

Her vision kept blurring, making it difficult to focus.

She nervously wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks.

‘I should be taking care of Mother instead of crying…’

Just then, she looked down at her palm, feeling a sticky sensation.

It was covered in blood.

Blood that had been vomited by Anriche.

“…Ugh.”

A suppressed sob escaped her lips.

But,

‘No, I have to be strong.’

Lilliana forced herself to regain her composure.

The image of her mother collapsing weighed heavily on her mind.

The bright red blood staining the front of her dress and her face, which had lost all color in an instant.

‘…She must be in pain.’

Yet, at that moment, Anriche had said,

“Lily, I’m fine…”

She had tried to reassure Lilliana, somehow.

‘So, this time I must be the one to help Mother.’

Lilliana squeezed Anriche’s hand with determination.

At that moment, the child’s shoulders stiffened.

‘…It’s cold.’

Anriche’s hand was icy to the touch.

It felt like she was touching ice.

Unable to hold back her overwhelming emotions, Lilliana spoke up.

“Mother.”

“…”

“I’m sorry.”

If it had been normal times, Anriche would have laughed and said, “Didn’t I tell you not to say you’re sorry?!”

But now, Anriche simply lay there with her eyes gently closed.

“Because of this incident… if you end up suffering a lot…”

Lilliana’s face twisted in anguish.

“I… I would never be able to hold my head high for the rest of my life.”

She hadn’t wanted to cry.

She really hadn’t…

Yet tears flowed down her cheeks once more, mixing with the bloodstains.

“You said you wanted me to live… proudly.”

Lilliana enveloped Anriche’s hand with both of her own,

Hoping her mother’s icy hand would warm up even just a little.

“If I want to be brave in front of everyone, you have to be by my side, Mother. So…”

Lilliana pressed her forehead against Anriche’s hand as if in prayer.

“…You’ll wake up, won’t you?”

Her voice trembled, laced with tears.

***

A carriage rushed into the Valois townhouse.

A moment later,

The townhouse became as bustling as a disturbed beehive.

“What on earth is happening?”

“Lady…”

Having already received news from the juvenile detention center, they had somewhat prepared themselves, but

Seeing Anriche in such a critical state in person was truly shocking.

Everyone gathered around the carriage, looking as if they might faint.

And then, at that moment,

“Everyone, take your positions!!”

A commanding voice rang out.

Pushing through the panicked servants, Delphina stepped forward.

“First, move the lady to her bedroom and have the attending physician check on her condition.”

After initiating the response, Delphina shot a piercing glance at the butler.

“What about the doctors we summoned from the hospital?”

“They should arrive shortly.”

“Good.”

Nodding, Delphina turned her gaze to Lilliana one last time.

“And Lilliana…”

Lilliana looked up at Delphina with a pale face.

Tears and blood stained her cheeks, hinting at the urgency of the situation.

“…”

Seeing the child, who looked as though she might collapse at any moment, made Delphina’s heart ache.

“…I’m sorry.”

Her dry lips quivered as she spoke.

“If I hadn’t suggested going to see Lady Zenith, then… if that hadn’t happened…”

The tears she had held back now flowed freely.

Delphina stepped closer to Lilliana.

“I’m truly, truly sorry…”

Unable to meet Delphina’s gaze, Lilliana hunched her shoulders and bowed her head.

At that moment, Delphina wrapped her arms tightly around Lilliana.

“You must have been so scared.”

“G-Grandmother.”

Lilliana’s eyes widened in surprise.

Delphina gently patted Lilliana’s back.

“It’s okay. You’ll be okay…”

“…Ugh.”

A choked sob escaped.

Lilliana began to cry uncontrollably, her shoulders shaking.

Delphina held Lilliana tightly for a long time.

***

Before long, doctors from the hospital arrived.

Anriche began to receive proper treatment.

Meanwhile, seeing his mother being brought in, Elliot was in a state of panic.

“Is Mom going to die? Is that what’s happening?”

“That’s absolutely not the case, so don’t worry.”

Delphina tried her best to reassure her grandson, but Elliot’s tears showed no signs of stopping.

At that moment, a faint voice called out to Elliot.

“…Elliot.”

“…”

At the sound, Elliot grit his teeth and turned to Lilliana.

Lilliana, who hadn’t even had time to change her clothes, faced Elliot with a pale white face, like a blank sheet of paper.

“I-I’m sorry… really…”

Not finishing her sentence, Lilliana bit her lip, barely holding back the tears that threatened to spill over.

“…”

Elliot gazed at Lilliana silently.

In truth, he understood the situation to some extent.

Zenith had tried to attack Lilliana, and their mother had stepped in front of her to protect her.

At that moment, anger flared in Elliot’s violet eyes.

‘It’s your fault.’

A feeling of resentment emerged, something he had never thought before.

‘If you hadn’t suggested going to see Zenith, then Mom wouldn’t have been brought here, bleeding!’

…But.

“…”

After a long silence, Elliot clenched his fist tightly.

His voice came out hoarse and strained.

“It’s not your fault.”

Because he knew.

He knew this incident wasn’t Lilliana’s fault.

So, getting angry at Lilliana was just shifting the blame onto a victim.

Lilliana’s pale green eyes widened.

She stammered, speaking as if she had just learned how to talk.

“B-but still. Mother protected me and…”

“If you say that, Mom will get angry.”

Elliot forced a smile, pushing the corners of his lips up.

“She wouldn’t have protected you just to hear that.”

“Elliot.”

“She would definitely say that.”

And she wouldn’t want me to resent you either.

Elliot held back the words he couldn’t bring himself to say.

Taking a deep breath, he turned the conversation to Lilliana.

“So.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you hurt?”

“…”

Lilliana looked at Elliot with an expression she couldn’t quite describe.

Then she nodded while trying to hold back her tears.

“Yeah, I’m not hurt…”

“That’s a relief.”

Elliot continued with a forced cheerful voice.

“Then let’s go wash up and change our clothes.”

However, Lilliana showed no intention of moving.

‘Mother is lying there, how can I just go…’

She felt an overwhelming sense of guilt toward Anriche.

But at that moment,

“Quickly.”

Elliot firmly grabbed Lilliana’s hand.

Delphina, who had been watching the situation, quickly called over a maid.

“I need to keep an eye on the lady, so you’ll take care of the young lady and young master to their room instead.”

“Of course.”

The maid, unable to hide her concern, gently spoke to the children.

“Let’s go.”

“…”

Elliot urged Lilliana once again, who was silent.

“Lily, let’s go.”

“…Okay.”

The two children followed the maid out, their faces somber.

They didn’t let go of each other’s hands until they reached the room.