When I Quit Being A Wicked Mother-in-law, Everyone Became Obsessed With Me - Chapter 173

“Oh my, our little princess has arrived!”

“What brings you here?”

The kitchen maids welcomed the little princess with great enthusiasm.

“Everyone must have missed me!”

Beatrice perked up, as if she had never been sulky at all.

“Of course!”

“Our princess is the best!”

The maids responded dramatically to boost Beatrice’s spirits.

Currently, Beatrice was walking briskly down the corridor, clutching a bottle of fruit juice tightly in her arms.

However, due to her small size, the juice bottle kept slipping from her grasp.

“Do you want me to hold it for you?”

Liliana casually suggested.

“No, I’m fine!”

Beatrice quickly shook her head.

“I’ll take it to my brother!”

“Alright, go ahead.”

Liliana chuckled softly.

After a bit of time had passed, they finally arrived at Elliot’s workshop.

Elliot had converted an entire annex of the townhouse into his workshop.

Knock, knock, knock.

Anriche knocked lightly on the workshop door.

After a brief moment, Elliot peeked his head out with a weary expression.

“What is it? I don’t need lunch… Oh.”

Elliot blinked in surprise.

“Mom? Bella and Liliana too?”

“Yes, I came to make sure you wouldn’t say something like that.”

Anriche nodded solemnly.

“You know it’s good to work hard, but you must not skip meals, right?”

“Yes, I remember.”

Elliot stepped back a bit, looking somewhat awkward.

“Please come in.”

***

Elliot led his family into the room.

It was a relief that he was using the entire annex, as there was a clean room available for resting.

After clearing some clutter from the table, Elliot looked down at his sister.

“What’s that you’re holding so tightly?”

“This?”

Beatrice beamed as she held out the juice bottle.

“I brought it for you!”

“…For me?”

“Yep! That’s why I brought it!”

Elliot turned his head away nonchalantly, but Anriche had already seen the flush creeping up behind his ears.

‘Everyone knows he dotes on his little sister.’

Anriche clicked her tongue inwardly.

‘He’s trying so hard not to show it, too.’

The whole family knew that Elliot was smitten with his sister, to the same extent as Liliana.

For reference, Liliana’s usual catchphrase was,

“Our Bella is the cutest in the world!”

Elliot accepted the juice bottle from Beatrice.

“Sit down, Bella.”

“Okay!”

Beatrice obediently took her seat.

The family began to eat the snacks.

Of course, Liliana prioritized Beatrice’s meal over her own.

“Is this your favorite, Bella?”

She piled food onto Beatrice’s plate while asking her.

“Oh dear, Bella, you got jam on your lips.”

Liliana took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped Beatrice’s mouth.

Elliot narrowed his eyes and asked,

“Liliana.”

“Yeah?”

“Did you come to see me?”

“Of course, why?”

“Then why are you only taking care of Bella?”

In contrast to the full plate of food Liliana was serving Beatrice, Elliot’s plate remained empty.

But Liliana responded as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Well, Bella is cuter.”

“…”

“…”

Anriche and Elliot couldn’t hide their incredulous expressions.

However, Liliana still wasn’t finished.

“When I look at Bella, I can’t help but think that our mother must have been this adorable when she was little…”

And then she gazed at her sister-in-law with rapturous eyes.

Elliot shot Anriche a resentful look.

“This is all your fault, Mom.”

“What did I do?”

Anriche was flabbergasted.

***

A few days later.

The Balua family headed to the Antella Exhibition Hall in the center of the city.

It was the venue for Elliot’s solo exhibition.

“Elliot!”

At his mother’s call, Elliot turned around, his face lighting up as he surveyed the displayed works.

His eyes widened in surprise as he approached.

“Wow, Dad is here too?”

“It’s your first solo exhibition, how could I not come?”

Alexei grinned with a smile.

Beatrice, who was nestled in her father’s arms, waved her little hand excitedly.

“Brother, I’m here too!”

At the same time, Liliana cheerfully offered her congratulations.

“Congratulations, Elliot.”

“Ah… thank you.”

“This is a gift.”

Liliana handed a bouquet to Elliot, who accepted it with a blush on his face.

While he felt a bit shy receiving attention from his family, he didn’t seem to mind it too much.

“I wish Mother could have come along as well.”

Anriche muttered with a wistful expression.

Delphina had recently returned to the Duchy.

It was only natural since she couldn’t leave the Duchy unattended for long, but…

“Well, I think it’s good for Mother to have her own personal time too,” Alexei replied a bit too firmly.

From his perspective, it was only to be expected.

After all, he never knew when Delphina might try to monopolize Anriche again.

Meanwhile, Anriche was completely oblivious to her husband’s sly intentions.

She was too busy taking in her surroundings.

“By the way, there are quite a lot of people here, aren’t there?”

To her surprise, the exhibition was bustling with visitors.

“This painting is so beautiful, isn’t it?”

“I really like this sculpture.”

As the ladies chatted, they beckoned a staff member.

“I’d like to buy this painting.”

“Understood.”

Beatrice exclaimed in awe as she watched,

“Wow, your painting sold, brother!”

“…Indeed.”

Elliot tried to act nonchalant, but he couldn’t suppress the twitching at the corners of his mouth.

And at that moment,

“What a splendid exhibition, Duke Balua.”

A voice of praise rang out.

The Balua family turned in surprise.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince?!”

It was none other than Crown Prince Frederick.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

The Balua family hurriedly offered their greetings to Frederick.

He raised a finger to his lips and smiled slightly.

“I just wanted to quietly see your faces, but if you greet me like that, it gets a bit chaotic.”

“Well, if that’s the case…”

Alexei quickly regained his composure.

Frederick opened his mouth in surprise.

“Aren’t you switching gears a bit too quickly?”

“You told me to do so, Your Highness.”

“…Let’s not talk about that.”

Frederick sighed.

Fortunately, no one recognized the Crown Prince, who was dressed modestly.

As he admired the exhibited works for a moment, Frederick spoke up.

“I’ve heard the public calling Duke Balua a genius, and that assessment is quite fitting.”

“Too much praise.”

Elliot slightly lowered his head.

After exchanging a few compliments and humble words, the Crown Prince turned to Liliana.

“By the way, Lady Everitt.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I’ve heard your swordsmanship is quite remarkable.”

That was indeed true.

She had received offers to enroll as a formal student at the prestigious Academy instead of just observing.

Frederick, gazing intently at Liliana, suddenly asked,

“Are you considering taking the position of my guardian knight?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Not at all?”

The immediate response, without the slightest hesitation, widened the Crown Prince’s eyes.

The position of a guardian knight for the Crown Prince was one of the most coveted honors for knights.

Yet, Liliana continued confidently.

“I want to be the lady of Balua and inherit Balua’s swordsmanship.”

“…I see.”

The Crown Prince nodded with a satisfied expression.

He had merely intended to offer an opportunity to the daughter of the respected Count Everitt.

From the beginning, he had planned to respect Liliana’s wishes.

“I enjoyed the exhibition. We shall meet again at the palace, Duke Balua.”

“Please take care.”

With that, after the Crown Prince departed,

Anriche turned her gaze toward Liliana.

“Are you really okay with that?”

“Of course. Why do you ask such a natural question?”

Liliana looked at Anriche with a somewhat bewildered expression.

“I’m a member of Balua, after all.”

“…I see.”

Anriche felt a lump in her throat.

Just then, Alexei leaned in to whisper to Anriche.

“Riche, don’t you think we’ve raised a wonderful daughter-in-law?”

“I agree.”

Anriche smiled sweetly, her expression bright like a clear sky after rain.