When I Quit Being A Wicked Mother-in-law, Everyone Became Obsessed With Me - Chapter 178

Webtoon Special Side Story

Debutante Party.

A celebration where young boys and girls from noble families are recognized as adults for the first time.

The debutante party is a day eagerly awaited by all the children of noble families.

As such, it was natural for a strange sense of excitement to be felt in high society during this time. However, the recent atmosphere was exceptionally electrifying.

And this was because, at this debutante party…

“Have you heard the news?”

“Of course! The Marquise of Sachsen is finally debuting in high society!”

Beatrice von Balua, the youngest daughter of the Duke of Balua, had received imperial approval at a young age to inherit the title of Marquise of Sachsen.

She was one of the highest-ranking ladies in the Empire.

People’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Who will be the Marquise’s partner?”

“Who knows? I bet requests for partnership are pouring in at the Balua residence right about now!”

“Definitely! I think I’d be incredibly stressed about it!”

One of the ladies spoke subtly.

“Honestly, Lady Beatrice can’t help but be popular, even without her status, right?”

This was true.

She had inherited her mother Anriche’s beauty, who was known as one of the most beautiful women in society, with soft, flowing chestnut hair.

And the distinctive blue eyes of the Balua family.

Beatrice was undeniably a stunning girl who could shine anywhere.

“I wonder how much Balua will be worrying about this too.”

“Exactly. I’m really curious who the lucky man will be to partner with the young lady!”

Then another lady burst into a laugh.

“Come on, we also have to consider the chance that there might not be a lucky man at all.”

With that one remark, the ladies present brightened with mischief in their eyes.

“Ah ha, that’s true, isn’t it?”

“Of course! The Balua family dotes on their youngest daughter so much.”

One lady shrugged her shoulders after taking a sip of tea.

“I think the Duke or the young Duke are the most likely to escort her.”

And now…

The center of attention in high society, Lady Beatrice, was…

“Brother, isn’t this too much?!”

With her hands on her hips, she raised her voice at her much older brother.

Elliot stood before his younger sister, holding his throbbing forehead.

“Bella, please calm down first…”

“Really! This is my first debut in society!”

Beatrice cried out, looking extremely upset.

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this day?!”

“Bella.”

“Why should I have to enter the debutante party holding Dad’s or your hand? That’s just too unfair!”

The ladies’ predictions had come true.

In fact, it was common for debutantes to partner with their fathers or brothers rather than peers.

However, Beatrice wasn’t completely without a point.

“But still! Every time I try to read the letters, you keep interrupting me!!”

Beatrice stamped her feet in frustration.

Indeed, every time she sat nervously, eager to open the many letters sent by young noblemen, her brother would always chime in with remarks like,

“Bella, are you really going to partner with that young nobleman? Your standards are surprisingly low!”

“I heard that guy’s swordsmanship is even worse than Liliana’s!”

Her brother would sit too close, always nitpicking!

Even her sister Liliana would sneakily take a seat nearby, offering unsolicited advice!

“Honestly, having a young nobleman who’s weaker than me as Bella’s partner isn’t right.”

Seriously, was it even fair to compare her with Liliana, who was known as one of the Empire’s greatest knights, after their father?

Even their father would chime in,

“I agree with Liliana. I can’t allow Bella to have a partner weaker than her.”

And he subtly took Liliana’s side against her!

Frustrated with the whole situation, Beatrice rushed to Anriche.

“Mom!”

The ultimate power in the household, she had executed the “telling Mom” tactic.

Anriche sighed deeply and comforted her daughter.

“You need to understand. They’re all worried about you.”

“They’re all too much! I’m grown up now!”

Beatrice buried her face in Anriche’s lap, looking teary-eyed.

“That’s…”

Anriche struggled to find the right words and simply smiled.

In truth, she didn’t completely fail to understand why her family acted this way.

After all…

“Do you think there’s a chance that one of the young noblemen who sent me letters is my destined love?”

Yes, that’s exactly why they were acting like this.

Anriche suppressed a sigh, wishing she could let it out.

Beatrice had recently become completely engrossed in a romance novel she had read late.

The catalyst was a reading group that Beatrice had recently attended.

Beatrice inherently had a mischievous temperament.

She showed no interest in the etiquette, foreign languages, or conversation skills expected of a noble lady.

Instead, she would climb trees while gripping the hem of her dress or run wildly around the garden.

She truly resembled a young foal.

Following her daughter around, Anriche and Alexei had finally waved the white flag.

Thus, they found the reading group.

They hoped that associating with well-mannered friends of a similar age might help her improve a little.

Honestly, Beatrice had no interest in quiet hobbies like embroidery or painting, so Anriche thought she would quit the reading group after a few visits.

Surprisingly, Beatrice continued attending the reading group regularly.

Once, feeling proud of her perseverance, Anriche casually asked,

“So, what book did you read today?”

Beatrice blushed and replied coyly, “Um, it’s a secret.”

Until that point, Anriche assumed Beatrice just wanted to keep a secret from her friends, as teenage girls often do.

But that was her mistake.

“No way! I at least thought she was reading something like a cultural book.”

Who would have guessed it was a romance novel?

The girls in the reading group devoured dozens of romance novels in order,

filling their heads with fantasies about the handsome male protagonists and delicate female leads,

until they eventually believed they could have a dramatic love story just like the heroines in the novels!

“Bella, while intense romances are nice, I think at your age, it’d be better to read some cultural books first.”

“Mom is right. Should I read with my sister?”

Anriche and Liliana, who finally understood the situation, tried to intervene.

“Mom and sister, you should read this just once. It’s really incredibly fun!”

Beatrice’s eyes sparkled as she attempted to sell her romance novel to her mother and sister…

“No, I’m not into romance.”

“Me neither.”

Anriche and Liliana rejected Beatrice’s sales pitch.

The two married women had long since learned all about the bittersweetness of romance.

Then Beatrice narrowed her eyes.

As if to say, ‘How sad that Mom and sister don’t understand the beauty of romance!’

‘What gives you the right to look at me like that?’

‘Bella, you haven’t even been married yet!’

The two married women, suddenly receiving that look from an unmarried lady, were completely taken aback…

‘Oh right, that did happen.’

Anriche chuckled softly and ruffled her puffy-cheeked daughter’s hair.

It was hard to believe that her once little Beatrice was already on the brink of her debutante party.

Time truly seemed to fly by.

“Mom, what about my partner for the debutante party?”

Just then, Beatrice asked Anriche with her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Anriche replied,

“I think it would be best for you to attend this debutante party with your brother or father.”

Without a hint of hesitation, she shattered Beatrice’s hopes.

Beatrice’s face fell, and she pouted.

“I hate you, Mom!”