When I Quit Being A Wicked Mother-in-law, Everyone Became Obsessed With Me - Chapter 179

That evening.

“You’re home, Alexei?”

Anriche warmly embraced Alexei as he returned.

Smiling faintly, Alexei kissed her cheek and asked, “What did you do today?”

“Ah…”

At that question, exhaustion immediately swept over Anriche’s face.

“Hm?”

Alexei looked at his wife with a puzzled expression.

But only for a moment.

“Bella… threw a tantrum about her debutante partner.”

“I see…”

Completely understanding the fatigue his wife was feeling, Alexei muttered as if sighing.

It made sense, considering how she’d been dealing with it for days.

“There are two weeks left until the debutante ball, right?”

“…”

“…”

The couple fell silent, their mood suddenly heavy.

The thought of enduring Beatrice’s whims for another two weeks weighed on them.

After a moment, Anriche forced a smile and changed the subject.

“More importantly, Mother is planning to come to the capital this time.”

“…Mother’s coming again?”

Alexei couldn’t help but grimace.

It was no surprise, considering Delphina treated trips to the capital as if she were visiting her own home.

Because the seasons were changing, because she was feeling restless, because she missed her grandchildren and daughter-in-law, because it had been a while since she’d gone on a date with her daughter-in-law…

The reasons were endless.

For the record, among all those countless reasons, not a single one involved Alexei.

“Bella is making her debut in society this time.”

Anriche shrugged her shoulders.

“We need to have a new dress tailored for her, and she’ll need accessories and shoes as well. So, Mother and Lily are coming along to help with shopping.”

“I see…”

Alexei let out a groan and mumbled to himself.

Just thinking about how much more time Delphina would take away from Anriche once she arrived in the capital was enough to make his stomach churn…

“Alexei.”

Anriche softly wrapped her arms around Alexei’s neck.

Her violet eyes, reminiscent of violets, gazed up at him intently.

Then she whispered gently.

“When Mother arrives, I’ll probably be very busy.”

“Riche.”

“So…”

Anriche left a light, bird-like kiss on Alexei’s lips.

Then, with a sweet smile, she said,

“I’d like to spend some cozy time together as husband and wife right now. Would that be okay?”

At her whisper, Alexei’s blue eyes darkened, deep like the night.

It was the start of a long evening.

***

A Few Days Later

Delphina arrived in the capital.

“Grandmother!”

Beatrice ran over to her and hugged her tightly.

Delphina narrowed her eyes slightly and scolded her.

“How can a lady about to have her debutante ball run around like a foal?”

But contrary to her words, her hands gently stroked Beatrice’s back.

“You must have had a tiring journey,” Anriche greeted her with a warm smile.

“Have you been keeping well?” Liliana added, her face bright with delight.

Delphina returned their greetings with a radiant smile.

“Of course, I’ve been well. And how have you all been?”

“We’ve been fine.”

Though… dealing with Beatrice’s romantic fantasies has been exhausting…

Anriche and Liliana both wore tired expressions in unison.

Noticing this, Delphina tilted her head and asked,

“Shall we head to Le Morgan Street right away?”

“You’ve just arrived; wouldn’t it be better to rest a bit first?”

“No need. I’m eager to see Bella dressed up.”

“In that case…”

And so, the group set off for Le Morgan Street.

As she gazed out at the passing scenery, Liliana was swept up in nostalgia.

“Mother, do you remember?”

“Hm?”

“The first time I met you, you bought me a new outfit here.”

“Oh, that’s right. I did.”

Anriche smiled faintly.

“You were so adorable back then, Lily.”

“Oh, Mother, stop it.”

“Why such a reaction? I’m being sincere.”

Her golden hair, as radiant as newly bloomed spring flowers, and her green eyes, fresh like young sprouts.

At seven years old, Liliana had looked so angelic that one could almost believe she was hiding a pair of angel wings on her back.

Her cuteness was so overwhelming that the noblewomen in their circle couldn’t help but gush, “Our Liliana is the cutest, isn’t she?”

And now, Anriche thought to herself with satisfaction, “She’s grown into a fine young lady.”

As she was enjoying these thoughts, the carriage stopped in front of a high-end boutique.

Anriche turned to Beatrice.

“Shall we start by getting your dress tailored?”

“Yes!”

And so, the family entered the boutique.

* * *

Fitting Beatrice’s dress wasn’t particularly difficult.

Of course, the dress was important, but fundamentally, the key to elegance was the wearer.

With her looks inherited directly from Anriche, Beatrice was undoubtedly the most beautiful girl in the capital.

Naturally, any fabric or lace draped on her seemed as if it was made just for her.

However, the Valois family was plagued by a different kind of exhaustion—

The endless romantic fantasies of Beatrice.

“It’s like this! Liliana!”

It usually began something like this.

“What is it, Bella?”

Liliana looked at Beatrice.

Beatrice spun around on the spot and began to speak.

“This dress has a long train flowing down the back, doesn’t it?”

“…It does, yes?”

Sensing a strange feeling, Liliana replied hesitantly.

Beatrice grinned brightly and continued.

“So, a gentleman might accidentally step on my train!”

…Wouldn’t that tear the dress?

Liliana wanted to ask right away but decided to hold her tongue for now.

Beatrice began counting on her fingers as she explained.

“Of course, the gentleman has to be extremely handsome. Like you, with shimmering blonde hair, but his eyes should be a melancholy black.”

Finger one.

“And naturally, he has to be incredibly wealthy.”

Finger two.

“His status should be that of a foreign prince. Or at the very least, a noble similar to mine.”

Finger three.

Liliana stared at Beatrice with an incredulous expression.

A noble comparable to Beatrice, who was the Valois Princess and the daughter of the Marquis of Saxony?

To match her rank, they’d practically have to pull in royalty!

And as far as she knew, no foreign dignitaries were attending this debutante ball…

Meanwhile, Beatrice continued her chatter.

“If he has a mysterious past he can’t share with others, even better! Isn’t a man with secrets just so captivating?”

Finger four.

“The most important thing is a fateful encounter! …Liliana, are you even listening to me?”

While raising her fifth finger, Beatrice glanced at Liliana with a pouty face.

“Y-yeah…”

“Ugh, listen carefully. So, the gentleman catches me as I stumble!”

Oh no, that’s where this story is starting?

“And then, in a deep, smooth voice, he says…”

Beatrice cleared her throat and dramatically delivered her line.

“‘My lady, are you unharmed?’”

“…”

“‘To think tears would pool in your beautiful eyes… It feels as if my heart is breaking.’”

“…”

Liliana was certain she could bet her family signet ring, passed down from Anriche, that this absurd dialogue came verbatim from the romance novel Beatrice had fallen asleep reading the night before.