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

Anriche swallowed hard as she gazed at the orphanage before her.

On the surface, it seemed like an ordinary orphanage.

But…

‘So, Liliana is being abused in this orphanage.’

With her lips pursed, Anriche strode purposefully toward the front gate of the orphanage.

The sign hanging next to the gate read, in elegant lettering, “Rondini Orphanage.”

‘Rondini.’

Anriche mulled over the name.

The Rondini Orphanage was run by the Rondini Barony, a relative of Liliana.

It was also the place where Liliana, who had lost her parents in an accident, was currently living.

Liliana was the only daughter of the Count Aberit family.

Although the Aberit family was not very powerful, it was an old noble family with a long history.

They had maintained a close friendship with the Balua Duchy for many years, and through that connection, Liliana and Elliott had been betrothed to each other since before birth.

If her parents had still been alive, Liliana would have likely been the happiest girl in the world.

‘But the problem was the sudden carriage accident.’

Due to a slippery road, Count Aberit’s couple lost their lives on the same day.

Alexei was devastated by the death of his dear friend, Count Aberit.

He then tried to take care of Liliana, the only remaining daughter.

However, at that time…

The Rondini baron couple, distant relatives of the Aberit family, intervened.

‘We will take care of Liliana until she comes of age.’

‘After all, as her relatives, we can care for her better, right?’

Seeing some merit in their words, Alexei entrusted Liliana to the Rondini baron couple.

The fact that the Rondini baron couple ran an orphanage reassured Alexei.

He believed that they would cherish Liliana as their own daughter because they had a warm disposition to take care of orphans.

‘But the real reason the Rondini baron couple operated the orphanage was… for the government subsidies.’

Anriche’s purple eyes darkened coldly.

‘In the original story, Liliana continued to roll around until she met Elliott.’

The Rondini baron couple only coveted the Aberit wealth and had not an ounce of affection for Liliana.

However, Alexei was directly protecting Aberit’s assets.

The Rondinis received money several times under the guise of covering Liliana’s living expenses, but there was a limit to that.

‘Of course, the amount they received was significant enough to expand the orphanage…’

The greedy Rondini baron couple would not be satisfied with just that.

Moreover, there was an emotional issue at play.

The Rondini baron couple harbored deep-seated inferiority complexes toward the Aberit couple.

‘The Rondinis were cadets of the Aberit family.’

As an old noble family, the Aberit family had a close relationship with the Balua Duchy, the highest family in the empire.

In contrast, the Rondinis, overshadowed by the name Aberit, were treated as a ‘mediocre family.’

The Aberit couple considered the Rondini couple to be one of their few precious relatives.

But that fact was of no importance to the baron couple.

‘Are they the main family just because they think so?!’

‘Pretending to be noble!!’

It was the usual phrase of the Rondini baron couple.

Afterward, they brought the only remaining Liliana to target the Aberit family’s fortune…

‘The girl takes after her father… It’s quite unpleasant.’

Liliana, who resembled the previous count—an incredibly handsome man—was merely a thorn in the baron couple’s side.

Thus, their jealousy and resentment ultimately fell squarely on young Liliana.

In the form of “abuse.”

‘Alright. Let’s go in.’

Taking a deep breath, Anriche pressed the doorbell.

Ding-dong—ding-dong-ding-dong.

As she waited, she could hear the sound of a child running towards the thin door.

“Just a moment—!”

Click.

The door opened, and a tiny girl appeared.

The moment Anriche’s eyes met the girl’s, she found herself slightly gasping.

‘Wow, am I… looking at an angel who fell from the sky?’

Anriche stared at the girl in a daze.

The girl, appearing to be around seven or eight years old, was extraordinarily beautiful.

Her spring flower-like golden hair was tied up, and her sprout-like eyes sparkled with intelligence.

If she could, Anriche wanted to take a closer look at the girl’s back.

Who knows?

Maybe she was hiding angelic wings!

‘She looks exactly like the description in the novel!’

But just to be sure, she decided to hold off on any childish thoughts.

First, let’s ask her name.

‘Hoo-hah, hoo-hah.’

Anriche took a big breath to calm her racing heart.

Then she cautiously asked the girl.

“Hello, is there a girl named ‘Liliana Aberit’ in this orphanage?”

At that question, the girl’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Lil… Liliana? That’s me…”

Anriche felt a thrill at the girl’s stammering response.

Of course, such a pretty child must be the protagonist of this world!

Until now, I thought our son was the cutest in the world, but the daughter-in-law is just as adorable!

“I see, nice to meet you. Are the Baron or Baroness Rondini inside?”

She had heard that the position of the orphanage director was currently held by the Baroness Rondini.

So, at least the Baroness should be present.

As Anriche spoke without much thought, she suddenly felt a bit startled.

The moment the name of the Rondini baron couple came up, Liliana’s face went pale.

“The… the orphanage director?”

…The orphanage director?

A sense of unease crawled up Anriche’s spine, causing her to narrow her eyes.

Why is she referring to someone as the orphanage director when she isn’t even an orphan here?

Shouldn’t she be calling them her uncle or aunt?

“Um, yes… the orphanage director.”

Anriche nodded for now.

Then, noticing Anriche’s reaction, Liliana cautiously asked a question.

“Um, if you’re a relative of another orphanage…”

“Hmm?”

“Could you… not take me away?”

Liliana had already tightly clenched her tiny fists.

Her light green eyes, looking at Anriche, shook with desperation.

“I’m sure I would disappoint you. I can’t do any work, I’m useless, and I can’t even help myself…”

Anriche looked down at Liliana with a puzzled expression.

What on earth is she talking about?

But Liliana desperately continued to express her feelings of worthlessness.

“I… I eat a lot. If you take me, it will cost a lot for food. And, and…”

“…”

Anriche stared blankly at Liliana, who didn’t even hesitate to put herself down.

Liliana’s face was filled with fear.

As if the very thought of someone taking her away was terrifying.

After a moment, Anriche suddenly asked a question.

“What are you so afraid of?”

“…The orphanage director.”

Liliana hesitated for a long time before she quietly parted her lips.

“She said that other orphanages are… hell.”

“What?”

“They beat you every day, and kids who can’t work get slapped all the time…”

Liliana wiggled her fingers.

Avoiding Anriche’s gaze, she continued in a whisper.

“They said that children who don’t listen are locked in solitary confinement for a week.”

“…”

“At least in our orphanage, they take in slow kids like me. But if I go to another place, I’ll be beaten badly…”

Anriche was left speechless, her mouth agape.

What on earth had someone said to a girl who was only seven years old?

What orphanage operates like that these days!

Just as Anriche was about to express her disbelief, her gaze fell on Liliana’s appearance.

The ragged clothes were clearly patched from being worn multiple times.

She was much smaller and thinner than the same-age Elliot, and her fingertips were covered in wounds.

‘…Oh no.’

Her purple eyes sank deeply.

There might indeed be something to it.

An orphanage that treats someone so poorly… like that.

“First of all, I’m not a relative of the orphanage.”

At those words, Liliana’s head shot up.

“Really? Then why were you looking for me? And why do you want to see the orphanage director?”

Liliana bombarded Anriche with questions.

Hope filled her light green eyes, making them shine brightly.

Seeing her like that was so heartbreaking that Anriche unconsciously clenched her fists.

You deserve to be treated so much better than this.

Once you leave the orphanage, people who will love you dearly are waiting for you.

It’s so sad that you think this kind of abuse is normal while trapped in this orphanage…

“Well, it’s true that I came to pick you up.”

“Y-yes? B-but you said you’re not a relative of the orphanage…”

“Oh, I haven’t introduced myself yet.”

As Anriche reached out, she gently stroked Liliana’s head.

Liliana flinched and stiffened her shoulders.

‘This is the first time someone has patted my head like this…’

Feeling that tender touch, Liliana unconsciously held her breath.

Somehow, it felt like a feather was brushing against a corner of her heart.

“My name is Anriche von Valois.”