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

“…Butler? What is it?”

The butler, who had momentarily zoned out, snapped back to attention at the voice calling him.

Anriette was looking at him with a suspicious expression.

He hurriedly shook his head.

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

“Then may I speak about my business?”

“Of course.”

Then, Anriette asked an unexpected question.

“Do you know the new maid, Jane?”

“Yes, I am aware, but… did you remember her name, my lady?”

Forgetting what was considered rude, the butler opened his eyes wide in surprise.

Fortunately, Anriette simply nodded with a disinterested expression.

“Why, shouldn’t I remember?”

“…I’m sorry. I was rude to you, my lady.”

“It’s fine. Given my past behavior, it’s understandable.”

Anriette smiled bitterly.

The butler found himself once again confused by her candid acknowledgment of her inappropriate behavior up to this point.

Regardless, Anriette continued calmly.

“Jane told me that the head maid really dislikes Liliana.”

“Pardon? The head maid?”

The butler looked at Anriette with a perplexed expression.

His internal thoughts were clear: ‘What is this sudden complaint about?’

“The head maid is a loyal person who has been with us since the Balua Duchy. She has worked here for a long time, and moreover, she is also Young Master Elliot’s wet nurse…”

“You don’t need to explain. I already have a general idea of what the head maid is like.”

Cutting off the lengthy explanation, Anriette shook her head.

Her violet eyes, facing the butler, had become eerily calm.

“Just because she’s a good person to Elliot doesn’t mean she’s a good person to everyone, right?”

The butler was taken aback.

He pressed his lips tightly together.

Anriette continued in a calm voice.

“To be honest, I don’t really know what the head maid might do.”

“My lady…”

“If she doesn’t do anything, that would be the best. I hope for that as well.”

Anriette was sincere.

She didn’t want any disturbances within the townhouse.

Moreover, Mag was a maid trusted both inside and outside the household.

If she carelessly interfered with Mag, it could provoke not only the others in the duke’s family but also Elliot.

“However, it’s too late to respond after something has happened.”

But Anriette was determined not to overlook Jane’s words.

“Because by then, Liliana would have already suffered a great injury.”

It was because Liliana, no one else but her, was exposed to Mag’s hostility.

Anriette no longer wanted to see her precious daughter-in-law hurt.

“So, can you keep an eye on the head maid yourself?”

“…Why me of all people?”

The butler, who seemed to be pondering something for a moment, asked Anriette in return.

‘What if this difficult lady is simply picking on the loyal head maid for no reason?’

His gaze toward Anriette was now filled with such doubts.

“To be honest, I don’t quite understand your actions, my lady.”

Anriette nodded, as if encouraging him to speak.

Gaining some courage, the butler continued.

“After you personally selected someone, you could just monitor the head maid yourself, couldn’t you?”

“Of course, that’s true.”

“Then I don’t understand why you’re involving me in this.”

Having said that, the butler subtly glanced at Anriette to gauge her reaction.

“…May I speak candidly?”

“Go ahead.”

“I think you may be harboring unwarranted suspicions about the head maid.”

Swallowing dryly, the butler continued.

“I don’t want to be an accomplice in tormenting a loyal head maid. I’m sorry.”

A heavy silence ensued.

The butler was tense, waiting for a reprimand to come crashing down.

His mouth felt dry.

Anriette’s expected response was quite clear.

‘How dare you demean the mistress of Balua?’ She would probably slap him.

“It’s understandable for you to doubt my intentions.”

But shortly after, all of the butler’s expectations were shattered.

Even after hearing his insulting speculation, Anriette was merely gazing at him calmly.

“…Pardon?”

The butler asked in a dazed voice.

Anriette narrowed her eyes and spoke clearly.

“I said it’s understandable for you to doubt my intentions.”

“…”

“Given that I haven’t been the best mistress up to now, you might reasonably think that.”

Is she not angry with me?

The butler instinctively studied Anriette’s expression.

Her face was just calm.

There were no signs of her losing her temper or lashing out like before.

“However, your speculation is, in fact, overly rude when speaking of a family’s mistress.”

This was undeniable, and the butler could only chew on his lips.

Anriette added calmly,

“So, let’s do this.”

“What do you mean?”

“Once this matter is settled and if it turns out that I truly intended to harm the head maid…”

Anriette hesitated momentarily but continued firmly.

“I will not only apologize to the head maid and you, but I will also allocate half of my personal allowance to both of you.”

“…Pardon? Your allowance?”

“Yes. Since my actions have caused you mental distress, I must compensate for that.”

The butler was taken aback.

The lady, who usually withheld her funds, was willing to give half of her allowance?

Moreover, the amount of allowance Anriette typically received was indeed enormous.

If she was considering compensating to that extent…

‘Is the lady also trying to steady her resolve in her own way?’

The butler licked his dry lips.

“However, if the head maid truly harbors ill intentions, she won’t be able to escape punishment.”

Anriette lifted her gaze slightly and looked directly into the butler’s eyes.

Her violet eyes showed no hint of wavering, creating a peculiar sense of pressure.

“Also, you will have to apologize for your rudeness.”

From Anriette’s words, a strong authority was felt, unlike her usual demeanor.

Anriette firmly reiterated,

“Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes, I understand.”

The butler nodded.

Before he knew it, he had straightened his posture and was attentively listening to the lady’s words.

“First of all, the reason I specifically asked you to ‘monitor the head maid’ is…”

Anriette flashed a slight smile.

“It’s because you are the most credible person to do so.”

“…Credible?”

“Yes. Even now, you think I’m deliberately picking on the head maid to torment her, don’t you?”

Hearing her voice come out playfully, the butler’s face turned red with embarrassment.

Regardless, his suspicions were inappropriate for a retainer serving his mistress.

“If it’s someone I’ve chosen, they would surely think I have influence over that person.”

“Ah…”

“Even if you manage to gather evidence, they might think that the evidence has been tampered with to suit my taste.”

Anriette continued speaking fluidly.

Every word she spoke was utterly logical and unassailable.

“For the same reason, I also cannot personally catch the head maid.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the servants won’t believe me at all, and more importantly, I am in a position to suppress the head maid by status. Everyone would think it unfair.”

Anriette viewed herself very objectively.

“But you are different. You are one of the Duke’s most loyal retainers.”

“…My lady.”

“So, you can provide a testimony that isn’t biased toward either side. There’s no reason for you to be biased.”

How many times can one be surprised in a day?

The butler looked at Anriette with wide-open eyes.

‘The lady considered such aspects in choosing me…’

Meeting his gaze, Anriette merely shrugged lightly.

“And… it’s fine to inform the Duke, but I would like you to be cautious around the children.”

“Are you not going to inform the young master and young lady in advance?”

“That’s the plan.”

“May I ask the reason?”

In response to the butler’s cautious question, Anriette answered nonchalantly.

“I want Lilliana and Elliot not to have any prejudice against the head maid.”

“Excuse me? What does that mean… Ah!”

As the butler pondered Anriette’s answer, he soon showed a look of realization.

“For the head maid, just the fact that I have suspicions about her will likely be unpleasant.”

“Well, I think that’s likely the case.”

“In such a situation, for the children to also harbor doubts… isn’t that a bit cruel to the head maid?”

Could it be that she was considering the head maid’s position as well?

The butler’s expression turned surprised.

Until now, the lady he knew was not the type to think so carefully about others.

“Moreover, Elliot is very fond of the head maid.”

Anriette let out a short sigh.

“If the head maid realizes that she is under suspicion, Elliot might get hurt.”

It was essential to minimize the chances of the children getting hurt, or so she thought.

“So, it’s enough for only me to harbor doubts about the head maid.”