Chapter – 03

“What, what did you say?!”

The moment she heard that name, Liliana was utterly shocked.

No matter how ignorant a child might be about the world, there was no way she wouldn’t know the “House of Valois,” the Empire’s one and only ducal family.

She had heard that the Duke of Valois could make birds fall from the sky with a single glance.

‘T-then… the mistress of that mighty ducal house came looking for me?!’

As Liliana swallowed nervously, Anriche gently dropped another bombshell.

“I am the mother of your fiancé, ‘Elliot von Valois.’”

“M-my fiancé?”

I’m the fiancée of the young Duke of Valois?!

One shocking revelation after another poured down on her, and Liliana’s tiny head felt ready to explode.

At that moment, Anriche softly wrapped an arm around Liliana’s shoulders and began walking.

“That’s right. Shall we go inside and talk in more detail?”

First, she needed to meet Baron Londini or the Baroness…

So she could thoroughly destroy them.

Lifting her chin proudly, Anriche smiled viciously.

How dare they abuse my adorable daughter-in-law?

Just wait a little—I’ll show them the true essence of an evil mother-in-law!

Led by Liliana, Anriche stepped into the orphanage.

Her first impression upon seeing the inside was…

‘…It’s not as bad as I expected.’

The wallpaper was clean, and the orphans all appeared to be in fairly good health.

Watching them only made Anriche’s mood sink further.

‘The other children look healthy enough, but only our Liliana is skin and bones.’

The reason was probably because the state regularly inspected orphanages.

They must have taken enough care of the children to avoid getting caught during inspections.

Rather, since Liliana was not officially registered as one of the orphans, they had probably worked her even harder.

Then—

Anriche’s eyes widened sharply.

Liliana, who had been hurriedly walking ahead of her, suddenly bent over and picked up trash scattered on the floor.

“……”

Anriche silently stared at Liliana’s back.

After stuffing the garbage into the pocket of her worn apron, Liliana gathered up clothes that had been tossed carelessly over a chair.

Even the way she casually emptied them into a laundry basket while passing through the hallway was far too natural.

That very sight seemed to prove that Liliana had lived her life being treated like a servant.

‘Our Liliana… what am I supposed to do, she’s so pitiful…’

Her heart hurt unbearably.

Back when she had merely read the line “the heroine was abused” in the novel, she had simply accepted it and moved on.

But seeing it with her own eyes was far more horrific.

Just then, Liliana turned around and smiled brightly with her eyes.

“Ah, would you come this way?”

“……Alright.”

For some reason, her throat felt tight, and Anriche nodded a beat later than usual.

Finally, the two arrived in front of the director’s office.

Knock knock.

Swallowing nervously, Liliana knocked softly on the office door twice.

“Who is it?”

The voice was sharp enough to sound like a whip cracking.

Frightened, Liliana shrank both shoulders like a snail retreating into its shell.

“I-it’s Liliana. Um, well…”

But before Liliana could finish speaking, loud stomping footsteps approached.

Bang!

The door burst open violently.

Baroness Londini poked her head out of the office, glaring fiercely.

“You useless thing! Didn’t I tell you never to interrupt when my daughter is visit—!”

Her shrill scream rang out.

But the Baroness could not finish her sentence.

Because Anriche stepped forward with narrowed eyes.

“Baroness Londini.”

“D-Duchess Valois?!”

Baroness Londini froze stiff on the spot.

Why was the Duchess of Valois at their orphanage?!

At the same time, a cold voice rang out.

“I believe you owe me an explanation for this situation.”

Anriche’s expressionless face clearly showed that she was suppressing her anger with great effort.

Lifting her chin slightly, she asked again,

“Why is the child who is supposed to become my daughter-in-law living in an orphanage instead of the Londini Baron family’s townhouse?”

“W-well, t-that is…”

“Furthermore, Liliana is not an orphan belonging to this orphanage, but Baroness Londini’s sixth cousin’s daughter.”

Anriche continued in a crooked tone.

“So why is she calling you ‘Director’ instead of ‘Aunt’?”

Her violet eyes swept across the office interior.

The first person she noticed was the Londini young lady.

The girl, who had been enjoying tea surrounded by piles of luxurious desserts, stared toward them with wide eyes.

Wait, they were discriminating even with food?!

Do they know how miserable it feels to be treated differently over food?!

Anriche ground her teeth.

“The young lady of House Londini is currently enjoying fine desserts and fragrant tea…”

Trailing off, Anriche slowly looked the girl up and down.

A pretty jeweled hairpin rested atop her curled hair, and she wore a bright frilled dress.

“…Along with splendid dresses and lovely accessories.”

At those words, the Londini young lady stiffened.

Anriche glanced toward Liliana.

A shabby blouse and worn apron stained with dirt in several places.

And a brown skirt patched together with scraps of cloth here and there.

Even worse, the clothes clearly did not fit her age, leaving her bony ankles exposed beneath the skirt’s awkwardly short hem.

The stark contrast between the two girls naturally sharpened Anriche’s gaze.

“It feels as though I’m looking at a noble lady and a maid. No—even maids are not dressed in clothes this worn out.”

“D-Duchess Valois! T-that’s…!”

Baroness Londini hurriedly tried to make excuses, only to snap her mouth shut.

The cold look in Anriche’s eyes sent chills down her spine.

Anriche coldly questioned her.

“Both girls should equally be under your protection. So why is Liliana being treated worse than a servant?”

Baroness Londini felt like she was losing her mind.

‘No, but she never cared about Liliana before!’

To be precise, it wasn’t indifference—it was closer to disgust.

The Everett family might have been an old and prestigious noble house, but they were neither exceptionally powerful nor wealthy.

Compared to the Valois Ducal House, where Anriche now served as mistress—or even compared to House Sachsen, Anriche’s own birth family—the Everetts were far beneath them.

Anriche was someone who had always looked down on everyone else.

There was no way Liliana would have pleased her.

And besides…

‘Someone from the Valois Ducal House had already been visiting!’

In truth, the Duke of Valois was not an easy man to fool.

There was no way he would entrust the only daughter left behind by his dear friend to House Londini without putting safeguards in place.

Thus, the Duke periodically sent trustworthy people to check whether Liliana was living well.

But the Londini couple, brilliant when it came to wickedness, had broken through that safeguard itself.

With “money.”

‘Please take good care of things, Head Maid Meg.’

‘Of course. Leave it to me.’

The head maid of House Valois smiled confidently as she tucked a pouch of gold coins into her robes.

‘I’m someone who has followed the Lord all the way from the Valois Duchy.’

‘Oh my, so that means…’

‘It means I’m the vassal the Lord trusts the most.’

Then she shrugged and added,

‘Besides, the Lord is an extremely busy man. He doesn’t have the time to concern himself with such trivial matters.’

That was true.

The Duke of Valois was the Emperor’s most trusted companion and the Empire’s sharpest sword, tirelessly devoting himself to state affairs day and night.

On top of that, the reports regularly sent to the Valois household had all been flawlessly written.

So…

‘There’s no reason for the Duchess of Valois to come searching for Liliana herself.’

Toward the dazed Baroness, Anriche spoke clearly.

“From now on, I intend to personally take Liliana and raise her myself.”

“What? W-what are you saying?! We are Liliana’s relatives—!”

“If you want to put it that way, then I am the person who will become Liliana’s mother-in-law.”

Anriche lightly shrugged.

Her tone sounded casual, but her violet eyes were filled with fury.

“To see this state of affairs and still demand that Liliana remain with the Londinis…”

The corner of Anriche’s lips twisted upward.

It was a blatant sneer.

“…Baroness, do you perhaps take me for a fool?”

“N-no! We won’t do this anymore. We absolutely won’t… and L-Liliana too!”

Why bring Liliana into this?

Anriche didn’t bother hiding her unimpressed expression.

“Liliana won’t want to leave us either!”

…Wow, is that even human?

At Baroness Londini’s shameless outburst, Anriche nearly trembled in disbelief.

But ignoring Anriche’s reaction entirely, the Baroness had already turned toward Liliana with desperate eyes.

“Lili! Liliana! I’m your family!”

The Baroness suddenly grabbed Liliana’s shoulders tightly.

Her grip on those delicate shoulders was so strong that Liliana let out a painful whimper.

“Ah…!”

“After everything we’ve done to raise you, saying you’re going to leave now is—!”

“Excuse me, Baroness Londini.”

At that moment, a hand firmly seized the Baroness’s shoulder.

“Who exactly do you think you’re threatening in front of?”

“Kyah!”

At the same time, the Baroness’s body was violently shoved backward.

Losing her balance, Baroness Londini staggered before tripping over her own feet.

Crash!

Anriche looked down coldly at the pathetic sight of the woman sprawled on the floor.

“Don’t force your wishes onto Liliana.”

“……What?”

“How unfortunate for you. You won’t be able to extort money anymore under the excuse of Liliana’s living expenses.”