I Became the Mother-in-law of the Regretful Female Lead

Seira, having encountered Lilliana, decided to return to the Marquis of Benden’s estate instead of continuing to browse the shop.

There was something she needed to discuss with her father.

“Father.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“The news… it seems to be true.”

“What news?”

“The breakup.”

Although she didn’t mention the person by name, the Marquis of Benden immediately understood who she was talking about.

“You went out and ran into Lady Locke?”

Seira nodded.

“Haha, I see… Well, in some ways, it was inevitable. Honestly, isn’t she a bit naive and unsophisticated? That Lady Locke. It’s only natural that the charm would wear off.”

Seira silently listened to her father’s words, then sighed to herself.

‘So, father thinks the same way…’

Most nobles shared the Marquis’s opinion about Lilliana and Jeremyon’s breakup. They believed that Jeremyon Winder simply grew tired of her.

Considering Lilliana’s inability to present herself properly and her reputation as an unsophisticated lady in society, it wasn’t unreasonable to think so.

However, Seira had harbored different suspicions ever since she heard about the breakup.

‘What if it wasn’t that the charm wore off… but that it never existed in the first place?’

When the relationship was first made public, rumors spread that their romance wasn’t genuine but merely staged.

It was a plausible rumor.

Jeremyon Winder, who needed a partner of noble blood, and Lilliana Locke, whose family had been plagued with several misfortunes.

Given the background of these two, it seemed reasonable to believe that their relationship wasn’t based on love but on necessity.

Of course, those rumors quickly died down, thanks to the frequent sightings of Jeremyon and Lilliana on dates.

He treated her so affectionately when they were together that most people dismissed their doubts. Seira, however, remained an exception.

‘It just doesn’t make sense. Count Winder with Lilliana? Of all people?’

Had it been someone else, she might have accepted it. But for it to be Lady Locke?

A dull woman with not a shred of charm, other than her title as a noblewoman.

To Seira, Lilliana was nothing more and nothing less.

And yet, Jeremyon Winder, a man who had no shortage of women, was supposed to have fallen in love with her?

No matter how much she thought about it, the story just didn’t add up, and Seira had always been suspicious.

And today, that suspicion was confirmed after her unexpected meeting with Lilliana.

‘You know the rumor, don’t you? The one from before, saying that it wasn’t real love, but a contract relationship? Now that you’ve broken up, you can tell me if it was true, right?’

‘…’

‘Why aren’t you answering, Lilliana? Was it a difficult question to answer, even to a friend? I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable. But it’s kind of an important matter to me.’

‘…I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

When Seira pressed for more details, Lilliana avoided the question defensively. For a moment, the sound of her voice echoed in Seira’s ears.

Haha.

Seira chuckled quietly.

‘She might have shed some of her old country-girl look, but… turns out she’s exactly the same.’

In the past, no matter what Seira said, Lilliana never properly responded. Just like today.

‘Well, that’s not what’s important, though.’

Based on her reactions, it seemed Seira’s suspicions were correct.

There was no love between Jeremyon Winder and Lilliana Locke. It was merely a relationship born out of a contract.

“Then…”

Seira took a seat in front of my father.

“Father, let’s send the marriage proposal.”

“…Are you saying to send it to Count Winder?”

Marquis Benden looked at his daughter with a bewildered expression.

Seira nodded calmly, as if it were no big deal.

“Didn’t you mention before that it would be good to be connected with the Winder family?”

“I did say that… but wouldn’t it be uncomfortable, given the recent breakup?”

“It will be fine, so go ahead and send it, Father. The Count will actually welcome it.”

She flashed a beautiful smile, almost angelic. But her eyes were strangely hard to read, betraying something deeper.

What on earth?

I couldn’t help but click my tongue at the absurd report.

“Seira, you’re playing a very amusing game.”

I had a bad feeling ever since I ran into her at the jeweler’s a while ago. But I never thought she’d pull something like this.

How long has it been since the news of the breakup spread, and now she’s sending a marriage proposal to Jeremyon?

This is something that neither of them would do unless they were underestimating the situation.

Unless… they’ve realized they were in a contract relationship all along.

‘Hmm, come to think of it, there was a similar scene in the original story.’

Seira Benden, one of the original antagonistic supporting characters.

As the former friend of the heroine, she played a role similar to mine, tormenting Lilliana in a mother-in-law-like position.

The difference? She’s even worse than me.

From a young age, unable to discern right from wrong, she bullied Lilliana and made her timid. She’s one of the main reasons for that.

It’s the typical trope in romance fantasy.

The villainess who subtly undermines the heroine to solidify her own position. That was Seira.

Despite her villainous role, she was quite perceptive, even suspecting later on that Lilliana and Jeremyon weren’t truly in love.

‘But even so, she never sent a marriage proposal like this.’

Although I knew it, the original plot seemed to have crumbled quite a bit. For this to happen…

It was infuriating news, but it didn’t seem to affect me much.

Fortunately, Jeremyon rejected the proposal outright without me needing to lift a finger.

“That boy… well done, well done.”

Not that it would ever happen, but even if he had accepted, I would have found a way to interfere. There’s no way I would tolerate someone like Seira as my daughter-in-law.

‘A daughter-in-law who disrespects my child? Absolutely not, not in this lifetime.’

Besides, even if it weren’t for Seira’s relationship with Lilliana, I would still oppose it. The Benden family is aligned with the crown prince’s faction.

‘Marquis Benden must have proposed the marriage to bring us into their fold.’

The Winder family is known to be neutral, so they were likely aiming to strengthen their power.

But I have no intention of getting deeply involved with the crown prince’s faction.

In any case…

Though Jeremyon handled that fly, I still had unfinished business.

After instructing my men to investigate Seira, I fell into thought.

‘Seeing how far Seira is willing to go, there’s no way she’ll behave at the victory banquet.’

She’s the type to mock Lilliana whenever she dared to dress herself up, and this time would be no different.

This time, I’ll have to show such an overwhelming difference that she won’t even think of it.

But there was one thing that troubled me.

The necklace.

The dress, shoes, and hair accessories were all perfect, pre-chosen. But the necklace was still undecided.

‘I was planning to go with a sapphire necklace, but somehow, it feels off.’

It just felt… lacking. I wanted something more dazzling, something that sparkled brilliantly, but none of them seemed to have that charm.

Of course, it was obvious why.

I had chosen the sapphire necklace solely for its color. I wanted to maintain harmony with the water-colored dress.

But while sapphires are striking for their rich hue, they don’t exactly glitter or shine.

Even under a dazzling chandelier, they wouldn’t sparkle like diamonds.

“Hmm… if only there was a gemstone with the brilliance of a diamond but in a blue shade.”

Then it struck me.

A flash of inspiration, like a bolt of lightning.

‘Of course. That exists, doesn’t it?’

How had I forgotten that? By now, Jeremyon must have gotten his hands on it.

Realizing this, I immediately went to find him.

The solution was surely in his possession.