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

Fifteen years ago, I first met Tristan at a banquet held in the Kingdom of Onz.

Back when I was still Vanessa Onz, not Vanessa Winder, my life was very different from what it is now.

Unlike my half-siblings, I came from a modest lineage.

Vanessa Onz was, in truth, a princess in name only.

Because of this, the banquets where most of my siblings gathered were always uncomfortable for me.

To them, I was the youngest princess, long removed from any claim to the throne. No one regarded me as kin or even treated me as a fellow human being.

“Pathetic thing. How could someone so weak be born into royalty?”

Unlike the now infamous woman I’d become, branded as the most ruthless villainess, I didn’t have a strong personality back in my youth.

‘If it hadn’t been for Jeremyon, I wouldn’t be much different now.’

When I arrived in the empire, my husband passed away, and with the determination to protect my young stepson, I changed a lot.

But back when I was still living in the kingdom, I was quiet and frail, and my third brother, Victor, especially despised me.

Back then, I didn’t resent him or feel hurt. It was simply how royalty lived.

The king had many consorts, and his consorts had even more children. In the Kingdom of Onz, only those who survived amidst it all could gain power.

‘But just because I understood didn’t mean the situation was bearable.’

Time with Victor was always dreadful. So whenever a banquet took place, I would hide somewhere to avoid his gaze and that of my other siblings.

It was on one of those days that I met Tristan for the first time.

I recalled that day from fifteen years ago.

Fourteen-year-old Vanessa believed her life would never change.

Her power-hungry siblings, and herself, unable to adapt among them.

This was undeniably the place she was born and raised. So why did she alone feel like an outsider here?

Endless, exhausting contemplation. Yet there was no solution.

Powerless royals weren’t even allowed the freedom to leave the palace.

…So she assumed that day would be just another ordinary day, filled with helplessness and boredom.

The castle was unusually lively to welcome guests from abroad, but it had nothing to do with her.

As soon as the banquet began, Vanessa slipped away to the balcony, avoiding everyone’s eyes.

Once again, she would spend her time here in vain. She was certain of it—until an unexpected visitor suddenly opened the balcony door.

‘Could it be Victor…!’

If her brother found her here, not enjoying the banquet, it was obvious how he would treat her.

Anxiously, Vanessa looked over the face of the intruder.

It was someone she had never seen before—a young boy about ten years old, a head shorter than her.

The moonlight illuminated his hair, which resembled a field of wheat at night.

And those clear blue eyes…

‘Beautiful.’

That was her first thought upon seeing the boy’s face.

‘Is he a noble I don’t know? Or maybe…’

It was difficult to know who he was since it was their first meeting, but all her questions were answered as soon as he spoke.

“H-Hey, I-I’m sorry, ah! No, I mean…!”

The imperial language? Could he be a guest’s child from abroad?

Realizing the distinct accent that was so different from the language of Onz, Vanessa immediately understood who he was as the boy stumbled over his words.

Without hesitation, she stepped forward and covered his mouth. She whispered in imperial language.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry; just be quiet.”

Her imperial language wasn’t fully fluent yet, so though she knew it was rude, she spoke in a casual tone. Fortunately, the boy didn’t seem offended.

With his eyes wide, he slowly nodded.

‘Thank goodness.’

She was relieved, as any loud noise could have revealed her hiding spot to others.

Vanessa smiled as she slowly stepped away from him.

In the silence, she waited patiently for him to calm down.

Finally, the boy, having gathered his thoughts, bowed slightly and awkwardly spoke in broken Onzian.

“Apologies, Princess. I…didn’t know anyone was here… I’ll take my leave—”

“You don’t like being around people, do you? You don’t have to go. You can stay here. Not many people know about this spot. Just… don’t make too much noise.”

Vanessa stopped the boy, who was about to leave.

Something she would never have done under normal circumstances.

It was a simple whim.

It was the first time she had met someone in this castle who was also trying to escape people’s eyes.

She had been taught from a young age that royals shouldn’t allow others to get close. But…

‘If he’s the child of a guest from abroad… he’ll return home soon.’

So today, she could afford to extend this small kindness.

Vanessa allowed the nameless boy to remain by her side.

“Th-Thank you!”

He happily scurried over and sat beside her.

‘…Should I ask his name? No, it’s fine.’

The fact that he called her “princess” showed the boy already knew who she was. But Vanessa decided not to ask his name.

After all, he would be returning soon. She had a sense that asking his name might only lead to forming a needless attachment.

‘There’s no need to get too close. We don’t need to exchange words.’

Allowing him to stay here was more than enough kindness to offer.

But despite these thoughts, that night Vanessa ended up conversing with the boy about all sorts of things.

It was the boy who eagerly started the conversation with a voice full of goodwill.

“Um, Princess?”

“Yes?”

“Do you… always stay here?”

She could have understood him even if he spoke in his own language.

Yet, stumbling as he tried to speak her language, he asked his question, a little awkwardly. Amused and a bit touched, she decided to play along.

“Yes, most of the time. You can also speak in your own language. I’ll understand.”

“Oh… Alright, then!”

Perhaps encouraged by this, he sat close beside her and chattered away excitedly.

The conversation began simply, with him asking about her likes and dislikes. But as the night grew deeper, so did their conversation.

At some point, Vanessa found herself sharing the words she had kept buried in her heart with the boy, without hesitation.

It was strange.

Words she couldn’t even share with her blood siblings were so easy to share with this young boy whose name she didn’t even know.

What had always been a tedious time turned vibrant with the presence of this small boy.

She felt joy.

And at the same time, a tinge of regret.

‘Am I really this contradictory?’

Just a moment ago, she was relieved that he would be leaving soon, yet now she felt regret over that very fact.

The boy seemed to feel the same way.

Eventually, the beautiful music drifting from the banquet hall stopped.

It was a signal that the banquet had ended. It was time to wrap up their conversation and part ways. The dreamlike moment was over.

“Well, it’s time to go back.”

“Wait, Princess!”

As Vanessa rose from her seat, the boy grabbed her urgently.

“The adults say that when you find someone you want to be with for a long, long time, you marry them. So, Princess…”

He gently held Vanessa’s hand, his small, white hand trembling with nervousness.

“When I grow up and become an adult—”

“Yes?”

“Will it be alright if I formally propose to you then?”

Perhaps it was because he was a child. So simple-minded, saying such things after meeting for the first time today.

But Vanessa didn’t mind. She found it endearing.

“Haha, what a funny little guy. How old are you, thinking of such things already? Come back when you’re older.”

“Then… if I really grow up and come back… will you accept me then?”

“Look at you, cheeky as ever. Alright, if you still feel the same way, I’ll consider it.”

“I won’t change! I’ll never, never, ever change!”

“Alright, alright.”

When she replied lightly, he pouted, as if upset that she didn’t believe him.

Seeing his childish reaction, Vanessa smiled and ruffled his hair. His fine, soft hair felt like petting a puppy, comforting to the touch.

With a gentle laugh, she spoke suddenly.

“Vanessa.”

“Huh?”

The boy tilted his head in curiosity as she twisted a strand of his hair around her finger and continued.

“My name is Vanessa. You don’t need to call me ‘princess.’ It’s just a title in name only, anyway.”

“Vanessa…”

At that moment, he said her name with such care, as though it were a treasure.

“What a beautiful name. Vanessa. Vanessa. Vanessa!”

As if engraving it in his heart, he repeated her name several times.

And then—

“I’ll remember it forever!”

With a voice filled with pure sincerity, the boy’s blue eyes sparkled, like stars adorning the night sky.

At that dazzling sight, Vanessa thought that perhaps the one who would remember this moment forever wasn’t him, but her.