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

Style Spectrum Fashion Magazine

<Front Page, Date: XX, Month XX, Year XXX>

[Exclusive] The True Identity of the ‘Perfume’ That Lady Locke Wore, Stirring the Social Scene

At the recent victory banquet held on the Xth, Lady Locke wore a ‘perfume’ for the first time, introducing the concept of perfume to society. Unlike traditional fragrant oils, her perfume’s refreshing scent, which wasn’t overpowering, caught the interest of many.

(Excerpt)

The product she used was revealed to be a pre-release of New Silhouette’s fragrance, named ‘Lovely Lily.’

Meanwhile, New Silhouette, located on the capital’s boutique street, is set to open in four days on the XXth. It is expected that the release of this next-generation fashion item will attract a large crowd.

Margaret Hayes

—

As I read the fresh-off-the-press fashion magazine this morning, I took a deep breath.

Finally.

The opening date for my perfume boutique had been set.

“Yes, it’s four days away.”

With the article published, there was no turning back. Not that “retreat” was ever in Vanessa Winter’s dictionary.

“Mother! Congratulations!”

“Pft, what’s there to congratulate when it hasn’t even started yet?”

Lilliana, who was seated on the sofa in front, laughed cheerfully.

“Oh, but I should still congratulate you! It’s the official start of the business you’ve been preparing for!”

Lilliana’s eyes sparkled with excitement, more thrilled than even I was.

“I’m so excited! So many people have been asking me about the perfume recently, and it was so hard for me to keep quiet! I love that I don’t have to hold back anymore.”

As she spoke, the distinct scent of lilies wafted from her. She seemed to wear the perfume I had gifted her every day.

“You’re delighted over such a simple thing. You need to be a bit more refined now that you’re a lady.”

“But I’m so proud! It’s amazing to have such a cool mother. Oh, right!”

Suddenly, she gasped as if she had remembered something.

“Jeremyon asked me, too. He wondered if you were the one who created the perfume.”

It was surprising. I hadn’t expected him to take an interest in perfume.

“Really? When did he say that?”

“Oh, yesterday, when I was out with Jeremyon in the city… oh.”

Lilliana trailed off mid-sentence, bowing her head in embarrassment. Her cheeks flushed bright red, though she tried to hide it.

‘She’s so shy, even though it’s obvious. Is she that embarrassed about going on a date?’

Since the victory banquet, it seemed that Lilliana and Jeremyon had been getting quite close. I’d sensed it from the way she dressed up and smiled to herself on the days he went out… judging by her expression now, it seemed confirmed.

“So, did you have fun with Jeremyon? He may be my son, but he’s such a reserved boy.”

“Reserved? Not at all! If anything, he’s…”

So gentle.

Lilliana mumbled softly, barely audible, but I could understand her words by watching her lips.

Oh, the sweetness is overwhelming. It’s so sugary it could give me a toothache, but it warmed my heart.

Seeing these two precious people of mine looking so happy made me feel content.

“It seems he knows how to treat his partner well.”

I made this comment to tease her a little. As I expected, her reaction was priceless.

She stammered in shock, “Pa-partner? N-no, it’s not like that!”

“Hmph, not yet, anyway.”

“M-Mother!”

I continued to tease her, and Lilliana didn’t know where to put herself.

Everyone already thought they were a couple… but the two of them reacted so dramatically to even light teasing.

‘They’re so lovable.’

There was a sweetness in their young affection that only people their age can show. It was both charming and a little enviable.

‘If only my marriage hadn’t been arranged… would things have been different?’

That regret passed fleetingly, but I quickly brushed it aside.

There was no need to dwell on the past. Although my marriage had been something I hadn’t initially wanted, it had led me to this precious bond with my new son.

As long as they laughed happily, even more than I could, I’d be satisfied with that.

Watching their young love bloom filled me with a vicarious joy.

‘So they’re not officially dating yet.’

Considering how deeply Jeremyon had been smitten, I’d thought he’d rush straight in, but apparently not.

At that moment, Lilliana added shyly, “Really… we’re not dating or anything. The papers seemed to have misunderstood, but… we’re just getting to know each other’s feelings. It wasn’t a date or anything like that…”

We agreed socially to call that kind of thing a date.

I suppressed the urge to tease Liliana and instead asked her a different question—one that I, too, had been curious about, and one that would undoubtedly be of interest to Jeremyon.

“So, what do you think? About your feelings, I mean.”

“Ah…”

Lilliana bit her lip and fidgeted with her fingers.

“…To be honest, I’m not quite sure myself. Do I like him?”

Huh? If you don’t know, then who would! That thought crossed my mind, but fortunately, she continued speaking.

“This kind of feeling is really a first for me… My head’s been in a bit of a mess lately. When I think about Jeremyon marrying another woman, I feel upset, and when he gets close, I feel happy. I get this strange tickling sensation around my chest…”

“Hm.”

Yeah, she likes him. She’s in love. She’s just the only one who hasn’t realized it, but it’s a hundred percent love.

“Every time we meet, I have so much fun. How do I put it… Jeremyon is very much like Mother. He acts indifferent, but he’s really so kind…”

She unconsciously lifted the corners of her mouth. Just the thought of him seemed to make her smile.

‘Well, it doesn’t look like I need to intervene here.’

From my perspective, it didn’t seem like it would be long before she realized her own feelings.

At that moment, Lilliana, who had been lost in her thoughts, suddenly clapped her hands as if she had come to her senses.

“Oh, how did we end up talking about this? Ah, right, the perfume! There was something I wanted to ask!”

Her topic change was a bit abrupt, but I gave a nod, indicating for her to go ahead and ask.

“It’s nothing much, but the opening is coming up soon, isn’t it? Don’t you have any plans to visit the boutique in person before then? I’d love to be there to celebrate with you…”

Hmm. I thought for a moment.

In truth, I had only visited the boutique in person a few times.

As the rightful owner, I did want to go more often, but… since the fact that I’m the real owner was kept secret, I had to be careful.

‘Still, I should go one more time before the opening. Just for a final check.’

After organizing my schedule in my head, I replied to her.

“I plan to go early the day after tomorrow. Around 4 a.m., maybe? There won’t be anyone on the streets by then.”

“You mean early Wednesday going into Thursday?”

Surely, she wasn’t planning to come at that late hour, was she? Feeling anxious, I hurriedly warned her.

“Don’t even think about coming. It’s dangerous to be out at dawn.”

“But, that’s the same for you too, Mother.”

Of course. Judging by her response, it seemed that if I hadn’t stopped her, she was indeed planning to come and congratulate me.

“Tut. Don’t argue with an adult. If I say so, that’s that.”

After repeating my warning firmly, she drooped her shoulders in disappointment. But soon after, a faint smile crossed her face as if she had thought of a clever idea.

“Hmm. Understood, Mother. But don’t overdo it, okay? Since you’re worried about me so much… I! won’t go.”

Was it just my imagination, or did she emphasize the “I” a little too much? It almost sounded like she planned to send someone else in her place…

But before I could question her further, Liliana suddenly stood up.

“I’ll be off for today! You must be busy as well! Oh, here’s a small gift from me.”

She handed me a box of tea leaves wrapped in a fancy red box.

“I found a nice tea shop while exploring the city yesterday. It’s supposed to be good for fatigue, and I thought of you.”

“Thank you. But, Lilliana—”

“Then I’ll be off! Take care!”

Before I could even finish asking, she hurriedly dashed off as if she had something to hide.

Hmm…

No matter how I look at it, she’s up to something… Hopefully, it’s just my imagination.