Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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‘Simor was supposed to receive a payout of 68,024 times his bet.’
But because I placed a wager alongside him, it was cut in half.
“L-L-Laria?”
Evan stared at me with an expression that screamed disbelief.
Evan himself had received a respectable 19-fold payout, yet no one paid him any attention.
Even Duke Icard, who had been standing with his arms crossed indifferently, now wore a bewildered expression as he looked at me.
“This is absurd.”
Ordi came over personally to hand me a check for 34,012 gold, but at my request, he gave me a check for 34,011 gold and a single gold coin instead.
“An impossible result… and yet there are two people who bet on this impossible outcome.”
I returned the gold coin to Duke Icard.
“Father, it’s all thanks to you.”
“What…?”
“Thank you for giving me the lucky coin. I’m returning it to you, and I hope fortune blesses you as well!”
Duke Icard accepted the coin I offered and smiled ever so slightly before slipping it into his pocket.
‘Did he… actually smile? Really?’
Meanwhile, Evan seemed curious about something else.
“Two?”
He tilted his head in confusion, as if puzzled that someone other than me had placed such a bet.
“Who’s the other person?”
“A commoner. Eighteen years old, in fact.”
Ordi scratched his chin.
‘I’m sorry, Simor… but you’ll end up with Princess Elani anyway. Yes, you will, won’t you?’
If the original story held true, Evan would remain indifferent to Elani regardless of whether Simor had money or not, and so Elani would inevitably stray once more. My neck was on the line far more than the male and female leads heading toward their happy ending.
“Tomorrow’s newspaper will surely be in an uproar over such a result… I imagine your name will appear in the article as well, madam.”
“Oh my, that’s rather daunting…”
I flushed as if embarrassed, but inwardly I was elated. This was exactly what I needed for my future plans. While 34,011 gold was a substantial sum, there wouldn’t be much left after purchasing a title.
‘I absolutely must disappear. I can’t hide half-heartedly. If I don’t vanish completely, Duke Icard will kill me. I need to prepare thoroughly.’
So instead of dying like in the original story, I had decided my fate would be disappearance.
As long as the outcome is the same, it doesn’t matter!
‘Only through a complete disappearance can Evan marry Elani.’
After that, whatever happens is of no concern to me.
And I had no intention of living a life of hardship.
‘I’ve already felt keenly how comfortable life is with a title and lands.’
Once one’s standards rise, it’s difficult to lower them again. And living in hiding without money seemed far too dreary—I wanted to hide in luxury instead.
I wanted to maintain at least some level of refinement, even if not quite this extravagant.
Had I possessed the body of a wealthy villainess, I would have dreamed far bigger, but first I needed to survive.
‘To keep living idly, I need lands, and to have lands, I need a title.’
A title was expensive, but purchasable. And I could only buy lands once I had a title.
The male lead Simor himself begins by purchasing a baron’s title at first.
But there was a problem. To purchase a title, one must be at least eighteen years old, and I was only fourteen.
Waiting until I turned eighteen to purchase a title would be far too late. There was too much to accomplish even after acquiring one if I wanted to earn more money.
But that didn’t mean there was no way forward.
‘A pseudonym!’
I could create a fictional person.
‘I’d fabricate an appropriate figure on paper, purchase a title under their name, acquire estates….’
Then I could hide behind them and achieve perfect concealment.
And there was one more thing.
‘I’m only fourteen now and staying at the Count’s Manor, so my movements aren’t free.’
In other words, I needed to create a proxy—hands and feet to do my bidding.
‘I wish I had someone capable to handle the behind-the-scenes work.’
While I was thinking such thoughts, Ordi continued his effusive praise.
“Young Miss, you are truly remarkable. Didn’t you personally bring in your daughter-in-law?”
“Well, the children’s mother and I were always quite close.”
“Even so, arranging a marriage must have been no easy decision.”
The prestige of House of Icard was indeed formidable—the way he fawned over them was truly shameless.
He wrung his hands and continued his flattery.
“Your insight is remarkable. Everyone found the marriage so sudden, but you recognized her as an angel who would bring fortune to House of Icard.”
That’s not it at all…. I didn’t bring her in with such noble intentions….
Duke Icard wore a subtly proud expression and cleared his throat with a cough. Wait, I was the one who made the money, so why did he look so pleased with himself?
“Laria, have you adjusted well to House of Icard?”
But since I’m weak against strong people and strong against weak ones, I held my tongue and answered obediently.
“Of course. Everyone is so wonderful. It hasn’t been long, but I’d love to grow closer to all of you!”
You’re not the only one who knows how to fawn. I’m quite skilled at it myself. I’m Icard’s personal bell, you see.
“Father and Evan both have such outstanding appearances, and seeing us together like this makes me so proud. Having a new family in House of Icard is even more fortunate for me than winning at the races.”
I even flashed a bright smile at the end.
Ordi answered as if he wouldn’t be outdone.
“Quite right. Duke Icard has such excellent wit that living with him must be truly pleasant.”
Wait, wit? Flattery is one thing, but attaching something so absurd is a bit much, isn’t it?
“We don’t really make jokes at the Count’s Manor.”
At Duke Icard’s blunt remark, Ordi’s expression shifted to surprise.
“But everyone is enjoying themselves—why don’t you display that comedic talent at the Count’s Manor?”
“Jokes aren’t something ‘feet do’—they’re something the mouth does.”
I froze for a moment.
‘Display… feet do?’
No, this can’t be.
‘This really can’t be. What is happening.’
“Ahahahahahaha!”
Ordi clutched his belly and laughed.
“Display, feet! Ahahahaha! You’re the best!”
This was the highest technique of fawning—laughing with all one’s might at a superior’s dad joke.
In that instant, I straightened my expression and had to acknowledge my shortcomings.
‘Indeed, one cannot afford to be arrogant….’
The path of flattery knew no end. Or rather, why would someone so young resort to such antics in the first place?
I cleanly admitted defeat and resolved to redouble my efforts going forward.
“Whether it’s physical comedy or verbal jokes, there’s no need to perform them at the Count’s Manor, sir.”
Evan, who required no flattery whatsoever, spoke plainly with a stern expression.
“Why not? I find it absolutely entertaining!”
And I, who desperately needed his favor, grinned widely and sold my very soul along with endorphins as a package deal.
“Father, please do this more often at the Count’s Manor! It’s completely my style!”
Then suddenly, a tickling sensation spread across my chest.
‘This is it!’
The harbinger of a cough that would bring blood.
I shot to my feet.
It was fine for the Duke to see my illness, but if word spread, it would be troublesome. Especially in front of someone who so clearly had a loose tongue….
The Duke had brought me here precisely because I was a terminal case no one knew about. If I became a terminal case everyone knew about, my usefulness would vanish, and I could be disposed of immediately.
“Pardon me for a moment….”
I rose hastily, covering my mouth with a handkerchief. Of course, I made sure to tilt the blood-stained handkerchief just slightly toward the Duke so he could see it. Since I hadn’t been coughing up blood frequently lately, I had to seize every opportunity to remind him.
The Duke’s expression when I last saw it was peculiar once more.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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