Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 102

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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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A barrier? A demon?
Now that I thought about it, I remembered Neo mentioning long ago that he would gift me a protective barrier.
―I’ll place a layer of protection around your mind.
Since it wasn’t exactly a profitable gift, I’d completely forgotten about it. Had that barrier prevented me from telling the Scroll Book that I wanted to stop watching?
‘I really did want to stop, but….’
I endured the illusion while holding back tears.
Though it was painful, I could bear it by thinking of Evan alone during those days. Jerdi Viscount Yeong approached me as a friend, we grew closer, ate meals together, exercised together….
“It’s nothing special? Just a brat pretending to be strong. A fool who dies for affection if you just humor him, so it’s easy to pretend to be his friend.”
Then I discovered him mocking and cursing behind my back….
When I learned that truth, Evan’s expression was truly pitiful.
‘Ah, so that’s why.’
I thought back to when I first met Evan. I’d thought it strange how he’d beat around the bush even about going to the racetrack together, and how he struggled to speak his true feelings….
‘Something like that must have happened right before he met me.’
Not knowing, I’d found it strange. That’s why I wanted to understand him more.
Suddenly, I recalled something Serena had said long ago.
“You have to experience things to know what Laria likes and dislikes. For example, you have to taste this madeleine to know whether you like it or dislike it, right?”
Since I hadn’t known before, I wanted to understand like Serena said. What I disliked so much, and how much I disliked it. So what I hated most was something I didn’t even know about myself—Evan’s pain.
Until now, I’d lived looking only forward, thinking I had to escape the situation, and I’d never truly reflected on myself. Just a child with no conscience or sincerity, but plenty of greed and dark intentions?
‘…Was I thinking about it enough?’
―If it weren’t for the barrier, I would have won the bet completely.
So until the Scroll Book’s voice rang in my head, I never told him to stop.
―There was definitely a major crisis, but I’m so frustrated I could die….
The illusion ended as Evan began beating Jerdi Viscount Yeong. Only then did I realize five minutes had passed.
‘Well done, myself.’
Sadness was sadness, and doing well was doing well.
It was thanks to the barrier Neo had gifted me, but I’d suffered tremendously. Of course, since I was human too, emotions didn’t organize themselves cleanly like cutting radish with a knife. My heart continued to ache as I kept thinking of Evan’s Academy days.
‘He’s grown now, but how painful must it have been in his childhood.’
Or perhaps he’d grown up with something missing because of that pain.
Despite being perceptive, Evan always confused me. From what I could sense, he clearly seemed to like me, but there was something subtle hidden within.
It was affection that seemed feigned, kindness that seemed restrained. I couldn’t tell what lay beneath it, what his true feelings were. According to the original work, my only source of information, it should be Evan’s innate indifference….
I began to think that this abnormal emotion confusing people might stem from childhood deprivation.
―Well… a bet is a bet.
The Scroll Book spoke with irritation.
―What scroll do you want?
I answered immediately.
“A teleportation scroll.”
―You’re asking for something good.
The Scroll Book continued to sigh with annoyance.
―Here, the distance capacity is 100 kaiso. The number of uses doesn’t matter; it’s deducted by distance. For example, a distance of 50 kaiso allows two teleportations. Of course, if there are two people, it doubles the consumption.
100 kaiso was quite generous.
The distance from the Capital to Borotna was just over forty kaisos.
―Imagine where you want to go, then tear the page. It will manifest.
Before my eyes, one of the Scroll Book’s pages tore cleanly and fell directly into my pocket.
―But you….
The fantasy unfolding Evan’s childhood ended abruptly, and I saw the book sitting on the golden chair before me once more.
―…You’re a child saved by the Rift.
“Huh?”
Since the Scroll Book was a book, it had no expression or gestures. I could only infer its gravity from its voice alone.
―You should know this better than anyone.
“That is….”
―The dark magic aura I sense from you is far too strong.
The Scroll Book spoke in an indifferent tone.
―Strong enough to obliterate an entire world.
“Wait. Are you saying I have that much potential?”
―Rather than potential… it’s simply what I sense. Of course, it’s not a compliment.
“Yeah, I already knew it wasn’t a compliment.”
―Anyway.
The Scroll Book chuckled.
―That one who came with you lost the bet, so take him with you.
Only then did I notice Evan leaning against the corner of the room with a dazed expression.
“You….”
I suddenly felt afraid and glared at the Scroll Book.
“…Did you show Evan a similar fantasy? A bad memory from his past?”
―No.
The Scroll Book laughed with amusement.
―I made the opposite bet with him.
“Huh?”
―A bet where if he says ‘I want to stop watching this’ within five minutes, he wins.
I paused to think for a moment.
So it was showing Evan an absolutely dreamlike vision. A fantasy so wonderful he’d never want to stop watching. I lose if I say I want to stop, but Evan wins if he says he wants to stop.
“No, he’s not an idiot… he already knows it’s a fantasy, so why can’t he just say he wants to stop?”
I couldn’t help myself and rushed over to shake his shoulders.
“Evan, Evan!”
“…Laria, there, that’s not… no, it’s not that it’s not allowed… wait?”
Evan’s eyes snapped open as he finally came to his senses. He kept staring at me blankly without fully regaining consciousness, so I eventually punched him in the solar plexus.
“Come to your senses. Do you remember where you are? What were you even watching?”
“Ah… Scroll Book, a fantasy. Oh, right. It was a fantasy.”
Evan muttered blankly, then suddenly turned his head toward the Scroll Book. He blinked his dazed eyes several times, then bowed respectfully.
“Evan?”
I was startled because it was the first time I’d seen him show such courtesy and politeness.
“Thank you, sir.”
I’d lost the bet, yet I couldn’t understand what that barking sound meant.
And what was this “sir” business anyway….
“Honestly, the admission fee was worth every copper—wait, have I lost my mind? This deranged fool!”
Evan, who had been spouting nonsense, suddenly came to his senses and slapped his own cheek again.
‘Ah. The side effects of that potent truth serum haven’t worn off yet, it seems.’
I dragged Evan out of Scroll Book’s Room.
―Sigh.
Behind us, Scroll Book clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
―That perverted bastard.
* * *
Having accomplished what I came for, I dragged Evan out of the Magic Tower entirely.
“You’re actually fine, right?”
“Yeah.”
Evan sighed and continued while holding his forehead.
“Though it might not be my head that’s the problem.”
I answered quickly to his remark.
“Your face isn’t exactly in great shape either.”
In fact, he looked as though he’d aged five years since arriving at the Magic Tower.
“We still have some time before thirty minutes are up. I’m going to get some air alone for a bit.”
“Let’s stay together. Why not?”
“I’d rather not.”
The moment we left the Magic Tower, he turned to hand me off to the Guard and go catch some air alone.
And I quickly grabbed his arm.
“But I want to.”
“Let go of this.”
His somewhat cold words stung a little, but I clung to his side anyway.
“I just want to be with you.”
It felt like there was a conversation we could only have now, if at all. Or perhaps I simply wanted to be by his side. It was likely because I’d witnessed his painful past.
Evan couldn’t bring himself to shake me off, so I walked with him along a forest path a short distance from the carriage. It was a rather beautiful path, sparse in foot traffic but drenched in afternoon sunlight.
Since Evan still seemed eager to distance himself from me, I quickly spoke up.
“I saw your childhood in the vision.”
“…What?”
Either way, I thought I needed to start some conversation from there.
“Your Academy days, I mean.”
“Oh.”
Evan paused for a moment, then spoke in a somewhat deflated voice.
“So you pitied me?”
“Huh?”
“You already sometimes see me as a thirteen-year-old child. Now you must pity me even more. That was my most difficult and miserable period.”
“Ah, well… but it’s only natural to worry.”
“…”
“I… I can’t be indifferent to you, Evan.”
A brief silence fell between us.
I myself didn’t understand why I’d said such a thing. It had been spoken rather impulsively.
It was Evan who broke the silence that hung between us first.
“Because you saw that illusion, you’re chasing after me like this, unable to leave me alone? Like at the masquerade?”
Evan’s crimson eyes gazed at me quietly. I was somewhat startled to see a subtle resentment dwelling in those red eyes.
“It’s strange. Others say I’m not cute at all, yet you’ve found me endearing since long ago.”
“…”
“Now no one dares treat me carelessly, and everyone fears me, yet you still pity me. And I find that truly…”
He slowly bent forward, drawing closer. Then he whispered softly against my ear.
“…both miserable and intoxicating.”

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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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