Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 106

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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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“I heard you spoke with Princess Elani at the masquerade.”
Simor suddenly spoke while I was lost in thought.
“Ah, yes. We did exchange a few words.”
“Did she mention the divorce law? What do you think of it?”
“It’s a good law.”
I answered without hesitation.
I believed my parents, Rostri Count and his wife, should have divorced long ago.
“It will definitely pass.”
After all, the original story’s ending involved the passage of the divorce law and the remarriage of the male and female leads. No matter how I thought about it, the ending seemed rather peculiar by ordinary human standards.
“You speak with such conviction.”
Simor smiled brightly. It was a beautiful and radiant smile befitting the male lead.
How thrilled would Princess Elani be, who was in a loveless marriage with the stoic Evan, to see such a smile? Evan never smiled like that. I had never seen him smile so openly, showing his teeth. Even when he did smile, it was quiet and gentle—merely a soft lifting of the corners of his mouth.
“I feel the same way.”
The skin beneath Simor’s eyes lifted further, creating a fresh atmosphere.
“I’m delighted that you also think it’s a good law, Laria.”
Yet still, I found myself missing Evan’s smile more.
“Since coming to the Southwest, haven’t you seen me far more often than Evan?”
“I suppose that’s true.”
“And we’ve done far more together.”
“That’s also true.”
“Well, that’s just how it is. So what shall we do together next?”
Simor’s green eyes sparkled as he leaned his body toward me.
“Actually, I’ve been looking into some things that have caught my interest. There are only three ancient magical artifacts on the continent, and….”
“Cough, cough. Cough, cough, cough.”
Simor was fine in every other way, but he didn’t know when to stop and leave. He talked so much that I always had to feign illness to cut him off.
“I apologize, Simor. My health has suddenly taken a turn for the worse, and I need to rest. Cough, cough.”
“Ah… Are you alright?”
“No, I’m not.”
After finally sending Simor away, I sat quietly and fell into thought.
Now all the preparations were complete.
Labonis Manor was finished, and I had settled things with Marcel, whom I had been deceiving as Labonis Viscount all this time. Since I hadn’t discussed any new ventures with Simor, I could simply disappear quietly.
The point in time I was thinking of was after the Royal Palace Banquet two months from now. In truth, I could disappear immediately without much consequence, but I still wanted to attend the Royal Palace Banquet.
If I went missing, Evan and Duke Icard would face endless questions about me at the Royal Palace Banquet. One could say it would be amusing given how conspicuous I am, but I didn’t want to cause such trouble. And personally, I wanted to attend the Royal Palace Banquet at least once.
Until now, I had never attended a Royal Palace Banquet. Only adults were permitted to attend.
Since Evan wasn’t yet an adult, I hadn’t attended until last year. I had heard the Royal Palace Banquet Hall was so beautiful, and I wanted to see it at least once. The masquerade had been quite entertaining to observe as well.
“Laria.”
After sending off Simor, I was alone at the Villa thinking about various things when Lisa entered.
“Yes, what is it?”
“It’s about the dress and accessories for the Royal Palace Banquet two months from now.”
Lisa, being a capable maid, seemed to have everything planned out already.
“First, I’ll place an order with one of the Capital’s tailoring houses that has all of Laria’s measurements on file, and we should schedule the fitting right before the banquet.”
“Ah, let’s do that. Thank you.”
“Is there perhaps a particular style you prefer this time?”
Normally, I would have told Lisa to handle all such matters herself. When she asked for my detailed opinions, I’d emphasize, “Just the expensive one. The most expensive.”
“Hmm, well… I think I’d like something in red tones.”
But since this is the last time.
“Evan likes the color red, you see.”
From the moment of my possession until now, I’d been preparing for the days I would inevitably flee. Now that the day loomed before me, something felt restless. So I recalled once more another method I’d contemplated a hundred times over—telling Duke Icard the complete truth.
‘Father, the truth is, this is a world inside a book. I’ve been possessed. That’s why I know the future.’
Just thinking this far made me sigh a little.
‘Father’s plan will fail. Because Princess Elani will eventually divorce Evan. The man Princess Elani chooses instead of Icard’s young duke is Viscount Litshia, a newly rich commoner.’
As I continued my thoughts, finding no answer, I pressed my forehead with my hand.
‘So why don’t you just give up on saving Matilda and simply accept me?’
Even if I were Duke Icard, I would never accept such words.
‘Oh, actually, I secretly cured my illness, so I’m perfectly healthy now. Of course, I’ve deceived everyone on a massive scale all this time. It was all my grand fraud!’
There was nothing more to consider. I could never speak such words.
From the start, wasn’t this relationship built entirely on lies? I was never as kind and obedient as they believed. In the end, after going in circles, there was only one path forward.
‘Let me proceed with my original plan.’
Live quietly according to the original story. I just need to change my death to a disappearance. I shouldn’t take reckless risks with my life just because I’ve grown attached.
“Laria.”
Serena also knew that the D-day was approaching. She came to my room under the pretext of a medical check-up and spoke carefully.
“The time is drawing near. I have consistently told Duke Icard that by now, you would be passing from this world. Just as you instructed.”
“What did Father say in response, all this time?”
“He… said nothing at all.”
That point was quite unexpected.
I had assumed Duke Icard would secretly tell Serena not to treat me actively.
‘Well, perhaps since I’m dying anyway, he simply didn’t bother to add anything.’
The fact remained that Duke Icard was allowing my death to proceed unchecked.
If Duke Icard had honestly told me, “The truth is, you might die soon, and I’ve been hiding it,” things could have been different. But simply remaining silent like this meant he was waiting for my death.
‘I’m nothing compared to Matilda.’
I disliked the idea of telling Evan everything and driving a wedge between him and Duke Icard. Their relationship was already strained, and I didn’t want to tear them further apart. Yet I also disliked the thought of Duke Icard declaring, “Let’s give up on Matilda.”
‘Even if it will fail, I should at least let him try. I’ve prepared this much.’
With only one step remaining, if I gave up without even attempting, it might become a lifelong regret for Duke Icard. I didn’t want to live constantly watching his expression, aware of that fact.
‘If he truly regrets it… when Evan gets divorced by Princess Elani, I could always appear and peek in a little.’
It was a choice utterly devoid of pride, but I’d never cultivated such a thing anyway. In any case, that was something to think about after I escaped. So I answered Serena calmly.
“You did well. When you go up to the Count’s Manor this time, just say the same thing again.”
“Then… when will you escape?”
“As I see it now, I’ll look for an opportunity on the way back after the Royal Palace Banquet ends.”
Not long after the Royal Palace Banquet ends, Elani announces she will marry. So I had to disappear at the right moment in between.
“I’ll just use a teleportation scroll to escape. If you’re with me, we’ll teleport together. If not, I’ll contact you beforehand, and you can hide yourself first, then follow me to Labonis Estate.”
Now that I had the teleportation scroll, I could escape whenever I wished. Yet I wanted to choose the most opportune moment. I needed to lay sufficient groundwork, observe for any unforeseen complications, and wait for the perfect opening.
“I’m… I’m trembling. I’m nervous.”
Serena took a deep breath, speaking in a way uncharacteristic of her.
“Why? I thought you spent every day just waiting for the moment I’d disappear. Now that it’s actually happening, you’re afraid?”
“It’s not fear, exactly…”
Serena rolled her eyes for a moment before speaking slowly.
“It’s just… nearly seven years have passed, and that’s not a trivial span of time, is it? Even though my position was false, living within House of Icard alongside Laria and experiencing all those pleasant moments… there were so many.”
Her voice gradually grew wistful.
“It’s just that ending this life feels a bit regrettable. After all, we’re entering an entirely new phase.”
I said nothing in response, simply gazing out the window.
Yes, Serena was right—it was merely regret. Even Marcel, who had despised coming and going from this place at first, seemed to feel it too. Changing the unit of time by seven years stirred complicated emotions in anyone. Despite harboring ulterior motives all along, I had spent seven years within House of Icard. So this bittersweet ache was only natural.
“You can raise him without worry. No matter what happens, you’ll always make choices for Evan’s sake.”
What suddenly came to mind was Olivia’s prophecy—or rather, her prediction.
“Even falsehood, when repeated enough, often becomes truth.”
Though I had prepared everything meticulously and felt confident I wouldn’t be discovered, unease continued to gnaw at me.
Two months passed that way. With grim resolve, I carried the teleportation scroll and traveled to the Capital. It would likely be my final journey to the Capital under Icard’s name.

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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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