Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 107

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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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When I arrived at Duke Icard’s Mansion, the Duke was away. Instead, Evan sat in the Duke’s Office, reviewing documents on his behalf.
“Father went to the Pabienne mines. They were supposed to close it, but apparently a new vein of ore was suddenly discovered.”
“What? Pabienne?”
“Yes.”
Evan looked at me with a composed expression as he spoke.
“Why? Do you know the place?”
“Well… no.”
“Great-Aunt Olivia is also coming from Rivien. I expect both of them will arrive by the time of the banquet.”
Since the Royal Palace banquet was in two days, that meant they would arrive soon.
“I see. Understood. Work hard then.”
I quickly left the Duke’s Office.
The Pabienne mines, of all places.
“How much would you be willing to pay for a book authored personally by Rollayde Cardi Icard, the first patriarch of House Icard?”
“Impudent wretch. Rollayde was someone who found everything bothersome. There’s no way he would have left behind something like a book.”
“What if I were able to obtain it?”
“I would give you all your current wealth. What’s one gold mine compared to that?”
It was the Pabienne mines that Simor had taken back then.
The text mentioned that Simor had been delighted because it was where ore veins had just been discovered, with abundant deposits. So it seemed Simor had come looking for me now, knowing the whereabouts of Rollayde’s rare book that I had overlooked.
In any case, everyone in the empire knew that Rollayde’s rare book had been discovered years ago and donated to the Academy. So even if Simor had found a clue, he would have discarded it without coming to find me.
The real problem lay elsewhere.
‘Then… this is the period when the terrorist attack occurs.’
From the beginning, Duke Icard hadn’t simply agreed to Simor’s suggestion to tear up the floorboards of Olivia’s room on a whim.
However, when a bomb from an unidentified package exploded and the mansion fell into disarray, they had dug up the floor under the guise of repairs. In other words…
‘A bomb attack is about to happen soon.’
Fortunately, the bomb had detonated in the Duke’s Office when he was away from the mansion, so no one was hurt.
Of course, even though the Duke’s Office was destroyed by the terrorist attack, Duke Icard had worked there with the lights on until dawn and met with Simor again afterward.
‘So that must be happening now.’
I thought it would happen soon, but what did it have to do with me…
‘But something feels off.’
I was concerned because Evan was in the Duke’s Office. If the story progressed slightly differently from the original and Evan got hurt…
‘But I can’t just tell him to throw away all the packages…’
I had never interfered in the Duke’s Mansion’s affairs even once until now. Therefore, I couldn’t ask him to do something so unreasonable without any basis.
‘Wait, it would be better if I just used this for myself.’
I thought that once I disappeared, wouldn’t they search my room first? Of course, I hadn’t left any evidence, but I had already removed everything valuable. Wouldn’t seeing that make them even angrier?
‘I might even cause Lisa trouble by asking her to find evidence.’
Moreover, destroying my room in the explosion had the symbolic meaning of erasing all traces of my existence.
“Morand.”
So I immediately called for Morand, the butler.
“If any packages arrive at the mansion, could you show them to me first?”
“Pardon?”
“Someone I met in Borotna said they’d send a package to the Count’s Manor for me. But I can’t remember who it was… Let me take a look at it first.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Right. Just bring it to my room for now. I’ll look through it carefully later.”
I was about to dismiss him when Morand spoke up hesitantly.
“Ah, Miss Laria. Thank you.”
“Hmm? For what?”
“It’s the first time you’ve asked me to do something, Miss Laria.”
“…Is that something to be grateful for?”
I was slightly taken aback, wondering if Morand had some servile tendency, and asked him directly.
“Well, aside from Lisa, you don’t typically involve yourself with the other servants at all, Miss Laria.”
True, I was meant to become the mistress of the Count’s Manor, but until now I had consciously avoided entangling myself with the servants. I thought it would only stand out anyway.
I had my own sense of propriety—I didn’t want to become some shameless person who wielded the Nobleman’s authority carelessly only to vanish suddenly.
“It seemed as though you were deliberately separating the Count’s Manor from yourself, Miss Laria. It was the same during the Rosalin incident… So I was secretly worried.”
Morand added with a wry smile.
“If you need anything in the future, please don’t hesitate to tell me. That flower you gave me on National Foundation Festival a few years ago is still beautifully dried in my room.”
“Ah, well…”
“While we’re on the subject, I’ve also been concerned that you haven’t been using the allowance I arranged for you after you came of age.”
A year ago, when I turned eighteen, a separate budget was allocated to me as the Nobleman’s daughter. But I hadn’t touched a single coin of it.
“I have plenty of money. I still have the cash I won from horse racing when I was younger, and Father and Evan have been buying me all sorts of things, so I don’t need anything.”
I simply didn’t want to touch the Icard Nobleman’s budget for some reason. If it had been right after I possessed this body, I would have been greedy enough to embezzle it somehow, but now that I’d accumulated some wealth, I mostly just wanted to avoid any lingering discomfort by not touching it at all.
“Still, the budget is separate…”
“I’ll use it if I need to, so don’t worry about it.”
I smiled dismissively to signal he could go, but Morand hesitated uncharacteristically.
“And Miss Laria.”
“Yes?”
He stroked his mustache and broached an entirely different subject.
“I hope you don’t mind me asking, but… are you perhaps not curious about the affairs of the Count’s Manor?”
I sighed inwardly.
‘Here it comes.’
In truth, the position of Nobleman’s daughter couldn’t possibly come without obligations. I’d been shirking my duties on the pretext of illness, but eventually this day had arrived. I thought I’d managed well enough, assuming I’d disappear soon anyway…
“Actually, when you came of age, Miss Laria, I thought I should hand over certain responsibilities to you. But the Young Duke is so fond of you that…”
“Then who’s handling those duties now?”
“The Young Duke is managing them.”
“What do Father and Evan think about it?”
“Your health is the top priority, but they said if you ever wish to take on the responsibilities, you may do so anytime.”
Morand chose his words very carefully and spoke respectfully.
“In truth, we all care for you, Miss Laria, but there are new servants coming in as well…”
Ultimately, it was saying that beyond personal affection, I needed to demonstrate competence as the mistress of the household. Honestly, it was a fair point.
“In my personal opinion, it would be beneficial in the long term for you to gradually exert your influence over the Count’s Manor.”
From a long-term perspective, it was loyal and sound advice that truly considered my welfare. Of course, since I would be leaving soon anyway, there was no real need for such foresight, but…
Morand was indeed a butler worthy of Duke Icard’s trust, overseeing the entire Count’s Manor.
I readily nodded, having conveniently thought of a good excuse at just the right moment.
“Is that so? Then give it to me for now.”
At my response, Morand’s expression showed complete relief.
“Yes, then I shall bring some of the work that Matilda was handling to your room.”
“Bring it to the Library instead. Since this is my first time doing this, I’d like to look for reference materials.”
I had been planning to stay elsewhere anyway, uncertain when a bomb might detonate in my room, so this worked out naturally and conveniently. I would have to lodge in the Library under the pretense of reviewing documents until the bomb went off.
“Would you like me to assist you?”
Morand asked loyally.
At the Count’s Manor, my image was that of a sickly, cute, and lovable person—but not particularly capable.
‘He really is capable and far-sighted. It would take more time to place an incompetent person and teach them while working,’ I thought.
If I just stayed quiet, Evan would handle everything anyway, yet here Morand was volunteering to take on this troublesome task. I felt an unnecessary surge of emotion at his remarkable loyalty.
“Let me try it alone first, and I’ll call you if I need help.”
Thus, from that evening onward, I settled myself in the Library along with the documents Morand had brought.
I briefly called Lisa and instructed her to move certain items elsewhere, and made sure to tell her not to let anyone else enter my room. Now my concern was… how competently should I handle these documents?
I had already learned and mastered such work long ago from the Eldspie Viscountess.
Honestly, it wasn’t particularly difficult work. The Eldspie Viscountess had always praised my remarkable aptitude and intelligence.
‘Should I just skim through it and claim I can’t manage, or should I do it properly? Or perhaps somewhere in between?’
Since this was essentially my last visit to the Count’s Manor anyway, I pondered the question before simply lying down and falling asleep.
It was early the next morning when a loud explosion echoed through the air and the Count’s Manor was thrown into chaos.

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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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