Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 11

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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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2. Finding My Right Hand
After I returned to the Count’s Manor with the check tucked safely against my chest, the rumors spread like lightning. Lisa, who had come to tidy the ornaments piled in my hair, smiled brightly and spoke.
“My goodness, Miss Laria…! I heard you won an enormous sum of money.”
“Yes, I was fortunate.”
Lisa was a veteran maid who had worked at the Count’s Manor since childhood. She remained composed without making a fuss, and her hands were deft. Whenever she attended to my appearance and such matters, I could feel the eye of a true professional.
“Thank you, Lisa. Even though it’s just my back view, I’ll probably appear in the newspapers—thank you for making me look so lovely.”
It was Lisa who had diligently combined my limited wardrobe and accessories to dress me for today’s outing.
Though she was rather reserved, which made me feel a slight distance, she was certainly competent.
“Everyone I encountered told me how beautiful you looked.”
Of course, I couldn’t say whether that was sincere, but in any case, flattery was still praise.
“Yes. Red suits you very well, Miss Laria.”
“Evan wore a red cravat too, and everyone said we matched well. They found us adorable as a young couple.”
“I should speak to the steward about increasing the budget. I’ll have more red-toned dresses ordered for you. And since the young master’s eyes are red as well, you two truly made a perfect pair.”
Lisa gazed at my reflection in the mirror once more, pleased with her own sense of style, then changed the subject.
“But what will you do with all that money?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
Since Lisa could very well be a spy placed by Duke Icard to watch me, I remained cautious.
“Since it came easily, I should use it for something good.”
It was obvious that suddenly acquiring such wealth would draw scrutiny about where it was spent.
Therefore, rather than say anything rash, I decided to be evasive.
“I’m thinking of keeping it safe for now and perhaps making a donation.”
“Oh, to where?”
“I’m not sure yet. I’ll look into it slowly.”
Lisa looked impressed by my words, so I trailed off vaguely.
“Well… perhaps to poor, sick orphans or something…”
That poor, sick orphan was me, so it wasn’t a lie.
Come to think of it, I had been the same in my life before the possession. I had no parents, naturally no money, and my body was frequently ill.
It wasn’t without reason that I felt pity when I saw Evan standing blankly at the graduation ceremony.
My own graduation ceremony, with no one to celebrate me, was not a fond memory either.
“You’re truly kind-hearted, young mistress.”
“Just call me Laria. Young mistress feels awkward.”
After Lisa finished tidying all the ornaments in my hair, she unfastened the buttons at the back of my dress and smiled.
“…Matilda was truly a warm person as well.”
Ah, she was speaking of the Duchess—the friend of my mother.
Lisa continued in a slightly melancholic tone.
“She used to make many donations here and there.”
“I see.”
“She was so fortunate too that we all said she brought good luck wherever she went. In many ways, you’re quite similar to her, Miss Laria.”
“Really…?”
“And thinking about it, she also found the title ‘mistress’ awkward and asked us to call her Matilda.”
At first glance, Matilda seemed like a completely different person from me, yet it appeared others saw us as similar by coincidence.
“If Matilda had been alive….”
Lisa offered a slightly sad smile as she spoke.
“She would have truly cherished Laria, I’m sure.”
“Do you think so?”
“Of course. The atmosphere at the Count’s Manor when she was here and when she wasn’t—it was like night and day… Oh my.”
Lisa continued speaking gently, but then she heard a presence from deeper within the room and startled. She lowered her voice to a whisper.
“Is the young master inside?”
The room Evan and I shared was called a room, but it was quite spacious. There were no dividing doors, though it was somewhat separated into inner and outer sections.
“Yes. I told him I was going to change clothes and to stay out of this area.”
“Ah….”
“Why?”
Lisa bit her lower lip as if she’d misspoken.
“It’s just… it might have been better not to speak of the late lady in front of the young master.”
It was praise for his own mother, after all, so perhaps it was a bit awkward.
Still, the people here spoke of Matilda quite often for some reason.
It seemed the atmosphere of the Count’s Manor was completely different when she was alive compared to now.
Whenever I secretly ate Occlasia Fruit in the Mansion Garden, servants and maids who didn’t notice my presence would pass by saying things like “When Matilda was here….”
‘It’s not Evan’s fault that Matilda passed away, but….’
The only person who could say that and comfort him—Duke Icard—was essentially neglecting Evan right now.
Though it wasn’t an emotion I’d experienced myself, I still felt sorry for Evan.
“Well, once you’ve washed up and changed into your indoor clothes, you’ll be all set.”
Lisa let out a small sigh, unable to hide her discomfort.
After washing and changing into indoor clothes, I entered the inner part of the room to find Evan reading a book with an expressionless face.
He must have heard our entire conversation, yet he said nothing in particular.
“Reading again? But you really only read difficult books, don’t you?”
When I spoke first, Evan didn’t even glance at me and simply nodded.
I lay down on the bed first and watched Evan from the corner of my eye.
In truth, there wasn’t much information about Evan Icard at all.
In the original work, Evan was barely even a supporting character—he was just a truly unremarkable extra.
He barely appeared in more than a few sentences. It seemed to be because he had nothing to do and was always indifferent.
‘He was more like a background prop than a supporting character, really.’
His married life with Laria ended in a single line. Simply that he didn’t cry, more or less.
Because of that, the detailed information I knew well was how Simor, the commoner male lead, rose so high, and how much refreshing satisfaction the imperial princess Ellania poured out.
“You’re younger than me but truly impressive.”
“I was reading books like this when I was even younger.”
Evan answered calmly.
“It’s not really impressive.”
“Is that so?”
I burrowed into the bed as I spoke.
“Alright, I won’t say you’re amazing anymore.”
Though I’d recovered considerably, I couldn’t yet claim to be healthy, and my stamina was already completely depleted.
Going to the Racetrack with this paper-thin body of mine had been quite the strain.
As I yawned and pulled the blanket over myself, Evan muttered something.
“…You don’t have to stop, really.”
I blinked.
Evan’s sullen words continued.
“You’re rather cold-hearted.”
Finding him oddly endearing, I bit my lower lip to stifle my laughter.
Childhood Evan seemed less genuinely stoic and more like he was pretending to be.
‘Of course… how could he have attached his heart to anything in the Count’s Manor where everyone yearned for Matilda?’
It was a situation that wasn’t anyone’s fault, yet somehow made one feel inevitably diminished. And I had always been weak to withdrawn children. No matter what happened later, I wanted to treat Evan well.
“Well, not just the books—today’s horse racing was amazing too. Nineteen to one odds!”
I said with a yawn.
“I just got lucky with a wild guess that paid off, but you researched carefully and earned a solid return on investment. You’re the one who’s more impressive.”
“What….”
Seeing the back of Evan’s neck flush red, I chuckled inwardly. When a child got shy, that was adorable too.
“Anyway, you had fun today, didn’t you?”
Overwhelmed by encroaching sleep, I murmured one last thing.
“I wish we could go places like this often, all together….”
It really was fun. Going with Duke Icard meant being guided to VIP seating, and everyone treated me well. Being praised as the young lady of House of Icard felt wonderful too.
Winning money was one thing, but the taste of power was truly exhilarating.
After drifting like a ghost through only the Count’s Manor’s rooms and the Mansion Garden, it was enjoyable to dress up carefully and venture out. I’d never lived like this even in my past life.
But truthfully, what felt best was being with someone. Even if those people were Duke Icard, who might kill me later, and Evan, who wouldn’t blink an eye if I died.
I’d originally planned to go alone, but asking Evan and Duke Icard to come along turned out to be a really good choice.
Every time people called us a good-looking family, I felt strangely happy. It seemed like Evan, the last person in my field of vision, was nodding in agreement.

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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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