Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 110

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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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The Royal Palace banquet was quite a grand affair. Only the great nobles of the Capital could attend, and even then, there was a condition that they had to be adults. For lower-ranking nobles to participate, they needed an invitation letter sent directly by the Royal Family or high-ranking nobles.
Of course, Simor had received an invitation from Princess Elani. It was the same flow as in the original story.
[I hear you’ve been quite ill and aren’t receiving visitors. However, I believe we may meet at the Royal Palace banquet. I too have received an invitation from Princess Elani. We can continue our discussion about the new business venture then.]
It was the content of a letter I had received just before coming up from Borotna.
I hadn’t bothered to reply, but regardless, I felt a subtle unease that things were flowing according to the original story despite my several interventions.
“Ah, Laria.”
Evan smiled slightly upon seeing me dressed up elaborately.
“You look beautiful.”
I wore a crimson dress with a glittering diamond necklace, and for the first time in ages, I had my hair pinned up.
‘That fellow certainly has consistent taste.’
Evan wore a crimson cravat and ruby cufflinks I had given him when he was fourteen. As far as I could remember, he always dressed this way.
‘Come to think of it, he must have over a hundred crimson cravats.’
Once, when I had asked him “Why do you always wear the same color cravat?” Evan had answered, “There is no identical crimson cravat under the heavens.”
I finished preparing to go out, even bringing my fan—the “Tiger of Rivien”—which was like my alter ego. A lavish banquet hosted by the Royal Palace was, so to speak, an opportunity for all manner of romance and intrigue. It was a goldmine of sweet episodes where various men would compete over who would escort me!
But for me, who had married at fourteen, none of this applied. Naturally, my escort was Evan, and there was nothing particularly to happen.
I had already been married for nearly seven years, so no one questioned my origins anymore. Moreover, I had no acquaintances in the Capital’s social circles. Therefore, I simply needed to attend and serve as background decoration.
‘I’m just here to observe.’
I sighed as I walked down the corridor with Evan.
‘What a shame. If I weren’t confined to this role, I could have been a major player behind the scenes of such banquets, gathering all manner of gossip.’
The small Southwest social circle had been completely under my control all this time. Though on the surface it seemed Princess Kaite held all the strings, I was the one pulling them from behind. And some people had begun to notice this fact.
“To gain favor with Princess Kaite, you must first win over the Icard Nobleman!”
With such thoughts, many people would grovel before me, and each time I felt quite displeased.
“My lady, this is a lemon tea I made myself. Would you care to try it? It’s quite tart and delicious.”
“I heard you wished to have this book, my lady? My uncle happens to possess one!”
I felt displeased because these pleasant things had an expiration date. Or perhaps I felt regretful thinking that I could have done better in the Capital’s larger social circles.
‘Because of this wretched original story and my pathetic possession, I must hide away and waste this mad talent of mine….’
The Capital’s grand social circle had essentially lost a great talent due to my ill-fated transmigration.
While thinking such thoughts, I arrived at the carriage. Duke Icard was already inside, dressed impeccably for the banquet.
“Father!”
I smiled brightly and sat across from him with Evan.
“You look splendid!”
Duke Icard was also wearing the crimson cufflinks I had given him. And it was Evan, sitting beside me, who responded to my words.
“Laria.”
“Yes?”
“What about me?”
“…Hmm?”
“How do I look?”
I couldn’t say “You look the same as always…” so I gazed at his face for a moment before speaking.
“Your hair looks lovely. It’s been styled well today.”
“Morand.”
Evan suddenly opened the carriage door.
“Come here for a moment. Take a photograph. I need to know exactly what it looks like.”
“….”
I was about to say there was no need for that.
“I.”
Duke Icard spoke with eyes that could devour a person whole.
“Yes?”
“Which part of me looks particularly fine today?”
“…Your eyebrows are well-groomed.”
“Morand.”
He turned his head toward Morand, who had brought the camera.
“Take a photograph of me as well.”
This camera surely wasn’t purchased for such purposes….
Morand, apparently thinking similarly to me, laughed awkwardly and spoke.
“Everyone looks splendid today, so since I’ve brought the camera, why not take a family portrait?”
In the end, we unexpectedly found ourselves taking a family photograph inside the carriage.
“Young Duke, how much longer do you intend to remain so stiff in front of Lady Laria? Put your arm around her shoulder and try a more affectionate pose.”
Evan awkwardly placed his hand on my shoulder. Since I wore a dress with exposed shoulders, I could feel the sensation of his large hand directly against my skin.
‘Why is he trembling like that? Does physical contact with a woman really disgust him that much?’
That was when it happened.
“You foolish creatures!”
Olivia appeared, striking Morand on the back of his head with her fan.
“How dare you take photographs without me? Though my surname is Rivien, I stay here every time I visit the Capital!”
Olivia wore high heels and a dress with layers upon layers of frills far more elaborate than mine.
“Move aside! I shall sit in the center like the protagonist.”
Olivia pushed Duke Icard aside and took the center seat in the carriage.
“Now, let us take the photograph.”
With Olivia’s arrival, Morand’s mind seemed to scatter somewhat, and he took our photograph, while Evan’s hand quickly withdrew.
“I shall send the attendants in the carriage behind shortly. They will remain on standby, so call for them whenever you need anything.”
The attendants Morand referred to were the servants coming to attend to us.
“Especially, Duke, you do not have a strong tolerance for alcohol, do you?”
“I don’t drink at all, actually.”
“Still, I have prepared a hangover remedy, so if you feel you’ve exceeded your limit, please inform a servant.”
Since this was the Empire’s greatest event, the Royal Palace banquet, preparations were thorough to guard against any unforeseen incidents. Naturally, Serena and Lisa were with us as well.
“Well then, I hope you all enjoy yourselves.”
Morand bowed politely and closed the carriage door.
Thus we departed for the Imperial Palace.
“Laria.”
As I gazed out the window, lost in thought, Evan suddenly spoke.
“Your ankle, that is.”
“…Huh?”
“It still seems to be hurting. You injured it quite badly, didn’t you?”
I couldn’t help but be a little surprised, because outwardly I was walking around perfectly fine.
“What? Laria’s ankle hurts?”
Olivia said in surprise.
“No, are your joints weaker than an old man’s?”
“Well… it seems your joints aren’t particularly sturdy, Great-Aunt?”
“This is something I was born with.”
As I spoke while looking at Olivia’s high heels, she lifted her head proudly and replied.
“According to what I’ve heard, the ancestors of House of Icard were blessed by fairies—their morals are weak, but their bodies are strong.”
I paused for a moment to consider whether that was truly a blessing. Thinking of Evan exercising all night, it didn’t seem like such a blessed kind of strength.
“In any case, it seems you were injured more severely than expected back then.”
At Evan’s somewhat suspicious remark, I responded in confusion.
“I… I’m not walking well?”
“You walk fine enough.”
Evan spoke bluntly.
“But the angle at which your body moves is subtly different. Your ankle still isn’t the same as before.”
I swallowed hard.
“I’ve seen similar injuries in the Knight Order many times, and if treated properly right away, they don’t last this long.”
“Haha, is that so? Evan, but look over there. That shop is really pretty.”
I tried to change the subject by looking out the window, but Evan eventually said the very thing I had been trying to avoid.
“Serena treated it properly, right? The way she wrapped the bandages seemed quite clumsy back then….”
At those words, Duke Icard’s brow furrowed sharply.
“Wait.”
He spoke coldly with his arms crossed.
“So to summarize, Laria was injured but Serena didn’t treat her properly?”
“That’s not it!”
I quickly interjected.
“Serena did an excellent job, but I didn’t listen well! I said it was frustrating and unwrapped the bandages… and didn’t take the medicine properly….”
“It’s the attending physician’s role to manage even that.”
I had thought that Serena’s incompetence might be exposed someday, and we had managed to get by, but of all times, now!
“Perhaps she’s not quite the renowned physician I thought after all.”
As he murmured slowly, Evan quickly added.
“I’ve been suspicious of that physician from the start.”
I was smiling with a stiff expression, but it wasn’t really a smile.
“Wouldn’t it be better to have another doctor examine her, no matter how much Laria has improved?”
“No! I don’t want to! I like Serena. I don’t want it to seem like I’m doubting her skills.”
I stubbornly insisted, though I felt a little anxious. I was no longer at an age where I could insist like I did as a child: “I won’t see anyone but Serena!”
Just as Duke Icard’s expression became very complicated, we arrived at the Imperial Palace.
‘Well then.’
I grasped Evan’s hand and stepped into the Banquet Hall, my thoughts settling into place.
‘As a mere supporting character, I’ll simply enjoy the spectacle without burden. Peacefully.’

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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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