Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 117

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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 wish Mother were still alive.]
I remembered young Evan’s diary.
[That’s why I wanted to grow up normally.]
I understood that sentiment better than anyone.
Because I had never grown up normally myself.
“My childhood was nothing special. If Mother had only lived, that’s all I thought about every single day.”
“If your mother had lived, would your life have changed so much?”
“…Perhaps it would have.”
When I first met Evan, I couldn’t help myself and congratulated him on his graduation—something no one else had done for him. The ending is just the same. I wanted to give him a normal childhood without deprivation.
If only Matilda had lived, all the misfortunes that befell Evan would disappear. He wouldn’t have been sent to the Academy at such a young age, unable to communicate with anyone, mocked by wretches like Jerdi Viscount Yeong.
He wouldn’t have developed trauma from Ludba’s abuse, freezing up whenever he saw people in blue uniforms.
Most of all, that personality of his—refusing to acknowledge his own feelings and locking himself away in indifference—would vanish. He would be able to care for someone more healthily and honestly.
Duke Icard wouldn’t have suffered being manipulated by such a pathetic spy as Rosalin, who targeted his weaknesses so openly.
“…If I could go back, I too would want to be a truly good father to Evan from the beginning.”
He said he wanted to be a good father, and he could achieve that wish. He wouldn’t spend every day lighting the lamps in his study, chasing after power that didn’t suit him anyway.
“When I think of what those wretches did to Matilda! I still can’t sleep!”
Olivia wouldn’t have to regret thinking of Matilda anymore.
‘So if only Matilda could come back alive…’
I decided to support Duke Icard’s long-cherished wish now that the original story had changed. It was a decision I made alone for my family.
“Lady Laria, truly? You mean right now? It’s all so sudden…”
It didn’t matter that my emotions were heightened by the fairy’s breath.
The fact that Duke Icard said he would save me was reward enough for my choice. Because I felt that he genuinely cherished me, rather than keeping me as a disposable piece.
‘But when tomorrow comes and the fairy’s breath and the truth serum wear off…’
I might regain my senses and wait for my death. Just as I might not make this decision if I regained my rationality.
“I have to go. Everything will be exposed by tomorrow morning.”
When the new physician arrives, my health will be discovered. Or even if that’s not it…
If the order Morand heard today becomes known, my hidden cleverness will be revealed immediately tomorrow.
Even Evan and Lisa noticed today that I was different from usual. That meant my act all this time would be exposed right away.
They would certainly follow all my orders and then bombard me with questions. Yet despite that, I made this choice for House Icard. Prepared to be caught—that I’m not the naive and kind Laria they knew.
“Tomorrow morning?”
“Yes. So Serena, you hide yourself right now. And come slowly to Labonis Manor. I’ll be there.”
“How?”
“With a teleportation scroll, right now. I can’t take you myself because I have one request.”
“Tell me. Anything.”
“Have one of the guild members write a memo and deliver it to Duke Icard’s Mansion. Around dawn tomorrow.”
After hearing the contents of the memo, Serena looked at me with slightly glistening eyes and nodded. By tomorrow, everyone would know. That I wasn’t the weak and kind-hearted Laria they had known.
Rather, they would realize I was a cunning girl who could see several moves ahead. And because of that, I had no confidence in laying everything bare and staying by their side. The Laria they cherished and loved wasn’t my true self.
“For now, I’m not the person Simor knows. Since he’s fallen for a fictional person, I recommend he let go of those feelings.”
The Laria they loved wasn’t me. Like Simor, they loved my false self. That warm appearance like Matilda’s.
‘The fact that I’ve deceived everyone all this time is also true…’
So turning back time was better for everyone. Of course, if Matilda were still alive, I wouldn’t have become the daughter-in-law of Duke Icard with a terminal diagnosis hanging over my head.
‘Still, what could I do… I’ll manage somehow. I’m clever and resourceful, and I even know quite a bit about the future.’
In truth, I wasn’t sure whether I’d remember this life I’d lived with them if time really did turn back. But if Evan and Duke Icard could begin happy lives anew, that seemed enough.
‘That said, I can’t actually die… I just need to disappear quietly and stay missing.’
If I remained locked away in Labonis Manor as planned, I would be reported as missing.
The conclusion was the same either way. Originally, I had decided to flee to avoid dying by Duke Icard’s hand, but now I was choosing to disappear to fulfill his wishes.
With me gone, Evan and Elani would be able to marry safely. And so I’d spend my days at Labonis Manor, squandering money, until one day time suddenly rewound.
‘After that, I have no idea.’
Even if I’d made this impulsive decision because of the fairy’s breath, there was nothing I could do about it now. What’s done is done.
I told Serena once more that I was asking this of her, then, thinking of Labonis Manor, I tore off a piece of the teleportation scroll I always carried with me.
‘Ah.’
I felt a slight dizziness, and when I opened my eyes again, I was at Labonis Manor. So I had truly executed the escape I’d planned since the moment I possessed this body.
* * *
Evan didn’t board the carriage heading to the Count’s Manor until after midnight. Like Calaudin, he too had weak tolerance for alcohol. But he had managed through sheer willpower and returned. Laria had insisted he do whatever it took to appease the Emperor.
Normally, he would have simply returned thinking ‘it doesn’t matter if I’m at odds with the Imperial family.’ Especially since Laria had returned to the Count’s Manor complaining of a sore ankle—there was no way he would have remained at the Banquet Hall.
But by his own judgment, her final words bothered him. No, not the words themselves, but the entire atmosphere she had emanated.
He hadn’t forgotten a single moment from her memories, yet that image from that time was so distant he felt he would never forget it for the rest of his life.
“Evan.”
That red dress he had always thought was beautiful. Their first outing together to the Racetrack—everyone had said it suited them perfectly.
Since then, he had never worn a cravat any color but red. If he wore a red cravat, then one day Laria would wear a red dress for him. And then it seemed everyone would surely see them as a perfectly matched pair, just like that day.
“All this time.”
She had gazed at him with a brilliance as radiant as the first impression before the Academy gates. Amid countless people, in the very center of the dreamlike beautiful Banquet Hall of the Imperial Palace, she had greeted him.
“Thank you.”
It made no sense, but truly made no sense… It sounded like a farewell.
“Take care.”
That strange feeling from that moment kept nagging at him.
Evan, Calaudin, and Olivia in the carriage were all completely drunk.
“I sent Laria ahead first. There’s nothing but awkwardness left for Icard, and I couldn’t burden him further here. That kind girl must be so anxious.”
“Thank you, Aunt.”
From the moment Olivia said she had sent Laria ahead, he wanted to see her.
‘Laria must already be asleep by now.’
He kept thinking of those words she’d said—that she was grateful—and grew impatient. Tomorrow morning, when he saw Laria, he would definitely tell her something.
Never to say such things again. Words like ‘thank you for everything,’ ‘I’m sorry,’ ‘it was good’—he didn’t need those from her. Because they had so many days ahead to live together…
Since he had barely slept the night before, Evan dozed off for a moment, and only then did the carriage arrive at the Count’s Manor. Calaudin, who had been nearly collapsed, staggered out first.
“Morand.”
Morand, who had been waiting anxiously, quickly supported Calaudin.
“To the study.”
“…You’re quite intoxicated, sir.”
“The study. Light the lamps quickly. Why haven’t you lit them?”
Morand disappeared supporting Calaudin, and Evan descended next, then frowned upon seeing a familiar face.
“Lisa? What are you doing here…?”
Laria’s personal maid, Lisa, was pacing anxiously inside the carriage, peering around.
“Where is Laria?”
In that instant, Evan’s hazy eyes snapped into focus as if struck by lightning.
“…She left ahead of us.”
“What?”
Lisa’s pupils trembled.
“No, that’s not right. She never arrived. When did she depart?”
“What are you talking about?”
Olivia stirred awake inside the carriage, her voice blunt and irritable.
“I sent her to the Count’s Manor ahead of us around nine o’clock.”
“…Nine o’clock?”
Lisa’s voice wavered, but Olivia simply collapsed back down with a soft thud. Evan spoke slowly, hoping his own voice wouldn’t betray his trembling.
“Since neither you nor Serena were among the other maids, I naturally assumed Laria had already returned to the Count’s Manor with them…”
“That’s not what happened.”
Lisa shook her head.
“Then why are you already at the Count’s Manor?”
“Laria sent me ahead first…saying she had something for me to do. Wait, just wait a moment.”
Lisa, who had been answering in a flustered state, suddenly bolted toward the carriage following behind without waiting for Evan’s permission.
“Serena! Serena, are you there?”
Serena was not inside the carriage carrying the Count’s Manor servants.
It wasn’t until dawn that a letter bearing Laria’s name arrived, and only then did the Count’s Manor descend into complete 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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