Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 118

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

* * *
The morning after the banquet arrived.
Rumors spread that Calaudin had gotten drunk at the banquet and called the Emperor a “brat.”
“I heard that after losing his wife, the light in Duke Icard’s Office never went out for 20 years.”
However, the Emperor did not take the matter too seriously.
“How can I hold someone accountable when they’ve drunk themselves senseless enough to extinguish that light?”
Of course, it wasn’t a truly magnanimous forgiveness.
The fact that Duke Icard’s Office remained brightly lit until the dead of night was something everyone in the Capital knew. Thus, that light had become a symbol of the love Duke Icard still harbored for Matilda.
But that light had gone out. The news itself was extraordinarily shocking.
Moreover, Duke Icard had called the Emperor a “brat” when he ordered him to desecrate the ground beside his wife’s grave.
However, if the Emperor held him accountable for this, he would become the real “brat”—unable to overlook his own drunkenness for his own sake while ignoring Duke Icard’s 20 years of mourning for his wife.
It was common knowledge that Duke Icard did not enjoy drinking. Therefore, his intoxication must have been purely to match the Emperor’s mood.
But in truth, Calaudin had not drunk to match the Emperor’s mood.
“Perhaps around the time of the Royal Banquet… she might even pass away from this world.”
The day Serena had consistently mentioned was precisely the day of the Royal Banquet.
Seeing Laria and Evan, the words “Actually, Laria has a terminal illness” simply would not come out… and so, overwhelmed by frustration, the alcohol had gone down.
“Good heavens.”
Morand and Lisa stood facing each other, at a loss for words.
Despite Calaudin’s drunken insistence yesterday to light the office lamp, Morand had refused to do so until the end.
Of course, had it not been for that scene in the library the day before, he would not have obeyed Laria’s command instead of Calaudin’s.
But he instinctively sensed that Laria’s command was a brilliant stratagem that saw several moves ahead. The fact that even Rivien’s tiger fan had come along was the same as expressing Laria’s strong will.
“She seemed like a completely different person.”
Lisa spoke while trembling.
“It’s strange to say this, but…”
She fidgeted and sighed.
“…she was so magnificent.”
Her eyes were hollow from not having slept a wink all night.
“I’ve been truly grateful for all your help.”
“Yes? All of a sudden?”
“Not all of a sudden. I’ve always been thinking it. You’ve had a hard time serving such a timid mistress, haven’t you? Now go quickly.”
Somehow, those final words felt truly strange…
“You said I would understand the reason tomorrow morning… how could this be.”
The Emperor’s statement that he would not hold the matter against Calaudin because the office light had gone out spread quickly as news.
Had it not been for the occasion of the office light, the Emperor’s nature would have certainly warranted at least a reprimand. In any case, there was no real reason for House of Icard to be so wary of the Royal Court…
“Father, it will be all right.”
To fulfill Calaudin’s original plan of connecting Elani and Evan, he could not afford to distance himself from the Royal Court. But at some point, it became extremely difficult to imagine that plan concretely. He could not imagine a daughter-in-law other than Laria. In that state where he could do neither this nor that, it was no accident that he had drunk himself into oblivion on the day of the banquet.
He had been truly at a loss these past few days. Laria’s departure from this world had been his original plan, but at some point, that day had become frightening.
Yet he had no confidence to tell Laria and Evan, “Actually, Laria, you have a limited lifespan.” As he continued to suffer and merely postpone time, Laria had…
“Everything will turn out well. All of it, according to your will, Father.”
Calaudin recalled that moment with a darkened face.
I thought something about Laria’s words felt odd, but to think that was her final farewell. And just like that, Serena and Laria vanished without a trace.
By morning, everyone at the Count’s Manor had realized it. Laria had shown remarkable wit to ensure House of Icard wouldn’t face difficulty.
“It feels as though some fortune is smiling upon House of Icard.”
“What do you mean?”
“There have been several crises that could have escalated, yet they passed smoothly. And there have been matters that could have become complicated, yet they resolved with surprising ease.”
Both Calaudin and Evan came to realize it. Laria couldn’t have suddenly undergone such a dramatic change and devised such a clever scheme on the spot. The vague sense of fortune they’d been feeling—it was possible that Laria had been its source all along.
That morning, the gatekeeper delivered a letter with trembling hands. The recipient’s name was only Calaudin’s. A beggar child had apparently brought it.
The letter wasn’t written in Laria’s handwriting, but its contents were unmistakably from her.
[Father, truthfully, I knew of your plans all along. I cannot die on schedule as you wished, but instead I’m leaving far away, so you may simply report me as missing. Please, don’t search for me to kill me. I promise to live quietly, undetected, as though I were dead.]
Calaudin read the brief letter again and again.
[Evan would likely follow your wishes. He’s such a kindhearted child, yet you left him be when he said he wanted nothing. Surely you know that even if Evan insists he desires nothing, that cannot truly be the case.]
There was no resentment toward the fact that she had used her own illness, only a pointed rebuke directed solely at Evan—and somehow that pierced his heart.
[I hope you achieve what you desire and begin anew. When that time comes, please be a good father to Evan as well.]
And enclosed with the letter was a promissory note—a substantial sum written by Jerdi Viscount Yeong.
[Please give this to Evan. Even if Evan says it’s fine, I could not accept that wretch being fine with it.]
Evan, whose eyes had turned bloodshot from burst capillaries, spoke to Calaudin who was reading the letter.
“…Why did she leave a letter only for Father, and not for me or Lisa? I want to read it too.”
Evan’s entire body was taut with tension, barely suppressing the urge to snatch the letter away immediately.
“Laria….”
Calaudin spoke as though choking on the words.
“Laria has left us.”
He added, clutching at his head.
“And in doing so… she saved us from a desperate situation one last time.”
The image of Laria shouting from the balcony remained vivid in his mind.
How had she known the face of Duke Orlando’s subordinate… When he thought of that expression filled with such deep concern for what might become of her, Calaudin found even breathing difficult.
But what had he done for Laria in return? He had brought her here knowing she would die, and even as her physician continued to speak of her impending death, he had taken no real action. Why had she saved such a worthless father-in-law….
Calaudin’s hands trembled violently.
“…It’s, it’s all because of me.”
“Sir?”
“Don’t… don’t forgive me, Evan.”
“Please explain what you’re talking about….”
At that moment, the study door burst open. It was Olivia, who had regained consciousness after collapsing in the carriage yesterday.
“Is it true that Laria is gone!”
Instead of the high heels she always wore, she shuffled in slippers, her face bare of makeup as she cried out.
“What happened? Explain this instant!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————