Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 132

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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 next morning, Evan had breakfast with me. I coughed frequently and had to visit the restroom several times, but I still managed to eat quite well.
Evan found it awkward to dine together with me, so he simply read the newspaper.
“Say, Evan.”
After we finished eating and were having dessert, I spoke to him.
“Does your father always stay cooped up in his study like this? Should we go pay our respects to him?”
“No. He’d actually find it bothersome if we did.”
“Really? I’d think he’d be happy to see you, at least.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I’m actually… a daughter-in-law brought here out of necessity to repay a debt because of our mothers’ connection.”
“Is that so?”
“You didn’t know.”
I explained everything to Evan as he looked at me with that expressionless face. How I lost my parents, how Calaudin brought me here.
“I was nearly reduced to wandering between relatives’ houses who didn’t want me, eating scraps of sympathy. I can’t express how grateful I am to your father. Though I’m sure this must seem absurd to you.”
“It doesn’t.”
Evan spoke calmly while eating his tart.
“I was planning to do whatever my father told me to do anyway when it came to marriage.”
“What? Why? It’s your marriage.”
So he explained his circumstances to me as well. How Matilda died giving birth to him, and how because of that, his relationship with Calaudin wasn’t a normal father-son bond.
“Ah.”
I fidgeted with my fingers and sighed.
“Then I shouldn’t even go near your father.”
“…Mm.”
Evan frowned and asked.
“I haven’t had much experience talking with people, but… isn’t this the point where you’re supposed to comfort me first?”
“Oh.”
I smoothed down my pale pink hair and blinked.
“You’ve certainly had it rough too. But isn’t your situation a bit better than mine right now?”
At my innocent tone, Evan paused briefly with his fork. Despite his initial impression of being kind and gentle, he seemed to realize I was actually quite calculating.
“I need to figure out how to survive in this household first.”
“You’re the Icard Nobleman’s wife. What survival strategy could you possibly need?”
“I’m a noblewoman who came with nothing but debts and no dowry. I know my place well enough.”
I spoke with practicality.
“Obviously, my survival depends on staying in the favor of the most powerful person here.”
“The most powerful person… you mean Father?”
“Yes.”
I murmured thoughtfully, lost in contemplation.
“Now that I think about it, he brought me here but then completely abandoned me. I suspected this wasn’t a normal marriage from the start, so the optimal strategy would be…”
“You don’t need to think about it so complicatedly. You’re already married anyway.”
When Evan spoke bluntly, I looked at him and let out a soft laugh.
“You say that because you have plenty. That’s why such words come out of your mouth.”
“What?”
“People like me, who have nothing, need to keep our heads down and read the room.”
“….”
“I was originally thinking of groveling to you a bit.”
Laria playfully poked her dimple and offered him some of her tart.
“But according to what you said, I don’t need to do that. You just do whatever your father tells you to do.”
Evan missed his chance to get angry while eating the tart she had given him.
But one thing was certain: the wife standing before him was not as meek and kind as her appearance suggested. In fact, she seemed far more cunning than expected.
“I’m counting on you for all sorts of information in the future.”
“Do I look like someone who would bring you information?”
“Yes.”
Laria answered without hesitation.
“Because I have good instincts. Even though I look a bit dim-witted, I’m actually quite clever.”
“You don’t look dim-witted at all.”
“Is there anything you want to ask me for?”
At Laria’s question, Evan thought for a moment before speaking.
“It’s more of an agreement than a request.”
“What is it?”
“I think it would be better to have children after reaching adulthood.”
“Children? Isn’t that something that happens when you get married?”
“Children are born when a married couple holds hands while sleeping at night.”
Evan had once overheard Academy students gossiping about such topics. So he explained it matter-of-factly, and Laria’s expression showed genuine surprise.
“Oh my, is that so? I didn’t know… I’ll have to be careful.”
She acted so clever, yet there were still things she didn’t know.
“I was shocked when I first learned it too. Let’s both be careful.”
“Yes. I was surprised, but it’s something I would have had to learn eventually anyway.”
Laria rolled her eyes once and smiled brightly.
“That was a close call. Thank you for telling me.”
Then she coughed a few times before suddenly rushing out to the restroom.
* * *
Few people sought out Laria and Evan. Calaudin himself was indifferent to them.
Laria’s health seemed considerably fragile. She rarely left her room and coughed frequently.
Calaudin’s indifference combined with Laria’s illness meant she could engage in no activities. She could not make friends in the social circle, nor could she receive education as a noblewoman. Of course, Evan was too young to pay attention to such matters concerning Laria’s life.
After organizing his belongings, Evan immediately went to the training grounds and began sword training. His sword training was overseen by Ludba, the commander.
Ludba taught him things he had not known. Things that people had suspected in their hearts but never spoke of directly. That Evan, who had caused Matilda’s death through his birth and brought misfortune to the Count’s Manor, must not be happy.
Evan left for training at dawn and returned in the middle of the night. He had almost no time to encounter his wife, Laria. Laria, too, seemed too ill to pay him any attention.
“Hey.”
But occasionally, when she woke at dawn because of coughing, she would greet him first.
“That sword training you do… do you really have to do it all day like that?”
She asked with suspicion in her voice.
“Your complexion has been terrible lately…”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Evan spoke curtly and picked up his sword.
“How can it not matter?”
Laria spoke with displeasure, unable to rise from the bed.
“I am your wife.”
“…What does that mean?”
At Laria’s words, Evan sighed and answered quietly.
“We got married without even seeing each other’s faces or having a proper ceremony anyway.”
Evan had no choice but to say such things. He had agreed with Ludba’s words that their marriage must never be happy.
At Evan’s indifferent remark, Laria barely managed to sit up.
“Then you…?”
She kept holding a handkerchief to her mouth as she coughed.
“…You don’t care that I’m ill?”
“I heard a personal physician was assigned to you.”
“How did you know that?”
“The servants told me. That Father assigned you a personal physician. Was his name Avery?”
“Yes. You know well.”
Laria coughed a few times, then spoke firmly.
“Regardless, we are husband and wife—not strangers to each other.”
“I don’t think so. I have no intention of getting along with you.”
Evan answered coldly and left the room without even looking at her face.
‘She must be hurt.’
At some point, Ludba had begun using a real sword during training while giving Evan a wooden sword. Because of this, Evan’s body continued to accumulate wounds. And Ludba constantly forced him into training that seemed unreasonable by any measure.
‘But it’s better to draw the line from the start.’
Evan thought this throughout the training, enduring the pain.
‘After all, no one wants to get along with me anyway.’
Recalling his memories from the Academy, he barely suppressed the urge to apologize to Laria.
And that night, Evan slowly opened his eyes to a cold hand touching his forehead as he slept.
“Evan.”
In the darkness, concerned violet eyes gazed down at him.
“Are you alright? You seem to be in so much pain. You’re running a fever. Should I call a servant?”
“No, don’t. Don’t make a fuss. Just be careful not to touch my hand.”
“I’m already being very careful. It’s night and we’re both drowsy anyway.”
Laria, at a loss, struggled to sit up. Then she dampened a handkerchief in cold water and placed it on his forehead.
“You look so sturdy, but why are you sick?”
“I’m not sick.”
“You’re foolish. This is what being sick means.”
“Stop worrying and go to sleep.”
“What’s wrong with you? You’ve been groaning and making a fuss this whole time.”
My physical condition was clearly not good. It seemed as though all the strain I’d accumulated had come crashing down at once.
“Did the noise wake you up? Then I should move to the other sofa….”
When he spoke bluntly, Laria immediately shook her head.
“Don’t be ridiculous. How lonely it is to suffer alone.”
Then she let out a soft laugh and wiped away his sweat.
“I may not know much else, but I’ll take care of you when you’re ill. I’m your wife, after all.”
Evan hesitated before asking carefully.
“I said something harsh earlier. Why are you being so kind to me?”
“Ah.”
Lying on her side next to him on the spacious bed, Laria smiled softly.
“Because you’re the only one I can rely on.”
“…What?”
“If I’d been just a little less ill, I would have become the true power in this household by now. But as things stand, I can’t do anything. So shouldn’t I treat you well, since you’re the next one to hold power?”
“Didn’t you say last time that you wouldn’t grovel to me?”
“This isn’t groveling—it’s just basic management.”
Laria answered kindly.
“So don’t worry about it and just focus on getting better.”
“You say you’ll treat me well, but is this really your best effort?”
“Of course not.”
Laria’s response was quick.
“Why? Should I give it my all?”
She laughed playfully, and Evan suddenly thought she looked incredibly cute.
“Evan.”
Her small hand brushed through his hair.
“I saw the book you were reading earlier. It looked really difficult.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m so impressed. You’re truly amazing.”
The way she spoke in such a gentle tone made heat suddenly rise to the back of his neck.
“But I still prefer fairy tales.”
Her voice was so sweet that Evan couldn’t even respond, only blinking his eyes.
“Later… I’ll read you fairy tales until you fall asleep.”
Her hand stroking his hair felt so good that his body grew drowsy.
“Let’s live together as a sweet, beautiful couple like that.”
Sweet couple—his entire body felt ticklish at the phrase. Without realizing it, he was about to nod like a puppy when her tone suddenly changed.
“How about it?”
Her voice was as composed and confident as always.
“I’m not joking, right? I’m good at this sort of thing.”
“….”
Evan felt as though he’d been bewitched and his pride was immediately wounded. How ridiculous it would have been if he’d nodded just then.
“But it hurts so much that I’m forcibly shutting down this cursed talent… *cough, cough, cough*.”
Laria turned her head away as she coughed.
Evan frowned, noticing the blood staining her handkerchief.
“…Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Does this look alright to you?”
Laria coughed a few more times before her body went limp.
“But well… Father’s physician takes good care of me. I won’t die, at least.”
Since I’d witnessed her poor health from the very first day, it wasn’t surprising, but each time she coughed up blood, worry gnawed at me.
“So how was it?”
“What?”
“Since I did my best to please you.”
“…I’m tired. I want to sleep.”
Evan closed his eyes.
He didn’t want to answer that he’d been so overwhelmed he nearly collapsed from pleasure.
Yet another thought stirred within him.
“I am your wife.”
That statement seemed to come from her heart.

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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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