Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 138

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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 first person I sought out was Nathan.
“Hey, do you like your room?”
“Yes! It’s wonderful.”
Nathan answered immediately, then carefully gauged my expression.
“But Laria…”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Have you finally succeeded in assassinating the Young Duke?”
“What?”
“I’m just amazed that you can walk around alone like this so freely…”
“Evan is sleeping.”
At my words, Nathan let out a sigh of relief and finally returned to a comfortable expression.
“That’s understandable. You haven’t been able to sleep since the banquet.”
And he lowered his voice to whisper.
“Laria, I’m telling you this one last time… the opportunity is now.”
“What opportunity?”
“The chance to escape.”
Nathan wore a solemn expression as if performing one final act of kindness.
“Since I also serve the Young Duke, if he orders me to confine and monitor you, I must obey. Before that happens…”
It seemed his mind was painting pictures of obsessive confinement and deterioration. Or rather, how desperately must he have searched to find me… Kidnapping Fred was certainly crossing a line, but in the end, it worked out well.
“Evan and I are on good terms now. The misunderstanding has been cleared up.”
“…Thank you. I was truly worried because my heart is too kind.”
Nathan hesitated for a moment before asking.
“Then… are you returning to the Count’s Manor?”
I too could only hesitate at that question. I couldn’t predict how the rest of the family would react.
Nathan, noticing my hesitation, spoke carefully.
“It seems we’ve been thinking of you as a doll we must protect all this time.”
“That’s how I acted, so what of it.”
“But now Morand is waiting for you with unwavering devotion. He says there is no mistress of the Count’s Manor more capable than you.”
“Ah… um… really? Then… perhaps Father or Aunt…”
“The Duke is grieving while refusing all food and drink, and Olivia is eating heartily while fuming with anger. Oh, but she’s angry at the Duke, not at you.”
My heart raced. If it came from Nathan rather than Evan, it seemed more trustworthy.
Beyond that, Nathan told me in detail everything that had happened in my absence. After all, Evan would undoubtedly order him to tell me everything if I asked.
After learning all the circumstances that had unfolded since my departure, I finally understood why Nathan had brought up assassination when he first saw me.
The most striking story was the kidnapping of Fred. Apparently, they still showed awareness that he was of my blood and treated him with the utmost care. Yet when Fred smiled at me with a face resembling mine, something felt unsettling, so the moment they arrived at the Viscount’s Manor, they gagged him and bound his wrists with rope.
After telling Nathan, who looked just as exhausted as Evan, to get some proper rest, I turned to Sven.
To Sven, who was wearing a happy expression while attending to Neo, I had no choice but to reveal the general truth.
I couldn’t tell him everything, but I had to reveal that I wasn’t some incredibly powerful dark mage, but rather a being who had returned through time, which connected me to dark magic.
“Sven, what should I do?”
I spoke in bewilderment.
“I wasn’t a Dark Mage after all. I was merely connected to dark magic. I’m sorry for letting you believe in that possibility and stay by my side all this time.”
In other words, the stock Sven had bought in me was a complete bust. I would never awaken as a Dark Mage and seize control of this world.
“No, that’s not it.”
Yet Sven’s eyes sparkled with unexpected delight.
“A being saved by dark magic, you say.”
His voice trembled with genuine excitement.
“How glorious to have the magnificence of dark magic by my side.”
I had seen that look before in my past life. It was the expression military enthusiasts made when they saw limited-edition uniforms on TV.
Just as not all military enthusiasts desire war, not all dark magic fanatics necessarily wish for the world’s destruction.
“And the world was actually destroyed once, you say. Ah, how beautiful….”
‘So he did want the world to end. His desire ran deeper than I thought.’
Sven couldn’t contain his excitement even as he spoke, breathing heavily.
“I have no regrets even if I die now.”
‘In conclusion, he’s a true devotee….’
Well, though Elani and Simor’s love had shattered, Sven had come to love the world a bit more, so the total amount of love in existence would remain the same.
“Meow, meow.”
Neo, who could no longer speak without Evan, cried out in frustration. Leaving the now-blissful Sven behind, I turned toward the most difficult person.
That was Fred.
* * *
Fred sat peacefully in the second-best room in the manor, surrounded by the most expensive wine and the most lavish food.
‘The power of blood truly is terrifying.’
I swallowed hard watching him—his face looking gentle as could be, yet somehow surrounded only by the most expensive things, as if by some uncanny instinct.
Fred was a scholarly-type handsome man with slightly frizzy pink hair, kind eyes that drooped slightly, sparkling violet irises, pale white skin, and round glasses that gave him a pristine appearance.
Honestly, when he appeared with Evan earlier, anyone would have thought he was an innocent victim captured by a villain. But if he had grown up like me, regardless of his good impression, he was someone I needed to be most cautious of.
“It’s been a while, Older Brother.”
I sat before him with a bright smile.
“Have you been well? If you came back with a degree, it seems studying suited you well.”
“Yes, it suited me very well. I graduated top of my class from the public Academy.”
Fred answered with an equally gentle smile.
“And I’ve heard quite a bit about you.”
I became anxious wondering who exactly had told him.
“You were forced into a political marriage at fourteen, came south for recuperation, caught the eye of another man, and ran away?”
My bad premonition was right on the mark. I quickly waved my hand.
“Older Brother, there’s been some misunderstanding about that….”
Fred made a pitiful expression and sighed deeply.
“I heard you were kidnapped the moment you arrived at the Empire and dragged along in a sorry state.”
“Don’t lie. I heard everything from Nathan. You were kidnapped, but you were treated like royalty the whole way.”
“…You caught me.”
Fred stopped making his pitiful expression and pushed his glasses up.
“But how dare you use me like that—it’s infuriating enough to bear. I was planning to spread all sorts of slander about you to Laria the moment we arrived at the Viscount’s Manor, but I was immediately silenced. What a shame.”
“What… what accusation?”
“I was planning to pretend to lose consciousness and say, ‘Laria! Run away from this crazy psycho right now! I’d rather die here than be a burden to you!’ But that’s what I was going to do.”
Evan’s decision to gag me was remarkably wise.
“Because that man seemed to tremble before you. No matter how I thought about it, that was the most effective way to mess with him.”
“….”
“When we met again later, it seemed like you two were already communicating somewhat, so I gave up.”
“Older Brother, at least listen to what I have to say first.”
Fred smiled even more brightly, ignoring my words and speaking calmly.
“Now, what we need to do is this.”
His face looked genuinely innocent, but judging from the scheme he’d just described, we were cut from the same cloth.
“Help Princess Elani pass the divorce law, and then you get divorced.”
And it was exactly as I’d expected.
I sighed and spoke.
“Everything you’re thinking is a misunderstanding. I’m going back to the Icard Duke’s household. Evan and I love each other.”
“But that marriage happened without my consent. I’m the head of the family now! Laria, you were so adorable, and you got married at fourteen… I can’t hand you over to that demon-looking bastard.”
“Older Brother.”
I sighed and squeezed Fred’s hand tightly.
“I’m sorry, but this is the time to step in where I should and step back where I should. It’s too late to play the foolish younger sister.”
In any case, Fred was fine, and my husband who had brought me back to life made my long-absent older brother’s presence seem insignificant. Deciding I needed to push forward with reason if sentiment wouldn’t work, I spoke bluntly.
“And you know the Rostri Count’s household has no assets, right? So are you confident you can find me a better match than the Icard Duke’s household?”
Fred answered sullenly.
“Why get married? You can just hold my hand and establish the Rostri Kingdom.”
“….”
I was honestly a bit tempted, so I quickly did the calculations. But no matter how much we were siblings, by the time the Rostri Kingdom was established, I’d probably be well past sixty years old.
“I’m sorry. I’m very satisfied being the Icard Nobleman’s wife.”
“…I’m against it. Completely against it. You should know that. I absolutely won’t hand you over to that lunatic. Absolutely not.”
“Then don’t accept it. Nothing changes just because you don’t accept it.”
In the end, I showed my older brother, whom I hadn’t seen in years, the harsh reality.
“But if you won’t accept it, you won’t receive this luxurious treatment either.”
“….”
“If you’d stayed at the Eastern Continent Public Academy… the ten years of dormitory fees there would be about the same as the price of the wine you’re drinking right now, wouldn’t it?”
“….”
“Let’s make this work, Older Brother.”
I slowly stood up and patted Fred’s shoulder gently.
“Would you like fish for dinner, or steak? I’ll ask the chef to prepare something special.”
“…Steak.”
After smiling at the sullen-faced Fred, I left the room. But according to my instincts, Fred didn’t seem completely won over.
‘I’ll coax Older Brother later. Though I might forget about it.’
That day, the servants of Labonis Manor became very busy for the first time. Suddenly, there were many more guests.
I quietly entered my bedroom and sat at the head of the bed where Evan lay sleeping, collapsed.
Evan and Duke Icard destroyed an entire world for me. My entire life was little more than a gift they had given me.
I fell asleep as I lay down while touching Evan’s hair.

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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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