Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 145

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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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My reunion with Olivia and Lisa was far less dramatic than I had anticipated—they were less delighted to see me than they were disappointed that they couldn’t keep me from leaving again.
“Lady Laria, why on earth… No, it’s not my place as a servant to pry into the affairs of my betters, but still, why….”
Lisa sighed and continued to grip my hand tightly.
“My heart is still racing. From now on, don’t you dare say things like ‘thank you for everything’ to me.”
I had left with such resolve, so meeting again felt somewhat awkward.
“And how could you leave taking only Serena with you?”
Lisa’s eyes narrowed with displeasure as she let out an indignant huff.
“I’m capable too. Next time you leave Duke Icard’s household, take me with you.”
“Now, Lisa….”
Morand interjected, pressing his forehead as if it ached.
“There shouldn’t be any reason to leave….”
“Right. I’m not leaving anymore, from now on.”
I said with a firm smile.
“So first, let’s refurnish my room that I blew up. A desk is the most urgent priority.”
“I’ll look into the finest and most expensive wood materials. I’ll also search for a highly skilled furniture designer.”
“No, the moment I mention needing something, you immediately think about the price first—really….”
Lisa answered immediately, and I gave her my feedback just as quickly.
“…You really do know me well, Lisa.”
Lisa assured me to trust her and left right away.
Morand also left, saying he would allocate the budget immediately, leaving only Father, Olivia, and me in the study.
“Now then, Laria.”
Olivia handed me the tiger fan again and spoke.
“Don’t carelessly throw away things like this in the future.”
“I didn’t throw it away—I gave it to Morand….”
“I don’t care, you threw it away.”
“Pardon?”
“You threw it away. I’m hurt, and there’s only one way to console me.”
“What, what is it?”
“Take the flowers from Morand and give them to me.”
….
The fact that I had given Morand flowers of gratitude at the National Foundation Festival seven years ago didn’t seem to be easily forgotten. Evan had mentioned it too….
“I’ll give you even more beautiful flowers.”
“Ahem, ahem.”
Father also chimed in, forcing me to quickly add to my words.
“And for you too, Father.”
“By the way.”
Olivia lifted her head and looked at Father.
“Explain how this happened. How did Laria manage to come back on her own?”
Currently, Olivia was the only one besides Evan and me who knew Father’s intentions. Father, Evan, and I had agreed to keep the fact that the world had turned back once as our secret. We judged there was no need to reveal it to uninvolved people and cause confusion.
In the study with only Olivia and me, Father began to speak.
I only told him that I had decided to abandon dark magic for Evan and Laria’s sake, but Olivia accepted it without any particular suspicion.
“Right, why would you do something so absurd? The Imperial Family has banned it for good reason.”
Olivia sighed as she spoke.
“I’ve told you this several times already, but don’t take such things seriously, even in jest.”
The parrot cried out again from a corner of the room.
“Please save me. This dark mage turned me into a parrot.”
“Be quiet.”
Father furrowed his brow as he watched Olivia scold the parrot.
“Just give me the seal already.”
“…Of course I’ll give it to you, but why must you make such a face….”
“I left with such resolve, yet the most enthusiastic thing you’ve done with my seal was smuggling Laria away.”
“Ahem.”
Olivia sighed with an expression of reluctant resignation.
“Well, that wasn’t all I did.”
She muttered as she handed over the seal, adding to her words.
“…What other trouble did you cause?”
At Father’s sharp observation, Olivia desperately avoided answering and changed the subject.
“Trouble? Anyway, now that you’re here, the Capital will be in an uproar again. I’m leaving for Rivien soon.”
“What?”
“It’s obvious that unfavorable circumstances will arise for you.”
“What do you mean?”
When I asked carefully, Olivia explained quickly.
Duke Orlando had deliberately committed the inhumane act of taking a terminally ill woman as his daughter-in-law, and the Imperial Family was involved in this, so it needed to be made public knowledge.
“He was confident there was something undeniable about it, but it seems you’re finished. It’s not even wrong, is it?”
All this time, I hadn’t completely disposed of Duke Orlando because I saw no necessity for it. I only avoided that to prevent being kidnapped by Medor, and otherwise didn’t interfere. After all, I had no intention of staying in Icard for long!
But now that I had truly become the mistress of Icard, I couldn’t overlook anyone blocking our path forward.
“Even if the Emperor were to say he’s overlooking his past slip of the tongue due to public opinion, this could still give him a handle to grab….”
Duke Orlando must have deliberately escalated the matter with this in mind.
The crime of insulting the Imperial Family was, after all, something the Emperor subjectively judged based on whether the Imperial Family had actually been insulted or not. It was obvious that this petty Emperor was already chuckling to himself, thinking “this is my chance.”
“Aunt, please stay in the Capital a little longer.”
I grasped Olivia’s hand as I spoke.
“Please confirm that Icard isn’t finished.”
“Yes, Aunt.”
Father, having heard my entire story in the carriage on the way here, spoke with ease.
“I’m thinking of entrusting this matter to Laria.”
“To…Laria?”
Olivia asked with suspicion, and Father nodded expressionlessly.
“Yes. I’ve been pushing myself hard all this time and have grown weary.”
Indeed, no one could deny the fact that Father had lived diligently all this while.
“Still, Duke Orlando was determined to finish things by any means necessary, but Laria apparently has a good plan. I’ve helped up to that point, and now I think I’ll step back and rest for a while.”
“Hmm…. You’re… stepping back. Haven’t you lived quite a long time as someone rather obsessed with power? Retirement? Are you really sure about this?”
“Yes. I think it would be enough if I just had those small moments where people laugh at my jokes.”
Father smiled wistfully while making a statement that should have been more obsessed with power than ever.
“Don’t count me among those people.”
While Olivia expressed her irritation, I thought to myself that I would need to work very hard for Duke Icard’s authority for Father’s small moments.
That afternoon, I was able to meet someone from the Bestian Information Guild that Sven had sent. After hearing various reports, everything seemed to be progressing smoothly as expected.
But then one thing happened that I hadn’t anticipated.
“…Older Brother left? He left Labonis Manor?”
Fred had left Labonis Manor the day after I disappeared. I had thought he would still be enjoying luxury at Labonis Manor, but it seemed that even family members couldn’t be fully understood.
“He left a note.”
I unfolded the note the guild member had delivered to me.
[Laria, come back successful. I should become a reliable family home that I can protect you from. No matter how much you say you like that guy, shouldn’t you have a place to return to if you change your mind?]
No, I don’t even have a place to stay right now, so what success all of a sudden…. Besides, what do I need to return for? I can live well on my own.
I briefly wondered whether I should really respect my family’s privacy. But Fred didn’t seem like he would do anything that would harm me.
‘It’s naturally good to have a decent family home.’
So I decided not to worry too much about Fred.
‘It would be nice if he suddenly appeared one day as my incredible backing.’
Since it didn’t seem like he lacked the ability to do so, I stopped paying attention to Fred. It felt like if I just lived forgetting about it, he really would come back successful.

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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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