Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 146

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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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Duke Orlando had indeed made public his accusations against Calaudin Aibon Icard for attempting to deceive the Imperial Palace through inhumane acts and tarnishing the honor of the noble houses.
He took his seat in the Imperial Palace’s conference room with genuine satisfaction, still bitter over losing his position as head of the nobility to Calaudin years ago—it felt like an injustice that could drive him mad.
‘I should have crushed him from the beginning when he started to rise.’
Ever since he lost Medor, he had been helplessly watching his influence crumble.
Yet he never forgot his former glory and had been working tirelessly to bring Calaudin down. He had even encouraged development around Matilda’s grave to drive a wedge between the Duke and the Imperial Palace, and had resorted to using illegal truth serums.
‘Though things kept falling through due to oddly poor timing.’
But this time, he could finally bring down House Icard completely.
High-ranking nobles began filing into the conference room one by one. The High Priest, who wielded considerable influence over the empire, also took his seat. And Calaudin, the subject of the controversy, entered with his daughter-in-law Laria, who was entangled with him.
They had returned to the Capital from Podeilin just days ago and had made no response to the rumors that had already spread beyond their control.
Finally, the Emperor entered the conference room along with his direct descendant Princess Elani and Prince Ronald. The Empress, Prince Ronald’s biological mother, was unable to attend due to illness.
“Well then.”
The Emperor opened his mouth once he confirmed everyone had gathered in the conference room.
“Let us begin.”
A ceremonial statement followed, reminding them to consider the gravity of the matter, as this was a forum where direct punishment of high-ranking nobles was possible.
Duke Orlando waited for his turn to speak with unbridled confidence. He could finally send Calaudin away. Moreover, according to additional high-grade intelligence he had obtained, even his son. His heart raced with anticipation.
“I shall explain briefly.”
Finally, when it came time for the one who had raised the public accusation to speak, he opened his mouth with a triumphant expression.
Duke Icard had deliberately taken in the orphaned young lady of Count Rostri as his daughter-in-law seven years ago, with plans to kill her at an opportune moment and remarry Evan to Princess Elani.
“Hmph.”
Everyone who heard this wore expressions of skepticism. Among them, Princess Elani bore the most disgusted expression.
The nobles could not easily take sides. They had already witnessed a change in supreme power once before, so they were determined to maintain a cautious stance at the outset.
“But Laria is alive and well, isn’t she?”
When Elani spoke with evident displeasure, Duke Orlando shook his head slowly.
“After the Imperial Palace banquet, she claimed to be ill and confined to the Count’s Manor, yet she was actually discovered in Podeilin. In that remote place, Duke Icard attempted to murder his daughter-in-law, but….”
He glanced briefly at Laria, who appeared frail, and continued.
“Upon hearing a certain person’s confession of conscience, I swiftly brought this matter to public attention, and he was forced to abandon his murderous intent and bring her here instead.”
“No, that’s not true.”
Laria immediately shook her head, her voice thin and trembling.
“Father would never do such a thing. He has always been consistently kind to me. Even when I was ill, he always….”
“Your Highness the Duchess. I understand this is shocking, but it is the truth.”
Duke Orlando regarded her with pitying eyes and clicked his tongue.
“Your illness itself was part of some conspiracy.”
Then, with a sigh, he placed something on the conference table with a sharp tap.
“I came to hear the confession of a conscientious physician who could no longer bear to witness such inhumane conduct.”
They were a medical license and various letters of recommendation.
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I stared in shock at Serena’s medical license that Duke Orlando had placed on the table.
Duke Orlando spoke with self-satisfaction.
“At this very moment, the Duchess’s personal physician is waiting in the witness stand in the adjacent room.”
“Oh my.”
When I widened my eyes in feigned surprise, everyone in the room adopted expressions of grave concern.
“It’s the daily medical records kept for the Crown Prince Consort. They contain precise documentation that Duke Icard has been continuously administering minute doses of poison to the Crown Prince Consort’s body.”
Duke Orlando had no choice but to believe Serena’s words. After all, she had been employed by Duke Icard as my personal physician for seven years. Duke Icard himself would never have doubted the forged credentials and letters of recommendation, and with such impressive seven years of experience attached to them, there was nothing more to say.
“I stake my medical license, my letters of recommendation, and my entire future career as a physician on this. My overflowing sense of morality and clean conscience simply cannot bear to remain silent. Please, I beg you, save our kind and gentle Crown Prince Consort.”
I could easily imagine how Serena had presented her license while speaking those words.
Surrendering one’s license was essentially the same as declaring one would never practice medicine again if things went wrong. I could well imagine how delighted Duke Orlando must have been when Serena arrived with such a resolute expression.
When I first became Crown Prince Consort, everyone had indeed found it strange, and while they all held their silence, Elani interjected with a cold tone.
“That physician could have been bribed by Duke Orlando. How can we trust just one person’s word?”
“Since the Crown Prince Consort’s current health condition is reportedly quite poor, it would be best to verify that first.”
I maintained a frightened expression with helpless eyes, breathing rapidly. I even remembered to move my lips uncertainly in apparent distress.
‘Come on, speak more enthusiastically, say more!’
Duke Orlando, seeing my pitiful expression, continued speaking with confident fluidity, like water flowing naturally downstream.
“Wasn’t it strange from the beginning? Bringing her here at such a convenient time without a proper wedding ceremony, without the Crown Prince’s consent?”
To truly captivate people, one had to blend in an appropriate amount of truth. In this case, I had mixed in far too much truth, but… regardless, the credibility was inevitably high.
“He made all that fuss sending her away for recuperation and pretending to care for her, all to avoid suspicion.”
As sufficient falsehoods were woven into the considerable truths, plausibility was achieved.
“If this was all for a state marriage, it would be sufficient grounds for lèse-majesté.”
“But surely, surely Father would never…”
As I spoke in a weak, powerless voice and trailed off, the atmosphere shifted even further in Duke Orlando’s favor.
“And there’s something even more shocking.”
Duke Orlando turned to address the High Priest.
“I’ve heard that the young Duke Icard was never baptized.”
“Pardon?”
Everyone was shocked by those words. In an empire of believers, it was unthinkable for anyone not to receive baptism.
“No matter how much it’s rumored that he raises his son carelessly, this is… isn’t this beneath the honor of a high-ranking noble of the empire?”
Duke Orlando struck the table with a bang and continued speaking.
“This is something the Temple itself should punish through its authority. To bear the name Icard and yet not receive baptism?”
Since no one answered, this place had become nothing more than Duke Orlando’s solo stage.
“I made some inquiries, and I learned that failing to receive baptism is highly likely to be connected with dark magic. In other words, it could be seen as a crime of deceiving both the empire and the Temple. Therefore…”
He lowered his voice and made his declaration.
“I believe a punishment of rank demotion and partial confiscation of territory should be imposed.”
Another lengthy speech followed, detailing how he had insulted both the Temple and the Imperial Palace, destroying the authority of a high-ranking noble.
Father maintained his silence throughout, while I interjected with a bewildered tone, saying things like “But wait…” or “However…” only to be cut off by Duke Orlando’s continuing words.
“But surely that cannot be…”
The High Priest finally opened his mouth, glancing nervously at Father.
“The late Duchess was so devout that she frequently visited the Temple to pray, and Duke Icard himself takes great interest in theology.”
“But has the young Duke ever set foot in the Temple until now?”
Duke Orlando asked sharply.
“Upon my investigation, I found he never has. Isn’t that strange? Moreover, I understand there is no official baptism record either.”
It was certainly unusual behavior, as high-ranking nobles typically made appearances at the Temple from time to time, if only for show.
Until now, no one had paid attention to Evan’s visits to the Temple simply because it was common knowledge that Duke Icard raised him carelessly.
At that remark, Princess Elani interjected with a sigh.
“Baptisms can be administered by any priest, so few bother to record them, and besides, who doesn’t know the Temple is rotting away? There’s nothing remarkable about avoiding that place.”
It was truly audacious to speak so before the High Priest. Yet I found myself in complete agreement, for I could still vividly recall the priests clutching their bellies in laughter at my father’s jokes.
‘The Empire’s future is bright indeed. She understands the situation with perfect clarity.’
After learning she was not my husband’s future wife, I found myself developing considerable affection for Princess Elani.
And then. A knock sounded, and the conference room door opened.
“My apologies.”
His voice was low and measured.
“I was delayed attending to matters before arriving at the Capital.”
A young man whose solid frame, sculpted features, and luminous crimson eyes left a striking impression on everyone present. He was also the person I had been waiting for throughout this entire gathering.
It was Evan, whom I had last seen in Podeilin.

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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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