Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 149

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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 moment we returned safely to the Count’s Manor, Olivia’s expression shifted to one of genuine surprise.
“Hmm, I thought you might even face a demotion in rank. Weren’t all sorts of damaging rumors circulating?”
“Laria handled it well with appropriate deception and shifting blame.”
“My goodness.”
Olivia pulled me into a tight embrace.
“Our blessing turned out to be the perfect fit for Duke Icard.”
That very evening, she departed for Rivien, leaving only the words that one shouldn’t linger long in places where good people gather.
“Something feels off.”
Evan furrowed his brow as he watched Olivia’s carriage heading toward Rivien.
“What’s off about it? She always returns to Rivien once her business is finished.”
“It’s just… I felt like she was watching my expression more carefully than usual.”
“…That’s because she was plotting a crime involving you. Perhaps that’s why.”
“Aunt isn’t the type to feel sorry about such things. Something feels uneasy and deeply unsettling.”
Yet no matter how much Evan fretted, there was nothing we could really investigate.
Several days passed, and my study in the Count’s Manor was finally completed.
It was my study, furnished with beautifully designed furniture crafted from the finest wood, bookshelves lining an entire wall, and filled with all manner of luxurious decorations.
Having taken over all the work that Matilda once handled, I was no longer simply reaping the benefits. I managed internal affairs of the Count’s Manor, oversaw social circles in the Capital, and each day proved surprisingly busy. However, my study lacked a bed and a bathroom.
This was due to Evan’s strict instruction that while my days might be unavoidable, I absolutely could not compromise on my nights.
Of course, he didn’t only seek me out at night.
“I just received some information, Laria.”
He would open my study door at all hours during the day without warning.
“Hmm? What kind of information?”
“First, let me say I love you. I love you, Laria.”
Despite seeing his face every single day, he always began our conversations with “I love you” the moment he saw me.
“Princess Elani has caught up with Medor. It seems a reprimand and partial confiscation of his territory are the punishments being handed down.”
“Really?”
I had already undergone a direct examination by the Imperial Palace’s physician and received confirmation of my complete health.
Thus, Duke Orlando’s claim that “the royal physician, acting on Duke Icard’s orders, attempted to slowly poison the Crown Prince” was completely proven false.
“It seems a demotion in rank is still difficult to achieve. But I suspect an additional exile order to the frontier might be issued. So here’s the thing.”
Evan stood across from my desk and leaned forward slightly, pressing his lips against mine.
“I love you, Laria.”
Of course, his contextless expressions of affection never ceased even during conversation.
When I pulled my head back slightly, he gently drew the back of my head forward, pressing me close again.
“No, you can’t pull away. That’s a foul if you separate your lips now.”
“W-what do you mean, a foul?”
“I don’t know.”
After such an unhelpful response, a deep kiss continued uninterrupted. Honestly, considering we weren’t even in our first or second year of marriage, we were utterly shameless.
“I can’t think of anything right now.”
But seeing that I enjoyed this shamelessness too, it seemed we were still very much in our honeymoon phase.
After enduring quite a bit of torment, we finally managed to resume a normal conversation.
“There are so many letters piled up again.”
“Yeah. Managing social circles is a bit much, you know. You can read them if you want.”
The rumor that my illness had been completely cured spread throughout the Capital in an instant.
Along with it came word that my prolonged suffering had been due to falling victim to a legendary con artist.
Of course, Serena, befitting her position as the Dark Information Bureau’s guild master, moved about freely, completely unconnected to the con artist’s record. She had accumulated quite the track record even before her deception as my personal physician.
Come to think of it, the way she had so naturally hung up a fraudulent license didn’t seem like something done once or twice. In any case, with my stay in the Capital now confirmed, letters of all kinds continued to pour in day after day.
“Then I’ll just watch.”
Evan whispered in a languid voice, lifted me into his arms, and sat down in my chair himself. Thus I found myself sitting on Evan’s lap, writing replies to various letters.
“I won’t disturb you.”
Of course, I was betrayed by that promise the moment I picked up the first letter. Not that I had believed it in the first place.
Evan showed little interest in the contents of my letters and was instead busy pressing kisses to my nape and the curve of my ear.
“This makes it hard to concentrate.”
As I furrowed the bridge of my nose in complaint, a soft chuckle followed.
“Don’t concentrate. Just write carelessly.”
“Mmm….”
“If problems arise, I’ll solve them for you. Money or violence, either way.”
It was a remark that completely undermined the efforts of my wife, who had been diligently holed up in her study to avoid using money or violence.
“Calm down a bit….”
As I twisted my body and caught my breath, he pulled me closer into his embrace.
“The way you wiggle your fingers while writing is so cute.”
The voice clinging to my ear still carried warmth in it.
“The way your hair cascades down when you lower your head is cute too.”
If trivial things are cute, then he must be seriously afflicted….
“The way your chest rises and falls with every breath is so incredibly cute.”
Seeing Evan lavish the word “cute” so freely, I was undoubtedly just as seriously afflicted.
I barely managed to gather my scattered focus and picked up another letter. It was from Sven.
[As you instructed, I’ve handled everything.]
“Ah, so it turned out that way?”
“Yeah. It seems cleaner that way.”
I had Sven instruct Simor to take Kail—Hanua—at a bargain price. Since Hanua was divided in half, it seemed better for one person to manage it.
And Hanua was still a place where iron ore was produced abundantly. So for Simor, it would become a profitable base going forward.
“Kail said he wouldn’t return from the Eastern Continent. That way, the name Kail Dart Labonis will simply fade away.”
“Yeah. I want to forget it forever too.”
“…He’s already gone anyway, so why.”
“Because it’s a name that drove me mad for a time.”
“….”
Of course, one could say it was somewhat shameless to return Hanua now, when it had originally been entirely Simor’s land in the past.
But well… that was the best my conscience could manage. To be honest, I should have been grateful just to have survived confessing to Duke Icard’s wife.
“There’s no reason to go to the southwest anymore. I don’t have any good memories of it.”
Evan sighed and muttered something under his breath, and I responded with a note of regret.
“Well, the view overlooking the Olta Forest was truly magnificent. The Capital has its merits, but it’s rather distant from beautiful nature.”
“Want to see some beautiful nature? Then let’s travel. Should we go to the seaside? I’ve heard Fornage Beach is absolutely stunning.”
“Really? I’ll look into it too.”
“No, I’ll handle all the arrangements according to your tastes. Don’t worry about it.”
Evan’s body, which had been holding me happily, stiffened the moment I picked up the golden envelope.
“…It’s from the Imperial Palace.”
“Yes. It’s from Princess Elani.”
Just by looking at the envelope, Evan’s eyes narrowed with remarkable perceptiveness, recognizing it was from Princess Elani, his gaze turning wary.
[Aren’t you curious about the results of the last public disclosure? Why don’t you visit the palace once?]
“I’ll tell you everything.”
Evan said quickly.
“There’s no need to hear it directly.”
[And there’s new information that even Duke Icard wouldn’t have guessed!]
“What new information could there be? What’s so remarkable about it….”
Evan continued with a sullen tone.
“She said fishing is her hobby. She’s probably trying to fish for something.”
[You can really look forward to it. It’s something that will surprise you greatly.]
I wrote a reply confirming the date of the visit, speaking in a giggling tone.
“Evan, it seems Princess Elani is one step ahead of you. But why do you dislike her so much?”
“She said she’d divorce us. How could she say something so horrifying? I’ll never forget it.”
“That was born from a misunderstanding, and I think she’ll become a much better leader than the current Emperor.”
“Public and private matters are separate.”
“You…deceived Princess Elani in your previous life too…. You shouldn’t be sharp only toward her….”
“That’s not who I am now.”
“…I really liked that version of you. After all, you loved me so much….”
“What?”
Evan bared his teeth and lightly scratched my shoulder.
“I love you more than that bastard. I could destroy a world or two for you. The problem is that the world is too precious to destroy because I love it so much.”
“…Surely my husband isn’t a madman who calls himself ‘that bastard’ and gets jealous.”
“That bastard set things up so well that a madman like me has nothing to do here but for you.”
“….”
At least he had thorough self-awareness, which was fortunate.
I simply turned my head without saying anything and pressed my lips lightly against his cheek.
“Laria. Just because I’m kissing you so half-heartedly, do I look like someone who rushes to end conversations?”
He raised his eyebrows and his crimson eyes gleamed. Then he added in a low voice.
“…You read people well.”
Of course. Who do you think I am?

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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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