Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 150

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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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Only a few days after receiving an invitation from Princess Elani, I entered the Imperial Palace for tea with her. With her deep blue hair pinned up and golden eyes sparkling, she was as radiant and beautiful as ever.
“Welcome. It’s been a while.”
Knowing she had nothing to do with my husband, I found my demeanor becoming quite gentle.
“It is an honor to see the shining star of the empire, Your Highness. You look absolutely beautiful today.”
“Yes, Laria. You’re safe, aren’t you?”
“…Pardon?”
“You’re not being confined or coerced, are you? I couldn’t ask back then because you were with Duke Icard and his son.”
“Ah…”
“When you said you were ill and staying at the manor, I visited you. At that time, I thought everyone in that house had returned from hell as death’s messengers.”
Recalling Evan’s face as he chased after me and Father’s expression before Matilda’s grave, it was hardly an exaggeration at all.
“There was some misunderstanding about that… I was quite ill at the time, so I couldn’t actively clarify things either… In any case, there was some entanglement with a man, but I am truly innocent.”
“Right, there was someone worse than that Simor Litshia.”
“…”
“Looking at Duke Icard’s expression back then, it seemed like he’d kill that great villain and himself just to save you.”
Since that great villain was ultimately me, I quickly changed the subject.
“Well, it’s all in the past anyway. But Your Highness, didn’t you mention having some new information?”
“Oh, that’s right.”
Elani laughed brightly and clapped her hands once.
“The divorce-related legislation. It looks like it could pass soon.”
“Pardon?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
“Didn’t you say it would take several years?”
“Yes. But I brought in an expert, and things are progressing very systematically now.”
“…An expert?”
Elani smiled knowingly and rang the bell on the table. The door opened, and an unexpected person entered.
“Ah, Your Highness… Could the expert you mentioned be…”
It was Fred, perfectly equipped with pale skin, a kind expression, round glasses, neat and tidy clothing, and an appearance of complete innocence.
“Laria, it’s been a while.”
“Brother, I heard you succeeded and returned, but you ended up at the Imperial Palace?”
As I asked in a stunned voice, Elani answered excitedly.
“He graduated top of his class from the Eastern Continent Academy with a major in law. I’d been looking for talent like this, and I happened to run into him by chance, so I hastily recruited him.”
I narrowed my eyes and looked at Fred.
‘This could never be coincidence.’
It was obvious that this was a carefully calculated meeting. He must have obtained information that Elani wanted to enact divorce-related legislation while he was kidnapped, and immediately made his plans.
“He said he wanted to keep it a secret from you until things settled down. So I’ve hidden it until now.”
“Ah…”
“Since it’s definitely a common law in the Eastern Continent, Rostri Count has been pushing it forward really well.”
Well, it had been a long time since Father passed away, so it was natural that Fred was called Rostri Count.
Fred spoke with a deep smile.
“I’m staying at the Imperial Palace for now, but I plan to repurchase Rostri Manor soon.”
So even Sven didn’t know where Fred was because he’d been staying at the Imperial Palace.
Even if I hadn’t deliberately searched for him, he would have told me if Fred had made any noteworthy moves in the Capital.
“I told you—I’d create a home for you to return to.”
He truly was my blood. I’d thought he had nothing to his name, yet he’d found the most valuable backing—someone who needed him most.
“Laria, your brother is really smart and kind. His only flaw is being too naive from studying so much, but that’s how scholars are, isn’t it? I’ll just take good care of him.”
“….”
I looked at Fred with eyes full of disdain for my own blood, and he offered the gentlest smile in the world.
“B-but Your Highness… Revising laws isn’t something that can be done so easily, is it?”
Bringing in capable experts might make things easier, but Fred alone couldn’t accomplish it all at once.
“Right, I’ll get the consent of all the noble families soon.”
Elani said this with a bright smile.
‘Evan will absolutely never agree to this, though.’
Since Father had announced his retirement, Evan would soon become the head of Duke Icard’s household. They’d already set a date for his inauguration.
Evan said he didn’t want to cooperate much, claiming it wasn’t about the legitimacy of divorce law—he simply disliked Elani. From my perspective, that was only part of the excuse; it seemed he truly despised the word “divorce” itself.
“I’ve already obtained Duke Icard’s cooperation.”
“…What?”
“I haven’t told anyone yet because I’m saving it for the decisive moment.”
Elani slid a document across the table. It was a statement of agreement regarding the legitimacy of divorce law, and at the very end, the seal of Duke Icard’s household shone boldly.
“Please give me your seal. The thing your seal has been most enthusiastically used for is smuggling Laria away.”
“Ahem. Well, that’s not all it’s been used for.”
I never dreamed Olivia would cooperate with Elani, so this was completely unexpected.
“Of course, a proxy stamped it. But now that this seal is on it, she can’t object.”
Elani added with satisfaction.
I could easily recall the moment Olivia and Elani’s interests first aligned. When Elani heard rumors that Olivia was managing Duke Icard’s affairs, she must have quickly made contact.
“When I visited that manor once… I’m not sure what the situation was, but Olivia Rivien seemed unwilling for you to remain at Icard if you were unhappy. So I got the sense of it.”
After Olivia took me to Rivien, she must have quickly stamped the seal to prevent Icard from legally reclaiming me. That’s why she couldn’t hide her eagerness to leave for Rivien soon.
“Even though a proxy stamped it… the moment she completely denies this, the authority of the Icard seal will diminish.”
Elani was keeping that document without telling anyone, planning to reveal it at the decisive moment. Since Duke Icard’s household currently held the greatest influence among the noble families, the work would naturally become incredibly smooth.
“Well, you could call it underhanded if you wanted—say I’m a cunning opportunist using deception.”
She said this somewhat sheepishly.
“But this is… such an intense desire of mine. I’m a bit sorry to Duke Icard’s heir, though.”
The person who used that intense desire for even more underhanded deception in my past life was Evan. He’d recklessly thrown out enormous conditions knowing time would turn back.
“No, Your Highness.”
Since it seemed Evan deserved to be backstabbed in this life, I smiled warmly.
“I actually like cunning opportunists. I’ll support your cause, Your Highness.”
Besides, I genuinely believed divorce law should naturally exist.
“And….”
I added with sincerity.
“I’ll support you, Your Highness. I’ve come to want to live in an empire ruled by you rather than by His Majesty the Emperor.”
Because there was already a world destroyed because of me. This world needed to be a better place for everyone than that one. It seemed Elani would make the Empire a far more pleasant place to live than the current Emperor ever could.
“…That’s a dangerous thing to say, Laria. I’m truly grateful for your innocent heart, but never speak like that in front of anyone else.”
At Elani’s words, Fred’s eyes shifted to one of understanding.
In any case, Elani would never know what it meant that I, who would eventually stand behind the scenes, supported her.
The mistress of Duke Icard’s household, the head of the nobility; capable of wielding the powerful dark information guild freely; and now with my family about to fully restore its former glory.
“Of course, I’ll protect you no matter what happens.”
Elani laughed heartily, and I thought to myself that it remained to be seen who would end up protecting whom.
“Then shall we finish that chess game we left unfinished last time? Let’s wager 2 gold.”
In the end, I lost that chess match. It was because Fred kept coaching Elani throughout the game.
Now that I thought about it, I had learned chess from Fred in my childhood, so it seemed I couldn’t overcome that gap no matter what.
“…I’ll come back again. Just wait for me, brother.”
As I handed over my precious 2 gold to Fred, I found myself understanding why Marcel had been so eager to wager on chess matches with me.

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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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