Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 152

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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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Side Story 1. If Laria’s Escape Had Lasted a Little Longer
“Meow~”
Neo was living peacefully under Sven’s meticulous care.
Having absorbed an overflowing amount of misfortune from my contractor, I could enjoy the human realm without worry until Evan’s life came to an end. In a good light, it was a peaceful daily life; in a bad light, it was a tedious existence.
“Meow~”
Neo suddenly recalled the novel I had written to brainwash Laria. That is, the novel created solely for Laria where Evan married Princess Elani and then got divorced. But thinking about it, the experience of writing that novel alone seemed rather entertaining.
My specialty was taking an existing person and imagining “What if it had been like this?” Since I couldn’t arbitrarily change someone’s personality or past, I had to maintain some plausibility. That’s why I couldn’t make Evan and Princess Elani seem to be in true love in the novel I used to brainwash Laria.
“Meow~”
Laria had anticipated to some degree that Evan could chase after her when Paul was captured. In other words, if she hadn’t been caught by Fred, she could have escaped once more.
It wasn’t difficult to alter causality so that Laria would escape one more time. It was simply a matter of changing a single factor.
“Meow.”
Neo lay by the window, basking in sunlight while lost in fantasy.
If I assumed that scenario, the story would restart from when Evan arrived with Fred. In other words, if Evan hadn’t gagged Fred, what would happen would be…
* * *
“…Are you running away again?”
His voice was low and hoarse.
Laria slowly turned around, clutching the teleportation scroll and the safe.
“Uh… um…”
Evan was glaring at her with eyes full of murderous intent.
“E-Evan, you see…”
Despite having prepared for this situation, his face was so sinister and his every gesture so desolate that Laria couldn’t help but hold her breath.
“You have the teleportation scroll, don’t you?”
The teleportation scroll rustled in Laria’s hand.
He’d noticed that much. She couldn’t hide her expression of despair as she bit her lower lip hard.
“If you run away again…”
Laria waited quietly for Evan to continue, knowing she could tear up the scroll at any moment, when an unbelievable sight unfolded before her eyes.
“Laria!”
Behind Evan, his adjutant Nathan was restraining Fred. The kind-looking young man with pink hair had tears glistening behind his glasses.
“Older Brother!”
Laria let out a sharp scream, and the siblings’ eyes met.
Evan spoke in a locked voice.
“Your older brother’s safety…”
However, Evan couldn’t finish that sentence. Fred, whose face was gentle and docile with only tears welling up in his eyes, quickly shouted.
“Laria! Run away from this crazy psycho right now!”
Laria’s trembling pupils turned toward Evan’s crazed face. Honestly, his expression was sufficient to be called a “crazy psycho.” Just looking at his appearance, standing face to face with him was terrifying enough to make her legs shake.
Moreover, he had kidnapped Fred, the only heir to Rostri Count. By normal standards, such a thing was unthinkable.
Fred, his wrists bound, cried out desperately.
“I’d rather die here than become a burden to you!”
It was a truly self-sacrificing statement showing how much he cherished his sister. And Laria was not someone who hesitated in the face of another’s sacrifice.
“Get to the Eastern Continent somehow! You can’t escape this madman’s eyes in the Empire!”
Since she despised being a burden more than death itself, I had to honor her wishes.
“Got it, Older Brother! Thank you!”
With that, Laria tore up the teleportation scroll without hesitation.
The moment Laria vanished in an instant, Fred’s sorrowful expression transformed into complete blankness.
“Hmph.”
He glared at Evan as he spoke.
“You were actually going to hand Laria over to a madman like you. And you don’t even know how much life she has left.”
Despite his gentle, innocent features, he showed no intimidation whatsoever when facing Evan’s eerie expression.
In fact, Fred was still officially only Viscount Yeong. Yet he displayed the audacity to speak recklessly even to the Duke, Evan.
“If she wanted to escape from you, I’ll let her run to the ends of the earth and live.”
Nathan trembled violently, desperately opening and closing his mouth at Evan. The unspoken words were: ‘Please don’t kill him, he’s Laria’s blood relative. You cannot cross a bridge that cannot be crossed.’
“Of course, you won’t dare kill me.”
Fred spoke with supreme confidence, as if he already knew everything.
“I could see you trembling before Laria, after all.”
Evan stared at Fred quietly for a moment, then spoke lowly to Nathan.
“…Release him.”
Nathan quickly untied the rope binding Fred’s wrists.
As Fred shook his wrists with a snort, Evan’s eyes gleamed as he continued.
“But things will not go as you wish.”
His voice was so sinister that even the self-assured Fred instinctively took cautious steps backward.
“If Laria runs to the very end, then I shall chase her to that very end as well.”
And Sven, who had just arrived and was secretly observing the scene from behind, immediately took Neo in his arms and fled that chaotic situation. Laria had once mentioned that in times like these, she would go to Sven’s Residence.
* * *
Laria sat in Sven’s Cafe, sighing heavily.
I had to admit it. Evan was mad.
And if I were caught by that mad husband of mine, there would be nothing left to bury. Separate from my affection for Evan, I had to preserve my life. So I devised a plan in a sorrowful state.
“Now, put this diamond necklace on the black market.”
The safe I had grabbed at the end contained not only gold coins but also various luxury accessories.
“Someone will definitely ask about its origin. When they do, tell them the source is today’s date—Bedis Port.”
The necklace I handed to the member of the Bestian Information Guild was an Eastern Continent diamond necklace, one that Evan had once gifted to me. Trade with the Eastern Continent was still difficult, and thus the price was exorbitant.
“There are only a few of these in the Empire right now, so the moment it appears on the black market, Evan will begin tracking the remaining diamond necklaces.”
As I entrusted the necklace I had once received with excitement to another’s hands, I murmured desolately.
“Eastern Continent diamond necklaces have the largest price difference between the Empire and the Eastern Continent. So when fleeing to the Eastern Continent, it’s only natural to liquidate them for efficiency.”
Therefore, if I claimed to have sold this necklace at Bedis Port, Evan would naturally believe I had fled to the Eastern Continent.
The reason for disguising my destination as the Eastern Continent was partly due to Fred’s final words, but it was ultimately a signal for him to stop searching for me.
For reasons unknown, Princess Elani was not expressing her intention to marry, but someday she would say she wanted to. For Evan to quickly rise as a candidate when that time came, he needed to remain in the Empire. It meant he would never go all the way to the Eastern Continent, which took considerable time to traverse, to search for me.
‘Should I have disguised it this way from the start… But I really didn’t want to sell that necklace.’
The Eastern Continent diamond necklace was itself a limited edition in the Empire. Moreover, it was the only gift from Evan that I had managed to bring with me.
Handing it over was a significant decision for me. So I hesitated for a long while as I offered the necklace to the guild member, then sighed and made my request with resolve.
“…Get at least 1 gold more than market price. Never sell it at a loss. Do you understand?”
Laria’s philosophy was that precisely because something was precious, one should collect payment for it thoroughly.
A few days later, Sven arrived at the Capital and established a residence for Laria in a small city on the outskirts. It was a modest, inconspicuous dwelling that drew no attention.
No matter how much Laria preferred expensive and luxurious things, it couldn’t be helped. To avoid arousing suspicion from those around her, she couldn’t procure high-quality ingredients, and she couldn’t keep many servants.
‘I spent seven years diligently preparing to live as a noblewoman, and this is what I get….’
Laria suffered through eating merely ordinary pudding.
On the surface, Laria’s modest residence was disguised as the home of Serena and her husband. There were rumors that an enormous power struggle had erupted among the members of the Bestian Dark Information Guild over who would take on the role of Serena’s husband. Knowing that Duke Icard’s eyes were spread throughout the Empire, she rarely ventured outside.
“Lady Laria.”
Not long after, Serena approached with a serious expression and brought news.
“The Young Duke has been in seclusion at Duke Icard’s Mansion.”
“…Seclusion?”
“From what I hear, he’s been quite ill….”
At Serena’s uncertain words, Laria tilted her head. His behavior deviated from her expectations once again. But one thing was certain.
‘In seven years, I’ve never seen Evan sick. And even if he were ill, he’s absolutely not the type to go into hiding like this.’
Laria pondered alone.
‘Either he’s furious because he couldn’t catch me, or….’
Recalling that eerie expression from their last encounter, he would have had more than enough reason to be furious.
‘He’s using the excuse of being ill to lower my guard and try to draw me out somehow….’
Honestly, she could think of nothing else. The fact that Evan had brought Fred along when he came storming in was far beyond Laria’s comprehension.
‘He’s really angry. Well, ever since we first met in front of the Academy when he was thirteen, he said he hated inconsistency….’
She had no idea that Evan was suspicious of the relationship between her and Kail.
That’s why she could only deeply misunderstand Evan, who had burst in with an expression far more terrifying than she had anticipated. And when an angry madman was raging at her, naturally she had to flee.
Laria suppressed her desire to eat premium steak every single day and thought.
‘There’s definitely something going on. I absolutely must stay hidden and be careful.’

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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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