Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 155

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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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“Calaudin doesn’t care much for cats. At some point, he became absolutely averse to them. Especially black cats—he truly despises them.”
Olivia, carrying Neo, headed toward Calaudin’s Office. These days, Calaudin was working tirelessly, handling all the affairs of the Duke’s household.
“Dogs, on the other hand, he’s absolutely mad about. He can’t resist them. He hasn’t been able to keep any due to lack of time, but once he returns to Podeilin, he’ll probably raise five dogs.”
Neo let out a disgruntled growl.
No matter how much he instinctively despised black cats due to memories from his past life, a man who disliked cats and was obsessed with dogs was utterly lacking in manners.
Olivia opened the study door without knocking and poked her head inside.
“Calaudin. Are you busy?”
“Yes.”
Calaudin, who had been reviewing documents at his desk, answered curtly and without warmth.
The transfer of the Duke Icard title had been temporarily halted, so he still held the position of Duke Icard. This was because Evan needed to attend to the pregnant Laria, and even after childbirth, he intended to actively participate in raising the child during its early years.
Holding the ducal title naturally increased his frequency of outings due to various social obligations and events.
“Don’t you have time for tea with your aunt?”
“I don’t.”
“There isn’t much work anymore. Wouldn’t it be enough to just handle what Laria does?”
“Evan has quite a lot of work as well. With the birth approaching, of course Evan must remain by Laria’s side.”
Calaudin had to manage everything as if Laria and Evan had reverted to childhood.
Of course, since he had abandoned his role as the hidden mastermind, he wasn’t pulling all-nighters every night, but there was still considerable work.
“Since I’ve wronged Evan and Laria, I can do this much with a grateful heart.”
“You really do work even when you’re resting. Your fate is… Anyway, Laria and Evan went for a walk just now, didn’t they? You should rest too.”
“Even if I rest, I won’t rest together with you, Aunt.”
“Hmph, I’ve brought a new animal friend.”
“Have you brought one of Lucifer’s companions?”
“Not a parrot. A puppy.”
Calaudin suddenly set down his pen with a sharp tap and rose politely.
“Please come in. I’ll have tea prepared.”
“Hmph, you said you didn’t have time for tea.”
“I’ve suddenly found some.”
“And you said you wouldn’t rest with me.”
“But I can rest with your new animal friend.”
Calaudin’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.
“A puppy chosen by you, Aunt, with such discerning taste—it must be quite extraordinary.”
“It looks rather dull, but it understands commands better than expected.”
“It appears gentle-looking yet surprisingly intelligent. Please, do come in. Why are you just poking your head in?”
“Don’t be so eager.”
Olivia continued to tease Calaudin considerably after that. Calaudin eventually swore before her that he would never make jokes again.
“Yes, that’s exactly it.”
Olivia giggled as she spoke. She drew out the moment for nearly thirty minutes.
“I’ve been in such a good mood imagining how you’d react. When I show you our puppy, you’ll make an even bigger fuss. Ah, how thrilling.”
Neo, satisfied by her words, resolved to remain by her side. Watching humans curse and grow irritated was something that thrilled Neo deeply as well.
“Show me at once.”
“Well, the moment has finally come to introduce you! Puppy, say hello!”
Olivia threw open the door, and Neo raised his front paws as if greeting her, letting out a cry.
“Meow~”
Calaudin’s crimson eyes, which had been gleaming with excitement, quickly dimmed. He then fixed Neo with a cold stare.
“What is this? Did you not call him a puppy?”
“His name is Puppy, but I never said this child was a dog.”
“…I see.”
“This one’s incredibly smart! Seriously. Did you see him raise his paw just now?”
“Meow, meow~”
As Calaudin regarded Neo with obvious disinterest once more, his brow furrowed sharply. A ringing sound echoed through his mind.
―And you, Calaudin, will need to plant a strange tree in the Mansion Garden. You should accept that level of brainwashing now.
“The Occlasia Tree….”
Calaudin murmured without thinking. Now that he considered it, he couldn’t even remember when—years ago—he had ordered that the Occlasia Tree be obtained at all costs and planted in the Mansion Garden.
According to Laria, that had been the demon’s brainwashing, but now, facing this black cat, a strange memory suddenly surfaced.
“Meow~”
According to Evan and Laria’s explanation, the demon that Evan had contracted took the form of a black cat. And he had despised black cats since ancient times. Precisely one that looked exactly like this.
“…Aunt, where did that cat come from?”
“It was wandering around in the garden?”
“Is it not strange that such a well-groomed unfamiliar cat suddenly appeared in the Duke’s Garden?”
“What does that have to do with me? It’s not even my house.”
Calaudin sighed as he pointed out the flaw in Olivia’s self-satisfied attitude.
“…A cat that understands human speech perfectly and raises its paw—you truly believe that is merely intelligence?”
“It is rather odd, I admit. But perhaps the heavens have blessed me with a gift for having lived such a virtuous life?”
“I suspect the opposite.”
Calaudin forcibly swallowed the words that she had lived so wickedly that a demon had actually attached itself to her.
Having dimly grasped Neo’s true nature, Calaudin pressed his fingers to his forehead. Yet no matter how much he was Calaudin, he could not tell Olivia, “That is actually a demon.”
“When I studied dark magic, I believe I read of cases like this. It is ominous—keep your distance. It is a cunning but wicked beast that delights in others’ misfortune.”
“Oh my.”
Olivia laughed brightly and embraced Neo tightly.
“You are my kindred spirit.”
“Is that not ominous?”
“When you reach my age, you will understand—tedium is far worse than ill fortune.”
“…You were the same way even in your youth, Aunt, regardless of age.”
Whether Calaudin approved or not, Olivia was already imagining a rosy future with Neo.
In any case, an intelligent beast that delights in others’ misfortune—that was precisely her match….
“I must attend various garden parties. I need to assess my puppy’s abilities and determine the extent of the mischief.”
“Meow~”
Neo too smiled with satisfaction. For being with Olivia seemed as though it would be tremendously entertaining.
Now, to Neo, Olivia was neither a slave nor a pet human. She was a kindred spirit for a life of pleasure.
“Meow~”
Thinking it would be nice to get along well while staying close to this human, Neo contentedly leaned against Olivia’s body.
“Oh my, you like me too? Let’s get along well, shall we?”
And so the two of them became kindred spirits.
“Let’s completely overturn the Capital’s Social Circle. That Elani insulted our Lucifer, so we absolutely must get revenge!”
“Meow!”
This was the moment Olivia and Neo’s friendship began.
That was when a cautious knock sounded and the door opened.
“Father, we’re back from our walk… Oh my, Aunt is here too, and—eek!”
Laria and Evan had stopped by briefly after their stroll. Upon discovering Neo nestled in Olivia’s arms, Laria’s pupils trembled wildly.
“This… this is… um…”
Calaudin quickly interjected.
“It seems Aunt discovered a very rare cat cursed with dark magic!”
“Ah, yes, yes, I see!”
Laria nodded hastily. Evan wrapped his arm around Laria’s shoulder, regarding Neo with a wary gaze.
As Laria’s delivery approached, Evan had become cautious of even the air itself, so a demon was beyond question.
Neo let out a scoff upon seeing Evan.
―How ridiculous… meow~
Neo’s voice became audible before cutting off awkwardly, blending with a cat’s cry at the end.
Everyone in the room heard Neo’s voice, causing Olivia to nearly drop the cat. Neo landed gracefully and spoke.
―Can’t… speak… properly… meow~
Quick-witted Laria immediately translated.
“Ah, because Evan received a blessing, he can’t speak properly?”
―You… not… interested… relax… meow~
“Ah, since we’re not interesting, telling Evan to relax his gaze?”
Laria laughed awkwardly while looking at Olivia.
“Aunt, you see… um… this cat’s name is Neo, and actually we know this cat, but because of dark magic it can sometimes speak…”
Amidst the chaos, Neo’s sudden words calmed the entire situation.
―Your daughter… meow.
At that shocking statement, everyone fell silent for a moment.
Evan, who had frozen stiff, asked with difficulty breathing.
“A… daughter?”
“Meow~”
Neo nodded, and Calaudin even covered his mouth with his hand.
A daughter, a daughter!
Since there had been no way to determine the baby’s sex until delivery, they had been curious all this time whether it would be a son or a daughter.
“What do I do…”
Evan murmured in a voice trembling with emotion.
“I’ve missed her so much… Please, she has to look like Laria.”
Calaudin was nearly fainting as well.
“Good heavens, a granddaughter who resembles Laria… Oh….”
“That settles it.”
Olivia struck the table with a declaration.
“Then the matter is decided. The child’s middle name shall be Olivia.”
“…Pardon?”
Evan stared at Olivia as if utterly bewildered.
“Am I not Laria’s godmother? Then what else would you possibly put in her middle name?”
“No, why would you impose such a trial upon my daughter’s name….”
―What nonsense!
Neo leaped up and interjected.
―Neo! Neo! Meow meow meow meow meow!
Laria tilted her head while cradling her belly.
“Use your name, Neo, as the middle name?”
―Because of me… meow meow! …she exists!
“Because it’s a child I can see thanks to you, so you want her named Neo?”
“Absolutely not! It has to be Olivia, you dull cat!”
―Get lost, you violent old hag!
Neo spoke with such intensity that, unlike the fragmented speech from before, the words came out with perfect clarity.
Laria was grateful she didn’t need to translate those words in her mind.
“I won’t attach this cursed cat’s name anywhere!”
―Then what name befits a wicked old woman like you?
Watching the exchange, Calaudin silently swallowed the urge to suggest “Matilda.” He had no desire to sully Matilda’s name by invoking it between those two.
Thus, the friendship between Olivia and Neo crumbled in less than ten minutes. In other words, fortunately, the Capital’s Social Circle would remain safe for the time being.
And when ten months had passed and the child was born healthy, Evan and Calaudin wept together in identical fashion.

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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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