Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 163

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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 6. Pacifying the Capital Social Circle
I had long harbored a desire to bring order to the Capital Social Circle.
After I returned to the Capital, rumors spread like wildfire that the Icard Nobleman had fully recovered and would be living in the Capital from now on.
It was true that I had not properly fulfilled my duties as a noblewoman for a long time. So it was inevitable that people existed who thought things like, “She was stuck in the countryside, so she’s just a naive girl,” or “She seemed weak-willed, so there might be ways to exploit her.”
Of course, I didn’t necessarily have to go out of my way to deal with such people.
Now there was no house that could rival the Icard Ducal House. So even without taking any particular action, many people sought to align themselves with me. I could live comfortably enough simply by maintaining cordial relations with whoever approached me.
Of course, I was not the type to live comfortably enough.
“They’re all dead. I’ll wait for everything.”
I had thought about starting in earnest after traveling with Evan, but then I became pregnant.
Since the entire Count’s Manor trembled at my every step, attending social events was practically impossible.
I also thought it best to behave myself and focus on prenatal care during my pregnancy rather than scheme. That said, I hadn’t abandoned my plans to pacify the social circle—I was simply waiting until after giving birth and my body recovered to begin in earnest.
Now Arienne was growing beautifully, and my body had nearly returned to normal. In the meantime, I noticed that Olivia had some connection with the Daniack Viscountess’s Salon and had it investigated through the information guild.
“I see.”
I nodded as I read the report Sven had sent. I wondered why it had to be the Daniack Viscountess’s Salon, and it turned out there was a past entanglement involved.
“So our Arienne…”
It seemed Olivia wanted to proudly display her happiness before those who had cursed that the Icard line would end because of her.
After Matilda passed away, they must have eagerly spread rumors that the relationship between the Duke and Duchess of Icard was at its worst.
Arienne was a symbol of the happiness the Icard House enjoyed. Therefore, Olivia wanted to prove that happiness before them.
“Olivia, really. Bragging with photographs, of all things…. Well, because of Olivia’s position, no one would dare criticize her to her face.”
I sighed and shook my head.
“This won’t do. I need to make sure they can’t even criticize her behind her back.”
Olivia had everything—malice, audacity, and wickedness—but she lacked one thing: strategic thinking.
I couldn’t destroy a perfectly good gathering, but I could certainly prevent people from speaking ill of Icard.
“While I’m at it, I should also establish my proper position in the Capital Social Circle.”
It seemed like this was finally the moment I had been waiting for all along.
“Arienne, Mama needs to begin her social activities in earnest now.”
I took Arienne from her nursemaid and began to soothe her, smiling slightly.
“Our daughter… you really do resemble Olivia so much, so brilliantly beautiful. But when you smile, you’re unmistakably like me.”
As I rubbed my cheek against Arienne’s plump cheeks in happiness, a fleeting thought made me pause. Arienne would become an Icard Princess like Olivia of old, and if she inherited not just her wealth and status but my inner nature as well….
I employed rational deduction and sharp intuition to reach my conclusion.
“Icard will continue to prosper, Arienne.”
That afternoon, after Arienne had fallen back asleep for her nap, I wrote another letter to Sven.
It seemed I needed to prepare for Princess Elani’s tea party, which would be my first official social event after giving birth.
* * *
Princess Elani held one grand tea party a year. It was practically a small event of the Capital Social Circle where most high-ranking nobles gathered.
The Daniack Viscountess and Cynthia were also leisurely enjoying their tea from prominent seats.
Though she was over sixty, she still held a pillar of the Capital Social Circle. She even operated the largest salon among the few that remained.
Though it had no young members, it was the finest gathering among the elderly.
In the social circle where connections were power, such assured belonging was tremendously important. As a result, all the people belonging to the salon were invited despite their advanced age, were they not?
Of course, Cynthia’s Salon had not always been so cohesive. There had been one crisis long ago when this sense of belonging nearly shattered—it was when Olivia visited to arrange Calaudin’s marriage.
At that time, Calaudin was such a desirable marriage prospect that everyone’s eyes had turned greedy, and they’d grown somewhat bitter toward one another.
However, Cynthia handled the crisis brilliantly. She united them again through shared disdain, cursing and condemning Matilda, who lacked backing.
“Look at our Arienne’s photograph. Isn’t she beautiful? Make sure to compliment her with at least three sentences.”
Recently, Olivia had shown up unannounced again, scattering photographs of her great-great-niece and demanding praise.
Everyone remembered the old days, and they felt bitter knowing that the Icard Ducal House was thriving even after Matilda’s death.
And Olivia demonstrated remarkable consistency by bringing Arienne’s photograph even to Princess Elani’s tea gathering.
“Come now, hurry over. Look at Arienne’s photograph—the most beautiful face in the universe. You have no idea how docile, pretty, and clever she is. She babbles so clearly and properly, I tell you.”
Cynthia wasn’t sure how one babbled clearly and properly, but everyone indulged Olivia’s vanity regardless.
‘Please, I hope Princess Elani, the true host of this tea gathering, will put an end to this boasting!’
Cynthia knew that relations between Elani and Olivia were poor. In any case, since Elani was the hostess, it was worth anticipating another clash between them.
“Ahem, ahem, ahem.”
Indeed, Princess Elani regarded Olivia with a pointed cough. Cynthia watched with eager eyes, waiting for her to unleash a barrage on Olivia.
“I also, ahem, would like to see it….”
But with Elani’s words, Cynthia’s expectations came crashing down.
“Do show us right away.”
No matter how poor their relations were, no one would refuse to show their baby’s photograph when asked.
As Olivia produced the photograph, Elani examined it with eager anticipation, then murmured with slight disappointment.
“My, black hair and crimson eyes… I never expected Icard features to be so pronounced. I don’t see any Rostri at all.”
At that moment, Fred, who sat beside her, spoke gently.
“If you look at her smiling photograph, you’ll see our siblings’ faces.”
Rostri Count Fred was regarded as a leading candidate for the Royal Court’s next Minister of Justice. He was also openly Elani’s closest confidant.
Indeed, upon seeing Arienne’s smiling photograph, Elani exclaimed in delight.
“That’s it! Her smile is pure Rostri bloodline! Icard could never smile so prettily.”
Cynthia sighed, abandoning hope that Olivia would suffer a setback.
Well, that damned old woman’s great-great-niece was certainly cute. But no matter how much Olivia scattered photographs of her great-great-niece, boasting throughout the neighborhood that “Icard is so happy!”….
‘Hmph, it’s true that Icard is doomed. After all, Olivia brought in someone as rootless as Matilda, so Calaudin also took in such a muddled girl as his wife.’
Cynthia’s gaze now turned to Laria, who was quietly sipping her tea.
Her small frame and docile impression made her look just as manageable as Matilda. Since each house typically sent one representative, it seemed Evan hadn’t come, and Laria had come as Icard’s representative.
‘A foolish girl who was deceived by a con artist and sent to the South for recuperation since childhood, then came back all addled.’
No matter how prestigious a ducal house was, if they couldn’t utilize that prestige, it posed no threat whatsoever. And they had all experienced a weak duchess before.
Matilda and Laria overlapped in her mind—both of them unable to utter a word no matter how much they were scorned and disparaged.
‘Well, her older brother might make some waves later, but there’s the inertia of having lived prostrate all this time. She’ll probably continue living as if she barely exists.’
Olivia would soon return to Rivien. Therefore, no matter how much Calaudin and Evan had built up the Icard Ducal House, the Capital Social Circle didn’t need to pay much attention.
‘Of course… the Icard Ducal House is impressive. But since the duchess is weak, as long as we’re careful, we can keep them in check.’
So they had already enjoyed spreading amusing rumors about Laria at the salons several days ago.
“It’s fortunate that Arienne is clearly of Icard bloodline, no matter who looks at her.”
At that moment, Laria spoke in a gentle voice.
“Otherwise, truly strange rumors might have circulated.”
“What do you mean by that, Laria?”
Fred furrowed his brow as he spoke, and Laria answered with an elegant smile.
“A few days ago, I heard that someone at a salon spread rather embarrassing rumors about my recovery period.”
At the mention of “embarrassing rumors,” everyone at the tea gathering fell silent. Such provocative language naturally commanded immediate attention.
“Embarrassing rumors? What… are you talking about some sordid affair conducted in secret?”
At Fred’s words, everyone swallowed hard. A clandestine and sordid affair was precisely the sort of thing that captivated everyone’s interest.
Of course, there were those swallowing hard for entirely different reasons—namely, Cynthia and her salon members.
“Well, apparently while I was in the South, someone spread the story that I had become romantically involved with a certain baron from that region.”
Cynthia, seasoned by countless trials, quickly composed her expression, though her heart skipped a beat.
Her salon had been maintained for over forty years, not merely one or two. Among themselves, they shared a bond so solid that any problematic remarks would never leak beyond their circle.
‘Stay calm. Usually, reacting to such scandal is considered vulgar, so there’s a good chance they won’t press for more details.’
If only some gentleman would gracefully conclude with something like, “My, what troublesome gossip you’ve had to endure. Pay it no mind,” then…
‘If we simply let this matter drop and change the subject, we’ll be fine.’
But there was someone present who cared not one whit about appearing vulgar.
“What?! What sort of filthy rumors have been circulating about my grand-niece? Tell me every last detail!”
It was Olivia.

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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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