Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 172

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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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“Pardon?”
Lisa stared blankly at Calaudin as if she’d been struck on the head.
Calaudin’s expression made it clear he couldn’t accept this fact at all.
“Either way, whether it’s my aunt or me showering them with gifts, there’s no difference. The children lack for nothing and grow up just fine.”
“Ah….”
“Now, if we were talking about Rostri Count, I’d understand. He does look far more like a gentle puppy, so the children might feel more at ease with him. But the person in question is my aunt.”
Calaudin pointed to his own unsettling features and continued with genuine bewilderment, speaking quite seriously.
“Both my aunt and I have fierce expressions. And objectively speaking, doesn’t my aunt look even more intimidating? She already has a strong presence, and on top of that, she wears bold makeup!”
“Hmm….”
“And it’s not as if she’d treat the children kindly either. If anything, I’m the one who’s kind to them. I’m always smiling, reading them stories, swinging them around and playing with them physically, telling them amusing jokes, giving them delicious snacks. So why on earth—!”
Lisa deliberately chose not to point out the somewhat questionable remarks mixed into his words and lowered her gaze.
It was truly difficult to know what to say.
Lisa immediately understood why the nanny had waved her hand dismissively at first.
‘After all… perhaps humility was the answer all along….’
Lisa regretted it internally, but the milk was already spilled.
After a moment of contemplation, she spoke carefully.
“I’m not a childcare expert, and I’ve never observed both of your parenting methods, so I wouldn’t know. However….”
“However?”
Hope flickered in Calaudin’s eyes as he looked at her.
Lisa slightly avoided that burdensome gaze and continued speaking.
“If the previous Duke cannot fathom the reason, then perhaps there must be a reason why the previous Duke cannot help but remain ignorant. For instance, even now, Olivia is watching over the children….”
Olivia certainly had some experience when it came to childcare. She had a son, and she also had grandchildren in the Rivien territory. So she would naturally possess her own know-how in dealing with children.
In contrast, Calaudin had never properly raised Evan, so he could only be inexperienced.
And given Olivia’s nature, even if she possessed such know-how, she would likely keep it to herself and monopolize the children’s affection rather than share it with Calaudin.
Lisa had phrased this tactfully, but Calaudin, with an almost supernatural intuition, grasped the essence of her words and struck his knee.
“Yes, that’s it!”
Calaudin cried out with joy, as if he’d achieved some great enlightenment.
“While I’m away, my aunt must be doing the crucial work! She’s been wary of me and excluding me with the cunning intention of monopolizing the children’s affection!”
“No, I didn’t mean to say it quite that far….”
“How could I not have thought of this? She must have calculated it thoroughly. Running through countless scenarios over and over!”
Lisa, who hadn’t meant to suggest anything so extreme, hurriedly shook her head, but it was already too late.
The former mastermind was already spinning into an endless spiral of terrible imaginings.
“Thank you, Lisa. Thanks to you, I now understand the full truth of this matter.”
Calaudin spoke with gleaming eyes, then rose from his seat.
Lisa asked anxiously.
“What, what are you going to do….”
“I’m going to catch them in the act.”
“Pardon?”
“The children are with my aunt right now. I need to observe them secretly and benchmark their methods myself.”
Before Lisa could stop him, Calaudin vanished like the wind toward the Children’s Room, moving without a sound.
* * *
Calaudin stood before the Children’s Room door and encountered the Nanny in the corridor.
“Is Aunt inside?”
“Ah, yes!”
The Nanny bowed her head as she answered.
“The young master is still taking his afternoon nap, so she’s only playing with the young lady.”
“Ah, is that so?”
The still-young Setnin slept longer than Arienne during nap time.
Calaudin made a decisive “shh” gesture to the Nanny to be quiet, then carefully cracked open the playroom door. Sure enough, Olivia was playing with Arienne.
Arienne and Setnin were quite peculiar siblings in many ways. Arienne looked completely like Evan in appearance but had a personality that resembled Laria perfectly, while Setnin, who inherited Laria’s appearance, surprisingly had a personality identical to Evan’s.
“Now then, Arienne.”
Olivia sat before Arienne, who was grinning with delight, and held a rabbit doll in her hands.
“This girl likes Setnin. But she’s jealous that you get along so well with Setnin, and she’s a wicked child who wants to tear you down completely. If we leave this girl alone, she’ll drive a wedge between you, the people of House of Icard, and Setnin!”
Arienne tilted her head and giggled.
Olivia spoke solemnly.
“Now we begin, do you understand? As an older sister who loves Setnin dearly, you have a duty to protect your family from the rabbit lady!”
“Yes!”
Calaudin, watching the scene, furrowed his brow and asked the Nanny quietly.
“What is that? Why is she giving such an explanation with a doll?”
“Ah… it’s role-playing. It’s a kind of situational play, and it’s something children around Arienne’s age tend to enjoy.”
The Nanny explained professionally, then let out a sigh.
“But the content of that… well… I’ve never heard or seen anything like it…”
Whether Olivia and Arienne knew of the Nanny’s worried gaze or not, their situational play began.
Olivia moved the rabbit doll nimbly and began speaking in a high-pitched voice.
“My, isn’t this Lady Arienne? How strange… you look far more venomous than Setnin.”
Arienne stared at the rabbit doll and spoke.
“Yep! Arienne looks like Olivia great-great-grandmother!”
“…What?”
Olivia’s eyes widened as if she suddenly realized something. Then she abruptly snapped the rabbit doll’s neck.
“This wretched red-eyed rabbit! Do you want to experience something truly venomous? Huh?”
The Nanny and Calaudin could not hide their bewildered expressions. She had set up the role-play and delivered her lines, only to completely change her demeanor at Arienne’s single remark.
Olivia lifted the rabbit doll’s ears and flung it aside as she shouted.
“I’ll tear your mouth so you can never speak ill of me behind my back again!”
At Olivia’s furious display, Arienne giggled and clapped her hands. Then she smiled brightly and cheered.
“Mission accomplished!”
“…Good.”
After hearing Arienne’s innocent declaration, Olivia blew air through her mouth to sweep her bangs back, then smiled with satisfaction.
“I ended up delivering the lines I wanted after all, but regardless, that was quite a decent response.”
Calaudin stood speechless, his mouth agape. He couldn’t tell where the role-play ended and where her true feelings began.
In any case, one thing was certain: Olivia was performing all the roles Arienne was supposed to play.
“Alright, let’s try this again.”
Olivia, who had been shouting enthusiastically, picked up the rabbit doll once more. Then she changed her voice to a higher pitch and began speaking.
“Lady Arienne! Not only is your appearance questionable… but your personality is dreadful, they say? You take after your father!”
“Uh-uh, that’s not true. Arienne takes after her mother and smiles well even in front of children she doesn’t know.”
“Hmph! Don’t lie!”
“It’s true. Look, she’s smiling right now.”
“….”
Calaudin nearly burst into applause without realizing it. The way she delivered the lines while smiling was quite masterful.
The Nanny, who had been eavesdropping subtly from the side, was also chuckling as if amused.
“Then are you saying I’m a wicked child?”
The rabbit doll, momentarily at a loss for words, bounced up and down.
“I’m the rabbit lady with the best reputation in the social circle! You really do joke harshly!”
At the rabbit doll’s words, Arienne slowly crossed her arms. Her crimson eyes gleamed with arrogance as she smiled with composure.
Calaudin swallowed dryly at the gesture. Despite her young age, he could sense the ease with which she commanded the situation.
“Do you really think it’s a joke? Why would it be?”
Unlike the rabbit doll’s bouncing voice, Arienne’s tone was confident.
There was a nuance that she already held the upper hand in the conversation.
It was then that Calaudin thought to himself with pride, “Wow, truly Laria and Evan’s daughter…”
“That’s because Arienne has a sense of humor inherited from Grandfather!”
The rabbit doll cried out sharply.
It was then that Calaudin thought, “What does that mean?”
“…U, u… uwaaaaaaaah!”
Suddenly Arienne burst into tears. At the same time, the Nanny jumped up, opened the door, and rushed inside.
“Oh my, Young Lady! It’s alright, it’s alright!”
The Nanny scooped up the crying Arienne and patted her back.
Olivia stood up as if embarrassed and spoke in an anxious, pleading voice.
“I’m sorry, Arienne. It was my fault. I thought it would be fine since you were doing so well at everything. Oh dear, you’re still just a baby…”
Once the tears started, they didn’t stop easily. As the Nanny soothed Arienne, she let out a shallow sigh and replied.
“Even if Lady Arienne is precocious, she’s still a baby. No matter how much it’s roleplay, hearing such harsh words can be shocking.”
Standing blankly outside the open door, Calaudin couldn’t understand why he felt defeated when it was clearly Olivia who had made the child cry.
* * *
Since Arienne had cried so much, Calaudin went to Setnin, who had just woken from his nap.
Of course, he had picked up something from watching Olivia play with Arienne. He just needed to avoid saying anything too harsh. Roleplay certainly had something that drew children into immersion.
“Alright, Setnin.”
Calaudin went to Setnin’s room and picked up a bear doll. Setnin
sat facing Calaudin, rolling his gentle-looking violet eyes.
Calaudin recalled what Olivia had said earlier and slowly began setting up the scenario.
“This bear is Viscount Yeong, who likes Arienne…”
However, Calaudin couldn’t continue any further.
Setnin, without saying a word, punched the bear doll’s belly.

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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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