Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 177

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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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“Why on earth are you going there?”
“Well… I have someone to meet.”
“Who?”
“Evan.”
Laria lightly touched Evan’s hair and let out a soft laugh.
“Fred doesn’t ask me such detailed questions. Could you respect my privacy a little?”
“But I’m…!”
“You’re what?”
“…Your closest friend. So won’t you tell me?”
Laria gazed at him with her violet eyes for a moment, then tilted her head curiously as she asked.
“You don’t even set foot in the Card House anyway. In the Capital, you’re probably the only one who’s never even stepped foot near its entrance. So why do you care?”
“That’s because…!”
Evan answered with an agitated, trembling voice, then suddenly stopped. He turned his gaze toward the window instead.
“…Your father enjoys gambling.”
Laria’s eyes widened at those words, which she had been about to refute.
“So you… hate gambling.”
Laria didn’t answer. She simply turned her gaze to the opposite window and cleared her throat awkwardly, then fidgeted with the hem of her skirt without purpose.
“Hey, Duke Icard’s carriage is really cramped… Even with all that money, why did he bring such a small carriage?”
“I don’t know.”
Evan answered halfheartedly, still avoiding her gaze.
“I don’t think it’s bad, though.”
Silence settled over the carriage until they arrived at the restaurant. It was the first time such a long silence had fallen between them.
As they were getting out of the carriage, Evan asked once more, casually.
“So who are you meeting?”
Evan even raised his eyebrows slightly as he added.
“…If you don’t answer, I’ll ask again tomorrow.”
“It’s not something strange like you’re thinking. It’s just… well, there are some people I want to help.”
At those words, Evan asked with certainty.
“You’re plotting something, aren’t you, Laria?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t I know you? You’re trying to send a few people away from high society. But who on earth are they?”
However, Evan wouldn’t hear the answer until Laria’s debutante ball. Because after that, Laria became so frantically busy that she couldn’t even find time to see Evan.
And a few days later, Laria’s debutante ball arrived—prepared with greater grandeur than anyone else could have managed, thanks to Esther.
* * *
Laria’s debutante ball was held at Rostri Manor. Every decoration was lavishly ornate, and the tea and food were prepared at the highest quality, drawing admiration from many guests.
The people’s reactions were excellent. Everyone praised Esther’s taste and enjoyed the party with delighted expressions.
“Matilda, did you see?”
Esther spoke to Matilda, who sat beside her.
“If you want to show off your wealth without being criticized, we have to serve something even better.”
“You’re quite the jester. The way you use the word ‘serve’ like that—it reminds me of our husband.”
Matilda smiled brightly and placed her hand on Esther’s shoulder.
Esther stared at Matilda before responding.
“…Did you not get to eat what you wanted here? Why are you cursing at me?”
Just then, a bell chimed, and Laria, today’s debutante, made her entrance.
Descending slowly down the manor’s spiral staircase, specially constructed for this occasion, Laria was absolutely stunning.
Fred was escorting Laria, and though he was also quite the handsome man with a gentle demeanor, all eyes were fixed solely on Laria.
An ivory dress studded with tiny beads was accented by a brilliant crimson ruby necklace that sparkled dazzlingly. Matching ruby earrings and a ruby hair ornament complemented the simple gown with elegant sophistication.
“Wow.”
Matilda forgot she was even conversing with Esther and gasped genuinely.
“…She’s so beautiful. It’s such a shame he can’t see this… He sings every day about wanting Laria as his daughter-in-law.”
Today, Calaudin and Evan couldn’t attend because they’d departed at dawn for the duchy, claiming an urgent matter had arisen.
Of course, only Matilda was disappointed. Calaudin had little interest in society or politics, devoting himself solely to his family and the duchy, which made him unpopular. Everyone merely dismissed him as “that domestic man who only tells strange jokes” and paid him no mind.
Of course, that situation was limited to Calaudin alone. Matilda’s case was quite different. Everyone still resented that she, a former dressmaking assistant, had become a duchess.
Had it not been for the hot-blooded Esther actively shielding her from such harassment, Matilda would have been completely isolated from society and suffered far worse.
“Thank you all so much for coming to my debutante ball.”
Laria raised her wine glass and greeted them with grace.
“Please enjoy yourselves.”
With those words, applause erupted.
The event was so grand and so many guests had been invited that the manor and even the garden were bustling with activity.
Moreover, since Laria and Fred were the true powers of their generation in society, nearly all the noble youths in the capital had gathered.
“Rostri Countess? Laria is so beautiful. How did you raise her so well?”
Laria and Fred quickly mingled among their peers, and people began gathering around Esther as well. It was only natural, as she was both the organizer and the debutante’s mother.
Laria’s father, Rostri Count, was notably absent. Only Esther knew he was at the massive illegal gambling den scheduled to open today.
“Ah, Melinia Duchess. Thank you so much for coming. You must have traveled quite far.”
Matilda noticed the line of people waiting to greet Esther and tactfully rose to her feet. Then she whispered to Esther.
“Esther, I’m going to use the restroom for a moment.”
“Oh, sure.”
Esther glanced quickly at the guests standing before her and answered rapidly.
“Come back soon. I’ll be waiting.”
Matilda nodded once and quietly stood. She was excusing herself so Esther wouldn’t be preoccupied with her and neglect greeting the guests.
Though Esther’s words “I’ll be waiting” were meant as a signal for her to return quickly, Matilda intended to stay away as long as possible.
Unlike Matilda, Esther had many friends in society. Among them were those who openly ignored Matilda.
If they reacted with disdain upon seeing Matilda, Esther would surely throw a fit, and Matilda had no desire to create such a situation and ruin Laria’s debutante ball.
And lately, those who undermined Matilda had been gathering at Madame Ebinat’s dressmaking salon, forming new alliances. The people who had scattered when Olivia had previously shut down one salon were now regrouping around Madame Ebinat as their center. It seemed to be the backlash from Matilda publicly exposing the salon’s embezzlement out of a sense of justice.
Matilda moved slowly, observing her surroundings. Not only did no one acknowledge her, but some deliberately bumped her shoulder hard as they passed. With Calaudin absent, people felt emboldened to treat her carelessly.
None of this would happen if she simply stayed at the manor or had come with Calaudin or Evan, but it couldn’t be helped.
In truth, when Calaudin and Evan had hurriedly departed for the duchy, she had fully anticipated this situation would arise, but she couldn’t possibly skip Laria’s debutante ball because of it.
Laria was practically surrounded by young nobles. Of course, Fred stood confidently at her side, preventing anyone from requesting a private conversation or dance.
“Young Lady, you’re absolutely radiant today. Have you perhaps visited the new cafe, Erinin, in the city? I hear reservations are backed up these days, but if I use my influence well, I could secure two seats for around next week…”
“Oh, really? Is it good? If you can make a reservation, I’d appreciate it. It would be perfect for Laria and me to go.”
Moreover, I was desperately blocking all manner of date requests.
Matilda smiled softly and raised her eyebrows.
‘What about Evan? Of all times, why did urgent matters arise in the Duchy today? No matter how hard Fred tries to stop them, won’t Laria eventually accept one of these date proposals?’
As a mother, Matilda was not one to miss the feelings in Evan’s heart. However, since both Evan and Laria were still young, and it seemed unwise for adults to intervene, she chose to remain silent.
Of course, she wasn’t doing nothing at all. For now, she was desperately preventing Calaudin from making jokes in front of Laria. That alone was fulfilling her duty as a mother supporting her son’s love.
‘Truth be told, I thought he would come to Laria’s debutante ball no matter how serious matters became in the Duchy… But Laria wore the accessory Evan gave her, so does that mean there’s hope?’
Matilda tilted her head in thought, but ultimately let out a deep sigh. Considering Esther’s and Laria’s natures, it was more likely that she wore it simply because it was the most expensive.
That was when it happened.
“My, aren’t you the Icard Duchess?”
Right in front of the restroom, Matilda encountered the Respian Duchess. Matilda swallowed a groan inwardly. She had been caught at the worst possible moment.
While others might maintain some distance out of respect for Matilda’s status as a duchess, the Respian Duchess was different.
She had no reason to be deferential to Matilda in terms of rank, and as the Empress’s cousin, she could act without restraint and no one would stop her.
“Your dress is absolutely lovely, madam. It seems you have quite an eye for fashion, having worked as an assistant at the atelier.”
“…Thank you for the compliment. But it wasn’t an assistant position—it was a consultant.”
“Isn’t that essentially the same thing? For instance, if a customer at that atelier were to…”
The Respian Duchess deliberately dropped the fan she was holding.
“If someone dropped an object like this, how would you have handled it, madam?”
Matilda swallowed dryly. Glancing around, she noticed many people were already watching her. From the way they all wore the distinctive lace of Madame Ebinat’s atelier on their dresses, this appeared to be a coordinated affair.
Creating unified elements in clothing to display group solidarity was another form of clique culture that had recently started at Madame Ebinat’s atelier. It created the effect of making one person’s opinion appear to be the opinion of many.
For instance, Matilda now felt an oppressive weight, as if she were facing not just the Respian Duchess but everyone wearing that lace.
“Go ahead and act as you did in the old days, Icard Duchess who was a consultant at the atelier.”
The Respian Duchess lifted her chin and laughed.
Matilda swallowed dryly again. Causing a scene here would only bring trouble to Esther and Laria.
Matilda was not someone who established her pride through such matters.
For her, the most important thing was for this situation to pass without any conflict, and she didn’t mind being humiliated in the process. Just as she was slowly beginning to bow to quietly get through this situation—
“…What did you say?”
“What the hell, they did that at Ebinat’s? No wonder Mother kept going in and out of there!”
“I mean, there are things you can touch and things you can’t!”
Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted from among the young viscounts gathered around Laria.

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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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