Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 180

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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 asking me that? (The perilla leaf debate)
1. Laria and Evan
On a peaceful afternoon.
“Laria, you know what?”
Lisa suddenly spoke up to Laria, who had been leisurely resting.
“I heard that Ella, who works in the kitchen, had a huge fight with her husband yesterday.”
“Why?”
“Well, can you believe it… Ella invited a female friend to her home and served dinner, but when her friend couldn’t use the steak knife properly, her husband took the plate away and cut it for her!”
“Hmm.”
“What do you think?”
Laria answered Lisa’s question decisively.
“Ella was in the wrong.”
“My, Laria. You’re quite cool about it…”
“Since Ella is the chef, she probably cooked it herself. She should have cut the steak into small pieces from the start.”
Laria’s eyes gleamed.
“That way, there wouldn’t be any room for such awkwardness.”
“…Aha.”
Lisa laughed awkwardly.
And she realized that Laria was indeed the type to prevent conflicts before they arose, rather than resolve them.
“Then, Laria.”
“Hmm?”
“Have you never experienced such an ambiguous situation yourself?”
“Oh.”
Laria laughed as if embarrassed.
“I’m not a god—how could I control every situation? Of course I’ve been through things like that.”
Lisa’s eyes sparkled.
Her face showed she wanted to hear that story right away.
Laria paused for a moment, then began speaking while swinging her feet.
“This happened when I was recuperating in Borotna. I think I was seventeen and Evan was sixteen. Evan came to visit Borotna for a while during the summer.”
“Oh my, yes!”
“And then I was invited to a gathering with nobles my age from the South.”
Laria’s eyes narrowed as she recalled those days.
* * *
The summer in the South was radiant.
As soon as Evan arrived in Borotna to see Laria, he received an invitation from a count’s mansion.
Young nobles in their mid-teens were planning to hold a garden party, and he was being invited to attend.
“The Lebea Count’s Mansion seems to have prepared quite a lot.”
Laria showed him the invitation with a slight smile.
“In the South, garden parties aren’t just about drinking tea—the hosts organize various experiential activities.”
“I see.”
Evan shrugged lightly and spoke without concern.
“I’ll come along and make sure I don’t become a burden to your social life.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
Laria smiled brightly and linked her arm through Evan’s.
“I’ll do my best with the people around you too.”
“Of course.”
Evan smiled gently.
“You’re truly kind, Laria.”
Behind Evan, Nathan quietly lowered his gaze.
Evan’s aide, Nathan, currently had not a single tassel ornament on his clothing.
This was because during their last visit to Borotna….
When a tassel ornament on Nathan’s arm had become tangled, Laria had casually reached out and straightened it for him.
At that moment, Nathan had been holding so many documents that his hands were full.
Evan had shown no reaction at the time.
But after returning to the Capital, he quietly wrote out a check and said just one thing: “Buy new clothes.”
The perceptive Nathan had filled his wardrobe with only clothing without tassel ornaments.
Laria hadn’t noticed, but even then, a chill had run down Nathan’s spine.
In any case, Laria, completely unaware of the situation, spoke with a bright smile.
“If there’s anything I’m lacking in or overdoing, please tell me.”
“Laria.”
And Evan answered with an affectionate expression.
“Do whatever you want. What could you possibly lack or overdo? My standard has always been you.”
Watching this, Nathan thought to himself.
By Evan’s standard, it wasn’t Laria who was lacking or excessive—it was the situation.
He was the type to quietly resolve any situation that bothered him from behind the scenes.
Without Laria knowing, ensuring such a situation would never occur again.
Usually with money, power, and a chilling expression….
Evan spoke with soft eyes.
“If there’s anything I should be careful about, please tell me. After all, this is my first time meeting your friends.”
“Hmm….”
Laria rolled her eyes and fell into thought for a moment.
“They’re all good people, but I’d appreciate it if you could be careful around Princess Nella Berti. She apparently crosses subtle lines with her friends’ fiancés. Kait was quite annoyed about it.”
“How should I be careful? Should I just ignore everything she says?”
Evan gently tucked Laria’s hair behind her ear as he spoke kindly.
“No, that’s not it! Then I’d feel embarrassed….”
While Laria answered, Evan’s long fingers carefully arranged her hair.
Laria hesitated slightly before continuing cautiously.
“Just… if there could be no close physical contact, that would be enough.”
After saying it, Laria felt a bit embarrassed and hurriedly looked away.
They were so comfortable together, clinging to each other without concern, more like close friends than anything romantic.
Still, if Evan acted this way toward another girl, I thought I would dislike it.
“Understood.”
Evan answered with a smirk.
* * *
The event prepared by the Lebea Count’s Mansion was none other than “natural dyeing.”
“Try dyeing your handkerchief in whatever color you’d like.”
The Lebea Countess spoke with a gentle smile.
“I’ve prepared various dyes for you here.”
The spacious garden was filled with colorful dye baths.
Since dyeing handkerchiefs wasn’t particularly difficult, everyone participated with enthusiasm.
“Evan, I’ll dye a handkerchief red for you.”
Laria quickly picked up a white handkerchief and smiled brightly.
“Want to do it with me?”
“No. I’d rather just watch you from beside you.”
Evan also stood happily at Laria’s side.
“It would be a waste of time to look at the handkerchief. I should be looking at you.”
“Then I’ll make two.”
And so Laria picked up two white handkerchiefs and stood before the red dye bath.
Evan gazed contentedly as her small hands plunged into the red dye.
That was when it happened.
“Oh my, Lady Laria.”
There was a girl standing by the yellow dye bath right beside them.
“Hello!”
“Ah, so it’s Miss Nella.”
Laria accepted the greeting warmly.
And following Social Circle etiquette, she introduced Evan, who was standing beside her.
“This is Evan Icard, my husband. He’s come down from the Capital for a while. And Evan, this is Nella Berti Countess.”
“Evan Icard.”
Evan also greeted her properly, and Nella looked at him with a bright smile.
“I’m Nella Berti. It’s truly a pleasure to meet you.”
Then she added with an awkward expression.
“I apologize for not giving you a proper greeting on our first meeting.”
“Not at all. I understand.”
Normally, it would have been proper etiquette to lift her skirt slightly while greeting.
But since both of Nella’s hands were immersed in the yellow dye bath, that wasn’t possible.
“Once the dyeing is finished, please give me another chance to greet you properly. I heard you were first place in the Youth Swordsmanship Tournament. I’ve been curious about how impressive such skill truly is.”
Nella spoke in a coquettish voice while gazing into Evan’s eyes.
Laria simply smiled warmly.
That was when it happened.
“Oh my!”
A breeze swept through, and Nella’s hair became disheveled.
The strand that had been tucked behind her ear tumbled down across her cheek.
Laria and Nella’s hands remained submerged in the dye vat, and the maids were far too distant to help.
Nella looked toward Evan and blinked her eyes in evident distress.
“This hair is rather bothersome.”
She attempted to toss her head back and forth to brush it away.
Yet such movements would never shift the stubborn strand.
“My hands are stained with dye… what am I to do?”
Evan was the only one present with hands free to act.
That was when it happened.
Nella’s hair swept behind her ear in an instant.
Before anyone could comprehend what had occurred, Evan was already sheathing his blade.
“Wh-what?”
“You should be comfortable now.”
Evan spoke in a tone neither gruff nor affectionate.
Only after hearing his words could I understand what had transpired.
Evan had drawn his sword and used its tip to brush her hair back behind her ear.
“Y-you didn’t… swing your blade at me, did you?”
Nella cried out in alarm, but Laria interjected with theatrical flair.
“Evan! How masterfully you must wield that blade to draw it in a flash and tuck her hair back without leaving a single scratch!”
Laria spoke with such radiant brightness, her gaze fixed on Nella.
“This is the caliber of our Evan, my lady. You expressed curiosity about the prowess of the juvenile swordsmanship tournament champion, so he demonstrated it directly for you! How considerate of him.”
While Nella stood dumbfounded, blinking vacantly, Laria continued her cheerful prattle.
“In any case, there’s no need for a formal introduction now. He’s shown you his skill so spectacularly. Evan, that was magnificent.”
Thus the matter dissolved without resolution. Needless to say, Nella and Evan exchanged no further words that day.
* * *
After hearing the entire account, Lisa blinked blankly.
Laria shrugged as she spoke.
“If you sense something awkward brewing, it’s wise to address it with the other party beforehand.”
“Then… does that mean you deliberately named Princess Nella Berti from the start as part of your plan?”
“Of course.”
Laria laughed deeply and took a sip of tea.
“Truly decent people never create such uncomfortable situations in the first place. But there are always those who manufacture precisely such awkwardness. That’s why we find ourselves perpetually in ambiguous positions, isn’t it? Still, if you can identify and manage that tendency alone, you can prevent half of all conflicts.”
Lisa applauded with a serious expression. It was indeed characteristic of Laria’s worldly wisdom.

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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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