Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 21

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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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Two more days passed after that.
Evan seemed to have lowered his guard when he noticed I wasn’t paying him much attention, and he said nothing more about it.
But while he slept, I began pretending to toss and turn, nestling against him. Evan didn’t show any displeasure, just sighed softly before drifting back to sleep.
Then, while pressed against him, I would very carefully lift his indoor clothes to find not only deep bruises but also countless small blade marks scattered across his body beneath the fabric.
‘Only the parts hidden by clothing….’
It was far too calculated. This was undoubtedly intelligent, covert abuse.
‘He’s being damaged mentally too. He was never bright to begin with, but lately he looks even more gloomy.’
At first, I suspected Duke Icard, but when I saw fresh wounds covering Evan’s body even on days when the Duke had been away all day these past two days, I realized it was someone else.
‘Then it must be related to Knight Order training.’
He was in such a pitiful state—a supposed nobleman without a single competent retainer—that I couldn’t even ask him to investigate.
‘Besides… if I poke around too much, the Duke might grow suspicious of me.’
Having my cleverness exposed now would be terrible strategy for me.
‘What the Duke wants is a daughter-in-law who lives quietly and dies without complaint, not one who’s perceptive and intelligent.’
Evan aside, my own safety came first, so I couldn’t simply ignore this. But I had no intention of dragging it out. With each passing day, more wounds would accumulate on Evan’s body.
‘No matter how much larger he is than others his age, he’s still just a child….’
And one who had been hurt for a very long time at that.
And finally, I encountered the situation I’d been waiting for—one where I could act naturally.
Serena came to my room under the pretense of an examination, chattering away. She said that when she relayed what I’d instructed to the Duke, he gave no particular response.
‘I thought he’d at least tell me not to treat it.’
Since he said it couldn’t be cured anyway, perhaps he simply didn’t mention it?
While I tilted my head in confusion, Serena took my hand and spoke.
“Lady Laria, Sven asked me to convey his deep gratitude to you.”
“Gratitude? For what?”
I played dumb, feigning complete ignorance.
“Actually, Sven’s mother was living in the building you mentioned.”
“Oh my, really?”
“But apparently, a mad mage moved into the floor below and was conducting illegal experiments.”
Serena sighed and continued.
“The entire building nearly went up in flames. In any case, thanks to you, Sven was able to rescue his mother beforehand, and he’s incredibly grateful.”
“Well, that’s fortunate, truly.”
“And this is a token of Sven’s gratitude. He asked me to make sure you accept it without refusal.”
Serena handed me a bracelet set with large diamond stones.
“My.”
I shook my head with a slight smile as I responded.
“He didn’t need to ask—I wouldn’t have refused anyway. He wasted his energy.”
As I put on the bracelet, Serena spoke in a serious tone.
“Lady Laria, but there’s someone following in your footsteps.”
“Hmm?”
“A commoner named Simor Litshia… He’s someone who, like you, made money betting on the Black Horse.”
“Hmm…”
Though it seemed like Simor was mimicking me, it was actually me doing the mimicking.
“Good heavens, buying a barony with that money and purchasing the rest of the Hanua Estate? Doesn’t that seem suspicious?”
Suspicious—so from others’ perspectives, this situation certainly did appear questionable.
Serena continued with a serious expression.
“Clearly the identity must be…”
I tensed and gripped the hem of my skirt.
“…Laria’s remarkably devoted stalker, perhaps?”
“No, that’s not it.”
I exhaled with relief internally.
If I had moved even slightly slower, I would have ended up being treated as Simor’s devoted stalker. Because I knew the original story and acted preemptively, I avoided that fate.
A person with any sense of shame should have apologized to Simor.
‘Thank goodness I moved first. I’ll need to stay one step ahead from now on.’
But I was a person without shame. If I had possessed the wealth of a major villainess, I wouldn’t have burdened anyone, but as a supporting character with limited time, I had no choice. I could only parasitize off the male lead’s fortune.
‘Sorry, but let me just survive as a transmigrator…. You’ll live well anyway….’
That was when it happened.
“Young Miss, it’s me, Lisa.”
“Yes, come in!”
Not only Lisa but also the guards who had accompanied me to the city entered. Each guard carried a large box. They were clearly gifts for me. I would cry if they weren’t mine.
“Is this…the one you mentioned back then?”
Unable to contain my excitement, I asked, and Lisa broke into a wide smile.
“Yes! The alterations on all the clothes are finished, so I brought them.”
The guards grunted as they opened the boxes themselves. Sure enough, they were filled with clothes I had touched once, accessories, and ornaments.
“But there’s more than I expected?”
“You instructed us to purchase a couple of similar items for each one.”
I sighed inwardly once more. I should have visited a more expensive, upscale shop.
While I wore an expression of delight and rummaged through the jewelry box, secretly searching for the most expensive piece, Lisa greeted Serena first.
“You must be the new physician. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Lisa Alonia, handmaid to Lady Laria.”
“Yes, I’m Serena Moristo.”
Serena smiled gently and greeted her, then tilted her head as she observed the hairpin I had picked up from the box.
“Lady Laria, that hairpin makes you look rather mature. How about this style instead?”
I laughed awkwardly while holding the hairpin. This was the very one Lisa had recommended as pretty.
“Make me look mature? It shows sophistication. It suits Lady Laria so well.”
As expected, Lisa bristled and held the hairpin I was carrying up to my hair.
“No, this one is better.”
Serena picked another pin from the box and inserted it on my opposite side.
“Serena? I’ve been with Lady Laria all this time, so surely my eye for beauty would be correct, wouldn’t it?”
“My? What does aesthetic sense have to do with how long you’ve spent together? Lady Laria is cute, so this suits her well.”
Despite being a spy for Duke Icard, Lisa’s eyes, which always maintained a gentle tone, sharpened with aggression.
“Whose eye is better—the physician’s, or the handmaid’s who frequently dresses her mistress?”
Serena remained perfectly unfazed by Lisa’s sharp retorts.
“I serve only Lady Laria. Surely that’s better than a maid who tends to everyone indiscriminately.”
“Wait, is a newly arrived physician really pushing out the maid who’s been here all along? What are you doing?”
“Bonds aren’t determined by time alone. We have a one-on-one relationship!”
While the two engaged in their peculiar battle of wills, I rifled through the box with faint hope, though there didn’t seem to be much worth converting to cash.
I should have gone straight to a jeweler instead of fiddling with these trivial girl’s trinkets.
It seemed I’d just have to use them for daily grooming and mood-lifting instead.
And this was precisely the moment I’d been waiting for. Without my searching, the Guard Knights had come to find me on official business, and conveniently, Duke Icard was staying at the Count’s Manor today.
Good. There’s no way my tail will be caught. Everything’s natural.
“Oh, by the way.”
Of course, my acting was the most natural of all.
I spoke to the Guard Knights as if I’d just remembered something.
“My body is really weak, so… if I took sword lessons or something, would I become stronger?”
“Pardon?”
One of the Guard Knights responded with a bewildered expression.
“Sword lessons? For you, young lady?”
He seemed taken aback. My current physical condition was as limp as the dress I was pulling from the box.
“Yeah. I thought maybe I haven’t exercised enough.”
The very idea of someone in my condition mentioning swordplay would be absurd. Yet instead of responding with “You? Swordplay? Can you even run properly in that body?” the Guard Knight deflected very tactfully.
“Well… perhaps you should consult with your physician first and consider it afterward.”
“Why? It sounds fun.”
I blinked innocently.
Serena, who had been bickering with Lisa, blinked and spoke up.
“Do you need my opinion? Moderate exercise is good. Consultation over. Now, shall we look at the dress?”
And this time, she genuinely began debating with Lisa over which dress to choose.
Faced with the Guard Knights’ growing bewilderment at Serena’s words, I pressed further.
“Is it because beginners like me get hit a lot and get wounded? Is that why you’re discouraging me?”
“Wounded?”
“My whole body covered in bruises and cuts… that would be inconvenient. I have to wear dresses, after all.”
“Ah… that’s not quite how it is.”
The Guard Knight scratched the back of his head as he answered.
“It’s just training, not actual combat, so it wouldn’t be like that. Your muscles might be sore, but that’s all.”
Just as I thought. Evan’s claim that sword training always results in that was a lie.
The Guard Knights exchanged glances nervously, worried I might actually insist on learning swordplay, and spoke earnestly.
“In your case, young lady, your muscles would be very sore.”
“Young lady, you don’t even seem capable of holding a sword right now…”
Of course, I had no intention of actually learning swordplay.
‘I hate anything difficult.’
Even if I learned swordplay with this body, I’d never conquer the world, let alone defeat Serena.
“Yeah. I’ll think about it. I was just saying.”
Then she added with a bright smile.
“Evan has been going to the Knight Order lately too. I thought it might be nice if you two could learn together.”
“I see.”
The Guard Knight smiled back at my innocent remark.
“I’m afraid that would be difficult. There’s quite a gap in skill levels, and besides, the Young Master is currently receiving private instruction directly from the Knight Captain….”
“From the Knight Captain?”
I bit my lower lip slightly.
So my young husband was being trained by none other than the Knight Captain himself….

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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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