Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 24

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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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If I had possessed the body of a true villainess, I would have rushed straight at Ludba and slapped his face before dousing him with my own brand of retribution. But sadly, I was nothing more than a worthless transmigrator with zero stats. The odds of me charging at Ludba alone and accomplishing anything were virtually nonexistent.
The powerless had no choice but to parasitize off the powerful. And of course, I was excellent at parasitizing.
‘Father, please watch carefully.’
I could have been direct about it, but I was cautious since I might face unexpected backlash.
‘If he realizes I’m more clever than I appear, he might become wary of me.’
I absolutely had to carve out an escape route for myself. Within this Count’s Manor, I was merely a figurehead—essentially a nobody.
Everything had progressed smoothly, from all my pitiful performances to finally bringing Duke Icard here.
Fortunately, the timing seemed perfect. Behind the Rose Garden, Evan and an adult man in a blue uniform were indeed crossing swords.
‘But wait… the swords they’re holding are completely different.’
They didn’t seem to have noticed our presence yet.
As I stepped closer, their voices became clear.
“Do you see that Rose Garden?”
A sharp-featured man was speaking harshly. This must be the man called Ludba.
“It’s the place my lady tended with such devotion during her lifetime.”
I saw Duke Icard’s jaw tighten.
“And now it has withered away like this. Just like the Count’s Manor itself.”
I held my breath, watching the scene unfold.
Evan had his back to us, so I couldn’t see his expression.
“It’s all because of the young master.”
Both Duke Icard and I gasped in shock.
What was this man saying? Had he lost his mind?
“So the young master’s life must wither as well.”
His words were so harsh that I almost missed what was happening, but looking more carefully, I realized Evan wasn’t engaged in a fair duel at all.
Evan was holding a wooden practice sword, while Ludba was wielding a real blade against him.
“Since no one tells you, you seem to forget often.”
Though I knew nothing of swordplay, I could clearly see this training was utterly unfair. An adult against a child, no less!
Even though Evan was tall for his age, he was still smaller than Ludba.
“You must not dare dream of happiness. Live as if atoning for your sins.”
When Ludba struck Evan’s waist hard with the flat of his blade, the boy collapsed. I nearly screamed, but I no longer needed to hold back.
Duke Icard strode forward, wrenched the sword from Ludba’s hands and hurled it away, then grabbed him by the collar and slammed him to the ground.
“How dare you.”
His voice dripped with murderous intent.
“Use Matilda’s name to lay hands on my son?”
I rushed over and wrapped my arms around Evan.
“Evan!”
Evan looked at me with a bewildered expression.
With trembling hands, I lifted his clothes. His body was covered in far more wounds than what I had seen yesterday.
If I hadn’t discovered this, if I had simply fallen asleep alone each night, how much longer would he have endured this agony? No—did this mean Evan was always this broken in the original story?
“What happened?”
Evan asked calmly, and I answered quickly.
“I pestered Father about wanting to watch you train. But what is this….”
Suddenly Evan pulled me against his chest and held me. Then he whispered while covering my ears.
“Don’t look. Don’t listen either.”
“What?”
“It’s a brutal sight.”
But that’s exactly the brutal sight I came to see!
I found myself trapped in Evan’s embrace with both my eyes and ears blocked. Yet no matter how much Evan covered my ears, the screams came through clearly.
No, I wanted to see how the Duke would crush that bastard too!
“You don’t need to see something like this so suddenly.”
But I wasn’t seeing this suddenly….
However, Evan’s strength was so great that no matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t lift my head at all.
A group of servants came rushing when they heard Ludba’s screams. Only then did Evan loosen his grip on my ears slightly. I quickly peeked my head out from Evan’s embrace.
“Take him to the dungeons. I’ll follow shortly myself.”
Duke Icard’s voice was as sharp as frost. A figure that was nearly a bloody pulp was being dragged away by the servants.
That’s right, this can’t end here! He deserves far more punishment!
While I was cheering internally, Duke Icard slowly turned his gaze toward us.
“You.”
After the man who appeared to be Ludba was dragged away, Duke Icard looked down at Evan with cold eyes and spoke.
“How stupid do you have to be to listen to all that nonsense?”
Father! What nonsense are you talking about right now! Is this really the time for such a line!
I felt like I wanted to smack his back while saying “Oh my, oh my!”
Surprisingly, Evan remained unmoved.
“…Strictly speaking, it’s not wrong.”
“What?”
“If only I had never been born….”
Duke Icard didn’t respond to those words. Instead, he spoke quietly.
“You are the heir to House of Icard.”
No, why is that coming up now? Is there anyone here who doesn’t know Evan isn’t the heir?
“From now on, don’t let a mere subordinate treat you carelessly.”
After gazing at Evan for a moment, he kept his eyes on the Rose Garden for a while, then left us behind, walking away with long strides.
No, is that it? Is it over just by crushing Ludba like that? It’s not just about what’s visible on the surface that matters! Shouldn’t you tell him that everything that man said is false?
In the end, I looked into Evan’s eyes and spoke.
“It’s all wrong. Why are you like this?”
This was ridiculous—the person hitting him was gone, but the situation hadn’t improved at all.
“How can you say such things? Mother’s death wasn’t your fault.”
“But I’m the cause of it.”
“Still….”
“I bring misfortune to everyone. I was short-sighted and couldn’t control my subordinates, but… in any case, everything Ludba said is true.”
No, that’s not right… Why did the Duke have to say such things!
Evan’s expression was so pitiful that I pulled him into my arms.
“You too… don’t get close to me. I’m not worth it.”
“That’s not true, Evan.”
I gently stroked his dark hair.
“Don’t say such things. I’m happy to be with you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re cute.”
That was my honest truth.
I knew he was indifferent, but Evan was far cuter than I’d expected. His appearance was certainly far from lovely, but that’s what made him possess a subtle cuteness that only I could see.
Whenever he did something he enjoyed even slightly, I loved watching him suppress a smile by biting his lip, so I stroked his hair and picked out his clothes for him. Even last night, when he muttered apologies to himself alone, it was endearing.
‘But I never knew he had such painful circumstances.’
I already felt oddly sympathetic whenever I saw Evan, and now my heart had grown even softer toward him. This was somewhat separate from my struggle to survive in this place. My feelings for Evan were the only genuine goodwill I held here.
‘Youth and cuteness really are powerful weapons.’
Of course, he looked a bit older than his years, but as time passed, there would surely come a day when he’d look younger than others.
Honestly, since I couldn’t fathom Duke Icard’s thoughts, I couldn’t actively refute everything Ludba had said. Still, I patted his shoulder and whispered to him.
“Your late mother wouldn’t want you to live in desolation either.”
“But…”
“Your father also… well… just because your mother passed away doesn’t mean he’s become a recluse doing nothing.”
In fact, he was living busier than anyone else. As far as I knew, Duke Icard was currently scheming relentlessly, barely sleeping, to swallow up the entire Nobility.
“Wouldn’t it be better if you lived diligently in your own way too?”
From what I could see, even in this current situation, the relationship between Duke Icard and Evan was at its worst, so it seemed impossible for things to end in the warm atmosphere I’d envisioned.
Well… there were deeply tangled family issues that had festered for a very long time, so there was no way I could solve everything at once. At least if Evan no longer had to endure beatings, I would have achieved my immediate goal.
“Live diligently?”
“Yes. At anything, really.”
“…Laria.”
Evan called my name softly.
“I’m… sorry. I was wrong.”
“Wrong about what?”
“I said harsh things… and I disregarded your sincerity…”
“It’s fine, so don’t say such things.”
“How could that possibly be fine?”
Evan’s red eyes wavered.
I patted his shoulder in a mature manner and spoke to him.
“Even between spouses, things that feel disappointing become okay with time.”
“Then… there’s something…”
“Hmm?”
He steadied his breathing for a moment before speaking as if forcing the words out.
“…Never abandon me.”
“Evan?”
“Forgive me…”
Ah, this one’s mental state has completely shattered. That wretched man has left him emotionally devastated.
But it couldn’t be helped. No one had spoken of it, yet I had just confronted directly the very anxiety that had been gnawing at him personally.
“Let’s get along from now on, alright?”
“I understand, I understand.”
Though his troubles weren’t caused by any attempt to improve our relationship, I answered immediately out of sympathy. Clinging to me, he seemed so drained that even rising felt beyond his strength.
“Evan, is it difficult to get up?”
I brushed his arm with concern.
Was the strength with which he’d covered my ears and pulled me close just now truly superhuman?
“A little….”
“Come on. Let’s go apply some salve. Why did you just stand there and take it like a fool…. You’re supposed to be skilled with a sword.”
Just as Evan was about to say something, my chest suddenly felt ticklish.
Damn it, that should only happen in front of the Duke! It hadn’t come when it should have, leaving my throat raw from coughing like mad.
I glanced at Evan’s face.
‘No… this isn’t the moment for me to cough up blood.’
Right now, Evan was the one who needed comfort.
‘It will be discovered eventually, but not now.’
If I were to cough up blood here, when Ludba had already said House of Icard was in decline, it felt as though I myself would be adding to that desolation.
“I, I suddenly have an urgent matter… there, there! Evan, I’m counting on you.”
I gestured to a servant standing at a distance to approach, then quickly slipped away from the Rose Garden.

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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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