Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 3

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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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Even after seating the fourteen-year-old, he remained with his arms crossed, his expression utterly terrifying.
‘He won’t close his eyes, will he? I need to show him me coughing up blood.’
Otherwise, all that awkward effort of sharing the carriage together would have been for nothing.
In the end, I began chattering away to ensure he never closed his eyes.
“This is my first time meeting Evan. Does he know he’s married?”
“He doesn’t.”
Truly, what a remarkable father.
Just thinking about going to the Academy entrance and saying, ‘Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Laria and I’m a year older than you. Oh, and by the way, I’m actually your wife,’ made me want to laugh at the absurdity.
“I see. He graduated from the Academy at thirteen, and suddenly he has a wife….”
But even if it was absurd, I had to pretend it wasn’t—such was the fate of the powerless.
“…Well, it’s certainly possible, I suppose.”
Child betrothals weren’t uncommon among the nobility, but arranging a marriage without even asking the child’s opinion was unheard of.
‘He uses his own son like a chess piece for absolute power… If I deviate from his purpose, he’ll dispose of someone like me without hesitation, won’t he?’
In the original work, Duke Icard stopped at nothing to achieve his goals—he even kidnapped priests without hesitation.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized I couldn’t let him discover that I’d strayed from the mastermind’s plan.
“I hope Evan comes to like me.”
I glanced once at Duke Icard’s eerie crimson eyes before quickly adding,
“I want to get along well with Evan.”
“Why?”
Since I’d already started the conversation, I wanted to put him in a better mood, so I answered with a bright smile.
“If he resembles you, he must be handsome.”
“….”
Right, right? His lips just turned up, didn’t they?
And with impeccable timing, a cough began to rise in my throat.
“I hope to continue living happily with you and Evan at the Count’s Manor… *cough cough!*”
Perfect.
Blood stained the handkerchief I quickly pressed to my mouth.
I’m sick! Even though I look healthier and have gained weight since you first saw me, I’m terminally ill! Please notice!
After the coughing stopped, I looked up at Duke Icard with the most pitiful expression I could muster.
“*cough*….”
I deliberately turned the handkerchief to show the bloodstained part and sighed once.
“It’s really nothing serious, just something I’ve had since childhood….”
Duke Icard said nothing.
“I’m… I’m sorry.”
I lowered my gaze and added quietly.
From looking in the mirror these past few days, I’d realized that while I was cute, a sullen expression made me look quite pitiful and sorrowful.
I was prepared—if Duke Icard asked if I was in great pain, I would put on a suffering expression and answer, ‘No… I’m fine…’—but instead, he said something completely different.
“Speak.”
Wait, shouldn’t he at least ask ‘where does it hurt’ out of courtesy at this point?
“Pardon?”
“What do you mean by being happy at the Count’s Manor?”
It was just something I said in passing….
“I’m asking how you, Evan, and I are living happily together.”
But it was far too frightening to dismiss it as merely a polite remark made without thought.
I desperately racked my brain.
“So… *cough*.”
A cough was the best way to buy time.
“*Cough, cough. Cough.*”
Having gained a moment’s reprieve, I began listing one by one the things families do when they’re harmonious.
“We talk about our day while eating meals, go for walks together, have picnics….”
“….”
I endured the silence and desperately wracked my brain further.
“We have parties when something good happens, offer comfort when something difficult occurs, laugh together when something amusing happens, cherish one another… those sorts of small things.”
I couldn’t think of anything else.
Yet as I recited all this, something strange stirred in my heart. Despite having improvised these words, I realized they were truly what I longed for. In my previous life, I had no family, and I had never shared such small moments with anyone. My past life was unhappy, and this possession was a disaster….
“Did you live that way at Rostri Manor?”
Of course, House Rostri was far from a harmonious household. My father, Rostri Count, was a notorious philanderer who rarely stayed home and constantly pursued affairs.
My older brother, who defied Father and went to study abroad on the Eastern Continent, was essentially exiled under the guise of studying. He was simply cast out to a free public Academy with only a pittance for living expenses.
And the only maritime route connected to the Eastern Continent had been blocked three years ago when monsters appeared. It would take over six more years before that route reopened.
At that time, the original male lead would act quickly to earn great wealth through trade, while Fred would hear news of his entire family’s death.
In any case, I had to treat my older brother as if he didn’t exist in my life.
Father had gambled away everything, leaving me not a single coin of inheritance.
Inheritance? All that remained were mountains of debt. The one who paid off all those debts and brought me here was Duke Icard.
So even if he had ulterior motives, in a sense, he was my benefactor—the man who elevated me from being an unwanted burden in a relative’s house to a position where I might have otherwise died in an orphanage.
After all, even if I fled House Icard right now, I had nowhere to go and not a single coin to my name.
“No….”
I slowly shook my head.
“As you know, we couldn’t live that way… Father rarely came home.”
“I suppose not.”
“That’s why I want to live differently with my new family.”
I smiled brightly as I tucked away the blood-stained handkerchief.
“From the moment I first met you, Father, I wanted to make a good impression.”
Once I had started this line of flattery, I continued it consistently and earnestly.
“You paid off all our family’s debts… and you are my benefactor. I will truly do my best.”
Duke Icard said nothing and gazed out the window for a moment before letting out a small sigh. Then he retrieved something from his breast pocket and handed it to me.
“Father?”
I accepted the fresh handkerchief and blinked in confusion.
“You can’t cough up more blood on the one already stained with it. How unsightly.”
Ah… so he finds other people’s blood distasteful.
Still, coughing up blood was the most effective way to demonstrate my illness, so I had no choice.
“Thank you, Father!”
It was shameless, but unavoidable. I was the weakest here and had to grovel while watching the strongest’s mood. And I was exceptionally good at groveling.
“I’ll use it well. I’m truly grateful!”
“Over just a handkerchief…”
“Still.”
I carefully folded the handkerchief he’d given me and tucked it into my bosom as I spoke.
“Father has never bothered to prepare something like this for me before.”
“…Hmph.”
Duke Icard said nothing after that until we arrived at the Academy. I, too, remained silent since my coughing had subsided.
“Your Grace, Young Miss.”
A servant approached and opened the carriage door.
“We have arrived.”
Ugh, being fourteen years old and hearing the title “Young Miss” felt a bit awkward. I’d have to insist they call me just “Laria” from now on…
We stepped out of the carriage upon hearing the servant’s respectful words.
The Junior Academy where Evan was graduating from was a shabby, smaller building than the Count’s Manor.
‘Well, children from wealthy and powerful families on the Western Continent usually receive private tutoring anyway…”
Only lower nobility who couldn’t afford private tutors sent their children to the Academy. Duke Icard had irresponsibly dumped his only son in such a place.
‘And he hadn’t even properly checked on him for years.’
“Once we return to the Count’s Manor.”
Then Duke Icard spoke bluntly to the servant.
“Order about a hundred fine handkerchiefs.”
Was this…his way of telling me to cough up blood more often?

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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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