Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 30
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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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“Evan?”
What Evan brought was, surprisingly, ganache.
“What is this…?”
“What you gave me last time.”
Evan answered slowly.
“You said you wanted to eat it together with me, so I stood in line for an hour to buy it.”
“Well, about that…”
“Of course we should do what we couldn’t do back then together again.”
Because he wanted to do exactly what I did, he went into the city without mentioning the name Icard and stood in line for an hour to buy it.
To be honest, since the ganache was merely a smokescreen for my other business, I felt a slight pang of conscience…
But I was the kind of person who could easily ignore such pangs of conscience.
“Ah, yes. You went through the trouble. But you didn’t have to go that far.”
“Next time, let’s go into the city together. Today I just really wanted to repay your wait.”
Evan set the ganache down on a table in the garden and spoke gently.
“Of course, the knights at the Training Grounds didn’t tell me and sent Lisa back.”
It turned out that Ludba had already instructed them to send people away if they came looking for Evan.
‘How meticulous…’
But since I was even more meticulous, the result could be seen as my victory.
“If it ever comes to that… if you ever come home later than me in the future, I’ll definitely stay awake and wait for you.”
“Well, whatever…”
It seemed unlikely that I, whose body hadn’t fully recovered yet, would ever come home late.
“But you know…”
Evan slowly turned his head and asked Redian.
“Who are you?”
His voice was strangely chilling.
“Why do you keep staring at Laria?”
Redian trembled and gazed at me pitifully.
Even though I was the best actor in this district, I was momentarily flustered.
I didn’t want to answer that I was a painter, as that would reveal that I wanted to create slush funds through paintings. Besides, I heard that Matilda frequently called painters over, and I didn’t want to inadvertently trigger that trauma. He was probably already thinking of Matilda while looking at me.
But I couldn’t answer by saying I was a medicinal herb merchant either, since he had been staring only at me the whole time.
“Just go for now.”
I told Redian to leave for now so I could think, but Evan suddenly gripped my hand tightly.
“Laria is my wife.”
Is there anyone here who doesn’t know that?
I looked at him in bewilderment, and with an expression as if he might kill, he glared at Redian and continued.
“She’s not someone you can carelessly look upon.”
But how is a painter supposed to see their subject if they don’t look at them?
Of course, I couldn’t say that.
“I-I-I’m terribly sorry.”
Redian, who was innocent of any wrongdoing, bowed several times before hurriedly retreating.
“Who is that?”
Evan turned back to me, his smile stiffening slightly as he asked.
“Why were you staring at him like he had enchanted you?”
His tone was deeply unsettling. If I hadn’t sent Redian away, he looked ready to strike.
I was flustered, unable to find words.
‘In times like this… turn the tables!’
When I couldn’t think of what to say, I’d buy time and muddy the issue by attacking first!
‘Strike preemptively!’
I furrowed my brow and spoke in a serious tone.
“Evan.”
“What?”
“Don’t tell me… you’re really that petty?”
“…What?”
“No matter how high our status is, we’re not people that commoners can’t even look at.”
In the original story, Evan hadn’t spoken to Simor—a commoner-born noble who had purchased his title—with the same insulting language as other nobles. That’s why I had thought he was someone equally indifferent to everyone.
“I thought you’d attended the Academy, so you’d be a bit more open-minded about such things.”
I sighed as if disappointed.
“I really think it’s despicable how nobles treat commoners as if they’re not even human just because of their status.”
I tried to pull my hand away from his grasp, but strangely, his grip was too strong to break free.
“Laria.”
Evan loosened his grip on my hand slightly, then adjusted it and interlaced our fingers.
“I already know well that you’re kind. But right now, whether someone is a commoner isn’t what matters. What matters is…”
That’s when it happened. My chest tickled. My coughing had decreased recently, but of all places, it had to be in the garden with nowhere to go!
“E-Evan. Just a moment.”
“Why?”
“Just a moment, I need to go to the restroom… *cough*!”
Unable to hold back, a cough burst forth, and I saw alarm flash across Evan’s eyes as blood trickled from the corner of my mouth.
“…Laria?”
Because Evan usually wore an indifferent expression, I had never imagined he could make such a face.
“Is anyone there? Summon all the kitchen maids immediately! This is an assassination attempt…!”
“Evan! It’s not poisoning!”
“Who would dare harm the young master!”
Your father!
I answered silently, but pressed the words down firmly.
Evan grasped my arm, his eyes gleaming as he nearly lost himself to panic.
“I-I’m really fine. Evan? This is nothing serious.”
Though I was downplaying it, the words came out naturally because his expression was so grave.
“Evan, calm down. You wouldn’t have known, but I’ve been like this since long ago.”
“What?”
Evan’s entire body trembled uncontrollably. He slowly asked as he wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth with his thumb.
“From the beginning? Why on earth would you do that?”
“Evan, wait. Just calm down for a moment…”
Evan looked as though he might burst into tears, and I found myself momentarily at a loss. He seemed far more shocked than I had anticipated.
Should I tell him I had contracted a terminal illness? But could I really reveal that his wife might die to someone whose mind was already shattered by what happened with Ludba?
To someone for whom his mother’s death was already a trauma, telling him that his wife—who resembled his mother—might also die was far too cruel.
‘In moments like this, the answer is obvious…’
“Evan, I need to use the restroom for a moment. It’s absolutely not poisoning, so don’t go calling innocent people for no reason. Ask Father about the details.”
Passing the burden to someone else was the best solution.
“I’m still young anyway…… I don’t know much about it. Since Father personally assigned me a personal physician, wouldn’t he know better?”
Would it work?
Since Evan wouldn’t let go of my arm, I ultimately had no choice but to deploy a cheat code to escape the situation.
“…Cough.”
“Laria!”
“Cough, cough cough…… E-Evan. Let me go…… I’m struggling, cough.”
I put on a pitiful expression like a tragic heroine and began coughing, while Evan eagerly supported me, insisting on escorting me to the restroom.
Even as he did, I could see his hands trembling as they held me up—it was obvious he was deeply shocked. This was exactly why I had tried so hard to keep it from him.
‘Please handle this however you see fit, Father.’
After escorting me to the restroom, Evan hastily handed me over to Lisa, who had come running, then hurried off toward the Duke’s Office.
“Wait, Laria. I’ll exhaust the entire Ducal treasury if I have to, but I’ll find a way to cure you.”
As if the treasury needed to be exhausted when I was already being treated well enough…
When I emerged from the restroom, Serena and Lisa, who had arrived in the meantime, were already bickering.
“Isn’t it improper for a personal physician to create a situation like this?”
“Being nearby when she coughs doesn’t change anything.”
“Still, an emergency could occur at any moment, so why aren’t you doing your duty properly?”
“Fine. From now on, I’ll stay right by Lady Laria’s side, so please go.”
“Go where? You must have blood on your clothes, so I should help you change.”
“Oh? Let me help. I noticed there was a dress in your wardrobe that I hadn’t seen before.”
“Why would a personal physician choose clothes? That’s overstepping your authority!”
I sighed and shook my head. Fortunately, I didn’t have to stop their argument.
“Lisa, the Duke and the Young Master are calling for you.”
I couldn’t fathom why they would summon Lisa, but it was fortunate regardless. After what happened with Ludba, the two of them hadn’t properly spoken or even looked at each other. Perhaps this opportunity would allow them to have a genuine conversation. So I headed to my room with Serena.
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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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