Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 33

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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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The Temple sent a carriage for us.
“They’re maddened because they couldn’t squeeze money out of me.”
Duke Icard muttered quietly as he watched the procession of carriages heading to the Temple. Such an elaborate display was ultimately a demand to present an equally lavish donation.
Seeing the Duke’s displeased expression, I quickly bowed my head low.
“I’m sorry, Father… It’s because of me…”
It was Evan who answered my words.
“Father, why would you say such things and burden Laria?”
I gently grasped Evan’s arm to signal him not to interfere, though I didn’t actively stop him.
“It’s not Laria’s fault that I’m ill.”
Duke Icard frowned for a moment, then added:
“What are you talking about? I’m saying it’s good to visit those beggars at the Temple.”
Both Evan and I were momentarily flustered and lost for words.
“I was already looking for an opportunity to… well, have a conversation with them, and thanks to Laria, a good chance has presented itself.”
“Didn’t you just say you were maddened because you couldn’t squeeze money out of them?”
“That’s a fact. It’s not an opinion.”
The conversation was somewhat circular, but it couldn’t continue for long. Duke Icard and I boarded the carriage, but Evan did not.
“Evan, aren’t you coming with us?”
“Ah.”
Duke Icard spoke indifferently.
“Evan cannot go to the Temple.”
“What?”
Wondering what he meant, I looked at Evan, and he spoke with an expression just as composed as his father’s.
“I was never baptized.”
My mouth fell open.
No, even commoners have their children baptized by lower-ranking priests when they’re born. Even the orphans in the orphanage line up to receive baptism from priests volunteering there.
But how could the sole heir of House Icard not have been baptized? If he had wanted to, he could have received it from the High Priest himself!
Not being baptized was truly a form of neglect that only the destitute would suffer in this world. To not receive the Divine’s first blessing meant not only being unable to receive a priest’s blessing for life, but also being unable to set foot in the Temple.
“No one knows about this. You must keep it secret as well.”
Duke Icard spoke matter-of-factly. Of course no one would know… how could the heir of a dukedom not have been baptized? Yet it seemed he was at least aware of the shame, asking me to keep it secret.
“Evan…”
I found myself at a loss for words.
In the end, I boarded the carriage heading to the Temple with Duke Icard alone, leaving Evan behind. Come to think of it, this was the first time we’d ridden in a carriage together since going to the Academy to pick him up.
Unable to bear the silence that stretched between us, I laughed nervously and spoke first.
“The Temple’s carriage is ornate, but it’s not better than House Icard’s carriage. It seems to rattle more.”
“It will improve soon. Once we receive money from them.”
Knowing that the money was being spent because of me, I laughed awkwardly out of guilt.
As I was quietly rolling my eyes, the Duke spoke.
“Your body does seem to be improving, at least.”
“Yes?”
“Your complexion has improved. Your cough seems to have lessened too?”
“Yes, well… yes.”
My body, which had grown gaunt from my illness, was beginning to fill out again as I’d been eating better lately.
“Serena really does seem to be a brilliant physician!”
“…I see.”
Serena had mentioned that the Duke continued to receive reports on my condition.
‘Apparently, even though I’m dying anyway, he didn’t tell her to stop treating me.’
“However, well, Serena did say this isn’t a fundamental cure.”
I quickly added this, worried that the Duke might assign me a different physician simply because Serena was so skilled.
“She told me not to mistake improvement for actual recovery.”
“…I see.”
“But Father.”
I broached the subject carefully.
“You said you wanted to speak with the Temple—or rather, negotiate with them. Is something the matter?”
“Nothing of importance.”
“I’m worried. Evan hasn’t received the baptism either, and I’m concerned… surely when he matures, the sense of relative deprivation will only grow worse.”
“He’s already mature.”
I was about to respond that he didn’t seem to be.
“The human body contains a certain amount of iron, after all.”
“…”
I couldn’t manage a forced laugh, so I sighed instead.
“That’s truly hilarious and amusing. But I can’t laugh because I’m worried about Evan.”
Half of that was sincere. The first sentence was a lie, and the second was true.
When I didn’t laugh, Duke Icard cleared his throat with a soft sound and spoke.
“Evan has nothing to do with this. So don’t concern yourself.”
“Then is this a personal matter for you, Father?”
“…Yes.”
“It must be quite difficult. If even you find it challenging.”
I began flattering him with all my might.
“From what I can tell, Father, you’re capable of accomplishing anything.”
“Laria.”
Duke Icard let out a soft chuckle.
“Is that how I appear in your eyes?”
“Yes!”
I nodded earnestly.
“The light in your office never goes out at night, you work so diligently. No matter what happens, no matter how exhausted you are, you attend to your duties until dawn…”
That was true. The Duke’s office remained brightly lit late into every single night without exception. Regardless of where he’d been or what state he was in.
They said it had been that way ever since Matilda passed away. Even on the night he tortured Ludba, the office lights remained on. This fact was so well-known throughout the Capital that everyone spoke of it.
“As a result, you seem like someone who accomplishes everything you wish to do and possesses everything you desire! I find that truly admirable.”
“…”
Duke Icard didn’t respond to my words and simply turned his gaze toward the window.
“Father, even someone as remarkable as you… is there something you wish to have but cannot?”
“Of course. There’s no one in this world who can easily obtain everything they desire. For example…”
He blinked slowly and murmured.
“Sacred relics, for instance.”
Perfect. Finally, the word sacred relic had emerged.
‘From here on, this will be child’s play.’
“The priests guard them as if they were their own lives and refuse to part with them. Well, there’s no priest who would willingly surrender their holy power.”
“I see…”
I nodded and then sat quietly, no longer troubling the Duke with further questions.
After arriving at the Temple, I inwardly clicked my tongue.
‘Wow…’
Duke Icard also let out an amused chuckle beside me, as if bewildered.
‘They came in enormous numbers.’
To welcome us, the High Priest had brought along twenty priests. The silver hair that symbolized priests possessing holy power glimmered uniformly in the sunlight.
“Greetings, Duke.”
The High Priest, dressed in the most ornate robes, stood before Duke Icard and bowed elegantly.
“Thank you for the warm reception.”
“Since the Duke’s only daughter-in-law is suffering from illness, our Temple naturally must step forward.”
“How eager you must be.”
Duke Icard answered curtly.
“By the way, regarding the matter I inquired about at the Temple last time…”
“Ah, Duke.”
The High Priest slowly shook his head.
“That cannot be purchased. It is not that sort of object.”
Since the request had been made in secret, the High Priest did not specify what ‘that’ was. However, I could discern that it was a sacred relic.
A few more courteous exchanges followed. As the conversation continued, I quickly surveyed the procession of priests. Though their eye colors varied, all of them possessed silver hair as befitted their station.
There are people whose hair suddenly turns silver one day. That is the manifestation of their latent holy power. Those who did not wish to become priests simply endured until their holy power was depleted. Then their hair would return to its original color and they could resume their ordinary lives.
However, those who wished to become priests could receive a sacred relic from the High Priest and become ordained. The shimmering silver hair that only appeared when one possessed holy power had the effect of inspiring reverence merely by sight. And carrying that reverence in my heart, I quickly scanned the priests with my eyes.
‘A pure gold ring on the fourth finger… a pure gold ring… so it’s that person!’
I easily identified the priest of my age standing in the third row.

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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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