Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 38

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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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“There’s no other way.”
Serena sighed deeply as she spoke.
“There’s only one solution.”
She had gone to Olivia to insist that it had to be Borotna, but when Rivien presented reasons why it wouldn’t work, Olivia had immediately snapped at her to organize reference materials and sent her away.
“It’s an odd solution, but… there’s no choice but to win over Olivia’s heart.”
“Win her heart?”
“Yes. Because Olivia is aware that her personality is terrible, so she doesn’t get along well with people she likes.”
“Wow.”
I found myself clapping in admiration. An antagonist with such excellent self-awareness. Duke Icard should learn from her.
“If she comes to like Laria, she’ll absolutely refuse to take her to Rivien. So we have no choice but to cater to her preferences. However…”
Serena glanced at me cautiously.
“She’s said some rather harsh things outright… and since Laria is only human, that won’t be easy for her to overlook.”
“…Woof?”
As I blinked and let out a small bark, Serena stifled a laugh.
By discarding my human dignity with those two syllables of “woof,” I had made my intentions clear, and now I fell into contemplation. Winning someone’s favor through careful attention took considerable time.
Olivia had declared she wouldn’t stay long at Duke Icard’s Mansion.
‘Ah, so Olivia truly cares deeply for House Icard.’
That’s why she had made such a fuss with Princess Elani about tarnishing Icard’s name.
‘So that’s why she said she wouldn’t stay long at the mansion. What a consistent villainess she is.’
Simply offering honeyed words wouldn’t generate genuine affection in such a short time. Then…
I had no choice but to pilfer one of Simor’s income sources once again. With me, a single possessor, in the picture, Simor’s life difficulty was steadily increasing.
“Serena, I need to ask you for a favor. When you come to the mansion from now on…”
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Duke Icard’s Mansion had a room prepared for Olivia. It was the spacious first-floor room she had used before her marriage. Around two o’clock, after lunch…
“Great-aunt!”
Since she had arrived at the mansion, there was a child who knocked at the exact same time every single day without fail.
I’d heard she was fourteen, and I could believe she was Evan’s much younger sister. Though Evan did have a rather distinctive face.
Laria, with her pink hair cascading down, peeked her face around the door.
“Is this a good time for you?”
“If you have eyes, use them.”
Olivia spoke in a cold tone.
“Do I look busy to you right now?”
“Then would you like to have a cup of tea with me?”
“Why would I waste time on something so pointless?”
Olivia scoffed while looking at Laria’s round violet eyes.
“Though I did come to Duke Icard’s Mansion to waste time in the first place.”
Laria smiled brightly and came in, quickly taking the seat across from Olivia. Behind her, Lisa quietly entered and skillfully prepared the tea service.
“I asked Serena for help.”
On the table sat a shortcake from a shop that Olivia had loved dearly in her childhood.
“Thirteen years ago, your son took over the shop, and I hear the taste has been maintained quite well.”
Olivia delicately picked up her fork and took a bite of the shortcake with a knowing smile.
True to her status as a member of House of Icard, she had a great fondness for sweets. Yet Laria would often bring desserts from the famous bakery in the Capital that Olivia had frequented in her childhood.
It was a taste from her childhood that she had forgotten ever since living in Rivien. So she couldn’t bring herself to stop Laria from visiting. In fact, she found herself looking forward each morning to what Laria might bring today.
“You, though.”
Olivia spoke coldly.
“How did you even think to bring these things?”
“Ah.”
Laria laughed carefully, her expression appearing docile.
“I too often find myself craving the foods I ate in my childhood. The ones from the Rostri Count’s household, that is. My mother loved cooking and often prepared meals for us herself.”
“Hmph.”
“I thought perhaps you might also miss the foods from your childhood, Aunt.”
To be precise, these were foods she hadn’t even realized she was missing. Since Rivien was also a prosperous territory, Olivia had eaten whatever she desired.
But certainly, even if she hadn’t given them much thought ordinarily, there was something peculiar about the power of foods she had enjoyed in her childhood. For instance, the way the girl before her was beginning to seem rather endearing.
“I truly wish to live well in House of Icard.”
“Live well, you say?”
“Father paid off my father’s debts, and Evan is kind to me as well. So I wanted to be good to you too, Aunt.”
Laria smiled slightly and lowered her head, and as the small-framed girl wore such a forlorn expression, an odd sense of compassion welled up.
“I don’t have a family to rely on to support Evan in any meaningful way, and on top of that, I’m even sickly…”
Moreover, Laria had a talent for delivering pitiful lines.
“You certainly understand your position well.”
Olivia began eating another slice of cake that Laria had subtly offered, speaking as she did.
“You mean I have good self-awareness? Thank you!”
I began to understand why my nephew Calaudin was so favorable toward this girl. She was the sort who, with her earnest and endearing nature, naturally grew on you the longer you spent time with her.
But the fact that she laughed at that terrible joke bothered me. She was so kind that she would genuinely laugh at a joke that made one want to strike someone just hearing it—and that kindness had become a problem.
If one sat in the position of a duchess’s daughter with only kindness to offer, they would be swayed about and become nothing but prey for someone.
Yet if she truly found it amusing and laughed sincerely, that was a problem in itself. If that unconventional sense of humor were passed down to future generations, the reputation of House of Icard would be dragged through the mud.
But what if… if she were merely pretending to find it amusing and forcing herself to laugh, then she would truly be a cunning child…
When I heard the article about her winning a lot of money at the Racetrack, I had only thought her unnecessarily fortunate. I regretted not coming sooner to observe what kind of girl she truly was, rather than simply letting it pass.
“I’m simply… *cough*!”
That was when it happened.
“*Cough cough cough*! *Cough cough*!”
Laria suddenly began coughing.
“Wh-what, what is this?”
“*Cough cough*!”
As Laria’s coughing not only continued but intensified until her body doubled over, Olivia jumped to her feet in alarm.
“W-what do I do? Servant! Servant! Come in!”
“*Cough cough cough*!”
Laria eventually tumbled from her chair and rolled across the floor.
“Don’t you dare die! Don’t die here! This won’t do! I’m more of a coward than I appear!”
“C-cough, cough, cough! I, I really don’t look like this, cough, cough, cough! Do I?”
“If you dare die before me and haunt my dreams, I’ll thrash you senseless!”
“Y-yes? Cough, cough! Oh, oh my? Oh my!”
Just then, Laria, who had been rolling while coughing, suddenly stopped at a certain spot on the floor. Then she began pounding the ground with her fists in rapid succession.
“W-what are you doing!”
I grew even more alarmed, wondering if Laria’s illness had caused her to lose her mind, but she suddenly sprang to her feet.
“Aunt? The sound from this part of the floor seems strange…”
“…What?”
“It sounds hollow, like there might be a space underneath. Isn’t this your room, Aunt? Do you happen to know anything about it?”
Olivia approached Laria’s side and tapped the floor she was pointing at. The sound was distinctly different from the rest of the floor.
“What… is this?”
“I think it would be best to have the servants pry it open and check.”
Laria answered decisively and rang the bell to summon the servants. Olivia was so startled that she hiccupped, not even noticing that Laria’s coughing had already stopped.

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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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