Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 40

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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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True to her word, Olivia came to my room that evening.
“No backing from her family, and now she’s fallen ill on top of it all.”
She settled into a chair, tilting her chin up as she spoke. Between the open folds of her skirt, her smooth legs were crossed in a sensual manner.
‘What an impressive grandmother… I wonder if I’ll be able to wear killer heels at her age. How does she manage her health so well? Truly remarkable.’
I thought to myself in silence.
“She’s perfect prey for the vultures out there.”
Lisa and I stood rigidly before her.
“Apply your makeup heavier. Lift the corners of your eyes more.”
“L-L-L-Laria, that kind of makeup doesn’t really s-suit…”
“Who are you trying to look good for? You’re already married!”
Olivia cut off Lisa’s stammering words.
“Are you trying to end up looking like Matilda?”
Matilda…?
In the end, I became a miniature version of Olivia’s appearance.
“Tsk…”
Olivia let out a hollow laugh, clearly displeased.
“With a face like that, there’s nothing to be done.”
Yes, I am a nobody…
If I was the dead first wife of the heroine’s husband in name only, I was nothing more than a supporting character among supporting characters.
“What are you doing?”
Olivia snapped irritably.
“Repeat after me at once!”
“Yes?”
“‘A nobody, you say? Have you finished? And how beautiful must you be, Great-Aunt, to speak that way?’ Come on!”
Lisa and I exchanged bewildered glances.
“When I think of what those wretches did to Matilda! I still can’t sleep!”
Olivia threw down the fan she’d been holding, her frustration unabated.
“When they heard she was ill, their eyes gleamed with greed. They all wanted to become the Duchess of Icard! And when she was carrying Evan despite her condition…”
It seemed tears were beginning to well up in her reddened eyes.
“There were many wicked women who secretly hoped she would die in childbirth, just as the physicians had warned.”
I realized I had been mistaken all along.
She hadn’t come rushing here because she disliked me so much. She had come rushing here thinking of Matilda upon hearing that Evan’s wife had fallen ill.
“When I think of how she smiled and spoke kindly to those creatures without uttering a single harsh word, my blood still boils!”
I gazed quietly at Olivia.
“Foolish girl.”
She muttered irritably, unable to contain herself.
“With that kind and gentle face, I let myself grow fond of her, only to be betrayed in the end.”
‘I see.’
She too was one of Icard’s people living in Matilda’s shadow. Somehow, my heart felt a little heavier.
“That naive child destroyed the entire House of Icard!”
So that’s why she had said at first that I’d been stabbed in the back, that nothing good ever happened to House Icard.
“I never thought she’d pass away before this old woman.”
“Great-Aunt…”
“She died young because her spirit was too weak.”
Olivia rubbed her bloodshot eyes vigorously as she spoke.
“A wretched thing like me just keeps living uselessly. Of course, I don’t really mean that.”
Eventually, Lisa turned away and wiped her tears. She was certainly thinking of Matilda too. And I was grateful that Evan was away at the Academy’s sword tournament.
“So don’t end up like Matilda, and instead live long like me—someone with a rotten disposition.”
The logic was nonsensical.
“Ah…”
I realized she was seeing Matilda in me.
“So follow my example, quickly!”
Lisa finally pulled out a handkerchief and blew her nose.
Rather than awkwardly mimicking her words, I quietly approached and took her hand.
“Great-Aunt.”
And I smiled slightly.
“Mother wouldn’t regret not being able to speak harshly to those wretches.”
“What?”
“Because it seems you’ve already said everything on her behalf.”
“…Well, that’s true.”
“With someone like you around, would those wretches even cross her mind?”
“Hmph.”
She furrowed her brow sharply.
“Even speaking in that gentle, pretty way—you really do resemble Matilda.”
“So if you live longer and take my side, that would be perfect.”
“Are you daring to use me?”
Ah… I’ve been caught.
“That’s why Calaudin fell for it so easily.”
As expected, she has sharp instincts…
“But you’re far too magnificent, Aunt.”
However, since I had long admired wicked noblewomen of means, I spoke with sincerity. If I could flatter without meaning it, there was no reason I couldn’t offer genuine praise.
“If someone like you were on my side, I’d have nothing to fear.”
“Sweet words are bad for the body, as they say.”
Oh no, she’s caught me flattering her shamelessly!
Seeing me freeze, Olivia continued with a sly smile.
“But at my age, seeking only what’s good for the body becomes terribly tedious. So do it more.”
Over the following days, Olivia had me try various styles, but they all failed.
Lisa sighed quietly and murmured, “I told you, Laria doesn’t suit things like that.”
“Well, there’s nothing for it now.”
Olivia spoke with firm resolve.
“We’ll make you the type who smiles in front but schemes behind closed doors.”
…But I’m already like that!
“As you are now, you’re just like Matilda. We can’t raise you this way.”
At her words, Lisa gave a small nod.
“You do resemble her quite a bit.”
“Exactly why I need to give you some lessons. Now, listen carefully. Let’s start with linguistic interpretation.”
“Linguistic interpretation?”
Olivia looked at me and spoke sharply.
“Suppose you heard someone say, ‘The Duchess seems to have married quite well. I still feel sorry toward my father because of my dowry.'”
Her crimson eyes gleamed, and I swallowed hard. Well, there’s no helping it when someone’s pressing down on me with their presence….
“If we interpret this statement, it means: ‘Your family went bankrupt, didn’t it? That’s why you married without a dowry?’ Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Now then, try interpreting this: ‘Social activities in the Capital must be quite difficult for you. Since your health isn’t good and you can’t go out much, you must be out of touch with the latest news.'”
I answered immediately with my hands clasped together.
“It means: ‘I know full well you’re ignorant of how the world works, so don’t presume to speak here and keep your head down.'”
“Very clever.”
Olivia proceeded with several more similar exchanges, and each time I provided an appropriate answer.
“You have talent.”
Eventually, Olivia nodded with a satisfied smile.
“I should have given Matilda customized lessons like this.”
I felt terribly apologetic toward Matilda in my heart.
Matilda was truly a kind person, so she probably never learned to pick up such bluntly negative remarks as quickly as I did.
“She won’t avoid coming to the Capital altogether, will she?”
“She’ll come up for every important event.”
Lisa answered respectfully.
“Once her health improves further, she’ll naturally need to engage in social activities. She’s already improved quite a bit.”
“Then I’ll have to come up to the Capital myself each time to give you lessons. Now, let’s have dinner.”
And so I unexpectedly ended up sharing my final meal with Olivia.
After finishing dinner, I glanced around cautiously and offered my shortcake dessert plate to Olivia.
“Would you like mine as well, Great-Aunt?”
Her dessert plate certainly emptied at a remarkable pace. Since both Duke Icard and Evan were quite fond of sweets, I could easily deduce Olivia’s tastes as well.
That’s why I had initially broken down her defenses with sweets in the first place.
“Are you saying I’m obsessed with sweets at my age?”
Moreover, she seemed equally reluctant to admit her preference for sweets.
“No, it’s just that I don’t care for sweets much myself… I apologize if I was impolite.”
“You were impolite. But since food mustn’t go to waste, I’ll eat it.”
Olivia pulled my dessert plate toward herself with an air of haughtiness.
“You.”
She spoke while taking a large bite with her fork.
“I do like everything about this. But you see…”
“Yes?”
“It’s precisely because you seem to enjoy Calaudin’s crude jokes that I find it difficult to trust you. It leaves me deeply unsettled.”
Those who rise through flattery fall through flattery. I wasn’t the only one who understood that one’s reaction to that particular humor was an excellent measure of sincerity. After all, only sycophants like myself would laugh at such jokes.
I was preparing to play dumb when she spoke in a low voice.
“You said you think of Evan often.”
She hadn’t forgotten my mention of Evan when discussing the disposal of the old books.
“This political marriage was unexpected for you too, but is Evan acceptable as a husband?”
I nodded immediately.
“Of course. That’s why I truly wish to get along well with him.”
“To get along well, you say… I suppose.”
Olivia nodded slowly.
“It would be difficult to genuinely care for a mere thirteen-year-old child.”
“Well, that is…”
“Typically, noble ladies your age prefer older men who appear more mature. I was the same.”
I was about to politely disagree when her next question caught me off guard.
“Still, there must be something about Evan that seems worthwhile. What aspect appeals to you most?”
‘If I had to name something appealing…’
I fell into quiet contemplation.
Well, Evan had many merits. He was first in the Academy, a sword tournament champion, and though he looked somewhat older than his years, he was handsome with an impressive bearing, and he was the heir to Duke Icard. Yet the most unexpected words tumbled from my lips.
“…He’s adorable.”
This was something no one else would understand.
Evan had no aegyo, his expression was rigid almost every day, and he rarely smiled. Objectively, he resembled Duke Icard and was handsome, but there was something unsettling about his appearance for a boy his age.
So I regretted my words immediately after speaking them. This woman held deep affection for House Icard—was it appropriate to answer so lightly about their sole heir?
“Is that so?”
Olivia’s tone carried a hint of surprise, and she said nothing more until she finished her dessert plate.
‘I shouldn’t have spoken so truthfully. I should have simply praised House Icard.’
Just as I was about to correct myself—
“You will eventually come to love Evan.”
“…Pardon?”
“When someone objectively not cute appears cute to you, well, that says everything.”
Olivia let out a soft laugh.
“I can rest easy. No matter what happens, you’ll always make choices for Evan’s sake.”
“…”
I fell silent at her unexpected words.
‘That’s not true, it’s really not. In the end, I’ll only make choices for myself.’
Evan wasn’t ill, he had plenty of money, and his position was secure. The notion that I would make choices for his sake at some critical moment was like a mouse thinking of a cat.
“It’s the insight of an old woman. The only thing that improves with age is intuition. You see, even hypocrisy, when repeated enough, often becomes genuine.”
It was certainly a prophecy completely divorced from my true feelings. Yet strangely, I felt as though I were being seen through.

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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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