Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 41

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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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“Finally, let’s look at the letters that have come for you.”
“Letters?”
“Yes. Bring me all the ones you’ve received so far.”
I hesitantly handed over the meager collection of letters I possessed.
“Now, among the people you were close to in childhood, is there a letter from someone who continued to contact you even when your father was drowning in debt?”
Having been frail since childhood, I had no peers I was particularly close to. Even the few children I’d seen occasionally in my younger years stopped contacting me once House Rostri began to falter.
“No.”
“Throw them all away. When hardship strikes, those are the people who will abandon you again.”
Half the letters flew away.
“Did any letters arrive before the rumors started spreading that Calaudin cherishes you—before your recuperation was decided?”
“No.”
And so the remaining half of the letters scattered into the air.
“You’ll simply have to start fresh.”
“Yes, well… I suppose so.”
Just then, Lisa approached hesitantly.
“Um, several letters have just arrived that the Duke asked me to deliver to you…”
“What is it?”
“The Duke has selected several candidates to serve as your godmother and sent them letters. Several responses have arrived.”
“Hmph, how careless of Calaudin to be doing this only now. Let me see. Show me the list of candidates.”
I discreetly looked over the candidates with Olivia to see who would become my godmother.
“Tch, they’re all worthless.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’ve clashed with every single one of them. Send them back!”
As Olivia handed the letters back to Lisa, she spoke with obvious difficulty.
“The Duke said… that there’s no one in the Capital who hasn’t fought with you, so you shouldn’t listen to your opinion and Laria should decide entirely on her own.”
I couldn’t help but admire him inwardly. A truly capable mastermind certainly possessed remarkable insight.
“What nonsense is that? For example… um… for instance…”
It seemed her remark was made with the understanding that dogs have become quite intelligent these days.
“Lisa.”
I spoke carefully.
“Did Father truly say I could decide entirely on my own?”
“Yes.”
Lisa answered while looking worriedly at Olivia.
“Absolutely not!”
As expected, Olivia snapped irritably.
“What are you saying! I am Laria’s mentor! Me! Me! And you’re finding a godmother without my input? Don’t spout such nonsense!”
“Great-aunt.”
And I had already made my decision.
“I am a person of House Icard! What gives Calaudin the right to tell me to ignore my words! Do my actions seem so frivolous to you?”
“I’ve already decided.”
“What?”
Olivia snorted and glared at me with blazing eyes.
“Who? What damned woman….”
“Please become my godmother, Aunt Olivia.”
Olivia blinked, sitting in stunned silence for a moment.
Lisa gently interjected.
“Laria, a godmother typically carries social significance, so people usually don’t seek one from within their own family.”
It was Olivia who answered that remark.
“My surname is Rivien.”
She had just claimed moments ago to be of House Icard, yet she carelessly contradicted herself without hesitation.
“…uh, well….”
Lisa didn’t dare interject further, but her eyes conveyed to me that this wasn’t right.
Taking Olivia as my godmother when we already had a connection would forfeit one of my pieces in the social circle. I understood the implications, but I had no desire to involve some innocent person from another house in my affairs.
After all, I was destined to stand out anyway—there was no point in drawing unnecessary attention to others.
“Good heavens.”
Olivia clasped her hands together as she spoke.
“This is the first time anyone has ever asked me to be their godmother.”
Despite her standing in the social circle and her formidable bloodline, the complete absence of godmother requests spoke volumes about her character.
“Olivia, considering Laria… well….”
“What are you talking about! I matter most to myself!”
And there were very good reasons why others never asked her.
“I want to do it, so I will! Everyone stand aside! Don’t interfere! Laria, I’m your godmother!”
Olivia displayed extreme selfishness as she smiled with satisfaction.
“I was the only one without a goddaughter… and now I have one!”
And….
‘Huh. I didn’t expect her to be this pleased… She’s going to be terribly disappointed when I disappear….’
For some reason, I felt a twinge of regret.
* * *
The very next morning, Olivia left without ceremony. She saw no reason to stay longer. Still, I felt uneasy about her departing for Rivien before Evan even returned, so I spoke carefully.
“But Evan is your cherished nephew. Wouldn’t it be better to wait and see his face at least once before you go….”
“I do cherish him, but not to that extent.”
It was a statement that made one question whether “cherish” was even the right word.
“Insignificant squirrel.”
Before leaving, she handed me a fan with a terrifying tiger painted on it.
“This is my gift to my goddaughter.”
I accepted the fan with a somewhat awkward expression. Not only was it not to my taste, but it was also a used item—I had no idea what to do with it.
“If anyone in Borotna dares to disrespect you, unfold this fan. Anyone who has even heard the rumors of ‘the wicked woman of Rivien’ will tuck tail and flee.”
It was my racing heart that was truly difficult to handle.
“Until next time. There will come a moment when my help proves decisive.”
Not long after Olivia departed, Evan arrived.
But Evan was carrying an armful of bundled newspapers in his hands.
“Evan? What are all these?”
“Newspapers.”
There weren’t many newspapers in the Empire—only five types existed. Photos of Evan handing me the trophy at the awards ceremony were captured from completely different angles.
But there were more than five copies….
“…Is this all of them? There are so many identical ones.”
“The printing quality is different on each.”
Some with slightly faded ink, one with accidental vertical lines, another slightly smudged….
“Take one copy each of whichever ones you like best.”
“Huh? Oh….”
“But what’s this?”
“Ah.”
I unfurled the fan that Olivia had given me and smiled bashfully.
“Great-aunt gave it to me as a gift. What do you think? Does it suit me?”
“Yes. With you holding that fan open, you look like a painting.”
He answered seriously.
“A realistic depiction of a herbivore being devoured by a beast of prey. I can feel the savagery and brutality of the wild.”
In other words, the tiger in the fan looked like it was about to devour me.
“And Great-aunt became my godmother!”
“You made the worst choice, Laria.”
Evan said the same thing as Duke Icard and shook his head in disapproval.
“You won’t be able to undo that.”
In any case, I carefully kept the five newspapers that Evan and I had carefully selected and the tiger fan. And in the days before I left, something completely unexpected happened.
“Laria, are you not hurting anywhere today? Are you feeling better?”
After Evan returned from the Academy, he stayed by my side almost exclusively.
“Yeah, I’m really fine. It’s not a serious illness. It’s not a fatal disease, so don’t worry.”
“Is there anything I can do for you?”
Well, so I decided to be very sincere in return.
“I wish you’d fill my surroundings with expensive and beautiful things. It feels like my heart gets filled too when you do.”
“…Um, okay. I understand.”
“And no matter what happens, make sure you procure the Occlasia tree in the Mansion Garden. It will be difficult to obtain, but you must.”
“You’re consistent, Laria. Asking specifically for the most expensive and rare ornamental tree among all of them.”
In any case, Evan continued to seek me out whenever he wasn’t in sword training or heir lessons.
“I’m sorry, Laria.”
While I slept, Evan held me close and patted my back.
“You’re in so much pain, and that day… you couldn’t sleep waiting for me.”
“That was quite a while ago.”
“What are you talking about? I’ll never forget it as long as I live.”
No, that only happened once, and even then it was because I was eating the Occlasia Fruit.
“You stood in line for an hour to get me ganache, and all I did was say cruel things.”
I couldn’t very well deny it now, and I felt terribly embarrassed.
“But going all that way… I have to accompany you, and I’m worried about being lonely.”
“Serena is going. It’s fine.”
“That physician of yours—she’s a decent person, right? Her impression just seems a bit… flighty.”
How could he have such keen intuition?
“What are you talking about?”
I shook my head desperately, denying it with all my might. If Evan started making a fuss about changing physicians, it would be troublesome.
“Yes. Serena is a good person. There’s so much to learn from her, so much to emulate, and she’s practically the physician of my soul!”
“….”
“So don’t worry, and I hope you’ll grow into a wonderful man who carries on Father’s legacy and lives with dedication.”
“…Understood. I will.”
I pretended to be asleep while nodding inwardly.
Yes, carry on your father’s legacy and revitalize House of Icard far and wide. Swallow up even the Imperial Family and take over everything.

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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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