Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 47

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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 moment the carriage departed, Serena began anxiously gnawing at her fingernails.
“It’s dangerous. Separation really was the answer.”
“There are some concerning aspects, but… she’s young. It should be fine.”
My interference had twisted the original story somewhat, but if I left her alone in that mansion, she would gradually revert to her original indifferent nature.
In the original story, Evan didn’t shed a single tear when I died. Despite all those long years spent together as my husband.
And I heard that the very next day, he appeared in society without a care. He would have shown more concern if a potted plant he was raising had died.
My philosophy was that love may change, but people do not.
Still, just in case, I was taking appropriate precautions by separating from him in childhood.
“Sven is also planning to attend the banquet. Since he’s not nobility, he can’t participate formally—he’ll be disguised as a gardener.”
“Really? Why is he coming?”
“He has something he wishes to tell you directly, my lady.”
I nodded quietly.
There was no way his sincere help with my escape was purely out of goodwill.
‘He must want something from me.’
I sighed inwardly once more.
‘I should have possessed a villainess instead…’
Typically, villainess characters have everything except personality and reputation, so I could have covered those two with my acting skills and accomplished anything. Instead, here I was—a minor supporting character forced into negotiations with the head of a dark information guild.
“And I received a portrait of you from Redian! He really painted it beautifully!”
“Keep that with the Bestian Guild for now. As for the other Redian paintings we purchased, sell them when they reach around 100 gold per piece.”
“Yes, understood!”
“And Serena, there’s something I need you to do as soon as we arrive in Borotna.”
From my memory, Simor had business in that region around this time.
“Yes? What is it?”
“First, send a letter for me. To the Temple.”
It was a letter containing a question about whether pain could be felt during a blessing. Of course, it was to be sent to Marcel. Since there were other uses for maintaining this connection, I needed to keep my ties with Marcel intact.
“And also, with this money…”
I pulled out a pouch of gold coins—payment I’d received from Duke Icard for paintings I’d created while swallowing my pride.
“I’d like you to handle something for me.”
Abandoned pride could always be scraped back together many times over along with the money.
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Duke Icard’s Mansion, after Laria’s departure.
Calaudin, as always, shut himself in his study to receive reports from his various subordinates. In his youth, he had lived modestly with Matilda without any particular ambitions, so he had entered the political arena somewhat late.
The one who now completely controlled the Nobility was Duke Orlando. Whenever he discovered a noble whose influence seemed likely to grow, he would ruthlessly nip it in the bud.
And the faction Duke Orlando was most wary of was House of Icard. If they drew too much attention, there was no telling what controversy might engulf them.
‘My power is still too weak to directly confront Duke Orlando’s faction.’
When Icard’s influence seemed to be growing remarkably, he had suddenly spread rumors of an engagement with the Imperial Princess, causing everyone to become cautious of him. He had barely managed to quell the situation by bringing in Laria, but regardless, he needed to be careful in all matters.
So Calaudin was secretly gathering information on various noble houses and using it to covertly absorb them into his faction. Without anyone knowing of his true ambitions until the decisive moment.
For that, of course, he needed considerable funds. No matter how wealthy a duchy was, he still had to constantly monitor mining profitability and sponsor merchant guilds.
That was why the lights in his study never went out late into the night. At this rate, in a few years he would be able to form a faction greater than Duke Orlando’s.
After reviewing reports and issuing instructions all day, Calaudin finally found himself alone in the dead of night. He began examining documents before his gaze suddenly shifted toward the door.
“Father, it’s Laria! May I come in?”
The thought that I wouldn’t see Laria knocking on my study door and chattering brightly for quite some time felt strange. Though she hadn’t been here that long, Duke Icard’s Mansion seemed hollow without her.
“I wasn’t lonely at all. Because you and Evan were so kind to me. I’m much happier here than I was at Rostri Manor.”
She was an obedient, adorable child who loved spending time with family—would she cry from loneliness once she arrived there? It was obvious she’d be sullen the entire carriage ride. Especially after what happened at the end, when a relative she’d trusted as blood family tried to steal jewels and flee…
Truth be told, something had seemed off about Karen from her first appearance, but I never expected her to reveal her true nature so quickly. It was clear Laria, innocent as she was, must have been deeply wounded.
‘Was mentioning high society really necessary?’
What if she became frightened and utterly dejected on her way out?
Calaudin rolled a cigarette and placed it between his lips, gazing at the drawing of Laria spread across his desk.
“I want to repay Father.”
Laria had obtained the sacred relic I’d so desperately sought. The relic itself was precious, but what remained most vivid in my memory was Laria’s steadfast spirit as she endured the priests’ scrutiny.
Now that she was gone too, I thought there would be no more occasions for jokes in Duke Icard’s Mansion. The servants trembled so much they couldn’t tell whether I was joking or not, and I barely conversed with Evan anyway.
‘Evan seems to dislike jokes altogether because of his naturally taciturn nature…’
The absence of one small girl made the entire mansion feel dark.
Though the night was deep, Calaudin wasn’t the only one awake. Evan continued tossing and turning in bed. The bed was too wide. No—the room was too wide.
‘Before Laria came, when I occasionally returned from the Academy on leave, I never once thought this room was too spacious to use alone.’
Half the wardrobe was empty, and half the drawers were empty.
‘What’s the point of heir training and sword practice anyway… But Laria told me to live diligently…’
Hadn’t Cop himself said that if you want to get along well with a woman, you must first take care of yourself?
He’d planned to depart in time to arrive at the banquet, but the days until then seemed to crawl by unbearably slowly.
Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, Evan got up and retrieved the fairy tale book Laria had given him—one whose contents he found absolutely delightful—and read it over and over again for a long time.

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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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