Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 49

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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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“That’s really fascinating.”
Serena’s eyes widened in wonder as she marveled at the situation.
“Everyone says the profits are incredible. How did you foresee this situation?”
“Well…”
I lowered my gaze as I sipped my tea.
Since I knew Simor’s movements, I’d merely picked up some crumbs from the sidelines.
“I just read a book that was so entertaining.”
“That book everyone’s talking about? You read it first?”
“Yes, when I was in the Capital.”
Simor’s reason for purchasing the Hanua Estate was as follows.
Simor was a man obsessed with sniffing out money all day long, and he had a particular passion for the arts. His greatest confidence lay in his discerning eye for artistic merit.
He happened to read a book—a travel essay collection set in Hanua as its backdrop. The prose was elegant and witty, with high literary polish, but above all, the descriptions were exquisite.
The title was “Hanua’s Afternoon,” written with such meticulous beauty that it made one desperately want to visit Hanua. Yet the description that received the most effort in that book was none other than “Hanyua Mountain Madeleine.”
The madeleine made in Hanua was certainly different from madeleines elsewhere.
First, the wheat itself from Hanua was influenced by the Olta Forest, carrying a unique fragrance. Additionally, Hanua’s traditional dough-making method differed slightly from that of the Capital, and when combined, Hanua’s bread possessed a distinctive character unlike any other region.
Among these, the author seemed to have a particular fondness for madeleines, becoming so captivated that he devoted over three pages to describing that single madeleine.
Reading those descriptions made one feel that one could not even discuss bread without having tasted Hanua’s madeleine.
So Simor first used money he’d won from horse racing to purchase a title, then bought the Hanua Estate, after which he actively circulated that travel essay collection among people who enjoyed traveling.
“The book really does say the Hanyua Mountain Madeleine is delicious.”
It happened to be summer, the vacation season.
Hanua was positioned along the path to Molboros Coast, the continent’s finest resort destination.
Every Capital noble owned at least one villa on the Molboros Coast.
Hanua itself had little to see, so all sightseeing could be completed in half a day. Thus, those who traveled frequently would stop briefly in Hanua on their way to the Molboros Coast. And they would buy madeleines.
It was the perfect snack to purchase when feeling peckish at a destination visited for only half a day.
Throughout the summer, Hanua would be bustling with tourists carrying that essay collection, searching for madeleine shops.
“So I thought it would be a huge success.”
Simor, foreseeing this situation, employed a strategy of buying flour cheaply in advance and selling it at a premium.
And I chose a different approach. I instructed several members of the Bestian Dark Information Guild who worked in this area to open a bakery specializing exclusively in madeleines. Naturally, I selected those who already enjoyed baking as a hobby.
Planning to operate only during the summer season, I used the money Duke Icard had given me to purchase vacant houses at low prices.
Afterward, I converted all those houses into makeshift bakeries. I instructed the dispatched guild members to diligently learn from the village baker how to bake madeleines—nothing else.
After establishing multiple bakeries that baked only madeleines, I forbade the estate residents from selling any flour inventory to Simor-Hanua.
“All our guild members are thrilled.”
Serena clapped her hands as she spoke.
“They were all people whose hobby was baking, so they’re absolutely delighted. They said it’s great practice since they wanted to open a bakery after retiring.”
Tourists visiting Hanua naturally also purchased madeleines in Kail-Hanua.
Not even three days had passed since tourists began flooding in, yet with each visitor buying madeleines, the sales were excellent. And it was only going to become more tremendous.
‘Of course, once summer ends, these sales will disappear.’
I had arranged to receive a portion of the net profits from the bakeries established by the Bestian guild members. It was compensation for having taught them the business model in advance.
“But did you know something?”
Serena blinked and spoke.
“The neighboring lord, Baron Simor Gold Litshia, is receiving quite a bit of criticism.”
“Why?”
“Well, he bought wheat cheaply from the estate residents and sold it at a markup.”
True enough, the estate residents had also profited from the Madeleine craze, but they couldn’t help but think about their initial investment. They simply didn’t know that the entire Madeleine phenomenon was orchestrated by Simor’s behind-the-scenes machinations.
“In contrast, we just need to earn our money very quietly and slip away just as quietly.”
I had already instructed everyone to withdraw once summer passed. It was a strategy only possible because I could mobilize many people through the guild.
“Everyone is curious about how outsiders suddenly caught onto the Madeleine craze and opened so many shops….”
Serena tilted her head and continued.
“But apparently it’s all being glossed over because everyone’s too busy with the tourists.”
I nodded quietly.
Even if things were being glossed over for now, I had a feeling that Simor at least would be watching this situation with keen interest.
After all, he was the one who started this whole affair based on a single Madeleine from long ago. Fortunately, he wouldn’t know that I was Kail Dart Labonis, so I could simply deny everything.
Even if my tail got caught and I became suspect, I could always suppress it with my status.
‘And I’m the one who lectured Evan about not discriminating between people based on status….’
I made an objective assessment of myself.
‘I’m trash.’
When others possessed bodies, they secretly helped the male lead. But I wasn’t helping—I was just taking my cut. Earning money independently on my own was far too difficult and bothersome.
‘A trash who doesn’t even try….’
For a moment, the remnants of conscience that lingered like a vestigial organ stirred within me.
‘But in the original story, Simor earns an astronomical amount of money… so even if I take a little, he’ll still make a fortune….’
I was objective about myself, but ultimately I possessed the advantage of being lenient. I easily compromised with my conscience and regained my peace of mind.
“Thanks to this, our guild has also earned quite a bit of money, Lady Laria.”
“It’s a win-win for both of us, right?”
“If there’s anything else you need in the future, please feel free to request it anytime.”
Serena spoke with determination.
“You’ll be doing other projects with the money you’ve earned this time, won’t you?”
“Yeah.”
I rested my chin on my hand and answered.
“For now, I’m going to use it to build a house.”
A mansion that would become my refuge when I needed to escape.
When I first purchased half of the Hanua Estate, I deliberately chose a location without the lord’s residence. I wanted to build from scratch in a location of my choosing, according to my own preferences.
“Ah… the Baron’s residence of Kail Dart Labonis?”
Serena, understanding my meaning, smiled brightly.
“If you leave it to us, we’ll handle it splendidly with minimal commission.”
It seemed I’d only have enough money to barely construct the exterior properly.
‘It’s right in front of me—my dream of owning my own home!’
I was contemplating with Serena what style of house to build.
A knock sounded, and Lisa’s voice was heard.
“Young Miss, there are a few things I need to tell you about the upcoming banquet.”
“Yes, come in.”
Lisa signaled Serena with a glance, telling her to leave.
Serena pretended not to understand and feigned ignorance, but eventually when Lisa firmly said, “This is ducal business, so outsiders must leave,” she sighed and stood up.
I had no intention of involving Serena in ducal matters anyway, so I didn’t object.
Finally alone with me, Lisa sighed and spoke.
“Young mistress, I don’t wish to speak ill of others, but….”
“Then you don’t have to.”
“I’m too worried to help myself.”
“About what?”
“Do you know how famous ‘that physician at the villa’ is in Borotna?”
“Why?”
“As an incorrigible philanderer.”
I seriously considered whether this counted as speaking ill. It was far too obvious a fact, and Serena wouldn’t likely deny it or take offense even if she heard it.
“As long as the physician is skilled, that’s all that matters.”
Though truthfully, his skills weren’t even that good….
“The young master made me promise solemnly. He said the physician is very suspicious and that I must never leave you alone with him frequently.”
I couldn’t help but admire Evan’s extraordinary intuition. To think he detected Serena’s suspiciousness when even Duke Icard had been fooled.
“He said to be careful about leaving you two alone together.”
Goodness. There was no way he’d noticed that we were constantly scheming escape plans together—he must simply have incredibly sharp instincts.
‘I need to be more careful. He might be even more perceptive than the Duke.’
I raised my guard once more.
“Anyway, first of all… the date for the banquet has been set.”
It had been about a month since I arrived in Borotna, but during that time I had avoided all social activities under the pretense of recovering from travel fatigue. Hosting a banquet was essentially a signal that I was now ready to settle into this region.
“From what I’ve learned, there’s a custom in the South here where the owner’s portrait is hung at the entrance of the corridor. I think it would be good for you to have a portrait painted.”
My mouth fell open. I should have closed my eyes without hesitation when Duke Icard mentioned providing an art tutor and brazenly nodded, saying, “Yes, I’m naturally gifted at art.”
‘I should accept everything offered. You never know when or how it might be useful.’
Unaware of my thoughts, Lisa continued.
“This is a list of the local nobility. It’s proper etiquette to write the invitations by hand, even if briefly, so you should start preparing them soon. It will help you memorize the names as well.”
“Alright, sounds good. But the list is incredibly long?”
“Not everyone will actually come. We both know invitations are sent out of courtesy. Those whose age doesn’t match, those who haven’t lived in this region long, or nobles who spend most of their time in the Capital won’t attend. For example, here….”
Lisa frowned as she read through the list and pointed out a name.
“Simor Gold Litshia, Baron?”

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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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