Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 53

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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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I suddenly felt cold sweat trickling down my back.
‘Like father, like son—the hidden mastermind’s true nature shows even beneath that innocent facade!’
After reading the letter earlier, Evan hadn’t interrogated me. Instead, he’d remained silent, simply observing my reaction.
‘I wish he’d just confronted me directly so I could at least make excuses…’
It was subtly unnerving.
“Need more ink?”
It seemed he’d been waiting all this time for me to read the letter…
With the sharpened demeanor of a young predator, I felt a slight tension rise. Of course, Simor’s letter was equally troubling.
The book title “Hanua’s Afternoon” had even appeared—was he suspecting that I myself might be Kail Dart Labonis?
‘How on earth did he find out…’
It was surely just circumstantial evidence, but was this another male lead buff?
Already confused, I couldn’t afford to deliberate in front of Evan.
“Well, it’s not urgent anyway. Should we rest a bit? The content isn’t anything significant.”
“Let’s reply first, then rest. Like you said, it’s nothing important.”
Evan smiled, but it sent shivers down my spine more than ever before.
“Say… surely you haven’t been worried about this letter since you first saw it, right?”
“Laria.”
Evan chuckled softly.
“Why would a petty fellow’s social letter to my wife concern me?”
“Right, of course?”
“Yeah. So can I, being petty myself, write the reply instead?”
…
He picked up the pen and began writing across the paper without hesitation.
[What gives a mere viscount the audacity to discuss the tastes of one who will become a duchess? Your distant young husband has drawn his sword and rides toward you—wash your neck and wait.]
The force behind his writing caused the ink to drip and bleed across the page.
“Is it okay to send this?”
“…No. Let’s just ignore it. Silence is the answer.”
I crumpled his murder threat—no, his reply—and forced a smile as I spoke.
“I think it’s better not to reply anymore.”
“But why is this viscount actually discussing tastes? What about the painting?”
“Hmm.”
Perhaps from sword training, Evan’s expression was utterly bleak. How long had it been since I’d last seen him? He’d grown even more like Duke Icard.
“I… I don’t know either.”
Sadly, my conscience was far, far away, while the ominous-looking Evan was far too close.
Instead of telling the truth, my eyes wandered aimlessly as I tried to smooth things over. As I hesitated for a moment, the door suddenly burst open.
“What do you mean!”
Serena strode forward and spoke in an irritated voice.
“He’s a stalker who’s latched onto you!”
“Serena?”
“That lunatic sent another letter? What the hell is he doing?”
Evan’s brow furrowed sharply.
“Physician, what are you talking about? Explain yourself.”
“How do I explain stalker-like abnormal behavior? In any case, as the personal physician responsible for our Lady Laria’s mental health, I cannot stand idle.”
I rolled my eyes silently from the sidelines.
“Your Highness, at this rate, let’s slit his throat at the banquet!”
“I quite like you. You’re the kind of talent that suits House Icard well.”
Wait, hadn’t Evan disliked Serena until now? Serena had always been wary of Evan, but it seemed she felt the Simor situation was far more serious.
“We can’t leave scoundrels like this alone!”
Ah… In the end, I was going to end up killing the male lead instead of just destroying the original story.
Just as I was about to firmly tell them not to say such things, thinking that no matter how shameless I was, I couldn’t be such a troublesome possession, Lisa came rushing through the open door.
“Your Highness! What will happen if you listen to this crazy physician too?”
“Crazy physician? That’s quite harsh language!”
“Your Highness can cause trouble and leave for the Capital, but Lady Laria has to continue living here! Aren’t you thinking about Lady Laria’s social life?”
Lisa spoke sharply with fierce eyes, ignoring Serena’s words. Eventually, with my strong agreement, it was decided that Evan would have words with Simor on the day of the banquet.
‘It seems like too many things will happen at the banquet.’
I need to suppress those showing signs of hostility toward me, avoid deep conversation with Simor, and—
‘—also prevent Evan from killing Simor.’
I let out a heavy sigh.
On top of everything, Sven was coming to see me as well.
* * *
Ubinate Count’s Mansion.
“Even if she’s called a noblewoman, well.”
Bieti Rezen Ubinate laughed softly and picked up her teacup.
“Judging by how far away they sent her, it doesn’t seem like she’ll become the real power of House Icard later.”
The people drinking tea at the same table nodded at her words.
“Wasn’t her family the Rostri Count’s House?”
“Isn’t that a completely fallen noble family? Didn’t they die leaving only debts?”
“I heard Duke Icard paid off those debts.”
“She probably isn’t very pretty as a daughter-in-law. They brought her in like that, and she immediately became sickly and frail.”
“That’s probably why they sent her away so far.”
“Is she really sick? Or did they just chase her out because they found her so distasteful?”
Bieti took a sip of her tea with a satisfied expression. The aristocratic social circle revolves around peer culture.
This was precisely why one had to interact from childhood and form factions. The interactions that occurred from early adolescence into adulthood continued even after reaching maturity.
Now fifteen years old, Bieti was undoubtedly the queen of the southwestern region’s youth social circle. After her father passed away early, her older brother, three years her senior, became an adult and inherited the count’s title, solidifying her position even further. Her brother adored Bieti deeply.
So much so that he didn’t object even when she had him write and send the response to the banquet invitation on behalf of the Icard noblewoman.
“We must suppress her spirit from the very beginning.”
Bieti called over her close friends of similar age and smirked.
“So she doesn’t arrogantly look down on us just because she came from the Capital.”
“Lady Bieti is absolutely right.”
Karado Viscount Yeong-sik Bern, who was essentially Biety’s right hand, nodded vigorously.
“She’s nothing but a paper doll of a noblewoman with nothing worth seeing. We can’t let her act out here.”
The young nobles at the table chimed in with words of agreement.
They all knew what happened to those who failed to join this circle or fell out of favor.
Especially if Biety took notice of you in displeasure—they all knew what had become of Kait, who had once been closest to her.
“In any case, we should make her understand her proper place at the banquet.”
Biety spoke while fluttering her ornate fan.
“Once she starts cowering and begging, it wouldn’t be bad to treat her decently then.”
After all, the position of Icard Nobleman couldn’t be ignored entirely. So Biety had no intention of excluding Laria completely.
In fact, if their hearts aligned well, she even considered making her one of her closest confidantes. But for now, she simply wanted to place her firmly beneath herself.
“But… surely Kait won’t come to the banquet, will she?”
At someone’s cautious question, Bern let out a soft laugh.
“She won’t have a single person to speak with, so why would she come?”
Biety also set down her teacup with an air of indifference.
“Well, it could serve as a warning to the Icard Nobleman. Something like: you could end up like that too, so make a good impression on us.”
It was also a warning to all the children at the table.

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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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