Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 54

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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 day of the banquet I was hosting in my own name had finally arrived.
In the meantime, I had received several guests and written an enormous number of letters. Because the allocated budget was so substantial, the villa had transformed into something quite splendid.
It couldn’t compare to the banquets held at the Imperial Palace, but even so, they said it was quite a grand affair for the southwestern region.
“Laria, shall we make your makeup a bit more dramatic?”
“No, it’s fine.”
“But right now your expression looks too gentle.”
“What can I do about how I look?”
“Especially since you’re already so petite….”
Lisa kept sighing. She was worried about how the local cliques would receive me.
“Then rather than doing it half-heartedly, why don’t we just do it like Olivia does?”
“That might look a bit ridiculous, I think.”
“Actually, I feel the same way.”
Some might wonder why someone who wasn’t even an adult yet was so concerned, but I thought it was a perfectly valid worry.
In the world before my possession, there was even a term for this kind of thing. Which meant that factional conflicts were most intense in the early to mid-teens.
And because those delicate emotions carried over into adulthood, even adults were desperate to establish factions for their children from an early age.
In that sense, Duke Icard, who had sent Evan away to the Academy, was a remarkably indifferent father.
After all, Evan had never formed any faction throughout his childhood in the Capital’s social circles. And even after bringing me as his bride, he never once mentioned hosting tea parties or anything like that.
Well, that was probably his way of saying I should just exist quietly, as if I weren’t there at all.
“I’ve heard that if you just get along well with the Ubinart Baroness—that is, Bieti Rezen Ubinate—you won’t have any major problems in this region.”
In other words, if you didn’t get along with that girl, you’d face serious trouble.
Well, in a way, it was just pointless, childish posturing among young people.
‘Who would take something so trivial seriously….’
That ‘who’ was me.
‘We’ll see about that.’
Since it was childish and trivial, I had to win decisively.
As Lisa was pouring her soul into the preparations, there came a knock, and Evan entered.
“Hmm.”
The moment Evan came in, he saw me and frowned.
“I don’t think this looks very good.”
“Really? What’s wrong?”
“The dress doesn’t suit your face.”
Did Evan really have such refined aesthetic standards?
I examined my reflection in the mirror from every angle, tilting my head in confusion.
‘It actually looks decent to me….’
Lisa, who had selected the dress, also asked uncertainly.
“Why, my lord? Does the design look too outdated?”
“No. The color is a bit dull.”
Evan spoke with his arms crossed.
He was already dressed impeccably, even wearing a crimson cravat.
“Don’t you have something as vibrant as the dress you wore to the Racetrack?”
“Ah… Is that so? Well, since I’m hosting the soirée, perhaps something more elaborate would be appropriate.”
Lisa began deliberating anew, several dresses spread before her.
In total, six dresses had been crafted in the Capital with extraordinary opulence for the soirée.
I’d thought one would suffice, but Duke Icard insisted on preparing as much variety as possible, noting that the most flattering hue could vary depending on my condition that day.
“Shall we boldly attempt a striking yellow?”
“Hmm… Yellow tends to make the face appear washed out.”
“Not particularly, but… what about this emerald dress?”
“It clashes terribly with Laria’s hair color.”
Lisa’s expression grew increasingly subtle, as I hadn’t expected Evan—not Serena—to voice such emphatic opinions.
“Is that so? Then what of this orange shade?”
“It would be better if it were a touch deeper.”
“Then… purple?”
“No, something with a warmer tone instead…”
“Mm.”
Lisa finally lifted the last remaining dress, murmuring softly.
“Since you wear red dresses so frequently, I thought today might be an opportunity for a new venture…”
“That one seems like it would suit you perfectly.”
Evan spoke with a contented smile.
“Then prepare yourself at ease.”
He seemed aware that his presence had caused us discomfort all this time.
With a gesture suggesting he’d accomplished something, he departed briskly.
“Evan seems to have a subtle fixation on red, doesn’t he?”
I remarked while changing into the new dress.
“Perhaps he’s somewhat self-absorbed.”
Usually, only children take such pride in their own eye color.
Lisa shrugged her shoulders.
“Well… Matilda had red hair, so perhaps he acts this way after hearing that mentioned.”
“Ah, is that so? Then that must be it.”
I added indifferently.
“Evan never properly states what he likes. The way he speaks in circles is rather peculiar.”
“Please understand, Miss Laria. The Young Master doesn’t wish for anything from anyone. Or rather, he seems to believe he shouldn’t wish for anything.”
In the end, even this disposition was a scar left by trauma.
‘How pitiful…’
Once adorned with all manner of jewelry, I had become an undeniably lovely young woman. My complexion had improved so much lately that not a trace of illness remained visible.
As Evan and I waited in the elaborately decorated banquet hall, guests began arriving one by one.
My personal objectives for today’s soirée were twofold.
First, to establish the foundation for controlling the Social Circle.
Second, to make contact with Sven and discover what the Bestian Dark Information Guild desires from me.
“Welcome, Your Highness. We’re delighted to have you visit the southwestern region.”
Nearly everyone greeted me with courtesy and gentleness.
“Let’s stay in touch and become close friends going forward.”
Among them, there were groups who exchanged brief greetings before bursting into giggles among themselves.
‘There they are.’
Centered around Bieti Rezen Ubinate Baroness and her closest confidant, Viscount Bern, my peers had clustered together in a throng.
They kept glancing at me sideways and suddenly laughing, which irritated me greatly.
‘That ends today, you lot. Go ahead and laugh all you want.’
Meanwhile, Evan stood beside me with an impassive expression.
Naturally, my first dance partner was Evan. We were husband and wife, so there was no need for the usual procedure of requesting a dance. It was as natural as the fact that this was the Icard Villa.
“Wow, Evan.”
Still, as I moved my body in time with the music alongside Evan, my heart felt oddly pleasant.
“Look there. The petals are falling.”
In keeping with the season, petals scattered beyond the large window.
“It’s beautiful.”
Magnificent music, a husband who was old but endearing, falling flower petals, a beautiful spring night.
“Yes.”
Without even glancing at the window, Evan fixed his gaze on me and slowly nodded.
“You’re beautiful.”
It was just after I finished my first dance with Evan and was catching my breath.
“Good evening, Laria.”
I bit my lower lip slightly to avoid appearing startled.
“Thank you for the invitation.”
Wavy, brilliant golden hair, vivid green eyes, a gentle impression.
“I’m Simor Gold Litshia.”
Despite meeting for the first time, he had the audacity to call me by my name rather than “Your Grace.”
“I haven’t been in the South for very long myself.”
The male lead was truly the male lead. Despite being of commoner origins, having only recently purchased a baron’s title, and barely coming of age, he somehow possessed an air of refinement.
“I hope we can grow closer in the future.”
“Ah… yes. Pleased to meet you.”
“Would it be possible for me to request a second dance with you, Laria?”
Simor slowly extended his hand.
What is this guy doing, being so direct? A second dance, no less.
‘If he approaches me like this already, there’s no way to avoid it….’
No. I had a way to escape.
“…Cough.”
I’d forgotten since I hadn’t coughed in so long, but I was still a patient after all.
“Laria?”
Evan, who harbored unpleasant memories of my bleeding, grabbed my shoulder in alarm.
“Cough, cough. My apologies, Baron Litshia.”
I made my breathing appear ragged while gripping Evan’s arm and swayed slightly for a moment.
“The truth is, I haven’t been feeling well. After dancing once, I’m a bit short of breath.”
“Laria, go rest for a while.”
Evan, who had been indifferent since arriving at the banquet, couldn’t hide his restlessness. Worried that baseless rumors might spread, I straightened myself and smiled brightly.
“It’s nothing serious, but I should rest a bit just to be safe. I apologize, Baron.”
“Not at all.”
Simor glanced at Evan, who was still slightly shorter than him, and smiled knowingly.
“The night of a banquet is long.”
I blinked while maintaining my smile. That’s right—I’m no fool. It’s not for nothing that someone of commoner birth seized the male lead’s position.
‘If he somehow noticed that I’m following Simor’s footsteps…’
I could very well be treated as a capable stalker.
‘Could he resent me, or is he sharpening his blade knowing his position was stolen?’
Of course, it was only suspicion, so I could suppress it with my title, but any scandal would be nothing but a loss for me. In any case, he was someone I absolutely could not entangle myself with.
But right then.
“I’m sorry, but.”
Evan, holding me in an almost half-embrace, turned to him with a cold expression.
“Since I’m already here, I find it difficult to accept your advice to forget about my young husband who is far away.”

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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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