Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 62

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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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“But if he were to summon a demon to accomplish such a thing, the conditions would be extraordinarily stringent. Demons don’t offer contracts favorable to humans, after all.”
That wasn’t much of a variable. Duke Icard seemed like he’d accept any condition whatsoever if it meant resurrecting Matilda.
“Well.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“It’s a problem for the distant future anyway. When I flee and Evan marries Princess Elani.”
“That’s true.”
Serena nodded in agreement.
“That’s precisely why we want to help you escape, Laria.”
“Then take your time thinking about it. Even if I do flee, that’s years away.”
“Waiting a few years is hardly a burden for us. So please, take all the time you need. Think about it every day, if you must.”
Being told to think about it slowly every day was ultimately quite burdensome. But I was the sort of person who could easily brush off concerns—as long as they didn’t involve money.
“By the way.”
Serena grasped my hand and spoke seriously.
“What about that stalker named Simor? Honestly, that concerns me more.”
“More than dark magic?”
“Well, that’s more my area of expertise, you see.”
She spoke with conviction.
“Secret affairs only work between people who keep things light. The moment genuine feelings get involved, it becomes a romance novel full of tribulations and trials.”
Goodness, Serena truly was an expert. Simor was the protagonist of a romance novel, after all! Though of course, I wasn’t the heroine.
“It looks entertaining from the outside, but for those involved, it’s nothing but torment.”
“That may be true, but… that’s not quite the situation here.”
I answered gently.
“After talking with him, I realized there was a misunderstanding. He’s not a stalker—he wants to be my secret business partner.”
“My goodness. A secret business partner? Isn’t that us?”
Serena’s hand trembled slightly.
“Is some random noble trying to steal the Dark Information Guild’s role?”
I’d heard that phrase before. Wasn’t that what Lisa had said to Serena?
“Did Lord Evan accept this? Didn’t he say he’d come for his head?”
“I said it was fine, so what can he do about it?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“No matter how much of a husband he is, he can’t interfere with my personal relationships.”
“That may be so, but… still.”
“Of course he wanted to draw his sword, but I persuaded him well. The decision-maker regarding my social connections is me, after all.”
“If he resembled Duke Icard, he would never have accepted it.”
So I pointed out the decisive difference between Evan and Duke Icard.
“But Evan is still young. If I teach him properly, he won’t be able to argue back.”
“I see… He must truly trust you, Laria.”
Serena blinked and murmured.
“But when that trust breaks, things will get messy. If he does everything you ask and you still run away, he’ll completely turn dark.”
“Hmm…”
In the original story I knew, even if Evan had a dark turn, it wouldn’t matter much. But even if the original changed and produced different results, I couldn’t stake my life on Evan’s potential corruption. Of course, Evan was adorable, but this was a matter of survival—I had no choice.
“Still, he’s so cute though…”
“I doubt anyone besides Laria would call the young master cute.”
Serena shook her head with a wry smile.
“Surely you don’t think Evan will remain thirteen forever. It’s quite common for a woman to be charmed by a boy’s cuteness, only to be consumed by the man he becomes.”
“What?”
“I told you before. No matter how remarkable Laria is, this is my specialty.”
Serena let out a deep sigh and shook her head again.
“A one-sided relationship where Laria simply adores the young master? It’ll last at most two years. After that, the dynamic between you two will change completely…”
“Are you going to bet your medical license on that?”
I laughed softly as I spoke.
“But for now, he’s completely my little one.”
“Laria is only fourteen. There’s barely a year between you.”
“Mental age is different. Children who suffer tend to mature faster, you know. Even though I’m recovering, I’ve been sickly since childhood.”
“That’s true…”
Serena squeezed my hand gently.
“…You’ve suffered so much since you were young.”
I was the daughter of a viscount family, but my father’s indulgences and gambling were severe. Objectively speaking, my childhood was unfortunate.
Especially given what Serena knew, the situation would have been even worse. I’d become an orphan at a young age, buried under debt, and somehow ended up married only to face death at an opportune moment.
“Serena. I’d prefer if you didn’t suggest I meet other men in the future.”
While I was at it, I spoke to Serena firmly.
“Because of my father’s indulgences, we were certainly unfortunate.”
“Ah…oh my.”
Serena’s expression filled with bewilderment. It was clear she hadn’t thought that far.
“I may have entered into a political marriage with Evan, but as long as I’m bound by the institution of marriage, I’ll do my best.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Serena straightened up completely and answered.
“I won’t say such things again, ever. I was shortsighted.”
“Anyway.”
I began opening the letters that had piled up like mountains since the banquet, one by one, and continued speaking.
“If I run away anyway, it’ll all be over. If Evan becomes a concern, I just need to prepare more thoroughly.”
As I spoke indifferently, I discovered one rather special letter wedged between the envelopes.
“Hm? It’s from Father?”
As soon as I arrived at the villa, I’d sent a letter with warm affection, saying I’d arrived safely and thanking him for his consideration.
But since there was no reply, I’d assumed he was busy or simply uninterested in me for now. Yet here was a letter that arrived after the banquet ended.
[Did anything happen at the banquet? That Bieti Yubinart—did he behave disrespectfully?]
Wait, how does he know Bieti’s name from so far away in the Capital? He truly was a capable and busy mastermind.
[I’m ready to destroy the mines belonging to the Yubinart County. Send me a report on the banquet in your reply.]
Moreover, he was on the verge of bringing down an entire respectable household.
Truly, he possessed every quality of a mastermind.
‘But dark magic… she won’t succeed, will she?’
Because Princess Elani ends up with Simor in the end. One of the prerequisites for using dark magic was Royal Court approval.
‘Given how badly things stand between Evan and her—to the point of enacting divorce laws—there’s no way she’d grant dark magic permission.’
I fell silent in thought for a moment, then shook my head.
‘It’s none of my concern.’
I just need to keep quietly saving money and disappear like I’ve been doing.
Duke Icard’s ambitions will ultimately fail anyway, so even if I die in the process, it’ll be a meaningless death.
When I glanced out the window, flower petals were dancing in the breeze.
After briefly recalling my first dance with Evan, I asked seriously.
“Does Father still receive reports about my condition without my knowledge?”
“Yes.”
Ever since we all came to Borotna, Serena had been sending regular letters to him on Duke Icard’s orders. Naturally, they were about my health.
“I’m doing my best to care for her, so outwardly her condition has improved significantly, but since the fundamental problem remains unresolved, looking long-term, she has about seven years… I continue sending reports like this.”
“And what kind of responses do you get?”
“…None. How could Duke Icard possibly reply to someone like me when he’s so busy?”
So he analyzes his daughter-in-law’s social life while being incredibly busy…
Indeed, a true mastermind had to be diligent.
Of course, I was busy too.
“I need to call Lisa.”
I picked up the quill pen indifferently as I spoke.
“I have so many letters to send. Things are about to get really hectic.”
Since I’d practically shattered the Vieti Group at the banquet, it was time to begin the real work.
After analyzing Serena’s information and arranging tea party schedules in various combinations, I smiled with satisfaction. Besides the people from the southwestern social circle, I wrote two additional letters.
One was a reply to send to Duke Icard.
[Father, I’m fine. Olivia taught me all sorts of skills, and I’ve been using them very well.]
In other words, it meant: ‘My success here isn’t due to my own abilities, but thanks to Olivia’s teachings.’
Certainly, Father, a capable mastermind, would realize from that banquet that I hadn’t fallen into difficulty—rather, I’d divided the Vieti Group.
‘Once a mastermind begins to suspect me, it’s over. I must remain insignificant until the very end. That way, he won’t be on guard when I escape.’
[Thanks to that, I’ve been taking lessons at the Eldspie Viscount Family and have grown close to the Eldspie Viscount’s Daughter.]
In other words: ‘Even if I do well here going forward, it’s all thanks to the Eldspie Viscount’s Daughter. I’m just fortunately attached to her side.’
[The more time I spend at this villa, the more I love it. Everything here suits my taste.]
Which meant: ‘This place is perfect for me, so I have no intention of going to the Capital.’
[It was nice to see Evan after so long. I’ll head to the Capital soon. I miss you so much too, Father.]
And I ended the letter with: ‘Let’s not see each other until then.’
Besides the letter to Duke Icard, there was one more letter heading elsewhere—to the Temple.
[Marcel, come down to bless me.]
It was time to establish the existence of Kail Dart Labonis, however faintly. Duke Icard was someone who waited in the shadows for years for his purpose.
I too had confidence I could prepare this thoroughly for my real escape. After reaffirming my resolve to escape once more and gazing absently out the window, that’s when it happened.
“Wait.”
The flower petals I’d thought were dancing outside the window just moments ago were still in the exact same spot.
I rose to my feet and approached the window.
“My goodness.”
Flower petals were affixed to my window pane—someone had painstakingly attached them one by one.
“Every time I see these petals, I’ll remember that first dance.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
He’s adorable, my husband.

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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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