Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 67

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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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“A Medal of Honor, you say….”
Duke Orlando furrowed his brow, muttering to himself.
“Why did that ancient manuscript have to surface now of all times….”
He had naturally assumed the Medal of Honor would go to him.
More than ten orphanages had been established under the name of House Orlando. Though he had chosen cheap interior materials beneath their glittering facades, they had all been aimed at securing the Medal of Honor.
The Medal of Honor bestowed directly by the Emperor held tremendous significance in recruiting other nobles and expanding one’s influence. Once a family possessed the Medal of Honor, the Emperor could not act against them carelessly.
“It seems the Duke Icard’s daughter-in-law happened to discover it by chance.”
At his subordinate’s words, Duke Orlando let out a groan of frustration.
“Laria Rose Icard? You mean the daughter of that fallen nobility with no background whatsoever?”
“The donation to the Academy was also reportedly this daughter-in-law’s suggestion.”
“…Wait.”
Duke Orlando’s expression grew serious.
“That girl….”
Laria Rose Icard…. It seemed she had drawn attention once before for something similar.
“That… Dark Horse?”
“Yes. She is the one who won a considerable sum through horse racing this spring.”
Duke Orlando fell into contemplation.
Duke Icard was his political rival. The Empire had only two ducal families. House Icard had been so wealthy in its own right and possessed such vast territories that it had shown no interest in other matters until now.
But when Matilda, the Duke Icard’s wife, passed away, the Duke Icard’s influence suddenly began to grow steadily.
For Duke Orlando, who had been manipulating the Nobility, this was deeply troubling. If Duke Icard began to control even the Royal Court, House Orlando would lose all its standing.
So he wanted to find some fault and suppress him before his influence grew further…. But when Evan and Laria married, the neutral nobles withdrew passively, saying “Duke Icard could never harbor such ambitions.”
‘It was certainly strange. There’s no reason he would take such a girl as his daughter-in-law without cause.’
Duke Orlando furrowed his brow with unease.
‘Moreover, I heard that when that girl had some health issues, he renovated all the villas…. What if she’s actually more remarkable than Princess Elani, and we just don’t know it?’
The kind of child who brings good fortune. In any case, ever since that girl became Duke Icard’s daughter-in-law, nothing good had happened to Duke Orlando.
“Medor.”
“Yes.”
Medor, Duke Orlando’s loyal subordinate, was a man with gray hair and yellow eyes whose expression was extremely cruel.
“I suspect there’s some secret involved. Investigate her. I hear she’s on her way to the Count’s Manor right now.”
“Then it would be far more convenient to examine her before she arrives at the Count’s Manor.”
“Yes.”
Duke Orlando lifted his chin and continued slowly.
“House Rostri has been extinct for a long time, and she didn’t even have a proper wedding ceremony with the Duke Icard’s son.”
According to his investigations, Laria had never made her debut in the Capital’s social circles, and had only a few friends from when she was recuperating in Borotna.
“There must be some reason, but she has no real backing yet. As the Duke Icard’s daughter-in-law, she lacks sufficient support, so any consequences would be manageable.”
If something was amiss, he needed to discover it immediately.
If time passed and Laria became firmly established as the Duke Icard’s daughter-in-law, there would be nothing he could do even if he wanted to act.
“Abduct her and bring her in. Find out something. I have a strong premonition that Duke Icard did not bring this girl purely for humanitarian reasons.”
“Yes, understood.”
“If it becomes troublesome, just eliminate her.”
“Pardon?”
“Either way, it’s a fact that girl has done good things for Duke Icard’s house, so there’s no harm in nipping it in the bud beforehand.”
If she was even more beneficial to Duke Icard’s house than Princess Elani herself, she needed to be eliminated as soon as possible. Medor immediately grasped Duke Orlando’s intent.
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Laria’s party, who had been heading from Borotna’s villa to Duke Icard’s Mansion, suddenly changed their route.
“Laria’s condition isn’t very good right now.”
It was because Serena, Laria’s personal physician, spoke up urgently.
“Especially since we’d have to cross Morolid Mountains if we continue like this, right? In Laria’s current state, going to such high altitudes is impossible. Her condition will worsen.”
Owen, the commander of the Icard Knights tasked with escorting Laria and safely guiding her to the mansion, suddenly felt afraid.
Duke Icard and his son already seemed to cherish Laria quite dearly, and she had even received a commendation medal because of her. They would have made all the preparations for a grand welcome and would be waiting for her eagerly—if anything went wrong, he wouldn’t be able to escape unscathed.
“Then, what should we do?”
“We must take a detour through flat terrain.”
Serena unfolded a map as she spoke.
“Here.”
The place she pointed to was a lakeside town called Abonitar.
“If we go through here, it will take about two more days, but this route is still the best option. For various medical reasons, we absolutely must arrive by tomorrow afternoon.”
“I’ll take the detour immediately. If the physician says so, of course I should follow.”
“Oh?”
Serena laughed alluringly and swept her hair back.
“So you’ll naturally follow whatever I say?”
“No? I mean, of course within the limits of my own judgment….”
“I see. Judgment, you say.”
Serena’s voice continued in a sweet, melodic tone.
“Why don’t you take the opportunity to judge me in Abonitar?”
Owen silently recited the knight’s oath in his mind. He knew all too well the fate of the knights who had fallen under her spell. No matter how beautiful and enchanting she was, in the end, it would be he who got hurt.
“But I must always keep watch over Laria’s surroundings….”
“I am Laria’s surroundings.”
Serena leaned subtly against him and whispered.
“Shouldn’t you keep watch over me as well?”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve been watching you for a long time.”
“What, what, what did you say? Me?”
“Yes. I’m sincere. I stake my medical license on it.”
After that, Serena didn’t return to Laria and continued conversing with Owen at his side all the way until they arrived at Abonitar. She was a woman whose words flowed so naturally and whose every gesture was utterly captivating.
It was dangerous.
Owen swore to himself that he would never fall for Serena unless the sun rose in the west.
“Laria wishes to see the lake.”
As they were unpacking their belongings at the inn in Abonitar, which Laria had personally chosen, Serena entered and spoke.
“She said she dislikes quiet towns becoming noisy, so she asked that only the minimum guard accompany her. She especially asked that you not come, Owen, since you’re so large and conspicuous.”
Serena smiled sweetly and spoke.
“While Lady Laria enjoys the view of the lake, wouldn’t you like to enjoy the view of me, Lord Owen?”
Owen quietly withdrew a compass from his pocket and adjusted the needle.
‘From now on, my west is that direction.’
He couldn’t find a reason to follow Laria when she had explicitly told him not to. Or rather, it was more accurate to say he hadn’t bothered looking for one.
And so Laria set off to see the lake, accompanied only by Lisa and a few guards.
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“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
I strolled slowly around the lake as I spoke.
“The way it sparkles in the sunlight is as lovely as gold coins… no, I misspoke. As lovely as jewels.”
Though I wondered if that made any difference, I quickly smoothed things over and surveyed my surroundings.
This was a remote lakeside far removed from the village.
‘Probably around here… ah, there it is.’
The only other person in sight was a stranger sitting by the lake in a heavy robe, fishing.
‘Now if I could just remove the guards…’
To create the optimal moment for an ambush, I spoke to the guards following behind me.
“Speaking of which, I heard this place is famous for rubies. Find me a good jeweler.”
“Pardon?”
“Evan likes red, you know. I thought it would be nice to give him something like that alongside his birthday gift.”
“Then shall we return to the inn and instruct the other servants…?”
“But I’m in the mood to buy Evan’s birthday gift right now. Immediately. At once.”
I spoke with calculated innocence.
“If something happens here, so be it. Go quickly. If you’re really worried, you can leave just two of you behind.”
The guards exchanged uncertain glances before scattering into the city, leaving only two behind.
‘I need to send away at least one more.’
Rolling my eyes, I immediately began coughing.
“Cough, cough cough, cough!”

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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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