Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 68

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

“Laria!”
Lisa grabbed my shoulder in alarm.
“S-Serena… cough! Get Serena, quickly! Cough!”
“Which of you two runs faster!”
Lisa cried out sharply.
“Bring Lady Serena here at once! At once! Where is that physician anyway—why is she never around when we need her!”
“Yes, understood!”
One of the remaining guards dashed away and disappeared.
I continued coughing as I sank to the ground. Now I was surrounded only by incompetent guards and maids with no combat ability whatsoever.
This was the perfect moment for an ambush!
Just as I’d anticipated, three figures in black suddenly burst from the distant trees and rushed toward me. Or rather, they nearly did.
But…
“Princess! Are you alright!”
The assailants never got close—they were swiftly apprehended by the Royal Court’s elite soldiers who emerged from the undergrowth.
“How dare these villains attempt to harm the Princess!”
I stopped coughing and subtly rose to my feet.
In an instant, the quiet lakeside became chaotic.
A girl who had been leisurely fishing alone sighed and pushed back her robe. Deep blue hair rippled, and brilliant golden eyes gleamed. Her striking features were paired with an expression of commanding strength.
‘Of course, the heroine…’
It was Princess Elani.
The same age as me, and ultimately the female protagonist destined to rule this Empire.
The same radiant aura I’d sensed from Simor flickered around her. Even sitting still, her overwhelming presence was unmistakable—this was the woman who would eventually marry Evan.
‘I expected it, but her presence is extraordinary.’
Her hair color was vivid, her eyes were vivid, and though cute, my appearance was ambiguous and dull in comparison—completely different from hers.
“Reveal your identities at once!”
The Royal Court’s elite soldiers secretly guarding Princess Elani were truly the finest of the finest. Even if Duke Orlando had assigned exceptional swordsmen, they would be no match. Leaning against Lisa, I watched as the assailants’ masks were torn away.
‘Gray hair and pale yellow eyes…’
It was Medor, Duke Orlando’s trusted subordinate. A naturally cruel and vicious assassin. His abilities were formidable enough that someone like me could be kidnapped and killed with ease.
Duke Orlando wouldn’t have sent Medor after Princess Elani—this was clearly an ambush targeting me. He was the type of character who eliminated anyone who irritated him even slightly, using Medor as his tool. That’s why I’d anticipated the danger immediately.
‘He probably intended to kidnap or imprison me to discover my identity. I could have been killed in the process.’
But the Royal Knight Order, unaware of any of this, had different thoughts. Though they were tasked with guarding Elani, they remained hidden in the undergrowth to respect her wish to avoid drawing attention.
Suddenly, the assailants leaped out. From their perspective, it made sense to assume they were attacking the Princess rather than some unremarkable noblewoman without backing.
“My vacation here is classified information.”
Horror flashed across the eyes of the assailants who had been targeting me. They never could have imagined that the girl quietly fishing would be Princess Elani.
Even Medor couldn’t stand against such a large force of elite knights. As Elani looked down at them, helplessly captured, she spoke slowly.
“Where did the security breach occur?”
There was no security breach. It’s just a transmigrator barging in without restraint…
“I thought no one would dare target me directly, the future of the Empire. I was careless.”
You weren’t careless at all. It’s just that this transmigrator has no qualms about using the original plot…
“Take them away and find out the full details of this matter.”
Seeing Medor’s genuinely flustered expression, I felt absolutely delighted. He had clearly been following my movements, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. He never could have anticipated a situation like this!
“W-we meant no harm to the Princess! We truly didn’t!”
“And you expect me to believe that now?”
Though it was all true, Elani scoffed with derision.
“We didn’t even know the Princess was here! We were simply—”
“Simply what? Practicing high jumps with swords?”
Watching Elani’s distrustful eyes, Medor bit his lower lip. He couldn’t possibly say that the real target was the Duchess Consort, not the Princess.
However, to those ignorant of the truth, I was far too insignificant to warrant an attack. Even if he told the truth, it would likely be dismissed as a hastily fabricated excuse.
After all, the fact remained: a masked assailant had suddenly appeared before a Princess quietly concealing her identity while fishing.
I wanted to bounce around and tease them about it, but I held back. Instead, I put on a startled expression and greeted Elani.
“I greet the brilliant future of the Empire. I am Laria Rose Icard.”
And with my shameless inner nature masked by outward courtesy, I added:
“I apologize for introducing myself in such an unexpected situation.”
“You must have been quite frightened. Let me introduce myself properly. I am Elani Iliana Kaiarne.”
Elani answered with a sigh.
“I’ve heard you’ve been recuperating due to poor health. What brings you here?”
“Yes, as my husband’s birthday and the Foundation Festival approach, I stopped by on my way to the Capital. I heard the lake was beautiful.”
“I feel terrible that you’ve been caught up in this sudden situation because of me during your peaceful journey home.”
In truth, it was because of me that Elani had been caught up in this sudden situation, and honestly, I felt apologetic.
“As a token of my apology and sympathy, I’d like to offer something small as a gesture of goodwill.”
Of course, I had no intention of refusing a gift simply because an apology came with it.
“I’m sorry, but…”
“Just take it. I saw you coughing earlier, and I’m worried this shock might worsen your condition.”
Elani rummaged through her belongings and held something out to me.
When I saw what lay in her palm, my eyes widened.
‘Wait, hold on.’
This couldn’t be right.
What she offered was a ruby necklace.
To anyone else, it might seem like a mere trinket, something a Princess would discard without a second thought.
In fact, since she had impulsively purchased it in Abonitar, it truly wasn’t a remarkable item.
But my situation was different. This was supposed to be what Simor received.
I suddenly lifted my gaze toward the opposite shore of the lake. Simor, who had appeared at some point, was watching us with startled eyes.
“So, I’m planning to head to Abonitar tomorrow. There’s a ruby auction on the 13th of this month, and I’m arranging to arrive then.”
“I see. That’s where the ruby mining output is highest right now, isn’t it?”
How could I have known that Elani would be here at this time?
Abonitar—the place Simor was heading to sweep up rubies, and the location where the male and female leads first meet in the original work. So I had gone to the lakeside at the date and time depicted in the original story to confirm her presence, and deliberately sent away my guards to create the perfect ambush environment.
Of course, this moment was the part the original work described as crucial.
Because of the ruby auction, Simor comes to Abonitar, and with time to spare, he takes an afternoon stroll by the lake. There, they form their fateful first connection.
Surrounded by Robes and concealing her identity, Elani is fishing when an enormous fish bites her float and drags her toward the water. By chance, Simor, who happens to be passing by the lakeside, saves her, allowing her to successfully catch the massive fish.
Without imagining Elani’s true identity, Simor brazenly demands compensation, and so Elani offers him the ruby necklace she had purchased.
This ruby necklace would later be returned to Elani by Simor.
In doing so, it would become the catalyst for him to deliver that saccharine line about teaching her the value of love over money.
But I’m the one receiving this necklace? This isn’t just deviating from the original plot—it’s outright destruction.
I orchestrated this plan knowing that Princess Elani was fishing alone in this area, but I never anticipated things would go so awry.
Simply put, the timing was terrible. Of course, I wasn’t altruistic enough to time my actions around the protagonists’ romantic moments.
“Please take it. Consider it my apology.”
Wait, if I refuse, could it somehow make its way back to Simor?
“But, Your Highness…”
“If you won’t take it, I’ll throw it into the lake right now.”
True to Elani’s fiery temperament, a threat—or rather, something that couldn’t quite be called a threat—followed immediately.
And so the first token of affection between Simor and Elani was on the verge of falling into the wrong hands, all because of a transmigrator who cared only for her own skin.
“Sigh…”
There was no way I could feel good about accepting this.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
But humans cannot always act according to their feelings.
Especially not before a ruby so lustrous and clear. My feelings could be completely overridden. The guilt of ruining the original story was as light as my conscience, while the ruby before my eyes was as heavy as my greed.
“I will treasure it dearly.”
It was an inevitable truth that the male and female leads would always be entangled by fate, beset by trials and tribulations alike.
Simor and Elani would encounter each other frequently, whether now or later. So even if their first meeting didn’t come to pass, they would surely have the chance to rekindle their connection at the next opportunity.
That was how I rationalized it—my specialty.
For a supporting character, even a prominent one like me to worry about the male and female leads was like a mouse fretting over a cat.
‘Couples destined to be together will find their way regardless.’
That was when Elani’s fishing rod, abandoned on the ground, began to twitch.
“Your Highness!”
I cried out urgently.
“Something’s biting! The fishing rod!”
“Really?”
Elani sprang up and grabbed the fishing rod as it was being dragged toward the lake.
“Wow, this thing has incredible strength! What are you doing? Help me, quickly!”
Several members of the Royal Guard rushed to grab the fishing rod.
I stood there dumbly, watching as a fish nearly the size of Elani’s torso was hauled up on the line.
And so, even Simor’s role of helping Elani by chance had been erased.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————