Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 69

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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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“This is incredible.”
Princess Elani gazed at the thrashing fish with enchanted eyes as she spoke, then squeezed my hand tightly.
“Amazing! Truly remarkable.”
I had only shouted a single word, yet she looked at me with sparkling eyes and said:
“Thank you so much. I was able to catch such a magnificent fish because of you, Laria.”
I, in turn, had been able to catch Medor because of Elani.
Even if I simply avoided him now, it was obvious that whenever Duke Icard expanded his power in the future, he would check me. After all, when striking someone, one always targets their weakest point first.
Moreover, I had become more exposed than necessary. I had gained too much notoriety to remain the quiet little puppet master I had been in the South. So for my own safety, I needed to clip his wings from the very beginning.
With the charge of attempted regicide against the royal family, it would be difficult for him to be released from investigation anytime soon. Without Medor, Duke Orlando’s power would inevitably be weakened.
Medor was Duke Orlando’s right arm, successfully carrying out numerous schemes to obstruct Duke Icard. Now that countless interference had been blocked, the path forward was clear.
‘Having severed my rival’s right arm, the road ahead should now bloom with opportunity for Duke Icard….’
I was feeling reasonably satisfied when Elani spoke with pride.
“Our paths will cross again someday.”
Yes, our paths will cross. I am, after all, the current wife of Your Highness’s future husband.
‘If I said that out loud, it would sound rather melodramatic….’
“Because you are the wife of none other than Prince Icard.”
Yes, precisely because of that.
‘But the Princess’s true love lies far away over there—Simor….’
I glanced across the lake and tilted my head.
I had noticed that Simor had been staring intently at us this whole time.
It was natural to watch such a stimulating scene—a prince’s wife and a princess, along with the royal court’s elite assassins. So I had assumed his gaze would be fixed on Elani.
Though I had interfered with their fateful first meeting, they were destined to be together anyway. Wouldn’t he have felt something at first glance?
“….”
It didn’t seem to be the case.
Simor’s emerald eyes were fixed on me. As if he had no interest whatsoever in the radiant beauty of Elani.
The moment our eyes met, he mouthed something with exaggerated lip movements.
‘Are you okay?’
Then he pretended to cough.
It seemed he was concerned about the coughing fit I had suffered while spending time next to Elani.
‘Ah, so Simor is more worried about whether I, his business partner, might die.’
It appeared that even from a distance, his concern for the Princess could not overcome his love of capital.
‘Well….’
I watched Elani’s back as she turned away contentedly, holding the large fish, and thought to myself.
‘Let me not overthink this. I’m not a novelist, after all. Destined connections find their way regardless.’
I was not meticulous enough to concern myself with the twisted love affairs of people who would live better lives than I ever would. So it was right to simply let her go and be done with it. No further conversation, no more involvement.
‘But….’
Would I truly have no regrets if I let her go like this?
I gazed quietly at the ruby necklace held in my hand. The craftsmanship was exquisite and the gem’s quality was flawless. Like a medium connecting the protagonists, everything about it was perfectly beautiful.
‘I can’t do this after all.’
I simply couldn’t let her go like that.
If I didn’t call her back now, I felt I would regret it every time I saw the necklace. So after hesitating for a moment, I clutched the necklace and called out carefully.
“Your Highness!”
Elani, who had been turning to leave under the escort of the Royal Court’s elite guards, looked back.
“I’m terribly sorry, but this necklace….”
The necklace was far too beautiful to simply let go.
Looking at Elani’s radiant face, I asked earnestly.
“…Where did you purchase it?”
I decided I should buy Evan’s birthday gift from this shop.
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Due to some adjustments to my schedule, I arrived at Duke Icard’s Mansion somewhat later than anticipated. I had sent word in advance that my arrival would be delayed, but it was difficult to provide an exact time.
By the time I arrived at Duke Icard’s Mansion, dusk had already fallen. The path from the gates to the mansion was long, and by the time I reached it, stars had begun to appear.
Wait, did stars normally… burst like that?!
“What, what is this?”
The moment I stepped down from the carriage, I gaped at the fireworks shooting high into the sky above the mansion.
This wasn’t some international fireworks festival—rainbow-colored fireworks were bursting one after another with loud bangs.
‘This can’t be real!’
I gasped as I gazed at the brilliantly colored night sky.
‘Duke Icard’s budget is literally going up in flames!’
Fireworks were quite expensive here, and at this rate, it was as if gold coins were being scattered across the heavens with each passing moment.
‘Wait a moment…. Now that I think about it, Evan’s birthday is tomorrow.’
I naturally assumed they were holding a grand pre-birthday celebration, when I suddenly startled at the words appearing across the night sky.
[Celebrating the Return of Duchess Laria]
How much money was disappearing with each fleeting letter….
If they had given me that money instead, I could have furnished Labonis Manor with the finest furnishings, and I found that regrettable. Only after that regret did astonishment finally arrive.
“You must have had a difficult journey.”
“Welcome back.”
Both Evan and Duke Icard spoke with identical expressionless faces and blunt tones.
Morand, the butler, spoke with a gentle smile.
“Both of them wished to welcome you, so we prepared this modest event.”
A modest event? You’ve just set all the furnishings of my mansion ablaze in the sky….
“We ran short on time, so it turned out a bit meager. I’m sorry if you’re disappointed.”
Duke Icard spoke while clearing his throat.
“Evan and I wasted some time on a minor disagreement….”
“A disagreement?”
Morand quickly interjected.
“The two of you spent quite a long time choosing between three options: ‘Celebrating the Return of Duchess Laria’, ‘We Welcome Laria’s Return’, and ‘How joyful—Laria has returned’.”
“If I’d known you’d arrive sooner, I would have just done all three.”
Evan muttered with a wistful tone. If they had done all three, the entire manor would have burned down, so it was fortunate they hadn’t.
“However, since I changed my schedule, I wasn’t able to inform you of the exact time of arrival….”
“Of course, I’ve also prepared a welcoming ceremony in case you arrive during the day. An orchestra and choir performance were scheduled to celebrate your return.”
If I had arrived during the day, the vibrations in the air would have meant the Duke’s Mansion budget simply vanishing.
“Then what happens to all those people?”
“The payment has already been made, so….”
Oh no. The expenses have already doubled!
“Should you wish to hear any particular music, you may attend a private performance at your convenience.”
Which meant all those musicians were now tied to the Duke’s Mansion.
My first instinct was the virtuous thought that I should send them away quickly since I had no particular songs I wanted to hear. But that virtuous thought was immediately followed by the reality: ‘I can’t afford such generosity.’ I mustn’t forget that I was merely a small-time transmigrator with nothing but greed to my name.
‘I must conserve every card I can use. I cannot waste anything.’
I regretted that I hadn’t given myself the alias of Baron Scrooge instead of Baron Labonis.
“Then, if I happened to arrive during the day, these fireworks….”
“Those would also be arranged for you to see on whatever night you preferred.”
In the end, they had prepared welcoming ceremonies for both day and night.
I clasped my hands together with a moved expression and looked at Evan and Duke Icard.
“This is far too grand a welcome for me. I don’t even know how to express my gratitude.”
Both their faces were brimming with anticipation for praise.
“It’s truly moving and wonderful, and of course, I prefer good things I can possess forever rather than beautiful things that disappear after one viewing, but….”
Since both remained silent, my words kept flowing.
“Well, that is to say, the grace of House Icard is truly as vast as the sea and as high as the mountains….”
“As high as the mountains?”
Duke Icard spoke bluntly.
“I thought it was a rather refined event, but if it felt scattered, I apologize. It must have been chaotic.”
“Ahahahahahaha!”
Contempt flashed across Evan’s face while admiration crossed mine.
I squeezed my eyes shut in laughter and brought my hands together to form the shape of a mountain.
“As high as the mountains, as high as the mountains—my, how could you think such a thing!”
Duke Icard folded his arms and lifted the corners of his mouth ever so slightly.
“Indeed.”
He murmured softly.
“With Laria back, the atmosphere of the Duke’s Mansion is certainly different.”
Evan shook his head without saying a word.
And so I had returned to Duke Icard’s Mansion.

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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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