Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 7

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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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Evan had arranged for the butler to prepare everything for the outing, leaving me with nothing to do but show up.
‘Well, just because Evan is going doesn’t mean I can’t earn money.’
In fact, it seemed easier to simply tag along and blend into the background.
Evan had barricaded himself in the library, claiming he had studying to do. Never mind that he’d only just returned from the Academy—here he was, off to the library again.
‘No wonder Laria and Evan could never be a proper married couple. They barely see each other.’
I hadn’t seen him since breakfast, and I was enjoying a peaceful day just like old times. Then that afternoon, a delivery arrived at my name: one hundred exquisite handkerchiefs.
“These are the handkerchiefs the Duke ordered.”
Though they called them one hundred pieces, each handkerchief featured a different elegant pattern and looked expensive enough to make my eyes water.
‘If only I could have received the monetary value of these instead…’
I felt the pressure of needing to work hard enough to cough up blood in return, but… gratitude was gratitude nonetheless.
So I decided to visit Duke Icard in person to thank him. The handkerchief he’d given me yesterday was still clean—I hadn’t coughed blood on it yet—so I brought it along to return it.
‘But it feels awkward to give back just this alone…’
I asked Lisa for a card and carefully wrote out a message before heading to Duke Icard’s study.
He was usually shut away in his office unless something urgent came up, so he was easy to find.
Knock, knock.
“Father, it’s Laria.”
I knocked on the study door and waited a moment.
“Are you busy? I have something I’d like to give you.”
“Come in.”
His low voice came briefly, and I quickly opened the door and entered.
Duke Icard sat at his desk in a picture-perfect posture, reviewing documents.
‘Wow, he looks so much like Evan.’
The frightening expressionless face maintained in perfect posture was identical to how I’d seen Evan last night.
“You must be very busy?”
“I am.”
Duke Icard didn’t deny it and answered directly.
“During busy times, I need to get ahead on work if I’m going to take a day off.”
‘Where is he going? Why is he taking a day off?’
Well, it wasn’t my concern. He was probably scheming something while faithfully playing his role.
In fact, he was incredibly busy. After the Duchess passed away, the study at Duke Icard’s Mansion had become famous for its lights staying on until dawn every night.
“By the way, I received the handkerchiefs you sent. Thank you so much.”
I bowed respectfully and handed him the card along with the handkerchief he’d given me yesterday.
“I’m returning this one. The card is from my heart.”
“Is that so?”
Duke Icard opened my card right there. The contents were nothing special—just conventional words thanking him for the gift and suggesting we get along well going forward.
The slightly unusual part was that I’d drawn a small, doodle-like sketch beside the text.
The card had looked too empty, so I’d made an effort to fill the blank space in my own way. Usually, when it’s hard to fill margins with words, drawings are more efficient.
“What is this?”
Duke Icard frowned, pointing at my drawing.
“Did you draw three beasts?”
This couldn’t be happening.
“N-no, that’s not it…”
I trembled as I pointed with my finger.
“This is Father, this is Evan, and this is me. Three people getting along well…”
Surely he wasn’t upset just because I drew poorly?
In moments like this, I had a way to gloss over things.
“*Cough*.”
“…”
“*Cough, cough*.”
After coughing up blood at lunch earlier, it seemed I had none left to expel.
‘I can’t let him suspect anything.’
Since I couldn’t cough up blood that wasn’t there, I pressed my forehead and swayed slightly.
“I’m sorry, Father. I felt dizzy for a moment.”
Then I blinked my round eyes and quickly changed the subject.
“So I’ll be going now…”
“What?”
“You seem busy, so…”
As I quietly backed away, Duke Icard’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“Are you finished saying what you came to say?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“…Yes.”
“Truly?”
The atmosphere suggested I shouldn’t answer “yes” one more time.
“You haven’t forgotten anything because your head is dizzy?”
I paused to think for a moment.
I’d already expressed my gratitude and returned his handkerchief. So what remained was…
“I apologize for drawing so poorly?”
It was pathetic and shameful, but the weakest had no choice but to bow before the strongest.
“I won’t draw again…”
“This.”
Seeing Duke Icard’s brow furrow deeply, I nearly hiccupped.
“You said it was a picture of three people getting along well.”
“…Yes.”
“You said you wanted the three of us to get along?”
Isn’t that what this is?
I quickly darted my eyes around.
“Still nothing comes to mind?”
He set down his pen and sighed.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to go on a picnic together?”
Surely not.
“I didn’t realize you were the type to say one thing and mean another.”
I glanced at the documents stacked before him. Could it be that taking a day off meant…?
“Father!”
That’s it! That was it!
The moment I caught on, I spoke quickly.
“I was so dizzy and nauseous that I forgot. Actually, there’s one more thing I needed to tell you.”
“Is that so?”
“In two days, Evan and I are going to a horse racing event.”
“I see.”
His answer came swiftly.
The slight furrow in his brow gradually smoothed out.
“I’d love for you to come with us, Father!”
Though my initial words were merely a pretext, I sensed that if he saw through me, disaster would follow, so I gave it my all.
“I’m really looking forward to going on a picnic all together. Father, if you’re too busy, I understand, but you will come with us, won’t you?”
As I asked earnestly with my hands clasped tightly, he cleared his throat once with a soft sound.
“Very well.”
He picked up his pen again.
“I have little interest in horse racing, but since my ailing child is asking, I suppose I have no choice.”
“Yes, thank you so much!”
I laughed as though I couldn’t be happier.
“Father, I’m so glad you’ll be coming with us.”
“Don’t be so dramatic.”
“I really mean it… *cough, cough*.”
This time, blood truly spilled out.
‘Perfect timing.’
Since I hadn’t gained his affection yet, I absolutely had to emphasize my terminal condition.
I glanced at him and quickly coughed more, but no more blood came. My body was recovering, and the amount of blood I was coughing up had diminished.
“I should… go take care of this.”
Fearing he might notice the reduced amount of blood, I hastily left his office.
For the entire day and the next, I couldn’t see Evan. He remained shut away in the Library.
Evan came in after I fell asleep at night and left at the crack of dawn before I woke. I never knew studying was such a hobby of his.
‘This hardly qualifies as married life.’
Except for that first breakfast, we couldn’t eat together. I thought perhaps he’d grown fond of me since he wanted to go to the horse racing event, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.
‘Did he really just want to go to the horse racing event but was too embarrassed to say so?’
In any case, it wasn’t until the morning we all departed for the horse racing venue that I could properly see Evan’s face.
Evan’s face looked somewhat haggard, and the moment he got in the carriage, he began nodding off.
‘So he didn’t even want to go to the horse racing event. He seems to prefer the Library.’
He was utterly incomprehensible. Then again, that’s probably why he’d grow into an emotionless person unable to understand ordinary people…
While Evan dozed against the window, I coughed up blood once more.
‘Perfect. I rarely cough up blood these days—the timing couldn’t have been better.’
It was most cost-effective to display hemoptysis in front of the Duke.
The Duke regarded me with inscrutable crimson eyes before turning his gaze toward the window.

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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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