Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 71

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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 sat beside Calaudin with a sullen expression. Ever since Lisa, Laria’s maid, had driven him away, he hadn’t even been allowed to escort her.
Just because he’d dared to argue against her claim that he absolutely could not wear a red dress, now he couldn’t even watch her get ready.
The Banquet Hall of Duke Icard’s Mansion was filled with the duke’s retainers seated in orderly rows. It was rare for retainers to be summoned and mobilized like this. The mansion’s staff had prepared the party with extraordinary care.
When it was time for Laria to make her entrance, the doors opened and the orchestra and choir filed in.
“What is this? I distinctly told her to handle it herself.”
Calaudin furrowed his brow, and Morand quickly responded.
“Lady Laria has decided to perform herself, sir.”
“Is that so? Why on earth?”
“She apparently requested a congratulatory song, sir.”
Both Calaudin and Evan couldn’t help but smile.
Preparing a congratulatory song herself at the party—wasn’t that adorable?
The orchestra lined up at the entrance of the Banquet Hall began playing a piece famous as a congratulatory song. The choir sang along with a beautiful melody. As the song began slowly, Laria entered.
Evan watched his wife enter with quick, hurried steps.
Though he hated to admit it, Lisa was right—Laria in her pale yellow dress was as cute as a chick.
Laria beamed brightly at Evan. He, who rarely smiled comfortably, found that she smiled so openly to everyone. The problem was that she smiled like that to men other than her husband too…
Still, since Laria had asked him to trust her, Evan decided not to bring up that issue anymore.
He really hated it, but listening to Laria was what mattered most.
The congratulatory song reached its crescendo, and Laria approached him. He thought she might be surprised by how much larger the party was than expected, but she showed no signs of embarrassment whatsoever.
Just yesterday she’d made such a moved expression at the rather pathetic fireworks—I wondered why she was being so composed now.
“Evan!”
Laria held something out to him.
“Happy birthday, truly.”
Not only Evan, but everyone present in the hall froze.
“Your birthday party is so grand that my gift seems shabby in comparison.”
What she held out was a letter.
“I drew pictures and wrote a lot of it myself.”
Evan accepted the thick letter with trembling hands.
“Since you’ll probably receive many expensive and fine things anyway.”
Laria glanced around the room and laughed innocently.
“Even if it’s nothing compared to what everyone here has prepared, I put all my sincerity into it.”
The congratulatory song ended at precisely that moment.
Then she grasped his wrist and personally fastened a pair of cufflinks that gleamed with red rubies.
“These are souvenirs I bought on the way back, so I just put them on.”
His shirt originally had a design that didn’t require cufflinks, but she seemed to have simply inserted them as decoration.
“Of course, I bought a pair for Father too!”
Laria hurried over to Calaudin and handed him a pair of cufflinks in the same design.
“But Father, you’re already wearing cufflinks…”
At Laria’s words, Calaudin personally removed his own cufflinks and carelessly dropped them. In the end, Laria was able to fasten the new cufflinks on Calaudin herself.
After the congratulatory song ended, silence fell over the spacious Banquet Hall. Everyone wore somewhat dazed expressions. Sensing that the silence itself was strange, Laria returned to Evan’s side and spoke with an awkward smile.
“But it seems Great-Aunt still hasn’t arrived? Then perhaps we should wait a bit before officially starting the birthday party….”
“Laria.”
Evan spoke in a low voice.
“This isn’t my birthday party.”
“…What?”
“It’s your welcome party.”
Laria’s violet eyes widened in shock.
“W-wait, today isn’t your birthday? D-did I get it wrong?”
“No, that part is correct.”
Evan answered calmly.
“I don’t celebrate my birthday like this.”
When even Laria fell silent, a cold hush descended over the Banquet Hall.
The retainers who had attended with gifts for Laria averted their gazes in embarrassment. They had all received invitations to Laria’s welcome party.
It was even a personal invitation written by Calaudin himself: ‘My daughter-in-law has returned after making remarkable contributions to receiving this honor—prepare a proper welcome.’
Evan himself had answered calmly, but he was equally bewildered. He had never even considered that he deserved to have his birthday celebrated.
Until now, he had always spent his birthday at the Academy, and no one had ever truly celebrated it with him.
His birthday was also the day Matilda passed away. Therefore, Evan had never regarded his birthday as anything special.
A birthday song, words of congratulation, thick letters, and gifts—it was all completely unexpected.
Only after his chest suddenly sank did he realize he was moved. In this grand Banquet Hall, surrounded by so many people, he could only see Laria holding out the letter.
Is this what always happens after marriage? Does everyone feel this warm and secure when they have a wife?
No, can this really be called a feeling of security? My hands are trembling like this.
Evan had just turned fourteen, and until now he had never maintained a normal relationship with anyone. Because of this, he was still too young and inexperienced to truly examine his own feelings. Moreover, the completed relationship of marriage had made his desires toward the other person ambiguous.
They were always together regardless, so he had never thought deeply beyond the desire to simply get along well.
But one thing was certain.
Since Laria entered his life, something had definitely changed. A feeling he absolutely did not want to lose, something he definitely did not want to share with others, a desire to be together unconditionally until the end—it was becoming increasingly clear.
“Ah, b-but, still, it’s the birthday of Duke Icard’s only heir….”
As Laria muttered in a daze, the Banquet Hall door suddenly burst open.
“I apologize for arriving late to the party.”
Everyone’s frozen gazes shifted backward with relief. Viscount Hiellin, one of Duke Icard’s retainers, had arrived belatedly.
But Viscount Hiellin was not alone.
“However, there were circumstances….”
Viscount Hiellin presented a young girl about the same age as Evan and Laria, saying:
“She is Rosalin Is Maple, Matilda’s sixth cousin. Her father passed away, and she has nowhere to go.”
“Hello.”
Rosalin was a girl with curly red hair and blue eyes. Because Matilda had red hair and blue eyes, everyone in the room immediately thought of Matilda.
Her hair and eye color, the mole on her right cheek, and even the white one-piece dress she favored—everything evoked Matilda.
“Since you have taken in the daughter of Matilda’s close friend….”
Viscount Hiellin’s eyes momentarily fixed on Laria.
“I thought you would certainly take in anyone of Matilda’s blood, so I brought her here.”
In other words, she was Evan’s distant relative.
Calaudin maintained an expressionless silence, his emotions utterly unreadable. Yet everyone noticed his piercing gaze fixed upon Rosalin Is Maple.
It was unavoidable. The child bore such a striking resemblance to Matilda in her youth—so uncanny that even the Duke’s servants found themselves holding their breath. Having been caught in his quiet turmoil, Calaudin spoke slowly.
“Matilda’s first cousin once removed, then… I understand. Morand, see that we prepare a room and assign her a maid.”
“Thank you, Duke.”
Today was both Evan’s birthday and the anniversary of Matilda’s passing.
The arrival of the girl who resembled Matilda cast the Banquet Hall into shadow once more. Yet it was another guest who would break that oppressive silence.
“Blast it all, am I late? Has it already started?”
Olivia appeared with her white hair swept up in an elaborate style, dressed in a form-fitting gown and stiletto heels.
“My precious Laria, the apple of my eye! Your grandmother has arrived!”
Unaware of the situation, she bellowed loudly and swept Laria into a tight embrace.
“Thanks to my wonderful granddaughter receiving a medal, how could I not celebrate! Even someone like me had to rush over immediately!”
“G-Great-grandmother?”
“I’ve brought mountains of gifts! I’m greedy by nature, so I don’t usually give presents to others, but you’re my granddaughter after all! Did you all hear? I have a granddaughter! I have a granddaughter!”
Her tone made it clear her visit had nothing whatsoever to do with Evan’s birthday, causing Laria’s jaw to drop further.
The chaos had begun.

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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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