Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 72

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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 was truly absurd.
No, did it really make sense that “the day after my arrival” was more important than “Evan’s birthday”?
Even Olivia, whom I had trusted, seemed to naturally assume that all of this was my welcome party.
“B-but… today is Evan’s birthday, isn’t it?”
I muttered foolishly.
“For him to receive gifts, Evan should…”
“Hmm?”
Olivia turned her head toward Duke Icard.
“Is the budget allocated to Evan insufficient?”
“It’s more than yours, Aunt.”
Duke Icard answered calmly, then quietly left the party hall. Evan, Olivia, and I took our seats at the family table and continued our conversation.
“Then there’s no particular need for me to buy him a birthday gift, is there? He buys whatever he wants whenever he wants it anyway.”
I had forgotten. Olivia was a villainess. She was never the type to possess empathy or warmth of heart.
“I don’t need a birthday gift either. Whenever I want something, I don’t wait even a day to get it.”
But Olivia and Evan had nearly a fifty-year age difference—how could they possibly share the same concept of birthdays?
“Great-aunt is right.”
Evan answered calmly.
“I don’t particularly want or need anything as a birthday gift.”
Then he fiddled with the cufflinks at the end of his shirt sleeve.
“So I wasn’t particularly thrilled with your gift either.”
“Oh, really?”
“I simply asked you to replace all my shirts with ones that need cufflinks.”
Something seemed odd about this.
“I won’t bother copying your letter—I’ll just read it five times a day. I’ve already memorized it all anyway.”
I was genuinely curious what would constitute something “extremely good” by Evan’s standards. Regardless, there was something I needed to do quickly now.
“I’m different from Evan, Great-aunt. I’m truly delighted right now.”
I needed to react enthusiastically to the gift Olivia had given me.
“Good.”
Olivia lifted her chin and spoke with satisfaction.
“You look so virtuous that you’d appear insignificant if left plain, so you need to be adorned with things like these.”
Lisa gasped at the sight of earrings the size of my palm and a necklace so heavy it looked like it would break my neck, but I was naturally delighted.
“Especially this one…”
Olivia lifted the large necklace and spoke.
“If any presumptuous fools ever pose a threat to you, this will be practically useful. I’ll teach you how to use it.”
How to use it? And it’s practically useful? Could it be a magical artifact?
I nodded eagerly, my heart racing.
“If someone bothers you, twist and pull this part here.”
Even Evan focused intently, watching Olivia’s hands. As she twisted the lower part of the necklace’s pendant and pulled it out, a small dagger emerged.
“And threaten them with it.”
“….”
“Why that expression? This won’t be detected in the prop inspection, so I can bring it into weapon-restricted areas.”
It wasn’t a magical artifact—it was a criminal’s tool. Now I understood why no one had asked Olivia to be a godmother.
“Thank you so much. I’ll definitely wear this weapon—I mean, necklace—on Founding Day. I’ve been looking forward to it so much anyway.”
Evan answered flatly to that.
“Founding Day isn’t particularly entertaining. It’s just tedious. It’s an event where the royal family dresses up and smiles for the people.”
That was precisely the essence of the entertainment. Every time Princess Elani dressed herself up in rubies and smiled, gold coins would visibly rain down.
“Still, I’m incredibly excited. I want to see it up close.”
I spoke without being able to contain my anticipation.
“Especially Princess Elani… she must look absolutely beautiful, right?”
The one who answered was Olivia.
“Well, what does it matter if she’s beautiful? What’s that got to do with Icard?”
It will matter quite a lot later, Olivia….
“I should go see Calaudin now. He’s probably holed up in the Rose Garden anyway.”
“….”
“Of all things, a girl who looks similar to Matilda appeared… Well, if she’s Matilda’s blood relative, it’s only right that we take her in.”
Olivia handed me the weapon and disappeared with an aloof air.
‘The Rose Garden….’
Now that I thought about it, today—the day Evan was born—was also the day Matilda passed away.
Only then did I understand why Evan had said he didn’t need a birthday gift, and why he’d specifically emphasized that it “wasn’t particularly good.”
“Evan.”
Evan was examining the weapon Olivia had given him, muttering to himself.
“The blade needs to be sharper. Since Laria has weak wrist strength. Maybe we should change the material entirely….”
He was already inspecting it from every angle as if it were a sword.
“Say, that girl Rosalin.”
I sat down beside him and broached the subject carefully.
“Do you know her?”
“No, I’ve never seen her before.”
His tone suggested he had little interest. Indeed, there was no reason he would ever meet his late mother’s distant cousin.
“Why?”
“Oh, nothing really.”
I didn’t miss how Viscount Hiellin’s gaze had lingered on me for a moment. No matter how insignificant my appearance, I could fully grasp that his words were taking a jab at my origins.
‘She’s secured the position of Evan’s wife merely because she’s the daughter of Matilda’s friend, but this girl is actually blood kin. Of course she should be treated accordingly, right?’ That’s what he meant.
‘Ugh, speaking without knowing anything… I’m only here because I’m terminally ill.’
But because the justification was clear, Duke Icard had no choice but to accept that girl. Of course, there was nothing wrong with what that man had said… but sometimes the right words could make one feel even worse.
‘This feels very wrong.’
On Matilda’s memorial day, a girl who looked similar to Matilda appeared.
“Well, she’ll probably stay here for a while, and Father will find her a suitable position as an adopted daughter. She can’t remain a guest here indefinitely anyway.”
Evan replied indifferently.
“Isn’t that exactly what she came hoping for?”
Evan didn’t seem to know anything either. Then again, everyone had thought of Matilda one more time because of his appearance, so Evan must have felt the most bitter about it.
That’s why I sat down beside him.
“Evan.”
And I spoke quietly.
“Happy birthday.”
“…You already said that earlier.”
“I wanted to say it one more time anyway.”
Evan said nothing. But that night, sleeping in the same bed for the first time in a long while, he whispered softly.
“Thank you, Laria.”
For him, even responding with gratitude to a birthday greeting seemed to require long deliberation. I didn’t fully understand why my heart was drawn to Evan in such a strange way. Come to think of it, there was something endearing about him from the very first moment I saw him.
I quietly stroked his hair and fell asleep.
* * *
Once Evan confirmed that Laria was asleep, he slowly and carefully got up. It had been a few months ago when he couldn’t sleep because Laria wasn’t there, but now he couldn’t sleep because she was.
Laria’s cheek so close to him was soft, her scent was pleasant, her hands were small…. Her hands were pretty and small….
He wanted to hold them gently, but if he did and she woke up, that would be a problem. Since sleep wouldn’t come anyway, there was something he wanted to resolve.
Deep in the night, the Duke’s Office still had its lights brightly on. And Morand, the Duke’s butler with an extreme occupation, was also awake.
“Morand, I have a favor to ask.”
“Yes, Young Master. Haven’t you gone to bed yet?”
“No. It’s an urgent matter.”
Evan spoke with his arms crossed.
“Get me premium seats for the Founding Festival right now.”
“…Right now? Premium seats?”
Morand’s expression showed he was quite troubled.
“It will probably be difficult. When we received the request last time, didn’t you say you didn’t need it?”
When Calaudin had suggested reserving premium seats since he would be receiving a medal at the Founding Festival, both Evan and Calaudin had shaken their heads. The logic was that there was no point in taking up space at the top of a boring event anyway.
They had agreed to just sit in regular seats, receive the medal, and leave, but Laria’s comment that she was looking forward to the Founding Festival had caused him to completely revise his plans.
“Laria wants to see it up close.”
At those words, Morand immediately fell silent. If that was the case, then this was an emergency situation where objections wouldn’t work.
Evan briefly considered asking for only two seats. Wouldn’t it be fine if just he and Laria sat together?
But suddenly, an ominous premonition struck him.
‘I’m older. I should sit with Laria.’
There was a possibility that Olivia would use her age as an excuse to push him aside. If he refused, the kind-hearted Laria would be shocked by his character….
‘There’s no helping it.’
But if he asked for three seats, it was obvious that Laria would continue to worry about Duke Icard being concerned.
“Four seats.”
“…Four seats?”
“Yes. Four. Get them however you can.”
Morand sighed and nodded.

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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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