Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 73

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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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Just as Evan finished putting his employer in her place and was heading back to his room.
“M-My lord?”
A slender woman attempting to slip out of the Count’s Manor caught sight of Evan and startled visibly.
“Good evening. Have a pleasant night.”
“What are you doing out at this hour?”
“Ah… I was just leaving work.”
“Why are you only leaving now?”
“Oh, I took some time to look into someone, so I’m running a bit late…”
It was Serena, Laria’s personal physician—someone I found rather disagreeable.
Sensing that Evan disapproved of her, she quickly stepped backward to distance herself.
“Well then, I should be going…”
Evan’s brow furrowed slightly as he spoke with her.
“Have you been drinking?”
“Ah… Does it show? I’m so sorry.”
Though she appeared composed on the surface, the strong scent of alcohol suggested she had consumed quite a bit.
“B-But my mind is perfectly clear!”
Evan studied Serena quietly, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.
Today was Evan’s birthday and the anniversary of Matilda’s death.
The day his mother had passed while giving birth to him.
“W-Well then, I really should go.”
“Wait.”
Evan called her back before she could disappear completely.
“It’s about Laria.”
“Yes? Yes.”
“She is recovering properly, isn’t she?”
“Y-Yes, of course.”
No one had ever explained Laria’s condition to him in detail. Both the Count and Serena had only said it was a lung disease requiring rest—not a fatal illness.
In fact, Laria appeared perfectly fine on the surface. Her movements were fluid, she ate well, and he hadn’t seen her cough up blood since that first time.
Yet Evan remained anxious. He had searched through medical texts, but the terminology was difficult and complications varied so widely that without professional knowledge, even studying was a struggle.
“However, extreme caution is necessary, and the situation is indeed serious. If I, a skilled physician, am not constantly by her side, her condition could deteriorate at any moment.”
“After researching various texts, I found there are cases where bearing children is inadvisable.”
Evan stared intently at Serena before asking impulsively.
“I’d like to hear your professional opinion on Laria’s situation.”
Serena’s mouth fell slightly open.
“I don’t want to lose her the way I lost my mother.”
Matilda had also suffered from a chronic illness, and the doctors had worried from the moment she became pregnant, or so he’d been told.
Serena answered quickly.
“Absolutely not. Absolutely not.”
She even pressed both hands together emphatically.
“Absolutely, positively not. If she becomes pregnant, it would be truly catastrophic. It cannot happen under any circumstances. It would be a disaster.”
“…Yes. That would be the case.”
Evan nodded slowly.
“Don’t tell Laria. Not a word about the pregnancy.”
If she somehow heard, she might grieve, fearing that the lineage would end because of him.
“I’ll be going then.”
Serena hurried through her farewell and quickly slipped out of the Count’s Manor.
* * *
In truth, Serena had been completely intoxicated. She was the type who showed no outward signs of drunkenness. After hastily leaving the Count’s Manor, she collapsed at home. She only woke near dawn and realized her memory had gone completely blank.
“Hmm… I feel like I met someone quite uncomfortable…”
On her way out after some fun with a servant, she seemed to recall having a very important conversation, but the details eluded her.
Continuing to feel uneasy about it, Serena made her way to the Bestian Dark Information Guild Headquarters for the first time in ages.
She had originally come to report to Sven, but unexpectedly ran into a guild member and ended up starting a consultation.
“So, Serena, you’re saying I shouldn’t give up?”
Serena was famous within the guild as a love expert, so there were quite a few guild members who would corner her and request her advice.
“He said he’d celebrate my birthday—something no one has ever done for me—and he said it twice! So sweetly and coolly too.”
The female guild member who had sought Serena’s counsel spoke through tears.
“I naturally thought he considered me special.”
“Hmm… it’s ambiguous, but…”
Serena furrowed her brow and asked.
“Even knowing you were deeply moved, he said it again?”
“Yes! And there was even physical contact that followed in sequence.”
“Ah, then he’s guilty. You can’t charm someone like that and then disappear.”
Serena spoke decisively.
“He’s guilty. Clearly guilty.”
“Really? Actually, I even received a thick handwritten letter.”
“Oh my.”
She let out a sigh of admiration.
“With that kind of attentiveness, he could only build a harem.”
“…What?”
“Sorry. I think I’ve picked up the speech pattern of the person I’m currently serving. She uses a lot of unexpected twists in her words.”
Suddenly thinking of Laria, she was startled and quickly said goodbye to the guild member.
“Well, see you later. I have something to report.”
Serena hastily concluded the conversation and headed inside to find Sven.
Sven was raking through Neo’s sandbox while laying out all sorts of toys.
“It seems Neo likes this toy.”
Sven picked up a mouse-shaped toy that squeaked when pressed and spoke with a serious expression.
“I’m thinking of having it custom-made. Which do you think is better—yellow or green? What’s your opinion?”
“…Well, I suppose green looks a bit fresher?”
“Thanks, Serena.”
Sven answered with a slight smile.
“What I truly wanted was yellow. I’ll place an order for yellow.”
In the end, it was a question to confirm her own heart. If someone harbored preferences even they weren’t aware of, no amount of opinions offered from the sidelines would reach their ears. Much like how Laria remained devoted to Evan.
Laria had dismissed the notion, claiming she had no interest in men, but from Serena’s perspective, she simply hadn’t realized it yet—her taste was clearly Evan.
‘Well… objectively speaking, he does seem like he’ll grow into someone impressive. But given the circumstances, a catastrophe seems inevitable.’
Serena worried about how Laria, unknowingly accumulating affection with Evan day by day, would ever manage it.
If she continued taming him so gently only to flee, he would undoubtedly go berserk and turn dark—yet Laria seemed oddly unconcerned about it.
“Evan told me directly. He said he would absolutely follow Father’s wishes. And Father would certainly marry Evan to Princess Elani if I were to disappear.”
Of course, Sven had also predicted such a future. However, Serena’s instincts, which were particularly sharp in such matters, continued to sound warnings without any particular basis.
‘Hmm… was the person I spoke with last night Prince Evan? I can’t quite remember…’
In any case, why did Laria insist on viewing Evan as nothing more than a child!
True, Evan was young now, but once he matured, the dynamic between them would undoubtedly become entirely different from what it was now.
Yet she couldn’t bring up other men to Laria, who had drawn a clear line regarding other men by even mentioning her father.
‘I don’t know either. It’s a distant future matter, so I’ll think about it then.’
Serena eventually stopped thinking and began recounting recent events to Sven. When he reached the part about using Princess Elani to capture the ruffians, Sven let out a small exclamation.
“Ah. She truly is remarkable. How does she even know to do such things?”
At those words, Serena’s eyes grew sharp and clear.
“Well, when I asked how she knew, she said she heard it from another information source.”
“…Another information source?”
“Unfortunately, she’s been spending considerable time with Simor Litshia lately. Apparently, regarding some jewelry investment matter, she’s dealing with him rather than us.”
Sven’s expression hardened instantly.
“That stalker?”
“Laria says he’s not a stalker but a partner… Regardless, we can’t let our guard down. What if Laria comes to prefer Simor over us?”
“That cannot happen.”
Sven exhaled sharply and spoke with sudden intensity.
“We must be Laria’s most capable subordinates. We need to do our very best from now on.”
“I haven’t even been able to bring up dark magic lately either.”
Serena answered with a sigh.
“What if I burden her unnecessarily and she abandons us? But…”
She tilted her head as she continued.
“There was one thing that Laria showed interest in.”
“What was it?”
“Magic that resurrects people. She asked additional questions only about that.”
“Ah…”
“That magic is so complicated that I couldn’t fully explain it to her.”
“I see.”
Sven nodded.
“I need to learn more about that magic too. From today on, I’ll study diligently so I can answer all of Laria’s questions.”

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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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