Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 76

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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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‘Isn’t this too easy?’
Rosalin lounged in bed with a smirk.
‘Everything works out when I do what I’m told.’
Learning to paint had been grueling work, but it was worth the effort. Duke Icard said nothing and maintained silence throughout, yet he didn’t drive me away while I painted.
“It’s a gift, Your Grace.”
“….”
“Tomorrow I’d like to come draw your profile! You look so dignified when you’re reviewing documents.”
The beginning had gone smoothly.
Typically, a guest of her age staying with nobility wouldn’t remain longer than ten days by convention. Therefore, if they intended to send me elsewhere, inquiries about adoptive positions should already be underway. Yet I hadn’t received a single question about which family might suit me.
By dragging this out, showing my face daily to build affection, I could eventually make it impossible for them not to take me in as an adopted daughter. Calaudin couldn’t bring himself to cast me out if I merely imitated Matilda.
Well, since the current head of household was Calaudin, I only needed to stay in his good graces.
From what I understood, Evan wasn’t exactly a beloved son, and Olivia would leave after the National Foundation Festival. As for the remaining one—she was a pushover.
“Miss Rosalin.”
That easy mark, Laria, seemed to have completely sided with me.
“Would you care for some tea?”
She visited me daily, wanting to chat about this and that.
“After the National Foundation Festival ends, I’ll have to go down to Borotna for recuperation again.”
Though somewhat dim-witted, she had a knack for saying exactly what I wanted to hear, making her entertaining to engage with.
“If you do end up staying at the manor, please look after Father. I’m worried since he and Evan don’t get along well. I’ll also tell Father to try getting along with you, Miss Rosalin.”
I’d heard she was only a year younger than me, but her small frame made her appear three or four years younger. In both personality and appearance, she was clearly easy to manipulate.
“But I think… if you truly want to stay in this manor….”
Laria blinked as she spoke.
“You should assert your rights more confidently. Make everyone have no choice but to acknowledge you, Miss Rosalin. And if there’s anything I can yield during all this, I absolutely will.”
Then she coughed a few times, looking somewhat pitiful.
“As you know… I’m someone who’ll be leaving soon… I just hope that while I’m here, you’ll adapt better to the manor, Miss Rosalin.”
The servants’ gazes toward me had been subtly unpleasant anyway, so Rosalin nodded readily.
Though I’d decided not to pay much attention, there was definitely a negative undertone in how they looked at me. It was like being regarded as a shameless usurper who’d stolen someone’s place. Even though I hadn’t done anything particularly wrong, the servants here seemed rather presumptuous.
Laria was right. Even if the others in Duke Icard’s mansion weren’t particularly necessary, it seemed important to demonstrate before everyone that Calaudin couldn’t cast me out. Or at the very least, to show that I held a position superior to Laria’s.
And that opportunity came soon enough.
“After the National Foundation Festival ends, I need to return, so I’d like to spend as much time with my family as possible.”
The day before the National Foundation Festival, Laria arranged a family dinner, suggesting they all dine together once more.
“Morand went through considerable trouble to secure premium seats.”
Olivia brought it up during the meal.
“It’ll be dreadfully boring, but I haven’t attended the National Foundation Festival in ages, so I suppose I should go see it. Especially since Calaudin is receiving a medal.”
“My, premium seats?”
Rosalin perked up while picking vegetables out of her pilaf. Being treated to the finest accommodations at Duke Icard’s mansion had already felt dreamlike. But premium seats at the National Foundation Festival… It was an opportunity to enjoy the prestige of House Icard before others. Her heart raced at the thought—she’d never seen the festival before.
“There are only four seats available.”
Morand spoke quickly, sensing trouble ahead.
“Lord Evan requested only four seats… and since it’s the day before the National Foundation Festival, it’s absolutely impossible to secure even one more seat.”
So this is it.
Rosalin gazed at Laria, whose expression had shifted to mild surprise, and smiled inwardly. What a perfect opportunity to establish her position before everyone’s eyes and claim superiority over Laria.
“Wouldn’t there be a seat for me among those four? I really do want to watch from the premium seating…”
Rosalin scratched the tip of her ear with her index finger—a habit Matilda supposedly had when she truly wanted something. Calaudin certainly wouldn’t dare say anything to her.
“Do you really think you can have everything just because you want it?”
Evan spoke curtly.
“Surely you understand your place well enough. It should be obvious who needs to step aside here.”
I couldn’t afford to back down now. Besides, there was someone who would definitely yield if I applied enough pressure.
“Princess, I’ve noticed you cough occasionally. Wouldn’t it be inconvenient to use the restroom from the premium seating?”
At those words, Laria laughed awkwardly.
After a moment of silence, she fidgeted with her water glass and sighed.
“Yes… well, that’s true.”
“You.”
Evan’s voice turned cold as he began to speak, but Laria quickly grabbed his arm.
“This might be our last family dinner together. Why are you like this, Evan? Don’t ruin the atmosphere. You spoke well, Rosalin.”
She took a trembling breath, blinked her eyes slightly, and added:
“I’ll just watch from the regular seating.”
“What are you saying! Why would you give up your seat!”
Olivia expressed her frustration, but Calaudin remained silent. Rosalin had expected him to immediately tell Laria to yield, and while she felt slightly disappointed, his silence nonetheless signified consent.
“It puts my mind at ease. Please.”
Laria whispered to Evan, and he sighed before responding.
“…Then I’ll watch from the regular seating too. I can’t leave you alone.”
“Yes, I understand. So please don’t make an issue of it anymore, alright?”
Then she spoke kindly toward Rosalin.
“But to sit in the premium seating, you’ll need to wear a formal gown… and since it’s tomorrow, there’s no time to have one tailored, is there?”
Olivia sighed as if exasperated. Her expression made clear that even as an elder of the household, she couldn’t intervene when the head of the family, Calaudin, said nothing.
“My personal physician will be leaving work soon, so I’ll have her arrange for a tailor to come at dawn. I’ll give you one of my new dresses, and a little alteration should make it work perfectly.”
She had already been coveting the luxurious gown Laria wore, and it was remarkable how she managed to say exactly what one wanted to hear.
“Since I’ll be sitting in the House of Icard’s family section with my father instead of you and Evan, you naturally must dress in the finest attire.”
Thus, on the eve of the National Foundation Festival, Rosalin obtained everything she desired at the family dinner.
And the same was true for Laria. She had no intention whatsoever of yielding the premium seating that Evan had personally arranged. She had always lived a life far removed from compromise.
* * *
“Does this make any sense?”
On the morning of the National Foundation Festival, Lisa fussed over my appearance while expressing her frustration.
“Being treated as family instead of Evan, who is your own son, and Laria, who already bears the House of Icard name? Just because she resembles Matilda a little!”
In truth, I had simply yielded my seat, but the rumor had already spread as: “Rosalin sits in the family section instead of me and Evan.”
“Morand must be seething with rage.”
“But Morand can’t say anything either.”
I laughed weakly. In truth, today felt like it would be quite long—so much so that I had eaten an Occlasia Fruit at dawn to fortify myself.
“Resembling Matilda in this household is an enormous weapon. Even Father can’t move…”
In truth, whenever Rosalin was in Duke Icard’s office, I would visit only to return with my shoulders drooping dejectedly at the door. After telling the anxious Morand, “Rosalin is inside? Don’t tell me. I’ll just go…”
“Sigh… ugh.”
Lisa continued to vent her frustrations as she dressed me.
‘Just bear with it a little longer, Lisa. We’re really almost there. She won’t even set foot at the National Foundation Festival.’
“Lisa’s right.”
Evan, who had finished all his preparations early, spoke flatly from inside the room while reading a book.
“I stayed quiet because you said you didn’t want to cause problems, but you had no reason to compromise at all.”
“Evan, do you also dislike her?”
“Yeah.”
I asked carefully, but it was only natural.
How could anyone like someone who mimicked their own mother and received more attention from Father? And on top of that, she kept mentioning Matilda, one of my traumas…
“How dare she use the fact that you’re suffering as leverage to satisfy her own greed?”
Huh?
“I didn’t care before, but when she said that, I wanted to slit her throat.”
Wait, Evan. The reason you dislike her is entirely because of me…?
That’s when the door burst open and Serena entered with a cheerful expression.
“Lady Laria, I brought a beautiful hair ornament. I found it in the city last night…”
Lisa let out a deep sigh.
“I was wondering why you weren’t coming while Lady Laria was being prepared, but of course…”
And she snapped irritably at Serena. She seemed sharper than usual, her mood quite soured by Rosalin.
“Does it make sense to suddenly change a hair ornament? Think about it. No matter how informal it is, this is a major imperial event—you can’t dress so impulsively.”
“Lisa, you’re embarrassing Serena.”
I said, gently grasping Lisa’s wrist.
“You’re right about that, but since Serena brought such a beautiful ornament, why don’t we give it to Rosalin instead?”
“Pardon?”
Lisa murmured with a dumbfounded expression.
“Is this that feeling of not wanting to give it to Lady Laria but thinking it’s too nice for Lady Rosalin…?”
But unlike Lisa’s irritation, Serena nodded readily.
“Well… sure.”
She spoke cheerfully.
“I’m fine with it. If there’s someone to make pretty, that’s enough for me.”
“Then…”
I spoke with a bright smile.
“Once my preparations are done, let’s go see Father first. I should thank him for the dress he prepared. And then I’ll go give the hair ornament to Rosalin.”
Lisa answered curtly.
“Just send a servant. There’s no need for Lady Laria to go personally…”
“I want to check if my dress fits well while I’m at it with Rosalin. Oh, won’t you come along too, Evan?”
“Why would I?”
“Now that I think about it, you were never there whenever I thanked Father. We won’t even be together at the National Foundation Festival, so I want to spend more time as a family… Oh, I should stop by to see Olivia too.”
“Fine, I got it.”
Evan answered without resistance, and Serena retrieved the hairpiece she had brought. It was a signal that everything was ready.

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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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