Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 79

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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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‘….’
I couldn’t help but be flustered.
Her beauty and my connection to her were two separate matters. To be honest, while I had a basic interest in her as a conduit to an excellent source of funds, I didn’t want to grow closer to her.
‘I’m no philanthropist, and why would I get close to the woman who’ll become my husband’s next wife?’
I wasn’t cool-headed and had serious issues with both grudges and pettiness, so I despised that American-style approach to relationships. I wanted to use her only as much as I needed and avoid entanglement as much as possible.
‘Besides… saying she was glad to see me felt a bit off….’
In the original story, the person Princess Elani recognized in the crowd and greeted warmly was Simor, not me.
Princess Elani’s brief gaze shifted away, and I hastily jumped to my feet, looking downward. There in the eastern general seating….
“Ah….”
Just as in the original story, Simor was among the crowd. He must have come to verify Elani’s accessories as well.
‘But originally, Elani should have made eye contact with Simor down there and exchanged a brief greeting.’
So Simor would see Elani shining like sunlight from the lower seats and feel strange emotions, then he’d need to nurture greater ambitions!
Though I’m now watching you from below alongside others while you sit above, I must never remain in this position, he should have sworn to himself firmly.
‘I stole Simor and Elani’s first meeting.’
Right now, the two didn’t know each other, so there was no warmth or greeting between them. I was the one who helped her with fishing, and I was the one who received the ruby necklace.
‘In possession stories, don’t they typically steal the heroine’s role?’
I sighed once more, weighed down by guilt.
‘I’m sorry… But what can I do about it.’
Just then, Simor’s eyes met mine. He was staring up at me from below, sitting with the House of Icard in the premium seating.
‘The two people whose gazes should have met aren’t meeting each other’s eyes—instead, each is only meeting mine.’
But Elani and Simor still had many opportunities ahead. They were both still young, and their real love story wouldn’t begin for several more years.
“Why?”
It was Evan beside me who interrupted my thoughts.
“Why did you stand up….”
He looked at me and asked in a somewhat subdued voice.
“You looking down there?”
“Ah.”
I slowly sat back down.
“No, just… I thought I saw someone I knew.”
Evan slowly raised his hand and draped it across my shoulders.
“Evan?”
“Just wanted us to look a bit more affectionate. We’re a married couple, and being in premium seating means we’re quite visible to everyone.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
I nodded without any particular thought.
Everyone was already gossiping about how we’d entered into a political marriage at such a young age. If I showed a close relationship now, it would make Evan’s social life easier and prevent Duke Icard from facing any unnecessary misunderstandings. Besides, we already slept in the same bed anyway, so this was nothing.
After that came the tedious National Foundation Festival events.
Nothing particularly impressive happened except when Duke Icard stepped forward to receive his medal. Even when the Emperor personally presented the medal, his expression wasn’t particularly pleasant.
Olivia, who would normally bite and suck on me while dancing and saying ‘It’s all thanks to you, our little blessing,’ only let out a somber sigh. After what happened this morning, there was no way her mood could be good.
Once I returned from the National Foundation Festival, I’d have to interrogate Rosalin immediately….
“Now, the final event of the National Foundation Festival—the Royal Court auction!”
The Announcer’s voice rang out across the venue.
“All auction proceeds will be donated to relief funds for the impoverished.”
Simor and Princess Elani’s National Foundation Festival episode wasn’t over yet.
At the end, items from the Royal Court would be auctioned, and that’s when Simor would win the bid on something. Naturally, it would be a valuable item, but it would ultimately serve as a connection to Princess Elani as well.
‘That’s enough. I shouldn’t be greedy here.’
But that moment when my eyes met Princess Elani’s earlier was rather shocking, so I made a silent vow to myself.
‘I shouldn’t get involved in the romance between the female and male leads anymore. And I don’t want to get tangled up with Princess Elani either.’
I’d just let Simor win the bid.
“First item: a music box estimated to be approximately 300 years old.”
So I remained still, leaning against Evan.
“Prince Ronald has graciously donated this, and we’ll start the bidding at 500 gold.”
500 gold… Wow, look at that opening bid.
But because it was from the Royal Court, nobles throughout the hall began raising the price.
“600 gold.”
“610 gold.”
“630 gold.”
The price continued climbing among the nobility.
Simor would make the final bid anyway. When a lower-ranking noble tried to push the price higher, Simor and Princess Elani’s eyes would meet once more.
‘He’ll buy it. I have advance information.’
Originally, this music box wasn’t 300 years old but rather an ancient artifact from 3,000 years ago, making its true value incomparable to the 500 gold starting price.
Simor was in the midst of tracking down ancient magical artifacts, so he would recognize that this music box was far older than claimed. And though Simor didn’t know it yet, this music box contained one of only three ancient magical artifacts on the continent hidden within it.
The three ancient magical artifacts each possessed the powers of divine strength, demon resistance, and magical force. One was currently a ring in Marcel’s possession, one was a doll hidden inside this music box, and the last was a scroll book in the Magic Tower.
Simor was solely focused on tracking down ancient magical artifacts with the mindset of ‘turning a profit.’ While the scroll book in the Magic Tower was unavoidable, the ring and doll had unclear whereabouts for so long that he was determined to obtain them and resell them at premium prices.
He simply purchased the music box thinking it was older than expected, but later he would discover that the ancient doll he’d been searching for was hidden inside.
‘So that’s the lesson that precious things are close at hand… But the way the lesson is conveyed is quite materialistic.’
Not only that, but this music box would also play a role in Simor and Princess Elani’s reunion. Because years later, Princess Elani would search for it everywhere to reclaim it at several times the price.
At that moment, Simor would display incredible sincerity by refusing to accept money from Princess Elani.
“650 gold.”
“660 gold.”
The bidding was approaching the final price, but Simor showed no movement.
While leaning against Evan, I continued biting my nails as I waited for Simor’s action. But then…
‘What, what is this?’
Simor glanced at me, then turned away.
‘He has to buy it! Where is he going?’
Watching his figure disappear among the crowd, I suddenly felt anxious.
“680 gold.”
At that moment, Duke Orlando called out the bid. The amount Simor was supposed to win at was 690 gold.
“Is there anything higher?”
Despite the auctioneer’s words, Simor showed no sign of turning back.
“If there’s nothing higher, then Duke Orlando shall…”
So I carefully raised my hand.
“…690 gold.”
For a moment, I’d hesitated because I wanted to call out 681 gold. But sitting in the premium seats and raising the bid by just 1 gold seemed a bit petty, so I barely restrained myself.
“Laria?”
Evan blinked.
“If you wanted it, you should have said so. I would have participated in the auction from the start.”
“Then you would have called 1,000 gold from the beginning anyway.”
“Well, that’s true… but why that music box?”
“Just because.”
I’d been trying not to steal Simor’s role anymore, but this was unavoidable.
“690 gold—is there any higher bid?”
Later, Princess Elani would call out several times that amount, but I couldn’t let just anyone—especially not Duke Orlando—do a good deed. Of all people, the one who’d called the highest price was Duke Orlando. And even if no one knew yet, that music box contained an ancient magical artifact, and I had no idea what consequences might follow if it fell into his hands.
‘Better to pass something good to an enemy than to let myself feel uneasy while earning money.’
“…Because he’s annoying. It’s revenge.”
As I muttered, Olivia beside me let out a deep sigh.
“Our kind little squirrel’s revenge is quite trivial and adorable, isn’t it? Snatching an item at an auction.”
“Ha, ha…”
“Still, that’s better than us, who couldn’t even think of doing that much.”
Olivia snapped open her fan with a flourish, clicking her tongue. Instead of the tiger fan she’d given me, this one was new with a leopard painted on it.
“Open yours too.”
“…Pardon?”
“Everyone’s looking at you. You need to show that you’re my student so they don’t underestimate you.”
So I quickly opened my tiger fan.
An elderly white-haired woman with heavy makeup and a small girl opening ferocious beast fans together seemed a bit amusing.
“Do you have the money?”
“Yes? Well… I won some at horse racing, and Father gives me an allowance too…”
While Olivia and I whispered to each other, the Announcer shouted.
“The music box has been sold to Laria Rose Icard!”
And so I ended up thoroughly fulfilling both male lead roles in the National Foundation Festival arc.
“And as a token of appreciation for participating in the donation, we present you with the ‘Flower of Hearts.'”
The Announcer handed me a glowing flower along with the music box.
“Tonight, give it to someone you’re grateful for and express your feelings.”
Oh, this is a bit dangerous.
When I turned around holding the flower, I could see my family members gazing at it with predatory eyes.
‘W-who am I supposed to give this to!’
Cold sweat dripped down my back.

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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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