Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 8

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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 don’t have much to do these days either.”
“Hm?”
“I’m quite good at judging horses.”
Evan felt disgusted with himself. He couldn’t fathom why he’d told such a lie back then.
The truth was, he wasn’t good at judging horses at all. He could ride, of course, but his subordinates always brought him the finest mounts without him having to ask.
He knew roughly which horses suited him best, but that was entirely different from evaluating racehorses.
Moreover, horse racing—it was a field he’d never taken the slightest interest in.
“I can’t bear dishonesty.”
He hadn’t even said such things when he first met her. If he went to the racetrack event and Laria started asking him all sorts of questions about horses… what then?
He would become one of two things: a hypocrite who couldn’t tolerate others’ lies while lying through his own teeth, or a braggart spouting nonsense about things he knew nothing of.
Despite being the Academy’s top graduate, it seemed no one had bothered to tell Laria this fact.
He was frustrated that such an important detail hadn’t been mentioned to her.
In the end, there was only one conclusion: if he’d told an irredeemable lie, he’d simply make that lie true within two days.
So he spent all his time in the library. Racetrack fundamentals, the history of horse racing, horse breeds, understanding horses, introduction to racehorses…
Even if he lacked practical skill, if he could at least pretend to know something, he might avoid being caught in his lie.
While he barely ate and remained cooped up in the library, he occasionally sighed, wondering why he was putting himself through such hardship.
Why on earth was he going this far?
Truth be told, when he saw that girl standing with his father—whom he hadn’t seen in ages—in front of the Academy, he’d thought she was quite pretty.
Fluffy pink hair and round violet eyes, rosy cheeks and an endearing expression. Her small frame and gentle demeanor made her seem like a puppy.
Of course, there were plenty of cute girls at the Academy. But they all treated him with half doubt—”Why is Duke Icard here?”—and half prejudice—”He’s so eerie and gloomy.”
Yet his supposed wife had greeted him warmly the moment she saw him, saying, “Congratulations on your graduation.”
In that moment, he suddenly realized he’d been waiting for those words all along. Words everyone else heard but he never did.
‘Girls who look this timid usually avoid me after seeing my appearance.’
And when she’d mentioned living together as a “happily married couple,” he’d felt a flutter of excitement. A word he’d never dared to hope for.
‘If she’s here, maybe that gloomy manor will look different.’
Her hand gently stroking his hair felt nice too. That’s why he didn’t want to displease her.
So he spent a full two days studying everything about horses. He’d already analyzed which horse to recommend by the time they set out in the carriage.
But on the way there, he dozed off repeatedly. When he opened his eyes, they’d already arrived at the racetrack.
“Evan, Evan! Wake up, we’re here.”
Laria gently grasped his hand to wake him, then suddenly remembered something and spoke.
“Since we didn’t sleep together at night, holding hands won’t make a baby. Don’t worry.”
Her violet eyes, drooping slightly like a puppy’s, were smiling.
“I know.”
He deliberately took her hand back with a gruff tone as they descended from the carriage.
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The racetrack buzzed with the energy of a festival.
I was too distracted looking around at everything. The sky was blue, the weather was perfect, and there was so much to see.
“That horse ‘Arobos’ over there looks decent.”
Every time horses appeared at the venue, Evan offered various comments about them.
Which horses were good, which were the most famous, what odds were placed on which horses, how well the jockeys and horses paired together… His previous claim about having a good eye for horses didn’t seem like mere boasting.
Even Duke Icard couldn’t help but comment.
“Did you only study horses at the Academy?”
The fact that Evan liked horses was information even I, who knew the original story, didn’t know.
‘With such extensive knowledge of horses, he naturally had to attend the racetrack event.’
As we walked through the event venue, looking at various things, countless people greeted us.
It was a chance to understand the influence of House of Icard. Everyone praised me for being pretty and cute, and made a fuss about how well I matched with Evan.
“What a lovely young couple we haven’t seen in ages. You two are truly well-suited.”
Naturally, it was flattery, but it wasn’t unpleasant to hear.
“Is this a family outing? It looks wonderful.”
As I listened to the flood of kind words, I became even more convinced that flattery was the answer to survival.
When people heard compliments, they inevitably became more lenient toward the other person.
Looking around, there were no cases of children coming alone. Even though it was entertainment for the nobility, since money was involved, everyone seemed to have brought guardians.
‘It’s nice that we all came together like this.’
Now that I thought about it, this was my first family outing. Despite my impure intentions of coming to earn money, I felt a little excited, as if we were a truly harmonious family on an excursion.
Though our relationship was still not good at all, even appearing that way to outsiders felt good.
“Duke Icard!”
In the meantime, someone else approached and greeted us.
“I heard you were coming with your family members. As previously arranged, I’ll guide you to especially good seats.”
He was a middle-aged man with a handsomely groomed mustache.
He smiled brightly at us and bowed.
“Good day to you. I heard the news of your marriage. I am Ordi Sadabar, the representative of this event venue.”
Wow, truly the caliber of Duke Icard… Though not yet at the absolute pinnacle of power, he was indeed a high-ranking nobleman.
‘Once you become prominent, even the venue representative comes to greet you personally.’
Money and power were certainly nice. Then again, that’s probably why he married his son to a daughter-in-law with a terminal illness—to pursue even greater power.
“Thank you for the consideration. I am Evan Liner Icard, and this is…”
Evan shook the hand Ordi offered and cleared his throat once before introducing me.
“My wife, Laria Rose Icard.”
I greeted him politely, and Ordi clasped both his hands together and smiled warmly.
“I heard that because Rostri Count and his wife passed away, you had to marry so young. I myself married at fourteen…”
He stroked his mustache and chuckled.
“In any case, do you two know much about horse racing? Even if you came just to watch, placing bets makes it twice as fun, doesn’t it?”
“Well.”
Duke Icard spoke indifferently.
“I have no interest in horse racing.”
Goodness, to say outright in front of the racetrack venue representative that he had no interest in horse racing—how brutally honest.
“This time too, my new daughter-in-law pestered me so much that I came along reluctantly.”
Ah, so that’s it. He came reluctantly, yet still arranged for the representative to reserve good seats in advance…
It was an answer full of justification, dignity, and arrogance. Though it seemed to lack truth and conscience.
“Then does Young Master Evan also have no interest in horse racing?”
“I think it’s better to place separate bets on Berto, Arobos, and Kalid. In the third format.”
“My goodness, the third format.”
Ordi gazed at Evan in admiration.
“You certainly know your way around this. Only someone with truly excellent analytical skills would bet in the third format.”
The two men began discussing horses and various racing betting methods.
I only then realized there were so many different betting formats. Picking the first-place horse, selecting three horses that would place in the top ten, matching combinations that would finish in the top five, and so on. Evan seemed completely versed in these methods, but I knew nothing.
“Does our young lady also have deep knowledge of horse racing?”
Ordi asked me with a gentle smile, and I shook my head.
“No, I don’t know much about it.”
But one thing was certain.
“I’m just going to bet on the first-place horse. It’s the simplest format with the highest payout.”
I would be able to earn far more than Evan.

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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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