Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 80

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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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‘Am I really losing my mind?’
Simor leaned against the wall of the alley and sighed heavily.
‘How could I let that slip away?’
That music box Prince Ronald had put up for auction was guaranteed to be worth money.
Just looking at it, it seemed like an ancient artifact from 3,000 years ago, not 300.
Yet I had turned away without even participating in the auction….
‘I couldn’t bear to watch.’
Laria was sitting in those premium seats with the people of House of Icard.
Even sitting still, those people had such overwhelming presence that Laria’s small frame was completely buried among them. As I looked up at Laria sitting in that elevated position, at some point Evan’s crimson eyes seemed to reach all the way to me. And then, as if to show off, he draped his arm around Laria’s shoulders.
‘That arrogant brat….’
Barely fourteen years old, yet he was already full of wariness like some man. And throughout the National Foundation Festival, Laria leaned against him without a care in the world.
It was only natural. Laria and Evan were husband and wife. It was a political marriage arranged when they were young, but their relationship was far from bad.
When I saw them at the banquet, they seemed like appropriately close friends of the same age. For a political marriage arranged in childhood, it was the most ideal. They got along like friends like that, and usually when they became adults, they naturally produced heirs. But….
Even though Evan was her husband, he didn’t truly know what kind of person Laria was.
For example, he didn’t know how keen she was about the flow of money, how meticulous she was in handling affairs, how clear her boundaries were. Or how well our thoughts aligned—to the point where she felt like a destined match for me….
‘Just a political marriage with a child.’
The person who truly understood her, the person who knew her better, was me.
Perhaps that’s why I couldn’t bear to see Laria cradled in Evan’s arms when going to collect the auction items.
When I happened to encounter Laria coughing frantically at Lake Abonitar, I thought my heart would stop. Her coughing was far worse than what I’d seen in Borotna.
Yet all I could do was ask with my lips if she was alright. We understood each other so well, but she was someone I couldn’t reach.
But he was not someone to give up just because he couldn’t reach her. Because I loved money, I even came to love Laria, who earned money alongside me, and loving her made me want to monopolize her….
Simor fell into thought for a moment.
When I was with her, time flew and joy filled me, but when she praised Kail or was with Evan, it was unbearably painful. Had I ever lost control of my emotions like this, putting money aside?
Already, Laria had become more of a priority to me than money itself.
‘Just wait.’
I thought, recalling Laria sitting in that elevated position.
‘Though I stand below with others looking up at you now, I will never remain in this position.’
* * *
Once the auction ended, a small party began in the premium seating area.
Truth be told, because of Rosalin’s matter this morning, we weren’t in the mood to enjoy the party. But since Duke Icard had received a medal, people were lined up to greet him, and we couldn’t leave anytime soon.
‘So that’s why I didn’t book the premium seats in the first place.’
It was a moment when my original plan—to simply receive the medal and return home—made sense.
“Laria.”
The first person to open her restless mouth was Olivia.
“Who are you going to give that flower to?”
“Pardon? Ah, haha….”
“I am your godmother, don’t forget that.”
Of course, the moment it started, the rest immediately joined in.
“I’m your husband, Laria.”
Evan couldn’t tear his gaze from the flower in my hand as he spoke.
“If I can’t receive that flower, I think I’ll fall ill tonight.”
“I’m already ill.”
Duke Icard interjected, cutting off Evan’s words.
“No one has suffered a wounded heart as much as I have today.”
“Ahahaha….”
I finally succumbed to the oppressive atmosphere and rose to my feet.
“I… need to use the restroom for a moment.”
“You don’t want me to come with you? I can escort you.”
“No, it won’t take long.”
“I’m worried though….”
“I’ll really be back soon.”
After declining Evan’s insistence on following me to the restroom, I left my seat with the intention of examining the music box. Peering hastily inside the music box from the restroom, I found exactly what I expected—nestled among the glittering, beautiful ornaments was a rather ugly cat figurine.
‘Wow. One of the three great ancient magical artifacts is now in my hands….’
Given my current circumstances, I needed to gather even the least valuable things, so there was no room for hesitation when it came to something precious.
‘Simor, I’m sorry. I’m taking this for now.’
The music box was something Princess Elani would search for later anyway, but this figurine—I had to claim it.
I carefully disassembled the music box, separated the figurine, and quickly slipped it into my pocket. Then, without much thought, I exited the restroom and was about to return to my seat when it happened.
“Honestly, it’s not even medal-worthy, is it?”
I stumbled upon the scene of gossip. Near the premium seating, five or six young noble children had gathered to disparage House Icard.
“It seems they benefited from the lack of suitable candidates. What’s so special about some old book anyway?”
Well, I agreed with that sentiment. Even I, who discovered the ancient tome, never thought it was worthy of a medal.
“I find Duke Icard unsettling. Is he really acting out of loyalty to the Empire? It seems like he’s harboring other intentions.”
Oh, how perceptive. They could lay out a mat and set up shop with that observation.
“If we’re categorizing by good and evil, he definitely leans toward evil.”
Well, I’d say the same. If he’s going to practice dark magic, that’s evil, not good.
“That’s why he ended up with such a daughter-in-law.”
Wait. Why is the conversation heading in that direction?
I, who had only been agreeing silently, narrowed my eyes.
“Why would he take such an unremarkable and sickly girl as a daughter-in-law? Isn’t it because the young duke left at the Academy isn’t in his right mind?”
“I saw earlier that she was sitting in the exact same posture as Olivia. The signs of her upbringing are obvious.”
I crossed my arms and took a deep breath.
It was fine for them to disparage House Icard. But if they insulted me, that was unbearable.
“The young duke’s mental state is indeed abnormal.”
Jerdi Viscount Yeong, one of that group, spoke with an air of superiority. His expression seemed somehow contemptible.
“I can guarantee it. He’s extremely violent and incapable of proper communication.”
How dare you speak with such certainty about anyone?
I felt my eyes roll back and bit the inside of my cheek. They were even discussing my husband’s mental state—weren’t they just insulting him?
“I heard the mansion became completely desolate after the duchess passed away. It’s a place where the dead make life miserable for the living.”
“Isn’t that already been fourteen years or so? It really doesn’t seem normal….”
“You never know. Perhaps that daughter-in-law is also acting just to survive. Enduring in that household couldn’t be easy for someone in her position, could it?”
Everything they said about me was true, but hearing myself referred to as “that crumb” made my mood absolutely foul.
I stood there listening to their conversation for a while longer. The more I heard, the angrier I became—it felt like I needed to throw a punch just to relieve the tension.
“I… I really can’t just let this slide.”
So I swallowed hard and spoke toward their group.
Everyone flinched at my sudden appearance. Some of them even muttered things like, “Oh no, we’re in trouble now. What do we do…?”
I continued speaking, my breathing unsteady.
“It’s fine if you insult me. You’re not saying anything untrue. But…”
My fingers trembled as they gripped the hem of my dress, and my voice was tense with anxiety. It was the perfect picture to make those startled by my appearance think, “She’s more pathetic than we thought.”
“Please don’t speak ill of Duke Icard, Evan, or Olivia. They’re all kind and warm-hearted people.”
After hearing my words, the group exchanged glances with each other, their eyes conveying awkwardness.
“What do you mean we insulted them? We were just offering our assessment.”
As expected, one of them immediately pushed back.
I asked in a slightly uncertain voice.
“Would you say the same things in front of the House of Icard?”
“Of course. Did we do something wrong?”
Ah, I see.
Now there were two choices.
Option one: apologize and say there was a misunderstanding.
Option two: turn the tables and push back against them.
But when someone like me—looking insignificant and frightened—speaks up like this, they almost never choose option one. After all, it doesn’t look good to back down immediately just because a weak-looking child pointed something out.
“Crown Princess.”
Jerdi Viscount Yeong, the one with the most unpleasant expression in the group, stepped forward to speak. He was the boy who had been ranting earlier about how Evan’s mental state wasn’t normal.
“Then let’s hear which parts are kind and which are warm.”
As expected, he chose option two.
“Actually, let’s go back even further. Among the things we said about the Crown Princess, what exactly isn’t wrong?”
He was asking me to ramble on about how terrible my situation was.
“That’s… of course I know I’m lacking in many ways in the House of Icard…”
“Stop being so vague. Why do you keep speaking so evasively from the start?”
Because everything you said is right.
“If you’re going to take sides, do it properly. If you’re going to brag about yourself, do it right…— Ugh!”
And I had also been waiting for someone.
That brown-haired Jerdi Viscount Yeong, who had been openly mocking me, was thrown flat onto the ground.
“Even from the Academy days, nothing’s changed about you. Didn’t I tell you this before?”
Evan stepped on his neck with a cold expression.
“If you’re going to insult someone, do it to their face.”

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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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