Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 82

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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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“Ah, Morand.”
I hurried over and stood before him.
“I was just about to call for you anyway. Perfect timing.”
“Yes? Is there something you need?”
“It’s nothing major, but….”
I extended the heart-shaped flower I’d been holding until now.
“I heard you went through considerable trouble securing the first-class seat.”
Evan’s expression darkened with shock.
But there was no helping it. Rather than give it to one of the three people I’d be fighting with, I chose the escape route of ‘giving it to the person who created such precious memories for all three of us.’
Morand stared at the flower I offered, muttering blankly.
“No, how could this be….”
“Thanks to you, we were able to create such joyful memories as a family. I’m truly grateful.”
I wasn’t the only one pretending not to notice Evan’s burning gaze. Morand too, despite receiving Evan’s murderous stare, accepted the heart-shaped flower as if he absolutely could not yield.
“Thank you, Laria. Truly. No matter what persecution comes, I will treasure this with my life.”
“To stake your life on it, Morand….”
“There will likely be considerable turbulence in keeping this flower safe.”
Just looking at Evan’s expression, Morand’s words seemed far from exaggeration.
“…I’m sorry. Did I make a mistake giving it?”
I offered an apology, feeling somewhat guilty.
“What are you saying? Protecting it is also an honor.”
His expression as he answered was utterly resolute.
“But why is everyone gathered out here like this?”
“Laria, it’s that….”
Morand sighed and lowered his head.
“Everyone has been waiting because they had something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“We seem to have forgotten something important.”
All the other servants wore identical expressions, as if they’d reached a consensus.
“You are to become the mistress of this manor, and no matter how kind and gentle you are, we should have treated you unconditionally better than outsiders.”
I hadn’t particularly neglected their treatment, so what on earth were they talking about?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Morand continued.
“I should have found a way to get you into the Duke’s office by any means necessary. I’m sorry for suspecting it was suspicious and ultimately leaving you with Rosalin and the Duke. I failed by simply watching you make a wasted trip.”
Since I hadn’t anticipated such an apology at all, I was quite flustered.
“What, I was the one who said I’d just leave.”
Lisa also chimed in. She even snorted and crumpled her skirt in her fist.
“That vase too…. With your kind nature, you would naturally have told me to give it, but I was shortsighted.”
“Huh?”
“I should have cut it off firmly and made sure it never reached your ears at all. I was just being wishy-washy.”
Morand spoke with resolute determination, clutching the flower.
“So we have made a vow.”
“…What?”
“I swear to prioritize the kind and virtuous Laria and protect her unconditionally.”
It seemed my act of pretending to be hurt by Rosalin in front of everyone had shocked them all.
“We’ll do better so that lowlifes never again question Laria’s origins.”
Lisa said this with tears welling in her eyes.
“So Laria, you must never diminish yourself.”
“That’s… really not necessary…”
I had only recently arrived at the Duke’s Manor before leaving for recuperation, so naturally I’d had no opportunity to command the servants.
Besides, I hadn’t even considered it. What was the point when I’d be leaving anyway? Yet I never imagined the Rosalin incident would produce such consequences.
“If you understand, then do better from now on.”
Evan pulled my hand as he spoke.
“I’ve learned much as well. Even if someone came who was not merely like my mother, but worse…”
He added coldly.
“I would not tolerate anyone insulting Laria.”
It seemed an unexpected side effect had emerged, but there was nothing to be done about it. At least it wasn’t bad for me.
We entered the room, washed up, and changed into indoor clothes, but neither of us could possibly sleep. So we sat facing each other and began talking about this and that.
“Perhaps it turned out well.”
Evan spoke with his characteristic indifferent expression, arms crossed.
“Could Father have truly interrogated her?”
I muttered uneasily.
“I didn’t expect her to commit suicide…”
She hadn’t seemed to possess loyalty strong enough for that. Duke Orlando must have arranged something. I’d naturally assumed Duke Icard’s guards would prevent suicide in the prison, but they needed to be more vigilant.
“She might have been murdered.”
Evan spoke coldly, apparently thinking similarly.
“Since Duke Orlando sent her, we now have no evidence to formally protest.”
“Ah…”
“They say they couldn’t find the tailor no matter how hard they searched.”
That tailor was likely secretly sent away by Serena. The Bestian Guild had handled this matter quite well.
“He’s not an easy opponent anyway.”
When I showed a troubled expression, Evan spoke as if to comfort me.
“Since you’re checking each other, such things can happen. This won’t be the last time, so just stay vigilant. We haven’t actually suffered any real losses.”
“But…”
“It’s fine, Laria.”
Evan spoke while brushing my hair.
“Don’t worry about it. Just focus on recovering.”
“…”
“You’re leaving tomorrow?”
“Yes…”
I nodded while fidgeting with the music box.
Had it not been for Rosalin’s affair, we might have spent a warm evening together viewing medals by now. Olivia would have praised me lavishly, Evan would have quietly looked after me with an unmoved expression, and Duke Icard would have failed to hide his satisfaction despite his silence. But the manor had now sunk one level lower because of Rosalin’s incident.
“…What would that feel like?”
I murmured quietly to myself.
“To lose someone you love so desperately that you can’t move, even though you only share the same face.”
“I don’t know.”
Evan laughed awkwardly.
“I don’t want to know.”
He stared at me intently before adding slowly.
“…Really.”
At his answer, I blinked slowly.
‘Is that why Evan doesn’t love anyone?’
Because he was afraid of seeing Father grow weak like that. So he grew up as a cold-blooded person who never gave his heart. But if Evan became distant toward me as he grew older, I thought I would feel a little disappointed.
‘He’s still cute now though.’
“Let’s get along reasonably well.”
So I said this while taking his hand.
“Just like now, like close friends. We’ll care for each other and support one another, without burdening each other too heavily.”
“Close friends?”
“Yes.”
Though Evan would grow up with walls between himself and others, I too would eventually leave when the time came. But until then, I didn’t want our relationship to deteriorate. We were a political marriage, yet having met in childhood, we shared a certain intimacy.
“Let’s stay on good terms, Evan.”
The last night before heading down to Borotna. A melancholic night where the manor’s trauma had erupted once more and everyone lay awake. Despite everything that had happened, the light in the Duke’s Office remained on.
That light had never gone out since Matilda passed away—a fact famous throughout the entire Empire. And that eternal light seemed to speak for Duke Icard’s heart.
Duke Icard’s nights, unable to find peace even when others rested. On that particularly difficult yet somehow ordinary night, I spoke to the boy before me.
“Just like now, without any conflict, comfortable and smooth.”
I was satisfied with the present. We maintained an appropriately affectionate distance.
“With no sorrow, no problems, no worries between us—just exactly like this.”
Evan stared at me, then nodded.
“I understand.”
These occasional nights we spent together, chatting like close friends. If we could maintain this, even a political marriage brought about by ulterior motives wouldn’t seem so bad.
“If that’s what you want. If you’re happy with a relationship like this…”
Evan added in a voice just beginning to deepen.
“Let’s stay exactly like this forever.”
When he said that and smiled, he still looked like an innocent boy.
“I’ll listen to you well. I’ll do whatever you ask.”
The moonlight shone brightly beyond the window.
“Like a good child.”
Though his expression was boyish, his substance seemed youthful, so the word “child” didn’t quite fit, but I accepted it considering his emotional maturity.
“Always.”
Behind him, I could see the baby bear fairy tale book I had gifted him long ago.

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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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