Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 83

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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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Six years had passed since that night.
Evan had never forgotten that evening. At fourteen, on that bitter National Foundation Festival night, Laria had made a request of me. To live without any sorrow, any problems, any worries. Without any conflict, peacefully and smoothly. So I had decided to do exactly that.
Even knowing that Laria was conscious of a young man named Simor sitting in the general seating on the east side throughout the festival. She had said that just because he was a man didn’t mean she would distance herself from everyone, and asked me to trust her.
I hated it maddeningly, but I had to endure it. I couldn’t show her my displeasure and create another argument.
Laria wanted us to get along well. So I didn’t want to burden her with any problems.
Besides, Laria was ill. My own feelings were not the priority. Laria had to be comfortable above all else. If the relationship where Laria felt at ease was like that between friends, then naturally I had to provide it.
After all, Laria and I were already married. Since I would be by her side for life, bound together as wife and husband, all I had to do was listen to Laria’s words. If Laria felt comfortable by my side, that was enough.
During that time, Laria had come up to the Capital three or four times a year, and I had gone down to Borotna a couple of times as well. Once every two months was an appropriate interval for close friends to see each other’s faces.
“Are we almost done, Evan?”
Laria tilted her head curiously through the lens.
“Does this really take this long?”
The camera I had ordered back then was finally completed. I was now out in the mansion garden taking photographs of Laria with that camera.
Laria, who had been small and frail since childhood, had grown into a lovely beauty, though still somewhat slender. Seeing her once every two months, I hadn’t noticed it clearly, but at some point, things other than her warm heart became apparent to me. Her slender neckline, her pleasant fragrance, her soft skin, her graceful movements—all of it looked distinctly different from before. I wanted to touch her, to hold her, to embrace her….
What had changed wasn’t just Laria since those days. I too now understood that holding hands at night didn’t result in children. So, for quite some time now….
“I’m doing this right, aren’t I?”
Just then, Laria asked with suspicion.
Through the lens, I gazed quietly at Laria. Her delicate pink hair cascading down, her posture with her back held straight, her flushed cheeks and slightly tense expression.
“…Yes.”
I answered slowly.
All I had to do was press the shutter, but the image of Laria visible through the lens was so beautiful that I kept gazing at her as if entranced. Her adorably delicate face filled the lens completely. I was afraid that if I stared at her like this without the lens, she would notice my desire.
“Absolutely not, absolutely not. If you were to have a child, it would be truly catastrophic. It must not happen under any circumstances. It would be a disaster.”
If Laria were to develop even the slightest sense that she should respond to my desire. If she were to develop even a hint of the thought that she must continue the Duke’s line. Then an irreconcilable conflict would arise between us.
I could yield on everything else. Building friendships with other men, not being able to see her often, spending more time with other family members than me even when at Duke Icard’s Mansion. After all, it was I who would be bound to her by the name of spouse for life.
But on one matter alone—the matter of children—I could not yield no matter what Laria said. Because I could not send Laria away like my own mother.
To wind that hair around my hands, to hold her small body in my embrace, to touch her pale skin…. If I did that, my desire would be discovered, and surely kind Laria would openly say it was natural between husband and wife and that it was fine.
I was still too hot-blooded to stop before crossing that line. So I had no choice but to be cautious from the start and do my best not to be discovered.
“I’m sorry for being ill.”
When I heard those words from Laria, how much my heart had ached. I could not hear such words again.
For us, the best relationship in our current situation was not that of lovers. Being close friends was better. What Laria had told me with such earnest expression when I had just turned fourteen. I was trapped by those words like a slave bound in chains.
“I think I’ll be able to take it soon.”
“Isn’t something wrong with this? Does it really take this long?”
Laria asked with suspicion, her fine eyebrows furrowed.
I adjusted the lens again and answered.
“Since it’s my first time, I got a bit lost. Come on, smile again.”
A dull click echoed through the mansion garden.
I slowly removed my eyes from the camera lens.
Though I had been tall even as a child, I had now become taller than Calaudin. My slightly upturned eyes and large pupils, my soft jawline and clean-cut lips, my sharply defined nose bridge carried the charm of a mature man.
When I smiled at Laria, I appeared rather kind, but there was quite a difference between my smiling face and my expressionless one. Basically, I resembled Duke Icard, so my impression was generally cool and sharp. In short, I looked rather menacing.
“It will turn out well, beautifully. Should I take one more?”
Evan, now a grown man, spoke gently while holding the camera.
Their childhood had ended, yet only their relationship remained suspended in that time—like when he was fourteen, promising to obey her every command and listen well to Laria’s words.
“Yeah, it did look like your eyes were closed.”
“Got it. Smile again.”
“This time, shoot a bit faster. It’s the second try.”
“…I’ll do my best.”
She was irreplaceable to him.
“Congratulations on your graduation.”
She had spoken the words he had longed to hear since the moment they first met.
“I am your wife.”
The wife who had been the first to notice his pain in those early days.
“I want to get better and be good to you.”
She was the only one who had ever told him with sincerity that she wanted to be good to him.
“I’m sorry for being sick.”
When he heard those words, his heart felt as though it would tear apart.
He never wanted such words to escape from her lips again.
“Because I wanted you to be happy.”
The only family that wished for each other’s happiness.
Every word Laria spoke was etched deeply into his life.
Each time those words took root in his mind, his feelings for her carved deeper grooves within him.
“Let’s just get along moderately.”
So if you listen to me, you won’t leave me. If you do everything I ask, you’ll always stay by my side like this.
Before her, he would continue to be a good boy. He would hide all jealousy, desire, and possessiveness, always appearing as a peaceful and comfortable friend. After all, they were husband and wife, and they would be together forever.

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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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