Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 86

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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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Princess Elani’s letter requested that I visit her at the Imperial Palace. However, she had added a note asking me to come up with an appropriate excuse so as not to draw unwanted attention. True to her busy schedule as a princess, she had even specified the date.
‘Damn this class system….’
Of course, when I wielded power through that status, I had loved it to death….
I had been forced to use it a few times in the past, but I had no desire to entangle myself with Elani. The thought of her as Evan’s future wife made me want nothing to do with her. So I had Lisa begin my preparations from morning while I grumbled inwardly.
‘Does she think I’ll come running just because she calls? Is that all it takes to be highborn? Does being royalty mean everything?’
But if that highborn person was planning to pay me, the story was different.
“Lisa, hurry. The exalted Princess has summoned me—I must rush to her at once.”
I spoke while anxiously gazing into the mirror.
“Yes, Laria. But what is this about, really? Why did she summon you?”
Of course she would be curious. Elani and I had no apparent connection on the surface.
‘I mean, I’m going to the Imperial Palace to meet the Princess, and how am I supposed to come up with an excuse that doesn’t draw attention? She’s really being high-handed about this.’
But I could endure a client’s high-handedness. When money was involved, excuses always came to mind somehow.
“It was about six years ago, when I happened to meet her on the road from Borotna to the Capital.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Lisa brightened as she spoke.
“Wasn’t it Abonitar? We were in quite a predicament because of the assassins targeting the Princess back then!”
Though truthfully, it was the assassins targeting us who had put Elani in danger.
“Right, I received a ruby necklace from her then, and it seems she wants to see it again.”
“My goodness, whatever for?”
“Who knows. I’ll tell you when I get back.”
Lisa nodded in agreement at my words. In any case, since we had a prior connection, it was convenient enough to use as a cover story.
“Oh, and this was sent by Evan.”
Just as I thought the preparations were complete, Lisa placed a necklace around my neck.
“It’s a diamond necklace from the Eastern Continent.”
The Eastern Continent merchant was supposed to deliver it last time, but this quickly and easily? Direct trade truly was the best.
“He said it was to commemorate your first visit to the Imperial Palace.”
Why celebrate something like this, of all things…. How bothersome, when he’s so busy.
“Though he had to leave at dawn for business, he wanted to make sure to give you this.”
I had to strain my facial muscles quite hard to avoid showing how delighted I was.
“Laria.”
After finishing my preparations and heading out, I ran into Duke Icard in front of the carriage.
“So Princess Elani has summoned you.”
“Yes, Father.”
I glanced at him cautiously.
“Let’s go.”
“Pardon?”
“I must also pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor. He has summoned me.”
Ah, so that’s why he was standing in front of the carriage.
And so I found myself boarding the carriage to the Imperial Palace together with Duke Icard.
The carriage had barely begun moving when Duke Icard spoke first.
“Is this about what happened in Abonitar?”
Of course—a true mastermind. Six years ago, my encounter with Princess Elani in Abonitar had been so trivial that I’d never once mentioned it at the Count’s Manor. Yet he already knew everything.
“It seems that way, I suppose.”
Though that wasn’t true at all, I played dumb for now.
“I’ll need to see the details in person to understand fully.”
He would certainly find this situation unexpected. Two women—the current daughter-in-law and the one he’d marked as his future daughter-in-law—meeting would definitely feel awkward to him.
‘This is quite the mess, isn’t it.’
While I was just rolling my eyes, Duke Icard spoke.
“Princess Elani has a fiery temperament, but… she’s quite shrewd. She’s made a habit of thinking several moves ahead.”
Of course—she’s a capable female lead whose charm lies in her girl-crush appeal, after all.
“In contrast, you’re far too kind and innocent.”
Well, at this point I needed to reassess who was actually ahead in the game.
“So don’t drag out this meeting unnecessarily.”
“Yes.”
It seemed that keeping the two of us from becoming entangled was his superior strategy. Honestly, even in the Empire’s chaotic social circles, marrying a friend’s ex-husband would be rather strange. In the original work, Princess Elani and I had no connection whatsoever, but…
‘I wasn’t planning to create one anyway.’
But because of my single-minded determination not to be caught by Duke Orlando, this situation had spiraled like a butterfly effect.
“If you ever feel like the Princess is trying to stop you…”
From Duke Icard’s perspective, he naturally had to watch the future daughter-in-law who could fulfill his long-cherished wish rather than the current one with no backing. He would naturally tell me to be careful. That was the sensible thing to do.
“Just curse her out and leave.”
But Duke Icard was not a sensible man.
“No matter if she’s royalty, I can handle that much fallout. We’re several moves ahead in our thinking too.”
“…Father?”
“Rather than awkwardly dragging things out, if you just blow up once and get it over with, she won’t bother you anymore.”
“…”
“You have no standing in the Capital’s social circles anyway, so if you just push forward with an abnormal image, it might actually become easier.”
Wait, is he seriously giving me that advice…?
It was essentially no different from when he’d told me to buy friendships with money when I was going to Borotna back then.
“Besides, if you say you’re Aunt Olivia’s favorite niece, everyone will understand.”
He’s even dragging Olivia into this.
‘Perhaps he’s a master strategist. Is this some sophisticated plan to drive a wedge between me and Princess Elani…?’
After my awkward laugh, silence fell over the carriage once more.
I fidgeted with the hem of my skirt before speaking.
“Father, what brings you to have an audience with His Majesty?”
“It seems to be about the Podeilin Region.”
Duke Icard spoke with his arms crossed, irritation in his voice.
“The Empire is short on iron ore supplies lately, so he probably wants me to develop mines in that area. The largest iron ore mine happens to be right nearby.”
“Ah… but you don’t seem very pleased about it.”
“How can I be pleased when he’s asking me to develop a mine that may or may not yield anything?”
It was a lie.
I knew why Duke Icard disliked developing the mines in the Podeilin Region. Matilda’s grave lay there. It was because of her final wish to be buried in the most remote, quiet, and desolate place.
But if the mines were developed, laborers would flood in, and various commercial districts would spring up around them. Duke Icard wanted to keep Podeilin as a quiet place.
“Is it because of Mother?”
At my cautious question, he fell silent for a moment before muttering.
“If I should die, I will absolutely die beside Matilda.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
“I don’t want to disturb the place that will become my grave.”
He didn’t want to use Matilda as an excuse, but ultimately it was because of her.
‘This must have been one of the reasons the Emperor and the Duke grew distant, I imagine.’
The Empire’s Emperor was not particularly merciful by nature. Duke Icard had a goal to achieve, so until recently he had endured well and maintained a decent relationship. As a result, things had become so favorable that he even received the Founding Medal.
But Duke Icard was never the type to fulfill all the Emperor’s wishes. So gradually their relationship began to fracture, and then miraculously, Evan and Princess Elani married.
‘I really have to admire such devotion…’
Whether the Emperor and the Duke grew distant or not was none of my concern.
“According to the physician,”
He changed the subject without further explanation.
“Your coughing has decreased significantly.”
“Yes!”
In truth, it hadn’t decreased much—it had vanished entirely. But lying so brazenly in front of someone wasn’t an easy thing to do.
“It’s all thanks to Serena that I’ve improved so much.”
And yet I always managed to accomplish this difficult task.
“It’s all because Father appointed such a capable physician.”
One’s conscience had to be callous enough to survive under these extreme circumstances.
“…Your health is truly fine, isn’t it? You look healthy, but if there’s anything uncomfortable anywhere…”
“Everything is fine. Nothing hurts at all.”
After all, Serena consistently reported: “It seems like everything has improved, but truthfully it hasn’t. You understand that Laria is recovering, don’t you?” This meant I could freely pretend to be healthy.
“…”
He stared at me intently, then finally said nothing and turned his gaze toward the window.

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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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