Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 87

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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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The moment Duke Icard and I arrived at the Imperial Palace, we scattered to our respective summons.
“Your Highness.”
Before I could even be overwhelmed by the splendor of the Imperial Palace—a place I’d never visited before—I was guided into Princess Elani’s presence.
“The Icard Noblewoman has arrived.”
“Ah, have her come in at once.”
I entered the room quietly at the maidservant’s words, where Princess Elani sat radiating an immense presence.
“I am honored to meet the Empire’s most beautiful star, Princess Elani.”
I greeted her with proper etiquette, and she smiled knowingly.
“It’s been a while, Icard Noblewoman.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Please, call me Laria.”
“Very well, Laria.”
As we exchanged pleasantries, a maidservant approached and arranged refreshments.
Princess Elani poured tea for me herself, then dismissed everyone around us.
‘This is nerve-wracking.’
I knew exactly what Princess Elani would ask of me. I’d read this scene before.
But there was one crucial difference—in the original story, it should have been Simor sitting in my place.
I sat with an innocent expression, pretending to know nothing, when Princess Elani finally broached the subject with difficulty.
“Did you come up with a decent excuse for the others?”
“To be honest, nothing came to mind, so I simply said it was related to the ruby necklace from Abonitar.”
“That works. Everyone knows about that anyway.”
I handed the ruby necklace I’d brought to Princess Elani and spoke calmly.
“But just in case someone asks—”
“Yes?”
“Say that you suddenly remembered that necklace from six years ago when planning a custom emerald necklace for the next National Foundation Festival, and you wanted the same design.”
Princess Elani’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Goodness, how did you come up with something like that?”
Well, this was nothing for me. Schemes, plots, stratagems, public opinion warfare—I was strong in all these things, so coming up with an excuse like this was child’s play.
What jewels Princess Elani wore to the National Foundation Festival and what style of dress she chose were matters of utmost interest. She herself never took the Festival’s fashion lightly, deliberating over it for months in advance. Therefore, the excuse I’d provided was quite plausible.
“Laria, you’re remarkably clever for your appearance.”
Did she mean I looked foolish and dim-witted? Well, it was hard to deny. I had the look of someone who’d be a scammer’s first choice.
I had the kind of face that would be the featured image for a post saying, “Scammers, please choose your mark!”
“In any case, thank you. Let’s stick to that story. Though it’s strange to say, I’m truly grateful we happened to meet in Abonitar by chance.”
I smiled awkwardly. That chance encounter was no accident.
“Assassins suddenly rushed in after that, so I was quite startled.”
“Ah… what happened to them afterward? Were they all executed?”
I had no knowledge of what happened after that. It was because Princess Elani didn’t want her hobby exposed, so she kept the attack itself secret. Since it was a Royal Court matter, even the Bestian Dark Information Guild couldn’t uncover it.
“I couldn’t have them executed since they insisted until the end that I wasn’t their target. There was no evidence, and they claimed they never knew I was there.”
Well, that was actually true.
“They said they were mercenaries with no backing, just conducting an attack drill, but how could anyone believe that?”
That wasn’t true at all. A practice attack? What kind of pathetic excuse was that… It was the lamest excuse imaginable, and it seemed the Imperial Palace Knight Order had swallowed it whole.
“So we went easy on him—five years imprisonment and we severed one of his legs. Now he can’t work as a mercenary or assassin anymore.”
Calling it “easy” seemed to ignore the fact that they’d severed his future along with his leg.
I couldn’t quite imagine how much of a villain Medor had devolved into with only one leg.
‘Five years imprisonment means he was already released a year ago.’
But since nothing had happened until now, and Duke Icard was thriving even more than in the original story, it seemed we were still safe.
‘It’s only two months anyway. If nothing happens, I’ll slip away before then.’
While I was thinking such thoughts, Elani let out a long, heavy sigh. Then she began fidgeting with her fingers as if troubled.
After hesitating for quite some time, she carefully opened her mouth.
“Actually, I asked to meet you for another reason. It’s personal, so I’d appreciate your discretion.”
“Of course, please go ahead.”
“Do you remember the auction from six years ago? The one during the National Foundation Festival…?”
“Six years ago?”
I pretended to count the years even though I knew perfectly well.
“That would be…”
“Laria won something at that auction. A music box that Ronald put up for sale.”
“Oh, yes, that’s right.”
“Do you still have it?”
“Yes, it’s at the Count’s Manor. I didn’t bring it to the villa.”
At my answer, Elani’s eyes sparkled with light.
She grasped my hand eagerly and spoke.
“Could you sell it back to me?”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll pay double. It went for around 700 gold at the time, didn’t it?”
I was suddenly caught in a conflict.
Simor would have just given it to her without asking anything to gain her favor. Of course, I had no such intention. Rather, what I was contemplating was exactly how much I could extract from her.
“Was it…? I’m afraid I don’t remember the exact price. It was around that amount, I think…”
“Hmm?”
“What I do remember clearly is that I was still a minor in House of Icard at the time, so I didn’t even have a budget allocated to me.”
I spoke in the most pitiful voice I could muster.
“I had winnings from horse racing, but I’d decided to donate them, so things were very tight.”
Of course, I said I’d decided to donate them, not that I actually had.
“As you know, my birth family was ruined, and I have no personal assets…”
“…”
“I made a real sacrifice to buy it back then. Can that be reduced to a mere price?”
And I quickly added while putting on a sorrowful expression.
“Of course, but I suppose I have no choice but to express it in monetary terms.”
Elani rolled her eyes once and spoke carefully.
“Three, three times? How about that?”
“It was the day the Duke received his honor medal, so our family was sitting together in the first-class seats.”
I drew a trembling breath and blinked my eyes.
“After that, my family never went to see the National Foundation Festival together again. So selling this music box means I’m also selling those memories from back then…”
My words continued slowly, but without interruption.
“Memories can’t be converted into money. Of course, but I have no choice but to express them in terms of price.”
“Four times the price, four times.”
“There were four of us in my family back then…”
“Would five times be acceptable?”
In the end, the music box from back then was decided to be handed over to Princess Elani at six times its original price.
“I can’t go any higher. No matter how much Simor provides me with funds these days, politics always requires money.”
“Ah, does Viscount Litshia provide you with political funds?”
“Yes. His abilities turned out to be better than I expected.”
Over the past six years, Simor and Princess Elani had met several more times. I had only ruined their meetings twice by getting unavoidably caught up in them.
That is, their first meeting in Abonitar, and this current meeting where I agreed to give her the music box at the Imperial Palace. Since these two people kept becoming entangled by fate, they had already become acquainted.
“Moreover, you seem to have some connection with him?”
“Just a small connection, really. Since we’re both in the Southwest region.”
I didn’t recall the original work mentioning that he provided political funds. It seems their relationship has developed into something more genuine. The fact that Simor was providing money was truly a monumental thing.
“Anyway, I’m really grateful, Laria.”
Princess Elani’s expression was slightly awkward, but she still smiled and spoke.
“It must seem ridiculous that I’m only coming back after six years… but I’m truly grateful. Thank you for keeping it safe.”
If I had lost that music box or sold it somewhere, Princess Elani would have been in an even more difficult position. Therefore, accepting six times the price was reasonable.
Besides, I was meeting with an awkward person for this money, so naturally I should extract as much as possible.
“I’ve said it repeatedly, but I’d appreciate it if you kept this secret.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Actually, it’s a keepsake from my mother.”
I blinked in surprise.
The original work didn’t reveal the reason. It simply described how Princess Elani later searched for this music box from Simor, and how he gave it to her without accepting payment. So I had also assumed without much thought that ‘Princess Elani would later find this and offer me money for it.’
‘But it’s a keepsake from the Empress Dowager? I had no idea. So that’s why she searched for it so desperately.’

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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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