Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 93

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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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I reflected on the two objectives I had set for tonight’s masquerade ball.
First, delivering the music box to Elani.
I had already received the advance payment, so it was only right to hand it over. Of course, the ancient magical artifact—the doll hidden within it—had already been disassembled and left in my room.
‘I absolutely cannot give away an ancient magical artifact. No matter how useless the anti-demon resistance might be to me right now.’
It would be foolish to simply hand over something to another person just because it had no immediate use.
‘I could even sell it to the Magic Tower and make an enormous profit….’
Since I wasn’t in dire financial straits at the moment, I decided it was best to keep it for as long as possible.
And second, checking whether the business venture I had planned with Simor was going well.
Because the masquerade ball hosted by the Imperial Palace had grown so enormous in scale, the food and beverages were outsourced. The proposal that Simor and I had submitted was accepted, and we were now operating a large tent in this garden, doing brisk business.
‘But….’
I let out a quiet laugh beneath my mask.
‘I can accomplish both objectives at once.’
Elani, wearing a white butterfly mask, was standing in line right in front of that tent. I eagerly made my way toward her.
[Cookies That Will Divine Your Fate Today]
The sign was a bit long to fit everything, but since fortune cookies didn’t exist in this world, there was no help for it.
In the original story, Simor came up with the idea of selling “fortune readings.” At a masquerade ball where no one knew anyone’s identity, anything could happen.
Everyone hid behind their masks and dreamed of romantic situations—dancing with someone they had feelings for by chance, or boldly speaking to someone they had been too shy to approach….
‘But everyone thinks alike.’
Unless they were a villainess with strange tastes like Olivia, everyone harbored ulterior motives. So Simor’s thinking was that people would flock to cheap fortune readings for entertainment.
I added one more idea to his plan.
“We hide the fortune reading inside an extremely cheap pastry and advertise it as if the fortune comes free with the pastry. Even people who aren’t interested in fortunes will be hungry anyway.”
Even people who didn’t want to spend money on a mere slip of paper would find interest in a fortune hidden inside a pastry. Since fortune cookies didn’t exist in this world at all, everyone would find them quite novel.
Sure enough, people were breaking open the pastries and checking the fortunes inside with fascination.
“I brought the music box.”
I subtly positioned myself beside Elani, who was waiting in line.
“Would you like me to deliver it after you check the fortune in the pastry?”
At the mention of the music box, Elani immediately recognized me and nodded enthusiastically.
“Sounds good.”
She was wearing a white butterfly mask, a white wig, and a white dress.
After waiting in line for quite some time, it was finally Elani’s and my turn. Elani picked up the pastry very carefully. With a crisp crack, the thin paper with the fortune written on it popped out from inside the pastry.
[You will have an opportunity to deepen your connection with someone you secretly wished to grow closer to.]
Elani let out a small exclamation of delight from behind her mask at the fortune.
“I actually did have someone I wanted to get closer to! This place is impressive!”
Judging from the way she was muttering without hiding her excitement, she seemed quite pleased.
‘As expected. Just like in the original story, she’s growing closer to Simor here.’
I thanked the power of the original story once more and completely erased the faint guilt I had felt about taking over Simor’s role several times.
Just then, the server approached her with quick wit.
“If you pay an additional fee, you can purchase a chocolate pastry with advice based on your fortune.”
Though it was called a chocolate pastry, it was just lightly coated with chocolate, yet the price was double.
“Please.”
But Elani paid without hesitation. Whenever a fortune came out that she liked, she would grow excited and want to purchase additional advice.
‘As I’ve always observed, when people receive fortunes they desire, they inevitably feel compelled to pay extra for more counsel.’
My assessment proved accurate—not just Elani, but many others were purchasing advice pastries.
‘A single pastry’s base price is cheap, but people end up paying for roughly three of them in total.’
Elani eagerly opened the advice slip.
[Try opening your heart about the doubts you’ve been harboring. You’ll surely receive understanding and encouragement.]
Elani read the slip over and over. From what I remembered, the two of them had shared quite a few things while hidden behind their masks today.
The server, quick to notice, guided her to a nearby table.
“Did you receive a fortune or advice you particularly liked? The paper is thin, so preservation is difficult.”
That table was stocked with miniature frames perfectly sized to fit the slips.
“But if you place it in this specially crafted frame, it will never be damaged. The masquerade ball is but one night’s memory, yet this slip symbolizing that memory will be eternal.”
The miniature frames weren’t particularly expensive. Given their small size, that was natural. The production cost was correspondingly minimal.
Spending such modest amounts on fortunes, advice, and frames added up to quite a sum. Yet the nobility here weren’t lacking in funds, so once they felt interested, they would cry out that they absolutely had to buy.
With nobility, getting them to open their purse once is difficult, but keeping money flowing from an open purse is no challenge at all. Elani, despite her royal status, was no exception. She purchased two frames and carefully placed them in her handbag.
‘Success.’
Watching Elani’s purchasing process, I grinned widely behind my mask.
Each time Elani carefully collected another fortune slip, I felt as though my own money was accumulating, and it felt tremendously satisfying.
‘I’m going to make quite a bit of money.’
Unaware of my thoughts, Elani gently encouraged me while looking my way.
“Why don’t you buy one? It seems quite fitting to fill this night with anticipation.”
“Do you think so?”
I knew better than anyone that the slip inside the pastry was just hastily scribbled with random content and held no real meaning. It was merely vague, pleasant words designed to amplify expectations.
Yet seeing the line that had formed behind me, I suddenly felt it would be a waste not to try.
“I’ll take one as well.”
The pastry the server kindly handed me tasted absolutely dreadful.
[You are not alone in being skilled at hiding your true feelings. Keep your heart open to the possibility of defeat.]
“….”
After reading the slip, I was left speechless for a moment.
As far as I knew, I had deliberately prepared nearly all the fortunes to be positive so no one would feel upset.
There was no point in writing negative things—it would only diminish the value of their purchase. Still, I had sprinkled in occasional warning messages like rain in a drought, just in case someone said, “Aren’t all these fortunes positive anyway? Why bother?”
And I had drawn that exact one?
“Oh my, Laria. I’m not sure what it means, but it doesn’t sound like good news?”
Elani glanced over from beside me and tilted her head as she interjected.
“So you shouldn’t meet a strict person. Should I stay by your side? I’ll protect you.”
“It’s fine. It’s just a cheap fortune anyway.”
I answered kindly and composed myself. After all, I knew better than anyone that this meant nothing. So there was no reason to feel uneasy about it.
Thus, I calmly spoke to the server.
“I’ll purchase one more pastry with advice written on it.”
‘This is so irritating!’
The server eagerly accepted the money I offered and held out a container of fortune cookies.
Who would believe in advice that I myself had prepared? So this was merely a bit of fun, nothing more.
‘Fun? More like bad luck. I’d better choose carefully to make up for this inauspicious fortune.’
So I devoted myself entirely to selecting fortune cookies for quite some time.
[Even after today passes, do not take tonight lightly. Be cautious in your words and actions.]
“….”
In the end, I failed to draw a single auspicious message—only warnings came out.
“My goodness, Laria.”
Elania looked at the fortune in my hand once more and spoke.
“Since you must be careful with your words and actions tonight, you shouldn’t be wandering about here and there.”
“Ah, well….”
“So will you stay by my side? I’ll protect you.”
“It’s fine. These are cheap fortunes after all. Who would seriously believe in something like this?”
Elania sighed as she replied.
“…I….”
“I, I see.”
I answered with an awkward expression, then glared at the fortune anew.
‘Well, things could go either way. I shouldn’t get annoyed just because I’m the one who prepared this fortune in the first place.’
Irritated, I didn’t buy a frame and simply stuffed all the fortunes into my handbag.

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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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