Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain's Daughter-in-law - Chapter 144
Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi
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Chapter 144
20. The World with Laria
The most provoking rumor in the Capital these days was about Lady Icard.
“That’s why I’ve been dumbfounded since the first time Duke Icard brought that insignificant child.”
Duke Orlando was creating public opinion at almost every meeting.
“I pointed out that dark intention, but not everyone was relieved that a person with that level of ambition could not get a daughter-in-law without a background.”
So the nobles of the capital were busy spreading the story of Duke Orlando whenever they got together.
“Though it turned out that she brought a time-limited daughter-in-law to kill her. I heard she is sick a lot from the beginning.”
Since Kallaudin was not in the capital, rumors spread freely.
It was true that everyone was puzzled when he brought in Laria, so everyone thought it was plausible. It was a great scandal for Duchy Icard. Using children and even a young girl for power was indeed morally reprehensible.
Even that could overwrite the crime of deceiving the Imperial Family that he had plotted against Princess Elanie for a long time. When asked how he would deal with it if it weren’t true, Duke Orlando confidently replied.
“It’s all because there are witnesses.”
He said while holding the cigar.
“Let’s have a public discussion when Duke Icard comes because we are already perfectly prepared.”
Public discussion would mean that the Imperial Family and high-ranking nobles would gather to decide on punishment.
“Besides, there’s something else really terrible in the house… Ugh, it’s likely to cause a lot of social controversy. Since the prestige of the nobility is declining, this will be revealed additionally during the public discussion.”
Of course, Olivia, the only caretaker of Icard left in the Capital, could not say anything about this rumor because it was true. If she said, ‘Actually, he did it for black magic, not for power,’ people would surely get even more upset.
Black magic was strictly forbidden by the Imperial Family and would cause chaos in the world.
As such, Olivia had no comment at all on the matter.
“My last name is Livien. I am in no position to make a formal protest.”
Of course, that reaction was devastating.
“Was Olivia Livien the kind of person who would act with such courtesy and procedure? She’s definitely up to something.”
Everyone in the capital knew that she kept her silence only when it was against her. So, the rumors only spread more and more like wildfire.
Even in the Duke’s residence, only Olivia knew exactly what Kallaudin wanted and why Laria ran away.
Regardless, the servants of the Duke’s residence did not believe the rumors that Duke Orlando had spread since they knew how much Kallaudin and Evan cared for Laria. Instead, they were thinking, ‘She was forced to come here as a child, and when she grew up, she ran away to find her true love.’
That belief has been cemented ever since Elanie came to her parlor and screamed.
“Well, that’s often the case among nobles who marry in their childhood.”
“She didn’t share the same room as the Young Duke…”
“Since she practically stayed in the South for a long time, she may have developed a heart for someone there.”
A number of factors fueled the rumor. So, the main opinion was that Evan seemed to have gone mad and went to punish the two.
There were only two people who were not swayed by that opinion.
Morande was insisting, saying, ‘Lady Laria can’t do that. There must be some circumstances.’ And the other one, Lisa, was of the opinion, ‘It doesn’t matter. I’ve already chosen Lady Laria over Icard.’
Amid such chaos, the day came when the carriage from Podilin arrived at Duke Icard’s residence.
 
 
Olivia and Lisa had been waiting for the carriage since morning with determined faces.
According to the contact, they would arrive today. In the capital, there was no way to know in detail what was going on in the provinces. Especially in Olivia’s case, who did not use any informants, the contact was all she received.
Nathan came quite a long time after Kallaudin had gone to Podilin, and he said that he had found Lady Laria and sent the best carriage to Podilin.
“Only Kallaudin went to Podilin, so why send the carriage there for Laria? I heard she is in Hanua.”
“That… I just read the note and follow the order.”
“Then the note could have been written as a threat!”
“I-I don’t know…”
Anyway, according to Nathan, Evan dragged Fred and threatened him to meet Laria. He said that there seemed to be something going on between the two, but he didn’t know. Then, he added that the next day, the two suddenly disappeared, leaving behind a note.
In conclusion, Nathan did not know anything.
“But, the relationship between the two of them doesn’t seem so bad…”
“One of them could be acting… both of them are good at hiding their inner feelings, so you should keep your mind open to all possibilities.”
So Olivia and Lisa had been making up their minds, even thinking about the ‘Laria kidnapping scheme.’ Besides, even Duke Orlando was spreading vicious rumors, so Laria couldn’t be welcomed.
“Okay, Lisa.”
Olivia was saying the same thing to Lisa for the 103rd time.
“Once you see Laria’s hair tied high, quickly throw a plate at Evan’s head from the second-floor stairs. I’ll be waiting inside the Duke’s residence.”
“Yes.”
“And then he’ll freak out, so tell him to drink water, put a lot of sleeping pills and make him swallow it.”
“Yes, I am ready.”
“And we ran away right off. Got it?”
Morande had been so worried that he couldn’t sleep at night, but he was finally relieved after hearing the flimsy plan.
And when the Duke’s carriage finally arrived… Laria’s fine pink hair was loose.
“What?”
Lisa asked quietly.
“…Are you disappointed?”
“Maybe our letter was caught? Let’s not lose hope.”
With Olivia’s words, Morande shook his head.
“Don’t you both feel that something has changed?”
“Then, I’ll beat Evan first, then grab Laria and ask her. You go in for now.”
“Yes!”
Lisa ran into the Duke’s residence with a determined face.
After that, the carriage door opened, and Olivia reflexively frowned at the people coming out of the carriage.
“Kallaudin? Laria? Where is Evan?”
“Ah.”
Laria said shyly.
“Evan has work to do… He will be back soon.”
Then, she ran to Olivia and hugged her tightly.
“Thank you, Great aunt.”
Only then did Olivia realize that she was so obsessed with ‘getting Laria out’ that she didn’t welcome her.
“Are you… really back? You came to us intact, right?”
So, she hugged Laria tightly.
“Yes. I missed you, great-aunt.”
Still, she couldn’t let go of the lingering feelings and whispered.
“Really? Aren’t you being threatened by Evan?”
“It’s, it’s not a threat…”
“Like cutting off your ankles so that you would never escape again, or confining you to an uninhabited island…”
Of course, when Evan chased after Laria, he had a face looking like he would say such a thing. Nonetheless, it wasn’t true anyway, so Laria shook her head and denied it at once.
“No. All conflicts between us have been resolved.”
Hearing Laria’s answer, Olivia tried to cause conflict again.
“Kallaudin is the one who brought you despite knowing about your incurable disease, and he didn’t say it until the end.”
“Khhhhmm.”
It was Morande who separated them.
“Welcome, Miss Laria. You were never threatened or kidnapped by the Young Duke, right?”
“Sure.”
“Then, please come inside quickly before Lady Olivia threatens you or kidnaps you.”
Morande quickly took Laria away from Olivia.
“Morande? Weren’t you sick?”
As Olivia pulled Laria and glared at him, Morande struggled to endure Olivia’s gaze and answered.
“It’s because it was the disease that I wanted to attend Miss Laria. I am completely healed now.”
Kallaudin interjected grimly.
“By the way, what is this state of the Duke’s residence now? This isn’t a proper welcoming atmosphere?”
The first time Laria went to recuperation and came back, the two father-and-son set off a fireworks display in the music troupe.
“I’m sorry.”
Morande sighed and replied.
“Since Lady Olivia has the final say…”
“… Too bad.”
Olivia sighed.
“I’ve already told Livien to prepare a welcome party.”
By this point, it was unknown who planned the kidnapping.
“No matter how much I say, I don’t have the child I care about beside me. I was going to make an exception when this unavoidable situation arose.”
When Laria tried to answer, Lisa jumped out with a plate from the Duke’s residence.
“Why don’t you come in like this… Miss Laria!”
Lisa hurriedly looked for Evan as she hugged Laria with a plate in her hand. Meanwhile, looking at her like that, Laria, who noticed everything, spoke quickly.
“Lisa. I am not being threatened, so put the plate down.”
Morande opened his sharp eyes when he saw that Lisa’s expression was slightly regretful.
“Miss Laria, come in. The Duke’s residence has been waiting for Miss Laria for a very long time.”
Morande smiled and led Laria directly into the Duke’s residence. A large picture hung in the hall of the residence. It was a picture Morande took himself in the carriage right before going to the Imperial Palace banquet.
Olivia, dressed in the most flashy outfit, was in the center with Laria, and Evan and Kallaudin, expressionless, were sitting at either end.
Laria stood in front of it blankly for a moment without saying anything.
It was the first family picture that she had in her life.
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kuroneko_chan
🤣🤣🤣 Aunt Olivia and Lisa are hilarious!!!