A Mastermind? No, I'm just the Live-In Son-in-Law-Chapter 132: The Calling [VIP]

“......”

“......”

On top of the hill, cloaked in pitch-black darkness, a silence that seemed like it would never end lingered for a long while.

“...Ugh.”

Within that silence, Meredia—her face flushed redder than it had ever been—buried her head in Whitney’s chest and finally let out a quiet groan as she opened her mouth.

“How long are you going to keep hugging me?”

“......”

“...Say something, will you?”

But Whitney remained silent. That silence only made Meredia more stubborn, and she raised her voice again.

“Do you even realize what you’ve done?”

“......”

“You just... haah, you just stole the first kiss of the Empire’s one and only duchess.”

The arrogant tone that would’ve come so easily to her normally lingered at the edge of her lips, only to fade away.

“...You took the first of the Empire’s only duchess, you know.”

When the words finally came out, they were surprisingly small [N O V E L I G H T] and timid for someone like Meredia.

“If you weren’t my fiancé, it would’ve been an instant execution. Do you understand that?”

“......”

“Someone of my rank—a duchess—just touching me without permission is grounds for punishment. Not that you would’ve known that.”

She continued talking, but rather than her usual threats, it was closer to grumbling... maybe even a bit of whining.

Meredia, having never behaved like this in her life, didn’t even realize it herself—but to Whitney, that’s exactly what it sounded like.

“...So, did you hate it?”

And so, when Whitney finally spoke, his voice too was different from usual—just like hers had been.

“What?”

“If you hated it, tell me. Even now.”

Gone was his usual tone—light, sarcastic, laced with an unsettling humor. What replaced it was heavy. Serious.

“I...”

“You can be honest.”

Hearing that, Meredia’s eyes flicked around awkwardly before she bit her lower lip and quietly murmured,

“...I didn’t.”

“Sorry?”

“I said I didn’t hate it, you idiot.”

Having said that, she buried her now-burning face back into Whitney’s chest and added in a strained voice,

“...But I wouldn’t say I liked it either.”

“Why not?”

“You were clumsy. You dumbass.”

A moment of silence passed between them again.

“...You’re right.”

“Huh?”

“It was my first time too.”

Some time passed, and then Whitney spoke again, softly.

“I didn’t think it would happen like that, honestly.”

“......”

“But... I liked it.”

At those words, Meredia lifted her head just slightly and looked up at him.

“...You were awkward too, Lady Meredia.”

“......”

“And it was cute.”

There had been several times when Meredia had blushed or made flustered faces because of Whitney.

And each time, Whitney would calmly smile—as if nothing could phase him. That calmness had occasionally annoyed Meredia.

“You...”

But now, Whitney was making a face she had never seen before.

In fact, no one—not even his parents, not even Cecil—had likely ever seen him wear such an expression.

Cecil, especially, would’ve had a fit if she’d even imagined her brother looking like this.

“Ha...”

With a faint blush dusting his cheeks, his gaze cast downward, hand covering his mouth—Whitney was wearing the most out-of-place expression imaginable.

Anyone who saw him like this would've reacted the same way.

“...Pfft.”

Meredia, staring blankly at him for a moment, suddenly burst into laughter.

“Pfft... Hehehe...”

“...Why are you laughing?”

“Puhahaha...”

Whitney looked slightly confused as he asked the question, but Meredia just kept laughing.

“Ha... haha...”

Eventually, either from exhaustion or satisfaction, she lay down and rested her head on Whitney’s lap.

“......”

Then, she quietly looked up at the sky.

“...Lady Meredia?”

“Hey, Whitney. You know what?”

Just as Whitney nervously called out to her, Meredia turned her eyes toward him and whispered softly.

“I’m really happy right now.”

“......”

“I never thought I’d feel this way.”

Words she would never have said under normal circumstances spilled from her lips.

For someone with her pride, her cold demeanor, and the emotional walls she'd kept up until just moments ago—it was nothing short of a miracle.

“My life’s always been hell. The more I struggled, the deeper I sank.”

“......”

“I just wanted to survive. But before I knew it, I’d become the Empire’s most hated villainess. Just because I was born with the name Embergreen.”

Because, as she said—it was true. Meredia had never experienced true happiness in her life.

The closest she'd ever come was the moment she finally overthrew the Duke of Embergreen with a meticulously crafted scheme she’d planned for years.

And the satisfaction she’d felt in that moment... it had been potent enough to ease the bitterness that stained most of her life.

But it wasn’t happiness.

That feeling had faded within days of becoming the acting head of her family. And what was left—was emptiness.

And that emptiness had been slowly eating away at her... just like the incurable, terminal curse that had plagued her until recently.

“God, I can’t believe I’m saying this.”

“......”

“You probably don’t get how dramatic all this is for me...”

Meredia gave a dry laugh and turned her gaze away as she muttered.

“I understand.”

And then, Whitney spoke—unexpectedly.

“I’m feeling the exact same thing right now.”

At those words, Meredia turned to look at Whitney, tilting her head slightly as she asked,

“You were a bit poor, sure. But it’s not like you were abused like I was, right?”

Normally, it would’ve been a difficult thing to bring up—but Meredia didn’t hesitate.

By now, the bond between her and Whitney had grown strong enough that such things could be said without fear.

“...Everyone carries their own pain and misfortune.”

“So, your pain and misfortune disappeared after meeting me?”

“They did.”

Meredia studied his eyes carefully, trying to catch even a flicker of falsehood. But then, a quiet smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

He could have easily said something he didn’t mean—just to sound sweet. But Whitney had never lied in moments like this.

And even his smallest displays of sincerity were starting to make Meredia’s heart stir in ways she couldn’t quite control.

“Then I guess we’re... indispensable to each other.”

“...Embarrassing, but yes.”

Truthfully, Whitney had long felt his heart flutter every time he looked at her. And now, both of them, faces lightly flushed, exchanged words while looking into each other’s eyes.

“Really... I wish I’d met you just a little sooner.”

“...Who knows? I might’ve died early if I had.”

“You had an entire plan to avoid being poisoned by me. Were you that desperate to get your hands on me?”

“Haha...”

Whitney’s eyes flickered slightly—but Meredia, mistaking that for his usual eerie aura, found it endearing now.

“Well, if it hadn’t been for that mess, a mere count’s son like you would never have landed me. So consider it an honor.”

“...Then I suppose you should thank my father for arranging the engagement.”

“Sure, I’ll do that. As long as he’s not a child-abusing bastard like mine.”

With that, the two of them exchanged a few black-hearted jokes—fitting of those raised in darkness—before falling into a quiet moment, eyes drifting toward the sky.

“What would you do... if I died early?”

“...Please don’t say things like that.”

Whitney’s response came instantly when Meredia asked in an unusually small voice.

“Even if it means shaving years off my own life, I’ll make sure you live longer, Lady Meredia.”

It was the kind of thing anyone could say—but even so, it hit Meredia right in the chest, and she bit her lip in silence.

‘You’re really supposed to lie about stuff like that, idiot.’

Once again, Whitney’s words were 100% sincere.

Even between lovers, how many people could say something like that without a shred of hesitation? Meredia didn’t know the world of love—or even romance novels—but she knew people like that were rare.

“...You’re not going to say you’d give your whole life for me?”

Maybe it was pride, maybe genuine curiosity—but Meredia asked, watching him closely.

“Haha. What are you talking about?”

Whitney let out a soft laugh—and gave her a clear answer once again.

“I need time to spend with you first, don’t I?”

“...Hah.”

Meredia stared at him in disbelief, then exhaled a helpless sigh.

“You really are a damn cheat...”

Just as she said—Whitney was the kind of man who completely disarmed her.

Her whole life had been a brutal game of schemes and bloodstained power plays, with kin and enemies alike trying to crush her. She had no defenses against someone who offered her love, freely and unconditionally.

“You pull this kind of crap with other girls too?”

“......”

“...It’s a joke. Don’t make that face.”

She had thrown out the line to cover up her flustered feelings, but when Whitney looked hurt, she quickly retracted it.

‘Did I... just worry about how he felt?’

The thought hit her a beat too late.

‘...Yeah, no denying it now.’

She had already given too much of herself to the man in front of her.

Her first love, her first real relationship, her first kiss. And soon, maybe even...

“Hey.”

“......”

“Whitney.”

“...Yes?”

As she quietly gathered her thoughts with her eyes closed, Meredia reached out, tugged on his sleeve, and called him.

“What we were talking about earlier.”

“...?”

“I mean... if you’re okay with it...”

She trailed off, pointing subtly toward the building she had originally mistaken as their destination.

“...Wanna go do it again over there?”

***

“Uh...”

As my eyes followed the direction of her pointing finger, I found myself freezing solid.

“A-Ah, that, um...”

“Once isn’t enough, right?”

“Mm, um...”

I tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come out. My utter lack of romantic experience had decided to betray me at the worst possible time.

“I...”

If I kept stumbling like this, there was no telling when the Lady’s expression might turn cold again—so I tried to steady myself and give the answer she deserved.

—Crackle...!

That’s when I suddenly felt a chill—something sinister pulsing from the pocket inside my coat.

“J-Just a moment.”

“...?”

“Ah.”

Frantically, I turned away and pulled out the envelope I had kept there. With a quiet sigh, I crushed it in my hand.

—Ssshhh...

The invitation I had received a few days ago from the Shadow Witch was now billowing black smoke, calling out to me.

‘...The Shadow Gathering.’

The single most massive event—one that would serve as a turning point in all the scenarios—was beginning.

And of course, it had to be now.