A Mastermind? No, I'm just the Live-In Son-in-Law-Chapter 153: The Duke of Embergreen

“Lady Meredia.”

“......”

“Are you going to go silent again?”

Inside the carriage bound for the Embergreen Duchy, I glanced toward the now-silent Meredia and cautiously asked.

“...No.”

Thankfully, her soft voice returned quickly this time.

The only downside? That voice, usually sharp and aloof, was still heavy with resignation.

Still, it was a relief she hadn’t shut down completely. Taking that as a good sign, I carefully broached the topic I had in mind.

“It’s about the Duke of Embergreen.”

“...Yeah.”

“What kind of man is he?”

Of course, I already knew exactly what kind of man the Duke was—vile, cruel, and cunning beyond words.

But I wanted to hear it from her—how Meredia herself viewed him now.

“...A hopeless piece of trash.”

As expected, her voice, after a moment of closed eyes, trembled with hatred and disgust.

“He joined hands with the Shadow Union to cast a terminal curse on me... No, I think I told you that already.”

“......?”

“Anyway, my childhood under his thumb was a living hell.”

There was a faint tremble in her tone, just for a second. I tilted my head slightly, but she continued on as if nothing had happened.

“That bastard didn’t just ruin my life. If you lined up everyone whose life he destroyed, you could probably fill the entire duchy.”

“...I see.”

“I’m not exaggerating. Most of the people who support me now in the duchy have been hurt by him—directly or indirectly.”

Then, without warning, she turned her back to me and beckoned with a finger.

“Come here for a second. Help me undo this.”

“...Excuse me?”

“It’ll just take a moment.”

She’d taken off her outer coat and was now pointing at the buttons of the inner garment she wore.

“All of a sudden?”

“...Don’t act shy now.”

“Haha...”

Forcing my shaky hands to steady, I reached forward and began unfastening the buttons as she’d asked.

“.......”

But the warmth in my cheeks quickly faded as the buttons came undone—one by one.

“...These are the lovely medals that bastard left behind. Take a good look.”

“.......”

“Back then, I thought every child went through this kind of discipline.”

Meredia’s back was covered in scars—horrific, unthinkable marks that could only be described as brutal.

“See the brands where heated rods were pressed into my skin? The places where it festered from repeated lashings?”

“.......”

“The bruises from getting kicked in the side—some of them might’ve faded by now. And those gashes? They’re not from knives. Just... thorns I got shoved into when I was too young for my skin to handle it.”

She continued with clinical calm as she rolled up her sleeves and pant legs.

“After I was deemed less 'marketable,' the focus shifted to my limbs. Easier to replace than my face, I suppose.”

“.......”

“But the worst part wasn’t even that.”

Honestly, I was already regretting having asked about the Duke at all.

But the fact that she was opening up at all meant she’d made a tremendous effort. So I stayed silent and listened.

“I once told you I was scared of spiders because of being trapped in a basement, right?”

“...Yes.”

“Well, it’s not just that. Just seeing them wouldn’t give me trauma that deep, right?”

And what she told me next... was horrifying.

“One time, I was locked in the basement for about a week.”

“...Why?”

“Because I broke a dish at dinner. Right after the Duke had whipped my arms and legs dozens of times.”

“.......”

“The whipping? That was because I woke up one minute late. Not that I had any sleep—I’d been up all night cleaning the damn room.”

She said it with a twisted smile, her lip twitching from some memory.

Even without the details, I could feel how deeply that day had scarred her.

“Back then, I didn’t know it would be a week. Usually, I’d get out in about three days, so I was terrified. I had no idea when—or if—I’d get out.”

“.......”

“No food. No water. Nothing. I survived by licking moisture from the windows and drinking some mysterious experimental potions lying around.”

Her once radiant jewel-like eyes were now dim, nearly lifeless.

“...But there was no food.”

“Then...”

“And the only things in that damn basement... were disgusting spiders.”

“...Ugh.”

That was when I let out a low groan without realizing it.

“I forced down maybe five of them before the door finally opened.”

“I still remember Maier’s face—smiling, asking me why I hadn’t come out yet, now that the door was open.”

Meredia’s face had turned completely pale now.

“I was bedridden for another week after that.”

“.......”

“Funny thing—turns out the experimental drugs I drank and the spider venom canceled each other out. That’s probably what saved my life.”

Though her tone was dry and sarcastic, her hands trembled again.

“So. Was that enough of a description of my father?”

“......Yes.”

“What I’ve told you so far is just the tip of the iceberg. I could talk all day about the delightful things he did to me—”

I gently reached out and took her hand. She flinched but didn’t pull away—she looked me in the eye.

“...What are you doing?”

“Holding your hand.”

“...Are you pitying me?”

Her voice sharpened, but her gaze gradually softened as she stared into mine.

“...I don’t deserve pity.”

“Why not?”

“Because I became just like him, a long time ago.”

As she muttered, eyes averted, I lightly turned her by the shoulder to face me.

“I still love you.”

“.......”

“And if I can, I want to carry the burden of your sins with you.”

Her body flinched again, and she opened her mouth as if to protest—but instead, she quietly leaned against me.

“...One of us going to hell is enough.”

“Haha, we’ll see.”

“...Still. It helps a little.”

She whispered in a small voice.

“I thought I’d never be able to tell this to anyone.”

I held her tightly in silence—and then,

—“Lady Meredia!!!!!!”

Suddenly, a loud voice like a train whistle blared from outside the carriage.

“Lady Meredia!!! Why did you take so long to return!?”

“.......”

“There’s trouble! The duchy is in chaos—!”

Before she could finish, the carriage door was flung open and a maid poked her head in, shouting.

“...Ah.”

She glanced between us—me, holding Meredia in my arms; Meredia’s coat on the floor, her blouse unbuttoned—and promptly slammed the door shut, face crimson.

“...Who was that?”

“...Clara. My personal maid.”

“Ah, I see.”

Judging from her familiarity, the carriage had arrived at the duchy estate.

Still, it surprised me to see someone that close to Meredia.

“D-did I just... interrupt something private...?”

“Just open the door.”

“...Y-yes, ma’am.”

Knowing we couldn’t stay in here forever, I let go. Meredia calmly buttoned up her blouse herself—it seemed she could reach the back after all.

“Hehehe...”

“...Why are you grinning ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) like that?”

“Didn’t I tell you? Playing hard-to-get always works!”

As she opened the door, Clara whispered something slyly into Meredia’s ear, flashing a wicked grin.

“Cut the nonsense. Give me a status report.”

“R-right.”

Snapping to attention, Clara resumed her report with a serious face.

“Duke Embergreen has returned. He’s approaching the duchy estate now. The knights are stalling him with every excuse they can think of, but once his identity is confirmed, there’s no stopping him.”

“...Are you sure it’s him?”

“Yes. I’ve been in this house since I was a child. That face... it’s burned into my memory.”

Meredia’s expression grew darker and darker.

“...That decrepit old man—what’s he trying to pull now?”

“...Ahem. Lovely weather today.”

“This situation is going to be complicated.”

Her reaction puzzled me. I turned to her and asked,

“Wait, but isn’t the headship of the duchy essentially yours now?”

“...Technically, he’s still the official Duke. But under the Embergreen family charter, he has no real power anymore.”

“And the heir designation he issued has been fully met, right?”

“Yes. With our engagement, he can no longer legally revoke my succession.”

Even as she said it, her voice was tight with tension.

“Then why...?”

“You don’t understand. You don’t know how cunning he is.”

Fair enough. A man like him wouldn’t return at this timing without a calculated reason.

“He knows I’ve been preparing to destroy him. And he still came back now.”

“Whatever the reason... we’ll have to be careful.”

“...So you be careful too.”

She took my hand and met my eyes with a heavy gaze.

“The Duke of Embergreen is a different kind of threat than the Emperor.”

With that, she stepped out of the carriage and walked ahead with the knights of her household.

“Well, I should follow her—”

“Excuse me, wait just a moment.”

Just as I was about to follow, a voice stopped me.

“Hmm... let’s see here...”

Clara, the maid from earlier, narrowed her eyes and scrutinized me closely.

“...She might be too good for you. But I guess you’re not bad.”

“...What?”

“Ah, never mind.”

That definitely sounded insulting, but I let it slide. After all, Clara wasn’t just a maid—she was from a count’s family, same as mine.

Then again, I suppose it makes sense. A duchess would need at least a count’s daughter as her personal maid.

“Sir Whitney... I know this isn’t really the time to ask...”

Just as I started to walk away, she sidled up beside me and whispered,

“...How far have you gone with Lady Meredia?”

...Now how the hell do I even begin to answer that seriously?