A Mastermind? No, I'm just the Live-In Son-in-Law-Chapter 111: Colony

“Alright, then. So, is everything taken care of?”

“Yes, well. I suppose so.”

“Good. If that’s the case, then that’s a relief.”

After venting her frustration on the woman Whitney had trampled, Meredia stood still, chewing over the situation with a doubtful expression before adjusting her posture.

“...It’s unsettling how smoothly everything is going.”

Her gaze happened to fall on the teddy bear lying limp on the floor—but soon enough, Meredia turned her eyes back to Whitney.

‘...I decided to trust him.’

She wanted to ask why faint traces of magic were emanating from the teddy bear—but even so, she had chosen to trust Whitney completely.

“Oh. Was ‘that incident’ during the knight interview—was the Emperor behind it, after all?”

“Oh, right.”

But Whitney’s lukewarm response to her simple confirmation chipped ever so slightly at the trust Meredia had built up.

“I forgot to ask about that.”

Yet Whitney was exuding such overwhelming pressure—unlike usual—that even his murmurs now sounded like he was hiding something deeper.

“Where is your head even at?”

“Ha ha...”

“Well, if what you say is true, the opportunities from now on are endless.”

Even so, based on her experience with him thus far, Meredia believed Whitney had simply made a mistake. She let out a sigh and changed the subject.

“Just thinking about everything that bastard has done to me in secret makes my skin crawl.”

“...Ugh.”

Still grumbling, Meredia couldn’t contain her anger and kicked the woman lying prone beside her in the side, drawing a strangely humiliated moan from her.

“Next time I see her, I’m going to make sure she tastes some humiliation.”

“......”

“...What? Is there a problem?”

Meredia finished speaking and looked down with an icy glare. The woman clamped her mouth shut again.

“Still, you should be careful. Even if this is a technical victory, the Emperor isn’t someone to be taken lightly.”

“...Yeah. I agree with that.”

Watching silently, Whitney gave a quiet warning. Meredia looked back up at him and nodded.

“But... if we moved so quickly to finish this against someone like that...”

“......”

“Doesn’t that mean we’ll be facing someone even worse, soon enough?”

At her sharp analysis, Whitney merely answered with a silent smile.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“Ahahaha...”

“No, forget it. I don’t even want to ask.”

Seeing his unchanged smile, Meredia let out a sigh and shook her head.

“...Anyway, about your eye.”

Pausing, Meredia stepped toward Whitney and opened her mouth again.

“Didn’t you used to keep it closed?”

Then, gently, she reached out and touched the corner of his eye.

“...Why do you ask?”

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry.”

Seeing the rare concern on her face, Whitney asked in a low voice, but Meredia hesitated and dodged the question.

“Why do you ask? Just tell me.”

“...Is your eye some kind of trigger?”

“......”

“You know, like... my jewel eye.”

Despite hesitating, Meredia managed to ask.

“Is there no risk? You’re not overexerting yourself, right?”

“......”

“It’s not like that sealing spell you used last time, where it consumes your life force... right?”

Whitney smiled and answered.

“We still have to have kids and live a happy life together, so that wouldn’t do.”

“...Haa.”

Only after hearing that nonsense did Meredia let out a sigh of relief and step back.

“...For a second, I thought something had changed, but at your core, you’re still the same.”

“...Sorry?”

“Never mind. Forget it.”

Then, as Whitney tilted his head, Meredia quietly muttered.

“Still... I thought covering it was better, but with it open like this... it’s kind of charming.”

“Ha ha...”

“...Don’t misunderstand. That’s a compliment, not an insult.”

Whitney gave a wry smile, rubbing the area she touched. Worried he might misread it, Meredia hurriedly added and watched his reaction.

“Ugh.”

But when Whitney’s lips slowly curved into a smile, she realized he had been teasing her the whole time. With a sigh, she turned her back.

“Anyway, I’ll be going now. It’s almost dawn.”

“Oh, leaving already?”

“You don’t need any more escorting, by the looks of it. And if someone sees us together here, weird rumors could start. It wouldn’t be good for you—no, for us.”

To that, Whitney put on a mock-disappointed look.

“How about we go out together and make sure people do see us?”

“...Wouldn’t that be even weirder?”

“Ha ha, now that you mention it, yeah.”

As Meredia replied with a grimace, she realized Whitney had been teasing her nonstop since earlier. Her expression darkened as she glared at him.

“...What are you going to do with her?”

Then, she glanced down at the woman Whitney had been stepping on and asked.

“I’ll handle it properly.”

“......”

“Ha ha, why are you giving me that look?”

Despite Whitney’s reply delivered with deadly killing intent, Meredia—still new to her first relationship—was clearly not thinking straight.

“I’m trusting you, alright?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t do anything weird, got it?”

She turned her back again, worry in her expression. Whitney couldn’t help but stifle a laugh behind his hand.

“...Adorable.”

“Haah. I must be insane.”

Face slightly red, Meredia hurried toward the broken door she’d smashed earlier and slipped out.

“......”

And then—silence.

“Well, now it’s just the two of us.”

Within that silence, the harmless smile Whitney had shown Meredia vanished from his face as he turned to speak coldly.

“Still... Your Majesty, your true form is just as beautiful.”

“......”

“Changing your hair and eye color with magic all the time... must be exhausting.”

As he whispered, he ran his fingers through the revealed hair of the Emperor—the same woman he’d been stepping on. Finally, through clenched teeth, she spoke.

“Are you satisfied now...?”

“Hmm, not quite. Still a little lacking.”

“...Haa.”

Whitney muttered emotionlessly, and the Emperor raised her swollen face with a twitch of her brow.

“What now? Planning to parade me around with a leash?”

Her cheek still red from Meredia’s slap, she snapped—but at her words, Whitney’s eyes gleamed briefly.

“Oh?”

“...Are you serious?”

“...Are you serious?”

Her suspicious tone made even her flinch slightly as she looked at Whitney warily.

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I don’t do crude things like that.”

“Of course, unlike Your Majesty—who’s forced quite a few subordinates into some truly humiliating acts.”

Whitney was gently stroking her hair—until suddenly, he yanked the leash in his hand with force.

“Now that I think about it... walking the Emperor through the streets on a leash might not be so bad...”

“...Kh.”

The collar tightened in an instant, choking her breath.

“...Still, it might tarnish my reputation. Not that I could ask Lunelle or Parsha to do it, either.”

“...!?”

He toyed with the leash like she was some kind of pet—then let go and casually flipped the Emperor over with his foot.

“Too bad. I guess this will have to do.”

“W-What are you...”

Before she could even protest, Whitney climbed atop her.

“...Why are you touching there?”

“Oh, is that a sensitive spot?”

He reached for her thigh again, prompting her to stare up in alarm.

“Well, it’s the scar of a past that can’t be erased... a symbol of shame. Of course it’s sensitive. That was careless of me.”

“...You sure seem to be stroking it an awful lot for someone who says that...”

As her expression gradually turned to one of shame—

—Crackle!

A sudden surge of current from the mark on her thigh.

“...Hhck?”

A moan escaped her lips before she could stop it, and her face twisted in pain.

“You... don’t tell me...”

“...You know, it’d be a waste to just let such a complex black magic brand go unused.”

Black smoke began to seep from the mark on her leg, coiling around Whitney’s arm.

“Ever since the late Emperor branded you with the slave mark... it’s been a while since I’ve seen this, hasn’t it?”

“St-Stop...!”

“...Ha ha.”

She knew exactly what that meant. Her panicked voice rang out—but it was already too late.

“My sword, my loyal subordinate—she’s suffered because of you.”

“...!”

“Compared to that... this is a cheap price to pay, isn’t it?”

Whitney leaned in, face right before hers, radiating a terrifying pressure.

Fsshhhh...

The slave mark on her thigh, long dormant, now roared with black smoke—carving a new master into its void. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

“Ha ha ha... wow.”

“......”

“Who in the world enslaves an Emperor?”

Staring blankly for a moment, the Emperor broke into a helpless laugh.

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I won’t make you scrub the mansion floors or anything.”

“......”

“This is purely... a precaution.”

Still atop her, Whitney narrowed his eyes and whispered.

“If you try to harm me... or my family... or my fiancée...”

“......”

“...Or if you even think of cozying up to black mages again—then I’ll have no choice but to use this brand.”

The Emperor listened silently, then gave a bitter smile and spoke.

“Sorry, but that last part... might be out of my hands.”

“...Hm? And why is that?”

“My relationship with the black mages—well, it’s not just a mutual interest anymore. I’m in too deep.”

Whitney’s brow twitched at that.

“If I sever ties first... they’ll start digging for answers.”

“...Then don’t worry.”

He gently stroked her head again, whispering softly into her ear.

“As your loyal subject, I’ll handle those black mages for you.”

“...Hah.”

Startled, the Emperor blinked and looked up at him with unexpectedly gentle eyes.

“In that case... what do I have to do from now on?”

“Hmm. Good question.”

Whitney paused, as if he hadn’t thought that far ahead—then grinned brightly.

“...Become a colony of the Ringaarden house?”

And a moment later—

“...Hahahahahaha!”

A wild laugh burst from the Emperor’s mouth.

“So, you really have no intention of becoming my husband?”

“Ha ha. Pretty big dreams... for a slave.”

“...Ahahahaha!”

The moment the highest woman in the Empire fell into the hands of a villainous son of a count.

“Call that a hero? The world’s doomed.”

“...Thanks for the compliment.”

For the record, that villain was technically a hero too.