A Mastermind? No, I'm just the Live-In Son-in-Law-Chapter 64: Awakening?

Still, just looking at the engagement ring I’d given her—now proudly on her finger—made it clear how much she’d changed.

‘Though... that means I’ll have to be extra careful going forward.’

I still broke into a cold sweat just thinking about the hours-long “explanation” session she demanded over the whole situation with the Saintess.

Especially when she asked me—point blank—what exactly I had done to Hestia to make her fall so hard she’d blackmail witnesses on my behalf.

It was honestly so unfair I nearly cried.

‘Why the hell are you blaming me for the spider’s antics?’

Naturally, the spider familiar—who had taken up residence in my shadow like it was the most obvious thing in the world—had gone completely silent since yesterday. No response, no sign of life.

Still, the thing did save me, so I figured I should at least give it some praise.

I’d wanted to ask it how it managed to fool the inquisitors on site—even though the Pope, who joined via projection orb, wasn’t physically present.

“You can act all cryptic like usual if you want, but don’t forget that a lot of people are watching you now.”

“...Yes, ma’am. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Even right now, all eyes are on you. Do you even realize that?”

As I grimaced from the lingering unease, Meredia glanced toward the Academy’s main building and muttered quietly.

Following her gaze, I saw exactly what she meant—students were practically glued to the windows, all staring down at me.

“...Feels like I’m some kind of zoo exhibit.”

“Hah. Yeah. I know that feeling well.”

As I grimaced, unable to get used to this flood of attention, Meredia let out a dry chuckle.

“I’ve lived with eyes like that on me ever since I debuted into society.”

“Ah...”

Right. If someone like me, who never drew anyone’s attention before, found this overwhelming—then someone like her, who’d grown up under constant scrutiny, must’ve suffered tenfold.

Hopefully, I hadn’t just triggered a painful memory.

“Well, not that it matters anymore.”

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

Thankfully, Meredia only answered with calm indifference as she quickened her pace.

“At least... no one’s looking at you with ridicule anymore.”

“Really? I can’t see that far...”

“Maybe I gave the order to control the crowd for nothing.”

At her muttered remark, I snuck a glance at her face, then opened my mouth with a slightly mischievous smile.

“Ah, Lady Meredia. Don’t tell me...”

Meredia was attractive even on a bad day—but when her poker face cracked a little? Honestly, I’d take the risk of getting slapped just to see it.

“You were worried about me...”

“...Yeah, I was.”

“...What?”

“I was worried. So shut up and walk.”

And with that, she picked up her pace even more, leaving me blinking after her with a stunned expression.

I scratched my head and let out a cough.

‘...Why does my face feel so warm?’

Having taken that unexpected fastball straight to the chest, I trailed after her, blushing just a little... when suddenly—

“Tch.”

“...What’s wrong?”

Meredia stopped abruptly, her face twisting in irritation.

“Looks like some unwanted guests are here.”

Curious who had set her off this badly, I peeked over her shoulder—

and immediately felt compelled to defend whoever it was.

“Uh... Lady Meredia, His Highness the Prince isn’t exactly an ‘unwanted guest’—”

“Oh ho! But who do we have here!”

“...Mm.”

“Isn’t this the Hero, appearing for the first time in centuries!!!”

Unfortunately, that’s when a voice thundered across the courtyard loud enough to shake the sky.

“...Your Highness, I can hear you perfectly well without the shouting.”

“Really? My apologies! People haven’t been hearing me well lately, you see!”

And now that I got a closer look, it wasn’t just the Princess waiting by the carriage—there were a few others as well.

“Took you long enough...”

“Haha, His Highness truly is... a remarkable man.”

“...Ugh...”

Lunelle, Parsha, and Sasha were all standing there, greeting me with visibly drained expressions.

Judging by the atmosphere, they’d probably been enduring Katarina’s relentless chatter ever since they arrived.

“You’re not all planning to ride in the same carriage, are you?”

While I silently applauded their patience, Meredia’s voice cut in beside me, dripping with irritation.

“...Is that not allowed?”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“I suppose the Ringaarden household has some sort of tradition of riding with the help?”

It sounded like she was mocking me—but truthfully, when I took over as acting head of the family, I had started dining with the staff to build rapport.

Granted, that tradition stopped after several people nearly choked while trying to hide their discomfort, but still.

Besides, it’s perfectly normal for attendants to ride with their master, isn’t it?

“Wow. Master, you really are clueless about these kinds of things.”

While I scratched my head in confusion, Parsha leaned over and jabbed me in the ribs with a smirk.

“Right now, the Lady wants to ride in the carriage alone with you.”

“...Ah.”

Only then did I finally understand what Meredia meant when she said “unwanted guests.”

Is this really the same Demon Lord Meredia I used to know?

The more I get to know her, the more she seems like a tsundere. It’s like peeling an onion that never ends.

“We’ve got a carriage prepared by the Academy, so go ahead and enjoy your time alone.”

Seriously, Parsha really is Parsha.

Even though she made a slight mistake when distributing the clever trinkets this time... she’s still the one who passed the ring to Sasha, so she must’ve had a plan all along.

In that case, I should probably raise her salary as much as I’m allowed starting next month.

“Well then, we’ll be off...”

“Wait.”

Just as I was smiling warmly at Parsha, who was cleverly trying to slip away with Lunelle and Sasha—

“Hmmm...”

—Meredia suddenly stepped between us and started staring down at Parsha with half-lidded eyes.

“My lady, I swear to you, Parsha is just a talented girl I hired—”

Given the talk we had in the carriage and the trauma from her nagging yesterday, I quickly tried to explain myself.

“You... have interesting eyes.”

But instead of her usual icy tone, Meredia’s voice came out soft and curious.

“...You’re the same, aren’t you, my lady?”

“Ha.”

I tilted my head, wondering what was going on, and then Parsha, still looking up at Meredia, let out a strange and meaningful reply.

“...How about it. I’ll pay you ten times your current salary—come work as my butler.”

I’d just been standing there watching, but when Meredia suddenly made that outrageous offer while giving Parsha a once-over, I couldn’t help but flinch.

‘This is exactly why I didn’t want these two to meet...’

If you think about it, Parsha was traditionally Meredia’s closest confidante and right hand.

If someone like that gets this kind of offer... even if she’s satisfied with her current job, the temptation might be too much.

“Wow, now that’s a tempting offer.”

And just as I feared, Parsha’s eyes lit up with a grin and she said something that sent a chill down my spine.

‘...How much money do I even have right now?’

Sure, Meredia and I are basically a team now, but if Parsha sticks to her side, who knows what could happen?

I can manage her now because she’s beside me, but let’s not forget—Parsha is the number one reason Meredia becomes the final boss in the game.

So, even if I have to live a little more frugally for the next few years, I need to keep her on my side...

“However, I’ll decline.”

Just as I was tightening my belt in my mind and tearing up a little, Parsha’s sudden rejection, delivered with a chilly smile, made me flinch all over again.

“If this had been a few months ago, I would’ve accepted while crying, but unfortunately, I’m very satisfied with my current job.”

Honestly, that kind of loyalty is seriously touching. I should get her a gift or something once we’re back at the mansion.

“You’d better count yourself lucky, brat.”

But apparently, Meredia wasn’t pleased with that touching show of loyalty, muttering with a displeased glare.

“You’re probably the first person who’s ever turned down my offer and walked away unscathed.”

“Well, considering we’re about to be family anyway, there’s no need to be so harsh.”

“...And you’re the second person to say something that rude and still survive.”

Wait, what is this—why is a full-grown adult bickering with a kid?

“Haha, my lady. Please don’t be too hard on her.”

I usually side with Meredia, but just this once, I had to back up Parsha.

“After all, Parsha is mine right now, you know?”

“Click. I know.”

Fortunately, Meredia had calmed down a little after everything that happened, and at my words, she finally gave up her headhunting attempt and headed toward the carriage.

“...Heeheegh.”

I thought I heard a weird snort from Parsha beside me, but I decided to ignore it.

“Well then, see you all back at the mansion.”

Just as I barely managed to prevent a talent leak from my dream team and was about to follow Meredia, looking forward to some long-overdue rest—

“W-Wait! Wait just a moment!”

“L-Lord Whitney. I believe you still haven’t heard the reason I came here, have you?”

—The Imperial Princess, who’d been anxiously watching Meredia the entire time, suddenly grabbed my arm and spoke up.

“Your Highness? I thought you just came to greet me...”

“...L-Look at this.”

“Oh, come on.”

Frowning slightly, I turned back—only for her to suddenly lift her upper garment, making me whip my head away on reflex with a pained groan.

“Your Highness, please, don’t just strip in front of me like that...”

“I said just look at it already!”

“...Sigh.”

It might have been an honor, since I know she’s not the infamous playboy prince but a pure-minded princess... still, all the stares we were getting made me want to sink into the floor, so I had no choice but to comply.

“L-Last night, my stomach started hurting all of a sudden... and then this weird mark showed up!”

“Huh?”

But as soon as I glanced over, I realized she actually had a reason for her bizarre behavior.

“Thanks to your efforts, the saint’s issue was resolved and I finally got off probation, but if anyone sees this, I’ll be in prison next!”

A clearly sinister gray mark had appeared between the toned abs of the princess.

“So please, help me—as a white mage! We’re still f-friends, right?”

“......”

“L-Lord Whitney?”

But I couldn’t say anything. I was too shocked.

“I-I’m still useful, you know! I’m still first in line to the throne... If you keep me around as a friend, I’ll come in handy—”

‘...Why is this giving off the same mana signature as mine?’

The mark that had appeared on the princess’s stomach—it was radiating the exact same grayish energy as my own mana.

“...Master.”

And as I stood there dumbfounded, knowing nothing about what this meant, Lunelle quietly stepped up beside me and whispered.

“Actually... I got the same mark last night.”

“...M-M-M-Me too! I got one after suddenly feeling sick last night!”

Before I could even be shocked by Lunelle, Sasha blurted it out too, stuttering even more than usual.

“Master. I got one last night as well.”

“......”

“And I think I have a pretty good idea what it is.”

Hearing that, I instinctively turned my gaze back to the princess’s stomach, doubting my own ears.

“...This is the Mark of the Retainer.”

“The... Mark of the Retainer?”

That thing demons use to brand their closest servants?

“You’ve finally awakened the power of Domination, haven’t you?”

“Excuse me?”

“Yes. This is where it all begins. Ahahahah...”

...What the hell is going on?!