A Mastermind? No, I'm just the Live-In Son-in-Law-Chapter 88: Sincerity

The problem was the ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) specific nature of the curse affecting Lady Meredia—one tied to a time limit. There was still hope, of course. If my powers could truly break her curse, then the situation wasn’t entirely hopeless.

Still, the time is too short.

According to what Lady Meredia had said, she had only about a year left to live. If I couldn’t find a solution within that time... then all the miraculous progress I’d made would be for nothing.

“Sigh...”

As someone who once lay in bed awaiting death, this situation filled me with dread. If I was this overwhelmed, then how must Lady Meredia be feeling?

Maybe that’s why she became the final boss in most routes of the original story. It could’ve all stemmed from despair and helplessness.

...No, this isn’t the time for pointless thoughts.

I realized I was slowly scrunching my face and forced myself to relax as I glanced over at Lady Meredia, who sat silently near the window.

“...Okay, that’s a little better.”

“...What?”

“I figured you were planning something sneaky while staring at me.”

A quiet voice came from the front.

“Lady Meredia, could you at least look at me now?”

“......”

“I get that you’ve been avoiding eye contact since earlier, but this awkward silence is killing me...”

I murmured, watching her for any sign of response. But her gaze remained fixed on the passing scenery outside the window.

Well, at least she didn’t ride off alone... that’s something.

I’d been around Lady Meredia long enough to grow accustomed to her cold reactions. Which made her earlier words all the more unreal.

Maybe I was hit with an illusion spell or something.

To think the fearsome Lady Meredia had blushed and said she liked me... That was the kind of thing I’d expect to see in fanart or fanfiction from my past life. I’d never imagined I’d be the one on the receiving end of such words.

Until now, it had always been one-sided affection from me. Honestly, it felt like I was dreaming.

Maybe if I pinch my cheek really hard, I’ll wake up drooling on my office desk.

I’d had plenty of weird dreams in my past life, so I figured I’d be fine even if it was all in my head—

“...Ow.”

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With a slightly dumb grin, I gave my cheek a hard pinch—but instead of waking up, all I got was a jolt of pain and tears welling in my eyes.

“Sorry for the stupi— Oh.”

Turning my eyes forward in embarrassment, I straightened up in surprise.

“......”

Lady Meredia, who had been silently staring out the window, now had her eyes closed. She was dozing off, nodding gently.

“Well, this is a surprise.”

From what I knew, Lady Meredia wasn’t the type to show such a defenseless side in front of others. Thanks to chronic insomnia and nightmares, she couldn’t sleep anywhere except her magically fortified room at the mansion.

“Haha...”

So the fact that she was now nodding off like this meant she must’ve been absolutely exhausted from everything that happened.

Or maybe... maybe she’s started to trust me completely.

“...Whitney.”

“Whoa—yes, ma’am.”

Just as I was quietly watching her, she suddenly muttered my name.

“...Where...”

“...Sorry?”

“...Where are you...”

At first, I thought she was awake. But from her heavy voice and expression, I quickly realized—it was sleep talk.

“Whitney...”

Her voice trembled.

I had seen her vulnerable before, but this... this was different.

The expression on her face as she said my name carried a profound sorrow I couldn’t ignore.

“I’m right here, Lady Meredia.”

After a moment’s hesitation, I gently moved closer and offered her my shoulder.

“Mmm...”

“I’m not going anywhere, so don’t worry.”

“......”

Still sweating and murmuring in her sleep, she rested her head against me—then slowly drifted back into quiet slumber.

...This is way too close.

Maybe it helped her relax. But for me, it was agonizing.

Her soft breathing echoed directly into my ear—her head leaned against my shoulder in full contact.

“Haha...”

But I couldn’t possibly pull away now.

So I stayed frozen in place, holding my posture and enduring the rest of the carriage ride in silence.

“...Well, if she’s comfortable, that’s what matters.”

To be honest, it wasn’t the aching in my shoulder that bothered me.

It was the overwhelming pressure in my chest...as if my heart might burst.

***

—Creeeeak...

Time passed and passed again, until the once-clear sky turned dim with dusk.

“Lady Meredia, I believe it’s time for you to wake up.”

“...Mmm.”

Seeing the distant outline of the Embergreen estate appear outside the carriage window, I gently shook Lady Meredia awake, her head still resting against my shoulder.

—Rustle...

But even after opening her eyes, she just stared blankly at me for a while—then suddenly reached forward with her hand.

“...Lady Meredia?”

Was she still not fully awake? She began squishing my face with her hand, and I blinked in confusion, calling to her again.

“...Aaagh!”

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In the very next moment, she grabbed my cheek and stretched it hard, making me let out a wheezing, deflated scream as I jerked my head back.

“So it’s not a dream after all.”

“Ow ow ow... But did you really have to check by pinching my face?”

“...Sorry.”

Tears sprang to my eyes again, but since apologies from her were rare, I decided to endure it and forgive her.

“...I’m really glad it wasn’t a dream.”

“Did you have a nightmare?”

Her complexion still looked awful, and sweat clung to her skin—so even if she hadn’t apologized, I couldn’t have gotten mad.

“I should’ve gotten that talisman from Seol Baekhwa to chase nightmares away.”

“In any case, it’s about time to get off.”

Still, her breathing had gradually calmed, and as I saw that, I smiled and began preparing to escort her.

“Oh, but before we part... there’s something I need to make absolutely clear.”

“......”

“I will never give up on lifting your curse, Lady Meredia.”

Before she left, I had to say it—I lowered my voice and whispered.

“You know why, don’t you?”

If she couldn’t accept my help because she had feelings for me, then I couldn’t give up on her because I had feelings for her, too. This kind of back-and-forth was ultimately a war of persistence—and the one who lasted longer would win.

Even if she said she didn’t want to see me ever again from today on... I would still—

“Whitney. Do you believe in fate?”

“That’s sudden.”

Just as I was solemnly renewing my determination, Lady Meredia looked at me quietly and asked that out-of-the-blue question.

“...Just answer.”

“I’m not sure, but... yes. I do think fate exists.”

I wasn’t sure why she brought it up, but her expression was unusually serious, so I answered with all the sincerity I could muster.

“Every step we take and every decision we make becomes part of fate.”

“......”

“So in that sense, fate changes based on what we choose to do.”

At that, she slightly furrowed her brow and asked,

“Then you’re saying there’s no such thing as a predetermined fate?”

“...No, that’s not it. Don’t you remember our fated meeting, Lady Meredia?”

Back in my past life, I wasn’t in a position to believe in fate. But in this life, I could say with some confidence...

“...You mean the day I almost killed you?”

“Ha... Yeah, I still lose sleep thinking about that day.”

But the fact that I was now living a second life—that alone was a miracle. How could I possibly deny fate after that?

“What happened that day... I truly believe it was both luck and fate.”

As I finished speaking, I caught a fleeting, unreadable emotion in Lady Meredia’s eyes.

“If I had drunk that tea and died that day... everything would’ve changed.”

“......”

“So what I mean to say is—”

Just as I was about to wrap it up with something hopeful—

“...Let’s terminate our contract.”

“...What?”

“I’ll take full responsibility. I’m unilaterally dissolving it.”

Lady Meredia suddenly said it. Just like that.

“Lady Meredia... Did you really think I would just accept that?”

Naturally, I couldn’t accept such a decision—not even if the sky fell—so I looked her straight in the eye, serious now.

“Once again, if the curse is the problem, you don’t need to worry. I just walked away from my deal with Lumen Ordo for you—”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll pour all my power into breaking this contract if I have to.”

But from the look in her eyes, she’d already made up her mind.

“...You’re serious?”

I bit my lower lip, stepped in front of the carriage door, and spoke more quietly.

“If you go this far... I won’t sit back quietly either—”

“You could at least let me finish before making that face. Honestly, anyone else would faint just seeing it.”

I had fully intended to force her to take back her decision if necessary, even if it meant threatening her...But I shut my mouth, puzzled by her unexpected response.

“In exchange for canceling our engagement... I have a new proposal.”

“...A new proposal?”

The words that came next felt just as surreal as what she’d said a few hours earlier.

“Instead of being engaged... marry me.”

“...What?”

But I didn’t need to pinch my cheek this time to know—this was real.

“Marry me, Whitney Ringaarden.”

She reached out and took my hand as she said it... and wore a look on her face so stunning, my brain nearly short-circuited trying to comprehend it.

“...Haha.”

Of all the unusual expressions I’d seen on her face before, this one was different. Because this time, she was smiling—just a little.