A Mastermind? No, I'm just the Live-In Son-in-Law-Chapter 50: A Shattered Delusion

‘...Well, there’s no way I won, right?’

Her opponent was not only a third-year student, but a top-seed contender—Hayden, someone who was practically a superior version of herself.

To go all out against someone like that, when she hadn’t even completed her own sword aura... It was obvious who the cheers she heard before collapsing had been for.

‘I guess I should just be proud that I did my best...’

Thinking she could at least find peace in that, her expression turned hollow—before she suddenly clenched her teeth.

‘...No, what the hell do I mean “be proud”?!’

It wasn’t even the semifinals or finals—she had lost in the very first round. How could she face the friends who’d cheered for her?

‘I really wanted to show everyone what I could do this time...’

And above all, how could she face that bastard, who’d judged her coldly from the panel instead of offering even a shred of support?

“Ugh...”

With her eyes unfocused and tears brimming, she bit her lip in silence—when suddenly:

—Another huge upset! First-year Lady Adel Felgrave defeats second-year Lady Lucia Uraine and advances to the next round!

The flustered voice of the Head of Academic Affairs echoed from beyond the arena—and reached her ears.

“Ha... haha...”

She had pretended not to care, but she’d always seen Adel—who was constantly breathing down her neck—as a rival.

“And now I just look like an idiot...”

Hearing that Adel had confidently defeated a senior and moved on to the next round only made it all sting more.

—Step, step...

Still lying silently in defeat, she pricked her ears as she heard footsteps approaching from outside.

“Who is it?”

“Ah, excuse me. I was just checking on my sister’s condition.”

Upon hearing the nurse and Whitney’s voices just beyond the door, Cecil clenched her fists and shut her eyes tight.

“Fortunately, nothing serious. She only fainted due to extreme exhaustion.”

“Ah...”

“There are some minor internal injuries, but there’s still some time before her next match. She’ll make a full recovery by then.”

But... something about the conversation felt off.

“Well, that’s a relief...”

“Right? It’d be a shame if she couldn’t compete after such a dramatic comeback victory.”

Cecil’s eyes widened. As she focused harder on the conversation, her heart started pounding uncontrollably.

‘Comeback victory...? Wait, did I win?’

“It’s rare for a first-year to beat a third-year. You must be proud of such a fine little sister.”

‘...Seriously?’

Shocked, she suddenly sat up straight, pain forgotten, and that’s when she finally noticed the floral crowns and letters of support from her friends laid at her bedside.

“Hehe... See? I can do it when I put my mind to it.”

She was still a little dazed, but the result was clear. Grinning as if she’d never been on the verge of tears, Cecil pulled her friends’ gifts to her chest and held them close.

“My little sister just whines all the time...”

“Haha. Mine’s so mature it’s almost a problem.”

‘...What the hell is he saying?’

Cecil’s cheerful expression instantly turned cold as she scowled at Whitney’s shameless remark from outside.

‘I’m the one who went through hell, and he didn’t even cheer for me or help at all...’

She still vividly remembered how he’d casually told her to try competing if she thought she could handle it.

‘And the way he pretends to care... it’s seriously creepy.’

She also hadn’t forgotten how he threatened her to not ask questions about their father’s sudden disappearance—or how his expression didn’t even change at their mother’s funeral.

‘What are those black mages even doing, not dragging him off? Ah, right—he’s a white mage, so I guess they wouldn’t...’

Of course, Cecil didn’t yet have the guts to say any of this to his face. So she just stewed in silent resentment, mentally cursing him out.

“I’m actually planning to send my little sister to the academy too. But the tuition’s so expensive.”

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

“...Yes, that’s true. A scholarship system would’ve been nice.”

Still eavesdropping, Cecil tilted her head in confusion.

‘Wait, but there is a scholarship.’

She clearly remembered the large sum labeled “Scholarship” that had been deposited into her account when she ranked top before. What were they even talking about?

“By the way, would it be possible to see my sister’s face, even just for a moment?”

“...!”

Startled, Cecil dropped the gifts she’d been holding and hurriedly lay back down.

“Normally, we don’t allow visitors during treatment, but...”

Secretly praying the nurse would firmly decline, she waited—

“...but I suppose it’s fine if it’s Lord Whitney.”

“Ugh.”

Unfortunately, the nurse gave permission far too easily. Not wanting Whitney to ruin her rest, Cecil frantically pulled the blanket over herself and shut her eyes, pretending to sleep.

—Creeeak...

Moments later, the door to the treatment room opened quietly.

“...Little sister, are you still asleep?”

She held her breath, staying utterly still. The moment she heard Whitney’s voice from right beside her, she almost grimaced—but managed to stay silent.

“Hm...”

Sitting down in the chair next to her bed, Whitney stared down at her for a while before speaking softly.

“I’m sorry, Cecil.”

‘...Should I scream?’

She nearly panicked. Should she sit up and scream for help?

“I didn’t even get to cheer for you because of something I had to deal with... You’re not mad, are you?”

“...?”

“I should’ve been better to you...”

Contrary to her fears, Whitney just gently stroked her hair and mumbled in a soft, downcast voice.

‘...Huh?’

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Cecil was more confused than she’d been in weeks—but it was far too late to suddenly open her eyes now.

“Still... I’m glad you’ve grown up so well.”

“...!?”

And then, for the first time, the boy who had always spouted nothing but suspicious nonsense...

Spoke with genuine sincerity.

***

- Brrr...

“...Mm?”

As I gently stroked Cecil’s head—uttering a rare, heartfelt compliment I normally would never say—she suddenly trembled. Eyes widening, I examined her complexion.

“Is she cold...?”

Seeing goosebumps rise on her arm, it seemed she was suffering from a weakened qi or stamina.

‘...Back then, she used to throw tantrums all the time. I even sang lullabies to calm her down.’

So I pulled the loosely draped blanket up to her neck. As I did, a memory from our childhood in this life surfaced, and I smiled unconsciously.

‘And hmm... right, we used to play house all the time too.’

Then came the unfortunate memory of little Cecil playing the hero and beating me up during our games. But we were so young then—she probably doesn’t even remember it.

‘...Wait, are those gifts from her friends?’

Still basking in nostalgic fondness, my eyes caught sight of various letters scattered near the foot of the bed.

“.......”

Each one contained congratulatory messages for passing the first match, and for some reason, it tugged at my heart.

‘Friends she’s only known for a few months are already better than me.’

Even if it was all for her sake, the fact that she ended up like this was my fault.

Trying to protect her from danger... by putting her directly into danger. What kind of idiot logic was that?

‘So now, I need to support Cecil’s path from here on.’

Even though she had faced a doppelgänger, the fact that she defeated Hayden—my main character, someone I controlled with utmost effort—meant that Cecil was far stronger than I had ever imagined.

Keeping someone like her trapped under my wing... would be nothing more than my own selfishness.

“Don’t be afraid to move forward, Cecil.”

In the end, what I needed to do for her wasn’t all that different from what I did for Lady Meredia.

“...I’ll always be here, helping you from behind. Haha.”

If Cecil ended up becoming the Hero, then I’d have to drastically revise my entire plan—but so be it.

Letting a goal be consumed by its means never ends well. I needed to remember that. No matter how actively I move forward, protecting those I care about must always be the priority.

‘...I should leave behind a small gift, at the very least.’

With that thought, I pulled out something I hadn't had time to give her earlier and placed it carefully at her bedside.

‘She’ll probably find more comfort in this than anything from me...’

And just as I was holding my breath to avoid waking her, gently placing the gift down—

“Um, excuse me... you’re not allowed in he—”

The nurse’s startled voice echoed from outside the door, then fell abruptly silent.

“Whitney Ringaarden.”

“We’re going to need you to come with us.”

A sinister presence seeped into the room, and I narrowed my eyes. The men entering bore menacing expressions and gestured at me silently.

“Haha... I see how it is.”

The energy they radiated—and the unconscious nurse slumped behind them—left no doubt. They were black mages.

‘...Just as I expected.’

Which meant: my bait had worked.

***

“What’s all this about, gentlemen?”

I quietly rose to my feet, turning my back to Cecil as I calmly addressed the intruders with a feigned look of confusion.

“We thought you were on our side. Yet you went and disposed of Miss Rebecca so cleanly.”

“Seriously, ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) who thought it made sense for a white mage to be one of us in the first place? Even Rebecca should’ve known better...”

As they stared at me with undisguised killing intent, their eyes suddenly drifted to Cecil lying beside me. A cold smirk crept onto their lips.

“Is that your little sister?”

“Well, isn’t this convenient? We always repay what we’re owed.”

Hearing that, I immediately placed my hand over Cecil’s arm, casting a protection spell while speaking in a voice as cold as death.

“...I’ll come quietly. Just don’t touch my sister.”

At the sound of my lifeless, threatening tone, Cecil flinched faintly in her bed—but thankfully, no one else noticed.

“Suit yourself. But we’re going to need some cooperation with our plans.”

“Put that on and come with us. You try anything funny, and we can’t guarantee her safety.”

The two black mages sneered as they tossed me a pair of high-grade mana restraints—who knows where they got them from—and began muttering between themselves.

“Hey, should we just take the girl as a hostage too?”

“Nah, too many eyes around. Let’s be content with this.”

At that remark, I briefly let out a chilling wave of mana—but as soon as they gave up on taking Cecil, I let it fade away.

“Still... doesn’t he give off a weirdly familiar aura or something?”

“...Quit spouting nonsense. Just watch him and make sure he behaves.”

And with that, the two black mages flanked me and led me out of the room, leaving only silence behind.

“...Liar.”

In the stillness, Cecil slowly sat up with a blank stare and murmured in a hollow voice.

“This was all a setup to trick me... You thought I wouldn’t figure it out...”

Then her eyes landed on the letter Whitney had left at her side.

“To think you entered the Selection Tournament at such a young age... I’m truly proud of you, Cecil.”

Her mouth closed tightly, as if she had seen a ghost.

“By the way, are you getting along with your older brother?”

And then, she saw it.

A letter signed with her father’s unmistakable, unforgeable seal.

“Ah...”

That was the moment Cecil’s long-standing delusion finally crumbled.