Chapter 9: The Live-In Son-in-Law (2)
“...The live-in son-in-law, huh.”
I had been bracing myself in case a killing curse came flying my way, but fortunately, what came from Meredia’s lips was not a curse but a murmur filled with veiled curiosity.
“If you’d like, I can even draw up a contract stating it was my idea to become your live-in son-in-law. That would help your position, wouldn’t it?”
Grateful once again for dodging a deadly blow, I jumped in quickly, speaking fast. But instead of replying, Meredia gave me a faint smile—then asked a question.
“You seem to know quite a bit about my situation.”
“Well, it’s a pretty famous story, isn’t it? Everyone in the capital probably knows.”
That was true. Even without the knowledge from my previous life, just flipping through the Empire’s gossip rags was enough to learn about the unique and precarious position Meredia was in.
“Ha. Even a passing dog knows the Duke wants me dead.”
“Haha...”
But to lay it out clearly: the Embergreen ducal house was currently embroiled in a brutal internal war over the successor to the family headship. Meredia, the frontrunner and only heir, was under heavy attack and constant pressure from all sides. And the worst of those tactics? Something known as a “proposal assault.”
The reason for it lay in the Embergreen house’s ancient succession tradition.
By their rules, the current duke is not allowed to directly choose a successor. Instead, all eligible candidates must compete in a «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» formal selection ceremony.