Joseph's POV:
I let out a laugh, but there wasn't the slightest hint of amusement in my eyes. My voice was cold enough to raise goosebumps."Oh? If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have even known our sister-in-law also went."Dominic: "…"It's over.
...
Vecna's POV:
Late afternoon. The lanterns outside the veranda lit up one by one, soft and golden, like honey melting over cold stone.And I… was busy tearing my vanity apart, trying every palette in sight, not paying the slightest attention to whatever was happening beyond these walls.
I lounged in my room, chin propped on hand, admiring the lineup of new cosmetics I'd just scavenged from the Anderson estate's storeroom after three days of behaving like a model daughter-in-law in the kitchen.
An Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair set sat majestically in the center, next to a Dior Forever compact, and a Charlotte Tilbury Red Carpet Red lipstick gleaming like the whisper of sin. Any she-wolf would howl with joy seeing this haul.
I tested the lipstick on the back of my hand, tilting it under the light."Oh my god, this is gorgeous, imagine wearing this color while drinking wine."
Karen stood beside me, staring as if I were a wild wolf pretending to be a TikTok beauty influencer.
I couldn't care less. The scent of new makeup, fresh packaging, skincare, it all soothed my instincts. Wolves have sharp senses, and these high-end products really did calm the nerves.
I twirled the lipstick in front of the mirror, imagining how wearing this tomorrow in the kitchen might brighten up those pathetic vegetables.
I was still deciding between La Mer or Tatcha for tonight's skincare when Karen suddenly glanced toward the hallway, her ears twitching slightly.
"Miss… it seems Lord Joseph is heading this way."
"Mm, let him," I waved her off, still busy opening a bottle of Dior Capture Totale serum. "He can come home if he wants. What's that got to do with me?"
But Karen swallowed, her voice lowering:
"…But he doesn't look normal."
I still didn't lift my head."Not normal how? Less frown or more frown?"
Karen looked at me with a warning expression that basically screamed run.
"Like… like he's about to settle accounts with someone."
I froze. The lipstick nearly slipped from my fingers.
My wolf instincts shot up immediately, too late.
From the hallway came slow, steady footsteps. Human ears could hear them easily; no need for werewolf-level hearing. Each step sounded like the heartbeat of someone coming to question you. And Joseph's scent… colder than usual, laced with something like threat.
I cursed internally.Great. This isn't about the serum… It's about me sneaking into the wine cellar.
I quickly straightened the makeup spread, though the fake chill vibes from earlier were definitely still stuck on my face.
And right then, Joseph stepped in, holding two books, his gaze locking onto me longer than normal.
Long enough that even the perfume I'd been testing wanted to evaporate and flee.
The moment I sensed trouble, the instincts of a wolf who'd lived through way too much kicked in.I reacted like someone completely innocent: full, absolute stupidity mode.Hear nothing, see nothing, know nothing.
I turned back to the vanity and lifted the entire set of brand-new cosmetics as if presenting some ancestral treasure.
"Husband!" I gave him a smile so sweet it could rot teeth on contact. "Thank youuuu! These are stunning, I'm almost moved enough for my wolf fur to turn pink!"
I held up my wrist with a swatch, tilting it under the lamplight."Look, look! Charlotte Tilbury, Pillow Talk! I swear, it matches my skin like we were born for each other! And this Fenty highlighter, silver moonlight, exactly like your eyes whenever you get serious!"
I talked nonstop, voice smooth as winter mink, soft as melting taffy.
"Honestly, no one's ever gifted me makeup this perfect. You know me better than anyone!"
Beside me, Karen coughed behind her hand. I didn't need to look to know she was trembling from holding in laughter.
And Joseph…
He just stood there.Silent.Staring at me with a gaze that screamed caught red-handed.
Not good. Very not good.
I swallowed, still keeping the gentlest, most docile smile in werewolf history."A-Are you mad at me? If you're mad… maybe be mad at, like, level 5 out of 10? 4 out of 10 also works. 3 out of 10 and I'll be eternally grateful..."
He narrowed his eyes.
Just that tiny movement sent cold down my spine. I knew immediately there was no escape. I'd used every flattery skill I had, almost resorting to the "roll-over-and-ask-for-head-pats" technique, and he still wasn't melting.
So I weakly offered another lipstick, a desperate last strand of hope:
"…And here's the Dior Addict too. Look, don't I look beautiful enough to reduce my sentence… just a little?"
No change in his expression.
Yep. Disaster part two.
I took a deep breath, preparing my wolf soul for battle.God help me.
Through the entire dinner, Joseph said nothing. His silence made it impossible to guess what he was thinking but it definitely meant something was waiting at the end of the meal.
And of course, I was right.
When we finally sat down for tea afterward, he spoke:
"Vecna, did you go to the wine cellar today?"
I jerked my head up. The man sat impeccably straight in his round chair, fur cloak spotless to a borderline tyrannical degree, his expression calm… unnervingly calm.In my heart, I screamed: I'm dead.
"I only… took a walk." I forced out with the last shred of pride. "If I'm not allowed to drink, can't I at least smell it?"
Joseph continued, perfectly composed:"Were you alone?"
That question told me lying was pointless. The Anderson estate was crawling with his eyes and ears. I exhaled and admitted:
"No. I ran into Dominic halfway, and dragged him along." I thumped my chest. "One person commits, one person takes the blame. Don't involve him. I only forced him to save face."
I could sell out my husband, but not my brother-in-law.
Joseph let out a quiet laugh. Mixed with his icy gaze, it froze my bones."You two are quite loyal to each other."
So I was completely exposed.
I raised my hand in a plea for mercy."I won't do it again, alright?"
He tapped the lid of his teacup, no reply.
I grew nervous, circling his chair like a wolf pup locked in a cage."Then punish only me, okay?"
Joseph looked at me, and apparently my mix of stubbornness and helplessness amused him. Finally, he handed me two books. My eyes dropped to the covers:
The Hippocratic Principles of Health.
Instant headache.
I sat down across from him, staring straight into his eyes.
"Sir… are you placing me under supervision?"
My eyes narrowed slightly, a deliberate glint, a tiny trap to observe his reaction.And Joseph, for some reason, looked briefly unsettled under my gaze.
Maybe he himself wondered whether he was controlling me too much.But his face soon returned to its maddening calm.
"Husband and wife should rely on one another," he said slowly. "If I don't supervise you, who will?"
I, a wolf with no clan, no home, no power, no wealth only had him to lean on. He wasn't wrong.Still made me want to bite him.
I propped my chin on my hands, half teasing, half serious:
"Give me one sip of wine, and you can supervise me however you want."
Joseph: "…"
I swear he's questioning what species he married.
In the end, he lectured me with a sermon long enough to rival the Wolf Bible and still didn't give me wine.I sulked as I walked him to the door, mentally labeling him: stiff, conservative, zero romantic flair.
Just as he stepped out, noticing I was still displeased, he turned back.Under the glow of six lanterns, his eyes glittered like cold jade. His voice was deep:
"Vecna, remember to take care of your health..."
He didn't finish, because hurried footsteps echoed down the hall.
A boy of thirteen or fourteen rushed up, bowing:"Sir, Deputy Minister Richart of Punishment is here to see you."
Deputy Minister of Justice currently charged with investigating the diplomat caravan robbery.Visiting at this hour… definitely bad news.
Joseph's expression became instantly solemn. He gave me one last look, his voice gentler:
"It's winter. Rest early."
He headed straight for the study. I watched his figure vanish through the moon-gate.Cold wind swept through, carrying the smell of steel, anxiety… and secrets.
My expression darkened.I asked quietly:
"Our last strike… was it clean?"
Karen immediately dropped her usual mischief, posture turning serious.
"All traces have been dealt with," she replied. "But… the item we wanted, we didn't get."
Hands clasped behind my back, I paced the courtyard like a wolf calculating its next hunt.
"You mentioned before other groups besides you also targeted the envoy caravan?"
"Yes."
I lifted my eyes to the dark, heavy sky.Deputy Minister of Justice coming to Joseph at this hour… he must've found something.
"These past days, have you studied the security layout of the estate?"
Karen followed my gaze, answering quickly:
"Yes. The Anderson estate is loose outside, tight inside. High walls with guard towers, servants patrolling outside, hidden guards inside. Lord Joseph's study is the most heavily secured, ten steps per guard station, no blind spots. Not even a fly could slip through."
She sighed."I'd sooner break into the Punishment detention hall. Joseph's study? I dare not go near it."
I nodded. Eavesdropping wouldn't work.
"No need to break into Punishment. But the Deputy Minister's residence… we can pay it a visit."
Karen's eyes lit up like a wolf's gleam in the dark."Understood."
I patted her shoulder."Tonight. I want to know how far Richart has gotten."
"Yes, my lady."
Karen escorted me back to my room, then slipped out through the side door toward the bathhouse.After confirming no one was following her, she stuck close to the wall, turned a corner, then sprang upward leaping onto the roof, swift and soundless like a streak of gray smoke.In an instant she disappeared into the night, leaving only wind and the scent of danger drawing near.
...
Joseph's POV:
Inside Stonecrest Institute, the electric lights shone bright as day, illuminating every ancient gray stone of the building.The moment I stepped into the main hallway, the scent of tension reached me before I even saw anyone.
Deputy Minister of Justice Daniel, my brother-in-law was pacing back and forth in front of the auxiliary rest chamber outside my office like a large, restless beast.
Just from his steps, I knew he carried bad news.
As soon as he saw me escorted in, Daniel rushed over, lowering his voice though urgency still bled through:
"Joseph, the theft at the imperial lodge… is far more complicated than we thought."
He rarely showed that expression. I knew immediately he didn't even know where to begin.I gestured for the attendants to step back, then said:
"Don't rush. Speak inside."
The envoy robbery at the Prefectural Hall was officially under my jurisdiction as a member of the Executive Cabinet, but Punishment handled the main investigation.However, since assuming my positions at the institutes, aside from Census, I also directly oversaw the Supreme Investigative Committee: Punishment, Government Oversight Office, and the Supreme Court of Justice.
So if Daniel had progress, naturally he would come to me first.
We entered the main study. Once the oak door closed, the world outside faded.I poured him a cup of hot tea; he took it without ceremony and downed it in one go.
I sat across from him. The steam from the tea mixed with the heavy thrum of his heartbeat, thickening the air.
"Speak slowly," I said.
Daniel exhaled, a heavy, stone-like sound.
"I've just returned from the lodge. It's confirmed five different factions were involved in the robbery that night."
My brow tightened. Something was immediately wrong.
Five factions? So many wolves crowding around the envoy's treasure?
I asked, voice lowering:
"Acting separately… or in collusion?"