As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

“The knights going on the expedition are all men. I cannot allow Miss Luize to join a knight order filled with smelly men. If we have to camp out, we set up tents in pairs, and…” Edward trailed off.

Luize looked at him and replied with a calm face, “If we must adhere to the two-person rule, then I can just share a tent with Maxion.”

“No.”

“That won’t do.”

Maxion and Edward responded simultaneously.

Luize looked at Maxion, puzzled. “Why not? We’ve already shared a room for quite a while.”

“…Yes?”

Edward looked back and forth between Luize and Maxion in disbelief. Maxion, though appearing stoic as usual, had his ears flushed red.

“Luize, wait a moment.”

“You even watched over me while I bathed.”

“

, Luize.”

“You taught me how to ride a horse.”

“…”

“And when I was hurt, you carried and nursed me back to health. Even until I was fourteen.”

Edward looked at Maxion as if he had been hit in the back of the head.

Maxion swept his face with bare hands, sighed, and replied. “…Yes, that did happen. But it still won’t do.”

“I won’t be as troublesome as before.”

“It’s not about that…”

“I’m the one who received the imperial command. I can’t just send someone else in my place, and I’ve decided to go. So unless you want me to sleep outside in the cold alone, what else?”

As Luize showed no sign of backing down, Edward sighed and conceded, “I admit defeat. We’ll prepare an extra tent for you to use alone, ensuring your safety from start to finish. Miss Luize, you will absolutely not be sharing a tent with Maxion.”

Edward glanced at Maxion, who nodded awkwardly.

“Thank you,” Luize replied with a light smile.

Late into the night, the table was littered with empty bottles. After Luize returns to the mansion, Maxion and Edward have a drink together for the first time in a while. Although they raised their glasses to celebrate Luize’s victory in the swordsmanship tournament, both felt uneasy.

Maxion, who had wanted to involve Luize in their affairs, now felt uncomfortable with the situation, and Edward, who had tried to keep her out of it, was even more conflicted.

Luize was strong, but strength alone doesn’t guarantee safety from harm. Edward was also strong, but the problem was his inability to protect everyone. Variables always accompany situations. Edward did not want to lose Luize in a fleeting, meaningless way, like the many lives he couldn’t save before.

He left Maxion, who had passed out, and moved to his office. After writing a letter in his neat handwriting and flicking it, the letter transformed into a white dove and flew out the open window. There was something he had to d

“

” He exhaled a breath mixed with alcohol, leaning loosely in his chair and closing his eyes.

“It’s going to hurt.”

Soon, his dense black eyelashes opened, and low-set red eyes were revealed.

* * *

“Edward, for the time being… I think it would be good for us to meet every day, acting the climax of our desperate love before parting ways with a lover who is going on a mission. You should also continue training in the practice yard before we leave.” Luize said with an excited voice.

The departure date set by the emperor was a month away. He had generously instructed Edward and Luize to leave in autumn, which essentially meant they were being sent to freeze to death in the upcoming winter.

Edward replied with a gentle smile and a soft voice, “I also think that would be the most natural course of action, Miss Luize.”

“And about the husband issue,” his gaze immediately focused on Luize as she continued calmly, “I think it might be best to get a divorce before departing.”

“…Are you sure?”

“You know Edward. How meaningless my marriage is.”

“…”

“I thought everything would be fine once Reiad returned. But now, I don’t feel the same. Even if he comes back, I’m not confident I can love him as I did before.”

“If you need me, please let me know. I’ll help you.”

“Thank you. There’s still some time left, so I’ll try to wrap things up as well as I can.”

Their gazes met. Luize’s eyes were kind as ever but now steadier than when they first met. Edward silently watched her.

Luize, leaning on the railing and looking outside, broke the silence, “The atmosphere in the banquet hall seems particularly lively today.”

“It is said that the princess of Pendel is planning to visit the empire this summer. She intends to stay in the capital.”

“Princess of Pendel?”

“Dian rud Seperdel, I believe.”

“The name sounds familiar…

! Isn’t she Edward’s first love?”

“Excuse me?” Edward’s brow furrowed slightly, realizing he hadn’t managed to control his expression. Though he quickly smiled again, a slight twitch was visible around his eyes. Fortunately, Luize seemed not to notice any change.

Diana rud Seperdel. She’s the Seperdel royal family member of Pendel and had been a leading candidate for Edward’s fiancée. For about eight years, from the age of thirteen to twenty, she studied abroad in Eldran, the capital of the Kaillon Empire. It would be more appropriate to say she was exiled rather than studying abroad. The exile was more like a productive retreat for her.

As a child, the princess stayed in the imperial palace for a while, and because Edward had red eyes and she had red hair, people around them tried to match them together, leading to numerous rumors.

But the idea that Diana was his first love was utterly preposterous. Diana, of all people? Edward? Absolutely not. He had looked after her out of obligation due to certain incidents in their youth, even staying up nights on her behalf. He personally didn’t dislike her, but he definitely wanted to avoid being associated with her this way.

Remembering how she had treated him, Diana should have faced execution for imperial defamation or some other charge multiple times. Also, their shades of red were completely different. If his red was akin to rubies, roses, or wine, Diana’s red was more like a ripe tomato, especially under sunlight.

Without realizing what Edward was thinking, Luize continued, “She has red hair and green eyes, right? I think she’d suit you well. I’ve only seen it in fairy tale books though.”

“Such publications would not have been legally published. Did Lensia, no, did my previous master really seek out such things to read to young Miss Luize?”

“Yes. She also added that Edward is so cruel and ill-tempered, unworthy of the princess. Anyway, since there’s a match, there’s no chance of getting involved with me…

, not that I think you’re unattractive, Edward. I don’t find you ill-tempered either.”

“…”

“Edward?”

It seemed Lensia had gone to great lengths to prevent Luize from encountering him. Considering the emperor’s treatment of her, it was understandable that she was desperately opposed to Luize becoming involved with him. However, not all relationships go according to human wishes. So, the two ended up meeting again and again, and Luize even became deeply involved with him. He never would have thought that the relationship that started out as just entertainment would turn out this way.

“Anyway, she wasn’t my first love.”

“Are you upset?”

“No. Not everything you said was wrong.”

“No. I was wrong. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not something you need to apologize for, Miss Luize. Being ill-tempered is a fact.”

“No? I think you’re the second nicest person I’ve met after Maxion.”

Edward responded with his usual smile.

Until he was seventeen, before his mother’s disgraceful death, Edward grew up as a promising crown prince. If he continued as a crown prince and became emperor, he would never have known his depths. His condition during those times was far from good, known only to a few, like his butler, who had watched him closely, and Maxion, who met him during his worst phase.

Ah, and one more person. Dian rud Seperdel, the wild princess of Pendel and his longtime friend, who even went as far as to go to Lindeman when he told her not to come.

“Don’t worry. And Edward, you are handsome. I really think you’re handsome. My mother was just too playful.”

“Good to hear the misunderstanding is cleared.”

In any case, Luize wouldn’t have to know his darker side.

“Since I’m getting divorced anyway, maybe I should just follow you on your expedition as I am now?”

“Ordinary women don’t accompany their lovers on expeditions, Miss Luize.” He laughed softly as if he couldn’t stop her.

After obtaining Lensia’s word, Luize regained her vitality. Having the financial freedom to avoid being forced back to Perils, she seemed more at ease. According to Maxion, she was now closer to her original personality. It was a positive change.

“Then I’ll pretend to return home and leave first. I can wait outside the capital.”

“That seems best.”

A gentle breeze caused his hair to flutter. His handsome face held an unwrinkled smile. Luize stared blankly at his face, then hurriedly responded, “It feels like my heart is racing as if I’m about to commit an affair.”

“You’re already committing one.”

“Right…”

They laughed together. Though unspoken, both appreciated having found another pretext to stay connected even after the swordsmanship tournament ended.

Of course, Edward still felt guilty for involving Luize in his affairs. Luize was strong, and he was determined to protect her at all costs, pushing aside his worries. As long as she remained within his sight and reach, she wouldn’t come to harm.

“It’s time to return to the banquet hall, Miss Luize.”

“Yes.”

Luize placed her hand on his arm.