As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

“Why don’t you bring in a lover instead of hanging out with such a vulgar person?”

Following her husband’s suggestion, Luize decided to take on a lover.

* * *

At a glance, it was a road that people with poor lives would likely walk on. There was a lot of trash and waste on the ground, from apples that were eaten to paper used as wrapping paper for powdered medicine.

People whose ears were red from the intoxication of alcohol followed the touts and entered the building.

In the center of it all, a woman with the hood of a robe pressed down hurriedly walked. The woman’s name is Luize di Cloette.

Luize’s purple eyes calmly looked around. Apparently, the building she was looking for was taller and wider than the others.

“Dollores.”

It was the only four-story building among the buildings in the back alley. The exterior reminded her of an ordinary inn on the main street. Still, there was no noise, so it was quiet, unlike the other places where workers were busy soliciting customers.

As soon as she knocked, the wooden door opened, and a woman with heavy makeup stuck out her head.

The first thing she smelled was a strong perfume. Luize’s face stiffened slightly, embarrassed by the woman’s clothes being so revealing that her body was clearly visible.

“Customer?”

“Yes. I heard that this place has the best gigolo (men who engage in prostitution) in the empire.”

“Gigolo? Why would you… Ah, you’re the one who came to meet Ellisian. You’ve come to the right place, but he’s currently with other customer.”

“Can I meet him right now with this amount of money?”

Luize took out a fist-sized coin pouch of gold coins from her sleeve and showed it to the woman. “They’re all gold coins. First of all, I want to meet him alone for one night.”

“Oh my goodness. An esteemed customer has arrived. Please come in. My name is Rose.” Rose opened the door and stepped back.

Unlike its ordinary-looking exterior, the interior was much larger and more luxurious. There were many expensive decorations, rather than simply to attract people’s eyes. The painting hanging on the wall was by Ardi, a famous painter who is well-known in the capital.

“Is it a crackdown again?”

“No, there’s a customer.”

“I thought this was the end of today’s reservations.”

“Peter, come with me for a second.”

It was noisier inside than outside. Laughter and drunken shouts could be heard everywhere. Rose went inside, where she was talking to someone, and then she approached Luize with a bright face.

“It just happened that the customer just went back. If you pay him, he will guide you.”

“Yes.”

Luize handed the coin pouch to the curly-haired man who approached her. He giggled as he accepted the pouch and then led her to the second floor of the building.

As they moved further from the first floor, the noise gradually subsided. The quieter it became, the louder the subtle sounds seemed. Luize’s expression hardened at the intermittent erotic moans amidst the gentle laughter.

“Ellisian stays in the room on the right at the end of this hallway.”

“With that much money, I can monopoly him tonight, right?”

“Of course.”

“Okay. You can go back now.”

“Then I hope you have a good time.” The man bowed to her and quickly went downstairs.

Only then did Luize take off her hood. Pure silver hair cascaded down from beneath the black hood. Purple eyes resembling lavender stared at the end of the hallway.

This was something she had prepared for. She walked toward her destination without hesitation. She stood at the end of the hallway and pulled back the thick curtain in one go. The interior was as spacious as a room in most mansions, and the sweet scent of flowers filled the room, perhaps due to incense burning everywhere.

“

.. it looks like someone came in.”

A languid voice came from the sofa facing inward. A hand popped out over the sofa and grabbed the sofa’s head. The man slowly got up.

“

? Is someone else coming?”

“Seems like it.”

A woman’s voice, presumably not yet left, interjected. Luize thought so and dismissed her thought. The person who directed her here said that common sense wouldn’t work in the back alley.

“My name is Luize di Cloette. I heard you’re Ellisian, the best gigolo here…”

“The best gigolo?”

It was a soft, low-pitched laughter. The man nodded briefly. Every time he moved, his slightly long black hair swayed gently.

“That said, are you Countess of Cloette?”

“Yes.”

“But this person…”

The woman, who was believed to be next to him, got up from her seat and opened her mouth.

“Wait, I’ll tell you. What brings Countess to a place like this? Are you looking for your husband?” There was a hint of laughter in his voice. “Or since you came looking for a gigolo, are you looking for a pleasure?”

“I came to make you as my lover.”

“Lover?” He rose from his seat again, laughing out loud.

Luize took a breath as she saw the gigolo striding towards her. He indeed fit the rumors of being the best gigolo. If you didn’t know he was a gigolo, he could be mistaken for a noble son from a historic family because of his unwavering gait, making it hard to believe he was from a back alley.

The long, straight legs wearing white uniform pants and the broad shoulders hidden under the wide-open top were visible at a glance. Even at first glance, the fabric looked expensive, even though it was worn by an ordinary gigolo. His clothes weren’t wrinkled, as if he hadn’t been having a wild time just before.  

“…I thought you were a boring person.”

Before she knew it, the man who was right in front of her muttered softly.

“I guess you were mistaken for another customer. This is my first time seeing a gigolo.”

“I think so. I come here often, but it’s my first time seeing you. Did you say you were looking for a gigolo to become a lover?”

“Yes.”

“What good is it to me if I accept it?”

“I’ll make sure you live a prosperous life without receiving customers.”

“I’m already living quite comfortably… Still, that seems like an interesting proposal.”

“I can give you something else if you want.”

“What?” The man looked at Luize with interest.

“Anything you want and I can give.”

“

”

“If you don’t want to, I’ll find another gigolo.”

“Does it have to be a gigolo?”

Luize didn’t know how to get a lover in any other way, so she opened her mouth without saying her answer. “Are you going to accept it or not?”

“Yes. I’m willing.”

The gigolo’s hand went to his face. Long fingers wearing white gloves slowly removed the mask. When the cumbersome mask came off, the first thing that caught Luize’s attention was his red eyes.

The eyes, as clear as rubies and slightly curved with interest, were captivating as if they had been ripped out of the devil’s heart, just like what people often say. Pure fair skin, clearly pointed nose bridge, clearly defined black eyebrows, sharp eyes, and slightly long black hair flowing like waves next to the red eyes that many people admire. Luize has seen this man before.

“Your Excellency Grand Duke Edward von Lindeman.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“I was rude. Please forgive me.”

Although she had encountered him several times, they rarely had a proper conversation up close. They said he frequently came to the back alleys, but she never thought she’d run into him in a place like this.

For a moment, a look of confusion appeared on Luize’s face. That was when she slightly bowed her head in greeting and turned around to leave. The grand duke’s hand gently overlapped the back of Luize’s hand as she was about to part the red curtain.

“I’m a big fan of fun things.”

“Your Excellency knows that I’m a boring person.”

“Boring people and sexual relationships are not fun for me…” the grand duke bent down and whispered in her ear. “But it’s quite refreshing to see those two together.”

“This isn’t a kind of refreshing relationship.”

“I think that’s up to me to judge.”

“…”

“Wouldn’t you be in trouble if you leave now? Adding one more scandal to my numerous scandals won’t make much of a difference to me.”

Her hand holding the curtain lost strength. As Luize let go of the curtain, Edward also let go of her hand.

She turned her body again to face him. Her face was as emotionless as usual.

“I’ll say it again. I’m here to get a lover.”

“Yes. I will be that lover, Countess Luize di Cloette.”

“My husband is a count.”

“Who cares? The lover may have a higher title than the husband.”

“…”

Luize’s purple eyes turned to Edward. After a moment of silence, she opened her mouth. “…That’s right.”

The gazes of the two intertwined sharply in the air.

“Let’s do it. My Lover.”

Luize held out the back of her hand towards Edward. He gazed into her purple eyes and kissed the back of her hand.