As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

The atmosphere between the man and woman was too strange for a mere proposal. As if answering their question, Isella spoke up.

“We’re already over. You know, I already have someone else.”

“We’re never over.”

“Who says! It’s definitely over.”

She pushed Talles’ shoulder, huffing. Isella raised her voice, noticeably flushed. “You were the one who started it! Saying… I don’t appear feminine. That I’m mess in looks and personality, and the only thing worthy considering about me is my family background.”

“Isella, there was a misunderstanding.”

“I heard everything!”

“…It was just typical banter between academy peers. If  I had talked about you there while we weren’t even engaged yet, it would have led to unpleasant remarks.”

“Unpleasant remarks?”

“That’s… like lewd jokes or bad stories about marriage. You know, that kind of stuff,” replied Talles in a shrinking voice.

Isella stepped back from him, looking incredulous. “You’re no different, hanging out with such people.”

“If you want, I’ll stop meeting them.”

Talles’s response made Isella still look angry. “Talles, do you know why Reiad is so popular with women?”

Luize was noticeably flustered. Reiad’s name coming up unexpectedly caught her off guard.

Isella, not realizing Luize was overhearing, continued. “At least he’s polite. Not like you, carelessly hurting people with your words. He says what you want to hear kindly at the right time. He never speaks ill of others.”

“…”

“All I want is basic courtesy. Or at least the illusion of a sweet romance.”

“…Isella.”

“What!”

“He’s a married man.”

“…”

“No matter how sweetly he whispers to you, that fact won’t change. You know he’s known as a womanizer in the empire. Do you really think you’ll be happy by his side?”

“…”

“If you still want to be with him, I can’t help it.”

Isella bit her lip and lowered her head. She replied with a trembling voice. I know. What I’m doing is an affair. If I end it with Reiad, I won’t be able to set foot in society until the rumors about me die down.”

“…”

“So, what’s the point of bringing this up? Do you want to play the hero role by taking me in? Do you think I’ll be happy by your side?”

“…”

“Are you saying to me that in the end, you’re a generous person who generously buys products that others wouldn’t buy? Am I not even worthy of telling your academy peers that you like me? Or because you’re such a bad person, you can’t refute even a word of their gossip?”

“I don’t mean it in that way. From now on, I won’t hurt you in the same way. That’s not why I asked you out.”

“Then why did you?”

Isella sighed. Talles knelt before her, pulling out a small box. Opening it, a ring with a sparkling gem appeared.

“Since you left, I’ve thought a lot. I can’t let you go. I wish to be your last, Isella.”

“…If I’m your last, what about your honor? You’re a good man, and I’m an adulteress. That label will follow me as long as I’m in the capital.”

“My honor was already ruined when I spoke ill of you. So don’t mind my honor.”

Talles took a deep breath, then said firmly, “Let’s get married. With time, people will forget your past. I’ll do everything to make you happy by my side.”

Isella saw the proposal ring on his hand. “…Talles.”

“Yes.”

“I really hate you, you know?”

“Yes. It seems so.”

Isella lowered her head, speaking in a trembling voice. “If I accept this, will you listen to me?”

“Probably.”

“Will you stop causing me upset?”

“I’ll try.”

“…”

In fact, she knew better than anyone else. Reiad was a sweet poison. The longer she spent with him, the lower her social standing dropped. But she couldn’t spend her whole life with him either. By the time she committed the affair, she also had become the worst person, to the extent she couldn’t blame Talles.

Isella held out her hand to Talles. He slipped the ring onto her finger, slightly loose.

“…Hey, the ring is loose.”

“No, it shouldn’t be. Something must be terribly wrong.”

“I’ll tell you the measurement next time so you won’t mess up.”

“Okay. Sorry, sorry.”

“Don’t just brush it off.”

“Yes.”

“…Thank you.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s go.”

Talles stood up, leaving the lavender field with Isella. They bickered into the darkness, looking more at ease than before.

Luize, watching silently, sank into her seat with a tired face. Edward kneeled beside her in a hurry, meeting her eyes.

“Miss Luize, are you alright?”

“…No.”

Isella’s words echoed in her head.

She once wondered what Reiad was like to others. He had been kind to her for a long time, but not always.

His words, usually sweet, had cut her deeply that day. It felt like he no longer loved her.

Perhaps their relationship started crumbling the moment he left her alone in the mansion three months after their wedding. She had denied it, but now she had to admit it. That Reiad only saw her as a reality, which he had come out of after his sweet dream.

Luize had hoped their marriage, through adrift, started with love and could improve. But hearing about their situation from a third party made her realize how deluded she had been.

Her womanizing husband wasn’t that kind, and he had even suggested she get a lover. He had never truly cared about her. He wasn’t just wandering around. Their marriage was a complete disaster marked by unhappiness.

“Edward, I didn’t know I was such a petty person. I can’t sincerely wish them happiness.”

Luize had never considered the futures of Reiad’s lovers. Thinking of them made her uncomfortable, so she avoided any emotional attachment or long thoughts about them. In the end, Riead’s numerous lovers who had tormented her would have left him and found their own lives, no matter how bad that life may be.

Talles was right. To others, their lives were mere gossip. In the end, the person who had to live to bore everything was herself, who remained by Reiad’s side, who didn’t feel any guilt about it.

“I thought I was overreacting to something trivial…”

Luize gasped for air.

“I was just unhappy. So I avoided facing it as I didn’t want to admit it.”

“…”

“But I can’t change anything. I’m so foolish.”

“…”

She shut her mouth.

Luize had no right to interfere in his life. She had signed a contract at their wedding, agreeing not to meddle with his personal affairs. What a marriage.

Luize lowered her head with a miserable face. It felt like everyone was deceiving her and playing a bad prank. The world seemed unfair. She was disgusted with herself for enduring repeated pain and self-abuse.

Edward sat beside her. “Miss Luize.”

Luize looked at Edward with tears in her eyes.

“You can’t always choose the perfect option unless you’re a god. You were just unlucky.”

“…”

“Everyone makes foolish choices and learns. You just led to more pain. And someone else is clearly at fault.”

“…Yes.”

“So it’s not your fault.”

Luize gazed at the blooming lavender field. The flowers swayed like waves in the breeze. She then wiped her eyes.

“I don’t think Edward has ever lived foolishly like me.”

“I’m glad you think so highly of me, but it’s not quite true. Even today, who else would prepare such grand magic to win a bet?’

“I thought you were being asked to help out.”

“It’s just an excuse.”

Luize’s expression softened. Edward could lighten the mood with a few words or a small gesture, even in the toughest moments.

“Moreover, there’s someone more petty here than Miss Luize. It’s impolite to say, but I couldn’t have endured such a marriage for two hours, let alone two years.”

“…That’s really rude.”

“Do you need an apology?”

“No.”

She smiled softly. It felt strangely relieving despite nothing being resolved about the situation or her tears.

“What was your wish that made you go to such lengths to win the bet?”

“

…”

Edward rolled his eyes with an embarrassed look. Luize watched him curiously.

“Well, about that.”

“…Yes.”

“Would you consider staying at my mansion tonight?”