As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

“…?”

“Your lover is Edward von Lindeman, the most famous person in the capital now. I like fun things, and I have the will to repay the kindness you have shown me, so I’m a very useful chess piece.”

“I remember Grand Duke threatened me to accept you as my lover rather than repaying the favor.”

“

” Edward answered a beat late. “It didn’t start out well, but at least I’ll be more useful than the gigolo. What can we do when this has already happened?”

“…”

“So feel free to tell me what you want. I will move accordingly.”

“…What I want.” Luize recited with a troubled look.

“Yes. If you need time to think about it, it’s okay to think about it. In the meantime, I will read the documents Miss Luize brought.”

“Let’s do that.”

Luize sat down and organized her thoughts. While she was doing this, Edward checked the documents Luize had brought. He was curious why there were so many contracts. Still, it was because of several similar contracts with slightly different clauses. It was a preparation that showed the will to finish it at once without wasting any more time.

Several clauses in the contract were repeated without omission. Edward looked at those quite carefully. “‘As soon as you fall in love with the other person, this relationship will end.’ It seems you’re not seeking a lover out of love.”

“

yes. To be honest, it was recommended to me by my husband.”

“

Then is that the end reason for searching for a lover?”

“I was also curious. Is it really fun to have a lover?”

“It depends on the person. I plan to be faithful to my role.”

“And…” Luize trailed off and looked away from him. She looked at the garden outside the window. This was her first time visiting someone’s mansion and looking at the garden for something other than a banquet in the capital. “I wish my husband could understand how I feel at least a little.”

“Do you want the count to be in the same situation?”

“Yes. And my mother told me that if it’s an inevitable fight, fighting well is as important as winning.”

Luize’s hands clasped the hem of her skirt. She looked at Edward with a more convincing face than ever before. “I want His Excellency to help me so I can fight well.”

Edward’s mouth drew a smooth line. He answered by putting together the documents he had reviewed. “There is a banquet hosted by the Helliod family this weekend. From what I know, Lilliana di Helliod is a rising star in the society and the lover that Count Cloette has been with recently.”

“…Yes.”

“That would be the first battleground.”

Luize nodded her head with a determined look.

“People probably think that Miss Luize and I have no contact. So let’s start from the beginning.”

“Beginning?”

Edward lowered his eyes a little. His black and dense eyelashes were lifted, and the red eyes stared straight at Luize.

“First of all, one must fall in love, right?”

* * *

At the sound of knocking on the office door, Edward put down his pen and opened his mouth. “Come in.”

“Lord Edward.”

It was Maxion who opened the door. Edward nodded with a casual expression as if he had expected it.

“What’s going on?”

“There was a movement on the side of the imperial faction.”

“Let’s hear what else they’re trying to bother me this time.”

“It’s a swordsmanship competition…”

Edward smiled lightly. That’s what the emperor was planning. Either way, the purpose would be to get Edward away from the capital or to hurt him. He almost laughed out loud at the obvious movement.

“They say that Grand Duke Edward Lindeman, who successfully led the patrol, will surely participate in that event. It seems like an excuse to see your skills.”

“Ridiculous. Can’t they stand to see someone rest comfortably? What about the temple’s oracle?”

“They’ve declared that they can’t delay the official disclosure any longer.”

“I’m glad to hear that. As for the swordsmanship competition, I can just participate in moderation.”

“That’s…”

“They wouldn’t invite me to a place where I could take it easy.”

“Knights from renowned families throughout the empire are gathering.”

“…”

“It’s not just fighting for power. The rule is fight until one yields or loses their life.”

“I’ll have to yield then.”

“And after the final, I think the temple will announce the oracle. Coincidentally, the winner of the competition will be awarded the sword of Lensia, the former dragon slayer.”

Lensia. Edward’s eyebrow rose up in a diagonal line at that name.

“

I think my half-brother is out of his mind. How could he offer the imperial treasure in such a place?”

“Would you like to prepare for special training?”

“I should. I can’t just watch such a treasure in the hands of others, so I’ll do my best. But is there anyone in the capital who can teach me now? Maxion, you’re good at wielding your own sword, but you have no talent for teaching others.”

“There is one person in the capital who is better than me right now.”

“There’s such a person?”

“Yes. However, I don’t think that person will accept the offer, so I will try to persuade that person.”

“Do that. How good is that person?”

“I have never won against that person,” said Maxion with a serious look.

Edward laughed in vain. “Never? Was there such a talented person in the capital?”

“Yes.”

Maxion was Edward’s aide based solely on his skills. But is there a person who has greater skill than him? If he can use this opportunity to attract that person to his side, that would be a good power.

Edward nodded with interest. “That’s good news.”

“It has been a long time since I held a sword, so my skills might not be as sharp as before. But I’m confident I’m still superior to Lord Edward’s swordsmanship.”

“I’ve improved a lot too. After all, I survived a year in Perils.”

“Compared to that person, Lord Edward’s swordsmanship is closer to swordplay than swordsmanship.”

“Swordplay, huh? That hurts.”

“Most of the time, even in Perils, Lord killed most of them with magic while pretending to use a sword.”

“I’ll need to be careful not to be exposed in the swordsmanship competition.”

“Yes.”

“This bloodline is troublesome. Pretending to be a swordsman is bothersome.”

“Why don’t you reveal that you are a wizard now?”

“…If I do that, my half-brother would accuse me of being a black wizard and try to kill me. Magic is a natural talent. I’ve been hiding it since the past, so if one day I suddenly reveal that I have become a wizard, I could be in trouble.” Edward sighed softly.

The imperial family has been wizards for generations. Some of them were outstanding, and some were not, but the fact that they were wizards was kept a complete secret. Because of that, it was also easy to check the parent-child relationship with their blood.

The mana of the bloodline had a similar texture. Taking advantage of that, the imperial family confirmed their paternity with magic stones handed down from the past.

Even after being dethroned, Edward didn’t reveal that he was a wizard. Among the knights in his order, only a handful of people knew that he was a wizard. Additionally, the fact that the imperial family had been wizards for generations was a fact that no one knew except him.

“We’ll take the introduction after this banquet if you succeed in persuading that person.”

“…I understand.” Maxion bowed his head and was about to go outside.

Edward opened his mouth. “Maxion, it’s about Miss Luize.”

“Yes.”

“Does she have a unique taste?”

“…Yes?” Maxion looked at Edward with a quizzical look.

He asked Maxion, with a dissatisfied face, that he didn’t like something. “Do you know what she answered earlier when I asked what if we fell in love?”

“What did she say?”

“She said, ‘Your Excellency and I will never fall in love.’ And end it like that.”

“…Is that so?”

“I mean, aren’t you surprised?”

“What…?”

“I never thought there would be a woman in the world who would reject me.”

“…”

Isn’t it normal for a married woman to answer that question? Well, there were quite a few married women who only heard rumors about Edward and approached him. He was so handsome that many people sent him love calls regardless of their status, age, or gender, so abnormal reactions must have been routine for him.

“Why are you making that expression?”

“Lord Edward is very consistent.”

“That’s right. Are you dissatisfied?”

“No.”

“Your friend seemed to be more interesting than I thought.” Edward smiled faintly.

Maxion realized that his smile wasn’t directed at him and nodded his head in agreement.

* * *

The banquet hall was full of commotion, as usual. Since visiting the grand duke’s residence a few days ago, the relationship between Reiad and Luize has become a little awkward. It was because Reiad, who knew that, showed signs of discomfort, saying, “Did you go there to meet Maxion?”

As soon as Reiad and Luize arrived, Lilliana, the host of the banquet, approached them.

“Luize, you can go back today if you want,” said Reiad without looking at her.

Luize responded by lowering her hand from his arm. “I’m going to enjoy it in moderation today.”

He looked at Luize with unexpected eyes. “Is that so? Then have a good time.”

When Lilliana greeted them, his eyes were immediately turned to Lilliana. Reiad first disappeared into the crowd with Lilliana.

Luize picked up a glass of champagne that had been placed at the table in the banquet hall. She looked around. There was someone she needed to find.

“The timing of disappearing is fast.”

A shadow fell behind Luize. There also seemed to be a faint rose scent. As she turned around, Edward, dressed in black, looked at her. The eyes of the two met.

Edward was dressed differently every time they met, but he pulled off any clothes perfectly. His black hair came down to cover half of his ears, but it seemed as if he hadn’t intentionally covered them. His bright red eyes were as captivating as always, and his fair skin and district features were like looking at the most perfect statue created by an artist.

Even though he didn’t follow society’s trends, he had an appearance that made the viewer feel better than anyone else. It made it easy for anyone to approach him and simultaneously created the feeling that he shouldn’t be treated casually.

“…That’s how it is.” Luize took her gaze away from him and answered.

“Is that champagne in your hand?”

“Yes. You told me to hold a drink.”

“Now then, let go of the glass as if you were surprised.”