As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover Chapter 185

Now, right at this moment, Ren’s birth was supposed to make Edward’s ascension more moving and change the image of the Black Dragon to something positive. Still, the plan seemed to be falling apart. Ren had grown so comfortable inside the egg as if it had become its home.

 

“But isn’t hitting the dragon’s egg too risky?”

 

“Sss. Ppuik?”

 

Fortunately, it seemed Ren had woken up from Maxion’s vigorous knocking. There was a faint sound of stretching from inside, followed by a crack forming where Maxion had tapped. He sighed quietly and lifted the egg back up.

 

“It seems like it’s about to hatch.”

 

“What?”

 

A look of shock crossed the nobles’ faces. As the egg began to crack, the crowd murmured in anticipation. Some had already started to flee, but most, who couldn’t see the details from afar, stared ahead with puzzled expressions.

 

“Ppi—ik!” [Dragon—appears!]

 

Ren neatly kicked off half of the eggshell with its tail and limbs, standing upright on its hind legs with its front paws on its hips. Then, Ren cast a spell it had recently learned.

 

Pop, pop-pop. Flower stalks with buds formed around the emperor and the nearby crowd, blooming into flowers in midair. They were bright yellow freesias, a spell Ren had learned on the day Edward proposed to Luize.

 

Ren perked up its ears and looked at Edward. “Ppihyu.” [Fyuh.]

 

A brief expression of annoyance crossed Ren’s face, but it soon flapped its small wings and flew to Edward. As Edward reached out his hand, Ren, making a displeased face only Edward could see, nestled into his arms.

 

“Ppi.” [Don’t forget your promise.]

 

“I’ve prepared all kinds of fruit-flavored marshmallows and a small grill for roasting them. There’s also chocolate fondue. By now, the cakes and pies should be freshly baked.”

 

“Pung, ppi!” [Hmph, good!]

 

Ren snorted and then smiled widely, standing on Edward’s forearm. It then patted Edward gently with its tiny, maple-leaf-like hands. It rubbed its cheek against Edward’s, emitting a soft, affectionate cry.

 

Since it was all an act, Ren didn’t convey any words with its cry. Perhaps thinking this wasn’t enough, Ren acted as if it was overjoyed, rubbing against Edward’s shoulders and arms, wagging its plump little tail and butt as if he were thrilled.

 

“Ppihyuk.” [It’s tough making a living.]

 

Ren occasionally sighed and muttered in dragon language under its breath, but fortunately, only Maxion and Edward could understand it. Even from a distance, its behavior seemed endearing. A newborn dragon, far from being a danger to humans, appeared to be very close to Edward.

 

“W-What is this?”

 

“Did a dragon just hatch?”

 

“There are flowers in the air!”

 

“Freesias? Isn’t their meaning ‘a new beginning’?”

 

“So that means…”

 

“It means the grand duke has been restored as crown prince, and a dragon has been born. What a momentous occasion!”

 

“Isn’t today the last day of the Founding Festival? The day the first emperor founded the empire!”

 

“The symbol of the empire is the Black Dragon.”

 

“But this dragon is kind of cute.”

 

“Should we start calling the grand duke as the crown prince again? Anyway, it seems the dragon likes him.”

 

“Of course! His Highness is the legitimate heir of the imperial family!”

 

The crowd erupted in cheers. The birth of the dragon, almost a legend, stirred the hearts of the empire’s citizens.

 

The emperor, finally snapping back to reality, spoke in a low voice only those nearby could hear. “Chancellor, is there any way to prevent this from happening?”

 

“With my limited intellect, I can’t think of any. The only solace is that the document states the coronation must happen within a month, so we have that time.”

 

“Only a month?”

 

“At least it’s not immediate…”

 

Coronation preparations usually took at least three months and sometimes even six months. To conduct it within a month was unheard of. Moreover, if the preparations were rushed, it would openly reveal discord between the two, making the emperor look petty.

 

Edward wasn’t just an excellent crown prince in the past; he had successfully completed several military subjugations under the emperor’s orders after being deposed. On the other hand, if the ceremony was grand, it would overshadow the emperor himself. He needed to find a way to nullify the restoration, but no solution presented itself.

 

“The problem is that the position of crown prince is vacant, as is the line of succession…” The chancellor subtly probed the emperor. He had long desired to place his daughter in the empress position.

 

Previously, the emperor hadn’t paid much attention to this, but now it was an unavoidable issue. The emperor clenched his teeth and forced a smile.

 

“Indeed.”

 

He briefly congratulated Edward on his restoration and proceeded with the closing ceremony as if nothing were amiss. The festival concluded as he raised his trembling hand and dropped a single drop of blood onto the magic stone.

 

“Waaaah! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Crown Prince!”

 

Was it just his imagination, or did the cheers seem especially loud? It couldn’t have been an illusion.

 

* * *

From the hunting competition to the announcement of the coronation document, Luize’s role in this plan had grown significantly because they wanted her to be at the center of it. She had learned about the plan quite early. At the same time, Servenia, the Silver Hawk Knights, and the Dawn Wolf Mercenaries were busy dealing with the sleeping sickness patients.

 

“In that case, I think it’s best if I’m the one to bring out the document my mother had.”

 

“It’s a reasonable suggestion, but it’s dangerous for you to take the lead, Lady Luize. I could say I found the document during a subjugation.”

 

“So Edward thinks it’s okay for you to be in danger?”

 

“I’m already in a dangerous position. The emperor doesn’t see you as a complete enemy yet.”

 

“No.”

 

“…What?”

 

Edward, who had been stroking her hair as she lay on the bed, looked at Luize in surprise as she met his gaze with determination.

 

“I said no. This document was entrusted to my mother by the late emperor. She told me to use it as I see fit.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

“Maxion and the knights will be busy with other tasks soon.”

 

“They will.”

 

“Then I’ll have nothing to do. I don’t like that. The emperor will soon realize I’m on your side. Right now, he’s just ignoring it because he still wants Servenia on his side. Still, it’s only a matter of time before he sees me as a complete enemy.”

 

“…”

 

“So, I will reveal the item my mother left for me.”

 

She was right. If Edward followed through with the plan and reclaimed his position as crown prince, Luize would naturally be confirmed as an enemy of the emperor. The only difference was the degree. The emperor was someone who dealt with enemies based on his feelings, not necessity. If Luize angered him severely, he might target her regardless of her identity as a Servenia. Conversely, if she managed to appease him, the emperor’s ire would continue to focus on Edward and the knights.

 

“Miss Luize already plays an important role in our affairs. And in the future…”

 

“To stand by your side, I’ll do whatever I can now. It’s more reasonable to make that choice. The document will be more credible if I reveal it. After all, it was sent to my mother by the late emperor.” Luize’s voice grew even clearer. “Did I fail to earn your trust enough to protect myself?”

 

“No, that’s not it.”

 

“And if something happens and I’m in danger, you’ll protect me, won’t you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then let’s proceed in the most effective way. If you reveal the document, people will try to prove it’s fake, but I’m different. As the daughter of the hero Lensia and Servenia, my background can’t be ignored, even if I’m your fiancée.”

 

Although Luize was not well-versed in politics and high society, she understood the impact her background could have.

 

“…I understand.”

 

Luize’s eyes were resolute. She was proving invaluable in many ways in this plan. Her background, the restoration document, the use of the Dawn Wolf Mercenaries—all the ideas and resources she had brought were being put to good use. She was not just a good partner but an excellent one. The problem was that whenever Edward faced her, he found himself torn between being her lover and the leader of the grand scheme.

 

“You know, Edward…”

 

So when she spoke next, Edward couldn’t help but be surprised.