As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover Chapter 200

The empress was found the next day in an inn on the outskirts of the capital, her lifeless body lying naked next to an unidentified man.

 

“To think she would die in the midst of an affair on our wedding anniversary! What a disgrace!”

 

The emperor screamed, tearing at his chest and pounding the floor as if he had lost his mind.

 

“Your Majesty, you know better than anyone that mother would never do such a thing!”

 

“Silence, Edward. I even question your bloodline now. Yes, it was strange. You were born without any problems, and both of us have been in perfect health, yet we never had any more children. The empress… no matter whose child you are, you are certainly not my child.”

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

The cause of the empress’s death was a heart attack. Next to her lay the corpse of a man whose identity was unknown. However, Edward firmly believed that his mother had not committed adultery. It was clear to him that she had been murdered, falsely accused of an affair to tarnish her honor. He could not believe that even her bodyguard had been killed by mysterious attackers that very day.

 

From that day on, Edward was stripped of all his rights as crown prince and was deprived of his imperial surname. He was sent to a mansion in the capital, bearing only his mother’s surname, ‘Lindeman.’

 

“They said they came to personally deliver an item from the shop the empress frequented, which wasn’t collected after she passed away. It seems they weren’t even allowed entry into the capital.”

 

Edward’s guard handed him the item. It was a music box, intricately crafted with a glass figurine of the emperor and empress. The music box played the emperor’s favorite tune. He always reacted with joy to any gift from the empress, as if it were the most special gift in the world. Even if she had given him a dress, he would have shown the same happiness. Had things gone as usual, they would have spent the wedding anniversary in peace, as always.

 

“It’s a gift that befitting mother.”

 

The music box was shattered on the day of the first attack. The glass figurine was in pieces, and the music box was missing keys as if some of its teeth had been knocked out.

 

The music box was broken, but Edward also felt as if something within him had broken. He just couldn’t tell what.

 

* * *

A woman named Ellena di Dayelon entered the imperial palace, accompanied by a boy three years younger than Edward. He was the emperor’s illegitimate child.

 

“…I have a younger brother. And three years younger than me.”

 

“Yes. The magic stone confirmed that he is of imperial blood.”

 

“I see.”

 

It didn’t take long for the illegitimate child to be made crown prince. Edward, who had lived his entire life preparing to be emperor, was overwhelmed with a sense of powerlessness.

 

“Do not allow anyone into the annex.”

 

“Your Highness, you can’t do that. Please allow us to protect you.”

 

“Then guard the outside of the annex. I won’t be leaving it anyway.”

 

There was nothing Edward could do. For a time, he couldn’t sleep, day or night, spending his days locked away in the annex. He was alive, yet the time he spent there felt like he was dead.

 

* * *

On Edward’s birthday, the year he became an adult, the emperor, who had taken a new empress and installed his half-brother as crown prince, suddenly summoned him back to the capital.

 

“Grand Duke Edward E. von Lindeman is indeed a legitimate member of the imperial family!”

 

The very evening that his paternity was confirmed, countless vassals collapsed, vomiting blood before him. The emperor was no exception. He desperately tried to stanch the flow of blood with a handkerchief but couldn’t stop it.

 

As the emperor staggered, Edward rushed to support him. He laid the emperor down and hurriedly looked for the imperial doctor. But Servenia, who had been standing by, was also dying, coughing up blood.

 

“Your Majesty, can you hear me? Your Majesty!”

 

“…Edward.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I’m sorry. I was a fool. I was blinded and lost my reason. It’s only now, as my life is ending, that I realize it.”

 

“…”

 

Edward’s gaze fell on the emperor’s hand. It was a very old handkerchief embroidered with a dragon so poorly done that it was almost embarrassing to call it a dragon. Despite being stained with blood, Edward recognized it instantly.

 

“I had other preparations…”

 

But that was the end of his words. The light faded from the emperor’s eyes.

 

“…Father. Can you hear me?”

 

“…”

 

“I asked if you can hear me.”

 

Edward bowed his head.

 

“…Mother was trying to bring you a wedding anniversary gift. It’s at my mansion.”

 

His shoulders trembled.

 

“Can you hear me?”

 

There was no reply.

 

His half-brother, who had taken his place as crown prince, executed countless vassals on the spot. The official reason was for the crime of regicide. Many were killed for allegedly plotting rebellion, but Edward knew they had died because they had witnessed his paternity confirmation.

 

Edward fled the capital as if running for his life, and the loyal vassals who accompanied him were killed by assassins. He headed to Lindeman.

 

* * *

His half-brother became Emperor. From that point on, assassins came for Edward day and night.

 

The imperial bloodline had always been that of wizards. The degree of talent and specialization varied among them, and over time, magic had been kept secret and was no longer formally taught.

 

“Now, watch carefully. If you do this, flowers will bloom.”

 

“Amazing. Can I do it too?”

 

“I can’t say how much talent you have, but this is basic magic, so you should be able to do it with practice. For generations, the emperor has always taught this magic to his children first, and no one has failed to master it so far.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll do my best.”

 

“Didn’t I tell you to call me father in private?”

 

“Yes, Father.”

 

That flower-blooming magic lesson was the last magic lesson Edward received from the emperor. From that point on, Edward taught himself magic, sneaking into the imperial library to study. He was curious about his own limits. Although the method he used to cast magic differed somewhat from what was written in the books, the fact that he could use magic without complex formulas or incantations thrilled him.

 

The magic he had once used to make flowers bloom for his mother, to play pranks on his servants, or to protect himself was now being used to harm others. They say God only gives as much suffering as one can bear. Every day, death loomed before him. Sometimes, it was the death of those protecting him, and sometimes, it was the death of those trying to kill him. If the end of life ultimately leads to death, what was he living for?

 

“Your Highness, Your Highness! Please stay with us. You must open your eyes. Think of those who have died for you!”

 

One day, he let his guard down and suffered a severe injury. As his life faded and death drew near, he realized for the first time how peaceful it felt.

 

“If Your Highness dies, we are as good as dead too!”

 

But the weight of his life was not his alone to bear. Clinging to consciousness and feeling the pain of stitching his torn flesh, he ironically found himself smiling.

 

The life of one who cannot find peace is like a vision of hell. He had to grow stronger to bear the weight of the lives he carried.

 

* * *

The path back to the imperial palace was blocked. His half-brother, despite his misdeeds, had become emperor through his own power, and as a son of the emperor, he had a legitimate claim to the throne. There was no guarantee that he wouldn’t make a better Emperor than Edward. So, Edward thought he could simply continue living in his current state, just holding on to his life.

 

“The number of impoverished citizens is rapidly increasing.”

 

“Urgent improvements to the empire’s security are needed.”

 

“There are reports that the human trafficking ring has resurfaced.”

 

But the emperor, who had killed their father and taken the throne, seemed uninterested in governing the empire. The state of the empire deteriorated by the day. Edward, trying to forget his own situation, threw himself into managing his estate and growing his merchant guild. Focusing on work helped him cope, at least for those moments.

 

The newly appointed healer, Robin, looked at Edward with concern. “Your Highness, your insomnia is worsening. No matter how much you suffer from the constant threat of assassins, if you don’t sleep, it will only make things worse. You need a way to relieve stress… Is there any hobby or activity you would like to pursue? Even something small would be fine.”

 

“A hobby…”

 

Did he even have any desires to begin with? He had been raised as a puppet, groomed to become emperor from birth. He had never truly desired or achieved anything on his own. Nothing at all…

 

“I hope it’s just as fun and beautiful next time I go out. I don’t know when that will be, but I hope those bad guys are gone by then.”

 

“…I will make it so.”

 

Or had there been something?

 

Assassins came daily, so his life was always at risk. It made no difference.

 

“Then how about aiming for the throne?”

 

“…What?”

 

“I’m saying, let’s seize the throne.”

 

“Uh, yes. I heard you. So…”

 

“That’s a good idea.” Maxion, who had been silently listening, finally spoke up.

 

“Don’t you all agree?”

 

“Haha, yes! Honestly, I’ve been waiting for this.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Hendrik and Aiven, who were also present, responded readily.

 

Not long after, Edward sealed a portion of his memories to prevent the emperor from extracting crucial information about his plan to seize the throne.

 

“Then, the first step is to return to the capital.”

 

When the emperor’s attempts to assassinate him began to wane, they relocated back to the Lindeman mansion in the capital.

 

* * *

Edward spread all sorts of nasty rumors about himself, tarnishing his reputation. It served as a good shield for him. Although the emperor still viewed him as a threat, he saw that Edward seemed uninterested in returning to politics, so he only harassed him occasionally when he found him particularly bothersome.

 

“Count Cloette got married.”

 

“Oh my, really? So suddenly? I wonder who became his wife.”

 

The social scene was abuzz with talk of Reiad di Cloette’s marriage. The woman at the center of the rumors made her appearance at the next ball. She was a beautiful woman with silver hair and purple eyes.

 

“The tart is delicious.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Amid the people openly sighing, Edward’s gaze turned toward her purple eyes and silver hair. Strangely, looking into her eyes reminded him of lavender—a flower blooming on a warm day filled with a soft fragrance.

 

At first, Edward observed her with interest, but when he noticed that she would stand silently at the balls and then disappear after a while, he quickly lost interest. In the end, she was just another person who didn’t quite fit in with the social scene, one of the many dull people in this world.

 

Nevertheless, whenever he found himself in the same room as Luize, he would habitually glance in her direction at least once. Was it her mysterious and beautiful silver hair that drew his attention? Or perhaps it was those eyes.

 

It was around this time that people’s morale began to deteriorate.

 

“You’ll go on an expedition to Perils.”

 

The emperor sent him to the Perils.

 

* * *

Although he had decided to seize the throne, Edward couldn’t quite understand why he wanted to do so. Having lost his motivation due to sealed memories, he was like a sailboat adrift in the vast sea without a destination.

 

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I’m truly sorry.”

 

“It’s fine. Just do your job.”

 

His subordinate, Fin, had stabbed him and fled to save his younger sibling, who was hospitalized in the imperial medical facility.