As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover Chapter 201

He wanted to avoid making the weight of his life any heavier than it already was. Fin’s life was, after all, a part of the burden he carried.

 

Ssssshh- A sudden downpour drenched his entire body. Edward, injured, evaded the assassins and entered a shack on the outskirts of the capital. The bleeding was worse than he had expected, and his body temperature was rapidly dropping.

 

This might be my end.

 

Had those who had passed away before him cursed him as they closed their eyes in peaceful rest? What would happen to the remaining members? …Was it okay to die?

 

At that moment, someone entered the shack.

 

“…Is there more left?”

 

His vision blurred. The last thing he saw was a pair of purple eyes. Even when he closed his eyes, the purple hue lingered like an afterimage, reminding him of a sky painted with dawn that dispelled the darkness. He thought he could smell the faint scent of flowers. It might not be so bad to lose his life like this. With that thought, he closed his eyes.

 

“No. You can’t.”

 

A firm voice whispered in his ear.

 

“Because I’m going to save you again this time.”

 

It was the most lovely and reassuring voice in the world.

 

She has come. A faint smile curved on Edward’s lips.

 

* * *

Luize and her group managed to enter the underground prison without much difficulty with Rante’s help.

 

“I’m sorry! I left my girlfriend’s portrait inside when I was inspecting the personnel earlier!”

 

“You clumsy fool. Hurry and find it and come back.”

 

“Yes!”

 

“By the way, who are those kids with you?”

 

“They’re candidates for the new recruits. I brought them to give them a taste of what it’s like to work for the knights! Since you’re a senior, please keep an eye on them.”

 

The new recruits bowed their heads deeply. It was said that this batch of recruits had already been selected, so they were treated almost like full-fledged members. The knight seemed to accept this explanation without much suspicion and laughed.

 

“The youngest of the White Lion is excited to have subordinates. Go ahead.”

 

“Yes!”

 

Fortunately, the guard duty at the prison was handled by a member of another imperial knight order, so they didn’t know much about the appearance of the new recruits from the first imperial knight order.

 

For reference, Luize was wearing a wig from an imperial knight of the first order who was suffering from hair loss. Rante had obtained it, thinking that one wig out of a whole collection wouldn’t be missed for a while. Since they all kept their heads down, there was no chance of their faces being fully revealed or their eye colors being noticed.

 

Once inside the prison, Robin spoke with a puzzled expression. “They let us in just because you lost your girlfriend’s portrait?”

 

“There’s an unspoken rule among knights. They tend to be lenient when it comes to matters related to loved ones.”

 

“Now that I think about it, even when we were at the Lindeman estate, the knights would often bring their lovers to the castle walls for a view, and no one would say anything. Eventually, His Highness banned it, but it seems like it’s the same here.”

 

“It seems that knights are similar no matter where they serve.”

 

The atmosphere in the early part of the prison was relatively calm. However, as the groans of suffering patients echoed through the walls, the mood grew heavy.

 

“There must be a lot of prisoners.”

 

“I heard there was a recent mass incarceration. I memorized the general layout, but I haven’t been this deep inside, so I didn’t know it was this bad. Be careful.”

 

The Edvin family was a prestigious knight family that had served as the imperial sword for generations, except for Matthias, who was unexpectedly born with divine powers. Considering Edward’s imminent return to the Imperial Palace, Matthias had informed the family of the recent developments with the temple’s permission.

 

At the time of the previous emperor’s death, Marquis Edvin had officially retired from his position as head of the imperial knights. The emperor, who had sworn allegiance to him, didn’t interfere, so the family was still quite influential. Thus, it was a great boon that Edvin’s two descendants had sided with Edward.

 

Rante was able to assist without hesitation because this matter directly concerned the well-being of the imperial family. Though he wasn’t particularly skilled in swordsmanship, perhaps due to being a knight’s son, his cunning mind made up for it, and he was a legitimate member of the Edvin family that served the Imperial family.

 

“Sir Edvin, are you sure you’re okay?”

 

“My swordsmanship may not compare to Lady’s, but I’m still a knight. Trust me.”

 

“I do trust you. I was just worried that helping us might bring trouble to you, Sir Edvin.”

 

“…I believe that if it comes to that, my lord won’t abandon me.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

Rante di Edvin was quick-witted. Even with a little thought, it was clear who to side with for the empire’s future and the imperial family’s safety: the current emperor or Edward, who would return as the crown prince.

 

They stopped at the entrance to a complicated path leading deeper inside. Everyone’s faces turned to shock.

 

“Edward!”

 

Luize was the first to run to Edward and check his complexion. He was sitting against the prison wall, one knee drawn up, seemingly in a deep sleep.

 

Rante hurried to the side of Fin, who was lying on the ground, covered in blood. “Sir Fin? I was told you were on leave, so why are you here…?”

 

“How could there be a patient lying here on a commonly used path, and no one has checked on him until now?”

 

In response to Luize’s question, Rante replied in a troubled voice. “Now that you mention it… I don’t recall seeing any guards posted this deep inside. But I definitely heard groans coming from within…” Rante stared at the dark path leading further inside with a shocked expression. He had only recently joined the imperial knights and was clearly flustered by the unprecedented situation.

 

Luize spoke urgently. “This person named Fin is in a state where it’s not strange if he dies right now. No, it’s like time was frozen just before he was about to die by some kind of magic.”

 

“…His Highness is trapped in a binding spell and is being consumed by dark mental magic,” Aiven said, examining Edward’s condition.

 

Rante’s eyes shook. “Did you say dark magic? Is there anything I can do to help?”

 

“Only a high priest of the temple could improve this condition.”

 

At Robin’s words, Rante nodded.

 

“I heard High Priestess Raphaela is also involved in this matter. No other knights will enter here tonight, so please wait for half an hour. I’ll bring the high priestess immediately.”

 

Luize spoke with a worried expression. “Will you be able to come back in? Especially with the high priestess, who will draw more attention.”

 

“But if I don’t, Sir Fin might die. He’s a knight who’s practically my mentor. I can’t just stand by and watch while a fellow knight might lose his life.”

 

Robin spoke with a firm expression. “Raphaela can’t come here. His Highness knew that and called me instead.”

 

Everyone’s eyes turned to him.

 

“It’s customary for the high priest or high priestess to hold evening prayers after meeting the emperor on the day. Since they missed the evening prayer due to attending the event, they prayed in the chapel until dawn. No one is allowed inside during that time. And starting from dawn, their schedule is busy.”

 

“That can’t be.” Rante looked at Fin’s chest, pierced by a spear, with a devastated expression. “Then… Are you saying Sir Fin might die here?”

 

“No. He won’t.” Robin sighed. It had been years since he last used divine power. Occasionally, when he thought back to his days at the temple, he imagined himself using that power. In those moments, the strength that once felt as natural as a part of his body now seemed rusty, like a broken object.

 

Robin had lived with the belief that he would never be able to use it as he once did. But now, faced with a situation where he had to wield that power, things felt different. The power that had been sealed within him seemed as if it could be mastered again with ease.

 

“No wonder His Highness said he needed me instead of Lady Luize.”

 

But the moment he used his divine power, the temple would become aware of the missing Michael. That could mean losing his current freedom. Robin sighed again. His decision was swift.

 

“So you called me here to heal someone? A traitor, no less?” Robin asked Edward, but there was no response from the man, who was being consumed by dark magic.

 

“You must have known I wouldn’t refuse. Well, the next pope has already been chosen. I might as well play a heroic role for once.”

 

As Rante, who didn’t understand what was happening, looked at them in confusion, they heard sounds from outside.

 

“Rante, are you still in there?”

 

“Ah, I still haven’t found the portrait. I’ll be out soon!”

 

“Come here for a moment! The guy on shift brought some snacks, so I’ll share them with you!”

 

“Oh, okay!” Rante quickly answered and whispered to the others. “It would be more natural for me to go. Please wait here for a moment.”

 

“Yes, go ahead.”

 

Luize replied, and the other two nodded in agreement.

 

“You guys keep looking for that portrait here!” With an overly dramatic tone, Rante raised his voice and pretended to talk to himself, then ran towards where the knights were.

 

After Rante disappeared, Aiven spoke in a low voice.