As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover – Chapter 202

Author: alyalia

“…When His Highness wakes from the dark magic, the spell on Fin will be lifted. It seems that His Highness can’t break the dark magic because he’s maintaining the spell. Once the spell is lifted, we’ll have to pull out the spear that pierced his body and use divine power to heal him. We can remove the materialized dark magic.”

He turned to Luize. “I’ll pull out the spear. Lady Luize, please wake His Highness.”

“Do I just wake him up?”

Luize approached Edward. He looked troubled, as if he were having a nightmare.

“…You have to kiss him.”

“Pardon?” Luize looked at Aiven, confused.

“Do you know the fairy tale <The Sleeping Prince>?”

“Yes, it’s about a prince who falls into an eternal sleep after being pricked by a blade cursed with dark magic, and a girl from the forest wakes him with a kiss.”

“The dark magic in that story is the same as the one affecting His Highness.”

“So, if he doesn’t have someone he loves, he won’t wake up?”

“It’s a spell that doesn’t activate if there’s no one he loves.”

“…I see.”

The atmosphere, which had been serious until just a moment ago, suddenly became strangely relaxed as Aiven explained how to break the dark magic.

Robin half-closed his eyes and glanced away from Edward. “I know this isn’t the time for it, but I’m strangely jealous.”

“…I figured you’d feel that way.”

“Why would I?”

“…But you’ve got the coolest role here. You said you wanted to do something cool at least once.”

“…” Robin sulkily glared at Aiven and then turned his gaze back to Fin. “Honestly, I’m a little nervous. It’s been so long.”

“You’ll do fine.”

“…Yes.”

Robin took a deep breath and looked at Luize. His bright brown eyes slowly lightened until they glowed with a golden hue.

“There’s no turning back now. I’m ready.”

“Alright.”

Just as Luize reached out to cradle Edward’s face, he murmured in a low voice. “…It wouldn’t be so bad to stay asleep like this.”

Luize responded with a determined look in her eyes.

“No, you can’t.”

She cupped his face with both hands and leaned in.

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

Then, she closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his. For a moment, it felt as though time had stopped. A few seconds later, the painful groans of the patients from the deeper parts of the underground prison echoed again.

Robin asked Aiven. “…Is this really the way to break the spell?”

“…Probably.”

Rumble, rumble, rumble… Right after their conversation, the ground around them started to shake as if an earthquake had hit.

“Looks like it really worked. Aiven, pull out the spear!”

Robin checked Fin’s body and saw blood flowing from it. Aiven immediately pulled out the large black spear that was embedded in Fin’s body. As the black spear was removed, Fin coughed up blood.

“Gah…!”

Time passed again. Robin placed his hand over Fin’s wound.

“Supreme God, have mercy on this wandering lamb.”

A tremendous amount of golden light burst from Robin’s palm. The light filled the underground prison and even seeped through the prison windows to the outside. Simultaneously, a pillar of light descended from the sky and surrounded the prison. The knights, who had been chatting over snacks, were mesmerized by the golden spectacle that colored their vision and stared blankly into the air.

Robin, having confirmed that Fin’s body was fully healed, smiled faintly. It wasn’t just a recovery; it was a perfect healing.

“…Since I’ve been granted permission to live freely, I’ll definitely do as I please,” Robin murmured, perhaps to the god who might be watching over him. Gabriel wasn’t present, yet it felt as though he was smiling at Robin in response.

Eventually, Fin opened his eyes. “…Robin.”

“It’s been a while, traitor Fin.”

“…I’m sorry.” Fin grimaced in pain.

“It’s alright. It was His Highness’s choice, after all.”

“I have no excuse…” He closed his eyes and leaned against Robin’s arm as if passing out. He seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep.

As the light subsided, everyone’s attention turned to Edward.

“…Hmm. To think I’d wake up this way. I’m glad to be alive.”

There stood Edward, now looking at Luize with his characteristic gentle smile. Unlike before, when he had been leaning against the wall with one knee raised, he now sat comfortably, seemingly having enjoyed an intimate moment with Luize, who was now seated between his legs. The binding magic that had shackled his ankles had vanished.

Luize, her face flushed, wiped her lips with the back of her hand. “How could you do this with everyone watching!”

“It’s a bit unfair. You’re the one who pulled me in, Miss Luize. A man like me can’t resist when a beauty like you approaches.” The man, who looked like the furthest thing from awkward, grinned playfully.

Robin narrowed his eyes. “…It seems that side is resolved too.”

“…Indeed.”

Only then did Edward notice Robin and his group. He saw that Fin’s condition had improved and spoke to Robin.

“Robin, I apologize.”

“It’s fine. I was born with divine power for moments like this.” Robin shrugged, but now that he had used his divine power, he didn’t seem entirely at ease, as though he was worried about what might come next.

“The worst-case scenario you’re imagining won’t happen. I’ve taken precautions to prevent that.”

“Your Highness?”

“High Priest Gabriel.”

At Edward’s answer, Robin’s eyes widened.

“Your Highness, you mean High Priest Gabriel…”

Robin recalled what Gabriel had said. He mentioned that there were no others within the temple who knew his true identity, but he hadn’t said that no one outside the temple knew. That person was Edward. It was surprising, though Robin didn’t know how it had come to be.

While Robin was deep in thought, Rante ran into the underground prison and checked on Edward and his group. “Are you all alright!”

After hearing an explanation of the situation so far, Edward decided to check deeper into the underground prison with his group. Robin was left behind to monitor Fin’s condition while the others followed Rante to the inner area.

“So, are you saying that these people weren’t criminals but were used as materials for dark magic?”

“That’s correct.”

“My goodness. No wonder I heard groans of pain, even though I hadn’t heard of any interrogations or torture. …Oh? Now that I think about it, I don’t hear them anymore.”

Indeed, the groans that had echoed through the prison had ceased. Rante checked on the prisoners, who were now staring in disbelief at their fully healed bodies.

“It seems everything has been resolved.”

At Edward’s words, Aiven nodded.

“The aura of dark magic has completely vanished.”

“Was it neutralized by an overwhelming amount of divine power?”

“…That seems to be the case.”

“No wonder the great temple couldn’t give up on Robin until now.”

“…Yes.”

“Rante.”

At Edward’s call, Rante approached him, raising one arm and bowing his head.

“You called, Your Highness?”

“Could you guide Miss Luize, Robin, and Aiven back to their assigned rooms? I’ll handle the rest.”

“I’m not sure if that will be possible. That light was so bright it must have been visible from outside. The other knight orders might have already arrived at the prison by now.”

“You said you were with your fellow knights just a moment ago, right?”

“Yes? Oh, yes, that’s correct.”

“What state were they in?”

“They were completely out of it until I left in a hurry. Come to think of it… Why am I fine when everyone else was affected?” Rante murmured to himself as he felt around his body.

“Divine power is the will and strength of the god. It seems god is on our side.”

“…So that’s it!”

“Follow the orders, then.”

With a look of deep gratitude, Rante straightened up as if he had been given a sacred mission. “Yes, Your Highness!”

Luize looked at Edward with a concerned expression. “What about you, Edward?”

“Since the dark magic is gone, I’ll return the innocent to their original places and then head back.”

“Try not to get kidnapped this time.”

He gave her a puzzled look. “Kidnapped?”

“Yes. Didn’t you get kidnapped and end up here?”

“…Ah, that’s… I’ll explain later.”

“Alright. See you later, then.”

Rante eagerly guided the three back to their original rooms as if carrying out an important mission. He bid them a serious farewell.