As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover Chapter 205

“His Highness instructed me to tell Madam Lorein di Servenia, ‘Do not worry, Madam. The uniform has already been prepared, having gone into production immediately after the coronation. Everything is ready.’”

 

“How did they get the measurements without her being present?” Lorein looked at Luize.

 

Luize shook her head with a sigh. “I never told him directly, but somehow he just knew. Maybe he figured it out after a few fittings at Fillio’s boutique…”

 

Lorein gave Luize a concerned look and whispered in her ear, “…Does His Highness seem overly fixated on you or show any stalker-like tendencies?”

 

“It does seem like that sometimes, but I can tell he’s trying to hold back.”

 

“If it ever gets too much, promise me you’ll speak up. You can always escape to Servenia. I say this out of concern because your parents kept you too sheltered, but the obsessive behavior of the male protagonists in fairy tales or romance novels is generally not normal. It’s a crime. You know that, right?”

 

“Yes, Aunt.”

 

“Good. I knew our Luize was so smart,” Lorein patted Luize reassuringly.

 

Even though Lorein’s whisper was loud enough for everyone to hear, the situation was smoothly resolved, and Luize soon headed to the palace.

 

* * *

The news that the crown prince had appointed his fiancée as his personal knight caused an uproar in the palace. The nobles holding key positions in the palace immediately called for a meeting.

 

“This is unprecedented!”

 

“It’s utterly absurd!”

 

“But all personnel and duties related to the crown prince’s palace fall under His Highness’s jurisdiction, so we can’t really interfere. Besides, it seems His Highness has no great interest in politics, so it might not be a bad thing.”

 

“I don’t know what trick was used at the hunting festival, but Lady Servenia is a woman! No matter how much he wants to be with his fiancée, this is an excessive act that tarnishes the honor of the imperial family!”

 

“Her skills and qualifications seem to be solid. Have you all checked the documents?”

 

The last speaker was Marquis Edvin.

 

“Is it necessary to check?”

 

“Let’s check right now.”

 

Marquis Edvin presented the document, which detailed Luize’s achievements.

 

“It says she has mastered all of Lensia’s swordsmanship and surpassed her mentor. She’s also the ace of the Silver Hawk Knights. This sounds like a fantasy… Did someone write a novel?”

 

“It also states that she was His Highness’s swordsmanship instructor.”

 

“Moreover, she has inherited Servenia’s medical knowledge from her father. Allen di Servenia was the best healer in the imperial family.”

 

“Hmm, even so.. if everything written here is true, it would be nearly impossible to find a better personal knight in the empire.”

 

Marquis Edvin responded. “It’s a well-known fact that she won at the founding festival hunt when the barrier was broken. The prey the emperor claimed to have hunted bore the same wounds as those on the animals Lady Servenia hunted.”

 

“So, after His Majesty hunted them… he must have shared them with her.” A scribe replied in a trembling voice.

 

But they all knew the truth. The odds were far lower that the emperor had hunted all three animals and then generously shared two of them with Luize than that what was written in the document was true, and she had hunted all three before giving two to the Emperor. If the emperor had hunted them all himself, he would have boasted about it and ridiculed her as a mere noblewoman mistaken for the Grand Duke of Lindeman.

 

“This certainly seems out of the ordinary.” Marquis Edvin murmured as he contemplated the final words on the document.

 

[…To those who have doubts, I will give you the opportunity to verify her skills in a public duel.]

 

In other words, if they had a problem with it, they could challenge her themselves. However, the low-ranking nobles surrounding the emperor would be hesitant to take on such a challenge, fearing the humiliation of losing to a female knight in public.

 

At that moment, Marquis Edvin’s eyes darkened. A voice echoed in his mind.

 

[…Do it.]

 

The marquis opened his mouth. “How about I verify this myself?”

 

All eyes turned to Marquis Edvin.

 

“Wait, I don’t need your consent. I’ll check it myself. If anyone wants to watch, feel free to join. The timing… should be when the future crown princess has had time to adjust to her new environment.”

 

There was no focus in the marquis’s eyes.

 

* * *

Edward, lying in bed with the blanket neatly covering him, glanced at the figure standing beside him. Luize met his gaze with a stern look.

 

“No.”

 

“I’ll just stay here quietly.”

 

“I said no.”

 

“I just want to take a look around. I’m fully prepared this time, so I won’t be caught off guard like before.”

 

“But how can you work without taking a day off? The empress dowager’s power source has been cut off thanks to Robin’s divine power. There’s nothing to worry about for now, so take a break. Resting is part of your duty too.”

 

“But I can’t sleep without my fiancée by my side anymore. You’re the one who’s conditioned me like this, Miss Luize. If I can’t sleep, I’ll work.”

 

“…”

 

For a moment, Luize felt like she was turning into the villainess that the palace’s high-ranking nobles feared—someone who had seduced the devout crown prince, blinding him with love.

 

“Just wait until the Silver Hawk Knights arrive in the capital.”

 

“They’ll be here in five days. The crown prince is allowed to bring his own knights. I also summoned Fillio as the crown prince’s official designer as soon as I was reinstated.”

 

“No wonder the clothing was made so quickly. But isn’t it too tight of a schedule to finish all the knights’ uniforms in five days, even with help?”

 

“Don’t worry. Fillio was overjoyed to be put to work as soon as I was reinstated. He was so moved he even shed tears.”

 

“Were those really tears of joy…?”

 

Luize asked cautiously, but Edward just lay there, smiling at her. Although he was joking, Fillio had indeed shed tears of joy. They were tears of happiness at Edward’s reinstatement and return to the palace. And while he was thrilled to work on all the uniforms, he was also excited to work himself to the bone in a series of all-night sessions.

 

“Speaking of which, an interesting scene is likely to unfold when the knights enter the capital.”

 

“An interesting scene?”

 

And five days later, Luize indeed witnessed a fascinating sight.

 

* * *

Coincidentally, on the day the Silver Hawk Knights entered the palace, the temple dispatched the paladins. Raphaela, who had visited the imperial palace not long ago, arrived with the Second Order Holy Knights, some unfamiliar knights, and even three elders. The fact that three elders had been dispatched, given the few remaining after the last elder was imprisoned upon returning from the palace, indicated the gravity of the situation.

 

“Your Highness, we have confirmed the presence of High Priest Michael’s divine power in the capital and request your cooperation in the search.”

 

“I anticipated that, so I’ve made preparations.”

 

Robin, with his golden eyes visible, nervously stepped forward.

 

“…It’s a pleasure to meet you, High Priest Raphaela.”

 

“Yes, it’s a pleasure too, Ro… High Priest Michael. It’s been a long… time.”

 

The two exchanged awkward pleasantries as if they were reading from a textbook. This meeting was arranged to resolve everything quickly, given that Robin intended to step down as high priest if the temple dispatched a party. But the other temple members, unaware of this, were left bewildered by the swift turn of events.

 

Robin spoke up. “To get straight to the point, I have no intention of returning to the temple. I’m going to live freely.”

 

Just as the elders who had accompanied them were about to try persuading Robin, Raphaela produced a document as if she had been waiting for this moment.

 

“Then please sign this document. Just remember that you can return at any time. Additionally, the temple will continue to ensure your safety, as it does for all who possess divine power, even after you step down from your position as high priest.”

 

Raphaela’s gaze shifted to Edward, who smiled brightly.

 

“I didn’t realize Robin was High Priest Michael. I’ll make sure the entire capital is instructed to ensure nothing happens to him.”

 

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

 

At Raphaela’s response, Robin broke out in a cold sweat and muttered, “Um, doesn’t that defeat the purpose of me stepping down as high priest?”