As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover – Chapter 223

Author: alyalia

“Now, it will never escape again.”

It was unclear whether these words were directed at the bird or someone else, but one thing was certain: Reiad would head to Pendel and live as Diana’s pet bird for the rest of his life. He had obtained the peaceful noble life he had desired. However, he was not happy.

* * *

As part of an official event, Edward came out to see off the envoy from the friendly nation of Pendel.

“Another gift?”

“Yes.”

Just before departure, Edward called for Diana, saying he had prepared a gift. Standing beside him was the newly appointed court painter.

“Ellisian… or rather, should I call you Ardi now?”

“No, I plan to use my real name. Please continue calling me Ellisian.” Ellisian answered respectfully. He had indeed become the court painter, as Edward had mentioned.

Many were shocked and opposed the idea of a former gigolo becoming a court painter, but Edward brought Ellisian into the palace, citing his merits and abilities.

“So, he’s the painter Ardi, whom you all praised so highly.”

“That can’t be…!”

Edward had proposed that if they could find a painter greater than Ardi, he would reconsider, but that was impossible. After all, Ardi was a once-in-a-century genius.

“Relax. To you, I will always remain Ena.”

“Then I’ll do that.” Ellisian smiled brightly and handed over the wrapped painting. “Ena, it’s your portrait.”

“Thank you. I’m looking forward to it, especially knowing it’s a portrait by the famous Ardi. Who would have thought you were Ardi?” Diana’s gaze shifted to Edward. “You mentioned you were indebted to someone—was it this person?”

“Yes.”

“Ellisian, did you know from the beginning that I was a princess?”

“I did. I wasn’t trying to deceive you. I just thought you didn’t want to reveal it, so I didn’t bring it up first.”

Diana laughed, amused. “Life is funny. You, who were within reach, have left to become the imperial court painter, while Reiad, whom I thought I’d lost, has ended up in my hands.” Her gaze moved to Reiad, who was standing a little distance away, facing Luize.

“Goodbye.”

“…Yes.”

That was the entirety of their farewell. Luize really had nothing else she wanted to say, and Reiad had nothing he could say, even if he had a hundred mouths.

Luize turned away first and walked toward Edward. Soon, the Pendel envoy departed. As she watched the distant carriage, Luize asked Ellisian, “By the way, Ellisian, how did you become a painter? I’ve been curious for a while but never had the chance to ask.”

“A guest once brought me art supplies as a suggestion to take up a hobby, and I started drawing for fun. I got hooked on it. Later, when I secretly slipped away to pursue painting more seriously, I got caught by the pimps, had all my belongings taken, and was beaten nearly to death. That’s when His Majesty saved me.”

“Edward did?”

“Yes. At the time, I believe he was out on a secret mission as the crown prince. He said, ‘Everyone should be given a chance,’ and offered me the opportunity to prove myself. He liked my work, and that’s how he began to support me.”

“I see.”

Luize had learned all about the deeds Reiad had committed as an imperialist. She realized that the suffering she had endured had been due to Reiad’s ‘work.’ His ‘work’ might have been similar to what Ellisian had done as a gigolo. In fact, it was probably more extreme than what Ellisian, who never engaged in nighttime activities, had done. Yet, their fates were so different.

“What do you plan to do now, Ellisian?”

“I want to continue painting and meet more people. Knowing people is like knowing a world, and it makes my art richer.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“Do you have any plans, Lady Luize?”

“…Yes, I do.” Luize nodded with a determined look on her face. “I’m going to teach swordsmanship to women. I want to make the empire a place where everyone, regardless of gender, status, or age, can learn whatever they wish.”

“I believe you two can certainly achieve that.”

Not long after, Ellisian’s painting was featured in newspapers across the empire. The painting depicted Edward and Luize dancing with joyful expressions.

[His Majesty the Emperor’s wedding with his fiancée, Luize di Servenia, confirmed!]

[Temple sends a high priest to officiate the imperial wedding!]

At the same time, an exhibition composed solely of portraits of Edward and Luize was held. It was the first exhibition Ellisian held under his real name, not as Ardi.

The turmoil in the empire, which had persisted since the revelation of former Emperor Eligos’s atrocities, quickly faded from the public’s memory due to the succession of joyous events and the excitement in social circles.

* * *

On the day of the imperial wedding, the imperial palace was bustling with many important domestic and foreign figures.

Robin, dressed in ceremonial attire, hid behind Aiven, casting wary glances around. “Isn’t there anyone here?”

“…No. Of course, there are many people. It’s an imperial wedding.”

“Not that! I mean, t-t-t-that person.”

“Haha, did they say the high priest is officiating today? The name is…”

“…Gabriel.”

“Shh! Quiet! Quiet! You shouldn’t say his name so carelessly!” Robin pressed his finger to his lips, huddling closer to Aiven and looking around anxiously.

A figure appeared behind him.

“Why? Have you committed some crime?”

“No, it’s just that he’s a difficult person to deal with. Just looking at him makes me so nervous that I feel like I’ll stop breathing.”

“Oh dear. If your breath stops, you’ll meet my other form. What will you do then, child?”

“That’s for then… Ahhh!” Robin jumped in fright.

Gabriel, who had been whispering behind him, smiled pleasantly. “As expected, you’re an amusing child.” He chuckled softly.

Maxion, holding Ren in his arms, heard the commotion and approached Robin’s group. “Robin, what’s going on?”

“N-Nothing. It’s just…”

As Robin sweated profusely, searching for an excuse, Ren, wearing a bow tie, perked up its ears and sniffed the air.

“Ppi?” [Huh?]

“What’s wrong, Ren?”

“Ppippi.” [It’s the Supreme God.] Ren pointed directly at Gabriel.

Gabriel patted Ren’s head. “Nice to meet you, little dragon.”

“Ppi, ppippi! Pppiippippippi?” [Hello, Supreme God! What brings you to the mortal realm?]

“I came here for some business, but it’s been more entertaining than expected, so I’m enjoying the diversion.”

“Ppippippippi. Ppiippii. Ppit, ppi…” [Next time, please teach me how to enjoy such diversions. I haven’t been able to go far because these guys can’t manage without me. Oh, and I recently succeeded in polymorphing, but I haven’t decided on gender yet…]

“…”

Watching Ren chat happily with the supreme god, Maxion, who had missed his chance to greet him, stood awkwardly, breaking into a cold sweat. If Ren was using honorifics, could this ‘supreme god’ really be the very deity worshipped by the continent? Maxion’s mind was overwhelmed and on the verge of overload.

“I am that deity, indeed. Though it’s only part of me. Don’t think too much, child. Your head might explode just from thinking about it. Besides, you and the others, except for Ren and Robin, will forget that you ever spoke with me.” Gabriel calmed Maxion.

“Ren is a dragon, so that’s one thing, but why am I being excluded?”

“Because it’s more amusing if you remember.” Gabriel grinned mischievously at Robin.

* * *

“I’m nervous,” Luize said, placing her hand on Maxion’s arm. She would be entering with him. Traditionally, she should have entered with Kasel, but since she and Maxion had grown up like siblings and had been treated like a son by Allen and Lensia, they had received approval from Lorein, the de facto power in Servenia.

“I may be strict, but I have that much flexibility. It’s your wedding, so you should do it the way you want. What difference does it make that it’s an imperial wedding? In the end, it will be the memory that stays with you most vividly for the rest of your life.”

In the audience, along with famous figures from home and abroad, were Lorein, Kasel, the Red Dawn Knights, the vigilantes of Fioren Academy, Ellisian, Fillio, Marquis Edvin, his sons Matthias and Rante, and Vivian and Carlo of the Dawn Wolf Mercenaries—many of those with whom Luize had crossed paths until now. Pendel sent different envoys instead of the princess and Reiad.

Luize had never imagined she would build connections with so many people when she first met Edward and parted with Reiad. Nor did she ever think she would experience such great happiness.

“… It’s all right. You’ll do well.”

“I must.”

“Luize.”

She looked at Maxion. He smiled slightly before continuing.

“Congratulations on your wedding.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Luize walked forward. Edward, who had been waiting at the altar, smiled gently as he extended his hand to her. The two of them stood right in front of the altar.

“You seemed to be having an interesting conversation with Maxion while I was waiting.”

“Yes. I was talking a bit behind your back.”

“Oh dear, I must have chosen the wrong aide.”

Edward chuckled quietly. Luize also smiled softly in response.

Gabriel expertly continued officiating the ceremony. It was during one of the formal responses that Gabriel, still smiling, looked at Edward.

“Do you vow to love each other in all the lives that follow?”

Edward had been asked countless questions in his past life, but this was the first time a deity had questioned him. Perhaps the deity had come to this place just to ask this question.

“I do.”

Edward and Luize answered simultaneously.

“By the name of the Supreme God, I bless the union of these two lovers.”

Cheers and applause filled the hall. Luize and Edward smiled at each other with joy. He bent down slightly to meet her gaze. “…I love you.”

She smiled brightly, her face full of happiness. “I feel the same.”

Luize kissed him. The cheers grew even louder.

At that moment, they were happy because they loved each other. And that happiness would continue for as long as they existed, through countless lives, forever.

[The end of the main story.]