As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover Chapter 237

[Side Story 4: Maxion – Part 2]

 

“Your Majesty! Where are you! Didn’t you say you would sign the report as soon as the meeting ended? Your Majesty!”

 

“…Don’t mind the commotion outside. The matter with the chancellor isn’t that urgent.”

 

No sooner had he finished speaking than the secretary’s urgent voice rang out.

 

“Your Majesty! There’s a mountain of work piled up to my height that needs your immediate attention! Please return as soon as possible!”

 

Hearing this, Luize narrowed her eyes and glared at Edward.

 

“Sorry, but the lying Majesty won’t be able to join today’s walk. Until you finish those urgent matters, I don’t want you anywhere near my room.”

 

“But…”

 

“Edward. I said no.”

 

Edward put on a pleading expression, but Luize firmly cut him off. In the end, he spoke with a voice full of regret. “Maxion, I’ll leave the Empress in your care.”

 

“I’ll make sure there’s nothing for you to worry about.”

 

“By the way, would you like to trade places with me for a bit?”

 

“No.” Maxion flatly refused, and Edward let out a small sigh.

 

“It seems the crown doesn’t suit me after all.”

 

“I like you as Emperor Edward. I also like the things I do at your side.”

 

“Is that so? If you like it, then so do I.”

 

Edward immediately switched his tone and smiled at Luize.

 

Meanwhile, no matter what they discussed, Ren’s only concern was her own polymorphed body.

 

“How am I supposed to spar with such a small body… Sniff, hic.”

 

Tears welled up in Ren’s large eyes as she failed to find the answer she wanted. Just before she could burst into tears, Edward spoke.

 

“That’s not really something you need to worry about.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Your body might be small, but you’re still a dragon. Your natural agility and strength are far greater than those of most adult men. It’s the same as how the empress, who spans your territory, could wield a sword freely from a young age.”

 

“So that means…”

 

“You can spar just fine with that body. Of course, you’ll need to get used to using a human body first.”

 

Luize, who had been listening, chimed in. “Now that you mention it, there’s a knight in the Purple Twilight Order who used to take care of children. They should be able to help you, Ren.”

 

“Really?” Ren’s eyes sparkled as she smiled brightly.

 

* * *

Maxion had recently been so busy that even three bodies wouldn’t have been enough. After Edward became emperor, Maxion was promoted to captain of the imperial guard and served as Edward’s chief aide. At the same time, he abandoned his original surname, Kalliod, and was granted the Kalliod territory by Edward under the new surname ‘Raga.’

 

All Maxion knew about managing a territory was what he had learned by watching Edward as his aide. Since most of his work with Edward had involved the knight order, he had little experience with administration, and he felt his limitations in supporting Edward as emperor. So, by day, he worked while learning what he lacked from those around him, and by night, he studied in the imperial library.

 

“The position of captain of the guard bears responsibility and has much to do, but it’s also a position where you have many to help you. Just as I kept you by my side as my aide, you should also have someone to help you. Remember, no matter how skilled you are, it’s impossible to handle everything perfectly alone.”

 

Edward had given him this advice, but he still hadn’t found anyone trustworthy in the other knight orders. As for the Red Dawn Order, most of its members lacked experience with noble society or the imperial household, and too much power concentrated in one place would break the balance.

 

Edward had made Hendrik the commander of the Red Dawn Order and given Maxion the dual titles of Emperor’s Guard and Captain of the Imperial Knights precisely to prevent this imbalance. But Maxion’s duties didn’t end there.

 

“Ppik. Pyuuuuu. Ppi. Grrong…”

 

He also had to find time to look after Ren, who still hadn’t warmed up to her nanny.

 

“…I wonder if Ren will be able to adapt to her new teacher.” He murmured as he stroked Ren’s head, asleep in a basket on the library desk.

 

Starting tomorrow, Ren would have a swordsmanship instructor, a knight from the Purple Twilight Order, recommended by Luize.

 

“At least she speaks up if things are hard, so that’s good.”

 

Others might have clicked their tongues that a bachelor who had never dated now had a child to take care of, but Maxion rather liked his current life. He had never known such a peaceful moment.

 

Putting away his book, Maxion then picked up the basket with the sleeping Ren. It was late, and he needed to get some sleep for the next day as well.

 

On his way from the library to Ren’s room with the basket, he sensed someone in a remote corner of the training grounds where few people ever went. Checking the area, he saw a dark figure moving with a child’s wooden sword.

 

“Hoo…”

 

It was a tall person with short hair that didn’t reach their shoulders. At first, he thought it was a man, but the shape of the body in motion suggested it was a woman.

 

Sensing his gaze, the figure paused and turned to look at Maxion. The first thing he saw was hair covering half of her left face.

 

“…”

 

Deep blue eyes met him. For some reason, Maxion found himself unable to move for a moment.

 

The woman, realizing who he was, was about to pay her respects, but Maxion waved his hand and pointed at the basket with the sleeping Ren. He meant for her to keep quiet so as not to wake the sleeping dragon. She seemed to understand and silently bowed before resuming her training.

 

On her practice uniform was the crest of the Purple Twilight Order. Now that he thought about it, a new knight had joined that order two weeks ago. It seemed to be the knight he’d met then.

 

Thinking it odd to see someone else awake at such a late hour, Maxion continued on to Ren’s room.

 

“…”

 

But when he looked back before going inside, there was no one left in the training ground.

 

* * *

“Huaaaang-!”

 

Day 3 of living in a polymorphed body—Ren finally broke down crying.

 

“Why are human bodies so weak!”

 

“That’s just how they are.”

 

“No scales, no shell, not even much hair! Why do I have to wear clothes?”

 

“That’s why we cover ourselves with clothes and use tools.”

 

“It’s uncomfortable.”

 

When Ren pouted, Maxion spoke up. “Do you want to turn back into a dragon, then?”

 

“No! I want to get used to this body quickly so I can spar with Luize, take baths together, and play!”

 

“By the way, Ren, His Majesty said it’ll be easier if you learn protective magic.”

 

“The imperial wizard already came by earlier. Why do humans use magic in such complicated ways? It’s boring and no fun. And anyway, I can do what he does.”

 

For dragons, magic was instinctual. Even if not perfect yet, Ren was so invulnerable that it was hard to believe she was a human, not that she actually was. When she hit something hard or got cut, she barely got scratched. But Ren was prone to exaggeration, and her polymorphed body was undeniably much weaker than her dragon form; moreover, it was harder to use magic.

 

“And since I’m an adult, I have to take care of Evelyn. I can’t hold her in my dragon form, so I have to practice holding a baby in a human body. So, starting today, I’m going to practice moving around as a human.” Ren spread both hands wide and wiggled her fingers. “It’s time for sword lessons now. Maxion, where’s the teacher?”

 

“They’ll be waiting in the training grounds. Let’s go.”

 

Maxion was used to escorting Ren to the training ground before returning to his work. If he didn’t, who knew what trouble Ren might get into.

 

When they arrived at the training ground, someone familiar was waiting for them.

 

“Greetings to Honorable Black Dragon Ren, defender of the Empire. It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Karin de Merden from Purple Twilight Order.”

 

It was the woman he’d encountered late at night in the training grounds a few days ago. She was tall, with the large frame typical of northern people, and just as during their early morning training, she wore a mask covering half her face. Her short, dark brown hair blended naturally into the shadows. Her deep blue eyes, which had shone under the moonlight, looked even more mysterious in the bright daylight.

 

“Hmph. I’m Ren. And this is my subordinate, Maxion.”

 

At Ren’s introduction, Karin bowed to Maxion. “It is an honor to meet you, Captain Maxion de Raga, the Emperor’s brilliant sword. My name is Karin de Merden from Purple Twilight Order.”

 

To her stiff greeting, Maxion replied just as bluntly. “Dame Merden, pleased to meet you.”

 

Their eyes met at close range, gazing at each other in silence for a moment.

 

Then Ren, staring intently at Karin, spoke up. “By the way, Master. Why are you wearing that cumbersome thing on your face?”