As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover Chapter 239

[Side Story 4: Maxion – Part 4]

 

“That’s right. At the time, Karin wasn’t in Merden because she was supposedly searching for a husband in the capital’s social scene. To be exact…” Luize’s lips curved into a smirk. “She pretended to be searching for a husband so she could naturally attend social gatherings and secretly learn swordsmanship from mercenaries under the pretense of needing escorts. She initially asked a knight to teach her, but of course, the knight couldn’t raise a sword against the master they served. After being rejected, she turned to mercenaries.”

 

Maxion also smiled calmly. “She’s an interesting person.”

 

“Isn’t she? Eventually, the knight who found out was so horrified that he insisted on teaching her himself. She built a solid foundation with him, and over time, learned steadily from various teachers—both mercenaries and knights. Apparently, she was never interested in marriage but had always wanted to learn swordsmanship. She returned to the territory when it came under threat, and her family began to pass away one by one.”

 

Watching Maxion, Luize suddenly tilted her head curiously. “But Maxion, this is the first time you’ve ever asked me about Ren’s mentor. Did something about her bother you? Or is Ren unhappy again?”

 

“…No. Actually, it’s the opposite. Ren really likes Dame Merden.”

 

“Really? That’s a relief. I was worried because Ren hasn’t opened up to anyone in the imperial palace aside from the Red Dawn knights.”

 

“Right. The reason I asked you for details is just…” Maxion trailed off, confused. Now that he thought about it, why was he so curious about her?

 

“…Well, it’s part of my job to know about the members. And since Ren rarely likes anyone outside our circle or from the Red Dawn Order, I wanted to understand what drew Ren to her.”

 

“True, it surprised me too. I didn’t expect her to adjust this well. Ren hates boredom, so maybe she’s drawn to Karin’s free spirit. You could say she’s a bit wild like me.”

 

“That’s a fair point.”

 

The two of them laugh together.

 

Bang! The door slammed open, and Ren, now in her dragon form, came rushing in on all fours, panicked.

 

“Mii ppippippippi! Ppiiiiii!” [Maxion, it’s an emergency! Come quickly!”

 

“What happened?”

 

Ren’s eyes were teary, and she was drenched in sweat. “Ppii ppippippi.” [The sword teacher collapsed.]

 

“What?! We need to call a healer—”

 

“Ppiik!” [Wait!]

 

“Ppippippippi. Ppiiiii. Ppiippippi. Ppippippi ppiiiii.” [She said not to call the healer. That’s why I came for you. She said not to tell anyone, but she did say you were the exception.]

 

“…Why can’t we call one?”

 

Ren shook her head. “Ppi. Ppiii. Mii, ppiippi.” [I don’t know. Anyway, she said no. Maxion, the sword teacher is dying. Help her.] Tears the size of raindrops streamed from Ren’s eyes.

 

Maxion picked Ren up and, turning to the shocked Luize, spoke urgently. “Something’s come up. I’ll explain after I check the situation.”

 

“Got it. Go quickly.”

 

As soon as Luize gave her approval, Maxion dashed off in the direction Ren indicated.

 

* * *

Since childhood, Karin had always been physically weak. When illness confined her to her room, she often admired the strong, sharp-edged knights who wielded heavy swords with ease. Would she become stronger too, if she learned to swing a sword?

 

What began as curiosity became admiration. Devoting herself to swordsmanship, training her body and mind, and protecting those she loved—not relying on others but defending herself. A life where she could freely choose her own path, not one dictated for her. Perhaps it was that desire that triggered the misfortune.

 

Strange things began happening in her territory. The animals that lived in the mountains surrounding the territory began to turn monstrous and started attacking the territory. On her way home after learning of her mother’s death, she then received news that her father had also passed. Soon after came the news of her younger brother.

 

“Karin, I’ll protect you, so just stay here and don’t move.”

 

“I can fight too! I learned swordsmanship in the capital, and they said I have talent. I can protect myself. Let me fight beside you.”

 

“No. We have to prepare for the worst. At least one of us must survive.”

 

“Then let me out!”

 

“How could I possibly send you out there alone? I have to go.”

 

One night, while her older brother was fighting the monsters with the townspeople, Karin wandered the garden in distress. A woman who looked exactly like her late mother suddenly appeared. It was a monster that had clung to a horse returning from battle and followed it into the territory. Even though she knew her mother had passed, Karin, entranced, approached. Just as she was about to touch the monster—

 

“Karin, no!”

 

Her brother threw himself between them, and the poison the monster spewed covered him instead. Karin, coming to her senses too late, killed the monster and brought a healer, but her brother had already passed away.

 

“Milady, your cheek…”

 

Only then did Karin notice the poison had touched her cheek too. But she didn’t care. The pain in her heart was far worse than any physical wound.

 

“It’s… It’s my fault. I’m sorry. Brother, please don’t go. Just hold on a little longer…” Karin murmured in tears, caught between dream and reality.

 

Watching her, Maxion spoke in a calm, firm voice. “Dame Merden, just hold on a little longer. Someone trustworthy will be here soon.”

 

“…Brother. Why are you here? You have to get away, or the monster will get you too.” Gripping his sleeve, she rambled frantically, clearly seeing Maxion as her deceased brother.

 

“Dame Merden, I’m not your brother—”

 

“Brother, can I ask you just one favor?”

 

After a pause, Maxion answered, “What is it?”

 

“Since it’s been so long, could you call me by my nickname? There’s no one left in this world who calls me that anymore. Sometimes, I miss when our family used to call me like that.”

 

“…What did I call you again?”

 

“Rin.”

 

“…Alright, Rin.” Maxion wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Hang in there. Because now there’s someone who’ll call you by that name again.”

 

Karin, her eyes unfocused, looked at Maxion, then smiled faintly and nodded. Then her eyes closed behind her half-covered face.

 

* * *

The trustworthy person Maxion had mentioned was Robin, a secret high priest who now served as a healer.

 

“It’s a simple fever caused by overwork and stress. Once she regains consciousness, give her this medicine. But why didn’t you just call an official healer?” Robin raised an eyebrow.

 

“The patient didn’t want anyone to find out about her condition.”

 

“That’s unusual. Even so, for the captain of the imperial knight to break protocol for a knight’s personal request.”

 

“His Majesty once said a superior should know how to take care of their subordinates’ personal circumstances.”

 

“Fair enough. That’s how I ended up dropping everything and living peacefully here, after all.” Robin nodded in understanding.

 

“Anyway, Ren cried herself to sleep after all. She must have gotten attached after following her around for days. Actually, Dame Marden is more famous as an object of Ren’s obsession than as her teacher. With Ren stalking her 24/7, everyone’s so used to seeing the mask that they forget what her face looks like. Honestly, she always covered half her face with her hair anyway, so even I saw her full face properly for the first time today.”

 

Even when she came to greet Maxion officially, Karin had hidden half her face with her hair. Although she wore a mask now for Ren’s training, it seemed she originally had a complex about her scar.

 

“Oh, and as requested, I put the mask back on. Everyone’s working hard to keep Ren happy these days.” Robin shook his medical bag and continued, “I’ll be off now. Tell her to avoid overworking for a while. You might consider assigning a temporary instructor to Ren until she recovers. Teaching swordsmanship in addition to knightly duties is too demanding. Or at least shorten the lesson time.”

 

“I’ll discuss it with her once she wakes.”

 

“During treatment, she kept asking for her brother or muttering that she had to earn money for her territory… Even if the imperial healer is free and her salary is high, if she continues this way, she’ll ruin her health and have to quit being a knight altogether. Tell her that too.”

 

“I will.”

 

After Robin left, Maxion stayed in Ren’s room to nurse Karin. Fortunately, he was off duty today, and thanks to Ren’s stubbornness, there was a large enough bed for both Karin and Ren, who was curled up next to her, to sleep comfortably.

 

“Come to think of it, didn’t they say the adult population in Merden has dropped significantly?”

 

Merden, surrounded by rocky mountains typical of the north, lacked natural resources. The Merden family was never particularly wealthy, so after losing so many breadwinners and gaining many orphans, it was natural for them to be in financial trouble.

 

“Mmm.”

 

A while later, Karin stirred. Her long, dark lashes trembled as her deep blue eyes—like a winter sky—slowly opened. As soon as she saw Maxion’s face, she gasped in surprise and tried to sit up.

 

“I’m sorry…!”

 

But dizziness overtook her, and she staggered.

 

Maxion steadied her and laid her back down. “Rest. If you get up now, you’ll wake Ren, whom I just barely managed to calm down.”

 

Lying back down, Karin finally noticed Ren snuggled close beside her, fast asleep. In a small voice, she spoke. “I’m truly sorry. I must’ve fainted from exhaustion. I’m fine now, so I’ll get back to my duties.”

 

“The healer said it’s best if you rest for a while.”

 

“Ah… I see. The healer came.” Her face turned pale.

 

If the healer came, her condition would be reported to the imperial palace. No one would keep a knight who was sick from overwork as the dragon’s teacher. Her salary would return to its previous level as well.

 

“Does that mean I’m disqualified from being Lady Ren’s mentor?”