As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover Chapter 47

“…Miss Luize. Why are you here?” 

 

“I’ve thought about it.” 

 

Her gaze shifted towards Edward. The rising morning sun gradually illuminated Luize’s face. 

 

“Edward, you said from the start you weren’t honest with me. Maxion has always been bad at lying.” 

 

“…”

 

“My ex-husband pretended to care for me with his words, but the reality was different. Thinking about it, men in the capital are full of words and actions that don’t match. So, I’ve decided not to believe what you guys say anymore.”

 

Luize blinked slowly. Hidden beneath her long, dense silver eyelashes, her pupils shone purple like the dawn sky.

 

“Maxion only lies when I’m in danger. Specifically, only when I’m about to do something, he would worry about. And Edward…”

 

After a pause, Luize continued in a calm voice.   “I’ve had to think a lot about you. It was hard to gauge since we hadn’t known each other for long. But no matter how I thought about it, Edward never mistreated me for even a moment. From the day we first crossed swords, you might have doubted my skills but were concerned about hurting me. On another day, you even threw away your sword to catch me when I fell during a spar. Edward, you’ve been too kind to me for someone who’s just trying to use me.” 

 

“…”

 

“Even pushing me away and not explaining the reason, I concluded it was because Edward was worried about me. That’s the right answer, isn’t it?” 

 

“…I thought I explained enough at that time.” 

 

Edward responded with a cold, expressionless face like before, but Luize’s face did not falter. 

 

“You wanted my power, didn’t you? Shouldn’t you be happy I returned?” 

 

“I also said I didn’t want to make Miss Luize as my enemy.” 

 

“That means I’m saying I’ll be on your side despite everything.” 

 

“Why Miss Luize…! After hearing all that, why would you still choose to stand by me?” Edward’s voice trembled faintly, unable to hide his rising emotions. His eyes turned away from the sun, darkened.   A whirlwind of intense emotions swirled in his pupils. 

 

“It was what you said back then, Edward. By holding a sword, you can tell whether you want to kill someone, protect them, or if they’re not even worth pointing your sword at. And you asked me which category you fell into, remember?”

 

“…I remember.” 

 

“When I raised my sword, I still wanted to protect you with my sword,” Luize spoke in a composed tone as if she had made her decision long ago. 

 

Edward, looking at her, finally parted his lips. “Miss Luize.” 

 

He took two steps and was immediately in front of her. As Luize looked up at him with a puzzled face, Edward’s arms strongly embraced her.

 

“Do you know you’re more foolish than I imagined?” 

 

“Me?” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

“I think you’re the bigger fool, Edward. And right now, your words and actions don’t match.” 

 

“I know this action is selfish, but honestly, I’m happy.”

 

“…” 

 

“While Miss Luize was gone, you never left my mind. I’m the one at fault, yet I don’t understand why my own mind behaved like that. Until now, to me, parting meant either betrayal or death. Perhaps I’m not used to this kind of parting.” 

 

“…” 

 

“I missed you a lot. I’m sorry for hurting you. It was my fault.” His arms tightened around her shoulders and the back of her head. 

 

“I’ll forgive you this once. There won’t be a next time. You don’t have to explain, but don’t try to push me away by hurting me like that again.” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

Luize hesitated, then placed her hands around his waist. “You can’t tell me what it’s all about, can you?” 

 

“…Yes. But not everything I said was a lie. It’s true that because of me, you ended up in such a situation.” 

 

“Then I’ll find out bit by bit. I’ll judge based on that.” 

 

Edward smiled slightly at her straightforward answer. “That’s so like you, Miss Luize.” 

 

“I don’t know if Maxion told you, but I’m quite stubborn.” 

 

Edward laughed softly. “Thank you for coming back.” 

 

“Yes.” Luize smiled and looked up, but her expression quickly turned awkward when she noticed. “By the way, Edward.”

 

“Yes?” 

 

“Maxion and the knights are staring at us quite intently.” 

 

“Ah.” 

 

Edward hastily stepped back, his face slightly flushed. A whistle from afar, followed by cheers, broke out. 

 

“I’m sorry. I was just too happy.”

 

“I suppose you already said Benny won’t be joining this expedition, right?”

 

“Yes.” 

 

“Then, I’ll join as Luize di Servenia in his stead. That makes everything explainable, right?” Luize smiled brightly. “Most people already think we’re a lover anyway.” 

 

“… That’s a good idea.” 

 

Edward smiled and leaned down to kiss her hand, then looked up into her eyes. As he held her hand, smiling joyfully, Luize blushed at his gaze. 

 

“Edward.” 

 

“Yes?” 

 

“It’s a bit sudden, but you really are handsome.” 

 

“That’s somewhat true.” 

 

Luize, with a flushed face, quickly climbed onto her horse. The back of her hand where his lips had touched felt strangely hot.

 

“Let’s go up and greet the knights. I haven’t interacted with the others while staying at the mansion.” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

With an unceasing smile, Edward followed her up the hill. As they approached, the cheers grew louder. 

 

Luize went straight to Maxion. “Your inability to lie really helped me make up my mind.” 

 

“…So you’ve decided to go together.” 

 

“Yes. And for this expedition, I’ll be participating as Luize di Servenia.”

 

“Alright.” 

 

Luize looked at Edward, who was smiling at the cheering knights. Was it because she had only seen him in casual or formal attire before? In his knight’s uniform, he seemed different. 

 

Luize glanced at the medals on his chest, pondering the heartache he must have felt pushing her away with harsh words. How many betrayals and deaths were embedded in each of those medals? 

 

Edward, from a distance, addressed the whistling knights with a smile. “It seems you all are full of energy. I’ll personally tell Maxion to increase the intensity of the training.” 

 

The faces of the knights at the front turned pale. Robin smacked the back of a nearby knight’s head, saying, “Shut it now, or I’ll sew your mouth shut.” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

Hendrik quickly gestured to the others to keep quiet, and the knights immediately fell silent. 

 

“Seems like it might be unnecessary.” 

 

The knights nodded vigorously, keeping their mouths shut. 

 

Edward continued, pleased. “Ah, and though I’ll introduce her soon, the person Maxion is talking to…”

 

Before he could finish, everyone chimed in as if on cue. 

 

“Isn’t that Miss Luize di Servenia?”

 

“Indeed, it’s Miss Luize di Servenia.”

 

Edward asked, puzzled. “How did you know?” 

 

“Your expression gave it away, Your Excellency.”

 

“What’s with my face?” 

 

“It looks a bit dazed, but it’s alright.” 

 

The knights nodded in agreement. 

 

Edward looked at Luize. “…Is that so?” 

 

Feeling his gaze, Luize turned to meet his eyes and smiled. 

 

“It seems to have turned out that way.” A natural smile appeared on his face.

 

It was the first morning of autumn, brightly lit by the fully risen sun. 

 

* * *

There were quite a few large cities around the capital. Though it was customary not to indulge too much at the beginning of an expedition to conserve strength, the ‘Silver Falcon Knights’ celebrated grandly at an inn from day one.

 

Edward sat at the head of the long table, with Luize and Maxion on his right and Robin, Hendrik, and Aiven on his left. The rest of the knights filled the seats. 

 

“To the addition of Miss Luize di Servenia, cheers!”

 

“Cheers!” 

 

From cream beer to dark beer, whiskey, and fruit wine, glasses filled with various drinks clinked together, reflecting the diverse personalities of the knights. 

 

“Ah, how romantic!”  Hendrik gulped down his dark beer and slammed the glass on the table. 

 

Robin opened his mouth with a puzzled face. “But she’s not planning to stay with us till the end, right? It’s a dangerous journey.” 

 

“… That’s for them to decide.” 

 

“Ah, right.” 

 

Nodding at Aiven’s response, Robin looked at Luize and continued. “So, how did the two of you end up together?” 

 

“Cough!” Luize spit out the beer she had been drinking. Edward, as if already expecting this, calmly patted her back. 

 

“Aiven.” 

 

The knight with black eyes, whose name was called, emptied his glass of strong whiskey and spoke. “… It’s rude to ask such a thing.” 

 

“Tsk. Knowing the trick could be helpful. I can’t spend my life just taking care of the knights’ chores.” 

 

Hendrik laughed heartily. “Ahaha! You see, your starting points are different from His Excellency’s. Look in the mirror.” 

 

“What’s wrong with me!” 

 

As the knights bickered, Edward quietly asked Luize. “Do you handle alcohol well?” 

 

“Three beers are fine for me.” 

 

“Don’t overdo it. You can leave whenever you want.” 

 

“Yes.”  Luize nodded awkwardly. 

 

Contrary to her thoughts that Edward’s knights would be calm and intellectual, they were quite noisy. Though unfamiliar with the chaos, the knights seemed like fun individuals. 

 

Luize turned to Maxion beside her. “Have you gotten better at drinking?”