As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover Chapter 52

“It would be more accurate to say that I have another request prepared. After this expedition, I want to propose a position to Miss Luize.”

 

“A position?”

 

“There’s a knight training academy by the southern coast that I manage. It used to produce many excellent wizards and knights, but now it’s somewhat neglected, closer to an ordinary academy. I was thinking of writing a recommendation for you to become a swordsmanship instructor there.”

 

“The sea… I’ve never been there. It sounds fun, though it feels a bit odd that Edward wants to send me away again.”

 

Edward laughed softly at her comment. Luize blushed, feeling embarrassed by the vibration she felt from their contact.

 

“It seems like my words might sound like the whining of a child suffering from separation anxiety to Edward.”

 

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve decided not to send Luize away anymore.”

 

“Really?” Luize looked at him with a bright face.

 

“Yes.” Edward smiled beautifully, locking eyes with her.

 

Even up close, his face was flawless. Especially those enigmatic eyes, which left a lingering impression once looked into. The red irises, like a beacon in the darkness, easily captivated her attention.

 

“I also don’t want to be apart from Miss Luize anymore.”

 

As Luize widened her eyes in surprise, they arrived at the campsite. The campsite, now fully set up, buzzed with the squadron members preparing meals. They whistled and laughed upon seeing them.

 

Luize, still in Edward’s arms, blushed as she met the eyes of the squadron members.  Maxion, busy with the meal preparations, froze at the sight.

 

“Luize, could you call Maxion and Robin for me? I need to check on something.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

Edward gently placed her down and straightened up. Unnoticed by Luize, his back was marked red.

 

* * *

“You really know what you’re doing. Very fiery.  Did you enjoy your time, oblivious to your back being in such a state?” Robin chided Edward while inspecting his back.

 

There was a cut about the length of three fingers on his lower back. Thankfully, it wasn’t deep, but it had bled quite a bit.

 

“Robin, keep those comments to yourself,” Maxion advised, eyeing Edward’s complexion.

 

Edward remained expressionless.

 

“A branch tore through the uniform and dug in. Be careful of infections. The uniform can be magically repaired, but not human flesh. Even if you used magic to stop the bleeding, carrying someone in that state would have caused it to flow.”

 

“Miss Luize doesn’t know this, so keep it quiet.”

 

“Yes? A person was injured like this, and she didn’t notice? Even in practice, she seemed sensitive to the smell of blood.”

 

“It must have been masked by another smell.”

 

“Another smell?”

 

Robin looked puzzled, but Edward changed the subject.

 

“Yes. Is there no other herb? It hurts more now than before the treatment.”

 

“Complaining now, of all times? You should feel nothing with the numbing potion. You didn’t say a word while stitching it up.” Robin started wrapping a bandage around the wounded area while grumbling.

 

“…So that’s why you came in that position. To keep Luize from seeing.” Maxion, who had been watching them, spoke up.

 

“Well.” A smile appeared on Edward’s expressionless face. “We’re lovers, aren’t we? I just wanted to hold her.”

 

“Oh my! I can’t stand this sorrow! Now that the treatment is done and there’s nothing else you need from me, I’ll be on my way!”

 

“…”

 

“Robin, have a good evening.”

 

“Yes!”

 

Robin, unable to bear it any longer, shook his head and fled the tent.

 

Edward, putting his shirt back on with a calm face, asked Maxion, “It seems Miss Luize can smell my mana. Did she always have that ability?”

 

“Not that I am aware of. She has always had a good sense of smell but within normal ranges. There was something a bit unusual, though.”

 

“Unusual?”

 

“Luize easily notices changes in the weather or the forest. While the weather can be predicted through the sky or air conditions, she says she can smell a foul odor on days when the forest animals seem unusually restless.”

 

“A foul odor.” Edward finished dressing and adjusted his clothing. “Have you ever smelled this foul odor?”

 

“No.”

 

“I see. Then let’s start the inspection.” He rose and headed out of the tent with Maxion.      

 

“Aren’t you going to look into it further?”

 

“Miss Luize didn’t seem to know the nature of the smell. The only person who might know is Aiven, but he’s a dark magic expert, so I wouldn’t hold out much hope. And it’s not like we can look it up in relevant books right now.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

“We’ll have to be careful going forward.”

 

Edward greeted the members as he checked each tent. Since the meals were divided into shifts, most of the members were either guarding the tents or standing watch.

 

“That, Lord Edward.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I understand that Luize will not be with us till the end.”

 

“Right. I actually offered her a position as a swordsmanship teacher at the academy today. She seemed to really like the idea, just as you said. Since there’s some time left, I plan to persuade her slowly.”

 

“I see.”

 

“Once the capital stabilizes, I’m thinking of inviting Miss Luize back to the mansion in the capital. What do you think?”

 

“That sounds like a good idea.”

 

Right after his reply, Luize shouted from not too far away,

 

“Edward! Aren’t you going to eat?”

 

She approached them with a steaming bowl of mushroom soup in one hand and a baguette sandwich filled with bacon, cheese, and spinach in the other. “I brought your share just in case. You must be tired from today’s search training.”

 

“Thank you.” Edward took the bowl of soup and sandwich with a smile.

 

“Isn’t it customary to eat starting with the highest-ranking member? That’s what I read in books.”

 

“Unless there’s a special occasion, Lord Edward always eats last. That way, the members get into the habit of eating moderately from the start, considering the portions for those at the end of the line. We can’t let our lord go hungry.”

 

“I see.” Luize nodded.

 

“And…”

 

“Hm?”

 

“…Never mind.”

 

Maxion looked at her with his characteristic silent expression. In his black eyes, Luize’s puzzled face was reflected.

 

I haven’t eaten yet either. Fortunately, he wasn’t the type to show his dissatisfaction or feeling of being left out on his face. Otherwise, he would have shown feelings of being neglected several times by now.

 

Luize was no longer alone by his side. Lately, she seemed closer to Edward, and Hendrik, Robin, and other members openly showed their affection for her. A strange sense of loss slowly pulled him in like a swamp.

 

“Hey, Lui—”

 

“Miss Luize! Come over here!” Hendrik, roasting marshmallows near the fire, called out to her.

 

“Yes, I’m coming! Maxion, did you have something to say?”

 

“…No.”

 

“Okay.” Luize smiled at him and then headed towards Hendrik.

 

Maxion’s gaze lingered on Luize’s retreating back for a long time. Because of that, he didn’t notice that Edward was watching him until he walked again.

 

* * *

As dusk fell and the blue light settled over the forest, the members started to wake up one by one. Luize opened her eyes with a swollen face. She had stood guard the previous night, slept later than usual, and drank non-alcoholic beer made by Hendrik late into the night along with marshmallows.

 

As soon as she stepped out of the tent, Edward, unbelievably fresh-faced for someone who had just woken up, greeted her. “Good morning, Miss Luize.”

 

“Ah, good morning to you too, Edward.”

 

“Why are you covering your face like that?” Edward asked, puzzled.

 

Luize, making a V with her fingers to peek at Edward with one eye, sighed deeply.

 

Yawning, Hendrik approached and answered for her. “A heartless beauty like Lord Edward wouldn’t understand such feelings. Ahaha!”

 

“Well, if we’re talking about beauty, isn’t Miss Luize even more beautiful?”

 

Edward’s pleasantly curved red eyes turned back to Luize. By then, her face, even behind her hand, had turned red.

 

“Haha! That’s true too.”

 

“Stop teasing both of you.” A disgruntled voice leaked through her palms.

 

“It’s not a joke.” Edward softly laughed as he spoke.

 

“Big trouble, we’re in big trouble!” Robin ran towards them, making a fuss.

 

“What’s going on?”