As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover Chapter 60

With the cause still unclear, the only thing Luize could do was make an apple pie in hopes of waking Maxion.

 

Luize made the apple pie with all her heart, just as she had done before. The cooking was simple and finished quickly. Carrying the finished apple pie, she headed to the room where Maxion was sleeping.

 

Edward was standing by the window in front of the door. The late afternoon sunlight seeping through the window made his red eyes shine translucently. He was a handsome man to whom the phrase “always looks splendid” suited better than anyone else.

 

Luize, who had been staring at him absentmindedly, suddenly came to her senses and spoke. “Edward. You’ve been waiting here. Are you going in with me?”

 

“I’d probably just be in the way. I’ll stay here, so call me when Maxion wakes up.”

 

“I don’t think you’d be a bother… Alright. I’ll do that.”

 

Luize smiled and handed Edward the only apple pie wrapped in cloth from the plate. “Then, wait here while eating this. I made an extra one because you were curious.”

 

“…So this is that apple pie. Thank you.”

 

“I’ll go in first.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Luize entered the room with a determined face, opening the door. Edward, watching the closed door, unwrapped the white cloth around the pie. The unevenly made apple pie, hastily assembled with bread, lay warm in his hand. He took a bite with a happy face.

 

“Hmm.”

 

The strong scent of cinnamon filled his nose, and Edward instantly understood why Maxion never asked her to cook. The crunchy texture of the apples was indeed fresh and undercooked, just as Luize had said.

 

Edward chuckled low and took another bite of the apple pie.

 

* * *

The room was silent. Maxion lay deeply asleep with his characteristic expressionless face. His large frame, unique gray hair, dark skin, closed eyes, straight nose, and firmly closed lips gave off a stoic impression, reflecting his personality.

 

Luize, standing by his side, placed the tray on the nightstand and sat down on the chair in front of her. Following Edward’s advice, Luize started speaking. “Hey, Maxion. You know, I twisted my ankle again today while playing.”

 

“…”

 

“I need to take a bath, but there’s no one to watch over me.”

 

“…”

 

“Are you angry? If I did something wrong, please forgive me. I even made apple pie.”

 

“…”

 

“You know there’s no one else to help me but you. So please wake up.”

 

But Maxion showed no sign of movement.

 

Edward had suggested that reminding Maxion of her past might be a good idea. Was there something deeply regrettable to him about their time spent in the cabin in Perils? Luize was skeptical but decided to follow his advice, as there were no other options.

 

But what if this method wasn’t the answer either? Would Maxion spend the rest of his life asleep? Realizing this, Luize suddenly felt scared.

 

Until now, she had vaguely believed that finding a solution would wake him up. Because he was a strong and robust friend, he would surely shake it off and be by her side again. But what if that wasn’t the case?

 

Panic showed on Luize’s face, and her eyes reddened. “Maxion, wake up. Do you know how sad I was when you left? I was so happy to see you again, and then you ran away like this. There’s no one in the world who can replace you for me.”

 

Her voice trembled with a sob. She frowned. Tears filled her violet eyes and soon streamed down her cheeks. “You’re not planning to lie there forever, are you?”

 

Saying it out loud made it even more frightening. After Maxion left Perils, Luize had vaguely hoped he was doing well, but she missed him terribly.

 

Was it because their home had no address for the postman to deliver mail? Maxion hadn’t sent her a single letter. Time passed without any contact.

 

When she followed Reiad to the capital, she thought she might never see him again, but how happy she was when they coincidentally reunited. She thought they could be friends like before forever. But then he ran away from her again.

 

Luize’s shoulders shook with sobs. “Say something… Hic. I really hate you. If you’re upset, just say it. Don’t just make me worry.”

 

Her tears blurred her vision.  She wiped her eyes with her palms, but the tears flowed endlessly like a broken dam.

 

“You really are bad, you know? I was just waiting there for you. Hoping you’ll drop by someday. Promising to deliver any news. Are you protesting because I left for the capital before you could come back?”

 

Luize murmured as if sighing. “I’m waiting for you again…”

 

Then, a strong, rough palm touched Luize’s cheek.

 

“… Where’s your ankle?”

 

A low voice echoed as a large hand skillfully wiped her tears.

 

“…?”

 

“Why are you crying?”

 

Luize wiped her tears and stared at Maxion. He had propped himself up from the bed and was looking at her with a confused face. Seeing his black eyes for the first time in a while, she hugged him tightly and burst into tears again.

 

“Hic. Do you know how many days you’ve been asleep?”

 

“Have I slept for a long time?”

 

“Yes. You’ve been asleep for three days and nights.”

 

“No wonder. I felt heavy when I woke up.”

 

“Are you hungry?”

 

“I’m hungry.”

 

Luize picked up an apple pie from the tray and shoved it into his mouth. The apple pie made with two layers of bread fits perfectly into his mouth. He mumbled as he chewed.

 

“… It’s delicious after a long time.”

 

“You’re upset with me, aren’t you?”

 

“No.”

 

“Don’t lie. I never left you, so why did you feel a sense of loss?”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

Maxion looked at her with a puzzled face. Luize explained everything from the moment he fell asleep to finding the cause of the black magic. Maxion’s expression darkened as he heard the whole story.

 

“…So I need to know why you thought that way.” Tears still reddening her eyes, Luize glared at Maxion. “You have to tell me the truth.”

 

After a long silence, Maxion finally spoke. “By your side.” He added in a small voice as if retreating. “It felt like my place was gone.”

 

“…What?”

 

“It used to be all mine.”

 

“That’s right. It was only you.”

 

“Now it’s different.”

 

“…”

 

“That made me feel neglected.”

 

Luize’s face showed surprise, and then she squinted and smacked him on the back.

 

“Ouch.”

 

“Maxion. Listen. As I said earlier, no one can replace you for me. You always have the same place in me.”

 

“…”

 

“No matter how many people are around me, that will never change. So, from now on, don’t be sad about things like this. If you feel neglected, don’t fall into such magic and just talk to me.”

 

Maxion looked at her as if surprised.

 

When he first meets her, Luize’s world ends at a small cabin in the forest. Maxion was as significant to her as the pillars supporting that cabin. But now, Luize’s world has expanded far beyond that. It included the capital, a splendid mansion, and everything new she had encountered. Yet, inside her, that cabin still existed, unchanged and as cherished as the time they spent together.

 

“…Alright.”

 

As Maxion smiled faintly, Luize looked back at him with a bright face.

 

“But where is Lord Edward now?”

 

“Outside.”

 

Knock, knock. As if waiting, there was a knock on the door.

 

“Come in.”

 

Edward entered as the door opened. His usual polite smile was on his face. “Good morning, Maxion. Did you have a nice dream?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“Seeing you awake makes me happy.”

 

As Edward strode in with long legs, Luize hurriedly covered her face with her palms. Her face was a mess from crying. Her eyes had swollen to twice their size, and the area around her eyes was a mess. Even her nose was running, and she had been sniffling.

 

“I’m sorry. I forgot to call you because I was out of it.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Now that Maxion is awake and Edward has seen it, I’ll go back to my room.”

 

As Luize tried to get up, Maxion grabbed her arm. “Don’t go.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

“Stay longer.” His deep black eyes clung to Luize persistently.