As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover Chapter 73

“People trapped inside that building are essentially sacrifices for the magic.”

 

“It’s a glass, so can’t we just break it?” Maxion asked, to which Hendrik shook his head.

 

“Physical attacks are completely ineffective. As I got close to try and hit it, a door that wasn’t there before appeared. I nearly fell inside. Thankfully, His Excellency caught me, or I would have been consumed long ago. Even throwing stones at it, everything gets swallowed.”

 

“It seems entering is the only way to break the spell. With few knowing about black magic, it’s difficult to just send someone in recklessly.”

 

“…Magic based on illusions usually ends when the real thing is found within its range. Depending on the size, like in this case where an entire village is transformed by black magic, it could take a very long time.”

 

A shadow appeared on Aiven’s face.

 

“It usually takes about a month for black magic to completely digest a living person. Anyone who entered here within that time might not have the right mind, but there’s a high chance they’re still alive. As long as the status-maintaining magic works, their body and mind should remain intact, but beyond that, I can’t guarantee anything.”

 

“The status-maintaining magic stored in the amulets on our uniforms will only last about a week.”

 

“If additional mana isn’t supplied, that’s correct. Inside the magic, supplying mana from the outside will be impossible.”

 

“So, should we assume most people trapped inside are dead?” Edward’s question made Aiven hesitate. With everyone looking worriedly at him, Aiven carefully parted his lips.

 

“…Given the scale of the magic, it’s likely that sacrifices have already been made.”

 

“I remember it being a fairly large village.”

 

Edward looked towards the building with a hardened face. Everyone bowed their heads as if in a moment of silence.

 

* * *

Crackle, crackle. The campfire blazed. As the night deepened at the campsite, despite having guards, most were restless with heavy hearts. Without entering the tent, Luize approached Edward, who was sitting by the fire and sat down.

 

“Do you often stay up at night?”

 

“Not to the extent that Miss Luize should worry.”

 

“So you do stay up often.”

 

Edward responded with a smile, substituting for an answer.

 

“It must be boring when everyone else is asleep.”

 

“Time does seem to move slower.”

 

“On nights when I can’t sleep and feel lonely, I come out here. I’ll keep you company on nights you stay up late.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Edward’s gaze shifted to Luize. His eyes, redder than the burning fire, carefully observed her as if recalling long memories.

 

“Lately, when I look at Miss Luize, I feel as if I’m about to remember something.”

 

“Remember?”

 

“Have I ever met Miss Luize in a past I don’t remember?”

 

“We often saw each other at banquets.”

 

“I remember all of that.”

 

“Everything? That can’t be. We met more often than you think.”

 

“I remember everything. From your first appearance, Miss Luize caught my eye oddly.”

 

Surprised, Luize looked away. “I was with someone too noticeable.”

 

“I had no interest in the person beside you. Gossip from social circles is as boring as everyday life to me. Honestly…” He shifted his gaze to Luize’s hair. “Your hair caught my eye first. It shimmered like pure white snow field under the moonlight.”

 

With a slightly flushed face, Luize lifted her head. “…Edward, you seem incapable of speaking harshly or rudely.”

 

“Well, I don’t know about that.”

 

“Am I right?”

 

“Miss Luize, you shouldn’t judge people solely by their appearance.”

 

But no matter how much Luize thought, she couldn’t imagine him saying anything truly bad. He had been the crown prince of the empire, always polite and proper, and now he seemed no different. Except for the occasional inscrutable expression…

 

“Still, I’m certain of one thing. Edward is a good person. Even if you’re a bit worse than I think, that’s okay.” Luize smiled.

 

* * *

Three members of the knight order were tied up overnight. Along with Ben, who was first consumed by the building, a knight shared his tent, and two knights from another tent were found heading toward the building by the guards and tied to a tree.

 

“I’ll go in first.” Maxion volunteered, but Edward shook his head.

 

“Maxion, you’ve already suffered from black magic recently; stay and command the knight order. Make sure no one else comes out of the building.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“Aiven. You said encountering any falsehood inside and finding the real thing would be the key, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“How about we select three skilled members to form a team and send them in?”

 

“It seems like a good idea.”

 

After briefing three knights on precautions and investigation methods, they approached the building. As they stood in front of it, three doors appeared and opened. They entered, and the doors closed simultaneously.

 

“Any news?”

 

“None.”

 

“Since they might exit from another path, form teams and patrol around the building in shifts.”

 

“Yes.”

 

However, by noon the next day, no one had come out. The knights who entered had a week to keep their sanity and physical integrity. Time passed quickly, and during Edward’s brief absence, two more were consumed by the building during night watch.

 

On the third day, five more members with sharp observational skills were sent in, to no avail. Finally, a week after their arrival, Edward spoke calmly. “I must go in myself.”

 

Hendrik exclaimed in horror. “Your Excellency, that’s not possible! We are here to protect you. How can you go in yourself!”

 

“If I don’t, those inside will start being digested by the black magic, making it stronger or more robust. We can’t even ask for support from the imperial palace. If we leave, we’ll forget everything.”

 

Attempts to use message magic yielded the same results; the magic returned to Edward as soon as it left a certain range.

 

“If it’s just about finding something inside, I’ll go in with you.”

 

Everyone’s gaze turned to Luize. Edward and Maxion spoke simultaneously.

 

“That’s not possible.”

 

“No.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Because this magic isn’t a structure where being strong in swordsmanship means survival. If outside influence is impossible, inside would be similar.”

 

“And Edward would be too worried about you to concentrate.”

 

“…You two really are in sync at times like this.” Luize sighed softly.

 

Subsequently, there was a brief consideration of sending Aiven, who was nearly an expert, inside. However, he was eventually tasked with researching other ways to analyze and dissolve the magic from the outside.

 

“Retrieving deserters has always been my role. I’ll find them inside and return within ten days. No one else can last as long as I can in there.”

 

“Wouldn’t it be better to send a few more people in?”

 

“So you’re saying to give up on the knights who entered a week ago?”

 

“One day wouldn’t make much of a difference…” Aiven stopped mid-sentence.

 

Edward wouldn’t give up on anyone. Especially not when there was a chance something had happened to the members of the knights who entered first.

 

“What if we all enter at once, leaving only a minimum outside?”

 

“It’s too reckless. And I’d have trouble finding too many people inside.”

 

Silence followed, with even Maxion and the others taking longer to respond.

 

“Can I make one condition?” Luize was the first to speak.

 

“Let’s hear it.”

 

“If Edward doesn’t come out within a week, then really let me go in to find him.”

 

Everyone stiffened at Luize’s words, swallowing hard as they awaited Edward’s response. He smiled beautifully. “That’s a scary kind of threat.”

 

“Promise me.”

 

“I’ll do my best. But if I don’t return within a week, follow Maxion and Aiven’s commands. Luize must not enter, even as a threat.”

 

“Edward.”

 

“Luize.”

 

Called by Maxion, Luize turned to him. “You promised to follow.”

 

“…Okay.”  Luize lowered her head.

 

Edward, who had been quietly observing her, hardened his expression. “And if I don’t come out of the building within ten days, it means it’s really dangerous, so I want Miss Luize to leave this place.”

 

“Edward!”

 

“This isn’t a request but an order from the commander of this expedition.”

 

Luize’s lips pressed tightly together as she looked straight at Edward, who continued with a determined face.