As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover Chapter 79

“I did it out of concern for Miss Luize.”        

 

“And now?” 

 

“I’ve decided to give up early because you’re someone who won’t listen anyway.” 

 

“That’s wise of you.” 

 

“Thank you for seeing it that way.” 

 

“But Edward, you seem reckless. Do you know how worried everyone is?” 

 

“I have a body that won’t die easily. And I hate the idea of losing everyone more than losing myself. Honestly, I’m not the best leader.” 

 

Luize was the one who actually got heated by his calm answer. Why does he speak so nonchalantly about serious matters? 

 

“Why are you like that? Everyone is trying to protect Edward, but why are you so indifferent to your own matters?” 

 

“It’s not that I’m indifferent, but that my priorities are different.” 

 

“…” 

 

“Have you ever thought about the future, Miss Luize?” 

 

“Of course, I have.” 

 

“In my childhood, I didn’t really need to worry about the future. Everything was predetermined.” 

 

Until the current emperor appeared, Edward was the only crown prince of the empire and was beloved by all. Everyone believed without a doubt that he would become the emperor. 

 

“…I see.” 

 

“It’s similar now.” 

 

Luize looked at him, puzzled. 

 

“But the situation is different now.” 

 

“Even now, I have duties to perform and people to protect. I can’t explain everything to Miss Luize, but my opinion on those matters isn’t important.” 

 

“That can’t be. You have the right to live the life you want.” 

 

“Living up to my duties is the life I want.” 

 

“Why…” Luize trailed off, unable to understand. 

 

Edward smiled. “When I try to think about the reason, my mind becomes fuzzy. Perhaps it’s in the memories I’ve lost.” 

 

“You lost your memories?” 

 

“It seems so. That’s why I can’t escape this magic. The current me is in an incomplete state, no different from the many reflections of me in the mirrors.” 

 

“Now that you mention it, we had to find the real one to escape from here. If the real Edward found was in an incomplete state and couldn’t break the magic, then…” Luize’s eyes widened as she looked at her own right hand. “Does this mean the real me is the one standing here?” 

 

“It seems so.” 

 

Crack. The mirror closest to Luize shattered. 

 

“What’s happening?” 

 

“It seems like the magic is beginning to unravel.” 

 

“Is it that easy?” 

 

“Sometimes the answer to a seemingly difficult problem is surprisingly simple.” 

 

“I see… Wait. Edward, there’s something strange about your cheek.” 

 

Luize reached out to touch his face. Part of his skin felt hard and cold, not like human skin, and cracked open. The sensation was similar to touching a mirror, causing Luize’s fingertips to tremble. 

 

“What’s this?” 

 

“It seems I was consumed by dark magic while unconscious these past few days.” 

 

“Wait, then, shouldn’t we stop the magic from unraveling?” 

 

As Luize asked, loud noises echoed from all around as mirrors shattered. Crack, crack, clang! The ground shook, and both of them staggered. 

 

“There’s no time for a long explanation. If I seem strange after the magic is broken, don’t be too shocked. I’ll return soon.” 

 

“What do you mean, Edward…” 

 

As she spoke, Edward stepped closer and embraced her. His arms securely wrapped around her back and head, leaving her frozen in surprise. 

 

“The shards of the mirror are sharp. You’ll get hurt.” 

 

“But they disintegrate before touching me.” 

 

“…Consider it an excuse and pretend not to know, okay?” 

 

Luize nodded with a slight blush on her face. The building crumbled into sparkling dust, revealing the night sky above. The Milky Way stretched out as if it had poured down to the earth, a breathtaking sight. 

 

“Edward, are you seeing this?” 

 

“…” 

 

“Edward?”

 

The response came from a distance. 

 

Hendrik called out loudly, “Miss Luize! Your Excellency!” 

 

Leading the others, the members ran towards them. Luize, puzzled, tried to push Edward away with her hands. 

 

“Uh…?” 

 

His body fell sideways as if it was melting away. Luize quickly supported him to prevent a complete fall, but he seemed to have lost consciousness completely. 

 

“Miss Luize! Oh gosh, what’s happened to His Excellency?”

 

“He seems to have lost consciousness. He said that he might become strange after the magic is broken but to not be surprised because he would return soon. It must be a side effect.” 

 

“Overworked himself, did he? Ahaha! But at least the magic is broken now. That’s a relief. I’ll carry His Excellency!” 

 

As Hendrik responded loudly, Edward’s body twitched. 

 

“…Ugh, so noisy.” 

 

“You woke up so quickly. You really came back soon.” 

 

Luize blinked in surprise. At that moment, Edward raised his head, and their gazes met. Beneath the drooping black hair, his eyes, barely opened, were cool and emotionless. His chilling red gaze slowly scanned her appearance.

 

“What’s this beauty here?” 

 

“…Yes?”

 

Edward pulled Luize’s waist closer to him. Tilting his head slightly, he opened his mouth. “Did I go mad last night and bring a woman into my bedroom? Or are you an assassin?” 

 

Edward’s fingertips lifted Luize’s chin. “Did you come to kill me?” 

 

“No. I just went to rescue you.” 

 

“So the knight order has arrived. Who sent you?” 

 

“I came by myself. What are you talking about? I just told you I bypassed Maxion on my own will and came here…” 

 

“Bypassed Maxion, you say…”

 

Their gazes locked closely. He glanced around. 

 

“…This isn’t the North.” 

 

“It’s completely in the South. Near Perils.”

 

“Perils?” Edward looked puzzled, his eyebrows sloping. 

 

“That, Your Excellency?” Hendrik, hesitating nearby, spoke up.

 

Edward furrowed his brow. “Hendrik. You’ve aged a lot overnight. You look like you’re in your early to mid-thirties.” 

 

“Yes? That’s correct. I am in my early to mid-thirties. Are you confusing me with a newcomer? Your gaze is like it’s from years ago. Ahaha…” Hendrik laughed awkwardly.

 

Edward looked around and then at Maxion, who had approached them and continued.  “I wouldn’t confuse your age. It seems Maxion has also aged overnight, and there are quite a few new members in the knight order I don’t recognize.”

 

“…” 

 

“Putting it all together, it seems I’ve lost my memory and returned to the present. Hendrik, what year is it by the imperial calendar?” 

 

“1666.” 

 

“I woke up to find 7 years have passed.” 

 

His gaze returned to Luize in his arms. “Why are you here, dressed not in knight’s attire? That necklace looks like something I gave you.”

 

“She’s Your Highness’s lover.” 

 

“Lover?” 

 

Edward looked at Luize, lifting the corners of his mouth slyly before laughing softly.  

 

“…The me from 7 years later has good taste. Having a lover and all. Then, I won’t apologize for the rudeness. It must have been a routine thing for us. Did I use honorifics with you?” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

“I see.” 

 

He released his hold on her with an expressionless face. Luize stepped back from him, bewildered. Edward then turned to Hendrik. 

 

“Now that I think about it, it’s strange. I clearly cast a spell to seal yesterday’s memories, but everything remains the same. And the fact that all memories after this point are gone… My magic couldn’t have failed, so does that mean preparations to return to the imperial palace are complete?” 

 

“Ah, not yet. But, Your Highness. That, Miss Luize is…” 

 

As Hendrik explained the situation with a troubled face, Edward turned his gaze back to Luize and stared at her intently. He slowly reached out, running his long fingers through her hair.

 

“Beautiful silver hair.” 

 

Their gazes met again slowly. 

 

“Somewhat familiar eyes. It seems we were quite close. Given how familiar this feels.” 

 

“…We were, somewhat.” 

 

“Were we sharing a bedroom?”