As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

“We need to check in detail if it’s really a dragon. However, judging by the power I felt, I don’t think it’s a lie.”

“…I see. By the way, what is this ‘domain’? Does it refer to the beasts under the dragon’s command?”

“Yes. Specifically, it’s a term for the dragon’s territory and all life born and raised within that area.”

“That’s strange. Although I lived near Perils, my parents were ordinary people, not from there. Could I still be part of the domain?”

“I thought the same, which is why I believe they used the term ‘partially included.’”

“

, that makes sense. But Elliot, why do you look so upset? Is something bothering you?”

Edward loosened his stern expression at Luize’s concerned question. He answered with his usual smile. “It’s nothing. I’m just surprised that High Priestess Raphaela said that.”

“I didn’t say much because I didn’t know if she could be trusted, but it seems something strange is happening at the temple. It wasn’t enough to capture Perils’s animals; they also took the magic stone from there. Why does the temple covet things from Perils?”

“Judging by the circumstances so far, it seems related to black magic. First, we need to take the magic stone and move to Perils. We’ll have to request cooperation from the temple.”

“Alright. Elliot, about the animals trapped in the underground prison.” Luize hesitated before speaking cautiously. “I think Quirrel was trying to let me know that everyone is trapped, as a plea for help. They are usually gentle unless someone invades their territory or attacks them… Can we set them free?”

“You don’t have to worry about that. The dragon said that if we bring the magic stone before it disappears, it will return its domain to its original state. Just as I can easily teleport, it won’t be difficult for the dragon to bring the animals back to its domain.”

“That’s a relief.”

Luize’s face brightened. Edward, who had been silently watching her, soon smiled and replied.

“Yes. I think so too.”

* * *

That night, as promised, Edward didn’t touch Luize. He put her to bed and spent the night on the sofa. He was preoccupied with the thoughts he couldn’t share with her.

“A dragon’s bloodline.” He muttered in a low voice.

From the past, the imperial family was always wizards. The magnitude of their abilities varied, but the darker their appearance, the better they were at offensive magic; the lighter their appearance, the better they were at defensive magic.

It had always been a question since Edward noticed his constitution was different from ordinary people. The former king had no talent for magic, being close to an ordinary person. He was weak and couldn’t even properly use the little defensive magic he knew.

In his childhood, Edward visited the emperor’s bedroom and overheard him speaking to the empress, his mother.

He spoke in a gloomy voice.

If the imperial family had the dragon’s bloodline, it explained why the emperor said that, Edward’s abilities, and constitution.

The present Edward, unlike his future self who didn’t know, now remembered the former emperor’s secret—how the imperial family praised Lensia as a hero.

“If Miss Luize was drawn to me because of this bloodline,” Edward said, staring at the sleeping Luize.

“Was I also drawn to the domain?”

If all these emotions stemmed from the cursed bloodline, how should he treat Luize in the future? His possessiveness, affection, admiration, and love for her…  The possibility that all these emotions were illusions created by the bloodline left him in turmoil.

How could these feelings be false? To find answers, he needed to meet the dragon again.

* * *

Instead of telling the temple that Edward had conversed with something presumed to be a dragon, he gave a false reason.

“Did Lady Servenia identify the item inside?” Matthias looked at Luize in disbelief.

“Yes. Miss Luize realized during a conversation with High Priestess Raphaela that the item in the box was the magic stone from Perils, which helped us find the solution. Returning it to its original place will break the barrier around this village.”

“That item is part of our mission. Unless it’s reliable information, we can’t give it away.”

Matthias answered firmly, and Edward responded calmly.

“As far as I know, only Luize and I can handle that item. We can leave this village with it. Everything will be resolved once it’s returned to its place.”

“But that will jeopardize our missi—!”

“…Do it.” It was High Priestess Raphaela who cut off Matthias’s rising voice.

She spoke, looking at the two firmly. “The Lord teaches us to benefit people and protect the marginalized. If our mission harms people, it goes against the Lord’s teachings and shouldn’t be followed.”

“But this is a direct order from His Holiness. Failing this mission will lose his trust and lower your support, High Priestess Raphaela.”

“Is His Holiness’s trust and my support above the Lord?”

At Raphaela’s question, Matthias couldn’t answer, his golden eyes wavering.

Raphaela continued without faltering. “If the Grand Duke’s words are true, the magic will break after you arrive in Perils. However, to be cautious, we will have a knight from the Silver Falcon Order stay with us until the mission is completed. Is that acceptable?”

It meant taking a hostage to prevent simple theft.

Edward readily agreed. “Understood. May we select the knight to send?”

“I heard there’s someone named Robin among your knights. He treats patients in the square.” Raphaela looked straight into Edward’s eyes.

He answered without changing his expression. “…Yes.”

“Send him, please.”

“He is busy treating patients in the square, as you mentioned. The Lord teaches us not to neglect the suffering, so please respect his work. How about sending another knight instead?”

“…Alright. Then send the highest-ranking person close to him.”

“Very well. But he is currently managing internal personnel, so please allow continuous communication with the outside.”

“I won’t restrict his movements. The temple will simply accompany him.”

“Yes.”

Edward and Raphaela concluded the negotiation and left.

* * *

“So, she finally said that.”

Robin’s atmosphere had completely changed in just one day. He spoke with a grim face, saying that Raphaela had advised him to return to the temple. “She knew my identity from the beginning. If she’s seeking me now after staying silent, something must have happened in the temple.”

“Do you want to return?”

Edward asked, and Robin shook his head.

“No. I left the temple for the reasons I mentioned before, and I don’t regret it. It’s just that I feel uneasy. The temple was a significant part of my life despite the past. Naturally, I’m worried about Raphaela. If someone as principled and conservative as her is stepping forward, it must be serious.”

Luize spoke with concern. “You must have been very close if you could tell so quickly.”

“…It’s because I had feelings for her. I used to bring up various topics just to talk more when we were together. I guess she remembered that.”