As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

“I planned to comply with the temple, and once I became the pope, I would gradually change things one by one without making it obvious. Unlike High Priest Michael’s extreme methods, I intended to make only the necessary changes bit by bit. Even if I couldn’t change everything at once, I aimed to lay the groundwork so that the next generation could make more changes.”

“Did you ever tell Robin about it?”

“If High Priest Michael knew that we had similar thoughts, we probably would have argued about our approaches.”

“With how Robin was back then, that might have been the case. He’s still a stubborn fellow, but he’s become more flexible than when he left the temple.”

“Time flows quickly outside the temple. Seeing how much has changed.”

“

, as time passes, the world, people, and emotions are bound to change.”

“…Indeed.” Raphaela smiled bitterly.

Over time, Robin, herself, and the world surrounding them had all changed. Robin buried the past of his first love and intense conflicts at the temple, while Raphaela, influenced by his departure, aimed to become the Pope. Raphaela hoped to fulfill both of their wishes in a different way than Robin once had.

“Won’t you regret saying all this?”

“Even if you tell the temple people, they won’t believe your words. And…” Raphaela continued with a relieved smile. “I trust Robin’s friends. He might be a bit clueless and grumpy, but he has a good eye for people and only surrounds himself with good ones. So, I can trust his friends.”

“

, thank you. Have you had the conversation you wanted?”

“…There’s something important left to say.” Raphaela looked up at Hendrik, her golden eyes filled with determination. “Please help me.”

“…Pardon?”

“There’s something strange happening at the temple. Outsiders have been frequenting the temple, and something bad must have happened as a result.” Raphaela paused briefly, then spoke in a lowered voice. “And… I once picked up something one of them dropped by accident. It had the imperial seal on it. Even the people of the temple, who are mostly ignorant of worldly matters, know that the grand duke is at odds with the current emperor.”

“So you thought we’d make good allies?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t decide that alone. We don’t know exactly what’s happening at the temple, and it could escalate into a political issue, which His Excellency would want to handle cautiously.”

“If you discover anything suspicious between the imperial family and the temple, please let me know. That’s all I ask. Originally, I intended to bring High Priest Michael back to the temple to resolve this, but… that seems unlikely.”

“From what you’re saying, it sounds like the current pope might soon step down.”

Raphaela’s expression darkened at his words. She nodded with a somber face. “Until a few years ago, His Holiness was old but in good health. Recently, however, he has deteriorated rapidly, lost his sharpness, and is now bedridden.”

“So you’re preparing to elect the next pope.”

“Since then, His Holiness’s orders have become strange. Even the directive to capture the evil beasts of Perils seems inexplicable.”

“…I understand. I will report this carefully.”

“And please deliver this to Robin.” Raphaela took out a letter from her robes.

Hendrik asked curiously, “Why not give it to him yourself?”

“If I visit him personally, he’ll think I’m trying to persuade him again.”

“

, you two are still young. Alright, I’ll deliver it.”

Soon, the paladins returned, and their conversation ended.

The commotion started the next day.

* * *

“The barrier has disappeared!”

“All the ‘targets’ have vanished without a trace!”

The lord’s castle was in chaos, with mixed feelings of joy and confusion. While the disappearance of the barrier was welcomed, the disappearance of the beasts of Perils, which they had captured at great risk, shocked the paladins.

In the parlor, Raphaela and Matthias received reports from the paladins.  Matthias, looking at the empty squirrel cages, muttered. “…Kori is gone.”

“Pardon?”

“

, prepare to leave the village. We’ll head back to Perils.”

“

… Yes!”

The disappointed paladins quickly adjusted their expressions upon hearing Matthias’s command. Any misstep would result in severe punishment according to the temple’s laws.

“…No. We should stop. We won’t go to Perils. We’ll return to the temple directly.”

“Are you defying His Holiness’s orders?”

“If the barrier disappeared only after everything was gone, it means this could happen again. We can’t let innocent people suffer due to temple matters.”

“…”

Matthias’s expression hardened. This was unprecedented for him. Until now, the pope and the temple’s commands had been the right path, guiding him without the need for thought. But this time, Raphaela’s argument also made sense. The scriptures, which contained the words of the Lord, clearly stated to benefit all living beings.

“…His Holiness will be disappointed.”

“The Lord will stand by those who walk the right path.”

Raphaela’s words made Matthias look up with resolve.

“I will correct myself. The Second Holy Knights will prepare to return to the temple immediately.”

“…Yes!”

The paladins responded with noticeably brighter faces.

* * *

After the barrier was lifted, the external team immediately joined the internal team and headed to the lord’s castle. The paladins gladly accepted the offer of protection from the Silver Hawk Knights until they left the area. While the paladins were highly skilled, their affiliation with the temple made them very reluctant to confront civilians. Thus, the protection offered by the Silver Hawk Knights was a welcome gesture.

Robin, wrapped in a dark, thick robe, pulled his large hood over his face.

Aiven, noticing Robin, approached and began to speak. “Ro—”

“

! Aiven, someone here knows that name. I must not be discovered, so I’ll follow from behind.” Robin, as if on a secret mission, seriously placed his finger over Aiven’s mouth and looked around. No suspicious signs were evident.

“…Alright.”

Aiven barely responded when the loudest and most boisterous knight’s voice echoed through the street.

“

, everyone’s gathered here! Aiven, long time no see.

, Robin! I have something for you later, so come see me after this!”

Robin slapped his forehead, hidden under his hood, and sighed.

“

, Hendrik…” He looked at Hendrik with a forlorn face, then sighed deeply. Robin then raised his head with a determined look.

“Huh? Did I do something wrong?”

“No, I’ll just take the rear!”

“

, alright!”

Robin grumbled as he moved to the back of the formation, trying to remain unnoticed.

“Well, secrecy doesn’t matter. She’s the only one who knows I’m Robin anyway.”

The procession started.

The villagers, hearing that the barrier had disappeared, came out to watch the paladins carrying the empty cages covered with cloth left. Their stares were sharp, but there were no cheers or jeers, making for a silent departure. It was a cold attitude, but no one dared to criticize them openly.

With the Silver Hawk Knights escorting paladins, the villagers couldn’t decide whether to jeer or thank them. Moreover, an old myth had long circulated throughout the empire: that treating the blessed ones poorly would bring ruin, and harming them would incur the wrath of the gods, dooming a family for three generations. Thus, the villagers’ maximum expression of dissatisfaction was silence.

“…

? Who’s that suspicious person?”

Robin, at the back of the procession, noticed a robed figure walking ahead. Despite his own suspicious attire as he followed the paladins, making the knights glance at him warily, Robin found it odd that someone would wear such a thick robe in winter. The figure’s suspicious nature extended beyond the robe.

“I saw something glint near their sleeve.”

Having learned swordsmanship after joining the knights, Robin recognized the glint of a blade. He wondered why someone would carry an unsheathed blade and move so hastily.

“There’s a suspicious person. I’ll follow them; please guard this place.”

“

, Robin? Alright.”

Breaking away from the procession, Robin naturally redirected his steps to follow the suspicious figure.

The paladins moved slowly enough for someone on foot to catch up, so the suspicious figure quickly reached the front of the procession. Following them to the front, Robin found Hendrik looking at him with a puzzled expression.

“

? Robin, you said you’d stay at the back.”