As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

“I followed a suspicious person secretly.”

Hendrik still looked puzzled as he turned his gaze in the direction Robin pointed.

“Where? I only see ordinary people.”

“There was definitely someone.”

At the entrance of the alley Robin pointed to, only an abandoned robe lay on the ground. Since the barrier was set up in Kavan, the number of homeless people had increased, and various blankets were scattered on the streets besides the ones distributed by Edward, so there was nothing particularly strange.

“…Did I imagine it?” Robin blinked his eyes.

“Stop!” Matthias raised his right arm to halt the procession.

Hendrik and Robin naturally turned their eyes forward, focusing on a man bowing and prostrating himself in front of them.

“Please, save me. It’s too painful. I heard the priests can heal us.” The man, dressed in tattered and stained clothes, looked pitiful.

“The High Priestess cannot use her power recklessly.”

“I heard that anyone with divine power can heal us! Anyone, even a paladin, please alleviate my pain!”

Even members of the Holy Knights from the temple usually had only enough divine power to heal small wounds. The only person here capable of treating someone in such pain was Raphaela. The eyes of the villagers observing the procession all turned to Raphaela.

“…I will take a look.”

“High Priestess.” Matthias’s voice was low.

Since leaving the temple, Matthias had vaguely sensed that Raphaela had changed subtly. It seemed that once out of the temple, she began to assert her views more openly as if she had been holding back before. Even the other members of the order noticed, so it was impossible for Matthias not to.

Raphaela’s views were idealistic and morally right, aligning with the teachings of the Lord. However, being right and being reckless were different matters. Less than half of the high priests and priestesses in any generation attained their position solely based on the strength of their divine power.

In this generation, besides the missing High Priest Michael, only Raphaela and Gabriel possessed noticeable divine power. Although Sariel’s divine power had miraculously increased recently, making him highly popular, he did not have significant divine power from the start.

Divine power was rare, so it was somewhat understandable that the temple surrounded the high priests, high priestesses, and the pope with such reverence. Their divine power was considered a symbol of reverence rather than a means to heal others.

Matthias whispered to Raphaela, his voice low enough to be inaudible to others. “If he requires divine power, we should send a higher-ranking priest from the temple after we return. It’s too dangerous to approach recklessly.”

Raphaela understood this. Matthias assumed she would understand, but he overlooked one thing. She had been raised in the secluded temple, never exposed to danger, and had recently felt a sense of futility in not being able to help anyone despite having divine power, especially after seeing Robin in action as a healer.

At this moment, a person in great pain was begging for her help. Raphaela’s face, filled with confusion, hardened after hearing Matthias’s words. “What is the point of divine power if it cannot heal anyone? I can no longer ignore those suffering because of my safety. The Lord gave me this power to heal the wounded!”

It was the first time she had ever raised her voice to anyone. Ironically, she thought of Robin at that moment. He was determined to assert his views to the priests and priestesses, who refused to listen back then.

Raphaela dismounted and approached the man decisively. Matthias followed, but the first to reach her side was a Silver Hawk Knight, still cloaked. Seeing the silver hawk emblem embroidered on the knight’s back, Matthias paused.

For the first time, he began to question.

Meanwhile, Robin quickly followed Raphaela and spoke to her. “Raphaela. Raphaela, wait a moment. Something’s not right.”

“…Why? Are you also trying to stop me, Sir Robin? You, who left the temple, using no divine power, and jumped into the most dangerous places to save people?” Raphaela glared at Robin with displeasure.

“No, that’s not it…”

“…Then I’ll take it as consent.”

Raphaela calmly reached out and leaned towards the man bowed before them. “Stand up. You are not so low as to bow to me. In the name of the Lord, we are equals.”

At that moment, the man’s eyes flashed as he looked up at Raphaela. As he stood up, a dagger gleamed in the sunlight, emerging from his cloak.

“I knew it…!”

As Raphaela hesitated, Robin quickly wrapped an arm around her and pulled her back, kicking the man’s hand to make him drop the dagger.

The dagger fell to the ground.

Before he could retrieve it, Matthias and other paladins swiftly restrained him.

“Damn it, you b*stards! Because of you, I had to watch my wife and children suffer! Holy Knights? Bullsh*t. Have any of you seen the wounded, the dying? God’s love? Don’t make me laugh. If God loves hypocrites like you, then that’s not God. It’s a devil!” The man screamed and struggled violently.

Raphaela’s face was filled with shock. The expressions of the Second Holy Knights were also grim. Confronting the ugly truth of the temple was uncomfortable for them as well.

As the man’s voice echoed, neither the knights nor the villagers could respond. In the silence between those who couldn’t refute and those who silently agreed, the man was eventually dragged away to the lord’s castle. No one suggested taking him to the temple as per the temple’s laws.

* * *

Outside the village, the Holy Knights were giving their final thanks to the Silver Hawk Knights before parting ways. Robin offered his hand to Raphaela.

“…What is this?”

“A handshake. We don’t know when we’ll meet again, so let’s reconcile.”

“When did we ever fight? Besides, I heard this is a greeting men use among themselves in the outside world.”

“So what. And it’s the first time I saw you get angry. Sorry for not explaining earlier. All the severely suffering patients were in the central square. There’s no way someone in such pain could move so quickly.”

“…”

Raphaela lowered her gaze. “Michael… I mean, Robin. Stay well.”

“Raphaela, you too.”

“…And.” Suddenly, Raphaela crouched in front of him, making Robin retract his hand and lower himself to follow her.

“What are you…

!”

“You’re not very good at kicking, are you?” She gently pressed Robin’s swelling ankle. It seemed he had twisted it while kicking the man earlier.

“As always, quick to notice.”

“You’re not thinking of using divine power to heal, are you?”

“You know I can’t. The moment I use it, the temple will come to catch me.”

“Then I’ll heal you.” A golden light glowed in Raphaela’s hand. As she touched his ankle, the swelling rapidly subsided and disappeared.

“Thank you.”

“This is what we should be doing.”

Robin’s eyes widened at her words.

When she stood up, Robin also stood and faced her.

“Did you receive a letter from Sir Hendrik?”

“He mentioned it after everything was over. I haven’t read it yet.”

“…Alright. Take care.”

This time, Raphaela extended her hand first. Robin laughed and took her hand, giving it a brief shake.

“Yeah, we might not meet again soon, but you’d fit the pope’s seat well.”

“…Yes. I think so too.” Raphaela wrinkled her nose and smiled broadly.

Soon, the Holy Knights departed for the temple. Hendrik approached Robin with a cheerful laugh.

“

! So, how was the reunion with your first love?”

“

, come on, I don’t have those feelings anymore! Besides, give me the letter!”

“Oh dear, so scary. Is it a love letter?”

“Raphaela is a high priestess. Don’t tease her.”

“You once said priests and priestesses should love too. But not love letters?”

“…Anyway!”

Hendrik took out the letter from his pocket and handed it to Robin. The plain white letter, without any formal seal, contained a few short sentences.

[I admired you. I hope we each live our best in our own ways. I support your life outside the temple.]

“Not encouragement, but support. As usual.” Robin chuckled quietly.

Hendrik watched him with a satisfied smile.

* * *

The next day, Luize’s group and the Silver Hawk Knights reunited. The knights looked puzzled at the large bundle wrapped in cloth and an old box they had brought back.

Edward called Hendrik, Aiven, and Robin to his room. There were Edward, Luize, and Maxion holding the bundled Ren.

Hendrik, the last to enter, asked in confusion. “How did you end up bringing something new when you went to return the magic stone?”

“

” [Humans! Pick up…!]

“

.”

Maxion hurriedly covered Ren’s mouth.

“T-That bundle just made a strange sound.” Robin’s face turned pale.

“…I heard it too.”

When Aiven nodded, Edward spoke up.

“It’s quite surprising, but try not to be too shocked.”

“Yes!”

“Yes?”

“…Yes.”

Hendrik, Robin, and Aiven responded almost simultaneously.

Edward nodded, and Maxion began to unwrap the cloth slowly.