As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

“Really?” Lensia hesitated, watching his reaction. 

“Of course, I’m joking. Even if others care, you probably don’t. You’ve visited the imperial palace so often during vacations that people are used to seeing you. Everyone was a bit surprised at first, but now they just accept it.” 

“That’s true. I never get used to going there. There are so many etiquette rules. If I hadn’t practiced what you taught me a month in advance, it would have been a disaster.”

“You practiced all that for a month?” 

“Do you think I could’ve done it right away?” 

“Well, most people do.” 

“…You often forget that I’m in a different situation from the people you usually know.” 

“Sorry.

, a new healer our age has joined us. I’ll introduce him to you next time you visit before the knight order spot opens up.” 

“Why would I meet an imperial healer?” 

“Since you’ll be staying with the imperial knights, you’ll run into him often. It wouldn’t hurt to get acquainted in advance.”

“That’s true. Alright.” 

“The more I see you, the more easily you argue and then accept things.” 

“I’m trying to live simply. Otherwise, I’d just end up digging tunnels.” 

“Why would you dig tunnels?” 

“…There are reasons.” 

Lensia responded a few beats later, still staring at Edin. He remained puzzled, but she had no intention of explaining further.

* * *

Lensia was invited to the capital on a rainy spring day. She was working part-time at a restaurant in the capital, waiting for the imperial knight order recruitment notice.   When Edin said he would arrange a place for her, he meant creating a fair way for commoners to join the order through their skills.

“Hey, I heard she’s from Eldran Academy?”

“

! What a joke. Why would someone from there be working here?” 

“Isn’t that the Eldran Academy uniform?” 

“Must be a disguise. Maybe today’s inn restaurant theme is ‘competent staff’ or something.”

It was a question Lensia wanted to ask herself.   

At Eldran Academy, students could choose their major in their second year. Lensia had entered the knight department and studied harder than anyone else. However, she did not score well in any subject, including her major and general education. Despite getting all the answers right on multiple-choice and subjective questions, her grades on assignments and essays were always the lowest. When she questioned the professors, they gave incomprehensible answers and didn’t change her grades. In swordsmanship sparring, which was less subjective, she maintained top grades, but even then, she faced constant nitpicking. 

It was only after hearing Edin’s words that Lensia realized there was an insurmountable mountain, no matter how hard she struggled.

Similarly, after graduating from the academy, no place would hire her. While those with lower grades than hers became swordsmanship instructors for various noble families and knights or applied to the imperial knight order, all Lensia could do was clash swords with Luna every night.

“Boss, I’m off for the day.” 

“Alright, you’ve worked hard!” 

Lensia left the restaurant and ran to the carriage rental station with an umbrella. As she boarded the waiting carriage, she said, “Coachman, to the capital, please.” 

“Yes, to the capital.” 

“

?” 

“It’s rare to see a female coachman, right? That’s a common reaction. Usually, I dress as a man, but I forgot my voice-changing potion today.”

“

, I see.” Lensia suddenly thought this carriage felt like an invisible carriage.

In this world, female coachmen and female knights existed but were virtually nonexistent. 

Upon arriving at the imperial palace, Lensia followed the attendant to the meeting place. 

“

!” 

A scream from nearby caught their attention. A man with bright yellow hair like a chick and glasses was sitting in the rain, staring blankly at some herbs that had been laid out to dry. 

“Can we stop by for a moment?” 

“We have some time before the meeting, so go ahead.” 

Lensia tilted her umbrella over the man’s head and asked in her usual indifferent tone,  “What happened?” 

“The ingredients for the muscle stimulant I was supposed to give to a client got soaked in the rain…” 

The man’s vivid purple eyes met Lensia’s blue ones as he lifted his head.

“That’s no big deal. In the capital, there should be plenty of other ingredients, right?”

“…”

“Hey? Let’s get you out of the rain.” 

“Excuse me…” 

“Yes?” 

“I’ve fallen for you.” 

“What nonsense… I think I heard a dog barking. Do they keep dogs in the imperial palace?”

“There are dogs, but not around here.” 

“

, then I must be hearing things.” 

Lensia, realizing where she was, refrained from saying what nonsense. 

“My name is Allen di Servenia. I work as a trainee healer at the imperial family.”

“I’m Lensia. Just Lensia, no last name.” 

It was two hours later, in the parlor, they realized they were the ones Edin was supposed to introduce to each other today.

“It seems we are destined to meet.” 

“

, yes, well.” 

Lensia thought as she looked at him properly dressed and with his wet hair fixed.

That was the first meeting between Allen and Lensia.

* * *

A few years passed, and Lensia turned twenty-one. She joined the newly formed 5

th

Knights Order, the Black Mace Order, through a practical test open to commoners. Although she started as a trainee due to her young age, the Black Mace Order was diverse, accepting people regardless of status or gender, so there was little need to watch her back.

While Lensia was adjusting to the knight order, Edin became emperor, and Allen became the head of the Servenia family. Having fallen in love with Lensia at first sight, Allen visited the knight order headquarters whenever he had the chance to see her. 

Allen and Lensia were complete opposites in every way. Allen was the head of the prestigious Servenia family, the top authority in healing. He had grown up with a well-planned life, surrounded by blessings, and could study anything he wanted. With a good family, looks, excellent abilities, and a good personality, everyone easily liked him. As someone raised with much love, he was full of love himself. 

“Lensia, how’s training?” 

“It’s manageable.” 

“Anything I can help with?” 

“Don’t bother me.” 

“Okay. I’ll do my best not to bother you. How should I do that?” 

“By not asking such questions.” 

“That’s disappointing. I just want to hear your voice a bit more.” 

“Why do you waste your precious time here just to hear my voice?” 

“Because I like you. I think about you before I sleep and wonder what you’re doing when I wake up.” 

“You fell for me at first sight just because of my looks. Those feelings will fade quickly.” 

“No, they won’t. It’s rare to find a swordsman with such perfect balance. I recognized you as a commoner and swordsman at first glance.” 

“Recognizing I was a swordsman from my build is one thing, but how did you know I was a commoner? I was wearing the academy uniform.” 

“Your speech, gestures, and short hair. Noble women usually have long hair.” 

“…

, right.”

“But why were you in uniform? I heard His Majesty sent you a dress.”

“I’ve never worn such dresses. I couldn’t put it on by myself.” 

“His Majesty made a mistake. He’s not very delicate in such matters.”

“He’s the emperor now. Be careful what you say, or you might lose your head.”

“What’s the big deal? They can’t easily kill the head of Servenia.”

“…That’s true. Then I’ll be careful by myself.”

“No, from now on, I’ll be careful too. I’m your fate partner, after all.”

“What strange words.” 

“You said you didn’t like terms like lovers, sweetheart, relationships, and love because they were too cheesy.” 

“Fine, do as you like,” Lensia replied gruffly, but she found the words quite pleasant. 

Fate partner. To someone who had always assumed she was alone, the term was as alluring as a soft, sweet cake to someone who had lived their whole life eating only dry rye bread.

“By now, you should like me a little.” 

“Shut up. I’m busy preparing for the subjugation squad. I don’t have time to fool around with you.” 

“As expected, you’re amazing. You said your dream was to be a dragon slayer, right? But isn’t it a waste to leave the imperial knights and join the subjugation squad?”

“…This is what I’ve always wanted.” 

“Then will you participate in the upcoming subjugation squad tournament?”