As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

Luize quickly got ready and headed to the school gate. In front of the gate stood burly men with dark skin, looking like sailors. The vigilante group and the principal were confronting a bespectacled man in the middle.

“This is an imperial academy. I can’t sell it on a whim.”

“If you hand over the land deed and sign the agreement, closing this school is just a matter of time. You barely have any students left anyway.

, what’s the point of educating poor commoners? I’ll talk to the higher-ups, so just sign the papers.”

“That’s not possible.”

“If I report the real situation here to the higher-ups, this place will be closed soon anyway. Wouldn’t it be better to settle things peacefully and get some compensation?”

“I will never hand this place over, so do as you wish.”

“

, do you think being stubborn will solve anything? Foolish old woman. Fine, let’s see this through to the end!” The man smirked and led the burly men down the hill.

“

, what a despicable guy! How dare he speak rudely to Principal like that!”

“You think we’ll just sit back and let that happen?”

The vigilante members glared sharply at the man’s retreating back.

Luize approached the principal and asked, “Is he trying to buy the academy?”

“Yes.”

“Is that even possible? This is an imperial academy.”

“It’s a common occurrence in places where the imperial family’s influence has waned. With the responsible person’s signature and the land deed, the imperial family approves it without much fuss. After that, it’s sold cheaply to a local wealthy person or lord.”

“Why are they going to such lengths? There’s plenty of other land.”

“He’s been irritated by this building since he moved here because it’s more prominent than his mansion. Plus, with the Avenue Orphanage and Fioren Academy together, it’s the largest building in the area. And he’s even more tempted by the chance to buy it cheaply.”

“To think he’d try to close a school for such a petty reason…”

“This isn’t something you should have to see, being new here. But don’t worry. I won’t let it close until all the children have safely graduated. Now, let’s go prepare for the students.” The principal turned and started walking back towards the academy. “By the way, have you decided on the subject you’d like to teach?”

“Yes, I’m thinking of teaching basic healing.”

The principal smiled brightly. “That’s a great idea. It will be very helpful for the children.”

“I thought so too. And there’s one more thing I’d like to teach.”

“One more thing?”

“Yes.” Luize smiled broadly. “I’d like to teach advanced swordsmanship.”

The principal looked at Luize in surprise. Just as she was about to say something, one of the vigilante members, who had been eavesdropping, suddenly popped up and shouted,

“You’ll teach us swordsmanship? Thank you!”

“What, the new teacher is a swordsmanship instructor?”

“Finally, the principal acknowledges us!”

“Awesome!”

The vigilante group cheered, and the principal sighed deeply before speaking.

“…Thank you.”

“No problem.”

The principal reluctantly gave her permission, but a faint smile appeared on her face as she watched the celebratory vigilante group. Seeing this, Luize also smiled softly.

* * *

Classes began a week later. All the academy students, including the vigilante group who should have already graduated, learned basic healing, while those who volunteered received swordsmanship lessons. Though none of the students were exceptionally talented in swordsmanship, their effort and passion led to rapid improvement.

“You’re all picking it up faster than I expected.”

“That’s because we always train together when we’re not working!”

“Your enthusiasm makes teaching enjoyable. Unlike my other student, who was a fake model student, only doing what was required.” Luize smiled, but then her expression hardened.

It had been over a month since she parted ways with him. It should have subsided by now, but the thought about him still came to her mind whenever she had a moment.

“Do you have another student? Well, with your skills, it’s no surprise.”

“…Yes. Now, let’s move on to the next stance.”

“Yes!”

For about a month, Luize dedicated herself to the academy, putting aside her quest to read Lensia’s diary. The first month of the year passed, and it was now mid-February. Despite the imminent arrival of spring, the cold remained intense.

The vigilante group trained day and night, regardless of the weather. They even caught a thief trying to steal academy documents in the middle of the night.

One of the vigilante members spoke up after a practice session.

“We’re really improving, right?”

“We caught three thieves at once the other day. Before, three would have been too much.”

“Indeed. It’s all thanks to our teacher!”

One member shouted happily at Luize. However, Luize’s expression wasn’t entirely cheerful.

“But if the other side doesn’t give up, this is just a temporary solution.”

One of the vigilante members grinned. “Actually… that’s why we called someone wise from our alumni to share their wisdom with us.”

“Wisdom?”

“Is that supposed to be me?”

Everyone turned to the voice. A woman with short blue hair and glasses stood there.

A vigilante member shouted, “Vivian, our academy’s pride!”

“The prestige of the Dawn Wolves Mercenary Group is renowned even here in this rural area!”

“That’s because I trained hard.”

“Really? We’re famous here too?” A large man with red hair suddenly appeared behind Vivian.

“What? Carlo is here too? Why did you bring that fool?”

“Because he’s useful. He’ll help solve this easily, so don’t worry too much.”

“…Carlo?”

Luize stared in surprise at the man with flaming red hair and dark skin.

Carlo widened his eyes and exclaimed, “Madam Cloette?

, wait, you’re not a madam anymore. Miss Luize, right? Why is the lover of Grand Duke Lindeman here…?”

Luize’s face visibly hardened at his words. Vivian, noticing this, smacked Carlo on the back of the head.

“

! Why did you hit me, Sis? That really hurt!”

“I wanted to knock you out so you wouldn’t spout nonsense. But you’re so annoyingly tough. Nice to meet you, Miss Luize. I’m Vivian.” Vivian extended her hand to Luize.

Luize quickly composed herself and shook Vivian’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Vivian.”

While they shook hands, Carlo added with a goofy smile, “Anyway, it’s nice to see you again!”

“…Yes, it is.”

“You’re very kind, Teacher, to welcome someone like him.”

“Why is it okay for you but not for me, Sis?”

Vivian’s lips curled into a smooth smile. “Because you’re an idiot.”

“What did I do so wrong? Sis, you’re always so harsh on me.” Carlo grumbled, but no one responded, as everyone agreed with Vivian.

* * *

“A toast to the visit of the proud graduates of Fioren Academy, the leader and the assault captain of the Dawn Wolves Mercenary Group!”

“Cheers!” The academy staff clinked their glasses in unison.

The principal had brought out her treasured alcohol to celebrate the visit of the welcome guests. Though it was a cheap, low-alcohol drink, everyone was filled with joy, and the atmosphere quickly became lively.

“I had no idea that the leader and Carlo of the Dawn Wolves Mercenary Group were graduates of Fioren Academy.”

“We’re graduates of both Fioren Orphanage and Academy. We grew up here and even met Lensia, so this place means a lot to us. The principal was one of Lensia’s teachers too.”

“…I see.”

“I heard Lensia had a daughter.”

Vivian’s comment made Luize look up at her. Their eyes met closely.

“That’s you, right?”

“…”

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. I have no intention of selling that information either. I owe Lensia a lot. Mercenaries have their own code; we don’t harm our benefactors.”

“…How did you know?” Luize asked warily.

“Lensia told me herself that she had a daughter when she visited this place shortly after the academy was established.” Vivian took a sip of her drink and continued, “I was sure it was you because of the sword at your side. I remember seeing that sword when Lensia visited. It left such an impression that Carlo and I drew a picture of it to remember. We figured if we ever meet again, we might not recognize the face, but we’d recognize the sword.”

“…”

“Both of us were so small back then that the sword at her waist stood out more than her face. It must have been very impressive for Carlo to remember it so well, even now.”

Vivian glanced at Carlo, who was noisily chatting and laughing with the academy staff. His face showed no sign of worry, only joy.

“He told me after the swordsmanship competition that the winner, Benny, was a woman. I figured if a woman had such exceptional swordsmanship to win that sword, she must be either Lensia herself or her family member. It seemed like magic was used when you revealed your face in front of the emperor.”

“…Amazing. You got it all right.”

“To become the leader of the Dawn Wolves Mercenary Group, you need to have at least this level of insight.” Vivian shrugged.

“By the way, Vivian, you said you grew up here. Was it always this quiet?”

“It used to be bustling with trade and fishing. It was noisy because many children were abandoned. But after a new port was built in the neighboring village, it became a quiet place, barely surviving on fishing.”

“I see…”

“Well, there’s the imperial academy and the orphanage that the imperial family has forgotten. Ironically, the academy was built after the village declined.”

“After everyone left?”

“Yes.” Vivian poured herself another drink and spoke calmly. “When the academy was built in a fishing village, no one wanted to enroll their children here. Which noble would send their child to such a remote place? So, the children from Avenue Orphanage naturally started attending Fioren Academy to fill the numbers.”

“Why did the imperial family build an academy here? Even if they wanted to honor Lensia’s legacy, maintaining Fioren Orphanage would have been enough.”

“I was curious about that too, but it seems Lensia requested it from the imperial family after becoming a dragon slayer.”

“Really?” Luize asked, surprised.

Vivian nodded. “Yes. Fioren Academy was established about twenty years ago when the population was declining, and they didn’t need two orphanages. At first, everyone was puzzled, but they assumed it was because Lensia defeated the Black Dragon Run around that time. Also, it’s the only school in the Empire that teaches women swordsmanship.”

“Now that you mention it, that makes sense.”

In her diary, Lensia mentioned volunteering to enroll at the academy. Perhaps she wanted to give others the same opportunity she had to learn swordsmanship and become a hero.

“This place was under the supervision of the crown prince until ten years ago. The support and faculty were top-notch. Those were the academy’s golden years. People from other villages came to enroll here. Although it was mainly an academy for commoners.”

“Did Edward manage this place?”

“Because it’s an imperial academy.”

“…I see.” Hearing about him suddenly, Luize’s eyes trembled slightly.

Vivian, who had been watching her quietly, reached into her pocket. “And that person’s aide entrusted me with a letter.”

Luize looked at her in surprise as Vivian handed her an envelope.