As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

Luize received the letter and immediately broke the seal to check its contents.

[Luize, since your letter was delayed, I’m sending mine first this time. Ren misses you a lot. The knights feel the same way. So do I. You might be curious about his recent activities, so let me add that he’s living without any injuries.

The task we discussed will begin soon. Feel free to contact me anytime; no one will try to track you down. You can also visit anytime after it’s done.

P.S. Recently, Ren threatened not to breathe until it meets you again. Apparently, dragons can hold their breath for about 100 years. But from what I see, Ren seems to struggle even for a minute.

– Maxion.]

Though Luize’s lips remained curved, a deep longing showed in her eyes. “…Still not good at writing letters, I see.”

“Men usually aren’t,” Vivian replied.

“Does Dawn Wolves handle letters too?”

“Mercenaries go where money and honor take them. We’ll do anything profitable, even deliver letters to people postal workers can’t find. This wasn’t my usual job, but I came personally to see a familiar face. It wasn’t right to leave it to Carlo either.”

Luize nodded silently at Vivian’s words. Although she didn’t think Carlo was a bad person, it seemed wise to avoid entrusting someone’s personal matters to him for the sake of the mercenaries’ trust.

“Can I write a reply?”

“Of course, Customer. The usual cost is 1 gold, but I’ll give you a 50% discount. The price includes confidentiality of the location.”

“Thank you,” Luize replied with a smile.

* * *

The incident happened the next evening. It occurred on a weekend afternoon when the academy was closed while Vivian and Carlo were spending time with the principal. They met a small boy who ran into the academy.

“Sister Lucy has been kidnapped! They said they won’t return her unless we hand over the land deed!”

“…So it has come to this. Rody, go back to the orphanage and wait. I’ll handle it,” the principal said firmly.

Rody, with a worried face, spoke up. “Is the academy going to disappear after all?”

“…It was bound to happen eventually.”

“No, it won’t,” Vivian declared resolutely, causing both Rody and the principal to look at her.

“Why does work never end, even on my day off? Carlo, go and carry out what I instructed. And bring Lucy back safely.”

“Who’s Lucy?”

“She has reddish-brown pigtails and brown eyes. She always walks around with a sharp expression.” Rody mimicked Lucy’s expression as he answered.

“Do you have a portrait?”

“What kind of portrait in a place like this? Just go and find out.”

“Right, got it.” Carlo scratched the back of his head and reached out to Rody.

Rody stepped back cautiously. “Mister, why are you reaching out with the hand you just scratched your head with?”

“I’ll escort you safely to the orphanage, so stay calm. Liri says she likes men who are good with kids, so I’m practicing.”

“Lucy said you need to work on your awareness. She told me not to become an adult like you. She also told me not to associate with you.”

“…”

Carlo stared at Rody with a stern face. Initially, Rody met his gaze confidently but soon looked away, slightly intimidated.

“…Sharp kid. Thinking like Liri at that age.”

“What?”

“

! When Liri’s cousin came to visit, she told him not to come near me or play with me so he wouldn’t pick up my habits!”

“…”

“But she said I’m not a bad guy! That’s good enough. So, will you come with me?”

“I’ll wait here until Sister Lucy returns.”

“Suit yourself.” Carlo whistled as he walked out of the academy.

“Is it okay to leave it to him?”

“Unfortunately, that’s the best option we’ve got.” Vivian narrowed her eyes at Carlo’s retreating figure before turning away.

* * *

Carlo returned with Lucy in less than two hours, as promised. Lucy, holding onto Carlo’s coat with a sullen face, met Rody’s eyes, who was waiting for her at the academy.

“Sister Lucy!”

“Rody?”

Rody ran and hugged her tightly. The vigilantes also approached Lucy.

“Lucy! Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“Thank goodness. Our little sprout.”

Carlo proudly handed Vivian a document. “I handled another one!”

Vivian nodded as she read the document. “Good job. Since you finished early, prepare to leave tomorrow.”

“What? Sis, if we finished early, shouldn’t we rest more?”

“Cut the nonsense. There’s a lot of work piled up.”

“

!”

“How did you resolve it?” Luize, who had prepared to storm in as soon as she heard Lucy was kidnapped, asked as she waited. If Carlo had been late, she would have gone in herself to rescue them.

“I told them this academy is under the protection of the Dawn Wolves and not to mess with. They were trembling and agreed. I even got a waiver of rights, as Vivian said.”

“… That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Carlo scratched his head, and Vivian added an explanation.

“In a place like this, most things are resolved with a threatening appearance and background.”

“A threatening appearance?”  Luize looked at Carlo with a puzzled face. With his bronzed skin and large build, he looked the part of a mercenary with a fierce expression. Luize, who rarely met someone stronger than herself and lived among much fiercer beasts in the Perils Forest, didn’t feel much threat from him.

“Here, the influence of a famous mercenary group like ours is much stronger than some ambiguous noble.”

Carlo shrugged beside Vivian.

“Carlo is the assault captain of Dawn Wolves and quite famous. When he furrows his brows, he gives off a pretty menacing vibe, so they quickly bow their heads. They probably underestimated the academy because it’s all women. It wasn’t necessary for me, the leader, to step in, so this guy, who is in a somewhat high position, was just right.”

“Just right? I’m one of the top fighters in the Dawn Wolves!”

“Sure, sure. Big guy.” Vivian looked at Rody, who was still holding onto Lucy. “You were that small too. If I knew you’d grow this much, I wouldn’t have taken you in.”

“What? Me? I was that small?”

“Yeah. You were bullied a lot because you were small.”

“Now that you mention it. If Lensia hadn’t saved me that day at the academy, I might never have thought of picking up a sword.”

“Lensia saved you?”

When Luize cautiously asked, Carlo nodded.

“I was small and weak, so I was often bullied. Crying and running to my sister was routine, but one day Lensia saved me when she visited the academy. She taught me how to build muscle, train, and not be seen as easy prey.”

“This guy was slow, so he was an easy target for teasing.”

“Unbelievable.”

“Sis, you were just as out of place. Lensia told you that you had no talent for physical work but were smart, so you should learn to read and look for a job in a merchant guild or office. That was a godsend. If you had gone to work as a maid in some noble family, you would have gotten sick and had to quiet soon.”

“

You talk too much.”

“Don’t hit me. I’ll shut up.”

Vivian raised her hand, and Carlo covered his face with both hands and ducked. Seeing his large frame curl up made Vivian laugh.

Luize, watching them, spoke up. “You two seem really close.”

“We’re like siblings, though not by blood. We both stayed in Fioren, unadopted, and ended up sticking together until now.”

“Thinking about it, it’s amazing. It turned out just as Lensia predicted.”

“She had a good eye for people. I’ve never met anyone more perceptive.”

Vivian’s words made Luize look at the two with a complex expression.

Lucy, Rody, Vivian, and Carlo. Unlike them, her mother had no one to rely on. How did she endure life here?

“Carlo, come have a drink as a reward!”

“Coming!” Carlo walked over to the vigilantes with excited steps.

As if reading Luize’s mind, Vivian spoke. “Those who stay here long become close like this. Even the most independent people can’t live alone forever. I don’t know how much you know about Lensia’s past, but it probably wasn’t easy.”

“…I suppose so.” Luize nodded quietly.

* * *

The next dawn, the academy staff saw off Vivian and Carlo.

Before mounting her horse, Vivian spoke to Luize. “If you come to the capital, find me. If you need help, I’ll do it for free once. I owe Lensia a debt, so don’t worry. Of course, I charged 50 silver for this small favor.” Vivian waved the letter she received from Luize.

“Thank you.”

“But why did you come all the way here, Miss Luize? Following Lensia’s footsteps?”

“…Yes.”

“So. Did you find what you wanted here?”

What she wanted. Those words made Luize hesitate for a long time.

Vivian, watching her closely, smiled slightly. “Whatever it is, I hope you find it. We have to go now. We’re busy people. Bye, everyone.”

The academy staff and vigilantes waved.

“Take care, Sister!”

“Goodbye, Senior!”

Vivian slowly rode out of the academy and lit a cigar. Carlo, who was beside her, asked with a puzzled look.

“Sis, why did you personally come this time? You usually don’t move unless it’s serious, even for Fioren Academy.”

“It’s nice to reminisce about the old days. Also.” Vivian smiled with the cigar in one hand. “I sense a change in the air. It’s time to think about which side to take.”

“What? What’s changing?”

“There’s something

“There’s something like that, you fool.”

A long trail of smoke drifted away, following their footsteps.

Soon, Vivian and Carlo disappeared from sight. Everyone dispersed to their own places, and Luize also returned to her room, sitting back against the old bed.

“What I wanted…”

To step out into a world filled with light. Not to be left alone. And to reunite with those she missed…

“I miss them.”

Luize touched the red pendant hanging from her neck. When alone, she easily sank into deep thoughts.

“Get a grip. Come to think of it, I haven’t had time to read my mother’s diary since coming to the academy.” She had no time to leisurely read while rushing to prepare lessons for two subjects simultaneously, conducting research on her own, and undergoing repeated training.

Luize took out Lensia’s diary, which she had carefully stored in her bag, and stroked the cover. “I should finish reading it.”

At last, she found the bookmark and turned the page.