As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

“You must have stayed up all night. And you’ll probably do so tonight as well.”

“…”

“If you find us unreliable, I will ask Luize to stand guard for you. So please, get some rest.”

“It’s not that you’re unreliable; there was no need to wake you. And I need to investigate the memory orb.”

“We will handle that. Please allow us to do at least that much.” Maxion spoke with determination.

Edward looked at him intently for a moment before slowly parting his lips. “Then let it be so.”

With Edward’s permission, Maxion immediately headed to Luize’s room. Luize, who had been pondering what to do after breakfast, welcomed Maxion’s visit.

“Did you just come from the room next door? Have you finally found a task suitable for me?”

“Yes. For the time being, you will be guarding Lord Edward. It might be inconvenient, but I hope you can stay with him as much as possible except when sleeping.”

“Me, guarding Edward? I’m fine with it, but it seems everyone is busy if they’re leaving Edward’s guard to me.”

“…Yes.”

“Alright. I’ll help.” Luize responded decisively.

Despite her eager acceptance, Maxion’s grim expression showed no sign of improving.

“Why such a face? Is it because of what happened the day before? Even though nothing really happened.”

“…No, it’s not that. Thank you for agreeing.”

With a dejected step, Maxion left the room, and Luize watched his back with a blink.

* * *

Standing in front of Edward’s room, Luize knocked on his door with a slightly nervous face. Though she was visiting under the pretext of guarding him, the fact that they had shared a bed in this room the night before weighed oddly on her mind.

“Get a grip. He’s a twenty-year-old man who has faced assassination threats two nights in a row.”

It took a while for the door to open.

The door unlocked, and inside stood Edward in a nightgown, with water dripping from his hair.

“You’re here.”

“…!” Luize’s pupils trembled.

Edward, with a calm face, stepped back to invite her in. After Luize entered and closed the door, he picked up a towel to dry his hair.

“I just finished showering.”

“Don’t you use magic to bathe?”

“I’ve gotten used to not using magic for daily tasks, having kept my status as a wizard a secret.”

“

, right.”

“It’s the first time I’m glad to have a new guard.” Edward smiled beautifully.

Luize slightly blushed and coughed once. “I was told to stay as close as possible to you during waking hours.”

“That sounds like surveillance.”

“It’s only natural after what happened two nights in a row.”

“Maxion must trust Miss Luize a lot. It was his suggestion that the future I learn swordsmanship from Miss Luize.”

“I guess so. But even if he trusts someone, Maxion isn’t the type to open up completely. He’s stubborn in his own way and hates to trouble others.”

“I agree.”

“Maxion seemed to be in a bad mood today. Did something happen? He looked quite dejected.”

“…Yes.”

Edward flicked his fingers, drying his hair completely. Luize glanced at his hair, still amazed by the sight.

“I know it’s my fault, but I have no intention of changing.”

Luize widened her eyes at his bold confession. “Edward made a mistake? What for?”

“If I had to say…” Edward pondered with a difficult expression, then slowly continued. “It’s akin to the heart of an overbearing parent.”

“Overbearing… parent?”

“Yes. I no longer want any of my people to get even a scratch. I don’t want to see their blood spilled or their lives lost for me anymore. So, I handle what I can myself. Maxion seems to think I don’t trust the capabilities of the members.”

“So, that’s why you assigned me as the guard.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve sparred with them; they all have exceptional skills. Some were even stronger than the tough competitors I met in the competition’s main rounds. They are more than capable of protecting you.”

At Luize’s defense, Edward smiled bitterly. “You’re right. Their transformation was clear from the duel. It showed the marks of grueling training over seven years.”

“See?”

“But what matters to me is not their skills. They are people who would risk their lives for me.”

“That’s true.”

“And I dislike that.” Edward’s face darkened. “I hate that they would naturally sacrifice their lives and shed their blood for me. Their lives are as precious to me as my own. So, just as they want to protect me, I too want to protect them.”

“Elliot may not remember, but before you lost your memory, you told me you weren’t a good leader. You were right.”

Edward looked at Luize curiously. She then continued.

“The Silver Hawk Knights, both the members and the leader, are the same. There’s no good leader or good members. They are only blindly devoted to each other, lacking self-awareness. Just a bunch of fools.”

At Luize’s words, Edward was momentarily taken aback, then laughed softly. “You’re right.”

He turned and headed to the bed. “Then this fool will go to bed now.”

“In broad daylight?”

“The vice-captain’s orders. I’ve been up all night, and I won’t be able to sleep tonight either, so I was told to at least take a nap.”

“I see. I’ll watch over you. Though I’m not sure if you can fall asleep with my gaze on you.”

“About that gaze.” Sitting on the bed, he looked straight at Luize. “Strangely, when Miss Luize is in my sight, I fall asleep easily.”

“… There’s no way. You’re just teasing again.”

“I’m serious. Do you perhaps wear a colorless, odorless sleeping perfume instead of fragrance?”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Indeed.”

Edward quickly accepted and slipped into the blankets. He closed his eyes.

“Miss Luize.”

“Why? You’re not asleep yet?”

“Indeed, my prediction was correct.”

“Prediction?”

His dense black eyelashes lifted, and his red eyes focused on her. “I believe the future I would have fallen for you.”

“…”

“Even if you don’t tell me, I can tell.”

Luize’s face turned red instantly, and she replied in a small voice. “Go to sleep… Don’t talk nonsense.”

“It seems you were aware of it too.”

“…”

“The future me wasn’t such a clueless fool, it seems.” He smiled and closed his eyes.

Luize stood by the wall, guarding the resting Edward. Soon, his breathing became shallow and even. It was hard to believe he was an insomniac.

Jet-black hair contrasted with his pale skin, straight eyebrows and nose, dense eyelashes, and red lips… Broad shoulders and well-defined muscles, and his towering height that stood out anywhere.

“He’s handsome,” Luize murmured quietly. Her lips curved into a soft smile.

* * *

For a week, Luize guarded Edward during waking hours, and he faced assassins’ attacks every day. On a day when Luize quietly captured an assassin and locked them in another room, Edward woke up with a complicated expression.

“I must have been deeply asleep not to notice an assassin’s intrusion.”

“That’s right. You wouldn’t notice even if someone carried you away.”

“Miss Luize, are you using black magic or something?”

“If it bothers you that much, should I get examined by Aiven?”

Edward looked at Luize, then shook his head. “No, it’s fine. Nothing came out.”

“…

, right. You’re a wizard.”

Edward glanced at the tightly bound assassin and flicked his fingers, disposing of the assassin. A faint rose scent brushed Luize’s nose.

Being close to him all day made it clear. Edward really didn’t wear perfume. Then where was this scent coming from?

“I’ve always wondered, where do all these assassins go?”

“I personally send them back to their sender.”

“That person was alive just now. Wouldn’t it be a problem if they went back and reported?”

“They became no longer of this world on their way back, so don’t worry.” Edward smiled cheerfully.

At that moment, Luize felt as if a refreshing phytoncide scent was spreading around him.

“…So dazzling.”

“Yes?”