As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

“I’m the wizard!” Hendrik confidently presented his wizard card.

“Too bad. But you can still participate in the game, so don’t hold it against us too much.”

“Even though it’s a game full of suspicion, I didn’t expect to be targeted right from the start. I guess it’s time to reveal. So, who’s the dragon?” He grumbled as if he really felt wronged.

“It’s me.”

When Edward responded calmly, a deep sense of betrayal appeared on Hendrik’s face.

“…

.”

“My goodness. You really blindsided us. I had no clue.”

“It’s thanks to Miss Luize.”

Maxion watched them and quietly smiled.

The game heated up as cards were exchanged. The seven cards needed to establish an empire represented the knight orders. Five cards symbolized the 5th Royal Knight Order, one was for assassins taking on dark deeds, and the last was for the emperor’s personal knight order directly guarding the emperor.

Maxion had collected 3 cards, Luize 5, and Hendrik and Edward each had 6 cards. As the cards neared completion, players watched each other and continued the game.

“Hendrik seems to have plenty of cards.”

“But having many duplicate cards doesn’t put me in a good position. Edward’s situation looks better than mine.”

“I’m in a similar position.”

During the intense competition, it was Edward’s turn. As he reached for the deck of cards in the center, his movement halted.

“… They’re here,” Luize spoke up as she looked towards the window.

“Luize. You stay here and guard Edward. Hendrik and I will handle the outside.”

“Understood.”

“Let’s continue the game once the situation is settled.”

Edward’s hand, which was reaching towards the center, retreated.

Aiven, who had been quietly observing, spoke. “There are two on the roof and three by the street. There’s also a support wizard in the building across.”

With Aiven’s information, Edward laughed. “Five of them, huh? They must’ve grown complacent knowing my powers are sealed.”

“The knights have begun to engage after noticing them.”

“I’ll be back.”

“Leave the cards as they are!”

Maxion and Hendrik said one after the other.

“I promise to wait quietly without touching anything.”

“

, we trust you! Then, the real night begins.”

“Luize. Stay close and protect Edward.”

“Got it.”

Maxion and Hendrik dashed outside. Sounds of clashing swords from a close distance were heard.

“One more is here. Avoiding the others and approaching through another room towards the window.”

At Aiven’s words, Luize and Edward’s gaze turned to the window.

“This person seems to be the most skilled at hiding their presence.”

“Can you handle it alone?”

“I won’t make any rash judgments until our swords clash, but I should be able to handle it on my own. Aiven, can you turn off all the lights in the room?”

“…Yes.”

“Elliot, stick close to Aiven and wait quietly.”

“Understood.” Edward moved next to Aiven.

Suddenly, the room was enveloped in darkness. Luize quietly moved towards the window. As everyone held their breath, the window slightly opened, and a person clad in black sneaked into the room.

Luize engaged the assassin.

Despite the assassin’s attempts to throw daggers, Luize skillfully deflected them, ensuring they didn’t reach Edward.

“Aiven, isn’t this hard for you?”

“…I can manage to protect His Highness.”

“My apologies then.” Edward’s lips curved naturally. He turned his head to look at Aiven and continued, “I know it’s not the time to say this, given the situation we’re in…”

Before he could finish, a dagger deflected by Luize embedded itself into the wall right beside Edward’s face.

“Are you okay?!”

“I barely survived.”

“I’m sorry!”

After confirming Edward was safe, Luize re-engaged with the assassin.

Aiven looked up at Edward. “…Be careful.”

“It seems I almost made those my last words.”

“I know you didn’t dodge because you didn’t need to.”

“It appears you’ve become even more quick-witted in the past 7 years.” Edward chuckled low.

“…This doesn’t seem like the right moment to laugh.”

“To be honest, I’m in quite a good mood.”

“…”

“Waking up to find that 7 years later, you’ve all become much more experienced, and the world seems quite peaceful. And I’m enjoying my time with Miss Luize.”

“Peace…” Aiven murmured, looking at Luize and the assassin fiercely engaging.

“Well, for us, this might be considered a peaceful everyday life, right?”

“…Your Excellency might feel that way.”

“Didn’t you say assassins hardly ever came before?”

“Yes.”

“7 years later, I must have enjoyed a peaceful daily life with Miss Luize.”

“…”

“Aiven, did the future me have feelings for Miss Luize?”

“Yes. It seemed you saw her as a woman.”

“Figured it.”

“…It seems you still feel the same way.”

“True, but it’s a bit complicated.”

Edward’s gaze returned to Luize, who was still confronting the assassin. “Miss Luize is interested in me from 7 years later, not the current me.”

“…”

“He had everything I ever wanted: oblivion, peace, you guys, and Miss Luize.”

“Ultimately, he is also you, Your Excellency.”

“I know it’s hard to understand, but to me, the future me feels like a distant stranger. Even though all of that is a future I chose, I don’t have those memories.”

“…”

“I dislike him.”

“I like him.”

“And he’s popular too.”

“…I like the current you as well.”

Edward turned his head again to look at Aiven. Their eyes met.

“And as far as I know, the future Your Excellency also dislikes the current Your Excellency.”

“He’s still narrow-minded, then.”

“Your Excellency has been disliking yourself for the past 7 years.”

“…”

Aiven’s gaze returned to Luize. The fight was reaching its climax. The assassin, breathing heavily, staggered.

“…Please leave the self-blame to us, who couldn’t fully protect you. Just as you gave us a future, I hope you can see a future through us. The future protected by those who sacrificed their lives is you, Your Excellency.”

“…”

“As long as you live, I believe they haven’t died.” Aiven’s gaze was unwavering as if he had reached a conclusion after a long time.

After a moment of silence, Edward finally spoke. “Did you also say this to the me from 7 years later?”

“…No.”

“Then this is entirely a first for me.”

“Yes.”

Edward’s gaze returned to Luize, who was delivering the final blow. A light smile graced Luize’s lips.

“The future…”

Aiven stood up and pulled out a rope from his pocket.

Luize announced to them, “It’s over.”

“…You can use this to tie them up.”

Aiven approached Luize and handed her the rope. Luize securely bound the assassin and dusted off her hands as she stood up.

“I took a bit longer to subdue them quietly. I was worried about ruining the card game.”

“You did well. Despite fighting an assassin in a confined space, you didn’t disturb the game at all.”

“

!”

The assassin, glaring daggers, struggled against the bindings.

“No!”

Luize quickly acted, knocking the assassin unconscious with a hit to the back of the head, but it was a moment too late. The game had already been thrown into disarray by the assassin’s last struggle.

“

… Your Excellency, are you safe? I’m sorry. We missed one.”

Maxion entered, breathing heavily. His gaze fell on the assassin lying unconscious on the floor.

“It was good to have Luize by your side.”

Then came the sound of heavy footsteps running.

“

! I took care of everyone on the roof! Now, let’s finish the ga—” Hendrik’s expression froze in a smile. “This is unbelievable. Just one more card and I would have won.”

“I was in the same boat. A tragic situation.”

Luize sighed softly, looking at the chaos that had become the game. “This makes it impossible to determine the winner. If we all had one card left, I would have lost anyway, but I thought I had a chance with two cards and tried hard to protect it.”

Silently, Maxion, who needed four more cards, walked through the serious faces of the three and took the assassin outside.

“If I may speak frankly, if the last card had appeared correctly, I would have won.”

“I could have won if it had been my turn!”

“…I know what the last card Your Excellency was about to draw was. And the result of this game.” Aiven, who had been listening to their conversation, spoke.