As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

“You?”

“Yes. As a gift to commemorate the victory in a card game.”

“…”

“I see, I see. You can’t entrust a gift from your lover to someone else.”

Carlo nodded in understanding. However, Maxion didn’t understand.

The entire village’s fate was hanging on this one dagger. Edward sometimes exhibited stubbornness incomprehensible to others. Why insist on such stubbornness now, especially when not being controlled? Even if Luize had given him the dagger, this was not the time to be stubborn. If it were him…

If it were him…

“I understand.” Maxion stepped back readily.

Aiven looked at Maxion with wide eyes, seemingly incredulous. Apparently, he was the only one among them who was normal. Edward pulled the dagger from its sheath with his right hand. Just as he raised the dagger high to pierce the bead,

Everyone’s gaze turned towards the sound coming from the village hall’s warehouse door.

“W-What in the world are you doing?” The village chief stood there with his neck twisted unnaturally, holding the warehouse key in one hand.

“Protect it. Protect.”

Behind the chief, villagers armed with plows and scythes, their eyes glazed over, tried to enter the village hall. They were stuck at the door, trying to enter all at once.

“…The bead is controlling them.”

“Wow, this is like something out of a horror story.”

“I’ll take care of it. Luize, protect Lord Edward. Carlo, help me block the door.”

At Maxion’s words, Carlo looked puzzled. “What, me? I was planning to run away.”

“I will give extra 10 gold. Just make sure the villagers don’t get hurt by blocking the door and knocking them out.” Edward said calmly.

10 gold was close to three months’ wages for a middle-class commoner.

“As you command! Your Excellency truly is a customer with money to burn!” He cracked his knuckles, preparing himself.

As soon as the two rushed towards the door, villagers poured in. Maxion and Carlo knocked the villagers out by hitting the back of their necks, buying time, but the number of villagers was overwhelming.

“Hurry, Elliot!”

Edward swung the raised dagger down towards the bead. But as the blade reached just above the bead, its movement halted.

White electricity flowed between the bead and the tip of the dagger, then calmed down.

Veins bulged on the back of Edward’s hand pressing down on the dagger.

Edward’s brows furrowed as if his body wasn’t obeying him. Just as he was about to place his other hand over the one holding the dagger,

“Let’s do it together.”

Luize’s hand overlaid on top of Edward’s.

“I’ll press down in one go. Even if you stop midway, Elliot, I’ll keep pressing.”

“Yes.”

Edward lifted the dagger again and struck down towards the bead with all his might. Immense force pressed down on the dagger.

A white light, like electricity, flashed even more violently.

But again, Edward’s arm halted, and the dagger remained just above the bead.

He felt like a helpless lord, unable to save anyone or anything.

A shadow fell over Edward’s face.

“…I should remove my hand.”

“No.”

Luize’s firm response made Edward look at her in surprise. Her eyes, the color of the dawn sky, stared back at him.

“It was my gift, right? Then it’s right for Elliot to use it first.”

“What matters now is—”

“What’s important to me are these seemingly trivial and childish moments. You’re going to save us all. I believe that, and…”

Luize placed her other hand over the dagger’s handle.

“I will help you with that.”

A flash spread between the bead and the dagger.

A small crack appeared on the bead’s surface where the dagger tip touched.

Finally, Edward regained control of his body. He exerted strength in his right hand and pressed down hard.

The bead split open, its light whitening everyone’s vision.

“…Thank you.”

A small but clear voice came through the blinding light. Luize smiled faintly.

* * *

As the light faded, the first thing that appeared was the bead, now split in half, revealing itself to be a magic stone. The bead, which was actually a magic stone, had not been seen in the village until then.

The beads that had filled the warehouse, containing memories, had vanished without a trace. The villagers, who had come back to their senses, were puzzled by the empty warehouse.

A high-pitched voice echoed inside the warehouse. “Why is the warehouse empty? Where is the village’s treasure? It’s winter now. Where has all our food gone? Chief, what’s going on here?”

“Th-That’s…”

The villager chief was startled and shoved the jewelry he was wearing into his pocket. But most of the villagers had already seen.

“I wondered why I wasn’t getting angry at my husband for infuriating me these past few months. It was all the Chief’s doing?!”

“No, it’s not like that! How could I do such a thing? I’m a victim too!”

“We’ll see about that.”

A woman dragged the villager chief out of the warehouse.

The villagers thanked Luize and the knights of the Silver Hawk Order. After that, they continued to bring food and fabric to the inn where they were staying.

Maxion politely declined on behalf of Edward. “His Excellency appreciates the sentiment, but he said to contribute the gifts to the village’s winter preparations.”

“Then please accept this at least. It’s our village’s specialty well water. It contains mana and is said to be helpful to wizards. The well doesn’t dry up even in winter, so it’s alright to accept this. We’d feel guilty if you didn’t accept anything. Please!”

“…Thank you.” Maxion accepted a container filled with well water.

Meanwhile, Edward was having a drink with Carlo in one corner of the inn.

“Give me some tips on getting back together! We’re comrades now, aren’t we!”

“There are none.”

“That’s so harsh.”

As Edward read through a mission report, Carlo mumbled with his lips pouted. “Someone neglects the mercenary group’s policies, fails the mission, and even hands over the mission report.”

“So, are you the type of person who usually doesn’t keep promises?”

Carlo looked at Edward with a startled expression. “I-If so?”

“Just curious. You seem like the type to talk easily about Luize’s identity.”

“Does Your Excellency think I’m that loose-lipped? I never reveal a woman’s secrets! I even kept it a secret that Liri works at the imperial palace from everyone around!”

“…”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Never mind.”

Carlo seemed unaware that he had just revealed his ex-lover’s secret.

Edward slightly furrowed his brow and sighed deeply.

Edward snapped his fingers, and Carlo’s eyes briefly lost focus.

“Do you know who Luize is?”

“…Madam Cloette.”

“Let’s leave it at that. And Benny’s identity?”

“A woman.”

“Forget about that. It would be good if you never realized. Then, about our getting back together.”

“

.”

Edward put down the finished mission report on the table and spoke. “Remember that. It would be nice if the rumor spread widely.”

“As you wish.”

With those words, Carlo’s focus returned. He looked at the half-empty beer mug in front of him and exclaimed, “The beer here is better than the inn across the street!”

“Glad you like it.” Edward put on his usual smile.

* * *

Luize entered the weapon shop for the last time before leaving the village.

The owner looked up happily as if pleased to see her.

He had a blue bruise on his eye.

“Welcome to… Lady of the knights!”

“Hello, Mister.”

“My wife has returned to normal! Even though I got beaten up, she’s just giggling, thinking I’ve gone mad this time.”

“I see.” Luize smiled faintly.

“What brings you here today? Really want to whack your lover this time?”

“Well, the dagger got roughed up. The engraving of his name also faded.” Luize handed over the damaged dagger.

After breaking the bead with Edward, the dagger he had been holding had corroded as if it had been underwater for 30 years. Luize had barely managed to convince Edward to give it up.

“Iron can be melted and reused, but a dagger that can’t serve its purpose as a dagger is useless, so I came to buy another gift.”

“I see!”

Luize looked around the shop and then was surprised to see an unexpected item in the corner. “What’s this?”

“

, that’s something my wife made as a hobby. Doesn’t really fit in a weapon shop, does it?”

“No, I think it’s nice.” Luize smiled softly and picked it up. “I’ll buy this.”

“Take it as a service since I’m in a good mood today. Even though you returned the dagger, I’m still at a profit. Take it. I’m curious about the story behind it becoming like this after taking it away, but I won’t ask. That’s the principle of a weapon merchant.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you going to use that as a replacement gift to your lover?”