As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

His gaze kept drifting towards Luize, who was with the dethroned crown prince. The dethroned prince was clearly using Luize as a pawn to warn him.

“…How dare.”

“Pardon?” His lover looked at Reiad with a puzzled expression.

Reiad smiled and shook his head. The dethroned crown prince wouldn’t get any of the information he wanted from him, so everything would be fine. It had to be fine. But why was he so anxious?

Reiad moved busier than ever to obtain the necessary information quickly. He couldn’t return home for three days but wanted to finish the job quickly. Focusing on his work would keep him from thinking about Luize and the dethroned crown prince.

“No, Luize. No.”

Stumbling drunk as he returned to the mansion, he encountered Luize in the hallway, looking disheveled. She stood there, dressed neatly as always. Reiad bit his lip, then forced a smile as he faced her.

“Luize, you hung out with someone interesting.”

“…”

“

, I already sorted it out with Lilliana. After spending a few days with her, she didn’t seem a good fit for me. Did you have a good time with the grand duke, Luize?”

“…”

“Why there’s no answer?”

Luize avoided his gaze.

For some reason, a hollow laugh escaped him.

That Luize was avoiding his gaze?

“My Luize.”

Yes, Luize was his wife. Not the dethroned crown prince’s, but Reiad di Cloette’s.

“…Yes.”

“I told you he was a dangerous person.”

“…”

“For you to be with someone like that…”

I don’t want you to be with him. Don’t put us in danger by associating with such a dangerous man. Don’t let him…

“I’m glad you found someone you communicate well with.”

Don’t love him.

“I hope you continue to do well. It’s okay to leave the house, and it’s okay to invite him to the mansion.”

The dethroned crown prince would keep entangling with Luize until he confirmed there was no information he wanted from Reiad. That’s like what he had been doing all along. So, to make him stay away from Luize quickly, it was ironically necessary to get them closer. He just had to endure until the dethroned crown prince got what he wanted and left…

“Reiad.”

“Yes?”

“I want our marriage to be happy.”

“What are you talking about? You’re happy. Now you don’t have to suffer alone in such a dangerous countryside doing difficult work, and you can spend happy days in the most prosperous capital of the empire. That’s what you wanted, right?’

“…That’s right. I did. Then what about you? Are you happy with this kind of life?”

Reiad’s eyes shifted to Luize. There she was again, talking about happiness. If this peaceful life wasn’t happiness to her, then what on earth was it?

“Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have even asked you to sign a contract when we’re getting married.”

“…”

“Come here.”

Reiad wrapped his arms tightly around the back of her head and waist. At least for now, all he could do was erase the traces of the dethroned crown prince from her. As long as he covered all her memories with his own, her heart wouldn’t stray.

“I’m always giving you what you want most, right?”

“That…”

“I’m tired. Sleep well, My Love.”

Luize couldn’t leave him.

She wouldn’t.

She had to stay.

* * *

The dethroned crown prince quickly got closer to Luize. As Reiad had predicted, he invaded Reiad’s mansion and even stepped into Luie’s room.

“He stayed in her room for about half an hour.”

“I see.”

Judging by Luize’s reaction at dinner, nothing happened between them that night.

The dethroned crown prince was too busy taunting Reiad, and his relationship with Luize didn’t seem deep. Realizing there was nothing at Cloette for him, the dethroned crown prince would soon leave Luize alone.

A little later, the final step of this plan and the ball where his lover would be proposed to took place. Having sufficiently heightened the lover’s anxiety and provoked her suitor, the two would surely unite tonight. It was a good opportunity to wrap things up neatly, except for the fact that Luize and the dethroned crown prince hadn’t parted yet.

“She was just a lover. We were just enjoying each other’s company for a while. Even if they seem to be coveting your position, they know better. They know they can never truly become my wife.”

It made sense that Luize, unaccustomed to separation, took time to part from him. But why hadn’t the dethroned crown prince left her yet?

“Entertainment is ephemeral, like a dream on a spring night. There’s no point in dwelling on something that leaves no trace once you wake up. It’s the same reason I don’t cling to those who leave.”

“A dream…”

“But marriage is reality. Like I always return to our mansion, even if I wander for a while. A dream can never overcome reality.”

Luize would return to his arms soon. If she was dreaming, it was a fleeting one.

“So, Luize, enjoy the moment. The dream will end when the sun rises.”

Reiad read the pain that flashed across her hardened face. Where does that pain come from? For the first time, he felt unsure. Was she pained because separating from the dethroned crown prince was hard? Or did his harsh words hurt her? No, it had to be the latter. Luize loved him.

It was near the end of the ball.

“Luize, are you leaving now? Let’s get back a little later.”

“…”

“Luize?”

“…You like parties. You don’t have to leave just because of me.”

“Alright. Then you go first. I’ll come later.”

“

, right. I plan to stay out tonight.”

“Stay out?”

“…”

“Miss Luize, how about taking my carriage? It would be a hassle for you to send back the carriage. Besides, Count Cloette might not have a carriage to leave tonight.”

“Reiad, is that okay?” Luize’s eyes were clear as she looked at him.

“…Yes. Then I’ll see you tomorrow.” Reiad replied with his usual smile, a beat late.

“Have a good night, Count Cloette.”

“Yes, Your Excellency. I hope you also have a good… time.”

Reiad turned quickly. The smile vanished from his face.

Luize had changed. Just until the ball started, everything seemed normal. What could have happened?

This had to be the dethroned crown prince’s scheme. A trap to provoke him. He mustn’t fall for it. He had to stay calm.

Luize loved him. Love couldn’t vanish so suddenly. And at least for now, Luize di Cloette was his wife. Not that cunning dethroned crown prince’s.

* * *

The dethroned crown prince lost in the final round of the swordsmanship tournament. Reiad mocked him as he read the news at the mansion. Furthermore, the dangerous expedition to Perils was confirmed, meaning the dethroned crown prince and Luize would part ways soon. Luize would return to him, and they’d resume their usual lives.

“Count Cloette, the princess of Pendel is the only person besides a few close to the grand duke who might know his weaknesses. You can’t ignore such a tempting feast.”

The emperor tasked him with seducing the princess to gather information.

“When the grand duke dies, as promised, I’ll grant you the southern Karel estate. With Rutigor having been suffering from a long famine, you need at least that much to maintain your title and live comfortably. I cherish you, so I’ll reward you specially. Once the grand duke is dead, it won’t matter if you part with the princess. If you’re concerned about your wife, you can reunite with her then.”

The last task. Could this really be the last? Reiad hesitated, filled with hope and confusion. If this were truly the end, it would mean he was no longer useful. If so…

Reiad pushed away the bad thoughts. When it ended, he’d get a good estate and live comfortably. It was good for both him and Luize.

“How about we get a divorce for a while?”

This was an opportunity they must seize for each other. They could separate temporarily and reunite later.

Luize wouldn’t leave him. He had everything she wanted, and she loved him. So, the power in this relationship was entirely his.

But what was this?

“I loved you too.”

“I know.”

“And I’ve decided not to love you anymore.”

Luize didn’t love him anymore?

“I’m sorry. I loved you, but I loved the world you gave me more. I wanted to escape to a world full of light and life, and needed a safe and warm home and a family.”

“What are you saying, My Luize?”

“I’m saying I used you under the guise of love. I’m sorry.”

It had to be a lie. She must have wanted to take revenge for the pain he caused her.

“How can we call it love when we can’t be honest with each other or even touch each other’s pain? If that was love, then it’s right to stop.”

Love? He had never loved. Wasn’t it Luize who loved him? She needed him. He had everything she wanted, and she loved him.

Reiad just liked his current life. It was a life no different from a marriage of convenience made by contract, but he liked the mansion where she was. He liked that he could give her what she wanted.

Reiad had everything she wanted. So she loved him, and he liked that. But he never loved her.

“I thought it would be nice to do something since it’s the end. I wanted to ease your burden of going through with the divorce. Now it’s truly over.”

“…Over?”

“Yes. Once we divorce, our marriage contract, even the vows are null and void.”

Everything void? That was impossible. He had no intention of divorcing. How could their relationship become void?

“I told you I love you. And you said you love me too. Feelings don’t change that easily.”

They shouldn’t change. Luize couldn’t change.

“That can’t be, Luize. Are you teasing me? You can’t let go of me that easily.”

“…”

“I can give you anything you want.”

“This is what I want.”

His grip on her wrist tightened. Reiad’s voice dropped.

“Luize. Don’t get emotional.”

“…”

“Luize!”

“Maybe it’s better we see each other after half a year.”

“…”

“When the season of falling leaves comes, and the roses in the garden bloom again after withering, I will come to find you. This time, please wait for me here.”

Luize would return. When the garden roses bloomed, she’d come back to live as Cloette again. Even if he was despicable, he had everything she wanted. She was just angry now but still loved him…

“It’s just the past. We’re completely over. I’m no longer Madam Cloette but Luize di Servenia. I didn’t think you’d still be in denial…”

But what was this? How could this be? How could…

“I love Luize.”

How could this be?

“And yet, she’s leaving me…”

How could these two facts coexist?