As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

Reiad looked around the desolate Rutigor and realized the gravity of his situation. Of course, he also knew what he had to do.

“Lord Reiad, listen to what happened today.”

“Yes, Hardy.”

Early in his marriage, he had employed commoners who could work in noble households as his mistresses, secretly sending them to other families as servants. Unaware that they had become spies, they told him everything, including confidential matters that should never be known outside.

“…It was all pretentious after all.”

Among the families where his mistresses worked were those he had once had marriage talks with.

Things went better after his marriage. His mistresses, thinking their shared secrets brought them closer, candidly told him about their family’s shortcomings and internal affairs.

“I think I got married too soon. I wish I had met you earlier… I’m so glad I met you now.”

Some sought his sympathy, while others believed their secret relationship made them closer to him than Luie.

“I want to see the Cloette mansion.”

“The mansion? I’d be delighted.”

The longer they met, the more his lovers wanted to be involved in his life as if they were his wives. Reiad formally sought Luize’s consent. Even though he knew she would reluctantly agree, he did it on purpose.

“So, is it okay to let my lovers into our house?” 

“Yes? That already happens often.”

“I mean this time as a guest.”

“…”

“It’s a bit hard, is it?”

“No. Do whatever you want, Reiad.”

Watching her hurried response, he felt a strange sense of pleasure. The look of loss on her face, as if someone precious had been taken away from her. It was an expression he had seen countless times in his childhood.

“Thank you, Luize. You’re the best wife.”

It was the same expression his nanny and biological mother, Anne, who loved him throughout his childhood, often had.

Reiad smiled brightly.

It was proof that Luize loved him.

* * *

From servants working in the noble families to wealthy commoners and even daughters of impoverished noble families. As his range of activities expanded, his actions became bolder, and his sense of guilt faded. Reiad developed a new hobby if it could be called that.

“Luize, is it alright if we have dinner together tomorrow?”

“…Yes, it’s fine.”

Whenever Luize wore a bitter expression, he confirmed her love for him. If she didn’t love him, she wouldn’t look so pained. Just like Anne had been so sad watching Reiad smile at those who might become his new stepmother.

Yes, Reiad knew Luize’s pain. Yet he indulged in the pleasure of being loved, turning a blind eye, thinking it was inevitable. To maintain this peace, he had to play the role of the emperor’s spy well.

Luize wouldn’t be able to abandon him anyway. Just like Anne had stayed by his side, unable to leave the mansion.

But just because things were going well didn’t mean everything went as he wished.

“You two look like having fun. Did you talk about anything interesting?”

“I asked where Madam is from.”

Even though Luize had some Servenia blood, she was still a commoner. A lowly commoner with no connections, bearing the surname of Servenia, which was completely cut off from society. Noble society couldn’t accept a wife whose origins were unknown, especially for someone like Cloette. If her true identity were to be discovered, their current life could be shattered.

“It’s all for you. Please hide your origin and surname as much as possible.”

“Alright.”

What mattered most to him was a stable life as a noble. It was for his sake but also for Luize’s. She too, desired a peaceful life in the capital.

A capital full of light, a beautiful mansion, and bustling streets. He could give Luize everything she wanted if he maintained this life. So, this was truly inevitable.

Another day came.

“But if things continue like this,  Cloette’s blood will be cut off.” For some reason, Luize brought up the issue of an heir.

No one knew better than him that nobles needed heirs. But having a child would make his activities even more difficult. And… he still couldn’t face her body.

Why did he not want to have an heir through someone else? Was it because he felt extreme disgust towards his father, who had a child with a mistress? Or because he had witnessed Anne’s suffering?

“Well, I have an evening walk planned, so I guess I’ll have to get up now. Is there anything else you want to say?” Before his thoughts could go further, he stood up as if to escape.

“That…”

“

?”

“Today is our wedding anniversary.”

“

.”

“I just feel like you’re forgetting. It’s a day that comes around every year anyway. I’m okay. Go ahead to your appointment.”

As she hurriedly added, he recalled the day she first came to the mansion. Back then, she used to smile brightly. Was Luize always this small?

Come to think of it, he had been spending less time at the mansion lately. While soothing a mistress took time, he could spare at least one night. It was much easier to deal with a mistress. Leaving Luize behind wouldn’t cause any issues, but dealing with a mistress would be troublesome. Yet, why did he hesitate to leave Luize alone?

“Let’s spend tonight together. Is there something you want to do?”

Reiad tried not to think too deeply. Thinking further wouldn’t help him. After all, there would be no peace without being a loyal dog to the emperor. For Luize’s sake and for his own, this was necessary.

Reiad could never be honest with Luize, not even for a moment.

“Sleep well, Luize. Happy wedding anniversary.”

He wasn’t brave enough to be honest with himself either. But that was okay. If this life continued, he could be satisfied. Life as a noble was affluent, and the Cloette mansion with Luize was the warmest place in his life.

* * *

There’s no such thing as an eternal paradise.

“I didn’t know your childhood friend who came to visit would be a strong man, Luize.”

Maxion de Kalliod. He was the lieutenant of the dethroned crown prince, the greatest adversary of the emperor faction, and a man of mixed blood from a northern courtesan and a noble. His origins were similar to Reiad’s, but his life was entirely different.

Maxion grew up as a poor commoner, became a mercenary, and lived through dangerous battlefields until he was lucky enough to join the dethroned crown prince. Even the position he was lucky to get was precarious, where he could lose his life at any moment, every day, every second.

It was a different life that Reiad might have led. No, could Reiad have survived the mercenary life and made it under the dethroned crown prince?

“Good evening, everyone.”

The dethroned crown prince himself came to the Cloette mansion, saying he was there to pick up Maxion.

A legitimate successor born under the previous emperor and empress. A man who inherited the pure imperial bloodline, unlike Reiad, and who could at any moment overthrow the emperor and reclaim his position, threatening Reiad’s peace.

“My Luize.”

When Anne died, what did he think? He grieved the death of the only person who had ever loved him. He felt guilty as if it were all his fault. Yet he was relieved it wasn’t his life. Thanks to his half-noble blood, he could live a comfortable life.

“Why don’t you bring in a lover instead of hanging out with such a vulgar person?”

Reiad feared the dethroned crown prince and his subordinates, who threatened his life.

* * *

Did Luize know?

Since marrying her, Reiad had developed an unbelievable habit. No matter how drunk he was, whether things went well with his mistress or not, he always returned to the mansion because Luize was waiting for him there.

“Luize.”

She turned her head, heading to the garden with a shawl, and gazed at him leaning against the stair railing.

“Reiad. You weren’t sleeping.” 

“I have some work left to do after I go out today.”

“It looks like you had a bit to drink.”

“Yes. Because it is a nice day after work. The moonlight is bright.”

“Reiad, can’t you just quit about the lovers? There may be other happiness.”

Luize often unintentionally irritated him this way, like when she suggested having a child or bringing the dethroned crown prince’s right-hand man as her friend.

Other happiness? For him, life was a daily struggle to maintain superficial peace.

Happiness. He didn’t know what that ideal word meant, nor did he want to know. If he couldn’t have it anyway, it was better not to know.

“I thought one day you might bring it up.”

Reiad masked his anxiety with his most familiar expression.

“Do you remember, Luize?”

“…”

“The moment you interfere with my private life, this marriage is over. You’re the one who accepted that condition.”

Luize quietly nodded as she watched him. Then she turned away. “Yes, I remember.” She stepped out through the open door.

Luize looked no different, yet he felt like she might disappear far away. So, Reiad stood frozen, staring at the spot she had been.

* * *

Luize and the dethroned crown prince were entangled. It made Reiad anxious.

Had the dethroned crown prince started to suspect his actions?

In any case, he hadn’t left any documents at the mansion, and Luize knew nothing about his activities, so there was no information to leak.

He had to act calm. Act calmly…