As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

* * *

As the sun set, Edward checked the garden. Magic lights emitting a soft glow floated in the air, illuminating the garden. Red petals were scattered on the path they walked, and white lisianthus flowers were placed here and there.

A lavender field spread beside them, and at the end of the path was a hexagonal gazebo made of white marble. The gazebo was covered in rose vines, but it was still too early in the season for both the lavender and roses to bloom, so they were just green.

When Edward snapped his fingers, the roses on the gazebo bloomed, and buds formed on the lavender. With this, the preparations were perfectly complete.

“The scent of roses. Did you use magic?”

“Yes. I had some finishing touches to do. Now that it’s done, you don’t need to worry.”

“I see. What were you looking at?”

Luize followed his gaze out the window with a curious expression. To her eyes, it would appear as just an ordinary garden.

“Something is sparkling in the garden. I’m curious. Shall we go check it out together?”

Luize looked at the sky and then spoke. “…Now?”

“Yes.”

“Well, alright.” After a brief hesitation, she nodded with a shy smile.

The two headed towards the garden.

* * *

When Luize and Edward stepped out of the building, the corner of the garden was buzzing with excitement. Robin settled into a spot with a clear view inside, holding a ganache salt cookie.

“Move over a bit.”

“

! Sure, sit here.

, you’re finally here!”

“…Give me one too.”

When Robin offered the cookie bag, Aiven reached in and took one.

Hendrik casually snatched the cookie from Aiven’s hand. “Thanks for the treat.”

“…”

Aiven, as if accustomed to this, nodded and took out a new cookie to bite into.

The three of them huddled together at the prime spot, watching with interest as other members also took their places.

“Who would’ve thought His Excellency was a wizard.”

“Right? I’m still in shock. How did he keep it hidden all this time?”

“They said he’s a great wizard. No wonder our expedition went smoothly. So, will we see His Excellency’s magic today?

, what’s that? Why are the roses blooming?”

“Oh my gosh, you’re right. That must be magic too.”

The members buzzed with excitement. With the coup to seize the throne drawing near, Edward revealed to everyone that he was a wizard. He no longer needed to keep it a secret, having already dealt with those who wouldn’t participate in the operation and the imperial spies left in the mansion.

“

?” [Just arrived?]

“Yeah.”

Maxion sat in a corner a bit away from the group, holding Ren. Ren peeked out between the trees and grinned slyly.

“

” [Perfect timing.

…]

Maxion looked at Ren with a confused expression.

“

,

?” [Right, did you bring it?]

“…Yes. But why this?”

Maxion alternated his gaze between the item in his hand and the sky. The sky was still clear.

“

!” [Just wait and see, it’ll be useful!]

Watching Ren laugh mischievously again, Maxion seriously pondered where his teachings had gone wrong for the baby dragon to grow up like this.

With everyone watching, Luize stepped into the garden’s barrier.

* * *

Luize’s eyes widened. She hadn’t sensed anything but just one step inside, and the world seemed completely different. A gazebo covered in blooming red roses on a clearly artificial flower path and soft glowing lights floating around.

“Is someone getting married here today? I don’t recall hearing any wedding news among the members.”

She looked at Edward with a surprised face, and he smiled mischievously.

“No one is getting married.”

“Then this is….” Luize trailed off. She finally caught on to his intention. Still bewildered, she looked around.

Edward cleared his throat and pointed to the gazebo with a rather shameless expression. “The light I saw was sparkling from that gazebo. If we want to find it, we’ll have to walk there together.”

“Alright.”

Luize unlinked her arms and headed towards the lavender field.

“This is the lavender field. The buds look ready to burst at any moment, just like when we made a bet at the Ribelt mansion.”

“Shall we make another bet today?”

“With a wish ticket on the line?”

“Yes.”

After a brief hesitation, Luize smiled softly and faced Edward. “Alright. Then I’ll bet that the flowers will bloom this time.”

“Oh dear, then I’ll have to bet they won’t.”

“Surely they’ll bloom, right? I have a wish that I really want to come true.”

“The flowers say they’ll bloom if they hear what your wish is.”

Luize’s face turned red. “…Hear it?”

“Yes.”

“That’s tricky… How about I whisper it to Edward instead of the flowers?”

“Alright. I’ll make sure to relay it to the flowers.”

Edward bent down and leaned closer to Luize. She whispered in his ear.

“…Please.”

“…!”

Edward’s eyes widened. A faint blush appeared on his face.

“…Bloom.”

“…The flowers say they’re going to bloom.”

“Oh dear, it looks like Edward will lose the bet.”

“Thank goodness. The thought of winning with such a wish is dizzying.”

Luize smiled and looked at the lavender field.

As he snapped his fingers, the scent of roses filled the air. At the same time, the lavender around them began to bloom from where they stood like ripples spreading over water. The lavender scent filled the entire world.

“…So pretty.”

“Yes. Beautiful.”

Edward looked at the flower field and then at Luize, who was smiling brightly. “Shall we continue to look for the item?”

“Yes, and also.” Luize held out her hand. “Let’s hold hands.”

Edward took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Yes.”

The two walked down the petal-strewn path together.

“Come to think of it, why lavender? Because you want to make another bet?”

“That’s part of it, but lavender holds a special meaning for me.”

When Luize looked at him curiously, Edward continued.

“Do you remember the day I first became your lover, Miss Luize?”

“Of course.”

How could she forget? It was the true beginning for the two of them.

“That day, the moment I met your gaze, I thought of lavender. The scent I had been waiting with was also lavender.”

“…I see. Now that you mention it, I do remember a strong scent. I never imagined we’d come this far back then.” Luize smiled softly.

“And on the day you won the bet, didn’t you spend the night at the mansion annex for the first time?”

“That’s right.”

“So I planted lavender. Hoping you would come to me again.”

“…I see. But the gazebo is surrounded by roses.”

“Yes. A variety that was brought from the south. While you were away from me, I tended to the roses, thinking of you. I promised myself that I would look at the same flowers and think of you.”

“…

.”

“Even though you corrected me the next day, saying neither the roses nor my eyes resembled each other, I planted them because you liked them. I was trying to make a good impression on you.”

That was the night he visited the Cloette mansion and stayed over. She had said that it was just a joke to lighten the mood, but he remembered and actually planted the same roses here.

“Come to think of it, there’s something I didn’t say back then.”

“Something you didn’t say?” Edward looked at her curiously.

“I said they didn’t resemble you because….”

Luize met his red eyes. Those eyes were more transparent than rubies and as captivating as a demon’s heart. The heat pulsating within them reminded her of a burning sun. Just as she was about to continue, it happened.

Thick raindrops started pouring down on them.

“…Your eyes are more beautiful than those roses.”

“…”

“Finally, it’s raining. Actually, I knew it would rain toni—”

Luize couldn’t finish her sentence as she surrendered herself to his approaching lips.