As My Husband Said, I Brought in a Lover

The emperor’s eyebrows slanted unevenly. While he was also interested in Edward’s affairs, he disliked the attention of the nobles being focused on him.

“Then, taking advantage of this opportunity, I’ll make an announcement.”

All eyes turned to the two of them.

“Lady Luize di Servenia and I will also be holding our engagement ceremony on the eleventh day of the fourth month at the Lindeman residence in the capital.”

The crowd started to buzz at his announcement.

Luize and Reiad’s eyes met in the air. Her face was resolute, while Reiad’s eyes wavered violently like waves.

“What? So, the grand duke is getting engaged a day earlier, and the princess the next day?”

“Those who were once married are now becoming strangers a day apart… What a twisted fate.”

As the crowd murmured, an unnaturally loud, theatrical voice interrupted from the entrance of the banquet hall.

“Luize di Servenia? My dearly beloved cousin! You’re here already!”

Everyone turned to where the voice came from, and the emperor’s expression stiffened.

“Marquis Kasel di Servenia and Madam Lorein di Servenia are entering!” The belated announcement from the servant echoed loudly in the banquet hall.

* * *

“Just so you know, I made sure he practiced countless times.”

Lorein, approaching Luize’s group, slapped her palm with her fan and glared sharply at Kasel.

He flinched.

“Still… didn’t I do quite well?”

“Debuting in the capital’s high society for the first time, and you even got the entrance order wrong. How many times did I tell you not to come out before the servant announced us? You might be my son, but aside from your healing skills and flashy appearance, there’s nothing commendable about you.” Lorein sighed deeply.

“Isn’t that enough…” Kasel murmured with a puzzled look.

Edward smiled and spoke. “It will only get more difficult from here on. Please take good care of us.”

“Don’t worry about us. We’re not the Servenia of old.”

“Yes.”

Kasel’s gaze turned to Luize. “Congratulations, Cousin.”

“Kasel.”

“…Luize. Congratulations.”

“Thank you, Kasel… brother.”

They awkwardly smiled and hugged each other.

Edward and Lorein averted their gazes and stifled their laughter as they watched. It seemed that poor acting was a family trait.

Kasel headed toward the center of the banquet hall. Social figures gathered around him, and the emperor rose from his throne and approached Kasel and Lorein with long strides.

Not only were Luize and Edward, and Reiad and Diana having engagement ceremonies a day apart, but the Servenia family, absent from the capital for a long time, was making an appearance in high society. On top of that, Luize was revealed to be a direct descendant of the Servenia family. With each of these alone being enough to stir the empire, the banquet hall was filled with excitement and confusion.

“Marquis Servenia, you’ve finally come to an imperial banquet.”

“I apologize for being late. I was bedridden for a while and only recently recovered.”

“

, I see.” The emperor coughed awkwardly.

Despite leaving the capital, the Servenia family continued to receive invitations to social events due to their prestigious reputation. The Servenia Healer Academy in the capital and their medical facilities spread across the empire maintained their considerable influence. Moreover, with the young marquis not having sold the Servenia mansion in the capital, his return was never in doubt.

“Thank you for coming. I always believed the Servenia would return to the capital. Have you considered resuming your role as the imperial healer?”

“My illness was quite severe, so I haven’t fully recovered yet. It might be difficult for now.”

“…I see. So, does that mean you chose today to return because of your cousin’s engagement announcement?”

The emperor’s gaze sharpened instantly. It was a question whether Servenia would side with Edward.

Kasel glanced at Lorein for help. She stepped in.

“No, Your Majesty. We heard the princess mention it first, leaving us no choice but to make the announcement. We are here to prevent further complications. How could the Servenia scheme against Your Majesty?”

“

, I see.”

“We only learned from the newspapers that they were already living together after receiving a proposal. We had no idea they would betray us in this manner.”

“

, is that so?”

Kasel delivered his prepared speech. “I would gladly resume my duties as the imperial healer as soon as my health permits. Please entrust me with that role.” He truly wanted to enter the capital and learn from the experienced imperial healers, so his words were not entirely false, making it easier to speak naturally.

“

, very well. It seems I was overly concerned. By the way, since Lady Luize di Servenia is your cousin, how is she related to your family?”

Nobles around them, curious about the same question, listened intently.

Lorein answered in a calm tone. “I understand many are curious about Luize’s background. It’s difficult to discuss such matters in a setting like this….”

“Is she the daughter of Allen di Servenia?” The impatient emperor interrupted.

“…Yes.”

“He supposedly died during the dragon subjugation.”

“That’s correct. His child, who was born during the subjugation, is Luize. Recently, she was officially registered into the family.”

Someone in the crowd murmured.

“

, an illegitimate child in the Servenia family?”

“Wait. Even if she’s an illegitimate, she has been officially registered. They wouldn’t have listed her under Allen di Servenia if he wasn’t married.”

“Does that mean his wife’s position has been filled?”

“Who is she?”

“Hold on, isn’t it widely known that Allen di Servenia followed Lensia around? And Luize di Servenia’s hair color is the same silver as Lensia’s…”

The faces of those conversing turned pale.

Lorein glanced at them and continued speaking. “Luize is the daughter of Allen di Servenia and Dragon Slayer Lensia.”

At her confirmation, the emperor’s expression also turned serious. Luize, who had been thoroughly ignored by the entire social circle, was revealed to be the daughter of a hero who protected the empire and a member of one of the most powerful families in the empire.

“…I see.”

“However, Kasel has inherited the title, and the current marquis is ready to be loyal to the imperial family. Please rest assured.”

“I understand.”

The emperor exchanged a few perfunctory greetings and left the banquet hall. Since the empress dowager wasn’t present today, he had no one to consult about the situation.

The empress dowager usually avoided social events, and the emperor had thought today’s banquet was just a light event to announce the princess’s engagement. It was natural for him to be caught off guard by this turn of events.

Reiad and Diana, as well as Edward and Luize, were busy with the crowd surrounding them. As the noisy banquet ended, a few attendees left with complex expressions. They realized that the series of intriguing scandals hinted at significant political changes.

“The day when the bloody wind blows in the capital is approaching.”

Among them were Matthias, the leader of the Second Holy Order, and Marquis Edvin, a member of a renowned knightly family whose son barely made it into the imperial knights.

* * *

Newspapers, newsletters, special editions, and posters—everywhere were abuzz with stories from the recent banquet. The citizens were more excited about Luize’s newly revealed identity than the results of the engagement date bet.

“She was the daughter of the hero Lensia and Marquis Servenia?”

“This story just gets more interesting!”

“So, is she a commoner or a noble?”

“She’s a noble if she’s officially registered! But Lensia must have been alive. I thought she was dead since she wasn’t active.”

“It seems she’s already dead though? She didn’t even show up at the banquet.”

“Who knows? Lensia was famous for being unpredictable.”

“Something like this happened in the great noble family of Servenia. This is the first scandal of its kind in the empire.”

“But the partner is Lensia. Only someone like the dragon slayer could be involved with a great noble family despite being a commoner.”

“Her birth was unusual, but her love life is also remarkable. We didn’t know this because she was overshadowed by Count Cloette. Who would have thought she was such an extraordinary person?”

Luize instantly became the most famous person in the empire. Not only society but also the entire empire was paying attention to her every move.