After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 21

Denisa and Sebelia decided to part ways temporarily as a precaution.

If anyone questioned her death and investigated, Denisa would naturally be the first person they looked for.

“Then, I’ll see you in a month.”

“Yes. Actually, you could stay longer…”

Denisa’s eyes flashed at Sebelia’s words.

“You do realize I’ve spent more time with you than with my own family, right?”

“…I know, I know.”

Sebelia hugged Denisa with an awkward smile. In truth, she felt uneasy. Except for when she was abandoned at the monastery, she had never been separated from Denisa for so long. Sebelia blinked slowly and reminded Denisa,

“But there’s no need to come too early. Meet the friends you haven’t seen in the capital… and then come.”

“The same goes for you, Miss. Don’t rush things. Send a letter as soon as you arrive.”

“Okay.”

Sebelia saw Denisa off and returned home to pack. Although it was only for a short time, Sebelia realized what a real ‘home’ was like while staying here.

“Now I know what it means to have a home to return to.”

She closed the window and locked the door with a look of satisfaction.

Then, following Denisa’s instructions, she took a shared carriage heading east.

“I have a relative living in the east. It’s a good place to live. Disasters don’t happen often there.”

It had only been ten minutes since she started talking to the middle-aged woman sitting across from her, but Sebelia already felt like they had been friends for ten years.

‘She’s very sociable.’

“Here, have some of this. You’re too skinny.”

“Thank you.”

Sebelia gladly accepted a shiny apple.

‘This is a good start.’

Contrary to Denisa’s worries, she had a feeling that only good things would happen.

‘I hope it stays like this until I arrive in the east.’

Sebelia smiled faintly, feeling her heart flutter.

Except for the occasional times she coughed up blood due to her illness…….

Every day since leaving Hillend felt like a dream.

* * *

The dark mansion was gloomy. The mad Duke had not only tried to burn down the mansion but also attempted to burn people to death.

“Ugh…”

The servants groaned and tossed and turned. Some blinked their hollow eyes, unable to sleep. It was only natural, as so much had happened in one night.

“…….”

While people were suffering from their own nightmares, a man cautiously made his way through the silent East Wing. It was Lyon. He walked slowly down the hallway, his calm black eyes scanning every corner.

At one point, he stopped.

“Sir Lyon.”

“Lucen.”

A knight on patrol bowed to him. Lyon responded casually.

Although it was a brief moment, an awkwardness lingered between them. Lyon was momentarily puzzled but soon realized the reason. Lucen was one of the knights who had tried to apprehend Lyon under Flora’s orders.

“Then, carry on.”

However, Lyon didn’t hold it against him. A family knight sometimes had no choice but to do things against his will. And with Dihart’s condition unstable, there was no time to settle such petty grudges.

“Um, Sir Lyon.”

However, the one called Lucen seemed to have something to say to him. Lyon turned to look at him.

“What is it?”

“…Madam Gren is staying by Miss Flora’s side tonight. Miss Flora is still anxious, so she couldn’t leave her alone.”

Lyon stared at him intensely at the sudden remark. Lucen hesitated, clenched his fist, and bowed his head.

“Then, I’ll go back to patrolling.”

Lucen turned and disappeared at a quick pace. Lyon briefly watched his retreating figure and turned his head towards somewhere. It was Gren’s bedroom, hastily prepared in the East Wing.

* * *

It was by chance that Lyon saw Gren moving in a hurry. He had just subdued Dihart and left him in a safe place, and was on his way to wash up.

“That’s…”

But Gren, who should have been lying down with a pale face surrounded by maids and doctors, was running out of the Main Building.

‘The last time I saw her, she was definitely unconscious.’

She had regained consciousness in that short time and gone to the Main Building, of all places.

Lyon’s eyes narrowed. Meanwhile, Gren, who had emerged from the blackened building, was catching her breath. She was bent over, holding something tightly in her arms.

“Hoo… ha.”

For a moment, a strange smile lingered on Gren’s lips and then disappeared. Then, she quickly raised her head and looked around as if checking if anyone was there.

Lyon immediately hid himself and observed her movements. On closer inspection, Gren was holding something in her hand. It looked like a small jewelry box.

‘She went into the building, where embers still remain, for that?’

Instead of ordering a servant or knight to do it, she went herself. It must be as precious as her life. Otherwise, there was no way that the high-nosed [arrogant] Madam Gren would do such a laborious task herself.

Lyon straightened his clothes and watched Gren walk away as if nothing had happened, and made up his mind.

‘It will be useful.’

Through a series of events, he had learned that Rasch and Gren had subtly harassed Sebelia and eventually tried to kill her.

Now, in Lyon’s mind, Gren and Rasch were no longer people to be served, but one of the main culprits who had plunged Dihart into pain. And to accidentally discover the enemy’s weakness in such a situation was like a gift from God.

A cold light flashed across Lyon’s dark eyes.

* * *

A dim light seeped through the windowpane. Dihart woke up with an unpleasant feeling.

“…….”

He seemed to retrace his memories for a moment, then buried his face in his hands as if in agony.

Roman’s cry flashed through his mind.

[That bastard betrayed Inverness first. He deceived you! Don’t you know? That’s why you mistreated him!]

The anger that had burned him turned to ashes and disappeared.

He wanted to punish those who had driven Sebelia to the extreme. He wanted to make them realize that they were suffering because of her. But Dihart realized that he was not free from that sin either.

‘No, I was deliberately trying not to recognize that fact.’

A deep sense of depression consumed him. He himself was the sinner. He had driven her to that point. Who would dare to judge anyone?

“I was foolish…”

If someone saw his state now, they would surely be dumbfounded.

As Roman said, she betrayed him first. He could see them telling him to pull himself together, saying that he had given her a fitting punishment. But what good was that? Justice and righteousness, punishment and penalty, meant nothing to him now.

“You’re not here.”

He couldn’t make her sit by his side. He couldn’t make her look only at him, without any other thoughts.

“So what good is any of it?”

It was a hypocritical heart. Everyone would be horrified if they knew his true feelings.

He knew it himself. He just didn’t want to accept it. The moment Sebelia’s betrayal was revealed, the moment he realized that he could keep her by his side forever. On the surface, he was furious, but deep down, he was thrilled.

“Ah…….”

The golden eyes, burning with uncontrollable emotion, were empty.

As the anger turned to ashes and crumbled, emptiness filled its place. He felt suffocated by the lethargy that covered his entire body. But was it okay to die like this?

Could the sinner who drove her to death dare to face a peaceful death?

“Ha, ha…….”

A dry laugh burst out. The hand covering his face trembled.

After groaning in pain for a long time, he finally got up. With a staggering body, he lit the hallucinatory herb placed on the side table.

“Yes. I didn’t believe it from the beginning, but now…”

Why now, is he regretting as if he actually wanted an ordinary love, a happy family? Dihart let out an empty laugh like someone who had lost everything and collapsed onto the bed.

“Sebelia.”

The her who he could no longer hold, and therefore the perfect her who he could not ruin, appeared before him like a mirage.

* * *

The east was dawning. Darkness retreated, waving a reluctant hand, and the sun raised its head. An equal ray of sunshine fell over the battered mansion.

“Ugh…”

People woke up one by one with groans and moans here and there. Lyon quickly but secretly moved, ignoring the morning greetings mixed with complaints and dissatisfaction. Before long, he entered a hallway where no one was felt. At the end of the hallway was the room where Dihart was staying.

Lyon carefully opened the door and bit his lip tightly.

“Duke.”

The thick scent of hallucinatory herbs stung his nose. Lyon blocked his respiratory system, being careful not to drop what he had hidden under his coat.

As he approached the bed, he saw Dihart, who was out of his mind and muttering incomprehensible words.

‘Damn it.’

The deliberation was short and the execution was quick. He offered a blunt apology first.

“I’m sorry.”

Thud-!

“Kuh…!”

It was a heavy blow that resonated throughout his body. Dihart, clutching his chest, looked up at him with wide eyes.

“What the hell… Lyon.”

The flashing golden eyes quickly faded as soon as he identified the opponent.

“If you’ve come to nag, get out. I’m most perfect in this state right now.”

He tried to reach for the hallucinatory herb again. But Lyon was faster.

“You!”