After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 81

“I haven’t heard that there’s a noble lady among your party. Or am I mistaken?”

It was obvious that Lisia’s words weren’t a question. She was indirectly expressing her displeasure at Sebelia, a commoner, staying at the estate with Dihart. She was trying to be polite, but Dihart couldn’t possibly miss the contempt beneath the surface.

‘How typical.’

Dihart clicked his tongue inwardly.

Most nobles who have little interaction with other cities and whose territories have never been targeted by other nobles due to a lack of significant advantages tend to be extremely conservative and hold outdated views.

For example, they might feel shame and humiliation simply from being in the same space as commoners—a type of thinking rarely found in the central or northern regions.

‘So, she’s that kind of noble. Quite different from my easygoing father.’

Dihart’s lips tightened as he saw Lisia’s cool green eyes turn towards Sebelia. He didn’t care what kind of person she was or how she treated others. But he couldn’t tolerate that arrogant attitude being directed at Sebelia.

“This is Bella. She’s a valued member of our group, with whom I’ve spent more time than most noble ladies. I expect her to be treated with the utmost respect.”

Dihart deliberately placed his arm behind Sebelia’s waist as if escorting her. They didn’t touch, but it was a clear signal that he didn’t consider her an ordinary commoner.

This gesture was immediately noticed not only by Lisia but also by the estate’s staff.

‘She doesn’t like that a mere physician’s group, not members of the Duke’s family, are staying here.’

Sebelia quickly understood the situation. A fleeting hint of annoyance crossed Lisia’s impassive green eyes. Sebelia didn’t miss it.

“I see.”

Lisia, her face quickly returning to its indifferent and haughty expression, murmured in a very soft voice.

“Then there’s nothing I can do.”

Lisia blinked, seemingly lost in thought, then extended her gloved hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Lisia, the eldest daughter and heir of Baron Supredi, who has ruled Supredi for generations. You may simply call me Lady Lisia.”

Her tone and demeanor were extremely arrogant. It was as if she was reluctantly doing this, bearing with it only this once. Sebelia watched her with narrowed eyes.

‘Even nobles in the central region don’t treat commoners this rudely.’

Specialized personnel composed of commoners filled the areas that nobles didn’t touch. In fact, some of them had amassed more wealth than many local nobles, so the nobles, even if they inwardly looked down on them, wouldn’t do anything as foolish as showing it.

‘How interesting.’

She glanced at Lisia for a moment before returning the greeting. As long as her arrogance wasn’t harmful to her, she didn’t particularly care.

“I’m Bella. Thank you for providing a place to stay.”

“Indeed.”

Lisia curtly acknowledged Sebelia’s greeting, then turned her head sharply to look at Dihart, her black hair, which reached her waist, swaying. Her emerald-like green eyes held a captivating aura.

“By the way, it’s fortunate that I get to see you at the right time, Duke. My father mentioned that he urgently wanted to discuss something with you. You will accompany me, of course, won’t you?”

“With you? I thought we had already exchanged opinions on most matters.”

Lisia frowned at Dihart’s annoyed tone. Her slightly furrowed brow, combined with her elegant appearance, created a serious atmosphere.

“It’s an urgent matter. It’s about the herbs discovered in the canyon below.”

“…I have no choice, then. Let’s finish it quickly. I’ll be back by today, so let’s have dinner together, Bella.”

He couldn’t ignore anything related to herbs, especially since it concerned Sebelia’s life. Dihart sighed and called a knight guarding the estate to guide Sebelia to her room.

“The carriage is ready.”

Lisia whispered sweetly to Dihart as she gracefully moved. Sebelia stood still, watching them walk away.

It was the moment Dihart left the estate with Lisia. He naturally opened the door for her, letting her go ahead, and she lightly bowed her head in thanks.

“How kind.”

Lisia leaned slightly towards Dihart and murmured. Sebelia’s blue eyes narrowed as she watched. At that moment, Lisia turned her head over Dihart’s shoulder.

Her deep green eyes, like a thick swamp, narrowed into slits. Lisia scanned Sebelia up and down, scoffed, and turned away.

“Ah.”

Only then did Sebelia realize that there was more to Lisia’s disdain than just her commoner status. A cold laugh escaped her lips.

‘Things have become troublesome.’

Sebelia cast a cold glance at the spot where Dihart had disappeared and followed the knight out of the hall.

* * *

Dihart didn’t return to the estate from night until morning.

“It seems he’s staying there.”

“Is that so?”

“I think he also said it might take a few days.”

Sebelia’s blue eyes turned icy as she heard the news from Claude.

‘With your body not fully healed, you’re acting rashly again.’

Because Dihart had issued a gag order about the incident in the canyon, Sebelia and the researchers believed that the accident was simply caused by mishandling a sacred relic.

Sebelia, completely unaware that Henkit was the main cause of the accident, frowned at his carelessness. Dihart hadn’t even removed the tiny fragments still lodged in his wound.

‘I should have just kept him here yesterday.’

Belatedly clicking her tongue, Sebelia turned her gaze to Claude. The two of them were having breakfast, but for some reason, Wartz was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is Mr. Wartz?”

“Ah, he’s away for a bit. The knights took him to ask about some herbs that the herbalists had hidden.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Sebelia’s eyes widened. She had heard that the knights were treating the herbalists with serious expressions in the canyon. After blinking her blue eyes a few times, Sebelia soon finished her meal and went out into the garden.

“…….”

On the way to the garden, she encountered several people who appeared to be servants of the estate. They were from Baron Supredi’s mansion, brought by Lisia herself to make the vacant estate habitable.

However, they had another thing in common. Their gazes and voices held an inexplicable mockery as they looked at Sebelia. A young maid she happened to encounter spoke to her.

“You’re up early. Isn’t the morning air chilly? Are you sure you shouldn’t go back to your room?”

Her words, delivered with a bright smile, were clearly sarcastic. Sebelia didn’t know why, so she simply stared at her.

“Oh, if you’re waiting for the Duke, you might as well go back. Lady Lisia will be taking excellent care of him.”

The woman smiled, raising the corners of her mouth, and scanned Sebelia up and down while holding a pile of laundry. Sebelia narrowed her eyes, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

“You should know your place, daring to, as a commoner.”

The servant whispered lowly and passed Sebelia triumphantly. Only then did Sebelia understand what was going on.

“Ha.”

Left alone in the hallway, Sebelia burst into laughter, feeling absurd. The way she shook her head from side to side clearly showed her ridiculous state of mind.

‘This is the work of Lady Lisia.’

Such obvious jabs and mockery. She wasn’t even angry. Sebelia glanced at the place where the servant had disappeared and snapped her fingers.

“Eek!”

Then, a swarm of small rats appeared from beyond the hallway. The gray rats, their red eyes gleaming, scurried around the servant’s feet, wagging their long tails.

“Go away, go away!”

The sound of something being thrown and footsteps running away could be heard. Sebelia sighed softly and waved her hand slightly. The rats that had been burrowing into the discarded laundry instantly turned into smoke and disappeared.

“Should I have just ignored it?”

Sebelia indifferently looked in the direction the maid had fled and walked out into the central garden. For some reason, her personality seemed to have become more ferocious than before.

‘Is this okay?’

Frowning, she soon found the reason why her personality had changed. It was because of Claude and Dihart. Dealing with not one but two stubborn people seemed to have roughened her temperament.

“I wonder when he’ll be back.”

The hallway connected to the central garden extended to the hall, so anyone entering or leaving the estate could be seen at a glance. Perhaps that was why Lisia was waiting for Dihart here.

‘Once he gets back, I’ll make him treat his wound first…….’

As Sebelia continued to think about Dihart, she suddenly stopped walking. The maid’s words wouldn’t leave her head.

[You should know your place, daring to, as a commoner.]

Yes, here, away from the research lab, ‘Bella’ was just a commoner. A mediocre commoner woman with no wealth or socially recognized abilities.

‘If it were me in the past, I wouldn’t have been ignored even in the same situation.’

A cold sneer crossed her lips.

‘Because I was a lady from an impeccable family.’

It wasn’t something she had wanted, but her name was always followed by the names of families that couldn’t be ignored. Weden, a prestigious family in the central region. And then Inverness, the ducal family that ruled the north.

Perhaps that was why. Even though Sebelia was always treated as a nuisance and a burden at home, no one treated her carelessly outside.

“How novel.”

The shackles that had been binding her had also functioned as a shield, protecting her from others. Sebelia marveled at the unpleasant contradiction. Of course, that didn’t mean she particularly wanted to express gratitude for it.

Feeling strangely empty, Sebelia was about to turn around and head back to her room when it happened.

Beyond the hallway stretching out from the garden, the heavy door at the far end of the wide hall swung open. A long shadow decorated the floor of the hall along with the backlight, and soon, the sound of brisk footsteps echoed through the empty hallway.

It was Dihart.