After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 92

The man, with his black hair neatly combed back and dressed in a white ceremonial robe, radiated an aura of danger. No clergyman could ever be as alluring as he was.

“It seems it’s not to your liking.”

The voice, deeper than usual, brushed past her ear. Sebelia nodded, then hesitated. Sunlight streamed in behind him, creating a halo effect. She was speechless.

“I knew it wouldn’t suit me, so don’t look at me like that.”

The man, neatly attired in a white ceremonial robe buttoned to the neck, sighed as he clasped his hands. Beneath his thick eyebrows, sorrowful golden eyes gazed at her, and his well-shaped lips parted slightly before closing again.

Her heart began to race.

‘This man is really all about his looks…!’

Sebelia was almost unconsciously captivated by Dihart’s overwhelming presence. She firmly closed her eyes, managing to resist Dihart’s formidable charm to some extent.

“Bella?”

“Go, go quickly… No, go and change quickly, before anyone sees you.”

With her eyes still closed, Sebelia reached out and turned Dihart around. Feeling his firm body beneath the soft ceremonial robe, Sebelia’s ears flushed red. *Why am I feeling this way?*

“And return this robe to its owner, okay?”

At her urging, Dihart pressed his lips tightly together. He nodded weakly, suppressing a sigh.

‘Looks like that was a failure.’

He had put so much thought into wearing it, knowing she liked the ascetic look. Dihart felt tears welling up at the situation not going his way, but he held them back. He had to make a good impression. Crying here would only make things worse.

“Haa…”

Leaving Sebelia’s room, Dihart loosened the collar he had buttoned to the top and clutched the cross necklace he had deliberately put on. A moment later, he returned dressed in his usual loose shirt and black pants.

“Whew.”

Sebelia breathed a sigh of relief at his familiar attire. Unaware that her reaction made Dihart’s face darken even more, Sebelia led him to a seat.

‘I have to apologize unconditionally.’

Dihart sat on the sofa, steeling himself. Since he had failed to score points with an outfit that suited her taste, he planned to apologize no matter what she said. Since he was at fault in the first place, it wouldn’t be difficult.

Dihart placed his hands on his knees, ready to kneel on the floor again if necessary, and waited for Sebelia. The gentle sound of water boiling bubbled through the room. Sebelia was kindly preparing tea for him. Dihart felt a lump in his throat.

“I should have boiled the water in advance. Please wait a moment.”

“I’d be happy to wait all night, so take your time.”

“…Pardon?”

“Ah, never mind.”

Dihart bit his lip at the true feelings that had slipped out without him realizing it. It had been like this ever since the research lab. In front of Sebelia, whom he had reunited with, he kept losing control of himself.

“It’s hot, so let it cool a little before you drink it.”

With a clinking sound, snacks and tea were placed in front of him. A calming fragrance, perhaps from brewed herbs, wafted up with the steam.

“…Thank you.”

Dihart gripped the teacup in his hands, even though he wouldn’t be able to drink it properly. Deliberately avoiding eye contact with Sebelia, he lifted the teacup and wet his lips.

“It must be hot.”

“I-It’s okay.”

As Sebelia said, the herbal tea was scalding, but Dihart didn’t even notice. He was trembling inside, afraid that she would say, ‘Let’s end our relationship here.’

‘Should I take the initiative?’

Had the hot tea cooked his brain, or had his trembling heart burst? The wicked personality hidden within his guilt slowly stretched out its legs.

‘She said to end the ill-fated relationship, but to be honest, there are several more terrible ill-fated relationships than me, so if I offer to take care of them first……’

It was the moment when dark thoughts were about to stain his conscience, which had been as pure as untouched snow. Sebelia opened her mouth and spoke.

“Dihart.”

“Y-Yes. No, yes, Bella. What is it?”

Dihart was so surprised that he gripped the teacup tightly, almost losing his fingerprints. It was so hot that he thought his fingers would burn off. He swallowed the pain and put the teacup down.

Seeing this, Sebelia took a deep breath and began. Dihart swallowed hard.

“I’ll be honest.”

“Yes.”

Dihart nodded, barely managing to bow his stiff neck. His hands were already gripping his pants tightly.

“You probably realize now that our marriage was never going to work from the start, right?”

“…….”

“It’s not just because it was a forced arranged marriage for the political reasons of the Central and Northern regions… From the beginning, we both had fundamental problems.”

Sebelia stared at Dihart with sunken eyes. Pale and stiff, he stared down at the teacup, not even breaking a sweat.

A long time passed. A dry voice, as stiff as a dry twig breaking, echoed in the room.

“There was nothing wrong with you.”

Dihart, who had already raised his head, was staring at Sebelia with eyes burning like flames.

“There was, truly, nothing wrong with you.”

“Dihart, you know now too. Weden has been deceiving me, pretending that I was their beloved youngest daughter. So……”

“That wasn’t a problem at all!”

Dihart shouted, looking as if he was about to be strangled. With a pale face, he grabbed Sebelia’s hand. It was an unconscious action.

“Why is it your responsibility and fault that the Weden family abused you and deceived people by pretending to shower you with affection? You were a child, and you were helpless. You were a victim cornered enough to see marriage with me as an escape route……!”

“…….”

“Why, why are you saying that you are also at fault even when things have come to this?”

Dihart said in a pleading voice, tightening his grip on her hand.

“When you said let’s end the ill-fated relationship, I naturally thought it would be a time to reflect on my mistakes. I thought that my foolish and stupid thoughts and judgments had turned our relationship, which could have had a happily ever after like a fairy tale, into an ill-fated one, and that I would hear your scolding.”

Sebelia couldn’t say anything and just moved her lips. Seeing her like that, Dihart felt like his heart was collapsing.

“Ha……!”

A bitter laugh burst from Dihart’s mouth. She wasn’t kind, nor was she considerate enough to wait until a bastard like him admitted his sins.

She just thought that she was also responsible for this terrible situation! Abandoning her life, abandoning her name, abandoning her past, and running away alone with a terminally ill body. Suffering so much, never receiving the love she deserved, and yet she couldn’t even think of herself as a complete victim until the end!

Dihart felt like he was going crazy. It was as if someone had pushed gunpowder into his throat and lit it. He wanted the world to explode. He wanted to run to Hillen Hall right now and tear Silas limb from limb.

“Hoo…….”

Dihart closed his eyes tightly and tried to calm the rising anger. Sebelia stared at him with confused eyes. Dihart barely opened his eyes at the gaze that reached his face.

“But, Dihart. I am also responsible. Even then, I should have told you that I wasn’t that important to Weden. If I had, the misunderstanding of being a spy would have been resolved……”

“I, I wouldn’t have listened!”

“…….”

“The me back then would have dismissed even your confession as an excuse. No matter what evidence you presented, I would have thought it was a lie and turned away. So please, please stop.”

He tried to persuade Sebelia, swallowing the anger and despair that had risen to the back of his throat.

“This isn’t right, Bella. It’s not right this way. You are not responsible for our ‘ill-fated relationship’ that you speak of. If it’s like this… I cannot agree to end my ill-fated relationship with you.”

Swallowing a hot breath, Dihart said with blazing eyes.

“Take revenge on me instead.”

“Dihart!”

Sebelia cried out in a shrill voice. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

“Do you even know what you’re saying right now?”

She hardened her face terribly and tried to pull her hand away from Dihart’s grasp, but it was no use. Dihart grabbed her hand even tighter and stood up. His shadow cast over the table covered Sebelia. Blue eyes shook violently as she looked up at Dihart.

“I’ll help you. No, that’s not enough for me. Let’s take revenge on everyone who made you suffer. Even if you don’t want it, I will. I’ll expose the true nature of those bastards in front of your kind and gentle eyes.”

A low voice landed heavily on the cold teacup. Blazing eyes captured the fluctuating blue eyes.

“The people who made you like this. The people who cornered you when you were young and took away even a shred of hope, eventually making you think that you are also responsible, after plunging them into the mire and listening to the disgusting words that come out of their mouths……”

With a dazed face, Sebelia stared blankly up at Dihart. Golden eyes shining in the backlight were gleaming eerily.

“You won’t have such a foolish thought that you are also responsible for that hell you had to go through.”

Crack, crack. White flames erupted behind Dihart’s back. It was a sign of rampage.

“Ah.”

The golden eyes were already dyed pure white. At that moment, Sebelia realized that Dihart was still insane.