After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 100

“Uh.”

“That person is…”

An identical exclamation rippled through the hall, every voice in unison. Hundreds of pairs of eyes widened, fixed on the doorway now standing open. The Duke of Inverness, the subject of much talk in the capital these past few days, had made a leisurely entrance as the last spectator to arrive.

Despite his refined appearance, there was something unsettling about his golden eyes. The fact that his shirt was buttoned all the way up to his neck made him seem less polished and more like a wild beast restrained by a leash.

He scanned the hall with a glint in his eyes, then turned to Sebelia, his voice a sweet murmur.

“I’m not late, I see.”

“Fortunately.”

Only then did the onlookers realize he was escorting someone. Startled by Dihart’s intense aura, they lowered their gazes and held their breath.

“That face is…!”

Small whispers, like the chirping of birds, spread rapidly. Fans fluttered incessantly, concealing faces. The woman linked arm-in-arm with the Duke was none other than the person whose face had graced the capital’s newspapers more than once.

The pair moved forward, seemingly oblivious to the stares. Like the parting of the sea, the crowd naturally yielded a path for them.

A hapless employee, soon to be responsible for igniting the capital’s social circles with gossip, greeted them, barely managing to conceal his trembling.

“T-Tickets… No, I’ll check your seats.”

As the frozen employee stammered through his duties, Dihart smoothly produced the tickets from his pocket and presented them. The employee, barely glancing at them, quickly gestured them toward their seats.

“This way, please.”

“Ah.”

Suddenly, Dihart paused, raising his head to survey the hall. His golden eyes swept across the faces staring at him, reaching all the way to the entrance.

Dihart, a smile playing on his lips, turned to Sebelia and spoke, his voice carrying through the hushed hall. The employee trembled with an ominous premonition.

“Bella, it seems Mr. Appenz is going to be late after all.”

“Oh my, I’m so sorry. My uncle often forgets things like this. My parents always nagged him about it,” Bella exclaimed, her cheeks flushed. She looked every bit the innocent young lady, yet her voice was clear and steady. As a result, everyone in the hall could hear Sebelia’s words without missing a single one.

“We can’t blame Miss Bella for Mr. Appenz’s laziness. So, what should we do?”

Dihart pretended to consider Sebelia’s words, humming thoughtfully and letting out a short sigh before turning his attention to the employee. The employee, who had been blankly watching the exchange, flinched and stammered.

“Let’s go in first, at least. Please guide us to the box seats, then.”

“Yes, yes!”

Led by the employee, the two moved on. Shortly after, the staff began urging people to take their seats, announcing the imminent start of the opera. Once seated, the audience could finally give voice to the spectacle they had just witnessed.

“Doesn’t she look exactly like the Marquis of Weden’s lost daughter? Could it be that the Duke of Inverness is forcibly keeping his wife’s identical sister…!”

“That’s an interesting hypothesis. But I heard that she came to the capital with her uncle, so wouldn’t that invalidate the assumption that she’s the Marquis of Weden’s lost daughter?”

“You never know. Maybe she’s an adopted child and doesn’t know it.”

People speculated, eager to fill the time before the curtain rose. Most seemed captivated by the enjoyable topic that could help them pass the time. Except for one person: Nathan.

“He’s playing a ridiculous trick.”

“Don’t take it too seriously, Nathan. Is this the first time she’s acted like this?” Nellia smiled nonchalantly, fluttering her fan.

“As always, if you coax and appease her, she’ll change her mind again. She’s a good kid. She’s our only sister, after all.”

“You’re too kind.”

“It’s only natural, since I’m going to be the Empress of this country,” Nellia whispered from behind her fan. Nathan frowned for a moment, then sighed and relaxed his expression. She was right. It was just Sebelia, after all. A lacking child who could only run away, even with the ability of an illusionist.

What would he gain by being serious about such a child?

‘The important thing is what the Duke of Inverness, who has her with him, is thinking.’

Does he know that Sebelia is his wife and keeps her by his side? If so, why? What does he gain by doing so? Nathan felt a headache coming on.

While he continued his headache-inducing speculation, the curtain rose for the performance.

* * *

“So this is what a box seat looks like. There’s something on the table. Flowers and refreshments… Ah, is this an opera glass [small binoculars used for viewing performances]?”

Sebelia chattered, looking around the box seat with wonder. Dihart pressed his lips tightly at her admiring tone. Since he was not a patron of the grand theater, he could not be given a family seat, so he had no choice but to book a regular box seat.

‘If I had known this would happen, I would have put my name on the list of sponsors in advance.’

He regretted burning the sponsorship application letter in the past with a snort.

“It looks like it’s starting, Dihart. Let’s hurry and take our seats.”

“…Alright.”

Dihart swallowed a small sigh and sat next to Sebelia. He was upset by her reaction, which was full of admiration.

‘She grew up in the capital for over twenty years, yet this is her first time at the grand theater, the pride of Langue Elisa.’

Dihart gritted his teeth, realizing once again how desolate her childhood had been. But that was only for a moment. Sebelia was soon immersed in the enchantment of the opera, as if she had been waiting for it, and Dihart was completely captivated by her lively eyes.

The first act ended, signaling intermission. The small murmurs that had sprung up gradually grew louder. He could feel the people sitting below the box seats looking up at them from time to time.

And, as if on cue, Karl Appenz appeared in the box seat.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

“Mr. Appenz is always a busy man.”

“Worts says opera isn’t really his thing, so he’s waiting outside.”

“I see. That’s a shame.”

Everyone saw Dihart shaking hands with a middle-aged man he was meeting for the first time. Sebelia watched the scene, whispered something to Dihart, and left the box seat. Then she saw Worts, standing in the hallway with a bored face.

“Mr. Worts.”

“Miss Bella.”

Worts greeted her with a faint smile. She could feel the gazes of the other nobles chatting in the hallway fixed on them.

“Did you enjoy the opera?”

“Yes. It was much more exciting than I thought. I wish you could have seen it too, Mr. Worts.”

The prima donna [lead female singer in an opera], who glared at her co-star as if she would kill him at any moment and sang with tremendous volume, came to mind. Even though she performed with such tremendous acting, her pitch never wavered. As expected of the opera singer that the capital boasts of.

“I’m fine. But I think you should hurry back before the intermission is over.”

“Is it already that time? Then I’ll see you after the opera is over.”

Sebelia left with a light greeting and headed to the powder room. She could feel the lingering gazes of the people who were wondering whether to talk to her following her back. But Sebelia moved on without giving them a chance.

And soon, she faced the person she had been waiting for.

“Could you spare me some time?”

Rosy cheeks, eyes twinkling like stars. One of the flowers of high society, who had grown up in love and attention and captivated people with an innocent attitude as if it were natural.

“I really wanted to meet you.”

Nellia Weden smiled kindly at Sebelia.

* * *

The bell rang, signaling the start of the second act. It was already too late to return to her seat. Sebelia refused Nellia’s invitation to sit down.

“So, what’s the matter, Lady Nellia? I don’t think we’re close enough to have a leisurely chat.”

Nellia pouted and said sullenly, treating her like a stranger.

“It’s been a while since we’ve met, you know. You’re still as cold as ever, aren’t you?”

“…”

“Loosen up your eyes a little. Father always said that. He said that everyone looks at you unkindly because you treat people like that.”

The naturally started scolding always ended up being Sebelia’s fault, as always. Sebelia thought that she would probably be scolded for breathing wrong even if she did nothing and just breathed.

‘I shouldn’t have met her.’

She met her hoping to find out her father’s intentions, but she only ended up feeling worse.

Sebelia swallowed a sigh at her sister’s unchanging attitude. Dihart was right. They weren’t even interested in why she made that choice.

“You must have mistaken me for someone else. I have nothing more to say, so I’ll be on my way.”

“Sebelia, are you going to keep doing this?”

Nellia sighed deeply and looked up at Sebelia as if she were looking at a naive younger sister, using a coaxing voice.

“I don’t know why you chose such a difficult and complicated path, but Father has decided to respect your wishes. He’ll create a new identity for you, so just come back. Do you really think you, who have grown up being pampered all your life, can adapt to the life of a commoner?”

Sebelia felt suffocated. The person who had been mocking and despising her all her life was now trying to persuade her to come back, saying that her life wasn’t so bad after all.

The emotions that had been boiling up when she saw Nellia froze coldly in an instant. Sebelia retorted in a low voice.

“It’s just going to dirty my mouth if I say any more. I’m going back.”

“Haa, I knew you were going to hold out until the end. At least listen to what Father has to say.”

Sebelia turned her body halfway and stared at Nellia. Nellia flinched for a moment at the fierce gaze, but soon realized that the other person was just her insignificant sister and returned to her usual face.

“If you come back, he said he’ll tell you about your birth mother, who you’ve been so curious about.”