After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 142

“So, you’ve decided to let it go like this?”

No matter how much I thought about it, it seemed strange. Dihart agreed with Sebelia’s words. Rosalyn’s detention was an opportunity for the Third Prince’s faction.

Duke Inverness appeared in the opposite box as soon as he heard that Rosalyn was coming to the Grand Theater, and the assassination attempt on Rosalyn took place that very day. Moreover, the Duke didn’t hand over the culprit to the Public Security Bureau but took him away himself.

It was perfect material to exaggerate and slander. But the fact that they let go of such a golden opportunity suggested that Rosalyn had used her influence.

If what the Third Prince said was true, it meant she was on their side.

Claude brought up the story in a serious tone.

“This whole situation might not have been her intention from the start. When you think about it, you can’t really say she’s in a position to fully express her own will.”

“Are you saying that Rosalyn’s intention wasn’t to start a succession fight for the Dukedom?”

It wasn’t an unreasonable statement. She was trying to avoid Hares’ attention while searching for her parents’ belongings when she was attacked.

‘If the Third Prince was willing to help, she would have asked him for help….’

The fact that she acted alone could mean that the people around Rosalyn didn’t support her desire to find her parents.

“Haa…….”

I felt uncomfortable. Was it because I was reminded of my own childhood, when I longed for my mother? Rosalyn’s last moments kept lingering in my mind.

‘This time, the situation wasn’t favorable, so I had to let her go, but next time, I will never let her go so easily.’

There must have been a reason why she had to return. For example, a loved one being held hostage.

“Dihart, have you looked into Rosalyn’s time in the Valeri territory? The reason why she had to return to Prince Hares might be there.”

“About that….”

While the two were talking seriously, Claude, who had been lost in thought, suddenly shouted, his eyes wide.

“Welcome party! There was a welcome party!”

“Yes?”

Sebelia, missing his point, asked, bewildered. But Claude just repeated that and then fell back into his own thoughts.

“I think he’s talking about the welcome party held at the Imperial Palace,” Dihart clarified. He leaned back in his chair, explaining Claude’s words calmly.

“The welcome party held to welcome ambassadors from other countries is attended by the Imperial family and their partners… I think the plan is to get Rosalyn out of there.”

Despite his calm tone, his eyes shone intensely. The knuckles of his fingers tapping on the desk were white.

“But if that happens, we’ll have to give up Nathan Wedden’s second interrogation.”

“There’s no need for that. I’ll go alone.”

Claude, having emerged from his thoughts, spoke confidently, telling them to leave it to him.

“Claude, the banquet is held at the Imperial Palace, not just anywhere. The security will be much tighter than at the exhibition hall we visited last time,” Sebelia pointed out, concerned.

Claude smiled at Sebelia’s concern.

“I’m thinking of asking the Second Prince [a member of the Imperial family]. If I attend as his partner, I’ll be able to manage somehow.”

“Are you going to reveal your identity to him?”

Claude gave Sebelia a kind look, as if hoping she would say no. But her expectation of a denial was shattered.

“I have no choice if I want to save Rosalyn.”

“Good heavens.”

“I wouldn’t be qualified to be called an uncle if I didn’t take this much risk, would I?”

“Wait a minute. Even if His Highness agrees to your request, in order to become a partner……”

“Ah, you don’t have to worry about that.”

Claude raised his hand and swept it across his face. In a short moment, Sebelia watched as the face of a middle-aged man melted away, replaced by the features of a simple woman.

“I can only maintain the appearance of a woman for half a day, but that should be enough to get Rosalyn out.”

Leaving behind a stunned Sebelia, Claude said to Dihart, “I’ll leave it to you to persuade the Prince.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a pleasing request.”

Dihart smiled brightly, imagining Shatayan’s face twisting in frustration.

Because of his friend Balak, he was very concerned about Sebelia, so he wouldn’t be able to refuse if it was for her sake.

“Then I’ll have to ask His Highness the Prince for dresses and accessories. It’s useless to prepare them here if they don’t please him.”

“Isn’t that unnecessary?”

“Get a grip, Claude. Can you imagine what people will say if His Highness the Prince’s partner enters the Imperial Palace wearing ready-made clothes bought from a street clothing store?”

While Claude was reeling from this new shock, someone knocked on the office door. It was Ilay, looking urgent.

He seemed somewhat anxious as he entered with permission. His lips were tightly bitten, and his face was pale.

“Everyone was here too.”

“Ah, Sir Ilay.”

Sebelia, who had finally come to her senses, greeted him. Ilay seemed hesitant for some reason. Dihart, noticing that he was looking at the two of them, said quietly, “Report. They are people who can know.”

“……Yes.”

Ilay, after taking a short breath, handed the thick document in his arms to Dihart. Dihart’s eyes gradually lost their warmth as he read the words on the first page.

“Everything I am about to say is a message from Sir Lyon.”

Ilay continued, pausing for a moment.

“As you ordered, we tracked down the underground organization that Lord Rasch and Mrs. Gren hired to harm and murder the Duchess. As a result, they were identified as ‘Setaar’, an underground organization that has been rooted in the East for a long time.”

Ilay continued his report quickly and accurately.

“Assuming that Mrs. Gren, who is from the East, had been using this organization for a long time, we started investigating those who had been taking care of her. I found out that one of her veteran maids regularly visits a certain place.”

Ilay paused again. Dihart’s eyes darkened as he read the document. His hand pointed to a specific point, where the details of Ilay’s report were written.

“That was one of Setaar’s branches. It had been disguised as an ordinary store all along.”

“……Yes, that’s right. We secretly raided the place last night and captured the ledger and the members. In addition, I have something to report regarding the additional matter you ordered, Duke.”

As if this was the main point, Ilay couldn’t hide his tension. Dihart, who was reading the document, raised his head and stared at him.

Looking at the sharp golden eyes, Ilay slowly moved his lips.

“I found out who ordered Setaar to attack Rosalyn.”

“…….”

“It was Mrs. Gren, Duke.”

* * *

After Rosalyn returned, tension lingered in the Silver Lily Palace for days. It was because of Hares, whose faith in her had been shaken.

He seemed good at controlling his emotions, but he often couldn’t control his anger and drove Rosalyn away, pouring out abusive language at her.

Today was no different.

“How long did you think I would turn a blind eye to your dirty tricks!”

Crash!

With the sound of something breaking, sharp shards of glass scattered everywhere. Hares, who had thrown the vase, couldn’t contain his anger and gasped.

“Were you really going to betray me and side with your family? Were you going to betray your mother, who cherished you and raised you with love, and side with them?”

Rosalyn sighed, rubbing her head at his renewed outburst. Some of the servants were even impressed by her calm and relaxed attitude.

“Hares, don’t talk about betrayal. How many times do I have to say that I was going to leave on my own terms after some time had passed?”

“Do you think you can get away with it like that? If you hadn’t done anything from the beginning, this wouldn’t have happened. Why did you hide it? Why didn’t you say you were looking for the Duchess’s belongings?”

He looked quite exhausted as he glared at her with a sweat-soaked face. He didn’t have good stamina, and he was worked up, so now he seemed to be running out of energy.

“If I had, I would have been imprisoned in the palace even sooner.”

“You……!”

“Isn’t that right?”

Hares, biting his lip, was about to grab the sword decorated on the wall when he couldn’t contain his anger.

With a click, the door opened, and the Second Empress appeared.

“Stop it, Hares.”

“Mother, what brings you here unannounced?”

Hares forced a smile, hiding his trembling hands in excitement. The Second Empress’s eyes narrowed as she looked at him.

Her son had been sensitive since he was young, easily excited and stimulated by small things. So, she deliberately kept paintings and music close to him and kept violent things like swords away.

The Second Empress sighed and gestured to the servants who followed.

“Take the Prince away. It looks like he’s about to have a fever again, so give him medicine and let him rest.”

“I’m fine!”

“Don’t be stubborn. You don’t want to look ridiculous at tomorrow’s event, do you? Don’t forget that His Majesty is paying attention to you.”

The Second Empress said coldly, stroking her son’s cheek, which was sweating. Hares knew his condition and couldn’t argue with his mother.

In the end, he lowered his head and surrendered in a weak voice.

“……I will do as you wish, Mother.”

“Good boy. Go and rest.”

As Hares left with the servants, only Rosalyn and the Second Empress remained in the room. The Second Empress, looking at Rosalyn, who had been silent for a long time, spoke in a kind voice.

“You must have been very frustrated all this time. Hares is just greedy for what is his. You probably know that too.”

“……I know. So I tried to convey my sincerity to Your Highness, but it seems like you don’t understand.”

Rosalyn smiled weakly. The Second Empress sat next to her and took her hand.

“Then why don’t you get some fresh air for a while?”

“Yes?”

As Rosalyn looked at her with a puzzled expression, the Second Empress whispered something softly in her ear. Rosalyn’s eyes widened slightly.

“That’s…….”

“Please.”

Rosalyn bit her lip tightly and nodded.

It was the day before the welcome party.