After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 110

Seeing Dihart struggling with an unexpected dilemma, Sebelia realized she had made a mistake. She thought back and realized she had forgotten to explain it earlier because the situation hadn’t been ideal. She tilted her head, wondering what to do, and then her eyes met Claude’s through the slightly open door.

‘Can I tell him?’

‘Do as you please.’

The master and disciple, who had become quite close, communicated perfectly without uttering a single word. By that time, Dihart had realized that he had forcibly dragged Sebelia into the room and had turned pale as a sheet.

“That’s not what I intended.”

Sebelia gently patted the back of his hand as he murmured, reassuring him. Now that she thought about it, she had quite a few things to tell him as well.

“Calm down first. I know what you’re worried about.”

“Bella……”

“Actually, thank you for asking. It’s something I had forgotten about too.”

As Dihart tilted his head, Sebelia led him further into the room and gestured towards the door. Claude silently closed it. Sebelia felt relieved and began to explain to Dihart.

“I probably won’t ever be able to take on that appearance you saw back then again.”

“Huh?”

“Back then, I was lucky enough to have the tools and time to prepare for the Overwrite [a technique to temporarily assume another’s appearance]. I probably won’t be able to do the same thing again.”

The shaman’s talisman used to fix the spying illusion was now gone. She had used all the spares to escape Nella’s scheme, so Sebelia could not perform Overwrite.

“Overwrite is Claude’s specialty, not mine. Actually, it was pretty much a failure even back then. Don’t you remember? Unlike Claude, my physique and voice didn’t change even after I used Overwrite.”

“That’s, yes. I see. Claude’s voice is different when he’s Carl Ofen.”

As Sebelia shrugged, Dihart frowned as if something didn’t sit right with him. But there was nothing he could do. That was the reality.

“So, one less thing to worry about now, right?”

“Ah…. I’m sorry.”

Dihart exclaimed and touched his lips. Sebelia stared at him, his face full of embarrassment as if he had nitpicked over something trivial, and then smiled for a moment.

“Then, it’s my turn now.”

“Yes?”

Dihart’s golden eyes blinked blankly. Sebelia sat him down on a chair with a bright smile. As Dihart looked up at her, Sebelia took something clattering out of her pocket.

“You were smoking this all night while you were sleeping.”

Looking at the silver case that still had a lingering scent, Dihart let out a low groan. He pinched the bridge of his nose, and his eyelids drooped heavily over his eyes.

“Dihart, this is a highly addictive type of stimulant.”

“……I know.”

Sebelia swallowed a small sigh at the slow reply. She looked at Dihart with eyes that didn’t know what to do, then put the silver case back in her pocket.

“You’re someone who has been addicted to strong drugs before. So, you should know not to touch things like this carelessly.”

Dihart bowed his head instead of answering. His trembling eyes were visible between his hands covering his face. Sebelia said firmly.

“I hope this doesn’t happen again.”

“…….”

“I know it’s meddling, but I have a few more words to add. Dihart, this isn’t just for your health. Think a little bit about Claude, who took care of you all night while you were sick.”

Sebelia recalled Claude, who had held onto her with a desperate face, asking if she knew anything about Dihart’s condition.

What must have been the heart of an uncle who had to directly witness his nephew, whom he had only met after decades, writhing in pain?

Sebelia stared at him with sad eyes. Dihart hesitated, moving his lips at her gaze that seemed to pierce his lungs, then slowly covered his mouth and turned his head.

“…I’ll try.”

Dihart promised in a rough voice. The hand that covered half of his face trembled slightly, but Sebelia was too focused on his words to notice.

“I won’t smoke stimulants in the future.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Sebelia was relieved to hear a positive answer from Dihart. With a much more relaxed face, she said cheerfully.

“Then, I’ll be on my way. Everyone must be waiting.”

“Okay.”

Dihart slowly followed her. As the distance between them widened, Sebelia looked back with questioning eyes, but he shook his head as if to say not to worry.

‘Not now, not now…….’

Watching Sebelia’s long shadow touch his toes, he swallowed his accumulated desires. If he took one more step closer, he felt like he would hug her without realizing it.

He felt like he would not be able to hold back the foolish questions, asking if she was worried about him, if he could even have a little hope.

So, this distance was the best he could do for now.

* * *

Dihart was the first to finish his meal. It couldn’t be helped. The presence of Sebelia sitting across from him kept stealing his attention, making it impossible for him to think.

“I’ll get up first.”

“Already?”

Sebelia looked at him with a surprised face. Dihart almost sat next to her without realizing it and poured out empty questions, but he barely managed to hold back.

“I have some urgent business to take care of.”

“Ah…….”

With a subtle sigh, Sebelia nodded. Dihart secretly gestured to Claude and then left the dining room.

A moment later, Claude knocked on the door of the office. Dihart got up without delay.

“What’s the matter?”

As he opened the door, Claude asked as if he had been waiting. Dihart slowly shook his head.

“It’s not serious.”

“Hmm.”

“Really. I just have something I want to ask you.”

“Um? You have something you’re curious about regarding me?”

“To be exact, I’m curious about you, Bella’s teacher.”

A strange light flashed in Claude’s eyes as he realized what Dihart was about to say. As he grinned, Dihart frowned and said.

“So, how is the training going to figure out Bella’s special ability?”

If Sebelia’s special ability was as useful as Claude’s, he might not have to throw himself into traps himself. Dihart had not yet abandoned that faint possibility.

“Ah, that…. I’m sorry to disappoint you, but there haven’t been any significant results yet.”

Claude trailed off, stroking his chin. Originally, before creating the spying illusion, Sebelia had practiced various illusion techniques with him to find out what her special ability was.

“Well, it’s not like there are no clues.”

It was the moment Claude was about to continue, frowning, when a loud footstep echoed from the hallway.

Ilay was moving with hurried steps, his eyes narrowed. He knocked, holding a thick stack of papers preciously.

“Your Grace. It’s Ilay.”

Dihart, who glanced at Claude once, swept back his hair. The reason Ilay came in a hurry was obvious. He must have sorted out the reports sent by the spy. He crossed his arms and said.

“Mr. Ofen, let’s continue this story later.”

Claude shrugged and left.

* * *

“The Imperial Concubine invited her?”

Shateian, who was leaning halfway on the chair and reading a book, turned her head and asked. As the red eyes wrapped in white eyelashes turned to her, Ludmill nodded again.

“Yes, it seems she’s trying to meet her directly and persuade her…….”

The reason she trailed off was not because she was unsure about the information she had found out. Shateian also agreed with Ludmill on this point. The Imperial Concubine was not so free that she would directly step out for such a thing.

“It certainly smells suspicious. The Imperial Concubine I know regards her family, except for her son, as less than bugs.”

But she personally sends an invitation and meets directly to persuade her for the sake of her fiancé’s lost family? There’s no way. Shateian chuckled.

“…….”

“What do you think, Ludmill? In fact, you are the one who knows the Imperial Concubine’s methods best.”

Shateian narrowed her eyes, rolling around like a cat in the sun.

“It’s a memory I don’t really want to recall…….”

Ludmill’s complexion turned pale. She recalled the days when she had blocked the assassins sent by the Imperial Concubine, day and night. She had suffered so much back then. One day, she had even cursed at Balak, who had left her here, and poured out curses at the sky.

Ludmill still felt breathless whenever she thought about that time. He shook his head, saying.

“I first encountered such a reckless human wave tactic here in the first place. To throw people away like consumables. I certainly came to know well that Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine has no heart for people.”

“Haha, no heart for people. That’s quite a gentle assessment.”

Shateian laughed softly and then got up from her seat. Judging by the time, it was almost time for Balak to arrive.

“Anyway, I’m glad I can bring good news to Balak. I haven’t been able to sleep for the past few days because he’s been nagging me to find a way to meet his cousin.”

Shateian grumbled and smoothed her clothes. In fact, she also wanted to meet her. But what could she do when she was holed up in Inverness Mansion, rejecting all visits and invitations?

However, the days of being tormented by Balak’s nagging were now over. Shateian waited for Balak with half relief and half excitement.

And she finally told him the words he wanted to hear when he appeared.

“Balak, welcome. I have very good news.”

“What? Bella said she would meet me?”

When, where, and how! Balak, who came with shining eyes as soon as he took off his coat, was like a madman. Calming him down, Shateian continued.

“I’m too scared to speak. You’ll get to meet her without getting so excited. I heard she was invited to the art exhibition hosted by the Imperial Family tomorrow.”

Shateian held up two invitations that she had skillfully stolen, and Balak frowned and snatched them away. Soon, Balak’s brow furrowed terribly.