After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 135

“Can you tell me why you tried to invite her to the mansion?”

“Ah….”

Sebellia sighed, wondering what to do. She pondered for a moment.

‘Dihart seems to consider her somewhat like family….’

At the banquet hall, he’d scolded Rosalyn as the head of the family. Unlike Claude, that implied he saw her as a member of Inverness.

If she revealed that she invited Rosalyn to examine her authenticity, he might be upset. As Sebellia hesitated, Claude, who was descending the stairs, spotted them in the hallway and approached.

“Is something the matter?”

“Ah, well.”

Sebellia, momentarily flustered, seemed to reach a decision and led them into a nearby room. The two men, suddenly brought together, stared at each other, surprised.

“Now that it’s come to this, I think it’s best to lay everything bare.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just a moment. The right to speak now belongs to Claude, not me. So, in front of your precious niece, please explain your actions from that day.”

He blinked, as if not understanding, then sighed and ran a hand over his face.

“Bella, please….”

“Do you really think it’s logical that Dihart is unaware of what I, a mere outsider, know?”

At Sebellia’s stern words, Dihart raised an eyebrow. He realized that while he’d been in his office, occupied with work, he hadn’t received any news of Claude or been informed of his visit.

“What on earth did you do?”

“It’s nothing. Really, it’s nothing. I was caught before I could do anything.”

“Then tell me the truth.”

It was rude to say to his uncle, but Claude, feeling guilty, lowered his hand from his face.

“I was just trying to confirm if she was real. Just as Sebellia’s illusion can meticulously imitate a person, there might be abilities that resemble power somewhere in this world.”

“That’s possible. So, did you also prepare a way to confirm it separately?”

Sebellia and Claude stared at him, wide-eyed at his docile reaction. Dihart raised an eyebrow, as if questioning their expectations.

“If it’s one of the possibilities, I can accept it. Rather, it’s more convenient to settle it definitively. Surely, you both didn’t expect me to get angry about how you could say such things to Rosalyn, did you?”

Dihart sighed, watching Sebellia’s mouth open and close, then asked Claude.

“Anyway, it sounds like you caused some commotion because of it.”

“Ahem.”

Claude coughed, covering his mouth with a clenched fist. Dihart shook his head, seated Sebellia, and sat beside her. Then, he spoke commandingly to Claude, who was standing.

“Then tell me. While I was struggling to prevent that ridiculous succession battle, what kind of mess were you trying to make, Uncle?”

“You always have to phrase it like that.”

“Actually, there’s no need to say it. I can see it now. You were going to disappear to investigate on your own, weren’t you?”

“How did you know?”

Sebellia turned to him, wide-eyed. Dihart chuckled, as if it were obvious.

“Isn’t it obvious? In my uncle’s eyes, I’m still a wailing brat, so he thought he couldn’t burden Rosalyn or do anything that would greatly hurt her. So, he must have taken it upon himself to find out the truth about her and solve the problem.”

It was a precise assessment of Claude’s inner thoughts. Claude was speechless, exhaling a “huh” and plopping down into a chair.

“You were worrying about something truly useless, Uncle.”

Dihart raised the corners of his mouth and rested his chin on his hand. He seemed to be enjoying the situation, calling him “Uncle” with every other word. Seeing that, Claude couldn’t help but feel relieved.

‘What am I….’

Claude clicked his tongue and asked Dihart.

“So, what were you going to do?”

“Why are you asking me about a plan to reveal the truth? I thought you two would have prepared something.”

Dihart said shamelessly, showing his palm.

“But as the Duke, I’ll tell you, nothing changes whether she’s real or not. I have no intention of giving up my position to anyone.”

Even if Rosalyn was real, he couldn’t tolerate her baring her fangs at him. No one could take the Dukedom away from him.

Now, the position of the head of Inverness was not just about representing the North, but also about having the power to protect Sebellia.

‘Third Prince Hares chose the wrong time.’

He probably tried to seize the throne by leveraging the power of the North, taking advantage of the weakened influence of the First Imperial Consort… but it was the wrong choice.

If it had been the madman he was after Sebellia’s funeral, he would have given Rosalyn the Dukedom, regardless of whether she was real or fake.

Dihart let out a cynical smile and slowly closed and opened his eyes. He could feel the air in the room on his skin. The small breaths, the sound of fabric brushing against his skin. Every small movement reminded him that Sebellia was alive and by his side.

Realizing once again how precious the being sitting next to him was, Dihart couldn’t help but let out a long sigh at the thrill that ran down his spine.

At that moment, Sebellia opened her mouth.

“Then can I speak now?”

“Of course.”

Claude said, spreading his hands like a host inviting an audience. Sebellia smiled, seeing that he was trying to ease the tension.

“Claude, do you remember what I said when you met Rosalyn earlier?”

“What did you say? Ah, about inviting her to the mansion?”

“Yes. Actually, after hearing what you said, Claude, I thought my ability might be helpful in this matter.”

Just as Claude tilted his head, not understanding, an exclamation burst from Dihart.

“Indeed.”

“Dihart?”

“Think about it, Claude. What is Bella’s ‘specialty’? What can you find out with it? You already know.”

At Dihart’s languid words, clasping his hands together, Claude’s eyes widened. His head snapped around. Sebellia nodded at the look in his eyes, confirming his thoughts.

“To be honest, I can’t guarantee that I can bring out memories from her childhood. Even when I created Nathan Wedden’s memories as an illusion that day, I didn’t directly choose his memories.”

Since she hadn’t tried her specialty since that day, it was essentially a gamble.

‘If I try a few more times, I might get a feel for it, but I don’t have plenty of time.’

Besides, there was no faster way to get immediate results, so it was the best choice for her.

“Even so, it’s useless if Rosalyn doesn’t accept the invitation.”

“I’ll make an offer she can’t refuse. They want the will of the late Duke.”

A few days ago, Hares subtly hinted to the press that he hoped to see the late Duke’s will. He even added that the reason the Duke hadn’t released the will so far was because it contained a clause stating that Rosalyn would inherit the Dukedom.

“If we say that the will cannot be taken outside, so she has to be invited to the mansion, they will have no choice but to accept.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea! Hmm, how about this condition? Only the deceased’s family can see the will, so the Third Prince cannot accompany her.”

Claude smiled and clasped his hands together. The Third Prince would hesitate at the proposal to send Rosalyn alone if he wanted to see the will. It was too tempting a bait to simply ignore.

As the story seemed to be settling down, Dihart stood up.

“Let’s send the invitation in my name. Let’s go, Bella.”

“Hmm? Do you two have somewhere to go together?”

Claude asked with wide eyes, and Sebellia said nonchalantly.

“We’ve decided to get a check-up from Watts together. Come on, let’s go.”

With those words, she held out her hand. Dihart stared silently at the hand held out in front of him, then pursed his lips and carefully took her hand.

The sight of them acting like a couple just starting to date and being shy was so absurd that Claude was at a loss for words. Who would see these two, acting like a newly dating couple, as ex-husband and ex-wife?

At that moment, Claude felt like he understood Balac’s feelings. But unlike him, he supported the two’s new beginning.

It couldn’t be helped. After all, he was Dihart’s uncle. Blood was thicker than water.

* * *

As a result of Watts’ examination, Sebellia was diagnosed with mild exhaustion and a slight fever, and Dihart was diagnosed with overwork. The two exchanged glances mixed with mild recrimination, only to be scolded by Claude.

“You can’t be getting exhausted so easily… This won’t do. It seems like it’s time for special training.”

“Special training?”

“Yes, special training. Look forward to it.”

Claude left those words and forcibly supported Dihart as they returned. Sebellia, suddenly left alone, spent the day in a state of confusion.

And the next morning, Sebellia went to the dining room and was speechless in surprise. The meal, set on the long table, was too excessive and lavish to eat for breakfast.

Watts, who had appeared unnoticed, said in an indifferent voice.

“It would be nice if you could eat it all, but that’s impossible, right? Eat as much as you can for now. After that, you can take nutritional supplements over time.”

“You were planning to feed me all of this? No, more than that, you’re saying I have to take nutritional supplements too?”

“It’s a nutritionally perfectly designed plan, so you don’t have to worry.”

Watts firmly ignored her plea.

“Watts, it’s not the nutrition that’s important. It’s the quantity that’s the problem.”

“Shall we sit down then? Dihart and Claude will be down soon.”

Her protests were useless. Even Dihart, who appeared afterward, initially glared at the table with a disgusted look, but changed his attitude in an instant after hearing Watts’ words.

“If it’s for health, it can’t be helped. Bella, if your basic stamina increases, you won’t get exhausted so easily. Now, let’s eat.”

“Haa.”

In the end, Sebellia had no choice but to pick up her utensils, and the three men, except for her, shared satisfied looks and began breakfast.

‘If I eat like this, I’ll never get hungry.’

Slicing a thick steak with a weary face, Sebellia swallowed a sigh and decided to change her mind.

Today was the day of Nathan Wedden’s interrogation anyway. She had to use illusion magic, so eating this heartily was….

‘Ah.’

Could it be. Sebellia almost bit her lip without realizing it. It was because she belatedly realized their concern for her.

‘So that’s why they’re managing my diet now.’

Leaving the laughter that flowed out as it was, Sebellia poked a shiny tomato with a fork.

If it was such cute concern, it seemed okay to accept it to her heart’s content.