After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 139

Sevelia headed straight to the first-floor lounge without delay. On her way, she made eye contact with an Inverness knight disguised as an audience member. He looked surprised and tried to approach her, but she raised her hand to stop him.

‘Go and get Dihart. To the first-floor women’s lounge.’

She mouthed the words silently, and the knight nodded before disappearing up the stairs. Sevelia clutched the cumbersome dress hem in both hands and quickened her pace again.

“Where… Found it.”

Sevelia grabbed the doorknob without hesitation. But no matter what she did, the door only rattled and wouldn’t open. Just then, a blue feather slipped out from the door gap, and with a click, the latch was released.

[Thank you.]

Sevelia gave Etira a brief thank you and opened the door to step inside. The blue bird chirped softly and nestled into her sleeve.

“What is this?”

The blue eyes scanning the room widened in bewilderment.

The lounge, about the size of a small theater, was filled with thick fog. At the same time, a loud bang was heard. Sevelia turned around in surprise. The door that should have been behind her had vanished without a trace.

‘It’s okay. Let’s stay calm.’

Since she had already called Dihart, nothing major should happen. She cautiously began to explore the fog-shrouded lounge. Rosalyn was definitely in here.

‘Should I call her name?’

She hesitated for a moment but decided against it. An attempt to help might actually put Rosalyn in danger. Instead, Sevelia decided to send Etira, who was still in her sleeve.

[Etira, listen carefully. If you find the Lady, don’t make a sound and come back to me…]

Just then, something flashed beyond the partition wall dividing the lounge space. It was lightning.

“……!”

Without delay, Sevelia moved towards the spot where the flash had appeared. Sounds that she hadn’t heard before gradually began to reach her ears.

“Ugh…!”

“You really are good at running away, Lady!”

“Get away from me!”

“Oh my, how scary.”

Neither voice was entirely familiar, but it was clear who was on the defensive. It was Rosalyn.

“Keuk!”

“Just give up, Rosalyn. I’ll admit you’re the real Princess. Otherwise, who would be so driven mad by the mention of their mother’s keepsake that they would chase after it all the way here?”

Giggles erupted, and someone choked out a moan.

“I won’t let you get away with this.”

“Yes, yes. By all means. Not that you’ll ever leave this place alive anyway.”

Sevelia slowly moved towards the direction of the voices. Figures gradually became visible in the thick fog. As Sevelia cautiously approached, she stopped abruptly.

“Keuheok….”

Someone had wrapped a rope around Rosalyn’s neck, tightening her windpipe.

“You’re only helpful when you’re dead, Rosalyn.”

At that moment, Sevelia felt a string in her head snap.

Whooong-

“Kyaa, what is it!”

“Cough!”

The force choking her neck disappeared. Rosalyn blinked her tearful eyes and dazedly rose to her feet.

“……!”

In the distance, a faint light spread out in all directions, piercing through the fog. As her vision cleared, Rosalyn opened her mouth, but then she saw something flying through the air.

It was Lady Fria, who had been strangling her.

“Aaaagh!”

Thud! Lady Fria crashed against the opposite wall and slumped to the floor. She was completely unconscious, not moving at all. Rosalyn trembled as she watched the streak of bright blue light gripping her body.

‘What is going on?’

Has someone come to help me? Or… Rosalyn strained her hand to summon lightning, but it was no use.

‘Damn it.’

The unknown poison rendered her helpless. Just then,

“Lady Rosalyn.”

Rosalyn gasped at the sound of the clear, refreshing voice. Lifting her head with disbelief, she trembled as she saw the face illuminated by the light in the fog.

“Are you alright?”

“Y-you are… Cough!”

“You don’t have to say anything more. I’ve called Dihart, so he’ll be here soon. Let me help you up.”

“This place… No!”

Rosalyn’s eyes widened as much as they could. Fria, who had regained consciousness, was behind Sevelia, holding a sharp dagger.

How could she?

Everything seemed to slow down. The dark blue dagger plunged towards Sevelia’s neck. No. Rosalyn reached out to push Sevelia away. But it was already too late.

The moment the sharp blade touched Sevelia’s skin,

Kwaang!

Light exploded. Unlike the blue light that had pierced the fog earlier, a golden radiance filled with sacred power spread out before Rosalyn.

“Aaaagh!”

Fria screamed, cowering. The hand holding the dagger was charred black. But Rosalyn was distracted by something else.

“Ah, I see….”

Sevelia, with a calm expression, glanced back and then turned her head forward again. Lady Fria seemed completely unconscious and unable to get up again.

She rummaged through her cloak and pulled out something. It was a small box with a velvet ribbon.

The radiant light, like the sun, was emanating from that small box.

“This isn’t how I wanted to say this… Lady Rosalyn, would you mind having a word with me for a moment?”

“What is… No… What is going on?”

Sevelia smiled wryly at Rosalyn, who couldn’t seem to gather her wits. She loosened the ribbon around the small box and opened the lid, saying,

“First, unlike the Lady who’s passed out over there, I want to assure you that I don’t lie.”

“……”

“This is the Bracelet of Yuria, a sacred artifact that has been passed down in Inverness for generations.”

Inside the small box was a diamond bracelet with intricate craftsmanship. The Bracelet of Yuria. Rosalyn repeated the name in her mind and then remembered the stories associated with the bracelet.

“A guardian artifact that protects its owner.”

Rosalyn murmured with a dazed expression.

“I heard you were looking for sacred artifacts for some reason. So…”

A loud noise began to be heard in the distance. A rough sound, like something being broken and kicked, gradually grew closer, and soon Dihart appeared with a terrifying glint in his eyes.

“Bella, Rosalyn!”

He appeared with a voice that seemed to boil over, and immediately pulled the two into his arms, then ordered the knights who followed him in.

“Bind the fallen and transport them to the mansion. Do not allow the intervention of the guard or the Security Bureau. If someone from the Imperial Family comes, send them back immediately, and if anyone resists, use my name to suppress them!”

The voice, spat out like a roar, echoed through the walls and ceiling. The knights took their orders, and Dihart strode out the door.

“Is he outside?”

“He must be waiting with the carriage.”

At Sevelia’s voice, which was heard a little further away, Rosalyn finally realized that she was being held in Dihart’s arms. Sevelia, who had somehow slipped away, was walking beside Dihart with a neat face.

“Let’s return to the mansion as soon as possible. The Lady’s condition is not good.”

“I should send a knight ahead to tell Watz to prepare.”

“No, I.”

I have to return to the Imperial Palace. The will to protest crumbled like a sandcastle before a wave, overwhelmed by the stress that belatedly rushed in.

“Ugh……”

The world gradually turned black. She felt strong arms tightly embracing her. It was definitely someone she should hate, but for some reason, she felt a sense of relief.

* * *

“Huk.”

When she opened her eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling greeted Rosalyn. Looking around with a hazy gaze, she remembered the situation before she lost consciousness.

If she remembered correctly, she had lost consciousness in the Duke’s arms.

‘Then this is the Inverness mansion.’

Rosalyn’s face turned pale as she rose to her feet. As if to confirm her guess, the Inverness ducal crest was engraved on the basin placed on the bedside table.

‘I have to go back.’

She didn’t know what kind of repercussions this news would have if it reached Hares or the Second Empress’s ears. She barely managed to gather her staggering body and get out of bed when the door opened.

“……!”

“You’re awake. How are you feeling? I’ve already contacted the Imperial Family, so don’t worry.”

It was a warm gaze. Confused by the inexplicable kindness, Rosalyn momentarily forgot to brace herself. Soon, her body tilted and the soft carpet quickly came into view.

Paah-

“You shouldn’t overdo it, Lady.”

It was the power she had seen in the lounge last time. A stream made by weaving together the blue light of dawn gently wrapped around Rosalyn’s body and placed her back on the bed.

“What are you thinking? What do you want from me that you did that? You contacted the Imperial Family, are you perhaps holding me hostage?”

Rosalyn was startled and covered her mouth with her hand at the sincerity that leaked out through her confused mind. Sevelia widened her eyes and sat on the edge of the bed, quietly looking at her.

“Well, it would be a lie to say that I simply wanted to help without any particular reason.”

“I suppose so.”

“But that doesn’t mean I’m going to take you hostage.”

There is no such thing as a favor without a price. Rosalyn, who had realized that fact since she was young, asked sharply. Sevelia remained silent for a moment, then opened the drawer of the bedside table and took out a familiar box.

It was the box containing the Bracelet of Yuria. Rosalyn frowned when she saw it.

“What are you going to do with this…”

“Actually, I was going to negotiate with you using this. Of course, I don’t intend to do that now. The power contained within was only for one use. Now it’s just an ordinary bracelet.”

“What……”

“You know that I can sift through people’s memories and create them in reality, right?”