After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 148

“Wh-What… !”

Silas flinched as the wine glass flew past his cheek. It was a natural reaction, as he still didn’t know from where his attacker was coming.

Meanwhile, Sebelia, having overheard the man’s muttering, stared at him, her face unreadable.

‘Could it be…’

It couldn’t be. It simply couldn’t be. If it were true, she would have known. But as Sebelia repeated the thought to herself, a realization dawned.

The only place she knew of whose ambassador the Emperor of the Belkram Empire would personally welcome with a welcoming party—a proud counterpart reaching out after a long period of severed ties—was just one place: Larkwood.

‘Then that man is…’

As if sensing her gaze, the man briefly turned his attention from Silas and looked at her. The eyes that had been so cold and frigid just moments ago were now as soft and warm as a spring breeze.

“It seems you didn’t quite understand me due to the language barrier, Marquis Weden. Are you claiming that a woman who uses black magic, specifically illusion magic, is a witch and that she attempted to harm you?”

“Y-Yes, that’s right.”

“And you mistakenly believed she was your lost daughter because of this witch’s scheme?”

“Yes, yes.”

Silas, completely lost as to how the situation was unfolding, answered awkwardly and looked to the First Empress for help. However, even she was at a loss this time.

*Thud.* The man, having closed the distance, stood before Silas, turned his head, and fixed his gaze on the Emperor.

“This is most unfortunate, Your Majesty.”

“…What are you talking about…?”

“To see someone who insulted and attempted to harm a member of the Ashrent bloodline [one of the most powerful families in Larkwood] in the heart of the Empire released without punishment… I believe the restoration of diplomatic ties between Larkwood and Belkram should be reconsidered.”

“Wh-What?”

Silas’s scream pierced the air. The Emperor stared at the man, his mouth agape like a dog that had its food snatched away.

“Even my own cousin is being treated with such disregard by the nobles of Belkram. If ordinary citizens were to come here, they would likely die without anyone even noticing.”

The head of the seven great families that ruled Larkwood, Rosiel Ashrent, who had arrived in Belkram as an ambassador under the King’s orders, glared at Silas with a chilling expression.

“What are you saying? That woman is your cousin? That witch?”

The First Empress shouted in disbelief, and Rosiel turned to her with a smileless face.

“Your Majesty, the First Empress, her name is Bella, and she has a proper family name: Ashrent. Unless you intend to insult the Ashrent family, I suggest you refrain from calling her a witch again.”

“……”

Rosiel, after casting a cold glance at the First Empress, addressed the Emperor in a softer tone.

“What can we do if the situation has deteriorated to this point? If Belkram’s law dictates that even attempted murderers caught red-handed are to be released without trial, then we must accept it. However, Larkwood finds it difficult to approach the Empire with peace of mind under such circumstances.”

“N-No way…”

Silas, his lips trembling, finally grasped the gravity of the situation. If the head of Ashrent was Sebelia’s family, then her mother was…

“……!”

While Silas was reeling in shock, Rosiel calmly scanned the audience and delivered a warning to everyone present.

“Ah, and as the head of Ashrent, I assure you, I will not forget the insults my family has endured today. I will repay the price for this humiliation twofold, even if it takes decades… I trust everyone will look forward to it.”

With that brutal farewell, Rosiel approached Sebelia and whispered something in her ear. The Emperor hurriedly stepped forward, as if fearing he would leave at any moment.

“Ambassador, wait! To reconsider diplomatic ties over this matter… is that truly a reasonable course of action?”

“Your Majesty, the eternal Emperor of Belkram under the sun. Unfortunately, the Lord of Larkwood has entrusted me with full authority over diplomatic matters.”

Rosiel smiled warmly and rejected the Emperor’s desperate pleas outright.

“It is indeed fortunate that Larkwood’s medicine proves particularly effective for Your Majesty’s health, but I see no reason to continue providing it while ignoring my family’s tears and humiliation. Hmm, it’s most unfortunate.”

With those words, Rosiel cast a cold gaze upon Silas and the First Empress. The Emperor immediately understood his meaning. He slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again, spitting out the words as if they were bitter to taste.

“…Take Marquis Weden to the underground prison.”

“Your Majesty!”

“First Empress, return to the palace.”

The Emperor turned his back on her and issued his orders.

“What are the knights doing? Why haven’t you taken Marquis Weden away!”

“Your Majesty, you can’t do this! Without proper evidence…”

As the First Empress trembled with anger and protested, a voice as cool as night fog echoed from somewhere.

“There is more than enough evidence. I simply haven’t had the opportunity to present it until now.”

“You are…”

The Emperor, upon recognizing Sebelia, groaned. He had ignored her as an unknown commoner until now, but now he gritted his teeth and feigned friendliness.

“Yes, what is it you wish to say?”

“If it pleases you, I would like to request that the room be cleared so I can explain everything in detail, along with the Duke [Dihart Inverness].”

The Emperor frowned, about to refuse, but Sebelia swallowed a small sigh and slowly added,

“That’s not all I have to say. In fact, with the help of Duke Inverness, I uncovered information about a medicine that could be beneficial to Your Majesty’s health, obtained from a pharmacist residing in the Duke’s mansion.”

A strange light flickered in the Emperor’s crimson eyes. The frown that had been etched with annoyance relaxed, and a much softer tone flowed from his lips.

“…That sounds like a story worth listening to.”

Only then did Sebelia allow herself a faint smile.

* * *

The Emperor must be very sensitive about his health. His attitude shifted so drastically as soon as I mentioned the medicine.

Sebelia was following the Emperor’s chamberlain to the reception room with Dihart. After hearing her story, the Emperor had smiled with satisfaction and declared that instead of dismissing everyone, he would simply change the location.

To be honest, Sebelia was somewhat surprised by his reaction. She hadn’t anticipated such a strong response to the mention of the medicine.

‘Even if he is an Emperor, is he still just human when faced with the prospect of death?’

It was an unbelievable sight, considering the Emperor of the past. He was the one who had orchestrated the political marriage to subdue the North. At that time, the Emperor had been actively meddling, attempting to bring the great nobles of other regions, except for those in the center, under his control.

And the central nobles had shared the Emperor’s ambition, burning with determination. Recalling the atmosphere of that time, so intense it felt like blood was boiling, Sebelia continued her steps.

In every garden visible through the window, there were numerous herbs and flowers, all said to be beneficial for health.

“……”

He truly values his health. Sebelia narrowed her eyes, noticing several rare herbs among them.

‘The Emperor’s illness has worsened rapidly in recent years.’

After seeing the Emperor in the Golden Flower Palace, she had been curious about the nature of his ailment, so she had returned to the mansion and searched through the data with Watz [the Duke’s personal scholar]. Watz had shown an interesting expression, remarking that the symptoms were similar to those of a patient he had encountered in the past.

‘That patient claimed he had mistakenly identified poisonous herbs as medicinal ones and had been taking them for an extended period.’

As she continued her train of thought, she realized they had arrived at their destination. The chamberlain, standing before the door of the splendid reception room, bowed and gestured for them to enter.

“Hoo.”

As Sebelia took a small, deep breath, Dihart held her hand tightly from behind. Feeling the warmth that carefully reached her, Sebelia turned her head, smiled slightly, and nodded to the chamberlain.

It was a signal that she was ready.

“Your Majesty, Lady Bella Ashrent of Larkwood and Duke Inverness have arrived.”

“Let them in.”

The Emperor commanded, his voice regaining its dignity. Watching the door slowly open with a heavy sound, Sebelia swallowed her trembling breath.

* * *

After the Emperor declared the closing of the welcoming party, people couldn’t come to their senses from the constantly erupting incidents.

The fact that Bella Apentz, a commoner who was thought to be the lost daughter of Marquis Weden, was actually a member of the great family that ruled Larkwood was the most trivial thing of all.

Because unbelievable things happened while that Bella Apentz was having a long conversation with the Emperor.

“Isn’t that the Inverness Knights?”

As soon as morning dawned, the Inverness Knights, who represented the power of the North and guarded the Duke who ruled the battlefield with the power of lightning, crossed the threshold of the Imperial Palace with a dignified appearance.

And the one who greeted them was none other than the Second Prince, Shateian.

“What on earth is going on.”

It was only for a moment that people were surprised by the unbelievable sight.

Soon, people heard that the Duke of Inverness and the Duke’s daughter were almost assassinated at the same time during the welcoming party, and that the culprits were Marquis Weden and Gren Inverness, respectively, and were shocked.

And the nobles, who were peeking around the palace to get new information faster than others, caught sight of the First Empress being transferred to the Imperial Palace by the Imperial Knights.

All of this happened by noon.

* * *

The reception room of the Imperial Palace, where people’s attention was focused. The First Empress, who did not lose her dignity even while being dragged by the knights, shouted as soon as the door opened.

“Your Majesty, this is a frame-up!”

The Emperor stared at her with cold eyes at the voice that echoed through the reception room. Meanwhile, Sebelia, who was sitting opposite the Emperor, sipped her tea with an indifferent face.

Just an hour ago, Sebelia revealed to the Emperor that the Eastern forces, led by the First Empress, were trying to kill him and use her abilities to create a substitute.”