After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 151

I wouldn’t be so restless if I were planning to leave without any worries after finishing things, like when I first planned my revenge against my father.

But that wasn’t the case. The problem was that I had become greedy, wanting him by my side.

“Are you really okay? Should I bring a doctor now, even if it’s late?”

Dehart asked, holding my hand. Sebelia took a breath and met his gaze.

“If it’s hard to speak, please just nod.”

The more his gentle voice settled in my ear, the longer his worried, tender gaze lingered on my cheeks and forehead, the more my lips stuck together, unable to move.

“Bella.”

Faced with Dehart’s sigh, Sebelia was at a loss for words, anxiously wondering what to do.

‘What should I do?’

I wasn’t planning to bear the burden of my father’s issues alone. As a child who had never received love, I wasn’t going to carry the guilt he had to bear alone.

But facing him like this made my heart feel strange. I wanted to press him, asking if he was really okay, but at the same time, I wanted to ignore it forever.

Even though I knew I shouldn’t.

‘It’s an issue we have to address someday.’

Sebelia thought carefully. For the sake of the future, the story about her father had to be resolved. If possible, it would be best to end it without hurting each other too much.

It was when Sebelia had finally sorted out her thoughts after a long time. Knock, knock. A neat knock was heard, along with the voice of a servant.

“We have a guest.”

The person who visited Inverness Mansion with good timing was none other than Rossel Ashrent.

* * *

“To think the day would come when I’d see your face this close.”

The mournful voice gradually faded, soon covered in sobs. He started crying as soon as he sat down. Sebelia, unable to even exchange greetings, handed him a handkerchief with a flustered expression.

“You, you carried this around.”

“Ah.”

Rossel’s eyes welled up with tears again at the sight of the handkerchief Balak had given her. Sebelia blinked blankly at his appearance, so different from when she had seen him at the welcoming party.

‘He didn’t come to cry, did he…?’

Sebelia grew a little anxious as she watched Rossel, who was busy dabbing his tears with the handkerchief without even exchanging greetings or getting to the point. The last glimpse of Dehart’s face had been subtly distorted.

‘I think I gave him some unnecessary worries.’

But now that she had met Rossel, she had to focus on her time with him. When Sebelia asked him if he was okay with a worried expression, Rossel smiled faintly and put down the handkerchief.

“I’m sorry. After hearing about you from Balak, I’ve been eagerly waiting for this day, so I couldn’t suppress my emotions.”

“Ah…”

“You probably already know my name. I’m Rossel Ashrent.”

Rossel, who smiled brightly like sunlight, stood up and held Sebelia’s hands tightly.

“Your cousin.”

“I know that. So, nice to meet you, Rossel. As you know, I’m Bella.”

His friendly atmosphere was awkward yet not unpleasant, so Sebelia unknowingly replied bluntly and then felt a pang of regret. But Rossel didn’t seem to mind.

Rossel, who squeezed Sebelia’s hands one last time, released her hands and sat down, saying,

“So, have you thought about it?”

“Pardon?”

Sebelia tilted her head, her eyes wide as if she didn’t understand what he was saying. Rossel tilted his head along with her.

“Didn’t you read the letter?”

“Ah.”

The letter she had only opened the envelope of and hadn’t read came to mind. As she let out a soft exclamation, Rossel lowered his eyes as if he understood what had happened.

“Oh dear, I was too hasty.”

Rossel clicked his tongue softly and apologized. When Sebelia still didn’t understand the situation, he added an explanation.

“I put a mark on the envelope that alerts me when it’s opened. So I thought you had woken up, read the letter, and came running.”

“I’m sorry, I haven’t read the contents yet. If it’s not too much trouble, can I ask what it’s about now?”

“Well, that is.”

The light blue eyes darted around before settling on a point. A man with a chilling aura, heading straight towards them, caught her eye.

“I’m sorry, but could you please leave, Duke? It’s been a while since we’ve had family time.”

Despite Rossel’s cold voice, Dehart ignored him and took his place next to Sebelia. A murderous aura emanated from him as he plopped down.

“Dehart, what’s wrong?”

“First, let me apologize for touching your things without permission.”

Dehart ignored Rossel and first apologized to Sebelia in a gentle voice. He rummaged through his coat for a moment and took out something from his inside pocket, which was strangely familiar.

It was Rossel’s letter that she had left in the book. Sebelia gasped softly.

“The maid found this in a book she dropped while organizing the gifts. I would have left it in its place as usual, but I felt an ominous aura and checked it just in case.”

Dehart glared at Rossel with a cold face and continued.

“Was this the reason you wanted to meet Bella today, Ambassador? Instead of wishing her happiness, which she has finally regained, you’re trying to take her to a land she’s never seen before and have her start all over again from scratch?”

“…”

“A new beginning in a new land. Have you ever considered how much of a burden that would be for her, who has just found her place?”

Rossel was silent, and Sebelia let out a silent scream.

‘I shouldn’t have.’

While Dehart was questioning Rossel, Sebelia took the letter from his hand. As he said, the letter was filled with all sorts of flowery words promising to take her to Rookwood [a region or country] and guarantee her a brilliant future.

‘He didn’t give up.’

She thought only Balak was like that, but Rossel was the same. Sebelia now felt less awkward with her cousin in front of her.

Meanwhile, Rossel met Dehart’s intense gaze and chuckled.

“I find that a bit absurd. I’ll say it again, Duke. This is a family matter. I acknowledge your devotion to Bella, but you are, after all, an outsider.”

“I didn’t come here to hear those words.”

“Anyone would think I’m forcibly taking her away. Ha, I’m sorry, but unlike someone, I’m not the kind of person who harasses and torments their family just because they don’t like them.”

Rossel brought up his past of treating Sebelia harshly. Dehart’s complexion paled at the pointed words.

“I will respect her opinion. However, I only brought it up with the intention that it would be better if we were together right now.”

Rossel caught Sebelia’s gaze, who was at a loss for what to do, and said,

“Bella, you heard the news that Marquis Weden is being transferred to Rookwood, right?”

“…Yes.”

“He will pay the price for trying to kill your mother and you in Rookwood. I want you to be there.”

Sebelia opened her mouth slightly in surprise. Rossel continued in a sweet voice, as if coaxing a child.

“Rookwood’s laws are much more cruel than the Empire’s. Some still call us barbaric, but it’s very effective against vicious people like Marquis Weden.”

“Ah…”

“Of course, that’s not the only purpose. Think about your aunt, who has been waiting for you her whole life.”

Sebelia’s body stiffened as she unconsciously fiddled with the letter. Dehart, who had been watching the conversation with an anxious face, was the same.

“It’s all over. Now, let’s go home where your mother is waiting.”

As soon as the soft voice brushed past her ear, her vision suddenly heightened. Sebelia screamed in surprise, and Rossel shouted in anger along with her.

“Duke, what are you doing!”

However, the culprit silently fled with his most precious treasure in his arms. Rossel hurriedly tried to chase after him but was blocked by Elrei and the knights who suddenly appeared.

“Bella!”

In Rossel’s growling eyes, he saw Sebelia waving her hand as if to say she was okay. Even in the midst of being forcibly kidnapped, her face was flushed with a subtle smile, and she didn’t seem to dislike it at all.

With a groan, Rossel slumped down in his seat. It seemed impossible to take her away right now.

* * *

The place they arrived at after running for a while was the back garden of the mansion.

‘Huh.’

Sebelia tilted her head at the unfamiliar scenery. Unaware that her soft hair was tickling Dehart’s neck as she tilted her head, causing his heart to burst, Sebelia slowly compared the scenery in her memory with the scene before her eyes.

‘Something’s strange.’

Just two weeks ago, there was only a small flower bed and a greenhouse that only Dehart frequented in the backyard. But what happened? All she could see now were rose bushes taller than her.

A wide green space and beautifully decorated roses. The vast blue sky stretching behind them was very beautiful, yet it gave her a sense of déjà vu [a feeling of having already experienced the present situation].

Yes, as if she had seen such a sight before…….

“Ah.”

The moment the sweet fragrance touched the tip of her nose, realization flashed through her mind.

The illusion she had unknowingly created when she held onto Dehart inside the tent in the canyon was very similar to the scenery before her eyes.

“Bella.”

When she came to her senses, she was already standing on the ground. Dehart was holding her hands tightly against the backdrop of roses exuding a dizzying fragrance.

“There’s something I want to show you.”

Still holding her hand, he stepped into the arch made by bending the rose bushes. It was when she was suffocating from the intense fragrance and her mind was reeling from the hot temperature of the hand holding hers.