After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 158

Side Story 1-6

“Do as you please.”

Sevelia’s heart sank as she saw him turn away, looking like a sulky child. *Was I too harsh?* She fidgeted with the ring in her pocket before quickly stepping to Dihart’s side.

“We’re getting the outfits made together, right?”

A faint smile touched Dihart’s lips as he met her gaze, as if asking what she meant.

“Would it be alright to match with me?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“You don’t know my taste.”

Sevelia frowned without realizing it. She reflexively wanted to deny it, but then realized he was right.

Their relationship was sailing smoothly through calm waters after overcoming adversity, but there were still many unknown areas for a couple who had once been husband and wife.

Sevelia couldn’t help but look dejected.

“That’s…”

“I didn’t mean to scold you. I don’t know your taste either.”

Dihart gave a wry smile and intertwined his fingers with hers. He lowered his head slightly to meet her eyes and whispered softly, his eyes crinkling.

“Actually, I like that there are things I don’t know.”

“……”

“We have many days ahead of us, and that means there’s still so much to learn about you.”

The man left a short kiss on the back of their clasped hands and smiled brightly. Beneath the pink wisteria blossoms, he looked so lovely, as if he had the whole world, that Sevelia completely forgot about the jewelry box he had promised her.

The next day, while she was wondering whether to put up flyers to find the owner of the bracelet, Lady Doreen of the Serica family, a friend of Rosaline’s, visited the mansion. Sevelia decided to focus on the immediate problem.

And fortunately, Lady Doreen had a generous heart.

“Thank you for understanding what our troublemaker did.”

“It’s alright. She’s just a kitten!”

Lady Doreen, with her green hair and blue eyes, had a cheerful personality. She readily accepted Rosaline’s and Maya’s apologies for losing the bookmark, and even put the cautious Maya on her lap to play with.

“Babies are supposed to play pranks. It’s not an important item, so you don’t have to bother looking for it.”

*Isn’t she a little too big to be a baby?* Sevelia glanced at Maya, who was melting under Doreen’s touch, and said cautiously.

“But I heard you’ve been using it for a long time. Are you really sure it’s okay? If you want, I can get you the same one again.”

“No! It’s really okay. I have more bookmarks at home. My brother just threw them at me as travel souvenirs, so I’m not very attached to them. You know how much I don’t care if I forget I even lent it out with a book, right? Besides, such a cute Maya is using it as a toy. It would be an honor for my brother.”

Her manners were lacking, but she was a very lively young lady. Sevelia, who was already not very skilled in socializing with nobles, found her directness comfortable.

At least she didn’t have to worry about being caught on her words.

The two chatted happily while Rosaline went to get the book.

“I’m sorry for losing the bookmark, Doreen. This is a gift of apology.”

Sevelia wondered why she was so late. Rosaline, who appeared, handed over a small pouch along with the book.

“You didn’t have to do this!”

Doreen adamantly refused, but Rosaline repeatedly insisted, so she reluctantly opened the pouch. Soon, a pleasant laughter, like the chirping of new birds, spread through the drawing room.

“What, it’s what I wanted. You remembered?”

“Of course…”

Rosaline brushed her hair back as if she was embarrassed. Then Doreen laughed even louder and said.

“I’ll have to lend you something more expensive next time. Then you’ll give me something even more amazing in return.”

Sevelia was slightly taken aback by her blatant materialistic remarks. Perhaps sensing her reaction, Rosaline quickly linked arms with Doreen and stood up.

“Don’t say things like that, Doreen. Let’s go. I’ll show you my room.”

“Okay! Can I look around the mansion while we go to your room?”

At the expectant voice, Sevelia unconsciously offered to show her around the mansion. Perhaps it was because she was concerned about the lost bookmark.

“If you have time, I’ll give you a tour.”

“Oh? Can you really?”

Doreen quickly turned around and asked, like a fish biting at bait. Sevelia was surprised by her enthusiasm, but soon realized it was understandable.

The Inverness mansion was like a mysterious realm to the nobles. Since the Duke stayed in the capital, the mystery of the Inverness mansion had only increased, as no one had been invited except for members of the imperial family.

So, the owner of the mansion was offering to give a tour herself, so it was worth being happy. As she guessed, Doreen’s blue eyes sparkled with joy.

“Can I look around every nook and cranny? Actually, I’ve been forcing myself to hold back my curiosity since I entered the front door.”

Sevelia laughed at her brazen and confident request. What a lively young lady. Just being next to her conveyed her energetic spirit.

So Sevelia toured every corner of the mansion with Doreen and Rosaline, explaining how the initial areas planned by the old Duke of Inverness differed from the newly renovated areas, and returned to the mansion after taking a tour of the backyard and the lakeside.

It was just a light stroll, but for some reason, the butler came out to greet them.

“Madam, the Duke has just returned.”

“Dihart is back?”

“Yes. He said he would be waiting in his study.”

“We have a guest right now…”

“If you are referring to Miss Rosaline’s guest, he said it would be fine to come together.”

At the butler’s words, Sevelia turned to Doreen as if asking for her opinion. And she realized that there was no need to ask. Doreen looked almost moved.

“Let’s go quickly!”

“Alright.”

Knock, knock. Dihart greeted the three in comfortable attire as they entered.

“Bella, Rosaline. And…”

“This is Lady Doreen of the Serica family.”

As Sevelia introduced her, Dihart stood up and greeted Doreen.

“Nice to meet you, Lady Doreen. I am Dihart Inverness.”

His demeanor was so natural that it was as if he had known her identity from the beginning.

“I wanted to thank you for being close to Rosaline.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Duke!”

Fueled by his kind words, Doreen quickly closed the distance with Dihart. She grabbed Dihart’s hand, almost hugging him, and laughed before distancing herself as if nothing had happened.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was so happy that I unknowingly committed a rudeness. My brother always said that my body moves before I think.”

It happened in the blink of an eye, and it took Sevelia several moments just to understand what had happened. And after she grasped the situation, it was no longer an atmosphere to say anything.

Dihart just clicked his tongue slightly, but didn’t particularly point out her rudeness. She thought she heard him say something about if she wasn’t his younger sibling, but Sevelia thought she had misheard since she didn’t hear it properly.

Meanwhile, Doreen kept apologizing to Dihart.

“I’m really sorry.”

She looked like she would keep doing that all day if she wasn’t stopped. When Rosaline finally stopped her, Doreen finally came to her senses and blushed.

Dihart sighed so softly that they couldn’t hear him.

“Let’s all sit down comfortably for now.”

At those words, Doreen jumped and followed Dihart, naturally sitting next to him. The other two blinked and sat in the remaining two seats.

It was when Sevelia sat in her designated seat.

“Cover yourself with a blanket.”

Dihart said, bringing a blanket from who knows where. Feeling the soft blanket wrap around her lap, Sevelia looked diagonally across from her.

Doreen’s eyes were still burning [with excitement]. She was quite excited to have met someone she admired, and her freckled cheeks were still flushed.

After that, Dihart lit a candle, saying it was a new, healthy scented candle, but turned it off again when Sevelia coughed, then opened the window, fussing around before finally sitting down.

And Doreen, who had been waiting for the moment to talk to him, immediately opened fire.

“Oh my, Duke. I never thought I would see you this close. Ah, these words are a bit burdensome, right? I’m sorry. My family really admires you.”

A central noble who admires the Northern Duke. Dihart, who was watching Sevelia’s expression at the strange combination of words, raised his eyebrows.

“Is that so.”

“Yes!”

Doreen’s enthusiasm as she clasped her hands together was immense. She went on and on about her respect for Dihart. Suddenly, her eyes flashed and she picked up a booklet that was lying haphazardly on the table.

“It’s a booklet from a jewelry store run by Tarjen Merchant! Are you planning to get accessories made?”

“It’s about time for the seasons to change.”

There was a hint of annoyance mixed in his seemingly gentle voice that only those close to him could recognize. Sevelia was a little surprised and stared at him. Rosaline, who was next to her, seemed to feel the same way.

“That’s right. The jewels that suit each season are all different. How can the Duke have such a high level of knowledge in this area? He’s really different from my brother, who considers dressing up pathetic.”

But Doreen didn’t seem to notice. Perhaps because she was dumbfounded. She could see Dihart’s expression soften slightly as he glanced at her and looked back at himself.

“I don’t deserve to be praised for having a high level of knowledge.”

“By the way, Tarjen is famous for not accepting new customers, but it’s amazing that you’ve already made acquaintances.”

“No, as you said, I haven’t been able to make a deal yet.”

After saying that, Dihart tilted his head slightly and scanned this way. But she couldn’t be sure if he was looking at her. For some reason, Rosaline, who was clenching her fists tightly, was staring at him as if she would pierce him through.