After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 24

It had been almost two weeks since she left Hillend Hall.

When Sebelia had just left that place, a sense of elation had filled her entire being, and she hadn’t even felt tired.

However, as the tension eased, fatigue and drowsiness washed over her as if they had been lying in wait.

“Umm…”

Waking up late again, Sebelia reached for her medicine with barely open eyes. The medicine prescribed by the physician from Earlsick was even more potent than the previous one.

“Hoo…”

Sebelia felt her mind gradually clearing as she got out of bed and placed both feet on the floor.

“Ah…!”

However, she had to kneel on the rug the very next moment because she suddenly lost strength in her ankle.

‘This is bad.’

[As you may already know, the patient’s symptoms are similar to Lich’s disease. And this is currently an incurable disease.]

The physician’s calm and detached voice echoed in her mind.

[Currently, your internal organs are slowly ceasing their functions… but as time passes, your hands and feet will also become increasingly difficult to control at will.]

It was a story she had already heard once from the physician Denisa had brought. Nevertheless, it was a statement that seemed to freeze her insides every time she heard it.

Because that would be her future.

‘That’s why I wanted to leave.’

With a body slowly hardening, unable to do anything, she didn’t want to face death in that cold mansion while being scorned by others.

Sebelia fluttered her eyelids as she basked in the sunlight streaming through the window. The midday sun gently warmed her hand.

As if telling her not to worry.

[Actually, the reason I brought up such pessimistic words first is… because I was afraid you might have too much hope for what I’m about to say next.]

After saying that, the physician took off the glasses he was wearing and sighed. For a moment, the thought of, ‘Am I doing the right thing?’ flashed across his eyes. But soon, as if having made up his mind, he put his glasses back on and gave Sebelia a direct look.

[There is a very slight possibility that it may not be Lich’s disease. Most patients usually have skin lesions…]

The physician’s eyes turned to Sebelia’s cheeks, neck, and exposed wrists.

Her skin was clear and unblemished.

[You don’t seem to have any such symptoms. Besides, the progression of the disease is definitely slower.]

At that moment, Sebelia unknowingly clenched her hands in her lap.

[I’ll write you a letter of referral for now.]

[Yes?]

Sebelia unknowingly asked back.

[Actually, this is my first time dealing with a Lich’s disease patient.]

The physician indifferently took out a piece of stationery from the drawer and dipped the pen tip into the ink.

[I’ll let you know one of the authorities on Lich’s disease and other rare diseases. He’s also the one who discovered a new disease that was previously misdiagnosed as Loctor’s disease.]

The physician put down his pen, sprinkled something on the written referral, and sealed it with wax.

[He doesn’t usually see people, but he’ll let you in if you’re a patient I sent.]

Whoosh-!

Something like a halo flickered and disappeared above the green wax seal.

[Here, this is the referral and… a note with directions to get there and what you need to prepare. Now, the rest is up to you.]

Sebelia stared blankly, blinking at the referral and the small note the physician handed her.

[If you want to live, if you still have the will to be cured, take this and go see him.]

And back in the present, Sebelia was sitting on the floor, pondering the physician’s words.

“The will to live…”

Sebelia smiled bitterly and drew her legs up to her chest.

The moment she was assured by the physician that she might be able to cure the disease, Sebelia felt embarrassment before joy. This was because her daily life had already been reorganized on the premise of death.

‘The reason I was able to throw everything away was because I didn’t have much time left.’

Death would take everything away regardless of my will. So, I was able to let go of my regrets and leave.

But now that I might be given a choice again.

‘It’s not that I’m not happy. But….’

Sebelia rested her chin on her knees, let out a feeble sigh, and closed her eyes.

‘Is this fear?’

She felt a sense of unease that her barely established daily life was being shaken from the bottom up again.

“Denisa will definitely tell me to go see the person the physician recommended.”

The identity of the good news and sad news she sent to Denisa was this: The disease is progressing slowly but surely, but perhaps it is not an incurable disease. A vague hope that her life may not end at an early age.

‘But what if that hope is dashed once again?’

What if the diagnosis of Lich’s disease was correct, even though no skin lesions appeared?

So, what if I end up wasting the little time I have left?

“Haa.”

A long sigh escaped.

Sebelia stretched out her folded legs and slowly lay down on the rug.

‘Let’s wait until Denisa’s reply comes.’

Either way, she couldn’t leave Earlsick until she received a reply. Sebelia blinked slowly in the warm sunlight. It felt like sinking into deep, warm water.

* * *

Meanwhile, Denisa, who had returned to the capital, was unable to fulfill Sebelia’s request to spend a lot of time with friends and family. It was because they overly enjoyed the misfortunes of others.

“I heard you’re back, Denisa. Your master passed away like that… you must be having a hard time these days?”

“I’m okay.”

“Oh, dear. If it’s hard, just say it’s hard. It’s unsightly to be dishonest when you get older.”

Denisa sighed inwardly as she watched the other person interpret whatever she said as they pleased.

How many times has this happened since returning to the capital?

The number of people around her who disguised their worries and belittled her situation was now too many to count on one hand.

Denisa let the other person babble to their heart’s content.

“Look at the time. It’s already this late.”

The woman poured out words for a long time, then widened her eyes and said goodbye as she pleased.

“Let’s see each other again later. Don’t dress so gloomy then.”

Denisa neatly ignored her words and went back to her business.

‘Yes, this was the capital.’

Despite being born and raised here, Denisa had never been able to assimilate into the capital’s unique atmosphere.

Nevertheless, there was only one reason she was here.

‘By now, my lady should have arrived in Earlsick.’

To divert attention so that Sebelia could safely reach her destination in preparation for any possible danger. Even so, Denisa was recently realizing that her decision to part ways with her was a good one.

‘I keep feeling like someone is watching me.’

Denisa turned her head and looked around. Other than neighbors passing by normally, there was no one particularly strange. But it was necessary to be careful. A few days ago, she had definitely felt someone following her.

‘Should I buy some self-defense items? But is it okay for a maid who is depressed about the death of her master to buy something like that?’

I heard they sell pen tips with sleeping poison… If I had known this would happen, I should have bought one for my lady too.

Denisa frowned. Her concern for Sebelia naturally led to concern for her unreliable friend.

“Peter said he would send news, so why hasn’t he contacted me?”

Peter was the physician who diagnosed Sebelia’s incurable disease and wrote the death certificate. She heard that he was going down south when he left, but she hadn’t heard from him since.

“He’s the type to be stubborn and do strange things in strange places, so I keep worrying.”

That personality was why I was able to persuade him to help me, though.

Denisa sighed and turned the corner. At that moment, children selling newspapers scattered dozens of palm-sized extra editions as they passed her.

“Extra, extra!”

“An anomaly has occurred in the North!”

“The cursed Duke has finally gone mad!”

Denisa’s brow furrowed at the bizarre cries.

“…The Duke has gone mad?”

Denisa cautiously bent down and picked up a piece of paper. And she let out a soft gasp.

[…It is known that Duke Inverness has been behaving strangely since the Duchess’s funeral, such as burning down the mansion…

(Omitted)

Eventually, a few days ago, Hillend Hall closed all the manors… and people’s screams are said to be echoing every day.]

Denisa’s face was filled with astonishment.

“Oh my god, what on earth is going on.”

Her pupils darted back and forth rapidly.

* * *

Currently, all attention is focused on Hillend Hall.

Its owner, Dihart, leisurely placed his clasped hands on his knees in front of Gren.

“I don’t know why you’re so averse to my suggestion to share memories of Sebelia together.”

Like a predator to cornered prey, he gave Gren room to maneuver.

“Wasn’t she my wife and your niece’s daughter-in-law?”

Looking at the golden eyes containing a clear, unsettling light, Gren felt that her despair had begun to morph into something else. Until now, she had been preoccupied with Sebelia’s death and acted without thinking.

But now….

‘He’s like someone sharpening a knife for revenge.’

Gren shuddered at the blue flames that flashed across his golden eyes. But she didn’t easily cower. There was no evidence that she was involved in Sebelia’s death anywhere.

‘Of course not. Because I didn’t kill her!’

Gren was more than justified; she was wronged.

She admits that she harassed Sebelia and drove her into a corner in the past. But it was all for the sake of the family.

Besides, she only tried to kill her; she didn’t actually kill her.

‘What’s wrong with the fact that the bastard’s heart was weak and her guts were lacking, so she was swept away by the curse and committed suicide!’

Gren really couldn’t understand Dihart. But it seemed better to yield for now.

‘Let’s get out of here first and think.’

Having composed herself, she raised her hand and covered her face. A small sob was heard, followed by a sigh that seemed to fill the room.

“Ah, Dihart. Please… do you know how your delusions and suspicions are ruining this Hillend Hall, the people here?”

“….”

“That child committed suicide. She wasn’t killed by someone else. No one doubts that fact. Please believe me.”

A long silence ensued. Gren raised her expectant eyes and looked towards Dihart.

“…Heok!”

“Then how about this?”

Dihart was holding two documents in his hand.

One was Sebelia’s will, which should have been in her jewelry box, and the other was….

“It came out of the charred drawer.”

It was a letter instigating Sebelia’s murder that she was about to send.