After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 26

“Damn it.”

Diheart was overcome with dismay upon hearing that Denisa had already returned to the capital.

“No one knew she had left. It’s absurd.”

A sigh escaped his chapped lips. Ryan, who was organizing documents beside him, shook his head.

“There’s no need to blame yourself.”

Compared to his superior, whose emotional state was like a stormy sea, he seemed calm. Frankly, it was more that he had given up trying to dissuade Diheart.

“From the start, no one remembered her existence until it came to this. It’s not just you, Duke, who didn’t remember her.”

Denisa was the type of woman who generally lacked presence. Ryan, who served Diheart, had often seen her with Sebelia, but that was it. An ordinary and common impression that didn’t stick in people’s memories. Just a nanny-turned-maid with nothing special about her.

“Most of the servants didn’t even know the nanny’s name, did they? Of course… that goes for me too.”

Ryan frowned and clicked his tongue. A nameless person cannot be called. Without a clue to recall her appearance, she would simply be buried in memory.

“Right. Those guys didn’t even know who she served, damn it. None of the countless servants in this damned mansion!”

Hilland Hall was a vast manor with two hunting grounds, a pleasure ground including hills, a lake, and fields.

Therefore, those who worked here didn’t pay much attention to each other unless they were constantly interacting. That’s why, while he was raging and questioning Sebelia’s death, no one remembered Denisa’s existence.

‘Because I chased her out of the mansion.’

Denisa, whose entire routine consisted of living and eating outside Hilland Hall and being cooped up in Sebelia’s room when she came to work.

Naturally, she couldn’t remain in anyone’s memory.

“Even so, she was the only maid of Hilland Hall’s mistress. How can no one remember her!”

Diheart slumped into his seat, venting his frustration.

“They’re all so arrogant, acting like they’re something special…”

However, even as he said that, he was well aware that he was the target of his own criticism. That made him feel even more foolish and insignificant.

“I’ve sent word to those dispatched to the capital, and just in case, I’ve formed new knights and sent them as reinforcements, so don’t worry too much.”

Ryan placed the organized documents on his desk as he spoke.

“I don’t know if that nanny is someone who can resolve your suspicions, Duke.”

At Ryan’s indifferent words, Diheart glared at him unpleasantly. However, Ryan’s expression didn’t change.

Unlike his superior, who was consumed by suspicion and distrust of others, ultimately believing his wife’s death was a murder, he was still maintaining his sanity.

“Once the nanny arrives, don’t intimidate her. It would be best to create a comfortable atmosphere.”

“Are you saying I should sit down with her and exchange jokes?”

That nanny probably thinks of me as the worst bastard in the world.

“I’d be lucky if she doesn’t curse me as soon as she sees me.”

Diheart scoffed and then jumped up from his seat. He seemed unable to stay still.

“No, I can’t wait for her to come to the North. It’s too late. I have to go myself.”

“Duke.”

“I’ll entrust the affairs of my uncle and aunt to you. If it’s you, you’ll be able to hold off my grandfathers until I return.”

Diheart quickly rattled off his orders and left the office in an instant. There was no time to stop him.

“This is…”

Ryan sighed deeply and met the gaze of green eyes staring at him. It was the golden-feathered bird he had brought from the harbor.

“…At least you’re the most normal one here.”

Ryan swallowed a sigh as he looked at the bird, which had stopped singing since arriving in the North.

* * *

Not long after receiving the letter from Sebelia, Denisa became convinced that she was being followed.

The first time she felt it was on the day she went to the post office with the letter to send to Sebelia.

‘I think I dreamed that someone was shouting for me to run away.’

Perhaps it was because of the dream she had that day, but Denisa felt uneasy as she left the house. And the moment she reached the main street, she met the eyes of a stranger reflected in the shop window.

‘He was watching me.’

The hairs on her neck stood on end. She had thought this might happen, but when it became reality, fear washed over her.

However, Denisa pretended to be calm and gave the person she made eye contact with a friendly smile, as if she were greeting someone she had accidentally met on the street. The other person’s face stiffened awkwardly. Denisa didn’t miss it. The other person soon turned away and disappeared into another alley.

Only then did Denisa turn away from the window and quickly leave the spot.

“Oh my god.”

Denisa clutched her wildly beating heart. She almost collapsed on the spot the moment she made eye contact.

‘…Let’s postpone going to the post office for now.’

If she was being followed, the other person’s real target was obviously Sebelia.

Sweating, Denisa tried to return the way she had come, but stopped abruptly.

‘Does he know where my house is?’

Denisa panicked at the sudden situation.

Was it right to go back home like this? But if she didn’t go home, he would realize she had noticed him.

‘How much money do I have on hand right now? Is it enough to get to where Lady is?’

Denisa could feel her head getting more and more tangled.

‘No, let’s send the letter first. That way, Lady will go for treatment…’

Even as she forced herself to continue thinking, she felt helpless. She felt like her chest was blocked. She didn’t know what to do in this situation. She wished someone would tell her the answer.

At that moment, someone grabbed her shoulder.

“-Can’t you hear me… Keuk!”

Denisa reflexively swung the parasol she was holding horizontally, thinking it was the person who had been following her.

“Heo… Heok….”

“Get lost… Heok. Oh my, heavens!”

However, the man who staggered from being hit squarely in the side was someone she could never have imagined.

“…Duke?”

Pressing down on his side, which was sure to be bruised, Diheart glared.

‘What is going on?’

Denisa gasped for a moment but quickly regained her composure.

‘Let’s stay calm for now.’

Taking a deep breath, she greeted him in an extremely polite and distant manner.

“It’s been a while, Duke. But what brings you here?”

It was a flawless greeting, but there was no apology for swinging the parasol. Diheart’s prediction that she would curse him as soon as she saw his face wasn’t entirely wrong.

“I’ve heard that the atmosphere at Hilland Hall hasn’t been good lately…”

Denisa trailed off, glancing at Diheart’s attire. Completely disheveled black hair that looked like it hadn’t been combed in ages, a high-quality shirt that was haphazardly put on to at least look presentable, and eyes that gleamed with madness, as if he had fallen into despair after losing a loved one.

‘Could it be that the news in the articles is true?’

That he had lost his mind after losing the Duchess, was it true?

‘How dare he come now.’

At the absurd sight, Denisa’s eyes grew colder and colder. Diheart gave her a crooked smile and stared at her.

“I thought I was helping someone who seemed to be in danger, but I didn’t know you were the type to resort to violence against your former master instead of thanking them.”

Seeing Denisa’s eyes widen in surprise at his words, Diheart pressed hard on his throbbing side.

He was furious at this absurd situation, but he had no choice but to endure it.

“I believe you have something to talk to me about.”

Denisa was the only one closest to the truth about Sebelia’s death.

* * *

Meanwhile, Sebelia was growing thinner day by day due to her steadily progressing illness.

‘…I can’t eat.’

Even with food that was far more nutritious than what she had eaten at Hilland Hall in front of her, she only swallowed dry saliva. These foods, which only looked good, would probably feel like a stone in her throat the moment they passed through.

Sebelia smiled bitterly and took a sip of thin soup.

“Ha…”

Regret flashed over her calmly lowered eyes.

‘Right. This is my fate. I almost wavered with vain expectations for a moment.’

A laugh filled with resignation leaked out.

No matter how she thought about it… the disease she had was Lich’s disease.

Sebelia slowly drank lukewarm water, recalling what the doctor from Earlsick had told her.

[Right now, your internal organs are slowly stopping their movements… but as time goes by, your hands and feet will also gradually become unable to move as you wish.]

Just this morning, Sebelia had sprained her ankle while getting out of bed. She also slightly injured her shoulder and back. And the cause of this tragic accident was neither her drowsy mental state nor the soft rug under her feet.

“…I couldn’t put any strength into it.”

It was her feet and hands, which had become stiff like wooden blocks, that were the culprits.

“How could this be?”

Sebelia was greatly shocked. Afterward, the doctor she met again looked at her with pity and said.

[…Even if it is Lich’s disease, that man might have a way. So don’t give up and go find him.]

Why do you want me to live so much?

Sebelia was momentarily puzzled, but then she looked at her face reflected in the mirror and realized.

‘…I, I didn’t want to have an incurable disease.’

Sebelia realized as she looked into the tired and worn-out despair in her blue eyes.

I actually wanted to receive treatment. I had some hope.

And hoping that someone would instill confidence in that hope and push me on the back, I was waiting for a letter from Denisa.

‘Denisa would definitely tell me to get treatment.’

How can I be such a coward?

While Sebelia was lost in thought, an employee approached her.

“Are you the guest staying in room 204?”

“Yes, what’s the matter?”

“I came looking for you because you weren’t in your room. An express mail has been delivered to you.”

The employee carefully placed a white envelope on the table.

She had a bad feeling.