After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 29

When Dihart regained consciousness, the knights had already returned him to his quarters.

“We are sorry. We were all deceived by that woman’s words…”

Denisa, after stabbing him, had emerged with a nonchalant face and said:

“[The Duke wishes to read the Duchess’s diary alone.]”

The knights naturally suspected something, but Denisa preempted their doubts.

“[I was thinking of stopping by the post office in the meantime. Could one of you knights accompany me?]”

As expected, that knight also fell victim to Denisa’s sharp wit. Two burly men were helpless against the middle-aged woman’s cunning.

“We have nothing to say.”

Next to the knight who bowed his head the deepest, bandages were wrapped tightly—just like Dihart.

“I can’t even laugh.”

Golden eyes, filled with emptiness, were veiled by his eyelids.

“…No, it’s better this way.”

The knights who had been bowing blinked. They had inwardly expected Dihart, upon regaining his senses, to fly into a rage.

However, Dihart neither raged nor lost his reason.

He seemed like someone who had been wandering through a foggy maze and finally found his way out.

“From this moment on, Denisa Roseanne is to be regarded as an accomplice in the Duchess’s murder and pursued.”

“Does that mean we should officially begin the investigation?”

“Yes. I need to know why the nanny, who supposedly cherished Sebelia so dearly… why she is so reluctant to reveal the truth, even at this risk.”

Dihart, getting up, continued, “My uncle and aunt wanted to get rid of her in Inverness because she was ‘unnecessary.’ If so… why did she do it?”

The empty question echoed in the air. Dihart’s eyes were dry.

He felt a pang in his heart at the thought of Sebelia being betrayed by someone so close.

“Investigate Denisa’s personal life. See if her family has recently experienced financial difficulties or if someone is seriously ill. I need to go back to that house.”

He needed to look for anything she might have left behind.

The knights tried to dissuade him, saying he needed to rest, but he wouldn’t listen.

“I’m fine.”

Dihart moved his legs without hesitation and soon felt a terrible pain spreading from his side. It was so severe that his neck stiffened and he broke out in a cold sweat.

“Damn it…”

“It’s basically a sleep-inducing poison, but it seems to be mixed with several other things.”

Sir Ilay, who had suffered the same poisoning, said with a pale face. He was a knight that Ryan had personally assigned to Dihart and was Ryan’s cousin. Ryan had said he was expected to have a promising future, but…

This incident seemed to prove that his future was not so promising after all.

“It won’t endanger your life, but it contains several substances that cause considerable pain.”

“…”

“Just in case, I applied some medicine first, and it seems to be working well. Would you like me to remove the bandages and apply the medicine?”

Dihart gritted his teeth as he looked at him, speaking shamelessly with a face that resembled Ryan.

* * *

After applying the pain-relieving medicine and kicking Ilay once, Dihart headed straight to Denisa’s house.

‘If I can find any of Sebelia’s belongings while I’m at it, that would be great.’

Given that Denisa had a suspicious connection to Sebelia’s death, the possibility was very low… but he couldn’t help but hope.

Shamefully, there were few of Sebelia’s belongings left in Hillend Hall.

No, it would be more accurate to say there were none at all.

“I’m going through all sorts of things because I have such a meddling aunt.”

During the time he was riding like crazy after hearing about Sebelia’s death from Ryan, Gren had diligently erased Sebelia’s traces. She burned her clothes and books, saying that the cursed woman’s belongings should not be left untouched.

‘I was only able to salvage a pendant with her portrait on it…’

That wasn’t enough. Dihart turned into an alley, regretting and blaming himself for his belated actions.

And just then, he saw a mailman putting something in the mailbox before leaving.

“…”

Lucky. After confirming that the mailman was gone, Dihart opened the mailbox very comfortably and naturally. His pupils dilated as he took out a palm-sized envelope.

[Peter Hanson]

“…Ha.”

A rough breath burst out as if he’d been holding it in. A chilling thrill ran from the top of his head to his toes.

Peter Hanson. He was the doctor who wrote Sebelia’s death certificate. The mysterious doctor who disappeared like a mirage, leaving only one document behind.

‘And that doctor was in contact with Denisa.’

No wonder everyone said they couldn’t remember who brought the doctor. A sneer appeared on Dihart’s face as he recalled the servants’ testimonies.

It was the moment when it became clear that Denisa held a suspicious secret related to Sebelia’s death.

“Right. If she’s such an inscrutable person, it’s understandable that I foolishly exposed my flank.”

The sneer disappeared, and his face returned to indifference as he tore open the envelope.

Unfortunately, contrary to his expectations, the letter’s contents were too wholesome and contained nothing of note.

“[The air here is very nice. I’ve recently become friends with other doctors. They…]”

Unless the air or the doctors were some kind of code, the letter was just a greeting to a close friend.

“Tsk.”

Dihart stared at the letter for a long time. But it didn’t change the fact that there was nothing to gain.

“[…So I’m going to try to find the place that’s said to be hidden where the highest hill and mountain meet.]”

There was one strange thing, though.

At that moment, one of the knights who had been silently waiting for his instructions approached and said,

“Duke, we will search the house.”

Dihart slowly nodded, examining the envelope again.

“Yes.”

The sound of those waiting immediately bursting through the door was heard. Turning away, Dihart said,

“Prepare the carriage.”

“Are you returning to the North?”

“No. I should go see what the southeastern region with such good air is like.”

Tapping the envelope with his hand, Dihart strode away.

* * *

Supredy, located in the southeastern part of the empire, was a city famous for its high hills, ancient ruins built on those hills, and sacred grounds. But that didn’t mean it was a bustling tourist destination.

There were few people who would be impressed by the ancient ruins, which were just piles of stones, and the sacred grounds, which were so dull they were pathetic.

“But it’s a quiet and peaceful place. The residents and priests are all kind and simple.”

The doctor said, giving her the last prescription, as if to empower her choice.

“The air is clear and good, so it will definitely help the patient’s health.”

Perhaps impressed by her decision to receive treatment, the doctor’s eyes glistened.

“Remember, you haven’t forgotten how to find the doctor I introduced you to and what to prepare, have you?”

Sebelia nodded. Her fingertips were still numb when she woke up in the morning, and she couldn’t put strength into her feet, but…

‘But it’s better than having no hope.’

Sebelia closed her eyes to the sunlight gently enveloping her face as she left the doctor’s office.

“Ha…”

Her whole body trembled at the sensation that made her feel alive. It was contradictory, but that was fine. She could be criticized for being selfish, but she didn’t care.

She had abandoned everything thinking she was going to die anyway, but now she wanted to live, even if she was criticized for it.

If she could live, she wanted to live.

If the time of six months stretched out endlessly, she knew that much unhappiness and despair would come to her, but that was okay.

“I chose this.”

If the escape from Hillend Hall was for a free death, this time it was for a free life.

* * *

Is this a dream?

Dihart stood in front of the hideous mansion, staring up at the building.

The world was hazy, and a slender mist enveloped the surroundings.

Only the blackened mansion had an alien clarity.

“I didn’t know I would miss it enough to dream about it.”

Dihart’s eyebrows rose as he questioned his unknowable unconsciousness. He turned his back and took a few steps into the fog. But he invariably returned to the front of the mansion.

“Ha…”

This lousy dream seemed to want me to enter the mansion at all costs.

“What a pain.”

He sighed and roughly swept back his hair. At that moment, a blue light flashed and disappeared from the cross necklace hanging on his wrist.

Of course, Dihart, who had already begun to stride into the mansion, didn’t see it.

“…What a sight.”

Dihart frowned as he entered the mansion. The interior was more miserable than he had imagined.

‘No matter what, it shouldn’t have corroded this much from the fire.’

He walked down the corridor that had begun to crack and slowly looked around.

Dust-covered structures, ivy penetrating the bricks, a half-collapsed ceiling, and a creaking corridor—it was a ruin no matter how you looked at it.

At this point, Dihart felt relieved.

‘It’s become clear that this isn’t a dream I’m having because I miss Hillend Hall.’

It was more reasonable to think that he unconsciously wished it would fall apart like this and that it had materialized.

Dihart walked down the endless path. Then, at some point, he discovered a large door. It was a very strange door.

“This is…”

He scanned the door up and down with a bewildered look. The door, standing proudly at the end of the corridor, was made of transparent glass, allowing a clear view inside. It was the door to the greenhouse.

“…”

Dihart’s eyes shook violently before sinking.

“It wasn’t longing or hope.”

This is a dream created by my guilt. A painful voice flowed from his lips and shattered.

After Sebelia died, he never set foot in the greenhouse.

No, it would be more accurate to say he couldn’t. Every time he inadvertently looked at the greenhouse, he was reminded of what had happened inside.

“[Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary.]”

“[You probably don’t remember. I know. I’m not trying to blame you. I just hope you’ll be with me this time. There’s something I want to tell you…]”

What did she want to say? He still didn’t know the answer. Not a single sentence about it was written in her will.

What exactly did she want to say to me that day?

Knowing full well that she would be treated coldly, knowing that she would be hurt by my harsh words.

“What exactly did you want to say?”