After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 71

Two clouds surrounding the sun were tinged with gold. The sight reminded Sebelia of moist, golden eyes, and she turned her gaze away from the window.

“Maya.”

A soft touch brushed against the back of her hand. Maya was trying to catch the snowflakes she had conjured.

“Not cold, right?”

With a soft purr, Maya vigorously swatted her front paws at the floating snowflakes. Sebelia chuckled softly, scattering dozens more snowflakes above Maya.

The reason Sebelia was suddenly creating snowflakes was because of Claude.

“This is your first assignment. Create very delicate and small things, and then transform them.”

He had accepted Sebelia’s request to teach her illusion magic, but he refused any payment. Instead, he wanted Sebelia to consider him her teacher.

“Bella, you prefer a clean relationship where you give and take. But that’s not possible when it comes to teaching, especially among illusionists. So, if you don’t want to consider me your teacher, let’s stop here.”

But she couldn’t do that. Illusion magic had been the greatest help to Sebelia in overcoming adversity. Without this power, she wouldn’t have been able to escape Hillend Hall, nor would she have come to Supredi.

‘And I would have died thinking I had Lich’s disease.’

In the end, Sebelia decided to receive instruction in illusion magic from Claude, instead of forming a master-disciple relationship with him as he suggested. Considering her relationship with Dihart, she didn’t want to form such a bond, but there was no other way. As if sensing her worries, Claude spoke first.

“From now on, I will only treat Bella as my disciple. I won’t interfere in any other relationships, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

It was a clear statement that dispelled all her concerns. It seemed like everything would work out well. Until just yesterday.

“Why did I have to have that dream?”

Sebelia sighed and collapsed onto the table. She had continued her dream of boating on the lake today. The person whose face was obscured by the fog was, of course… Dihart.

“Ha.”

Sebelia, who was usually so detached from her emotions, couldn’t understand her own feelings. She was simply confused by the situation and frustrated because she couldn’t see a way out.

‘I thought all that was left for you was resentment.’

Sebelia clutched the silver cross necklace she hadn’t returned and lowered her head.

When he was in front of her, her heart was troubled and filled with resentment, so she thought it would be better not to see him, but being left alone was no better.

“Is it a week today?”

It had been a week since Dihart left for the canyon, but there was still no news. It was impossible to pretend to forget any longer. She had subtly asked Claude yesterday, but it was no use.

“I’m sorry. I haven’t received any news either.”

‘Yeah, things can’t be that easy.’

Sebelia rested her chin on her hand. A sigh escaped her lips. She remembered Dihart’s back as he left the lab with a confident look on his face.

“Haa.”

Maya looked up at her, wondering what was wrong, but Sebelia simply shook her head.

“It’s nothing, go play.”

Sebelia created a couple of canaries instead of a bluebird and flew them over Maya’s head. Soon, with a leap, Maya disappeared into the distance. Sebelia tried to let go of her thoughts about Dihart along with her.

It was time to take care of her health again. Yes, as he said.

“You just focus on taking care of your health.”

When she heard those words, she was so angry that she didn’t know what to do, but after time passed, she realized he wasn’t wrong. After the herb storage was burned down, she had even given up on taking care of herself.

But Dihart, who had left to find herbs, had been out of contact for a week. Sebelia hid a bitter smile with her hand and swallowed a sigh.

‘What do I do now?’

Everyone was so focused on the dangers of the canyon that they were missing a fact: the canyon was a good area for glass snowdrops to grow, but that didn’t necessarily mean there *were* glass snowdrops there.

But what could she do? Dihart had already left for the canyon, and she needed the medicine, so she couldn’t stop him. In the end, all that was left was growing anticipation and dwindling funds.

‘I need to start thinking about reality.’

She had to prepare for the possibility that Dihart might not be able to bring back the glass snowdrops. Sebelia was thinking of persuading Worts, who was full of hope and dreams, to help her obtain glass snowdrops from Mount Luckwood.

“Since they recently opened the gates, there might be a chance.”

Claude offered to support her with the money needed to buy the herbs, even though it felt presumptuous. Sebelia refused because she felt burdened, but Claude was adamant.

“Why are the people of Inverness all so stubborn?”

Sebelia sighed and dyed the transparent snowflakes red. With a wave of her hand, dozens of snowflakes floated slowly in the air, each boasting a brilliant color.

* * *

Dihart was also suffering from anxiety for a week. Dissatisfaction and embarrassment were building up inside him due to the situation not progressing as quickly as he had hoped.

“I’m in a hurry, but this damn canyon…”

The deep canyon, hidden between steep cliffs, did not allow any magic or spells due to its terrain. If he wasn’t careful, all the cliffs could collapse, so it took forever just to search the bottom of the canyon.

“I might as well go down myself.”

A chilling white light flickered around the edges of his golden eyes before disappearing. Surprised, Illei stopped organizing his records and rushed to stop him.

“How can you even think of throwing your precious body into such a lowly place? We should just hire more workers.”

“Hire more people in this state? Why don’t I just put an ad in the newspaper saying I’m doing something suspicious here.”

“Ah, a newspaper ad! You are indeed a Duke. I will go down to Supredi right away and visit the local newspaper company.”

Illei slammed his palm with his fist. Dihart felt his rising anger subside at Illei’s frustrating words and actions, which he hadn’t experienced in a long time. Of course, it wasn’t because Illei’s words were so impressive.

“Get out.”

“Putting an ad in the newspaper to recruit skilled herbalists…”

“I said get out.”

A murderous voice echoed through the tent. Illei shut his mouth and rolled his eyes. The moment a murderous gaze brushed against the back of his neck, Illei dashed out of the tent as if nothing had happened.

Tweet-

As soon as Illei disappeared, the bluebird appeared from between his collar as if it had been waiting. The creature, which had been sleeping on his chest, fluttered its wings listlessly, still sleepy.

“Sleep if you’re sleepy.”

Dihart stroked the small head with his index finger and carefully placed the bluebird on his palm. The tilting head finally bumped onto his palm before it came to its senses.

“Pii?!”

Was it surprised? The small wings fluttered quickly, and the bluebird circled his palm a few times. Then, realizing it was awake, it looked at Dihart with its button-like eyes.

“…Ugh!”

And it bit him again today. Dihart frowned and carefully pried off the bluebird, which was pecking at his lips like a worm.

“Everyone is extremely skilled at tormenting me.”

Dihart lamented without realizing it. But the bluebird fluttered its wings triumphantly, as if there was still more to peck at.

“I think I’ve done my best to treat you well. What exactly don’t you like?”

Dihart asked, as if talking to himself, while meeting the bluebird’s black eyes. Then, as if it had been waiting, the bird lunged again.

“Stop it.”

The bluebird, pushed back onto his palm, circled around his head as if looking for an opportunity. The sight made Dihart frown, as if it held a grudge against him. Claude’s words about illusion demons whispered in his mind.

“After all, we are born from their hearts.”

Illusion demons are beings born from the depths of an illusionist’s heart and share their emotions. Therefore, their actions and thoughts should probably be based on the illusionists’ minds.

“Sebelia’s heart.”

If so, the bluebird’s actions and attitudes, which were hostile to him, all originated from her true feelings.

“…I see.”

Dihart’s golden eyes sank into the darkness. A painful light flashed across his eyes, like a sun eaten by shadows. But it was only for a moment.

“What was I expecting from something so obvious?”

A cold smile formed on Dihart’s lips. Familiar resignation dug into his heart.

“Well, I’m a universally recognized madman, so I can’t help but have such ridiculous hopes.”

Dihart belittled himself and sneered.

He had made her that way. Not believing her, not listening to a single word, and giving her indelible wounds under the pretext of not wanting to be hurt. He made it so hard for her that she faked her death and ran away.

So it was only natural that Sebelia hated and resented him. Dihart didn’t bother trying to deny that fact. There was no need to.

“So you didn’t send me because you were worried about me.”

She is a generous person, so she would have done this for anyone, not just me.

Regret flashed across his golden eyes, and the hand that had been tapping on the desk stopped. Dihart raised his head and reached out to the bluebird hovering above him. The small, doll-like eyes widened in surprise. The wings spread wide and moved quickly. But the outstretched hand stopped in the air without touching the small body.

Pii-.

With a small cry, sharp claws brushed past his finger. It was a sharper response than before, as if it were a punishment for startling him. A drop of blood formed on his finger along with a stinging sensation. Looking at the wound, the flesh was deeply cut. Dihart felt a strange sense of relief.

It was as if she had realized his foolish thoughts and was punishing him for ever thinking such ridiculous things again.

“Good job.”

With a nonchalant voice, Dihart got up from his seat. Pii-. The bluebird couldn’t hide its embarrassment and circled around the spot before sitting down dejectedly on a palm-sized cushion.