After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 8

Meanwhile, Sebelia remained unaware of Dihart’s suspicions. Her attention was fixed on the bracelet adorning Flora’s wrist as the latter stood before her, radiating self-importance.

‘I only remember it from the descriptions; I’ve never seen it in person. But it’s definitely the one.’

Sebelia was certain. The bracelet, intricately woven with jewels and gold into the shapes of fruits and leaves, was a piece Nelia had chosen during her pursuit of the latest trends around the time of her engagement to Inverness. Moreover, it was an item that had quickly fallen out of fashion and was difficult to find in the slow-to-catch-up North.

There was no way Flora would possess such an accessory. She had been reprimanded by Dihart numerous times for her excessive spending, even before Sebelia’s arrival.

‘So, she suddenly came all the way to this secluded room to act tyrannical because of this.’

Sebelia could deduce the reason simply by looking at the bracelet.

‘She’s been dipping into the dowry I brought.’

That explained her attempts to prevent Sebelia from accessing the underground vault, a privilege reserved for the Duchess alone.

Sebelia’s mind swiftly processed the situation, and she abandoned her plan to send a letter to Dihart through Denisa.

‘There wouldn’t be anything there anyway, so what would be the point of requesting entry?’ Sebelia swiftly racked her brains. Now that she had confirmed Flora’s access to the dowry, she needed a new strategy.

“Hmph. Looks like you’ve run out of things to say.”

In the meantime, Flora’s spirits had suddenly lifted, as if she had regained her energy. She glanced around and roughly drew the open curtains closed. Then, she leaned in and whispered to Sebelia, who avoided meeting her gaze.

“Just keep doing what you’ve been doing, okay? Just stay locked up like you’re dead.”

“…….”

“I wonder when you’ll realize that things only go wrong when you get involved.”

Flora’s fingers trailed down Sebelia’s cheek.

‘I should have just killed her back then…….’

Flora let out a long sigh, heavy with regret.

The day the marriage between Dihart and the mixed-blood bastard was confirmed. That terrible day when her rosy future with him was shattered. How much she had suffered from the bitter pain that burned her insides.

[Why, why on earth? Why does Brother have to sacrifice himself for such a foolish thing!]

She raged, arguing that there was no need to uphold the foolish treaty established by the late Duke. Her mother also fueled her anger. But Dihart coldly dismissed her.

[To question the reason for duty is a sign of your youth, Flora.]

Dihart, who said that, was not in good shape either. His face looked as if it would erupt in a bloodbath at any moment. He was a disheveled mess. Nevertheless, he boarded the carriage heading to the capital.

To meet his bride, whom he only knew by name.

To carry on the legacy left by his father, whom he didn’t even remember.

[The Duke has arrived!]

As he had expected, he brought a woman with an ignorant face. A disgusting bastard who seemed to have ‘easily deceived’ written all over her round eyes and clueless lips.

[Brother…….]

Flora tried to greet him happily, suppressing her rising anger. She would have, if she hadn’t seen the look in her brother’s eyes towards that bastard.

[Madam, if you’re so distracted, will you even be able to walk properly?]

It was a look she had never received. Not the consideration for a younger sister, not the indifference towards family. That terrible spark that flew out like a spark between budding affection and intense wariness.

She had seen it.

* * *

“Haa.”

Brushing back her red hair, Flora sighed. That was all in the past.

After Sebelia’s audacious betrayal was revealed, Brother never looked at her that way again.

That cold gaze without any indifference towards family, without any consideration for blood relatives!

Flora suppressed the laughter that threatened to burst out and grabbed Sebelia’s shoulders.

“I think you understand what I’m saying since I’ve said this much……, Sebelia.”

‘This should be a warning.’

Flora lightly dusted off Sebelia’s shoulders with a much lighter heart. And it was the moment she was about to leave the room, savoring the feeling of victory after a long time.

“Flora.”

Sebelia called her in a clear voice. It was the first time it had happened, and it was something she had never even imagined would happen. Flora’s displeasure soared to the top of her head at the languid tone.

“Are you calling me now?”

Flora glared and turned around. Then she saw Sebelia looking straight at her. She realized that she hadn’t misheard.

“Since you’ve come, why don’t you stay and have a conversation with me?”

Sebelia was getting up from her seat and approaching her. In a relaxed manner, without any servility.

‘How dare you…….’

Anger flashed in Flora’s light golden eyes.

“To have a conversation. Ha, a conversation. I can’t believe it.”

“…….”

“That’s a social activity that only people who are on the same level can do. Not you and me.”

Flora, who had approached with quick steps, poked Sebelia’s chest with her finger. Then, she turned around, laughed loudly, and left the room.

“She thinks she’s a real Duchess.”

“…….”

Sebelia stared at her retreating figure with sunken eyes.

A cool gaze that did not contain even a shred of emotions such as anger or resentment looked at the wide-open door before sinking deeply below the surface.

A moment later, Sebelia left the room. She went down the long corridor, leaving behind the servants who ignored her and passed by.

The portraits of the past Dukes and Duchesses lined up on one side of the corridor caught her eye.

“……It’s you.”

Eventually, her steps stopped in front of the largest portrait at the innermost part of the corridor. A portrait of a woman with long black hair beautifully draped down and a man standing behind her as if to protect her. It was the portrait of the first Duke of Inverness and his wife.

“The cursed Duchess….”

Sebelia smiled quietly as she looked up at the portrait of the first Duchess, who had a mysterious smile.

Belita Inverness.

A terrible being who was said to curse the Duchess alive at the time and bring her to death.

She was the one who would return the dowry that had been taken from her, and the angel who would punish Flora’s reckless personality.

“Please take care of me, Belita.”

Faint smoke rose from Sebelia’s fingertips.

* * *

Only half a day after deciding to return to the mansion, Dihart left the port city with Ryan alone and headed north.

“Duke, Maria seems tired.”

Ryan said in a blunt voice, grabbing the reins.

“How about staying nearby for a day or two?”

“……I don’t have time.”

“If you push it like this, both Maria and Sestine will die.”

Ryan said, pointing to Dihart’s horse, which was starting to stick out its tongue.

“Damn it.”

Dihart swept back his disheveled hair and cursed. But he did not refute Ryan’s claim.

The horses they had ridden were already on the verge of exhaustion. They had done enough work just by bringing them this far.

“I can’t help it. Turn right.”

With a sigh, Dihart slowly guided his horse. Ryan followed behind him. After about thirty minutes, Dihart was able to reach a bustling small and medium-sized trading city.

“May fortune be with you.”

He roughly passed through the gate with a disguised identity pass and entered the inn first with an unpleasant face.

And after drinking cheap alcohol for the first time in a while, he overheard something absurd.

“They say there’s a line of guys trying to get a glimpse of the Northern Duchess’s lower body?”

“Don’t even dream about it. Do you think a noble lady would even look at a guy like you? They say the knights are all surrounding the front of that room.”

At the feet of the men who were spouting dirty jokes was a discarded daily newspaper.

Lynn Post.

Dihart’s lips twisted as he confirmed the disgusting name.

“Master.”

Ryan called him in a meaningful voice.

‘Wait.’

Dihart winked at Ryan. The heavily drunk men left late in the morning.

A black shadow followed them.

* * *

Flora, who had returned to her room, was spending a pleasant time alone, opening her jewelry box as usual.

“If it weren’t for me, you would still be trapped in that basement.”

She gazed at the sparkling jewels and ornaments with a face dripping with honey, as if she were looking at beloved children.

It always broke her heart to think of these cute children being trapped underground without seeing the sunlight because of that bastard.

‘I’m practically a benefactor who saved these children.’

Flora picked up a pair of necklaces that matched the bracelet she was wearing with a full heart. And just then, a chill instantly swept into the room.

“What is it? Who turned off the heating….”

Then, as she frowned and tried to get up from her seat, a muffled, ghostly sound echoed.

Oooooo-

“What is that sound?”

Flora looked around the room with a bewildered look. Meanwhile, a white finger crawled in through the tightly closed door. The hand gradually grew in size from the end, and finally became a bleeding woman and appeared in front of Flora.

“Kyaaaa!”

The chair fell over, and colorful jewels soared into the air. The ghost reached out to Flora and slowly moved her body.

[Your Majesty, Duke……Your Majesty. Why me…….Ah. Me, why……?]

“……!”

Flora stepped back, covering her mouth.

‘The cursed Duchess!’

She reflexively looked for an escape route, but it was useless.

‘No way. There’s no way she’d suddenly appear like this.’

The story she had heard since she was a child flashed through her pale head.

The Duchess who was beheaded by the first killer Duke. That was one of the reasons why Inverness was called the cursed ducal family. She appeared every time a new Duchess appeared and poured out curses. The Duke of Inverness is hers, and everything in this mansion is also her property, she shouted.

‘But why me? I’m not even a real Duchess……!’

It was the moment when Flora was in fear and confusion.

[It’s you. New, Duchess……. Stolen my place-.]

The ghost of the bleeding Duchess suddenly moved in front of Flora and grabbed her wrist.

Exactly where the bracelet was.

[My things. How dare you…… covet, mine……!]

“Kyaaaa!”

The scream pierced the ceiling.