After I Died, My Husband Went Mad [EN]: Chapter 83

She had little experience and was rather oblivious to her own emotions. However, that didn’t mean she was clueless or stupid. Sebelia had subtly sensed something undeniable in Dihart’s clinging behavior.

A desperate despair and regret resided in his eyes, yet he was determined never to leave her side. Even if his life were in danger, he was stubbornly adamant about not witnessing her death, a near-mad obsession.

Thus, in some way, he was determined to never ‘lose’ Sebelia again.

‘It wasn’t my imagination.’

Dihart had clung to her at the research facility, insisting she had never lost her memory. She had returned his words, telling him not to ‘overstep.’ His reaction afterward… exceeded her expectations.

A look of utter devastation, as if betrayed by a loved one. The moment she saw it, Sebelia felt a terrible shudder and a base pain.

‘Why now…….’

But it could have been a misunderstanding. The feelings he harbored for her might not have been romantic love, but a sense of responsibility as a Duke, a guilt for failing to protect his family as a head.

That was why.

[Of course, I hope it’s worth disturbing my time.]

She had whispered the words he had once spoken to her into Dihart’s ear. It was to see how he would waver, what kind of look he would give her.

To find out what was hidden beneath his obsession and guilt, Sebelia unhesitatingly spoke the words that had once torn her heart to shreds. And the result, unfortunately, seemed to be as she had expected.

Eyes like the sun, terribly distorted, breath shaking. His body temperature, which had been as hot as a flame, cooled instantly, and the air that had gently enveloped him shattered miserably.

“Haa.”

Sebelia let out a soft sigh and lowered her eyes.

Yes, what was deeply rooted in his heart was a chilling affection. An unfortunate sprout that had sprouted too late, unable to receive even a handful of raindrops.

‘You loved me. That’s why you despaired after losing me, and that’s why you can no longer bear to see me die.’

That was enough. There was nothing more to find out from him. Sebelia scanned the window with cold, sunken eyes. His face, following her gaze, was reflected in the window.

The eyes that had shone like the sun were now a dead black. Above them, dark clouds began to cover the sky little by little.

“Ah.”

A gasp escaped Sebelia’s lips. Rain began to fall on the soil of the garden.

* * *

“It’s raining in, sir.”

A young butler closed the window and turned to look at Ryan. He, who had been engrossed in writing a letter, belatedly raised his head and opened his mouth, “Ah.”

“The paper was about to get wet. Thank you. Judging by the sound of the rain, it must be a storm.”

Ryan frowned and finished the letter. In his haste, the ink splattered messily on the last words he scribbled.

“I understand your haste, but shouldn’t you take it easy now?”

The young butler looked at his hollow eyes and spoke with a pitiful tone.

“Miss Flora, no. Miss Flora has been confined to the tower, and Marquis Lims has suddenly left Hillend Hall for some reason and has not returned……”

Just yesterday, a banquet hosted by Flora was held.

The light of the splendid chandeliers and the sparkle of champagne overflowing in each glass. Those who were not invited swallowed their regret and jealousy as they looked at the mansion on the hill, and the invited guests, adorned in silk and jewels, entered the banquet hall.

And Ryan, as if waiting for it, mobilized the knights and raided them. The banquet hall was filled with shock and chaos, not joy and pleasure.

[What is this…!]

[Seal the entrances and escort the young lady.]

A heavy bass voice fell to the floor of the banquet hall. The lined-up knights moved in an orderly manner, closing the heavy doors of the banquet hall and surrounding Flora.

The nobles, who had been chatting happily in groups of three or five, looked at each other with surprised faces. Soon, a low but powerful voice echoed through the banquet hall.

[Flora Roenal Inverness. In the name of the Duke of Inverness, the owner of Hillend Hall and the ruler of the North, I hereby confine you to the tower from this moment on. The charge is embezzling and misappropriating the family’s assets for personal gain.]

Flora couldn’t dare to run away. Captured by the knights, she widened her eyes and stared at Ryan with an incredulous expression.

[What nonsense are you talking about! Where is Grandfather?]

Flora sought Lims as a habit, but it was useless. He had fallen into Ryan and Dihart’s trap and left for the black market. There was no one to protect her. Flora, who had always wielded power by relying on the power of others, was more helpless than anyone else.

‘It was a funny face.’

Ryan, who recalled the same scene as the butler, dropped melted wax onto the envelope and said bluntly.

“Marquis Lims will be back soon.”

The butler’s hand, which had been reaching for the curtain, stopped. Ryan sensed the movement but ignored it. It wasn’t something to hide anyway.

Ryan stamped the seal of Hillend Hall on the melted wax and grabbed a handful of dark gray powder. The powder scattered over the cream-colored envelope sparkled and oxidized. The young butler asked with an anxious voice at the carefree appearance.

“Sir Ryan, wouldn’t that be a big problem?”

“Yes. It’s a big problem.”

Ryan said indifferently and stared at the butler.

“The kind that the Duke will be madly happy about.”

Bang! A thunderbolt struck with a loud roar. Along with the sound of rain falling heavily, the butler was ushered out of the office with the letter Ryan handed him.

* * *

The rain continued to fall incessantly. Occasionally, a flash of lightning illuminated the mountain range with a loud noise that seemed to tear the sky. Every time, Sebelia glanced back at Dihart with suspicious eyes, and he wore an unfairly wounded expression.

The top floor, farthest from the office and Dihart’s room, was the accommodation given to Sebelia and the research staff. Sebelia opened the door with an indifferent face and said.

“Come in.”

Dihart was about to ask if he could, but he bit his lip, remembering Sebelia’s cutting words.

‘Am I wasting her time with my nonsense?’

It was an unbelievable change for Dihart, who had always been outspoken and said harsh things without hesitation. With gloomy eyes, Dihart carefully sat on the sofa. Soon, Sebelia returned with a small box.

“Take it.”

Sebelia said, pushing the box with the tip of her hand. Dihart blinked as he looked at the box sliding across the table.

“Aren’t you going to take it?”

“No.”

*I’ll take anything you give me,* Dihart thought, swallowing the unspoken words. He reached out and grabbed the small box. The fragile paper box easily crumpled, revealing the silver cross necklace inside.

“……”

A dark shadow fell over Dihart’s eyes. Sebelia, who was quietly watching the scene, spoke in a voice like a calm ripple on the water’s surface.

“Maya stole yours again. It was dangerous to leave it out, so I kept it safe.”

“……”

Dihart held the necklace that had popped out from the crumpled box in his hand and remained silent. Then Sebelia reached out and picked up the necklace.

“If you don’t even know you lost it, why don’t you just throw it away?”

“No.”

The hand with bulging veins snatched the necklace back as if by reflex. With the sound of the silver chain dragging, the two stared at each other, each holding an end of the necklace.

Sebelia’s blue eyes clearly captured him. Staring into his sun-like eyes, now shaking with desperation, Sebelia said.

“If you’re going to throw it around like a toy, just throw it away. I knew from the beginning that you didn’t like it anyway.”

Dihart’s eyes widened in shock, and he gasped. Holding the end of the fragile necklace, he shook his head violently.

“That’s not true. I don’t dislike it, I’ve never thought that way.”

“You don’t have to lie.”

“Really, Sebelia. And don’t think I threw it around like a toy. I’ve never treated anything you gave me so carelessly.”

A cold murmur followed the fierce cry.

“Then why did you do that back then?”

The golden eyes, shaken by the storm of emotion, froze at the fierce accusation.

“I remember that day clearly. It was when we were having tea together in the garden. What did you say when you saw the necklace I bought before your birthday?”

“I, I…”

“You clearly said it wasn’t your taste. You also said you wouldn’t wear it unless you became a priest. So how can you say you never disliked it? How can you say that my memories of your words and actions are all lies?”

The voice was as cold and uninhibited as water flowing through a valley, but her blue eyes were burning like an eternally burning flame.

“You’ve always lied to me. Whether it’s true or not. You’ve never been honest in front of me.”

Dihart lost his words in the face of the past misdeeds pointed out in a calm voice. His face went pale as he realized the irreversible karma.

“How can I believe you now that you’re clinging to me and asking for forgiveness?”

“Sebelia.”

“You’re not even keeping your promise to call me Bella.”

Dihart hurriedly covered his mouth and groaned. While retracing the past, he had already drifted away from reality. As he closed his eyes tightly, Sebelia let out a cold laugh and said, as if dismissing the whole thing.

“And to be honest… you’ve never even apologized to me properly.”

“What?”

It was the moment when the surprised Dihart unknowingly asked back.

“Besides saying you were sorry for pretending to have lost your memory, have you ever said *why* you’re sorry to me, even once?”

The blue eyes stared at him with contempt. At that moment, Dihart felt like lightning was striking above his head. His vision turned black, and his heart sank.

Not even once.

Since meeting Sebelia, he had never apologized to her properly.