After I Died, My Husband Went Mad

During the short time they had to wait for the dowry to be sold and get the money to fund her journey, Sebelia and Denisa spent a comfortable and luxurious time living in the annex.

Well, Gwen’s servants would occasionally hover around the detached building, but it wasn’t too difficult to shoo them away.

“Someone fainted again,” Denisa shook her head as she looked out the window to see one of the servants who had just fainted, foaming on the floor.

“I hope they calm down a bit,” Denisa said exasperated, glancing to the side where a servant had been diligently spying just a moment ago until Belita’s ghost appeared, eerily shedding blood.

“What are they hoping for?” Sebelia muttered as she made Belita disappear. “I moved to the annex like they wished, and now I’m nothing…”

Why the hell would they keep watching her with such unease?

Sebelia sighed deeply at Gwen’s incomprehensible actions.

“I guess I’ll never understand.”

If she had known how Gwen thought, she wouldn’t have been so completely deceived in the past.

Smiling bitterly, she turned to Denisa, “What about the thing I asked for?”

“It’s going to take a little while. It’s not something that can be sold nearby,” Denisa looked at Cebelia with a sorry face.

Sebelia shook her head, signaling her not to worry.

“It’s okay. There’s still tim….” But Sebelia suddenly closed her mouth, then stood up and tried to hastily leave the parlor. However, noticing something was amiss, Denisa quickly grabbed her wrist.

“Miss!”

“Cough, cough….”

Blood trickled down Sebelia’s fingers which were covering her mouth causing the nanny’s face to turn pale in an instant. With trembling hands, she led Sebelia back to the chair.

“Lie down.”

“I’m fine…”

“Please, hurry!”

Her trembling voice conveyed the turmoil withing her. And when Sevelia noticed how red her eyes were, she decided to remain silent. It would be useless to tell her everything was okay.

Denisa nervously went back and forth, and in no time, she brought warm water, towels, and first-aid supplies. Then, she cleaned Sebelia’s bloody lips with a wet cloth and tended to her injuries after putting her in bed.

“I shouldn’t have told you about your powers. I should have just sent you away back then…” A voice twisted by anguish came out of her mouth. “I was so stupid.”

Knowing that someone you love was sick and witnessing that reality in front of your eyes were two different kinds of experiences.

I wish I was the sick one.

Feeling a weakness in her shaky knees, Denisa fought back her rising tears with a choked sob. To her, Sebelia was like a daughter she had raised with utmost care.

Witnessing the girl she nurtured with so much love cough blood before her eyes was truly……

I don’t want to see this happen again.

Denisa wiped her sweaty forehead and opened her mouth in a trembling voice,

“I didn’t want this. It’s all my fault that you are suffering even more…”

“No, Denisa,” Sebelia said, hastily taking her hand. “This is just… a side effect. It’s not because of my illness.”

“If that’s the case, then I shouldn’t have told you anything! I took from the time you had left. I…”

Gazing into the old woman’s eyes, blackened with agony, Sebelia tightened her grip on the hand she was holding.

“Denisa. Don’t do this.”

Her voice was resolute, her gaze firm. Though her face was as pale as a corpse, her determination was unwavering.

“If it weren’t for Denissa, I would have run away without a plan. I would have lived in constant fear, wondering when father would find me, and I would have probably died alone.”

Holding Denisa’s hand with both of hers, Sebelia spoke in a sincere tone, “I’m grateful that I have a future where I don’t need to entertain such thoughts.”

“…….”

“I didn’t lose time; I’ve gained the chance to live more precious moments in peace.”

Gasping for air because of the intense guilt she was feeling, Denisa met Sebelia’s gaze.

“Really?” the nanny asked in a small voice.

Sebelia whispered softly and comforted her. “At that time, I was so desperate to get out of here, I didn’t even think of anything else. I didn’t make proper preparations. If it weren’t for you, I would have rushed things, and ruined everything.”

Indeed, she had foolishly tried to flee without sufficient resources.

How reckless I was.

Denisa pursed her lips as if to say something, but no words came out.

This happened multiple times.

Eventually, resigned, she could only nod slowly.

“……I get it.”

Sebelia’s eyes softened at her words, “Thank you.”

“Don’t say such things,” Denisa smiled sadly.

She gently wiped Sebelia’s face with a towel soaked in warm water.

“Really, you look like a mess, Miss,” she joked in an attempt to lighten the mood, and Sebelia let out a small laugh.

“When you were little, you loved playing in the mud a lot. You used to come back all covered in it, and I’d clean you up like this.”

The old nanny took a very long time to wipe her face, as if to engrave this moment in her memories.

“Yes, I remember,” Sebelia closed her eyes, accepting her touch, and concealing the truth deep in her heart–the fact that she had never liked playing in the mud. Not in the slightest.

I liked that Denisa cared so much about me.

That’s why she could endure it every time Nathan threw her in the mud. Because when she returned to her room, there was always someone waiting for her with a warm towel.

* *

Dehart knew that Rash was objectively someone he should respect.

He had responsibly raised his brother’s child until adulthood without seeking any recognition, and always displayed a commendable character.

But at the same time, Dehart knew people could have various sides to them.

Well, seems like a destination he wants to hide from his nephew; he thought as he followed Rash through the darkness, a disdainful look creeping in his eyes.

It’s been an hour since they started chasing after his respectable father figure and ended up in the worst opium den in the slums.

The stranger thing, though, was that Rash went deeper into the alley, passing the opium addicts scattered all over.

What the hell is he hiding? Dehart pondered, following him into the deeper alley where those who hid in the shadows of the world and profited from them resided.

Rustle.

In that moment, something got stuck to his foot. Thinking it was some trash, he was about to kick it away, but he suddenly stopped in his track with a puzzled expression.

Seeing this, Ryan whispered to him, “My lord, if it bothers you, I can take care of it….”

“No.”

His golden eyes, shining brightly in the darkness, slowly read the words written on the paper that was heavily infused with the rich scent of the perfume Rash usually wore.

The paper’s content was surprisingly familiar to him.

Five rumors to start about Sebelia’s unique sexual preferences. After successful results, spread information about her childhood.

“Aha.”

Dehart swept his hair back.

“Haha,” a deranged laugh escaped his lips as a dangerous fire rapidly ignited within his golden eyes.

“Yes, that’s how it is.”

His voice sounded ominous, and for a moment, lightning seemed to crackle around him, making the addicts who had been peering at him with cloudy eyes flinch.

In an instant, his terrifying aura took control of the alley as he stood there, pulling a pair of black gloves out of his pocket.

Tak!

Pulling the tough leather gloves up to his wrist, he remarked,

“I was wondering what kind of rat it was; turns out it’s the one that was eating and sleeping with me in my own house. No, even better, isn’t it the rat that raised me?”

“Master,” Ryan called him, who was too busy denigrating his uncle as a rat bastard. Of course, it wasn’t to criticize Dehart’s harsh words.

Ryan’s hand was actually pointing at something.

In the distance, Rash was rapidly disappearing into the alley.

Seeing this, Dehart’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

* * *

A cold flame surged within Dehart’s eyes as he made his way through the stench-filled alleyway.

How dare you?

Rash was one of the few people he had ever respected. He wasn’t just someone who went over and beyond to raise him, but a person who contributed to the family as if it was his sacred duty.

Yet, he had to audacity to insult Sebelia publicly like this?

No wonder he kept spouting nonsense and insisting that I met other women.

Rash, worried about his lack of an heir, urged him to see other women.

Of course, his suggestion sounded merely like yapping to Dehart’s ears.

In fact, he found it even more ridiculous than being mocked and bitten by a random passing dog.

[Dehart, a woman who cannot bear children cannot be considered a proper wife. Everyone will understand your choice.]

What kind of stupidity was this? He was the one who decided not to sleep with her in the first place. So how did it become Sebelia’s fault?

At that time, he had calmly refuted Rash’s absurdity.

[I’m young, and so is my wife. We will decide together when it’s right for us to have children, So, please, don’t worry, Uncle.]

[How can I not worry? Your father died when you were only seven.]

But Rash confidently pushed forward with his absurd reasoning. In the end, Dehart had no choice but to play his last card.

[……Fine, let’s do it this way then.]

[What do you mean?]

[My heir must be the strongest child in the family. Even if I have my own children someday, if they are weak, they will never become my successor.]

At the same time, something had flashed in the air, slammed down at Rash’s feet, then vanished.

[You…!]

What kind of expression did Rash make as he looked down at the burning mark under his feet?

Dehart hurriedly passed through the cramped alley, narrowing his eyes in displeasure.

It seemed that his expression was filled with resentment and betrayal.

How dare you feel betrayed; he raged.

His tightly closed fists, and clenched jaw clearly showed his anger towards Rash.

Someone resulting to such despicable acts to drive Sebelia away—could they be trusted to have only done this?

The man thought as he took a deep breath, recalling the stolen minerals, and the traitor who died during the interrogation.

Seeing that Rash was making his way into the outskirts of the city, Dehart drew his sword, still cautiously following behind him, his racing heart filled with anxiety.

I need to finish this quickly and go back to her; He said to himself.

However, Sebelia, whom he was so worried about, was already prepared to live the mansion.