After I Died, My Husband Went Mad

The day before she left Inverness, Sebelia was filled with complex emotions.

“How strange.”

It was when she was inspecting the fake corpse for the very last time.

In the middle of dozens of empty medicine bottles that were sure to exceed the lethal dose if consumed entirely, Sebelia’s fake body lay holding an empty sleeping pills vial in her hand, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth.

Denisa stared at this scene with clenched fists. It was a calm yet chilly sight.

After making sure everything was perfect, Sebelia straightened her bent knees and returned to Denissa’ s side.

The two men standing by the door shared the same thought as they gazed at the dead body.

That’s the lady….

Meanwhile, as she thought of the future that awaited her, Sebelia shuddered.

So, this is what I will look like when I die; she said to herself.

But, strangely enough, it wasn’t just because of the fear stemming from her impending doom; rather, Sebelia found herself inflated with a peculiar sense of anticipation.

The already confirmed future, paradoxically, gave her confidence.

I don’t want to die like this, in this suffocating and lonely mansion.

She didn’t want a desolate and sad death.

A lonely end where no one would be by her side.

To be trapped in despair until she eventually ends her own life.

So, as she stared at the fake Sebelia who had met her death trapped in this annex, her resolved became stronger.

I will never die like that; she swore.

I’m going to get out of here, and meet my end in a new place as a completely different person.

Denisa, and the many people I’m going to meet there will be by my side when the time comes.

Taking a deep breath, Sebelia clasped her cold fingertips together. And when Denisa placed her hands over Sebelia’s, the two exchanged a faint smile as they looked at each other.

“Do you remember where the meeting place is?”

Asked Denisa, who had come downstairs, tightly wrapping a coat around Sebelia’s shoulders.

“Yes. Along the lakeshore, turn right on the forest path. Then, go to the tree with the yellow scarf hanging from it, right?”

“That’s right. You remember it well, my lady,” Denisa gently patted Sebelia’s head, as if giving a reward to a good child.

And Sebelia unknowingly smiled at the gest.

“I’ll follow you once everything is done,” Denisa promised, looking at Sebelia with firm and shining eyes. 

It was her responsibility to ensure that the truth about Sebelia’s fake body remained safe until the end of the funeral.

“……You have to come, no matter what.” Sebelia whispered in a trembling voice as she hugged Denisa tightly. “I’ll wait for you. Be sure to pick me up again this time, just like you did before.”

Sebelia still remembered.

She had not forgotten how Denisa had come to find her when she was alone and shivering in that solemn and desolate monastery.

Her cheeks were red from the cold, and her hands were frozen.

However, as soon as their eyes met, Denisa pulled her into her embrace.

And it felt so warm.

Just like right now.

“Of course,” the old nanny exclaimed in a powerful voice, hugging Sebelia in return. “I’ll be sure to pick you up after ten nights. So don’t worry and go.”

And with those words that brought back memories of their earlier days together, Denisa opened the door.

It was time to leave.

* * *

Back in the present, Ryan found himself in a terrible situation. As soon as he learned about Sebelia’s death, he went straight to the butler.

“Does it make sense to conduct a funeral without the Duke’s permission! Stop this immediately.”

“We can’t stop a funeral that has already begun, Sir Ryan. Don’t you know that?”

Regardless of Ryan’s warnings, Gross showed no sign of backing down. On the contrary, he used Gwen, who was practically the lord of Inverness right now, in order to pressure Ryan.

“And how dare I handle the Duchess’s funeral on my own. Lady Gwen’s permission was given for this matter.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. The Duke is the deceased Lady’s husband . . .”

“Marquis Rims, and Count Baine have also given their permission.”

Gross’ stiffened his stance, putting pressure on Ryan’s neck.

Marquis of Rims and Count Baine were Dehart’s blood relatives, and they possessed authority that even he, the current Duke, couldn’t freely disregard.

They were also the younger brothers of Dehart’s grandfather. 

Possessing considerable influence within the family, the two men were especially fond of the devoted couple, Rash and Gwen.

So, it was only natural for them to consider sacrifices made for the family as a matter of course.

“Sir Ryan, even you must be aware that Inverness is in a precarious position right now.”

” …….”

“in such a situation, isn’t it right to break free from the capital’s shackles as soon as possible?”

Faced with Rims and Baine’s names, Ryan could no longer argue.

“……Very well,” he agreed.

“Don’t forget to greet Lady Gwen on your way back,” Gross remarked, not abandoning his arrogant attitude until the very end.

Ultimately, Ryan had to hold back his frustration, and secretly write a telegram to Dehart.

[The Duchess is dead. Please, return promptly.]

Putting his pen away, Ryan recalled the layout of the lower village in his mind.

Where was the post office again?

With an anxious heart, the knight desperately hoped that Dehart would still be in the small town they had been residing at.

We must not miss each other.

If the Duke were to rush here to meet his wife before receiving Ryan’s report, only to witness the Duchess’ funeral, what on earth would happen then……

“This is giving me chills,” Ryan muttered.

That day could very well blow a wind of catastrophe over Inverness.

With a pale face, the man ran to the stable, and saddled a new horse.

He needed to send the telegram before the post office closed.

But right then, a young voice called out to him.

“Sir Ryan?”

“…Miss Flora.”

As he turned his head, Flora, with her red hair pinned up beautifully, came into view.

“If you’ve just returned, shouldn’t you be resting? Where else are you planning to go? Knights are truly something else.”

Perhaps Gross had informed Flora that he was here. Otherwise, why would a dozen knights be accompanying her?

“This complicates things,” Ryan murmured with a frown, taking two steps back.

And Flora, with her arms crossed, spoke as if all of this was giving her a headache, “Ryan, don’t make trouble for us, okay?”

“I’m sorry, Miss.”

“You can’t even see that all of this is for my brother’s sake. Really.”

Flora straightened her shoulders as she added in a commanding voice, “Seize him. It doesn’t matter if he gets hurt a little.”

Watching the junior knights rush towards him, Ryan smiled bitterly.

“Ignorant fools.”

Soon, screams echoed throughout the stable.

 

 

* * *

At the entrance of a small village, far away from the northern regions, a lone carriage pulled by two horses came to a stop on a quiet road.

“We’ve arrived, Madam.”

“Thank you.”

With a brief greeting, Sebelia stepped down from the carriage alone.

She looked around with vibrant eyes and then set down her few belongings on the ground.

“Have a pleasant time.”

It was a casual remark.

And contrary to her promise, Sebelia almost instinctively looked back at the carriage. But, unlike her, the coachman who had already done this countless times, promptly swing his whip.

Neighhhh–

The sound of horses’ neighing echoed long, spreading through the street, and soon the carriage disappeared from her sight.

Only then was Sebelia able to lift the hat that was covering her face.

As Denisa said, he is someone who handles tasks neatly.

Sebelia leisurely walked down the street, observing the trees with green leaves trailing down their waists.

The coachman, who hadn’t met her gaze even once, didn’t ask a single question throughout the whole journey.

Well, the circumstances surrounding those who run away are usually the same wherever you go.

Sebelia smiled bitterly at that thought, tightening her grip on the suitcase before walking toward the address Denisa had given her.

“Ahhh,” she let out happily.

The smell of freshly baked bread was incredibly pleasant.

 

* * *

Maybe it’s because it was a just temporary place to stay, so as expected, the house was not cleaned at all.

“Still, this is better than nothing.”

After a short while, Sebelia, holding a mop in her hands for the first time in a while, thoroughly cleaned the house.

And when she stopped to admire the now sparkling place, she felt as if all memories that had been burdening her heart were also being mopped away.

“……I could actually live here.”

It was just an old, and dimly lit wooden house, but for some reason, the place was already starting to fill her heart.

Sebelia, feeling more lenient towards everything after leaving that damn mansion, let out a faint laugh.

“Ugh.”

Even though the pain had worsened since then…….

It can’t be helped. It takes a lot of strength to maintain the illusion from afar.

Unfortunately, the satisfaction she felt after cleaning was quickly overshadowed by the blood splattered on the floor.

Sighing dejectedly, Sebelia filled a bucket with water to clean the mess up again.  

How much time has passed?

The wind that came in through the opened window tickled her cheeks and blew away into the distance.

It’s been a long time since she was able to relax like this.

She always had to be on guard inside that mansion and couldn’t even open the windows to enjoy the sunlight for fear of being noticed.

There were times when Dehart would glare at me.

And in those moments, she truly felt like her heart was about to fall out.

As she let out a sigh, Sebelia basked in the sun for a while.

Then….

Knock, Knock.

“Miss.”

Finally, Denisa’s voice, which she had been waiting for so eagerly, could be heard behind the door.

Sebelia quickly jumped up and immediately threw the door wide open.

“Denisa!”

“Miss…….”

With watery eyes, Denisa tightly embraced her, and in the warmth of her arms, Sebelia’s heart trembled.

“It’s over. It’s really over.”

Sebelia shivered at Denisa’s heartful cries…

Still holding her body tightly, the old nanny whispered, “Now, the unhappy Lady Sebelia is no more.”

“Oh.”

“Sebelia inverness is gone from this world.”

It’s been four days since she left the mansion.

Four days of vomiting blood all night in order to maintain the illusion.

Four days of anxiously listening to whispers of passersby, wondering if a funeral would be held.

And finally, the time that felt both long and short had came…

This morning, her death was officially acknowledged. Sighing as she received the news from Denisa’s message, Sebelia murmured, “Unbelievable.”

Duchess Sebelia Inverness died at the age of 29……The family attended……Waves of mourning continue……

There, along with the majestic mansion of Inverness, her death was clearly printed. written in print format.

Tears welled up in Sebelia’s blue eyes as she stared intently at the paper. And soon, her hands began to tremble.

“Finally…. Finally.”

This was the awaited moment; the moment she had longed for while fearing that things might go wrong: The simple words stating that Sevelia Inverness was dead.

Hoping solely for that, she made a fake corpse and fled to this place.

But why?

It was something she’s been looking forward to.

The one thing she desired.

So why couldn’t she utter with her own mouth that she was dead?

“I… finally . . .”

While shedding tears of joy, Sebelia felt puzzled.

And in that moment, memories from the past flashed under her closed eyes.

Memories of beautiful days when she dreamed of a future with him, and the faithful day when that future fell into the mud after she was framed.

A shattered past, both glorious and dreadful, just like broken jewels.

The tragedy originated from her father.