After I Died, My Husband Went Mad

On the other hand, Sebelia had no idea Dehart was having those suspicious thoughts about her; even in her dreams.

Instead, she was carefully observing the bracelet confidently adorning Flora’s wrist, who was standing in front of me.

 I only remember it from the list, and haven’t seen it with my own eyes, but I’m sure of it.

 Sebelia was certain.

A bracelet intricately woven with fruits and leaves made of jewels and gold–It was an item chosen by Nelia, who had been following the latest trends during the time when marriage conversations between Inverness and her were being exchanged.

Additionally, it was a rare item to find in the slow-paced north, where trends from the capital took time to reach before they had already been out of fashion.

There was no way Flora could have acquired such accessory.

Sebelia also knew that Flora had been scolded by Dehart multiple times regarding her extravagant spending even before she got married to him.

Why would Flora suddenly come to this shabby room, and try to tyrannize her?

As she stared at the bracelet, Sebelia could clearly see why.

 She had been trifling with my dowry.

That’s why Flora didn’t want her into the vault, where only the Duchess was supposed to have access to.

After swiftly assessing the situation, Sebelia abandoned her plan to send a letter to Dehart through Denissa.

Even if she did get access to the vault, there would likely be nothing left in there. So, what good would it do to ask for permission?

Sebelia’s mind raced, quickly discarding the idea. Now that she confirmed that her dowry had fallen in Flora’s hands, a new plan was imperative.

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

Meanwhile, Flora had gotten more energetic. She glanced around and briskly closed the open curtains. Then, she whispered to Sebelia, who wasn’t making eye contact with her.

 “Do what you’ve always done, okay? Just stay there as if you were dead.”

 “…….”

 “When will you realize that things only get messed up every time you try to step forward, huh,” she added as her fingers ran down Sebelia’s cheek, leaving a lingering touch.

I should have just finish you off back then…; Flora thought, letting out a long sigh of regret.

The day Dehart’s marriage to this bastard offspring was confirmed; that terrible day was when her rosy future with him was shattered.

 How agonizing the bitter pain that consumed her core then was.

[Why, why on earth? Why should brother have to sacrifice himself for such a foolish arrangement!]

She vehemently protested that Dehart didn’t have to abide by the stupid treaty set by the previous Duke of Inverness. Her mother also supported her; however, Dehart coldly pushed her away, saying,

[Questioning the need for fulfilling duties. How immature, Flora.]

Dehart, who spoke those words, wasn’t in a happy condition, either. His face seemed like it would burst into rage at any moment; a chaotic appearance rather than one befitting his status. Nevertheless, he still climbed into the carriage heading for the central region.

All for the purpose of welcoming his new bride, whose name he didn’t even know. And to fulfill the vow left by a father he couldn’t even remember.

[The Duke has returned!]

And as expected, he brought back a woman with an ignorant countenance. A disgusting illegitimate child with round eyes and lips that looked like she didn’t know anything.

[Brother…….] Flora had tried to greet him with a smile then, suppressing her anger.

But even if she hadn’t seen her brother’s strange gaze on that illegitimate woman, she certainly would have felt it in his voice.

[Madam, are you so absent-minded you can’t even walk properly?] he had said to Sebelia.

It was a gaze she had never received from him before. 

It was not the look of consideration for a younger sister, or the indifference towards his family, she had often seen in his eyes.

No.

It was that dreadful spark flickering between growing fondness and an intense sense of vigilance.

She had no choice but to acknowledge it.

* * *

“Hah,” Flora sighed, running a hand through her red hair.

That was all in the past.

Ever since Sebelia’s outrageous betrayal was revealed, her brother no longer looked at her with those eyes.

His cold gaze was devoid of both indifference and consideration!

Suppressing the laughter threatening to burst out, Flora grabbed Sebelia’s shoulders, and said, “I’ve said this much. . .I trust you’ve understood, Sebelia.”

This should serve as a warning; she thought.

Feeling considerably lighter now, she patted Sebelia’s shoulder. Then, savoring the taste of victory, she was about to leave the room, but….

“Flora,” Sebelia called out to her in a clear voice.

It was the first time it had ever happened, and it was something Flora never thought she would witness.

At Sebelia’s languid tone, displeasure rose to the top of her head again.

“Did you just call me?” Flora turned around with widened eyes.

And, when she saw Sebelia, seating there, looking straight at her, she realized she hadn’t misheard.

“Since you are here, why don’t you have a quick chat with me before leaving.”

After standing up from her seat, Sebelia approached her with a laid-back attitude, and without a hint of condescension.

How dare she.

Anger flared in Flora’s light golden eyes.

“Talk? Ha, a conversation you say, unbelievable!”

” …….”

“Such social activities are reserved for people of equal status. Not for you and me.”

Flora, who had come closer with a quick stride, jabbed Sebelia’s chest with her finger, before turning around, sneering loudly, and walking out of the room.

“Look at her thinking she is a real duchess.”

“…….”

Sebelia stared at her retreating figure with sunken eyes.

Her cold pupils, devoid of any anger or resentment, stared at the wide-open door and soon sank deep beneath the surface.

And after a while, She also left the room.

Passing by some servants who ignored her, she descended into a long corridor.

Her eyes caught sight of the portraits of the past Dukes and Duchess hanging in a row on one side of the hallway.

“……It’s you,” she murmured as her steps eventually stopped in front of the largest portrait in the innermost part of the corridor.

It depicted a woman with beautiful long black hair and a man standing behind her, as if guarding her back.

It was a portrait of the first Duke and Duchess of Inverness.

“The cursed Duchess….”

Looking up at the portrait of the former Lady of the house, who had a mysterious smile on her lips, Sebelia also smiled.

Belita Inverness.

A dreadful woman said to have cursed the Duchesses after her, leading them to their death.

She was the one who was going to get back the dowry that had been stolen from Sebelia, and the angel who would soon correct Flora’s arrogant personality.

“I’ll be in your care, Belita,” Sebelia whispered as a faint smoke escaped her fingertips.

 * * *

Half a day had passed since Dehart decided to leave the port city alone with Ryan, and go back to the north.

“Milord, it seems Mary is exhausted,” Ryan said in a blunt voice, grabbing the reins to stop his horse. “How about staying in the vicinity for a day or two before moving on?”

“……There’s no time.”

“If you go on like this, both Maria and Sestin may end up dead.” Ryan pointed at Dehart’s horse.

“Damn it,” Dehart cursed as he ran his fingers through his disheveled hair. However, he did not refute Ryan’s statement.

Their horses were indeed already on the verge of exhaustion. Bringing them this far was already extraordinary.

“I can’t help it then. Turn right.”

With a sigh, Dehart slowly turned his horse to another direction, and Ryan followed closely behind.

And after about 30 minutes, they reached a bustling small trading town.

“May luck be with us.”

After roughly disguising themselves, and passing through the town’s gate, Dehart entered an inn first with a displeased expression.

Soon, he found himself hearing an astonishing conversation while sipping on cheap liquor.

“They say there’s a line of guys waiting to catch a glimpse of the northern Duchess’s undergarments?”

“Arthur, do you think someone like you would catch the Duchess’s eye? There are tons of knights surrounding her room every day.”

At the feet of the bastards spewing obscene gossip lay a discarded newspaper.

The Lynn Post.

Dehart’s lips twisted with disdain as he confirmed the detestable name.

“Master,” Ryan called out to him in a meaningful voice.

 Wait here; Dehart gestured at Ryan.

The heavily intoxicated men stumbled out of the inn in the faint light of dawn.

A black shadow following behind them.

* * *

Back in her room, Flora opened her jewelry box like she usually did, and began to spend some delightful time alone.

“If it weren’t for me, you’d still be trapped in that basement,” she said gazing at the glittering jewels, and accessories inside the box, with a face that seemed to be dripping with honey.

It always broke her heart to think of the time when these cute little babies were trapped underground without ever seeing the sunlight because of that illegitimate woman.

I’m practically their savior. (TLN: this B is delusional AF.)

With a heart full of happiness, she raised a necklace that perfectly matched the bracelet she was wearing. And right at that moment, a chilly sensation penetrated the room.

“What is this? Who turned the heating off?”

 As she frowned and tried to get up from her seat, an eerie, and muffled sound echoed through the air.

Wooo-Wooouuuhhhh!!!

“What the hell is this?”

Flora glanced around the room with a bewildered expression. Meanwhile, white fingers slowly crept through the crack of the tightly closed door. And little by little, the fingers transformed into a bleeding woman who came to stand in front of her.

“Aaahhhh.”

The chair recoiled as she fell on the floor, and colored jewels scattered into the air.

Then, the ghost extended its hand towards her, slowly getting closer.

And Flora quickly stumbled back, her mouth agape in shock.

The Cursed Duchess!

She reflexively looked for a way out, but to no avail.

This can’t be real. There’s no way she would appear so suddenly.

Horror filled her mind as stories she had heard during her childhood started to come back.

Stories about how the first Duke cut his wife’s, the first Duchess, throat and murdered her.

This was one of the reasons why Inverness was called the Cursed Duchy.

It was said that every time a new Duchess came in, the woman would reveal herself to spread her curse, declaring inverness as only hers, and asserting ownership over everything in the mansion.

But why me? I’m not even the Duchess…! Flora thought, overwhelmed with terror and confusion.( Oh so the b actually knows, loll.)

 “So, you are the new Duchess. The…..one…..ugghh..usurped my place,”The ghost of the bleeding Duchess accused before leaping forward, and tightly grabbing Flora’s wrist.

More specifically, the wrist the bracelet was resting on.

“My belongings. How dare you…… dare to touch……mine……!”

 “Aaahhhhh!!!”

A scream pierced through the ceiling.