After I Died, My Husband Went Mad - Chapter 176

As Eli searched through the stables and the servants’ quarters, holding onto his last hope, he knocked on Sebelia’s door. Meanwhile, Dehart was gazing down at the sleeping Sebelia.

Is it okay to be this close?

She had told him to stay, but for some reason, he felt uneasy. Dehart furrowed his brow, feeling a pain of conscience he had never experienced before.

A shadow crossed his handsome face, and sorrow clouded his golden eyes. Knock, knock. Eli knocked once more from outside, but Dehart ignored him. A memory from an hour ago flashed in his mind.

[…Bella?]

[Let’s talk after we rest.]

When he had woken up on the carpet after almost fainting asleep, Sebelia had said that and then climbed into bed. She had fallen asleep immediately, looking so peaceful.

I felt like my heart was going to fall out when I opened my eyes.

He didn’t even know when he had fainted, but as soon as he opened his eyes, he met Sebelia’s gaze. And then he realized what a state he was in.

The pitiful apology he had made, and the childish sobs that had nearly broken him as he collapsed to the floor—these memories merged with the sight of Sebelia quietly watching him, bringing back the crushing emotions.

But despite all that, she had calmly gotten into bed and gone to sleep. As if she had been exhausted from taking care of him while he was unconscious, she had fallen asleep almost instantly.

What are you thinking?

Dehart felt agony, but at the same time, an overwhelming sense of happiness. Like a condemned prisoner with a stay of execution, he knew tragedy would eventually come. But for this moment, for the time he could stay by her side, he was joyfully powerless to do anything but stay.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Ha…”

After that, there was no need for further explanation; it was as it appeared. Dehart gazed at Sebelia, who slept peacefully, with eyes full of both pain and emotion.

He watched her as though she was a character from a fairy tale, afraid that if he touched her even slightly, she would vanish like bubbles.

Knock, knock, knock, knock.

The sound of the door being knocked on grew louder. Dehart let it pass by one ear, then pulled the curtains close around the bed, as sunlight had started to spill over Sebelia’s cheek.

“Mmm…”

At that moment, as though sensing his presence, Sebelia stirred slightly and moaned. Dehart’s face immediately drained of color, and his body stiffened in mid-air.

“I’m sorry.”

The apologetic words fell from his lips.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

With nothing else allowed, like a slave, he continued whispering apologies into Sebelia’s ear, like a broken record.

How long had he whispered to her like that?

Dehart finally stood up. It was because that damn adjutant wouldn’t stop knocking on the door.

It’ll wake her up at this rate.

Grinding his teeth, Dehart opened the door silently. Eli, standing just behind the door crack, whispered.

“Duke!”

“Shut up, don’t breathe. Don’t even move your hands. Turn around and leave.”

“……”

Seeing the sharpness in Dehart’s voice, Eli quickly followed the command. Of course, he knew better than to heed the last part.

When it seemed Dehart had calmed down, Eli quickly scanned the room through the gap in the door. His tensed expression softened. Fortunately, it seemed like his superior hadn’t spent the night with Bella.

“You look better. Did you get some sleep?”

Unlike yesterday, the dark fog that had enveloped Dehart was gone. The traces of his previous outburst had disappeared, and he appeared to have returned to his senses.

It seems like Miss Bella helped him. I was hoping they wouldn’t get too close, but… what now? Should I contact Ryan?

Though Eli appeared to be a carefree young man, he was, after all, born into a noble family with a high status. While he was glad Bella, who resembled the late Duchess, was helping with Dehart’s recovery, he thought it would be troublesome if their relationship went any deeper.

No matter how much the boundaries between commoners and nobles had blurred, a Duchess wasn’t someone who should easily fall into the hands of a commoner.

“Let’s go, Duke. The letters from Hillend Hall are anxiously waiting for you.”

“……”

Without saying a word, Dehart approached Eli. When Eli saw him advancing so decisively, he instinctively took a step back. The pressure was overwhelming.

“Uh, are you hungry? Or… perhaps you haven’t fully woken up yet…?”

“Get lost.”

Dehart grabbed Eli by the nape of his neck and casually lifted him off the ground, placing him in the hallway. Eli, who had expected to be thrown down, looked up at Dehart in confusion.

But Dehart wasn’t interested in Eli’s reaction at all. He simply paused, about to close the door, and added, almost as an afterthought.

“Block any ants from entering the third floor. When I ring the bell, bring breakfast. I’ll deal with the letters and documents today, but if I see your face again…”

His words were cut off by a small murmur coming from behind him. Dehart turned around, and in a barely audible voice, continued.

“I’ll snap your only good feature—your height—into two. Be ready.”