After I Died, My Husband Went Mad - Chapter 217

Dehart finished his meal first. It was inevitable—Sebelia sitting opposite kept distracting him, leaving unable to think.

“I’ll get up first.”

“Already?”

Sebelia looked at him with surprise. Dehart almost blurted out pointless questions but barely held back.

“I have urgent business to attend to.”

“Oh…”

With a faint sigh, Sebelia nodded. Dehart glanced at Claude and silently signaled before leaving the dining room.

Moments later, Claude knocked on the study door. Dehart immediately stood.

“What is it?”

Claude asked, seemingly waiting. Dehart shook his head slowly.

“Nothing serious.”

“Hmm.”

“Really. I just wanted to ask you something.”

“Oh? You have a question for me?”

“More precisely, for you, Bella’s teacher.”

Claude’s eyes showed a flicker of knowing. Smiling slyly, Dehart frowned.

“So, what happened with the training to find out Bella’s specialty?”

If Sebelia’s specialty was as useful as Claude’s, perhaps she wouldn’t have to risk herself in traps. Dehart had not yet given up on this faint hope.

“Oh, that… Sorry to disappoint, but no significant progress yet.”

Claude brushed his chin, trailing off. Before creating spying illusions, Sebelia had practiced many illusions with Claude to discover her specialty.

“Well, it’s not that we have no clues.”

Just as Claude was about to elaborate, loud footsteps echoed from the corridor.

Eli walked briskly, frowning. Holding a thick bundle of papers carefully, he knocked.

“Duke, it’s Eli.”

Dehart glanced at Claude, then ran a hand through his hair. The reason for Eli’s urgent arrival was obvious—he must have gathered reports from spies. Folding his arms, Dehart said,

“Mr. Appenz, let’s continue this later.”

Claude shrugged and left.

* * *

“The First Queen invited her?”

Shateian, half-reclining in his chair while reading a book, tilted his head and asked. When his red eyes framed by white eyelashes turned toward him, Ludmil nodded again.

“Yes, it seems she intends to meet her personally and try to persuade her…”

He trailed off—not because he doubted the information, but because the First Queen wasn’t someone who would bother with such trivial matters personally. Shateian shared this opinion with Ludmil.

“There’s definitely something suspicious about this. The First Queen I know regards all her family—except for her son—as worse than insects.”

And yet, she personally sends an invitation and attempts to coax the fiance’s lost family member. That just doesn’t add up. Shateian snorted.

“…”

“What do you make of it, Ludmil? You’re probably the one who knows the First Queen’s workings best.”

Shateian, lounging like a cat in the sunlight, narrowed his eyes.

“It’s a memory I’d rather not recall…”

Ludmil’s face paled, recalling the days he had to constantly fend off assassins sent by the First Queen, night and day. He had suffered greatly, even once cursing the sky while resenting Balak for leaving him there.

Even now, thinking back choked him up. Shaking his head, he said,

“I first encountered such brutal scorched-earth tactics when I came here. Treating people like disposable goods… It made me realize fully that the First Queen has no heart.”

“Ha ha, no heart, you say. Quite the gentle appraisal.”

Shateian chuckled softly and got up from his seat. Judging by the time, Balak was due any moment.

“Well, it’s fortunate we can bring good news to Balak. I haven’t been able to sleep these past few days because he’s been whining nonstop about finding a way to meet his cousin.”

Shateian grumbled as he adjusted his clothes. Truth be told, he also wanted to see her. But what could he do when she was holed up in the Inverness estate, rejecting all visits and invitations?

Still, the days of Balak pestering him were over. Shateian waited with mixed relief and anticipation.

Finally, when Balak appeared, Shateian greeted him with the news he’d been waiting to share.

“Balak, come here quickly. I have very good news.”

“What? Bella wants to meet me?”

Balak approached, eyes shining wildly, almost like a madman, barely hanging up his coat. Shateian calmed him before continuing.

“I’m almost afraid to say it. Don’t get so excited—you’ll meet her soon enough. She’s been invited to the art exhibition hosted by the Imperial family tomorrow.”

Shateian held up two cleverly obtained invitations. Balak frowned and snatched them from his hand, his brows furrowing mercilessly.