After I Died, My Husband Went Mad - Chapter 240

“I’m glad we’re finally meeting. Ah, I should’ve introduced myself sooner—please, call me Balak. I actually wanted to greet you back then, but…”

The man who introduced himself as Balak seemed somewhat distracted, even scatterbrained. His rambling, almost careless manner made Sebelia naturally relax a little.

After listening to Shateian’s words and raising her guard to the maximum… he looked far too timid to act hostile.

He really did want to meet me.

His pale face and wide, staring eyes conveyed his sincerity. Even the hand pouring the tea trembled, shaking as if it might topple at any moment.

Sebelia watched the tea splash on the table and softly spoke:

“Shall I do it?”

“No, no, it’s fine. Ah—sorry! I just…!”

Balak turned pale at the sight of the tea spilling onto Sebelia’s hand. Flustered, he fumbled for a handkerchief and suddenly drew a deep breath.

“My apologies.”

His sky-blue eyes, previously alight with excitement, calmed. Forcing himself to regain composure, he carefully extended the handkerchief.

“Would you mind using this?”

“Thank you.”

Sebelia stopped gazing at him so intently and accepted the handkerchief. In the corner was a small silver laurel leaf and his name, Balak, delicately embroidered.

Silver leaf?

Looking closer, it appeared to be a laurel. Sebelia wondered which family might use a silver laurel as their emblem, then dabbed at the tea on her hand. The tea had cooled, anyway, as Balak had poured it very slowly.

In the meantime, Balak had organized the table and returned, issuing quiet instructions to the servants.

Sebelia raised a questioning eyebrow.

“I asked them to bring fresh tea and snacks.”

“That wasn’t necessary…”

“It’s only natural for a first meeting.”

Where had the man who trembled on his lips just moments ago gone? Balak now had a decisive, commanding presence, strangely familiar to Sebelia.

Before she could trace the source of that familiarity, Balak cleared his throat. Sensing he was ready to speak, Sebelia straightened her posture.

“You must have received notice from the Second Prince in advance.”

“Yes, which honestly caught me off guard. I didn’t expect a private arrangement like this. When I attempted to leave, the prince insisted I stay.”

Sebelia decided to confront him directly.

“Why did you get angry when Nathan Wheddon claimed to have found my mother?”

Balak’s eyelids twitched as he sighed. Behind his tightly pressed lips, she thought she might have caught him muttering, Shateian… that bastard, but no one could be certain.

“So, that’s what His Highness said…”

He bowed his head, pressing a hand to his forehead, sinking into silence. Sebelia’s cold gaze met him, refusing to speak until he answered.

Finally, Balak lifted his head and met her stern eyes. Sebelia’s determined expression reminded him of his aunt, defiant even against his father, and he couldn’t help but let a faint, wistful smile cross his lips.

“…?”

Sebelia’s eyes widened in surprise—but only briefly. Balak retrieved something from his chest pocket and gently placed it on the table.

“Miss Bella, what you’ve heard is true. Had Shateian not restrained me that day, the exhibition hall would have collapsed before the commotion even began. My anger was that uncontrollable.”

“Then why… Mr. Balak?”

“Because your mother is my one and only aunt.”

A heavy silence pressed down on the room. Balak didn’t waver, gripping a pendant in his hand.

“Miss Bella, your mother gave birth to you and has remained asleep all this time. She never once abandoned you. Even the moment my father sought your life, she protected you with her entire being.”

Click. Balak opened the pendant, his voice was strained.

“So, is it not natural for me to be furious? To be unable to tolerate her being insulted after defending you from death itself?”

Before Balak’s trembling voice, Sebelia could think of nothing. He then retrieved something else from his chest, promising more evidence if she doubted him.

Yet Sebelia didn’t look at him once. Her gaze remained fixed on the tiny portrait inside the pendant, barely breathing.

When I grow older, I’ll look like that… My eyes… they didn’t take after my father.

A fierce certainty wrapped around her body. Her heart thumped, her eyes burning hot. A surge of emotion gripped her neck, and she lowered her head.

“Are you all right?!”

With a loud thud, Balak rose from his seat.