After I Died, My Husband Went Mad - Chapter 255

“I was guessing who would come to a lady resting alone without a partner? I see it’s none other than His Highness the Third Prince—and beside him… ah, I see.”

Dehart raised his eyebrows, trailing off as if he’d just put the pieces together. Rosalyn was about to reply with a smile when Hares’s voice suddenly rang out, clear and commanding across the hall.

“His Majesty is arriving.”

With that, Hares led Rosalyn back toward the main table.

A fanfare of horns sounded, and the herald’s booming voice announced the approach of the rightful ruler, Agrend Belkram. The news echoed through the ballroom

“His Imperial Majesty, entering!”

As the music swelled, the grand piano at the far end of the hall sent waves of powerful melody across the crowd.

Sebelia felt herself catch her breath, unconsciously awed by the procession. Through the wide-open doors, the Emperor entered—followed by the First Queen and First Prince Dillion, then the Second Queen and Second Prince Shateian, and finally, Hares, the third prince.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen so many familiar faces.”

The Emperor said, skipping any formal greeting, his tired gaze sweeping the hall. He looked far from well, his illness obvious for all to see.

Was His Majesty’s health deteriorating?

He was perfectly healthy back when her marriage to Dehart was arranged. Sebelia furrowed her brow as she tried to remember if she’d ever heard what sickness he suffered from.

“….!”

Suddenly, the Emperor’s eyes fixed on her. Sebelia almost stumbled back in surprise, and if not for Dehart’s steadying hand, she might have done so.

“He’s looking at me.”

Dehart whispered in her ear. By the time Sebelia managed to compose herself, the Emperor had already lost interest, turning away to murmur something to the First Queen before taking his seat.

The First Queen smiled and spoke, standing in for the Emperor.

“Sometimes a kind word is worth more than any formal speech. His Majesty wishes for you all to enjoy yourselves tonight, so let us honor his desire for peace and good cheer.”

It seemed that the formalities were over. But then, the previously invisible Third Prince, Hares Belkram, stepped forward with an unexpected request.

“Your Majesty, may I have permission to speak to those gathered here tonight?”

“Prince Hares? What urgent matter brings you forward… Ah.”

The First Queen’s eyes found Rosalyn, cheeks pink, standing shyly among the nobles.

“Very well, Third Prince. Good news is meant to be shared.”

“Thank you.”

Once she retreated to her place beside the Emperor, Hares took center stage. Surveying the crowd with clear, anxious eyes, he finally called out,

“Rosalyn Valerie, would you come stand beside me?”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

Blushing shyly, Rosalyn looked every inch the maiden awaiting a royal proposal. A gentle sigh of anticipation swept through the hall, everyone eager to see this country girl become a princess. A living fairytale.

But Sebelia could sense something was off. She remembered the ice in Rosalyn’s gaze. That had been no innocent country girl’s look.

Her intuition was soon proven right. Instead of kneeling before Rosalyn, Hares turned to face Dehart and raised his voice so all could hear:

“Before everyone here, as witnesses, I make this declaration: I, Hares Belkram, by the blood in my veins, will see that my fiance, Rosalyn Inverness, reclaims her rightful place and inheritance that was stolen from her!”

Gone was the meek, gentle third prince. Now, in this moment, he was the heart of the banquet, the main player on the stage.

“On that tragic day, the day of the accident, it was not only Duke Dehart Inverness who survived. My precious, beautiful Rosalyn was there as well.”

His blazing pink eyes darkened to a shade resembling Shateian. Realizing the gaze wasn’t directed at her, Sebelia gasped.

“Yet all these years, she has lived unaware of her true identity, raised as the daughter of a poor country baron. Her family never searched for her, never claimed her, so she grew up in ignorance, denied all she was owed.”

Sebelia felt the hand holding hers slip away.

Dehart…

Before she could reach for him, Hares’s impassioned words cut through the air like a blade:

“I will give back everything Rosalyn was meant to have. I will do for her what her own family never did—no matter the price!”