After I Died, My Husband Went Mad - Chapter 331

“I’m back.”

“Welcome.”

The arms holding her tightened, and a wave of relief swept through her. But that peace was quickly interrupted by a firm, steady voice from behind.

“You promised you wouldn’t leave me alone again.”

Startled, Sebelia turned her head and met Dehart’s gaze. His golden eyes sparkled with a mischievous smile. No sooner had her heart calmed from the surprise than he turned to Rossel and said.

“Instead of lingering out here, shouldn’t we go inside? I’m eager to see the famous Ashrent estate the Ambassador’s been raving about.”

Rossel nodded and gently let Sebelia go, then offered his arm.

“May I have the honor of escorting you?”

Sebelia glanced at Dehart. Seeing his helpless expression and the small frown, she couldn’t help but smile and took Rossel’s arm.

“With pleasure.”

Rossel grinned at Dehart in satisfaction.

“If you want, I can offer the Duke my other arm. He doesn’t seem to like being left out.”

“….That won’t be necessary.”

Dehart muttered, sighing and falling in behind Sebelia. Rossel just gave a little chuckle and turned to lead the way.

But what happened next was even more surprising. As Sebelia walked, the servants lined up along the path began to bow their heads, one after another.

“Welcome home, Miss.”

“We’re so glad to have you back.”

Their cheerful greetings echoed across the garden.

What is going on? Sebelia was so embarrassed she felt goosebumps prickle along her arms. She shot Rossel a silent plea for help, but it was no use. When she tried to urge him to walk faster, he only smiled gently.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had guests. Please bear with us a little longer.”

He added that, aside from himself, there were hardly any close relatives left, so the family was especially excited to welcome back an Ashrent by blood.

With that, it was hard to protest any further. Letting out a soft sigh, Sebelia crossed the threshold into the house.

And at that very moment, as if on cue, petals rained down from above.

“Welcome home!”

“Claude!”

She laughed, brushing the petals from her hair as Claude smiled at her, arms stretched high in celebration.

“I kept singing for you to come, and you finally made it!”

“If someone saw this, they’d think I’d been refusing your invitations all this time.”

The welcome was so enthusiastic, it would be easy for anyone to mistake Claude for the real owner of Ashrent.

“But when did you get to Ashrent, anyway? Last time you wrote, you were still in the capital.”

Claude, along with Watts, had been wandering around Lockwood in the name of research. The last letter had said he was in the capital, so Sebelia couldn’t help but feel a bit tricked.

“How could a mentor stay put when their pupil is coming to visit?”

Claude replied with a laugh. He looked much healthier than when he left Belkram, and as she brushed petals from her hair, Sebelia spotted someone else approaching in the distance.

“It’s been a while, Miss Bella.”

“Oh my, Mr. Watts!”

Watts, too, looked much healthier than he ever did in the lab or back in Lang Elisa, always with those dark circles under his eyes. There must really be something in the air or water of Lockwood, she thought.

“Your hair’s gotten so long. Time really flies, doesn’t it?”

“It does. You’ve changed a lot, too, Mr. Watts.”

“Have I?”

He asked, touching his cheek as if he hadn’t noticed, though it was clear to everyone else how much better he looked.

“Absolutely!”

Sebelia said with genuine enthusiasm, making Watts give a small, grateful smile.

“Thank you, Bella. Well, I’ll leave you all to your reunion.”

“You’re not coming with us?”

“We arrived a week ago, so we’ve seen just about everything. Besides, we’re not so oblivious as to intrude on family time.”

Watts replied with a light laugh, then disappeared upstairs with Claude.

“See you later!”

Claude waved from the stairs, and Sebelia waved back before accepting Rossel’s arm once more to tour Ashrent.

They strolled through the garden shaded by ancient trees, past a sparkling pond where bright fish swam, by a goddess statue in unfamiliar dress, and along a gentle path to what looked like a guesthouse.

It had pale gray brick walls and a dark blue roof, with tall flowers surrounding it in place of ivy. The scene was so warm and inviting that, for a moment, all Sebelia could do was stand and take it in.

Then, suddenly, someone stepped out of the house.