After I Died, My Husband Went Mad - Chapter 36

By the time Roman arrived, the fire had mostly been brought under control. All he could do was gaze upon the mansion, blackened and charred, with a desolate look in his eyes.

This is unbelievable.

Inverness was both the pride of the North and his life’s purpose. He had been devoted to the estate for generations, and the magnificence of the mansion was the very foundation of his pride.

To think such a dreadful event had occurred!

He was furious, and his anger naturally directed itself towards the culprit.

“Who on earth could have done such a thing?”

With a trembling voice and red face, Roman looked like he was ready to punch the perpetrator in the face. Grose gave him a stern look and sighed.

“…It was our Lord, the Duke.”

“…”

Sensing Roman’s fading bravado, Grose ushered him to the east wing and away from the fire. The faces of the servants they encountered in the corridors were etched with fear and anxiety. Grose regarded them solemnly before addressing Roman.

“You must have noticed the unsettling atmosphere around the mansion lately.”

“…”

Roman met Grose’s gaze and nodded.

Grose sighed and continued, “Perhaps an old curse has come back to haunt him, and that’s why he won’t listen to anything Lady Glenn or I have to say. He’s become rather…strange.”

Grose frowned. Yes, his master was indeed acting strange. There were no other words to describe him. Otherwise, why would he willingly court death by trapping himself in flames?

[That’s a funny look on your face, Grose. Go and worry about my beloved aunt whom you seem to serve so dutifully. Seems like she’s inhaled quite a bit of smoke.]

Grose gritted his teeth as Dehart’s voice rang in his ears.

[Get out of here. I don’t understand what you’re talking about. This is where I belong.]

The image of Dehart laughing hollowly in a crumbling room flashed in his mind.

[Oh, Sebelia, my Lady. Yes. I knew it would come to this. Fortune is but a distant hope for me, a dream I can never have…]

It was then that he turned and reached for something unseen, stretching his hands towards the flames.

[You, what…ugh!]

Seizing the opportunity, Ryan swiftly pounced and knocked him unconscious. Even now, recalling that moment sent shivers down Grose’s spine.

“There’s no doubt our master has completely lost his mind.”

The curse looming over the Inverness family for generations—a curse so ancient and powerful that it can drive even the mighty to madness. It had clearly manifested. Otherwise, Dehart wouldn’t have tried to leap into the inferno. The Dehart he knew wouldn’t do such a thing, especially muttering those grim words as he lost consciousness.

[You were waiting for me there, my Lady.]

He would have said anything in his delirium.

Grose deliberately ignored Dehart’s words that seemed to yearn for Sebelia, redirecting his attention elsewhere. She had deserved to die. Her disappearance would benefit Dehart and their House as a whole. Therefore, Inverness shouldn’t falter just because she, alone, perished.

Yes, undoubtedly the curse is tormenting him.

Grose’s convictions were as firm as they were narrow-minded—to the extent of turning a blind eye to the master’s suffering.

“We’re here.”

Grose opened the door and showed Roman the unconscious Dehart.

“…This is bad.”

Not only did Dehart have severe burns on his back, but prolonged exposure to smoke had also caused damage to his lungs and airways. Grose silently watched Roman pull out medical instruments, his face grim.

Then, as if he just remembered something, Grose said, “Come to think of it, it seems a new physician has settled down the street. I see he’s not working today.“

“Really?”

“A man named Peter Hansen, I believe.”

Roman bristled upon hearing that unfamiliar name. His hand holding the medicine grazed Dehart’s wound.

Grose, with an expression laden with agony, “There were so many injured servants that we had to call in other physicians besides you. However, this new arrival wasn’t at his post. Thought you might know him, being colleagues and all.”

Colleagues because they shared the same profession? What flawed logic. Roman felt irritation at such narrow-minded thinking but held his tongue for the moment.

“I haven’t heard anything about a new physician.”

“…Is that so? That’s unlikely. Perhaps you’ve been cooped up inside the house for too long.”

Roman’s patience was wearing thin, but the butler’s next words absolutely broke his composure.

“That physician was the one who certified the late lady’s death.”

“…What?”

“That day, didn’t you refuse because you were afraid of the ghost’s curse? That’s why we had no choice but to bring in another physician.”

His words, spoken so casually, felt ominously significant somehow. Roman couldn’t shake off the feeling that his neglected duty had suddenly become a trap.

“Well then, carry on. After the Duke’s treatment is complete, please see to Lady Flora next.”

With a panicked pat on his back, Grose abruptly left the room.

Damn, why bring that up now?

Roman tried to focus on his work, suppressing the turmoil within. But when he locked eyes with the gleaming golden irises and met that gaze, he realized his fragile hope had shattered into pieces.

“…Yes. The family physician was afraid of the curse.”

“M-my Lord.”

“Explain it to me slowly, Roman. I will grant you the same opportunity your father had in serving me.”

Dehart’s voice was low and chilling, sharp enough to cut through Roman’s throat like a blade.