My Husband Never Dies - Chapter 61

“The weather is beautiful today, my lady. Since it’s such a lovely day, would you like to have breakfast in the garden?”

Knowing how much Evelyn enjoyed clear, sunny weather, Laura offered the suggestion with an eager smile.

Evelyn glanced out the window once more before giving a small nod. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she wanted to fill her lungs and every part of herself with the crisp, dry morning air.

“Let’s do that.”

“You’ve made the right choice! You look absolutely beautiful in the sunlight, my lady. Your golden hair positively shines and looks so wonderfully noble!”

In stark contrast to Laura’s radiant smile, Evelyn’s eyes turned cold.

Goddamn this blond hair. Whether it glittered in the sunlight or not, this cursed hair was the reason her entire life had fallen apart.

Back when she worked as an assassin, she had kept it cropped close to her scalp so she wouldn’t attract attention.

Then, after blades were forbidden in Zelakent, she had been forced to grow it out and she’d ended up like this.

“…My lady?”

Lost in silently cursing the hateful strands, Evelyn had completely missed what Laura had said. She frowned.

“What was that?”

“If you’re ready now, I’ll have breakfast prepared.”

“Fine.”

Giving a perfunctory nod, Evelyn waved Laura away with the absent elegance expected of a noblewoman. Once the chatty maid had left, silence settled over the bedroom again.

Evelyn dropped heavily onto the nearby sofa and stared blankly toward the sunlit window. The corners of her lips curled upward. For once, there wasn’t a trace of that accursed fog in sight.

A large parasol had been set up over the table to shield it from the harsh afternoon sun.

They were supposed to be eating in the garden to enjoy the sunshine, so the parasol seemed a little contradictory. Still, Evelyn didn’t bother pointing it out to the ever-busy Laura. It wasn’t as though this little sunbath meant much to her anyway.

“My lady! Please, have a seat!”

After bustling about arranging everything, Laura beamed proudly as she beckoned Evelyn over. The table prepared for the mistress of the estate alone was laden with enough food to feed three or four grown men.

“I wasn’t sure what you might be in the mood for, so I had a little of everything prepared! Please try a bit of each.”

Luxury didn’t even begin to describe it. Casting an uncertain glance over the dishes crowding the table, Evelyn finally took her seat.

Standing faithfully beside her, Laura continued chattering away.

“The head chef says the veal tenderloin steak is especially delicious today. The Master specifically ordered that your meals receive special attention, so the ingredients are exceptionally fresh, and—”

“Laura.”

Lifting her soup spoon, Evelyn cut the maid off. Startled, Laura blinked before offering an awkward smile.

“I’ve been talking too much again, haven’t I? I’m sorry, my lady. I just got a little carried away…”

“No. Would you bring me the head chef? I’d like to hear the explanation of the dishes from him personally.”

Laura’s eyes darted back and forth before she answered with visible discomfort.

“Uh… but the head chef…”

“There isn’t one, is there?”

Evelyn already knew.

As far as she was concerned, there were only two people in this mansion — herself and Laura. She had searched every corner of the estate in the dead of night. Not once had she sensed another living soul within the eerily silent manor.

A head chef? What a joke.

And yet Laura believed without question that he existed. She spoke of maids working in the laundry room. Guards patrolling the halls. A loyal butler attending the Duke’s study. People Evelyn had never once seen.

“Don’t talk about people who don’t exist. I don’t like hearing it.”

Laura parted her lips as if to answer. In the end, she simply lowered her head without saying a word.

Of course, it didn’t matter. Even if Evelyn pointed it out now, Laura would soon forget the reprimand and start talking about the head chef, the laundry maids, and the others all over again.

Just like she was doing now.

“Oh! The lamb chops don’t have any gamey smell at all. The head chef even created a special sauce for them. Would you like to try it?”

Without a word, Evelyn cut into the steak. Dark red juices spilled across the ornate porcelain plate. It had bled like this when she carved into that man, too.

Even if he had come back to life afterward.