After I Died, My Husband Went Mad - Chapter 129
Her mind was foggy. She couldn’t tell when morning had broken or when evening had passed; the passage of time felt imperceptible. Each day felt the same and meaningless.
Since hearing the news about the herb storage being destroyed and Watts was uncertain about her potential for a full recovery, she hadn’t stepped outside her room.
Claude occasionally seemed to want to say something, but Sebelia refused. She didn’t want to hear anything related to treatment for the time being.
[Claude, I’m sorry, but ‘possibilities’ or ‘hopeful news’ don’t give me any strength at all. I’m sorry.]
[No, I was being thoughtless. You’re right. Even relying on hopeful news must be too much for you right now.]
So, Sebelia didn’t know that Watts and Dehart had been out searching for the herbs. Claude had decided he would tell her everything once it was all confirmed.
Just a little longer.
Sebelia hugged Maya, who had come to visit after a long time. In some corner of her mind, she knew she couldn’t stay like this forever. But she didn’t want to escape this situation.
I’ve been so busy up until now. I’m just resting for a bit.
It wouldn’t last long. It would just take some time to calm her tired heart and accept the reality. She rationalized it to herself and closed her eyes. Soon, the familiar, comforting sleep embraced her. The sweet and drowsy sleep that would help her forget everything.
Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the door. The knocks were hurried, as if there was an urgent matter. Sebelia didn’t respond, but the knocking persisted.
“Miss Bella.”
“…….”
For some reason, the voice seemed to tremble. Hesitating, Sebelia heard her name again and finally got up from her bed. But she didn’t have the courage to open the door.
“Please.”
“Meow.”
Maya opened the door for her. With a soft click, Maya swiftly landed on the ground.
“Bella.”
Claude entered, his face showed his confusion, and kneeled beside the bed. Sebelia startled and hugged her pillow tightly.
But Claude didn’t seem to notice, or rather, it seemed as though he wasn’t seeing anything at all.
“Please, just once. Just once, please.”
“What are you talking about?”
Sebelia’s voice was low, as if she hadn’t spoken in a long time. When she stuttered, Claude spoke with a sorrowful expression.
“Dehart is leaving for the valley tonight.”
“What?”
Perhaps it was the urgency in his tone, but Sebelia blinked in confusion at his fragmented words. Claude shook his head vigorously and then added a clearer explanation.
“While Miss Bella has been inside, Dehart has been searching across the country and gathered all the lost herbs.”
“What…!”
“Just one thing, the glass flower is the only one missing.”
The news Claude continued to share was as shocking as it was bewildering. Sebelia twisted her hand, pressing her palm to feel if this was real, and winced at the sharp pain, letting out a soft groan.
“Wait a minute. So, to clarify, are you saying that he’s planning to go to the valley himself to find the last herb? And this valley, it’s not just any ordinary valley?”
“A place where sunlight doesn’t reach, and cold air flows, with snow that never melts once it falls. Yes, that’s right. A guy who is not a herbalist is now packing his things to head there.”
“…He’s insane.”
He’s completely lost it. That was all Sebelia could think. As she mumbled about his madness in confusion, Claude tried to convince her.
“A skilled herbalist could be hired easily. It’s dangerous, but if he pays the price for a life, there’d be no shortage of volunteers. But that fool…!”
Claude couldn’t even finish his sentence, looking clearly frustrated. He believed Dehart was letting his emotions get the better of him and was making an irrational decision. Sebelia agreed with him.
“So, what you’re asking me to do is convince him to stop?”
“Please, Miss Bella. He’s… out of his mind. He keeps saying it’s all his fault and that he can’t leave it to anyone else.”
“Hah.”
Her head throbbed. She knew the person responsible for setting the herb storage on fire a week ago was one of the Inverness knight following Dehart. But that was just an unfortunate accident; it wasn’t Dehart’s fault.
“What is he even thinking…!”
But at the same time, Sebelia knew that he would never be able to rid himself of that sense of responsibility.
“Where is he now?”
“He’s on the third floor. We need to stop him immediately. He said he’s planning to head to the valley with the knights of Surpredi.”
“…I see. I’m sorry, but could you help me up?”
“Of course.”
Sebelia sighed deeply and struggled to get up. Claude quickly supported her shoulders, worried she might change her mind again.
“Let’s go.”
Sebelia held her aching head as she began to walk. A strange, intense emotion bubbled up from deep within her chest.
