After I Died, My Husband Went Mad - Chapter 23
After parting ways with Dehart, Ryan went straight back to his lodgings and packed. He bought two sturdy-looking horses on the spot, replacing the one that had been tired from the hard march, and set out for the north.
It’s too slow.
A strong wind was blowing, making traveling difficult. Ryan hesitated, then turned his reins to the woods on the side of the road. It was dangerous, but it was the only way to make time. As he rode quickly through the dark woods, he thought of the Duchess.
Her golden hair was as beautiful as a field on a fall day, and her eyes were as blue as a lake— the way she’d gazed at his Lord with anticipation and excitement.
But their springtime dreams were shattered in an instant: the bud was cruelly crushed, never to bloom again.
It was a terrible thing.
With his wife’s betrayal, Dehart had slammed the door shut to his barely-opened heart. But Ryan knew. He knew that he’d slammed it shut with Sebelia in his heart.
And it had haunted him ever since.
“I hope this is a wake-up call…”
Ryan spoke hurriedly, keeping a quick pace. At this rate, he’d have to ride all night before he reached the north.
Caw!
The foreboding cries reminded Ryan of the bird Dehart was tending—that delicate bird with the beautiful pale gold feathers.
“What in the world is going on here?”
“Sir Ryan?”
He had just arrived at Hillend Hall, and it was a sea of black.
“You’re dressed like a…It can’t be!”
As he rushed out, the people who had heard the news of Sebelia’s death were gathering just behind him.
It was the Duchess’s funeral.
* * *
Just a few days back, on the morning after the shaman’s arrival, the body of the Duchess, who had taken her own life, was found in the guest house. The first person to find her was her maid, Denisa, and the cause of death was suicide by a sleeping pill overdose.
“My Lady…” Denisa cried softly, but no one comforted her. They only frowned.
“She died before he could do anything?”
“That can’t be very reassuring…”
No one wanted to go near the guest house, and unsurprisingly, the family doctor vehemently refused to confirm her death.
“What if the curse gets to me as well?”
In the end, Denisa had to get one of the local doctors to write a death certificate, and everyone took it as a given. Honestly…they were relieved that the long-awaited event had finally happened.
“Now that the Duchess is dead, there will be no more ghosts.”
“No more being snubbed by an ignorant mistress who doesn’t know her place. Two birds with one stone.”
Shrugging off the servant’s chatter, Glenn quickly took control of the situation. First, she took the gold out of the vaults and left. Then she extracted a vow of silence from the servants that they would not spread any word of Sebelia’s passing until after the funeral.
“Don’t forget who has truly been keeping an eye on all of you.”
The servants, who had been under her command during the Duke’s absence, obeyed as they should.
Flora, upon hearing the news much later, ran up and hugged Glenn. “Mother, at last…!”
Glenn nonchalantly showed her the death certificate. “Here, look. Proof of her passing.”
“Oh, my God.” Flora held Sebelia’s death certificate in her hands and smiled, never happier.
Glenn clapped her hands, delighted to see her daughter like that. “I’ve already prepared the coffin, so there’s no need to fuss. Let’s get this over with.”
Glenn laughed softly and thought about her plan. It was almost too perfect.
Just then, the butler came in and handed her something. Glenn took it with a slight frown.
“A suicide note?”
At her words, Flora raised her voice and said mockingly, “I’m surprised she had the presence of mind to write a suicide note.”
“I suppose so.”
Leaving Flora alone to discuss what to wear to the funeral with Grose, Glenn quickly read the note.
“…”
Her expression subtly hardened. She gestured toward Grose and said, “Well done, I’ll keep this. And you, Grose, take care of the funeral arrangements.”
“Mother, we should hurry and call my father and brother,” Flora said, as if remembering. Glenn shook her head.
“Darling, that won’t be necessary.”
“What? But…”
“You don’t need to traumatize such a busy person with such shocking news,” Glenn said to Flora in an authoritative tone. “Your father is busy right now, too. It’s better to leave this between us. It’s what’s best for Inverness.”
Glenn turned away gracefully, mimicking Roger’s movements. “Your father will do as I wish.”
The reason for wanting to get the funeral over with quickly and without Dehart was simple. Once Sebelia was officially pronounced dead, the peace agreement between the North and the Capital would naturally fall apart. So, of course, they couldn’t wait for Dehart to come home.
“My heart goes out to this girl who passed away, but…we’re doing the right thing for the family.” Glenn put her hand over her heart, faking a look of sympathy.
Just then, Grose returned and handed her the papers for the funeral. Glenn proceeded to read them at a leisurely pace.
“Flora.”
“Yes, Mother?”
“I want you to go get a new outfit for the funeral.”
“Yes!”
Flora jumped with joy, and Glenn smiled silently.
It had been a long time since she felt this relaxed and carefree.
And it was the same for Sebelia.
