After I Died, My Husband Went Mad - Chapter 50
The first time, she didn’t recognize it as something sent by Denisa. Understandable, as Denisa didn’t usually send letters in such a manner.
Who could have sent this?
Doubting its authenticity, yet finding the address to be correct, she eventually took the letter upstairs to her room. With some trepidation, she used a letter opener to carefully open the envelope.
“This is…”
A small note fell into her hands. On a piece of paper torn from somewhere, written in crumpled handwriting, were these words:
[Change of destination. Leave immediately. The Duke is looking for you.]
Sebelia’s blue eyes momentarily froze. Her grip tightened, crumpling the note in her hand.
“…What on earth is happening?”
She unconsciously bit down on her lip.
* * *
Just a few days ago before sending the letter, Denisa was taken aback by Dehart.
“Looks like there’s something you want to discuss with me,” Dehart said in a restrained tone.
Denisa was slightly puzzled. She might have left Hillend Hall innocent of any crime, but she was hiding a very big secret from him.
That secret was her involvement in Sebelia’s staged funeral.
However, her worries were quickly dispelled.
I didn’t leave any evidence behind.
The body had been perfect, and the confirmation of death had been smoothly handled without any disturbance. The physician, Peter, had long gone south, and Denisa herself, having lost the mistress he had served for so long, had fallen into despair and returned to her hometown as was natural for someone with her circumstances.
It was all planned out to the letter.
Denisa, regaining her confidence, tilted her head with a composed expression.
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“No. You do. You must know. It would be a great shame if you didn’t.”
Dehart pulled himself upright, the pain gone, and looked down at her. His golden irises were eerie, glowing in the darkness with his back to the sun.
“You were the only maid who stood by Sebelia to the end.”
Denisa involuntarily shivered. As she took a step back, Dehart closed the distance.
“Speak. Tell me why a person who knows nothing, a mere maid, is being chased by strangers.”
He saw everything.
Denisa felt a chill down her spine.
“I’m sorry, but that never happened.”
“Ha,” Dehart chuckled.
“I’m not sure what led you all the way here, but I hope you find what you’re looking for, my Lord.”
“To wish me success—that’s a very touching way to say goodbye.”
“Then, I wish you peace.”
Even as she bowed her head, she exerted every ounce of strength to remain composed. It was more than a ‘mere maid’ could handle, as he put it, but she managed. The intensity of Dehart’s glare could have bore a hole through her head. Despite this, Denisa bravely continued forward. But she soon had to look back.
“…Hillend Hall is investigating Sebelia’s death as a homicide.”
“What?”
It was such a bizarre statement that it left her dumbfounded. However, Dehart didn’t seem like he was joking.
“Until just now, I thought you might have some useful information as her sole confidant, but…”
A sinister gleam flickered in Dehart’s eyes as he scanned Denisa. “Now that you’re acting so suspiciously, I’m not so sure.”
Denisa swallowed hard. In an instant, Dehart closed the distance and grabbed her shoulders.
“So, did you betray my wife too?”
“What are you talking about…?!”
“Otherwise, tell me how she was before she died. What was she thinking, what did she laugh at, what did she say?”
The words seemed to tumble out randomly, not consciously spoken.
“What was she like when she was with my aunt? Did she seem anxious after meeting her, did she ever complain of pain? If so…”
Denisa stared at Dehart, utterly bewildered. His inexplicable questions distorted his mouth, making him seem tortured, and regret flashed in golden eyes that otherwise seemed so cold.
My goodness.
Denisa finally realized that the man before her was also struggling to maintain composure like she was. She agreed that the knights clamoring about his madness weren’t exaggerating at all.
If he truly believes that Lady Sebelia’s death was murder and has come seeking me to find the culprit…
Then, he undoubtedly felt a great sense of responsibility for Sebelia’s death. If not, there would be no reason for him to personally seek out a mere nursemaid over the alleged murder of a woman that he had long stopped treating with any kindness.
But why now?
Denisa felt confused and resentful at the same time.
Of all times, why now?
She knew. She knew how much Sebelia once loved this man. How deeply hurt she was when falsely accused because of Baron Wheddon. And how free she’d felt when she’d finally left everything behind and escaped Hillend Hall.
“I have to know. What happened before she died, what she had suffered through.”
Denisa exhaled a steadying breath, not letting herself cry—not in the presence of this man who could only stare at her and reopen old wounds.
