After I Died, My Husband Went Mad - Chapter 58
A majestic handle crafted from gold and a pristine, clear glass imported from the southern states—it looked every bit like the door to Dehart’s greenhouse.
“Sigh.”
Sebelia approached, her hand resting on the door. The chill of the glass pressed against her palm sent a shiver down her wrist.
She cautiously peered into the greenhouse. Exotic and vibrant flowers wrapped in wild hues, dense foliage exuding a deep, verdant vitality. And amidst it all, the man who always stood alone.
“…”
Yet, as nightmares often are, she wanted none of this.
Sebelia withdrew her hand from the glass door, leaving a distinct handprint. She took a few steps back, gradually turning her back. And at some point, she realized she had awakened from slumber.
“That wasn’t a very pleasant dream.”
Reflecting on the dream, the tremors in her body subsided.
Sebelia abandoned her travel bag in the foyer and made her way to the bedroom, throwing herself onto the bed. Even if Dehart had been inside, she wouldn’t have been able to bring herself to open the door.
“The last time I was invited to the greenhouse… that was the end.”
Before she was framed due to her father’s scheme. Sebelia had declined Dehart’s invitation to tea time in the greenhouse—she rejected him to meet the jeweler her father sent.
“Ha.”
Something between a bitter laugh and a scoff escaped her lips. Sebelia rolled over, burying her face in the covers. A sudden fatigue washed over her like a crashing wave.
Afterward, Sebelia took some time to prepare herself mentally before heading out. She didn’t want to run into the Ryan lookalike again, unprepared for another surprise.
Fortunately, as she made her way to the shop, he was nowhere in sight. She sighed heavily as she placed her items on the counter.
A thick coat, sturdy shoes, a firestarter, a lightweight sleeping bag, provisions, and oddly enough, a bottle of strong liquor sat in the center of her belongings.
“Looks like you’re heading somewhere, miss.”
The shopkeeper remarked, eyeing the items Sebelia had chosen.
“Pardon?” Sebelia tilted her head with a puzzled expression.
The shopkeeper chuckled before quickly scanning the items once more and asking,”Are you planning to head up Sixth Street?”
“I’m not a local so I’m not familiar with the locations here I’m afraid.”
Understanding Sebelia’s response, the shopkeeper nodded, saying, “There’s talk of a doctor who enjoys researching alone, which sounds a bit suspicious if you ask me.”
“Are you referring to Dr. Watts?”
“Oh, yes, that was the name.”
The owner chuckled and put the items in a bag. Only then did Sebelia understand what the Ursic doctor meant by ‘not normally a people person’.
No wonder these supplies felt more like camping gear.
Sebelia sighed inwardly and retrieved her wallet. As an esteemed figure in the realm of incurable diseases, it seemed like arranging a meeting this individual wouldn’t be a walk in the park.
Still, it’s fortunate to have a recommendation from someone familiar.
At that moment, the shopkeeper glanced up and down at Sebelia, wearing a slightly concerned expression.
“I don’t know what you’re seeking from that doctor, miss, but it’ll be an unpredictable journey.”
“…”
“No worries about breaking any limbs or such. At most, everyone just returns in tears…”
The shopkeeper clicked their tongue and gestured subtly towards the open-air café across the street.
Sebelia followed his gaze in silence and found a man openly weeping in broad daylight.
“He bought the same things as you two days ago.”
“…”
“Anyway, best of luck to you.”
Recalling the neatly written recommendation letter she held, Sebelia furrowed her brow.
[If you come to him as my patient, he’ll let you in.]
…I have no choice but to trust.
Recalling the Ursic doctor’s confident demeanor and his voice full of trust, Sebelia left the shop.
* * *
Meanwhile, Dehart stood on the steps of the plaza full of lunatics shouting at each other, scanning the crowd one by one.
“That damned rat Peter Hansen has really chosen a perfect hiding spot.”
He let out a frustrated sigh. He had recently sought the cooperation of Baron Supredi to locate Peter Hanson, and in the process, was beginning to understand what exactly the elusive city was all about.
“What kind of city reeks of this stench, overrun by pseudo-doctors and scholars?”
Supredi appeared to be an ordinary small city on the surface, but upon closer inspection, it was profoundly enigmatic. It was densely packed with professions prone to mental instability: scholars, doctors, sorcerers, and magicians…
“And why do they still cling so foolishly to those crumbling buildings?”
Due to the city’s penchant for preserving ancient structures, it boasted numerous aged buildings and equally ancient alleyways. In other words, any urban development plan was essentially nonexistent—a chaotic hodgepodge at best.
“We’re going to have to tear this place down one day,” the northern lord, examining dozens of buildings without proper addresses, muttered in a menacing tone.
What irritated him more was the fact that without proper addresses, people resided in buildings with no designated numbers, yet they didn’t even write their names correctly. Today, he had stormed into an inn where someone named Hansen was supposedly staying, only to be greeted by a person named Ronson.
The bubbling frustration within him was abruptly interrupted as Eli burst in and said, “Just in time for the market to open.”
“…”
“Although a bunch of lunatics who are crazy about knowledge and artifacts have taken over the place for now.”
“You… Did you forget the command to keep your mouth shut?”
“Apologies, sir. If I keep my mouth shut, I won’t be able to report to the Duke.”
It sounded like he couldn’t help it.
For a moment, Dehart thought about striking Eli with a thunderbolt, but held back. He had just received a report from Eli on his inspection of another section of the city.
“Oh, here we go again.”
“…”
Looking somewhere behind Dehart below the stairs, Eli muttered to himself, “And she’s dropping things this time.”
Dehart stared at Eli as if he were looking at a madman. In response, Eli shook his head in exasperation.
“That’s not it. There was something I couldn’t tell you last time, actually…”
“What?”
“Um… No, it’s nothing.”
Dehart turned his head with a skeptical expression as Eli hesitated.
There was silence.
His eyes met hers.
