After I Died, My Husband Went Mad - Chapter 86
The moonlight caressed the edges of the mountain peaks. In the silent night, inside the darkened mansion, Sebelia gazed out of the window.
[Was Dehart…chasing after you?]
At that moment, Sebelia faced Claude’s desperate expression. It wasn’t that she didn’t know what to say—it’s just that she could read from his searching gazed that her answer wasn’t the one he wanted to hear. He hoped that Dehart hadn’t come for her.
“He must care a lot to show his emotions so openly.”
Sebelia slowly blinked her eyes, burying her head in her knees. In the end, she hadn’t given Claude a proper answer. She couldn’t reveal the burden she carried to him so easily. After all, this was a man who agonized over Dehart’s pain as if it were his own.
She couldn’t expose the scars she held.
People tend to take the side of those they love. Affection can cloud judgment, and bias can blind one’s eyes. Like a parent who embraces his child no matter what he does, Claude, upon learning the truth, might try to ostracize her.
So she couldn’t tell him anything right now. Not until she was ready to leave. The problem was Dehart’s presence.
“Hah….What kind of relationship does he have with Claude?”
Looking at Claude desperately seeking to know her inner thoughts, it seemed like Dehart hadn’t told them anything yet. But Sebelia couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
“I hope it’s not the kind of relationship where he tells him everything.”
Gazing at the rising moon, Sebelia sighed in frustration.
* * *
The morning was strangely quiet. Sebelia, who had already gotten up early, finished washing up and headed to the dining room. Upon seeing Watts sitting there first, she was so startled that she almost stumbled back.
“Miss Bella?”
“Oh, no. A bug flew in, so…”
Sebelia sat down across from him with a casual air. Shortly after, Claude appeared with a tray of steaming food. Sebelia made eye contact with him and cautiously greeted him.
“Good morning.”
“Go–good… Ahem! Well. Good morning, Bella.”
After the somewhat awkward greeting, the three of them silently focused on their meal. As usual, there was no dessert, but instead a cup of hot tea for each of them.
“I’ll go check on things first.”
Claude was the first to leave the table. He quickly gathered something on the living room table and swiftly went up the stairs. The remaining two slowly sipped their tea. When Sebelia’s teacup was almost empty, Watts spoke up.
“I must apologize for my negligence in attending to your care, Miss Bella.”
“…What?”
It was fortunate that her teacup was nearly empty, as Sebelia was startled by the sudden apology. She was about to spill her tea. Seeing her embarrassment, Watts spoke calmly.
“Due to the critical condition of another patient on the upper floor, I’ve been focusing on him, neglecting the research on your illness. It’s partly because of his own shortcomings, but… anyway, it’s my fault.”
“You don’t have to apologize. Mr. Watts. The medicine you prescribed is already making a significant improvement. Look, even in the morning, I can move this well.”
Sebelia extended her hand as if to showcase her progress. It was only after Watts looked at her with a smiling face that she realized the embarrassing act she just did.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“No need. Nevertheless, since the condition of the patient upstairs has improved considerably, I plan to focus solely on your treatment from now on. I’ll make sure to thoroughly investigate and reevaluate the treatment plan within this week.”
After taking the last sip and putting the teacup down, Watts’s brown eyes, which had been momentarily looking down, moved up to gaze at Sebelia.
“May I ask you something?”
For some reason, it reminded her of last night with Claude. But Dr. Watts would have no connection to Dehart and, unlike Claude, he hadn’t shown much interest in him. After a moment’s consideration, Sebelia nodded nervously.
“Do either of your parents have any Lockwood blood in them?”
“…What?”
Sebelia’s blue eyes were tinged with confusion.
* * *
Lockwood was a closed country situated on the edge of the Frostwood, facing the Empire. Seven noble families, including the royal family, maintained a balance and ruled the nation. It’s known for refusing entry to outsiders.
“But there are always people who seek new experiences anywhere. As the times changed, more and more individuals from Lockwood began to join the Empire.”
Watts handed Sebelia a book related to Lockwood. The leather cover, seemingly recently published, had vivid colors.
“Information about Lockwood is still not widely available domestically. Their customs, habits, and constitution remain elusive. However, that’s not relevant to my story.”
At that moment, Sebelia somehow felt that Watts was pretending to be knowledgeable. However, his expression was as indifferent as usual. As Sebelia flipped through the pages of the book, Watts began to speak.
“My specialization is rare diseases, and most of these diseases are often discovered under specific conditions. So, in the data I’ve collected over time, there was information related to Lockwood.”
Watts’s voice lowered. His calm tone and serious gaze indicated that he had reached the core of the matter. Sebelia closed the book and met his eyes.
“You’ve determined that the disease I’m suffering from is unique to the people of Lockwood, haven’t you?”
