I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 29
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(Lurelia’s Christmas Bonus – Update 4/4 🎉)
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“Yes, that’s correct. They are my parents.”
Seeing me coldly confirm and acknowledge the reality without denying it or wailing, the person who had managed the bodies made a subtle expression.
“Were there no young male bodies found nearby?”
“No other bodies were discovered downstream, but if you’re looking for someone specific, we can post notices or contact you whenever unidentified bodies are found.”
“.No, that’s not necessary. I couldn’t trouble you to that extent.”
There were only two bodies. Just Father and Mother. Did my brother, who was said to have fled with them in the night, escape the accident? Or did he go somewhere else alone from the beginning?
I didn’t know whether to consider that unfortunate or fortunate.
“I… I’m sorry things turned out this way, Duchess. “
As I silently watched the bodies being covered again, the man who had reportedly discovered and reported them first approached me. Cassion was slightly wary of the stranger’s approach, but the man brightened upon seeing Cassion.
“Your Grace is here too! That’s fortunate. “
“.My wife is in great shock right now, so if you’re talking about a reward, speak to me.”
“Oh no, not at all! A reward? Thanks to the dam built by the Duke’s family, civilian casualties were limited to this extent.”
The man expressed his condolences with an expression even more regretful than mine.
“I usually work as a boatman on the river, but during the rainy season, I retrieve bodies. At this time of year, there used to be so many who couldn’t escape the floods… But this year, there were no such tragedies. If… if the Viscount and Viscountess hadn’t crossed the fence and gone under the bridge, they wouldn’t have been harmed. I wonder how they ended up down there… “
“That’s enough.”
“Oh my, my mouth ran away with me. I’m sorry! I’m sorry, Duchess!”
“It’s alright. Thanks to your early discovery, we were able to identify my parents without difficulty. I’ll compensate you adequately.”
The man kept refusing, but Cassion and I handed him a money pouch. I had expected to see horrific, bloated bodies due to flood damage, but their faces were only pale, looking just as I remembered them.
They must have gone beyond the restricted fence to avoid creditors, and having lived in the capital’s mansion all their lives, they probably didn’t know the danger of swelling waters during flood season. They likely thought hiding under the bridge would be better, only to be swept away.
“…What’s the use of building a dam if it couldn’t prevent the death of her own parents…”
“Why were the Viscount and Viscountess in such a place to begin with?”
What snapped me out of my daze, recalling the days when I went to identify them, was a voice of criticism.
Although the peak of the rainy season had passed, the rain hadn’t stopped completely, so the funeral was held on a small scale.
I didn’t even want to do that much, but it was necessary, even if just for show, to avoid criticism for abandoning my family after marriage. However, I anticipated that this alone wouldn’t be enough to avoid the nobles’ whispers.
“Eek.”
As Cassion glared around at the whispers penetrating through the sound of rain at the funeral, gasps were heard from various places, and it became quiet.
Only the priest’s words, praying for peace after death, echoed emptily.
“Death ends everything.”
“…Asilia.”
“Don’t you die, Cassion.”
I blankly watched the two coffins being covered with soil. It’s not something I should say, having been reborn into a novel after death, but death is the end of relationships. Just as I can’t go back to the people from my previous life.
Even if my parents resent me for kicking them out without giving them a penny, they can’t do anything to me once they’re dead.
I suddenly recalled the end of the original story, where Cassion had taken his own life.
Although it must have been quite an abrupt statement to him, the hand that wrapped around my shoulder was affectionate.
“Don’t say such foolish things. Why would I die? The same goes for you.”
People die eventually. His words seemed even more foolish, but somehow his clumsy attempt to comfort me seemed to drown out the sound of rain.
I leaned my head on his shoulder. The coffins were almost completely buried.
“Duchess. Please give your final farewell.”
“….”
Only at the end of the funeral did I finally place the white bouquet I had been holding absent-mindedly in front of the grave. While the invited guests observed a moment of silence, I closed my eyes slightly and spoke to them only in my heart.
I’m sorry. But I still hate you.
“…Goodbye.”
I gave a brief farewell and returned to Cassion’s side.
I wasn’t sad. I felt very strange about myself for not feeling sad.
The emotions swirling inside me now were not sorrow, but irritation, anger, and a sense of oddness.
The fact that this had cracked the positive evaluation of the Duke’s family that I had worked so hard to build up, the fear that my brother, if he was alive somewhere, might spread malicious rumors or appear at the funeral and cause a scene.
And the fact that the changes in the original story’s flow due to my actions weren’t moving in a positive direction like with Cassion and Jenin.
My parents had held me back until the very end.
Their death, which came with the rainy season, seemed to pour cold water on my plans for the future that had been going smoothly. As if asking how long I could keep this up.
“Um… Duchess.”
“…Miss Brown.”
“Please just call me Jenin. I offer my deepest condolences.”
After my greeting, visitors’ condolences continued. They came forward one by one, throwing a single flower, but they were the minimum number of people who came to gauge the ‘Duke’s family’s reaction.
No one at this funeral truly mourned their deaths. Not even me.
It felt like watching a ridiculous show, not even funny, when the original female lead, who had come up through the heavy rain upon hearing the news of the funeral, approached me.
“…You didn’t have to come in person, thank you. The return journey will be difficult too, why don’t you stay at the Duke’s mansion for a few days?”
Unlike other visitors who were nobles living in the city center near the imperial palace, she was a commoner from the countryside. Even though the rain was subsiding, it wouldn’t be easy for her to return.
Moreover, wasn’t she the one who suffered great damage around this time in the original story, despite the dam being built?
It wouldn’t have been strange if it were her or someone else lying in that coffin instead of my parents.
‘Death’ and accidents in reality, not in a ‘novel’, are that sudden and unpredictable.
“No! I couldn’t impose on you like that.”
“But with the rain and the mountain roads being treacherous, it’s dangerous to return on horseback. If you’re uncomfortable here, I’ll arrange lodging nearby, so please stay for at least a day or two before going back.”
At my words, Jenin showed signs of conflict. The way she glanced at me, was probably because she didn’t know if it was okay to accept such hospitality.
But then Cassion approached and handed her a small note.
“I’ve paid for two days of lodging and meals, so you can go here. The stable also has good reviews.”
“Your Grace, I really am fine!”
“Does it look like I’m making a suggestion?”
“Ah…”
“Don’t add to my wife’s worries any further and quietly stay in the capital.”
He ordered her in a cold tone that made my prediction that love might blossom between them later seem embarrassing.
After handing the note to the hesitating Jenin almost dismissively, Cassion immediately wrapped his arm around my shoulder and started walking.
“Asilia. It’s too cold to stand throughout the funeral. I’ll watch over the remaining mourners until they leave, so you should go in and rest now.”
“Cassion.”
“Your face is too pale.”
His hand that carefully grasped mine was as warm as a stove. With the warmth spreading from the tips of my fingers, I realized then how exhausted I was even from this short funeral. He was right. I wanted to rest.
“…Then, may I ask you to?”
“Of course. Bert! Take Asilia to her room and bring her some warm tea.”
Cassion called the butler who was nearby as soon as I finished speaking.
“I’m sorry I can’t escort you to your room myself.”
“It’s okay. Thank you for being considerate… And, I’m sorry. The Duke’s family’s prestige might fall again because of me.”
“Don’t worry about that. It’s all your achievement anyway, and I don’t care about it.”
As Butler Bert approached and offered a shawl, Cassion snatched it and carefully wrapped it around me. It was really warm. The shawl only covered my shoulders, but it seemed to block even the sound of rain, which became muffled. Only his presence remained clear.
“You’re thinking too much, unlike you. Go in, have some warm tea and that… cookie, and take a nap.”
“It’s macaron. You still can’t remember the name?”
I chuckled as I teased him. His expression, which I thought would be irritated, softened.
“Right. Macaron.”
He smiled along with me and checked the shawl one more time, his fingertips brushing against my neck. Amidst the fading sound of rain, I could almost feel my heart pounding.
