My Husband Yearns For Me After My Death - Chapter 1

She had always been confident that she had lived a life without regrets.

It had been two years since she became the sole daughter of the Ackellard family and the wife of Dietrich Haberfeld, the Margrave. She gasped for breath, looking up.

The canopy that should have remained still fluttered, tormenting her inwardly. Unable to bear the turmoil, Grace clenched her eyes shut.

Grace’s family, the Ackellards, were originally foreigners, not citizens of the empire.

Living in harmony with the forest and treating the earth as their mother, they were among the continent’s leading spirit mages. They roamed from place to place, enjoying a nomadic lifestyle.

They never settled in one place nor committed to any land. The Ackellards had always lived solely as Ackellards.

There was just one time the Ackellards broke their unwritten rule and helped someone else.

That was this land, the Carbonnel Empire.

At the time, Carbonnel was a mess, both internally and externally. The soil had become barren after long wars, and endless strife plagued its people.

To anyone, it was evident that Carbonnel was on the brink of collapse. Despite the resistance, it was insufficient. They didn’t have the power to turn the tide.

But the Ackellards were different.

When even friendly nations had abandoned Carbonnel, the Ackellards willingly extended their hand.

Numerically inferior, their power was nonetheless unparalleled. The assistance of the Ackellards was as good as that of a powerful nation.

Their overwhelming spirit magic was more than enough to compensate for the lacking brute strength. With the Ackellards’ support, Carbonnel began to thrive.

On the day Carbonnel emerged victorious, the Emperor of Carbonnel decided to honor them with titles within the empire.

Founding contributors. Exceptional spirit mages. Conditions that were perfect for enjoying eternal happiness, but the life of the Ackellards was not entirely smooth.

Was it because they had lived freely? Or because the citizens of the empire feared their power? Perhaps it was both.

Despite having the highest authority within Carbonnel, they gradually became isolated.

Silver hair with a hint of blue and mysterious eyes were the characteristics and the stigma of the Ackellards.

It was as if, no matter what, they could never become citizens of the empire. Their distinctive appearance made their isolation even more profound.

There were not a few who sought to win over the Ackellards. Constantly, there were those who came, asking them to leave the ostracizing Carbonnel and come to their country.

Yet, the Ackellards did not leave Carbonnel.

What they saw in the declining Carbonnel was unknown. Some said there must be something in the land of Carbonnel, while others speculated that there might be something else they received from them.

Despite rampant rumors, the Ackellards remained silent. Time passed without anyone uncovering the truth.

When the name of the founding contributor had faded, a crisis that pushed the Ackellard family to the edge erupted.

But there was no one left who could help them.

At the brink of collapse, Grace, the eldest daughter, visited Haberfeld alone.

“I am here to propose a deal to you, Margrave.”

The first time she faced him was still vivid in her memory.

Dietrich Haberfeld.

True to the name of a family that had defended the border for generations, his face bore an inherent coldness.

His domineering expression and the way he looked down on people were enough to intimidate anyone meeting him for the first time.

But Grace could not back down. The fate of the Ackellards rested on her. It was her last choice, a crossroads.

Fortunately, Dietrich, who needed a successor, found that his interests aligned well with hers, and their contract-based relationship smoothly progressed to marriage.

The exception in Grace’s plan was that Dietrich was a bit different from the others.

Unlike the usual nobility, he did not indulge in verbal or physical abuse. Tired and stressed from the outside world, he remained faithful to his promises to his wife.

She had braced herself for a harsh married life, yet the castle was cozy. Perhaps it was because those who disapproved of Grace could not even enter the castle.

People were kind, and his retainers served her sincerely. Dietrich was an ideal husband and head of the family.

Once a month, they fulfilled their marital duties, and when she became pregnant, she even felt happiness.

She thought everything would continue smoothly, but…

Things started to go awry when Grace became heavily pregnant.

Suddenly, with the invasion of external forces, Dietrich had no choice but to leave the castle, leaving his heavily pregnant wife behind.

Giving birth to her first child without her husband. Despite being overwhelmed by fear and terror, Grace endured the pressure. But the problem was the childbirth itself.

Something went wrong during the delivery as the bleeding wouldn’t stop.

Was it because the bed was soaked with blood that had also pooled on the floor? Or because she couldn’t move her legs at all after that day?

Even after safely giving birth to the child, Grace couldn’t get out of bed.

A persistent high fever threatened her life every moment. To make matters worse, she could hardly keep any food down without vomiting.

‘My child…’

She thought of the bundle of joy she hadn’t yet named, wanting to do so together with Dietrich upon his return.

The child, who cried pitifully while cradled in the nanny’s arms. She was troubled by the fact she hadn’t held the baby even once, fearing she might transmit her fever.

‘I’m probably going to die…’

Her breath was feeble, as if it would stop at any moment. She had thought she lived without regrets at every moment. Yet, facing death, there were so many things she hadn’t done that weighed on her.

A gloomy aura filled the castle.

Grace deliberately didn’t send word to Dietrich that her death was imminent.

He was still at the forefront, risking his life in the war at this very moment.

Moreover, the last letter from his side was that victory was in sight. She didn’t want to disturb her husband with her condition at such a critical moment.

A life already forfeit, Grace dissuaded those who were ready to send news of her imminent death right away.

“Haah, ha…”

Grace blinked as her vision blurred. The frail breaths she exhaled soon became labored. An impending seizure seemed to stiffen her body more and more.

As her vision faded, there was nothing Grace could do.

It was a sad state to be in. Until the terror of death completely consumed her body, she could only clutch helplessly at the blanket.

“Grace.”

Then, alongside a gentle voice by her side, her breathing eased.

Surprised, she rolled her eyes to see a figure in the room that had been empty. A man in a black robe smiled at her.

“Who…?”

“What does it matter who I am when you’re dying?”

The man’s voice felt oddly cheerful for the situation.

“Let’s cut to the chase. Grace, do you want to live?”