I Accidentally Resurrected My Dead Husband - Chapter 21

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 21
When his remarried wife became pregnant, Baron Brix presented Laila with a proposition: abandon Zark and marry a man of his choosing, and he would write her a will granting her the family title. The words amounted to a single, unambiguous threat: marry Zark, and she would inherit nothing.
“Why should I abandon the person I love because of some child that woman will bear?”
That woman had betrayed her mother and driven her to her grave. She had stolen her mother’s place, and now her child sought to steal what was Laila’s by rights.
“I won’t simply lie down and accept it, will I?”
So this time, she would strike first. From her father, she would take away his replacement heir; from her stepmother, she would take away the child she loved more dearly than her own life. Both would be erased.
“There’s a medium named Ceres, quite renowned for this sort of work.”
Even mediums observed a professional code of ethics. For instance, one did not peddle items imbued with poison or curses. Mild hexes that caused indigestion, or curses that made one lose small change—those were acceptable. Anything beyond that was forbidden.
Most critically, trafficking in poisons or curses potent enough to steal a life, or anything approaching such power, meant immediate execution. Yet where there was demand, supply always found a way to flourish.
Such practitioners operated in shadow, with no fixed dwelling. In short, they wandered the entire Empire, and only a select few knew when or where they would appear.
“At first I meant to purchase a potion. But she recommended this ring instead—quite naturally, remarking that it could masquerade as a miscarriage.”
Yet the ring’s appearance was hardly suitable as a gift, and hiding it in the baroness’s chamber risked discovery by a maid. Then, quite suddenly, Laila recalled the candles that Udite sold. If she concealed the ring inside a candle and presented it as a congratulatory gift for the pregnancy, wouldn’t that seem perfectly natural?
“I had Zark deliver it because I was afraid Miss Herrington might grow suspicious if she learned a ring was hidden in a pregnancy gift. Even if it looks cheap for a ring, it passes perfectly well when you claim it’s something with sentimental value, doesn’t it?”
It did pass. It would have fooled Udite completely too, had it not been for that sound.
“Forgive my presumption, Miss Brix, but I believe you’ve been swindled.”
Udite was fighting desperately for time. Once their conversation ended, only one task would remain.
“I beg your pardon?”
“That ring. Why do you think I bothered to identify it in the first place?”
Laila hesitated for a moment, clearly having expected something different.
“Because it seemed suspicious?”
“Hardly. The vengeful spirit bound to that ring wails every night without fail, and I couldn’t sleep for the noise.”
Udite gave a brief account of everything she’d heard. Laila wanted nothing more than to dispose of the child quietly, but the moment she used this ring, quiet would become impossible.
The vengeful spirit would hunt down the pregnant woman, weeping and wandering about, and once those sounds were heard before the miscarriage occurred, everyone would suspect the wailing.
“I summoned a medium myself. Do you think the baroness will simply sit still?”
She would certainly try to discover the source of those sounds. The baron’s household received countless items daily, making it harder to find—but far from impossible if one truly searched. Once the ring was found inside the candle, they would summon Udite, the candlemaker, and Udite would not hesitate for even a moment before speaking Zark’s name.
“If I hadn’t been here, you’d have found yourself in quite the predicament, wouldn’t you?”
So release me, Udite implored, clasping her hands together with the most pitiful expression she could muster.
“Ha, and here I thought you’d be worth the price.”
Laila’s delicate brow furrowed sharply. It seemed she’d paid an exorbitant sum for the ring.
“Your information is appreciated. But now that you know my plans, I’m afraid Miss Herrington wi—”
“Laila!”
“Ah!”
Just as Laila was calmly issuing her threat, the carriage suddenly lurched to the side with such violent force that it nearly overturned.
Laila, nearly thrown against the carriage wall, was caught and held steady by Zark, but Udite struck her head and shoulder hard against the interior. The injuries weren’t severe, yet for some reason her heart felt heavy with sorrow.
“Are you unharmed, Laila?”
Zark, who had shielded Laila in his embrace and absorbed all the impact with his own body, still inquired first after her welfare.
“I’m fine. Are you hurt?”
“Not at all.”
Zark and Laila drew each other close in reassurance, holding tightly.
……
Excuse me, but there’s another person here. Even if I was about to be murdered, couldn’t someone at least ask if I’m all right? Udite brooded alone while Zark retrieved his sword from the floor and wrenched open the carriage door.
“What in the name of—! If the lady were injured, what would become of—”
Zark turned toward the driver, shouting, then froze. Between the open carriage door and Zark stood a figure in some remote, unknowable place, their face concealed.
“Lord Erne!”
How had such a capable knight managed to follow them all the way here?
Relief flooded through Udite—pure, uncomplicated relief. She tried to step outside, but Zark held her back. Yet she felt no fear. No dread. Zark, who hadn’t even been formally dubbed a knight, would be no match for Erne at all.
But how had the carriage been followed? On foot? Through the gap in Zark’s arm blocking the door, she glimpsed a horse, its flanks heaving with exertion. Where on earth had he found a mount?
“Who are you?”
“The… companion of the woman lurking behind you.”
Husband? Companion? Erne hesitated over how to introduce himself. In truth, after he’d seen Udite into the baron’s household, an unease had taken root in him. A premonition that something terrible would unfold. On missions, on battlefields—whenever he’d felt this way, disaster had never failed to arrive.
He’d told himself it didn’t matter what happened to Udite. When she’d helped him with the false accusation over Cliff’s attempted murder, that was merely reciprocal aid. This scheme was entirely her own decision. So she should bear the full weight of its consequences alone.
Yet his feet would not obey. Should he go or stay? He’d lingered about like a man half-witted, when suddenly Udite emerged from the baron’s house. He’d barely begun to feel relief when Zark swept her into a carriage and carried her away. After that, he did not hesitate. Rather, he could not hesitate—his body had moved before his mind could decide. His horse had been acquired from the estate; the sprint had been long.
“I asked who you are.”
At the sound of Zark drawing his blade, Erne’s brow creased. Why did this man insist on asking difficult questions?
“Does it matter?”
It hardly seemed to.
“It’s obvious you came to help her. Can’t a swordsman even read a situation this simple?”
The gleaming blade pointed directly at Erne, yet he did not draw his own weapon. A clear, unmistakable expression of contempt—that he required no sword to dispatch this man.
“Zark, please. Calm yourself.”
Before anything else, Laila regained her composure.
“Lord Erne? You mean the Lord Erne? I heard the entire House of Rainhardt was wiped out by a Curse.”
Though black cloth covered the area beneath her eyes, Laila managed to recognize Erne.
“It seems the rumors were false. You appear to be alive and well.”
“Do you know me?”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t know you?”
Udite nodded. Setting aside his poor temperament and the treason he’d later become entangled in, Erne was a hero who had led to victory a war that was said to be impossible to win. Few knew his face, but everyone knew his name.
“I saw you once at an Imperial Palace Banquet.”
“You recognized me from just that?”
Laila answered as if the notion were absurd.
“Bright golden hair and green eyes, tall in stature, unflinching before a blade—and most of all, there is no other person called Lord Erne besides Lord Erne of Rainhardt.”
Ah. At this clear explanation, both Udite and Erne nodded in agreement. Erne briefly wondered whether he ought to cover his hair when traveling as well.
Zark, who had hesitated for a moment, sheathed his sword and looked toward Laila. When she gave a small nod, he stepped aside at the carriage entrance, opening the way for Udite.
“I’m not your match.”
Udite stopped as she was about to leave the carriage. Laila might let him go freely now out of concern that Zark would be hurt, but would she truly allow herself to leave him be, now that he knew her secret?
In that moment, a brilliant stratagem occurred to Udite.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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