I Accidentally Resurrected My Dead Husband - Chapter 22

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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 22
“There’s something I didn’t tell you. The truth is, I planned to take this Ring to the Baron and collect the Reward Money myself.”
Laila’s expression made clear she couldn’t understand why Udiet was saying such a thing now.
“The Reward Money could come from the Baron’s daughter as well, couldn’t it?”
“So offering Reward Money means I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
Udiet understood the implication, but Laila showed no sign of trusting her.
“You have no intention of making this into a larger affair anyway.”
It would be easy to dispose of Udiet Herington without anyone knowing. But killing the wife of Count Reinhardt—and the wife of Ern Reinhardt, no less, a war hero—would not be so simple.
Especially now that Ern had witnessed the kidnapping firsthand.
Still, Laila was in an anxious state; her vulnerability had been exposed to Udiet. She needed to be reassured.
“I’ll stake my own secret as collateral.”
Udiet leaned forward and lowered her voice.
“Share secrets with each other?”
“Yes. This is a secret I’d stake my life on. If it’s of this magnitude, you should feel safe.”
If a secret—or rather, information that would be equally devastating to both of them if revealed—were to change hands, then Laila could certainly trust her.
“My secret costs a bit of money to keep hidden. That’s acceptable to you, isn’t it?”
“That’s hardly a fair trade.”
Laila’s eyes sharpened. Had Ern Reinhardt not been involved, she would have refused an unfair bargain. But Laila, as Udiet had anticipated, did not want to make this affair public.
“But I’ll listen.”
“A wise decision.”
Udiet spoke with the same cheerful smile she wore when delivering candles and collecting payment.
“I’m married.”
That’s it? That’s the secret?
In the moment disappointment flickered across Laila’s face, Udiet pointed to Ern standing outside the carriage.
“To him.”
Udiet laid bare everything that had happened. How she’d married Ern on impulse and inherited Count Reinhardt’s debts, how she’d made dealings with usurers—all of it.
Of course, she omitted the story of Ern’s death and his perfectly preserved corpse. She simply glossed over it by saying Ern was feigning death to catch whoever had tried to kill her, and fortunately she got away with the lie.
“I understand up to that point. But why would that be a secret?”
Laila asked as if she genuinely couldn’t fathom it.
“All the custom orders are being made at House Reinhardt.”
“In that Cursed Mansion?”
In an instant, revulsion painted itself across Laila’s features.
“If I tell people I’m selling candles made at House Reinhardt, they’ll all react exactly as you just did.”
“No one would buy the candles.”
“Exactly. Then I can’t pay the debt. And if I can’t pay, I’ll be sold to the usurer. That would be a fate worse than death.”
So just how dangerous was this secret?
“That’s why you said it costs money to keep quiet.”
After a moment’s thought, Laila let out a soft laugh.
“If I became uneasy from hearing this secret and stopped buying Miss Herington’s candles, everyone would find that strange, wouldn’t they?”
The Baron’s daughter had been actively introducing Udiet’s candles to others. If such a person suddenly stopped buying them, wouldn’t people wonder why?
It was always these small, trivial doubts that unraveled everything. Until the rumors of the Cursed Mansion faded and the estate regained its value, the secret had to be kept absolute. To protect it, she’d deliberately taken circuitous routes, avoided the main gate in favor of the distant rear entrance, and hidden her face beneath a hood.
“Agreed.”
As if acknowledging Udiet’s hardship, Laila nodded after her moment of deliberation.
“As long as Miss Herington keeps quiet, our house won’t stop doing business with you. As for that Ring—you handle it yourself.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Udiet gave Laila a respectful bow and stepped down from the carriage.
“Oh, wait.”
As Udiet turned toward Ern, she spun back to Laila with an expression of sudden recollection.
“This is just something I’m curious about.”
“What?”
“How did the baby appear suddenly, when there hadn’t been one until now?”
Watching Laila’s expression grow enigmatic, Udiet merely shrugged and turned away.
“You certainly love using collateral.”
Before Udiet could even offer thanks, Ern clicked his tongue and leveled a reproach.
“The situation left no choice. But where did you get that idea?”
Where had he procured a baby in that brief span? He was supposed to be a capable knight, yet his abilities extended to such matters too…
“I bought it.”
“What? With what money?”
Udiet’s head tilted so far to the side it nearly touched her shoulder. Ern stroked the horse’s neck and answered without a shred of shame.
“With yours.”
She’d run up a tab.
* * *
To keep up with Udiet, Ern climbed onto a nearby horse first, then shouted at its owner that he’d buy the animal. The owner’s wishes were, of course, entirely disregarded.
Udiet tried to return the horse and pay only for a day’s rental, but the owner demanded the full price stubbornly. He claimed he’d meant to sell it at market anyway, or some such excuse. When he threatened to report her to the constabulary if she didn’t pay, Udiet had no choice but to purchase the horse.
Three months’ worth of interest money, gone. Udiet’s face turned even paler than when she’d been kidnapped, her shoulders sagging.
“It’s cheap enough for a life, isn’t it?”
That was what her mind reasoned, but her heart wouldn’t agree. Especially not when Ern offered his comfort with that delighted expression, thrilled to have acquired a horse—it had no effect whatsoever.
“But what was that thing you said at the very end?”
“What, sir?”
“You said the baby in the baroness’s womb doesn’t seem to be the baron’s child. Do you have grounds for that?”
Udiet shrugged and spoke.
“It’s less grounds and more… I’ve heard some things. I overheard something once when I went to deliver to a tea party at the Marquise Ferni’s mansion.”
A certain noblewoman had taken a lover, she’d heard. Which is why she hardly attends social gatherings anymore. Someone had chimed in sympathetically that it was understandable—married to an old husband must be dreadfully dull.
“I don’t know if that noblewoman is the baroness or not. I only meant to hint that the baron’s daughter might have other leverage besides that ring.”
Vague perhaps, but they were in this together now.
“Once the baron’s daughter inherits the title, she’ll have more to protect, won’t she? Then she’ll be even more desperate to keep rumors about this ring from spreading, won’t she? Which means this secret becomes worth more, doesn’t it?”
Ern frowned as he listened to Udiet’s reasoning. So in the end, she wanted to squeeze even more money out of the baron’s daughter.
“I nearly died going to that house to collect a reward. Have you already forgotten?”
“The bigger the risk, the greater the profit. You’ll never escape poverty by undervaluing your services.”
As if a young master raised in wealth would know anything about that. Udiet clicked her tongue in disapproval.
“You take the horse.”
“What?”
Ern asked, visibly startled.
“Why are you like this, looking so uneasy? Are you sick? They say when a person changes suddenly, it’s a sign their time is coming.”
He placed his hand on her forehead with a tap, then murmured seriously that there was no fever. Udiet brushed his hand away roughly and frowned.
“What good would it do me to keep her?”
“I figured you’d resell her.”
Not that he hadn’t considered the possibility.
“I’m grateful. I’m grateful you didn’t suggest divorce, and I’m grateful you saved me just now.”
There had been some reason for Ern to maintain this marriage, though not nearly as much as for Udiet. If he had truly insisted on divorce, Udiet would have had no way to stop him.
“Does Miss Udiet Reinhardt feel gratitude?”
He was mocking her sincerity? Who mocks someone’s genuine thanks?
“Don’t want to take the horse? Then leave her. I’ll sell her or eat her, or whatever I choose.”
“You can’t say cruel things like that in front of the animal.”
Ern gently covered the horse’s ears. The fact that he still didn’t say he wouldn’t take her suggested he really hated walking.
“But you’re talking like you won’t see me again.”
“You won’t be coming back.”
Once the Forged Identity Document arrives, Ern will leave to find Cliff. After hearing from Cliff about his own death, would Ern ever return to House Reinhardt? To her, someone he’d lived with for only a few days—as good as a stranger?
Udiet’s answer was pessimistic.
“I was planning to give you travel money, but take the horse instead.”
“Travel money? You really are strange today. Why are you acting so unlike yourself?”
“You were singing for me to buy a horse, and now that I did, why are you—wait?”
A liquid trickled down from beneath her nose and wet her lips. Udiet ran her finger under her nostrils. Blood came away bright red on the tip.
“Ah yes, you are sick. I think it’s time for you. Time to go.”
To the next world.
“I’m not ready to go yet.”
Udiet found a handkerchief and held it under her nose, shooting Ern a sidelong glance.
“It’s just because I haven’t slept properly for days because of that ring.”
* * *
Scratch-scratch-scratch-scratch—
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.”
Udiet scratched her ears vigorously at the sound of an insect gnawing at something, glancing around at the floor and walls. The sound was there, but she couldn’t see it, so there was no way to catch it.
She’d heard this gnawing sound occasionally before, but lately the frequency had increased noticeably.
“Maybe I should buy some insecticide.”

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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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