I Accidentally Resurrected My Dead Husband - Chapter 64

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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 64
Fire-bugs are rare insects native to the desert where the Shartin Tribe originally dwelled. In their egg stage, these creatures can live for over a hundred years. They remain dormant like fossils until rain falls, at which point they all revive at once. Upon revival, the fire-bugs seek out oases. They distinguish oases by the sound of wind—specifically, the particular whisper of wind passing through trees can only be heard near an oasis.
When they hear that sound, male fire-bugs ignite in unison, setting the trees ablaze to create an environment suitable for laying eggs. The females lay their eggs atop the ash and die. Their bodies become nutrients for the egg shells, allowing the Fire-bug Eggs to survive as they roll across the desert sand. While desert tribes know of these eggs, few others do; finding them is nearly impossible, for they resemble ordinary grains of sand.
Grandmother had said she inherited these Fire-bug Eggs from her father.
“Father always said there would come a time when they’d be needed. I suppose that time is now.”
“But these are your father’s keepsake, and so difficult to obtain again. You’re certain you wish to give them to me?”
“A debt of kindness must be repaid. Had it not been for Miss Herington, our Matt would be dead.”
Matt was an infant born just before Grandmother’s group was driven from that place of shadow. On that day when rain poured down in torrents, Tan had begged Udith to keep the newborn for just a few days. That same child now grew robust within the halls of Rainhardt Estate.
“It will hatch within ten minutes of touching water, so take care. And Illuer, you shall assist her well.”
With that, Grandmother handed a worn flute to Illuer.
“This is the Desert Wind Flute. When you play it, the fire-bugs will think this place is a tree near an oasis and begin to ignite.”
So it was—Udith intended to set the Marquis Ferni Estate ablaze. Of course, there were many ways to start a fire. But the reason for using fire-bugs specifically was to leave no evidence of arson. There were methods: shooting flaming arrows from outside the estate, or slipping in to set the fire by hand. But any such method would leave traces.
If arson evidence remained and the Marquis Ferni’s wife vanished? Then it would inevitably be concluded that someone had set the fire to smuggle her away. In that case, Marquis Mosley would have no choice but to issue a pursuit order, whether he liked it or not. Under Imperial Law, the households of traitors and those who aided them must be arrested on principle.
Once the pursuit order dropped, wanted posters bearing her particulars would quickly reach the checkpoints. But what if strange insects appeared, the estate suddenly caught fire, and the Marquis Ferni’s wife could not be found?
It would be unclear whether this was an escape or a disappearance caused by the fire.
“But how will you bring out the Marquis’s wife?”
Illuer asked.
“Won’t the estate servants grow cautious if they see Miss Herington?”
Even in the chaos, some might spot Udith. If that happened, everything would unravel.
“When the fire starts, there will be such confusion. I’ll slip in with my face hidden. They’ll have no choice but to open the main gate to bring water from the river in front of the estate to fight the fire.”
Surely, those helping to extinguish the flames and onlookers would gather in great numbers. Udith planned to mingle naturally among them with her face concealed. Or perhaps she could simply ask Shia or Mia—whom the estate servants didn’t know by sight—to bring out the Marquis’s wife instead. Udith’s head was spinning with possibilities.
“There’s a dog hole in the wall of the estate. I thought to slip through it and steal a set of Maid Clothes, but it’s too small for me to fit.”
“Maid Clothes would be useful. In the chaos of the fire, no one would suspect a servant dressed in the estate’s livery.”
Udith drew in a breath, looking regretful. In their focus on finding a safe path, neither noticed the light footsteps of a small child drifting away into the distance.
* * *
“Keep watch.”
“If the adults find out, we’re dead.”
“Dead if we’re caught.”
“So we have to succeed.”
Beside the dog hole in the wall of the Marquis Ferni Estate, three small heads stared intently at the opening.
“We have to repay a debt of kindness.”
Kaya, her hair tied back tightly, fixed a terrified boy with a stern look.
“If it wasn’t for Miss Herington, we’d be sleeping on the ground right now.”
“Kaya’s got a point.”
Another boy nodded. The frightened child was named Milo, and the other was Badim—both Shartin children staying at Rainhardt Estate.
“I’m going. You keep a good watch.”
“Be careful, Kaya.”
Kaya clenched her small fists and crawled into the dog hole. Though it seemed too narrow for Udith, it posed no problem for Kaya’s small frame.
Inside the dog hole, Kaya crept through the garden shrubbery. Just then, three maids carrying laundry baskets passed directly in front of her. Kaya hid behind garden trees, beneath carriage wheels, and around wall corners as she followed them.
“We just leave the laundry here?”
“Yeah, leave it there and go.”
As dusk shifted to darkness, the estate servants were busy winding down their day. The laundress gathered the baskets the other maids had brought and heaped them in a corner, then stood—and slapped her own forehead.
“Goodness, where is my mind? I forgot to take in the quilts.”
The maid rushed off to gather the quilts from the clothesline in front of the laundry room.
‘Now’s my chance.’
Kaya bolted for the open laundry room door.
That was when the maid, hearing Kaya’s footsteps as she gathered quilts, paused.
“What was that?”
Kaya darted into the laundry room and hid behind a wall. The maid glanced around for a moment, then returned to gathering quilts. In that interval, Kaya snatched a set of Maid Clothes. But just then, the laundry room maid came back—carrying quilts in her arms.
‘I’m going to get caught.’
Kaya looked for a place to hide, but the rectangular laundry room offered nowhere. Her eyes began to water with panic. Just as tears welled up, the maid stumbled into the room.
“Ugh, so heavy.”
“……!”
Unwilling to make two trips, the maid had gathered all the quilts at once—they rose high enough to cover her eyes. With her vision blocked, the maid could not see Kaya, who boldly slipped past her.
“Did a cat get in?”
Feeling something brush past her, the maid set down the quilts and muttered to herself. She looked outside the laundry room, but Kaya was already hidden in the garden shrubbery beyond.
* * *
“You did well. No, you did wrong. But you did well.”
Udith pressed her palm to her forehead. After not seeing the children for a while, Kaya and the others had returned with Maid Clothes in hand.
When she asked how they’d managed it, their answer came back: they’d overheard Grandmother and Udith conferring earlier and put the plan into action. Should she praise them for their ingenuity, or scold them sternly for doing something so dangerous?
“I’m not sure you did the right thing.”
At Udith’s words, the three children’s shoulders sagged in discouragement.
“But thank you. You’ve made my work easier.”
It really had become much easier. The moment Udith thanked them, the children’s faces brightened instantly. Kaya’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction and pride. Udith didn’t want to dampen that clear, radiant expression, yet she couldn’t hold back what came next.
“But your Grandmother wants to see you.”
The children sensed trouble coming, and dark clouds gathered overhead once more. The three trudged toward the Grandmother’s room. Udith fingered the Maid Clothes that Kaya had stolen, smiling to herself. Honestly, she’d been moved by how earnestly they’d risked this theft to repay a debt.
“They really are like you.”
Ern, watching from across the way, tossed out the remark casually.
“The children are quite sharp, aren’t they?”
“No—they’re reckless, doing dangerous things without thinking twice. That’s what’s like you.”
Udith planned to head to the Harbor tomorrow with the Marquis’s wife. Though Illuer and Tan said they’d go along, Ern couldn’t shake his unease.
“It could be dangerous.”
“There’s no help for it. Right now there’s no reliable servant in the Marquis’s household. Even the maids her family brought have all left.”
How could she send Caroline alone to the Harbor? The ship itself she might let depart unaccompanied, but she had to escort her at least to the Harbor itself. If anything happened to Caroline on the way and she’d broken the law to help her for nothing, the whole thing would be meaningless.
“Did you really think earning six million gold would be easy?”
“Then take Henry with you.”
“Who looks after the shop?”
Six million gold and the shop—Udith wouldn’t give up either one.
“I heard there’s a mercenary office connected to the Rofri Trading Company on the way to the Harbor. I’m thinking of hiring reliable soldiers there. So you go catch those criminals and make sure it’s done properly.”
“Unnecessary worry.”
“Well, if you’re so worried about me, just hold my hand. The Harbor is at least four days round trip, and you’ll just be stuck dealing with that damp feeling the whole time anyway.”
When Udith reached out her hand asking him to take it, Ern simply turned away. For some reason, he didn’t want to give in so easily.
“I suppose it’s just Miss Herington’s karma for selling dreams so recklessly.”
“Ern, where are you going? You won’t even hold my hand.”

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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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