The Husband I Thought Was Dead Has Returned - Chapter 109

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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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The Husband Who Should Have Died Returns – Episode 109
Two weeks had passed since Cherez arrived at the villa.
That time had been necessary for Hayden to accept Cherez.
At first he’d called him “mister,” then “uncle,” and now it had become routine for Hayden to pester Cherez about going fishing together.
Whether fishing suited Cherez’s temperament or not, the catches had been quite good.
“Uncle! Come here!”
Hayden waved his hands frantically toward Cherez.
Sunlight danced and rippled across the child’s fingertips. Tomatoes, their green vines now stained crimson, hung in abundance. Five tomatoes rolled about in the basket looped around Hayden’s forearm.
Cherez strolled over leisurely, hands tucked in his pockets.
Cherez was changing too. His gaunt frame had filled out, and his face had regained its ease—the sharp, dangerous edge softening noticeably. It seemed as though Carencia’s tranquil air had settled into him as well.
“Uncle! You have to pick tomatoes too!”
“Why? I don’t even like tomatoes.”
Cherez spoke in a playful tone. Hayden’s eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe such words.
“Then, then you can’t eat spaghetti! Hard work like this is what makes delicious food taste good!”
“Where on earth do you learn these things?”
Cherez chuckled softly. He bent down beside Hayden and picked up a tomato.
Watching him, those past two weeks came flooding back. It was also time to accept the fact that we had to leave. We would have to abandon this field we’d cultivated, the chicken coop, and this mountain with its frogs.
The time spent here had been sufficiently enriching and abundant.
Whenever I looked back on this place in the future, it would surely be something I’d miss.
“Uncle, look at this!”
Hayden held up a particularly large tomato.
“This one’s Roana’s! Not yours, uncle. I’m not giving it to you.”
Cherez let out a soft laugh.
“Why? Give me one too, Hayden. I’m helping you pick tomatoes right now. Roana’s just standing over there.”
Me, what.
I shrugged. Hayden whipped his head toward me, the ribbon attached to the wide-brimmed hat that Gania had made for him swaying along with the motion.
“Roaaaanaaaa!!”
Hayden ran toward me but tumbled forward. He hit the ground hard and jerked his head up.
“Ow, owwwww! It was uncle’s fault!!”
Cherez swiftly lifted Hayden to his feet. The child turned his head this way and that, then reached his hand toward me.
“It was uncle’s fault!”
“What are you talking about, Hayden? Uncle didn’t do anything. Come here.”
I stood the child in front of me and gently pulled up the overalls he was wearing. Fortunately, his knees were fine. His palms were scraped slightly, but not enough to warrant such crying.
“Did you get quite a scare?”
I lifted Hayden into my arms.
“It was uncle…”
“No, it wasn’t. You tripped, Hayden.”
“…What?”
“That’s right! Why would uncle make you fall? Isn’t that so, Cherez?”
“I’m wronged. I’m so wronged I’m upset.”
Cherez placed his hand over his chest and shook his head. His eyes, drooping loosely, had grown even redder than before.
Hayden sniffled and looked back and forth between Cherez and me. Then he wrapped his arms tightly around my neck and whispered.
“Aconi is angry.”
His pronunciation was even more slurred as he sniffled.
“That’s why you need to apologize quickly, Hayden. What if Aconi starts crying?”
I set Hayden down on the ground. After hesitating, he ran over to Cherez and wiped his legs with his hands. It was Hayden’s way of saying sorry.
“You have to say it with words.”
“Sowwy….”
Hayden spun around and ran toward me. It was just as Cherez watched him with a grin spreading across his face. Jake came bounding up the mountain.
Sweat was streaming down Jake’s forehead.
“My lady!”
The moment Jake spotted me, he rushed into the field. He looked back and forth between me and Cherez, then spoke in a ragged voice as he caught his breath.
“There are men coming over the mountain. Luke’s Father saw them at the edge of town.”
Luke’s Father was someone who had recently returned. He had come back after serving as a cook in the Knight Order, and thanks to him, Luke was now living happy days. Soon, Carencia would gradually fill with more people.
It was obvious that before long, everyone in Carencia would know who we were.
“How many are there?”
“Looks like around twenty of them.”
They seemed desperate too. They had staked everything on killing Cherez.
Jake kept glancing at Cherez. Had he heard something from Luke’s Father?
“…Um, sir….”
Jake asked in a small voice, just loud enough for me to hear.
“Is it true you use a sword well? Dorphin and Mila aren’t here either. Sigh, what should we do. I don’t know what those bastards are after, but since they’ve come through the mountain, this place won’t be safe either. I thought it would be better for me to stay here.”
Cherez must have already heard this. I could see his lips curve into a pleasant smile. He was enjoying this. Cherez folded his arms across his chest.
“…Is the town alright?”
Jake clenched his fists.
“I told the townspeople to stay inside their homes. The women of the town and Gania hid with the children. It should be safe even without me.”
Cherez placed the tomato in the basket and walked out of the field. The loose shirt he wore made him look even younger.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“…Alone?”
The three Knights he had brought with him hadn’t returned after going down the mountain. Dorphin and Mila were at the Black Market, and the only combat force remaining at the villa was Cherez.
Cherez gazed at me. His red eyes appeared lighter in the morning light.
“With your efforts and my best, what is there to worry about?”
Cherez spoke playfully. He fingered the sword hilt at his waist. My efforts must have referred to the traps.
Dorphin, Robin, and Mila had dug deep over several days, and I had carefully made it difficult to escape in one go. It could be helpful, but….
Seeing my worried expression, Cherez chuckled softly and rubbed my cheek slowly.
Without thinking, I leaned my face into that hand.
“You really don’t trust me.”
“Cherez….”
Hayden clung to Cherez’s leg.
“Where is Aconi going?”
Cherez knelt down to meet Hayden at eye level.
“It’ll only be a moment. I’m just going to check what’s caught in the trap.”
“I’ll be back soon. I promise.”
Cherez extended his pinky finger. Hayden hooked his small pinky around it.
“…Come back soon.”
“I promise.”
Cherez pressed a kiss to Hayden’s forehead. The child turned his head and buried his face against my leg once more.
Cherez descended the mountain road alone. Hayden stood clinging to my leg, watching Cherez’s retreating figure.
“Roana.”
“Yes.”
“Will he come back soon?”
“He will.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Cherez’s silhouette disappeared between the trees. Regardless of what abilities he possessed or what manner of man he was, I couldn’t help but worry. I clasped my hands together and prayed.
“May the blessing of Saint Urenis be with you.”
It was a prayer I had whispered countless times before. Jake, who had been watching Cherez’s departure with concern, spoke carefully.
“Wouldn’t it be better if I followed him? With that slender frame, I wonder if he can even wield a sword properly.”
Jake lifted the scythe he had brought with him.
“Jake, you need to stay and protect us. Why don’t you come inside and help me prepare the tomatoes Hayden picked?”
“Ah, well… yes, I suppose so.”
At my words, Jake nodded and followed us into the villa.

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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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