The Husband I Thought Was Dead Has Returned - Chapter 121

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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 121
My eyes opened of their own accord, despite the early hour. I reached out and felt Hayden’s forehead first.
“Mmm.”
Hayden rolled his body closer to me, burrowing into my embrace. I stroked his bare back, grateful that the fever that had tormented the child for so long had finally broken.
Cradling Hayden in my arms, I let my gaze drift. Cherez lay sleeping peacefully nearby.
It was hard to believe this was the same man who had kissed me so passionately yesterday. Even harder to believe was the fact that Cherez was being consumed by the Demon Lord.
I reached out and took Cherez’s hand, interlacing my fingers with his calloused, weathered palm. I threaded my fingers between the gaps of his hand and held my breath.
What did he think about most of the time? What voices echoed in his mind? Did they torment him? Did they cause him pain?
I was consumed by curiosity. Hayden had said it was agonizing. That the darkness drawn from the depths of that child had gnawed away at him.
“…Are you alright? You’re not suffering, are you?”
Did my whisper reach Cherez? His eyes opened languidly, unfocused crimson eyes turning toward me.
He smiled softly, then blinked slowly.
I held my breath and met his gaze. His eyes, nearly scarlet, were filled with warmth.
“Does it hurt?”
Cherez whispered, his voice fragmenting like scattered light.
“I love you…”
Then his hazy eyes closed again. As if he had whispered it from the edge of a dream. As if, even in that moment, he saw only me. As if, even in Cherez’s dreams, only I existed—so naturally, so inevitably. I felt tears threatening to spill.
My breath caught sharply in my chest.
Then I realized something: this was the first time a complete stranger had ever told me they loved me.
Of course, there had been before. Hayden had grown up nourished by my effort, devotion, and affection, a child brimming with love.
‘I love you, Roana.’
‘Hayden loves you this much, this much! So, so much!’
The love the child gave so freely and the love Cherez confessed were similar yet somehow different.
‘I love you, Roana.’
My world collapsed inward.
It felt as though the gravity of this world was anchoring me here. My breath caught and stilled. I realized I had been bound to him by love.
And I, too.
“…I love you, Cherez.”
I had to acknowledge the truth: I was in love with him. That Cherez already filled my entire heart.
The emotion I had thought had faded and dimmed when he left now blazed forth brilliantly. The scorching heat and feeling threatened to consume me entirely.
I could no longer imagine a life without him.
He had saved me so effortlessly, drawn me out into the world, and given me family for the first time.
This was something Cherez had to take responsibility for.
I gripped Cherez’s hand tightly. Just as a chick recognizes its mother upon hatching, I recognized him. It was none other than Cherez who had made me feel this way, who had made me fear being alone.
“Take responsibility, Cherez.”
I murmured softly.
“Never. You can never die.”
Even the end of this world would not be as devastating as your death. So for my sake, I must keep Cherez alive at any cost.

* * *
By early morning, Hayden’s fever had broken entirely.
“Heh.”
Hayden’s eyes met mine, and he grinned. Draped across Cherez, he lifted his head, and his smile seemed to melt away every worry I carried.
Cherez’s eyes fluttered open, and he pulled Hayden close before rolling across the bed with him.
“No, Cherez! It hurts!”
Hayden pushed Cherez away, then burst into delighted laughter. His short hair bobbed adorably with the movement. He poked Cherez’s cheek with his finger.
“Are you all better now?”
“Hayden not hurt.”
“Then should we go out today? Will you come outside with me?”
I had errands to attend to today, but the thought of leaving Hayden alone weighed on me. When he was ill, he clung to me like glue. Even with his fever gone, I couldn’t afford to be careless.
Hayden nodded eagerly, then scrambled up onto Cherez’s body with newfound energy.
“What about you, Cherez?”
Cherez blinked.
“Me?”
“What are you—”
“No! Just Roana and Hayden are going!”
Hayden pushed Cherez away and clung to me instead.
Cherez’s face turned incredulous. He swept his hair back and sat up, then propped his chin on his hand, studying Hayden with a mischievous glint in his eye.
“I don’t like that. I’m going too. If you don’t want me to, then you don’t go either.”
“No, no, no! Don’t be mean! Hayden is going! Don’t be mean!”
Hayden’s eyes widened, and he pouted at Cherez, who chuckled. He seemed to enjoy teasing the boy. Hayden stamped his feet.
“Hayden and Roana will go together! We’ll go buy something to eat!”
“With what money? I’m not giving you any.”
“M-money?”
Hayden’s eyes went round. He looked back and forth between Cherez and me.
Cherez was visibly struggling to suppress his laughter.
“Roana…”
Hayden sniffled.
“Hayden has no money…”
“What about the money I gave you before?”
“Um, um…?”
Hayden blinked. He was still too young to truly understand what money was or what value it held. I’d given him some coins once to teach him basic economics, but he’d simply handed them over to Robin.
“Money? Um, Hayden has money! Hayden will buy for you! Hayden will buy for Roana!”
I had no idea if he actually understood what money was. Hayden squirmed into my arms and whispered into my ear loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Where is Hayden’s money? Does Roana have it?”
Cherez finally couldn’t hold back. He buried his face in his hands as laughter shook through him, his broad shoulders trembling visibly.
I kissed Hayden’s plump cheek and said softly,
“I don’t have any either, sweetheart.”
“Oh no…”
Hayden muttered with a shocked expression on his face.
“Roana… I’m sorry… I don’t have any money… I can’t keep up with your spending…”
Hayden hung his head. This was maddening.
My dear boy’s pockets were apparently empty. I patted Hayden’s bottom reassuringly.
Hang in there, Hayden!

* * *
Today’s outing was for the sake of Countess Caslit.
Bereidan Knights were stationed throughout Countess Caslit’s Residence. For now, Hayden was touring the city district with Yureain.
Word of Count Sirion had surely already reached Countess Caslit. Exactly as I had intended.
Last night must have been long for Countess Caslit as well.
I wasn’t certain how she would interpret it, though.
Countess Caslit sat by the window. For someone under confinement, her posture was remarkably composed. An unwavering determination not to break seemed to radiate from her entire being.
“It’s been a while, Countess Caslit. You seem to have been managing well.”
“Indeed, Duchess. And you appear to be thriving as well.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
Countess Caslit regarded me with cold eyes.
“…You will hear nothing from me. Whatever lies that schemer Sirion has spouted, I am not like him.”
“Even if you were to die?”
I asked in a low voice.
“I intend to pin all these crimes on you. Once I cut you out, the Liansherus Society will crumble entirely, and your connections to the North will be severed as well.”
That was precisely why I had orchestrated this trap.
At my words, Countess Caslit laughed coldly. That laughter ended in a dry, parched rasp devoid of moisture.

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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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