The Husband I Thought Was Dead Has Returned - Chapter 125

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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 125
The thing in his mind eroded Cherez day after day. The only times it grew docile were when blood was spilled or when Cherez stood beside Roana. It reacted with acute sensitivity to Cherez’s emotions, and seemed to experience most of what he felt.
The crushing headache would fade and his situation assessment would become clear only in those moments.
Cherez was acutely aware that it was progressively consuming him.
He seized the brief windows when it grew quiet to think repeatedly.
And he reached one conclusion.
It feared exposure. It seemed desperate that Roana not discover its true nature.
‘If that woman learns about me, she’ll find you repulsive. She might want to leave immediately. She’s intelligent—she might even try to kill you.’
After a full night’s restful sleep in Roana’s embrace, his mind cleared like the dawn breaking over the horizon.
Cherez gazed at Roana’s sleeping face.
Even now, it remained silent.
‘…It fears Roana.’
But why, exactly?
He felt certain the answer lay there.
Cherez gently traced his fingers across Roana’s soft cheek. Sometimes touching her terrified him. He feared that something monstrous within him might contaminate her.
And so he dared not cross that line.
If the day ever came when he held Roana, he prayed it would be by Cherez’s will alone.
Cherez despised even the thought of its desires mingling with his own. Roana was sacred ground to him.
He feared she would abandon him and leave, feared she would notice the thing clinging to him.
Just as it feared Roana, so too did Cherez fear her.
She must never know what a pathetic coward he truly was.
“How contemptible and craven.”
Cherez’s crimson eyes flickered. He needed to find a way to expel the thing from his mind. A desire took root—to stand with even a shred of confidence before Roana.
His heart flipped like a palm a dozen times each day, and at the end of every reversal stood Roana. He would think he should die for her, yet the moment he beheld her like this, an endless hunger to live consumed him.
Before the Demon Lord could rampage again, Cherez rose to his feet.

* * *
It was early morning, but Borgus found Cherez’s gaze upon him oddly unwelcome.
The cruelty that had chilled his spine had faded somewhat from those eyes. Borgus felt tears threatening to spill.
“Your Excellency, I heard you’ve been found.”
He spoke, concealing that emotion.
“…Listen carefully to what I’m about to say, Borgus.”
Cherez opened his mouth quietly. If the Demon Lord feared being discovered.
“Something that shouldn’t have entered my mind has done so. I may have achieved physical victory in my battle with the Demon Lord, but it seems I haven’t achieved spiritual victory yet.”
Borgus’s eyes widened.
He had carefully suspected this truth all along, and now he was hearing it confirmed from the man himself.
Borgus swallowed hard. If he was aware of his condition and possessed the will to correct it…!
He thought he should inform the Duchess immediately.
“I will help you, Your Excellency! I can do anything for you!”
It was the moment Borgus was about to mention that the Duchess was already taking action.
“Don’t say a word to Roana.”
“…Pardon?”
“I don’t want to burden Roana any further. I don’t want to see her suffering because of me. I will resolve this matter myself. Until then, I’d appreciate your discretion.”
“…Yes?”
Borgus blinked.
That was….
“I’m telling you to keep this secret from Roana. Is my meaning unclear? Or is maintaining secrecy difficult for you?”
That wasn’t it at all. No, this was a situation where secrecy couldn’t be kept?
Borgus concealed his confusion and closed his mouth. For now, yes.
‘I should hear him out.’
Cherez seemed confused enough as it was.
“No, Your Excellency. I will correct myself. I will follow your orders.”
“Sigh.”
Cherez ran a hand through his hair.
“I need to search through the Temple records.”
That was already being done. Because Roana had wished for it.
He was planning to gain access to the Record Room by obtaining authority from the current High Priest of the Southern Region. And this afternoon, Roana had scheduled a visit to the Record Room.
“Yes, I will do so. If we find relevant information, I will report it to you immediately, Your Excellency.”
“And I should search through the Bereidan Household records as well. I need to know if any of my ancestors suffered from the same condition.”
That too… was already being done. He knew that Yureain, Linnen, and Roana were searching through the Library and Bereidan Household records whenever they had time. Even if they hadn’t achieved any significant results yet.
“I understand this will be difficult in many ways, Borgus. And there’s one more thing I need to ask of you.”
At that moment, the atmosphere in the Study grew heavier.
Borgus listened to Cherez’s words in silence, and at some point his expression grew cold.
But Cherez’s expression was heavier and colder than his, leaving him unable to speak.
Borgus answered as if reciting.
“I will do so, Your Excellency.”
“I’ll say it again—all of this must proceed without Roana’s involvement.”
“Yes, Your Grace. I shall remain your loyal servant for all eternity.”
Cherez nodded with a faint sigh.
Watching his face bathed in the light of dawn, my heart trembled. Borgus clenched his lips tightly.
‘…I must go to the Duchess the moment daylight breaks…!’

* * *
“So Cherez admitted that something is wrong with him?”
“Yes, that is correct. And he said we should verify the Temple records and the Bereidan Household records, and he showed the will to drive that creature from his mind.”
I exhaled slowly.
To acknowledge an illness and accept it while simultaneously possessing the will to overcome it—isn’t that the first step toward recovery? Assuming this is indeed an illness.
Cherez had safely passed the first hurdle. I had wondered how I could possibly tell him that something strange seemed to be lodged in his mind.
Fortunately, it seemed that wouldn’t be necessary.
“…Still, that’s a relief.”
“However, Duchess.”
Borgus exhaled heavily, his expression grave.
“It appears His Grace may be considering mutual destruction with that creature.”
“What!”
I shot to my feet.
“No, wait. How did I not think of that?”
I paced the same spot, my hand pressed to my forehead. Given Cherez’s nature, it was entirely plausible.
If what they said about Hayden destroying the world was true, then Cherez would have chosen self-destruction before that moment came. His sense of responsibility and willpower were not easily broken.
I clenched my teeth. If the original Hayden was someone who pursued survival, Cherez was someone who prioritized the survival of others. At least, that was how I saw him.
“It wouldn’t be an unusual choice for Cherez.”
“…What do we do now, Duchess?”
“Observe Cherez closely. And if he seems to be entertaining such thoughts, we must restrain him by force if necessary.”
“And he seemed to want to keep all of this secret from you, Duchess. He said he doesn’t want to cause you any more worry.”
At those words, I fixed Borgus with a steady gaze.
“…And what did you tell him?”
“Of course, I said I would do as he wished.”
Borgus answered with a straightforward expression.
“Ah.”
So that’s why you came straight here.
I glanced at the clock, which was just approaching nine.
It seemed I had acquired quite an exceptional loyal servant in Cherez.

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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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