The Husband I Thought Was Dead Has Returned - Chapter 26

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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 026
I pushed Hayden in his pram through the garden.
Lately, this child had begun absorbing words at a terrifyingly rapid pace. It started last week when he said “kko,” but now he was pronouncing “nyappi” and “ppanya.”
Today brought its own harvest.
“Kyuin!”
“Hmm? What did you say?”
“Kyuin! Kyuin!”
He stretched both arms from the pram, flailing about. Those bright, eager eyes fixed on me. Wait. Could it be…
“Madam? Did you say madam?”
Hayden burst into delighted laughter, pointing at me and crying out repeatedly.
“Kyuin, kyuin!”
He managed it. My son is undoubtedly a genius. Back then, my cousins never called me by my name—they called me “hey” or “you” instead.
They simply mimicked how the household members addressed me.
In that moment, my eyes grew hot.
What? A stranger’s child is better than blood relatives? Is this right? Hayden was merely my stepson in this borrowed body, yet my chest swelled with emotion.
And then melancholy washed over me again.
I would be gone in six months. There would be no place for me in this child’s future.
This child would have to survive without a proper guardian. That could never be easy.
“…You did so well, Hayden. You really did so well.”
Still, I smiled as brightly as I could manage. Hayden waved his hand as a bird took flight from among the garden shrubs.
“Byeyde! Ppabababa!”
When I walked back to Yureain’s side, her face was radiant with emotion.
“At this rate, Young Master might be speaking in full sentences before he turns two. He’s truly remarkable, truly impressive.”
Yureain cupped Hayden’s cheeks in both hands, marveling continuously. Hayden grasped her fingers and tried to put them in his mouth.
I asked Yureain casually.
“Yureain, what will happen to the maidservant position once Chloe leaves?”
Yureain withdrew her finger from Hayden’s grip and answered.
“Sir Borgus will recruit someone new. However, he mentioned that rather than a maidservant, he needs someone to serve as the Duchess’s assistant, so the selection criteria will be somewhat different from before.”
“I see.”
I hoped this time it would be someone normal.
An empty maidservant position meant one fewer pair of eyes watching me. Chloe had been more of a nuisance than a true spy, but still, having someone constantly at my side had always been inconvenient.
It would be nice if the new person could become someone on my side.

* * *
Dinner time.
Lately, I’ve developed a habit of arriving at the Dining Hall before Cherez and settling in. At first, I came early and left quickly, reluctant to waste time on meals. But somewhere along the way, I began to cherish these moments—simply sitting here, gazing out the window.
Cherez entered the Dining Hall.
He looked no different than usual. His black hair swept back, his appearance impeccably neat. And his features remained unchanged. He truly was devastatingly handsome. The world would suffer an immeasurable loss if Cherez were to die.
Yet for some reason, today as Cherez took his seat, he glanced at me once more. Just a fleeting moment.
What was that?
“What’s wrong? Do I have something on my face?”
“…No.”
Cherez turned his head away and picked up his fork.
As I touched my face, Hayden came to mind. By now, he was likely playing with toys alongside Yureain.
“Hayden has been learning so many new words lately.”
I steered the conversation in a new direction. I’d noticed that when I spoke about Hayden, something shifted in his eyes.
“Today he said ‘madam.’ Yureain was absolutely delighted.”
Cherez paused mid-bite and looked at me.
“Hayden’s capabilities are expanding steadily. What do you think of his progress?”
“I think he’s developing wonderfully.”
There don’t seem to be any developmental concerns.
“Once the weather warms, he’ll shoot up in height. Babies tend to stay curled up in the cold, after all. Soon he’ll be walking, and before long he’ll be running. It’ll be quite chaotic.”
At my words, Cherez smiled faintly. Then he added:
“…How are you doing these days?”
My eyes widened involuntarily.
This was the first time Cherez had asked about me. These days, he said. Perhaps I should be honest.
“Me? It’s heaven now that Chloe isn’t around.”
Cherez let out a soft laugh.
His guard had slipped—his lips curved naturally upward, fine lines crinkling at the corners of his eyes. He truly had a beautiful smile.
My heart skipped.
“…That’s fortunate.”
Cherez returned to his expressionless face and refocused on his meal, as if nothing had happened.
I picked up my spoon as well. But that smile lingered in my mind, refusing to fade.
Cherez began to linger longer in the Dining Hall.
Previously, he would eat and leave immediately. Now he stayed for dessert. Sometimes he even ordered another cup of tea. During those moments, we exchanged small talk about Hayden or the weather.
But there had been none of that before. This meant I had become more comfortable, didn’t it?
When I spent time with him, I often felt a flutter of excitement, a lightness in my chest. How could anyone dislike sharing a meal and tea across from such a handsome man?
It was also gratifying to see Cherez at ease. If my presence contributed to his happiness, I would be even more pleased.
This man will die.
He will die on the Battlefield.
The fact that this reality cannot be changed in any way truly broke my heart.

* * *
Sir Borgus entered Cherez’s study.
Today’s report contained two main points: one regarding Chloe’s marriage arrangements, and the other far more weighty news.
“Miss Chloe and Prince Aisen’s marriage is proceeding smoothly. Both the Maleight Family and the Oyster Family are favorable to the union. The marriage will likely be officially announced as early as next month. Additionally, the contract for his position as branch director has been finalized without issue.”
Cherez nodded.
In truth, Sir Borgus had never imagined Roana would resolve matters in such a manner.
Yet he had to admit it was characteristic of Hejest. Hejest never confronted openly. They preferred to handle affairs quietly from behind the scenes. And they leaned more toward intellect than brute force.
Still, Roana differed from the typical Hejest.
Hejest was contemptible and unscrupulous, operating by the principle that anything was acceptable as long as it didn’t surface publicly. By contrast, Roana’s methods were… how to describe it? Remarkably romantic.
As if she dreamed of a happy ending for everyone.
It was like the ending of a fairy tale.
‘Is she truly someone to be trusted?’
Sir Borgus turned a page of documents to continue his report, then paused. Cherez noticed the silence and looked up.
“Is something wrong?”
Sir Borgus spoke. His voice was slightly lower than usual.
“The Duchess’s methods have proven undeniably effective.”
Cherez met Sir Borgus’s gaze. The weight behind those words was far from trivial. Sir Borgus trusted people even less than Cherez did.
“I cannot deny it.”
This was the first time Sir Borgus had directly acknowledged Roana.
“However, her bloodline as a member of Hejest remains unchanged.”
Cherez’s eyes narrowed. This was no mere caution. It signaled that new information would follow.
“The Duchess of Hejest is expected to visit the Southern Region soon.”
Cherez’s expression hardened.
“What is the official reason?”
“She wishes to see her daughter who married into this family, or so they claim.”
A faint mockery tinged Sir Borgus’s voice. Neither of them was naive enough to take such reasons at face value.
“When?”
“She is expected to arrive in approximately two weeks. I cannot say whether the Duchess is aware of this information.”
Sir Borgus spoke with skepticism.
“I am curious to see what reaction the Duchess will have.”

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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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