The Husband I Thought Was Dead Has Returned - Chapter 30

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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 030
The following afternoon.
Tea was prepared in the Reception Room. At Mother’s request.
Mother still hadn’t emerged from the Annex Building all morning, doing who knows what. Thanks to that, I was able to spend time comfortably with Hayden.
Yureain said she would try to bribe someone suitable. I wonder how that’s progressing.
We had our people stationed throughout the Annex Building, but only those I’d brought with me could enter the Duchess’s Bedroom.
I stole a glance at the Duchess’s face.
Unlike yesterday, her smile had vanished.
The Duchess lifted her teacup, took a sip, and set it down.
“I want to hear the story you failed to tell me properly yesterday, Roana. What was your reason for sending Tanya away on your own authority?”
I met Mother’s gaze directly.
The fear was gradually fading. The sharp eyes, the serpentine gaze fixed upon me—
All the things that had made me see myself as merely a tool in her hands.
These were all things that had frightened me before, but now there was no reason to fear them, Roana.
In terms of status, I was equal to the Duchess of Hejest. If we considered our birth rank, I actually stood higher. I was born as the daughter of a Duke, while the Duchess of Hejest was the daughter of a Count.
I was no longer part of House Hejest, and behind me stood Bereidan.
Unbelievably, that was true.
Cherez had willingly said he would lend me his strength.
“If a maid from House Hejest remained at Bereidan’s side, it would raise suspicion and hinder gaining the Duke’s trust.”
“Trust?”
The Duchess’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“So that barbarian from Bereidan does coddle you like your mother does.”
“I did whatever was necessary to survive. Wasn’t that what you wanted, Mother?”
I intended to neither reject the Duchess while she remained here, but rather to discover her true intentions if possible.
That’s what I had agreed upon with Cherez as well.
Since even a small misstep could raise suspicion, I was sharing even the smallest details.
“And you replaced the Nanny as well?”
“I had to take that position myself. I simply believed it was the best way to gain access to the child.”
The Duchess set down her teacup. The small sound of porcelain striking the saucer echoed through the quiet Reception Room.
“You’ve changed quite a bit.”
Tension seized me, and I swallowed.
The Duchess laughed. But there was no pleasure in that laughter.
“When did you become so eloquent, Roana?”
The Duchess gazed at me quietly. Steam rose slowly from the teacup. In the silence, I did not avert my gaze. To do so would invite suspicion.
“You said you would let me see that child today. Let me see him now.”
She was deliberately pressing the matter of Hayden.
“Is there a reason you wish to see him? Actually, the Duke of Bereidan hasn’t given his permission.”
I spoke as though troubled. Cherez had said I could use him as a shield however I saw fit.
“That man? So his orders come before mine to you?”
“The child is under Cherez’s care. Tell me your purpose. I’ll act accordingly based on that purpose.”
The Duchess sighed.
“How foolish. Are you truly certain that child carries the blood of the Bereidan Duchy? And even if she does, couldn’t you simply make it so that she doesn’t?”
A chill of fury emanated from the way she sipped her cold tea.
“If you bear a child, that child must inherit the Bereidan Duchy. Perhaps that’s the easiest way to seize the Southern Region, wouldn’t you say? Simply bear a child.”
“…What do you intend to do about Hayden?”
The Duchess smiled thinly.
“That will be decided after I see the child.”
A chill ran down my spine. In that moment, I suddenly understood—the dark hand that had hindered Hayden’s growth might very well belong to House Hejest.
“Bring that child to me in secret. It needn’t be for long. I only need to see her face.”
My heart raced.
What would be the wisest course?
Perhaps it would be better to show her the child’s face and then investigate what came after. Surely, even if I did, she couldn’t harm Hayden within these walls. I answered quietly.
“I’ll arrange an opportunity, watching the Duke of Bereidan’s mood.”
“Do so.”
The Duchess finished her tea with elegant grace and set down the empty cup.
“Roana.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“I see you’re adapting well here. With Tanya, with the Nanny—you’ve made your own judgments. I acknowledge that. But that is separate from your duty as a daughter of House Hejest.”
Only the two of us occupied this space. The Duchess’s voice dropped to something unnaturally low.
Was this the true purpose?
“The military strength of Bereidan. Troop numbers, deployment positions, vulnerable points in the Southern Barrier.”
My heart stopped for a moment.
“And discover whether there are any Vassal Houses harboring discontent toward Bereidan. When spring arrives, a full assembly will be held. I would like you to attend that gathering.”
My grip tightened on the teacup. I tensed the muscles of my face to keep my expression from wavering.
“You live comfortably here because House Hejest permits it. Your father can send another daughter to take your place whenever he wishes. To this very position.”
My insides turned to ice.
She meant to drag me out of Bereidan. And House Hejest would never tolerate a daughter who resisted.
“Will Bereidan protect you? A daughter of House Hejest? What good is a fleeting attraction from a Bereidan savage? And besides, that Bereidan husband is the Emperor’s sword. Soon the seal will break, and monsters will flood the land.”
The Duchess laughed coldly.
“How long do you think you’ll remain here?”
Behind the Duchess’s words, I heard the words that Roana of the past had once heard.
‘Become an obedient dog. Then perhaps you’ll gain something in the future.’
The name “daughter of House Hejest” was no shield. It was a shackle. A leash that House Hejest could hold and shake. This identity I had not chosen became a noose tightening around my neck.
“…Please give me time.”
“A fortnight should suffice. I wish to hear the results before I depart. Now that you have work to do, move with purpose.”
The Duchess rose from her seat and looked down at me.
“Judge wisely, Roana.”
The Duchess turned and moved toward the door. The sound of fur brushing against fabric rang out loudly.
“And do lose more weight. You look positively dreadful. And your clothes—does that Bereidan husband spare no expense for you? That itself shows how little he truly values you. Face reality, Roana. See how that Bereidan husband really thinks of you!”
The Duchess left the Reception Room. She still believed she could measure and manipulate my life.
I clenched my fist so hard my nails dug into my palm.
Right now, I had only two choices.
First: hand over the information to Hejest. Betray Bereidan, betray Cherez, and become the Duchess of Hejest’s puppet. According to her, Cherez would leave soon and never return.
Second: tell Cherez. What could I gain from this? Trust? Or something far more dangerous?
But the answer was already decided.
Living in Hejest, treated as less than human, was far worse than Bereidan.
Far worse.
I set the teacup down on the table. The tea had already gone cold. I hadn’t taken a single sip. It stood in stark contrast to the Duchess’s empty cup.
“God, this is driving me insane.”
I rubbed my cheek.
The original Roana would have handed over all the information without hesitation. My heart was still pounding.
Touching military secrets?
There were less than five months left before war broke out.
Sometimes an enemy within is more terrifying than an enemy without. My fingertips trembled faintly.
War with the demons was an inevitable calamity that struck once a year without fail.
The Three Knights, who had built the Empire by driving chaos from this land, had used the power of five sacred relics to seal the demons away in the Otherworld.
When the crimson moon rose in early summer, the relics’ power weakened—that time was called the Otherworld Night.
During that period, the seals on the relics broke and the demons poured back into this world.
The battles lasted until the crimson moon set—massive events that took anywhere from a week to three months.
And this war was different from before. It would rage for seven years.
I bit my lip hard.
The reason the war lasted seven years was because one of the sacred relics had been completely destroyed.
If Hejest had been involved in that war…
Cold sweat ran down my back.
It meant the original Roana might have been connected to Cherez’s death.

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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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