The Husband I Thought Was Dead Has Returned - Chapter 41

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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 041
At that very moment.
Dorote greeted Petunia as she returned to the Mansion.
“Did your errand go well?”
“Of course. What could possibly go wrong? Are the preparations for departure complete?”
“Everything is ready for you to leave whenever you wish tomorrow.”
“Good work.”
Linnen’s eyes darted back and forth between Petunia and Dorote as they spoke. Her lips pressed together tightly.
‘Leaving tomorrow? Isn’t that too soon? Oh no, I haven’t even finished buying all the sweets yet.’
Linnen pouted her lips. Still, she decided she should meet with Yureain one last time before departing to get more sweets and receive some money.
Linnen’s eyes rolled as she studied the two women.
“What about Morigan?”
“He hasn’t returned yet.”
“His work is running late. Tsk.”
Petunia exhaled with a weary expression.
“He should be back soon.”
“I suppose so.”
But that assumption proved wrong.
The sun had already begun to set beyond the windows, yet Morigan still hadn’t returned.
Petunia’s eyes narrowed. Morigan had never been late—not once.
Moreover, given that Bereidan had begun to directly pressure her, he would never leave her alone.
The world beyond the windows darkened. A maid entered to light the candles but left silently upon seeing Petunia’s expression.
Morigan still hadn’t returned. As the silence stretched longer, tension and dread filled the void.
Her chest grew cold. So this was the source of the unease she’d felt all day. Petunia’s nails scraped against the table.
“That filthy barbarian!”

* * *
The next day.
Just as Chloe had promised, Aisen’s carriage arrived. It was adorned with an excessive profusion of pink ribbons. What on earth was this gaudy princess carriage…?
I was appalled, but Chloe seemed immensely proud. I found myself worrying about Aisen’s aesthetic sensibilities.
I really didn’t want to ride in that carriage.
“Isn’t it beautiful? I don’t think there’s another carriage like this in the Southern Region. He’s letting you ride in it because you’re Roana!”
How could I refuse when looking at that face? Keeping Chloe as an ally was advantageous in more ways than one.
I reluctantly climbed aboard, and Chloe nodded with a satisfied expression.
This wasn’t going to be easy from the start.
Countess Caslit’s Tea Gathering was held at Caslit Mansion, situated slightly outside the Territory Center. There weren’t many attendees.
About thirteen, perhaps.
The moment Chloe arrived, the atmosphere shifted. It became lively.
“Hello, everyone! I’ve brought someone special today!”
She announced this while linking her arm through mine as we entered. Her shrill voice echoed through the quiet Tea Party Venue, and all eyes turned toward us.
“This is the Duchess of Bereidan. She’s my close friend!”
Close friend? I didn’t want to be called by such a chilling title! No, wait. We agreed to be allies.
Chloe moved without hesitation.
In the meantime, Countess Caslit approached, concealing her surprise. She appeared to be in her mid-forties. Though she wore a smile, her eyes remained cold. An unexpected guest seemed to displease her.
Countess Caslit’s gaze fixed upon me. Did she know as well? That the Duchess of Hejest intended to kill me.
Countess Caslit paused, then suddenly broke into a broad smile.
“My, the Duchess herself. What an honor. I thought you wouldn’t come since you didn’t respond to the invitation.”
“I apologize for the late notice. Chloe spoke so highly of this gathering. I came on her recommendation.”
“Not at all. You’re most welcome.”
Her words contradicted her expression. But she couldn’t very well turn away a Duchess at the door.
The moment Chloe settled into her seat, she began pouring out stories about her marriage. The ladies seated nearby offered appropriate responses. Whether they were genuinely interested or merely polite, Chloe didn’t seem to care.
She was a masterful attention-seeker.
While Chloe commanded everyone’s gaze, I surveyed the Tea Party Venue.
I found her.
A woman sitting alone at a corner table. Countess Yotlrey. She looked different from before.
Gaunt and thin, she kept watching everyone’s expressions.
From the way she stared so intently at Countess Caslit, there was clearly something between them.
Chloe was draining everyone’s energy in real time. No matter how I looked at it, they seemed like introverts.
Let her enjoy herself for now.
I rose from my seat and made my way toward Countess Yotlrey.
“May I sit beside you?”
Countess Yotlrey looked up. Her eyes widened when she saw me. She seemed to want to avoid me, turning her head slightly away.
“Oh, of course. Yes, certainly.”
I sat down beside Countess Yotlrey, who clearly wished to avoid me. Then, taking a sip of tea, I broached the subject naturally.
“You seem quite close with Countess Caslit.”
Countess Yotlrey’s gaze fell downward, fixing on her teacup.
“…Yes. We became acquainted when Countess Caslit moved to the Southern Region.”
Close friends don’t act like this. One person chases after the other in restless desperation, while the other deliberately ignores them. Isn’t that unrequited love to anyone with eyes?
It certainly seems like Countess Yotlrey is the one who’s been abandoned.
“This tea gathering is quite charming. Do you come often?”
“Yes, occasionally….”
“Do people from the North attend as well? I’ve heard quite a few have relocated to the Southern Region.”
The teacup clattered softly.
“…I’m not entirely sure.”
She didn’t seem uncertain at all. Countess Yotlrey was lying out of habit.
How should I phrase this to get her to open up? If our suspicions are correct, Countess Yotlrey is my mother’s subordinate. And it seems she’s been cast aside now, doesn’t she? Then naturally, she’d want to return to that circle. There must be a way to exploit that desire.
I could use her ambition.
Let me try this.
“What do you think Countess Caslit might be interested in these days? I was thinking of getting closer to her.”
Countess Yotlrey lifted her head. Her expression showed she hadn’t expected such a question from me.
“…Pardon?”
“People seem to keep forgetting that I’m the Duchess of Hejest’s daughter.”
Countess Yotlrey’s eyes changed. My suspicion that if she’d already been cast aside, she wouldn’t know about the Duchess of Hejest trying to kill me, seemed to have hit the mark.
The Duchess of Hejest’s daughter.
Those words alone shifted something in this woman’s mind.
I understood what that look in her eyes meant. Hope that she might be able to return to that circle after all.
Countess Yotlrey glanced around once. Chloe’s shrill laughter filled the tea party venue. No one was looking our way.
Chloe was an excellent distraction.
Since taking Chloe under my wing, this was the first time I’d felt grateful for her existence.
Countess Yotlrey leaned in close to me and spoke in a low voice.
“…Countess Caslit has been quite interested in the Temple lately.”
“The Temple?”
“Yes. She frequently does volunteer work with the Temple’s priests. Nearly every week. She seems more devoted to that than to these tea gatherings.”
Countess Yotlrey watched my expression carefully. Her eyes were checking whether this information would be useful to me. At the same time, they held the expectation that by sharing this, she too might gain something in return.
It wasn’t pitiable—it was pathetic. She’d played a part in starving and abusing Hayden, yet she still hadn’t reflected on it and was scheming to escape her situation. So this is what it means to be a villain.
“Thank you, Countess Yotlrey. This will certainly be helpful to me.”
I smiled.
There was no way Countess Caslit’s volunteer work could be pure.
“Good things will come your way, Madam.”
At my words, Countess Yotlrey’s face brightened. Let her torture herself with endless false hope.
The hope she sought from me was revolting.
I turned back to Chloe immediately. Her story had moved from the flowers Aisen sent to wedding bouquets. The eyes of the surrounding ladies were half-dead. The introverts had clearly been drained of all energy.
Tsk.
But I had no intention of rescuing them. The more Chloe chattered on, the longer this gathering lasted, the better it was for me. It would buy me more time.
I checked the time and nodded along with Chloe’s words.
“I’ve certainly heard much praise about what a wonderful person Aisen is. And all that thoughtfulness is directed at Chloe. So what was that love poem Aisen sent recently that you mentioned in the carriage? I’m sure everyone here would be curious to hear about it, Young Lady.”
“Oh my! How could I have forgotten that!”
I nodded as Chloe’s voice rose to an almost piercing pitch. You’re brilliant today, Chloe.

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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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