The Husband I Thought Was Dead Has Returned - Chapter 46

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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 046
Of course, what came after was far from easy. The greatest obstacle turned out to be socks. The moment I slipped soft silk socks onto Hayden, he grimaced and wriggled his toes until they came flying off. Then, to my horror, I watched him snatch them up and shove them straight into his mouth.
“No! Those aren’t food! Hayden!”
When I tried to take the socks away, Hayden’s bottom wiggled as he scurried away on all fours with surprising speed. I rushed after him and scooped him up into my arms. I was going to lose my mind—truly!
While I held Hayden, Yureain swiftly pulled the socks back on. The final hurdle came in the form of stiff leather shoes. The moment they touched his feet, Hayden thrashed about trying to kick them off. He lost his balance and landed hard on his bottom.
“Waaaaah!”
The child’s wails, Yureain’s sighs, and my own ragged breathing mingled together.
“…Let’s put the shoes on later. We can put them on in the carriage instead. Doesn’t that sound good, Hayden?”
After that exhausting battle, both Yureain and I were completely drained. Yet Hayden, whether he’d found the whole ordeal entertaining or simply expended all his energy, contentedly drank his morning milk and drifted peacefully into an early nap.
“…I’m already exhausted, and I haven’t even prepared myself yet.”
Yureain smiled with the expression of someone whose soul had departed her body.
I managed to finish getting myself ready only while Hayden slept. Going out with children really isn’t a simple affair, is it?

* * *
I barely made it on time, carrying Hayden down to the lobby.
A crisp white shirt beneath a neat navy vest, and adorable leather shoes. Hayden, drowsy from his nap and nestled in my arms with a dazed expression, looked like a little angel descended from heaven itself. When you see him like this, there’s no sweeter child in the world.
Borgus, who had been waiting in the lobby, immediately pressed his handkerchief to his eyes upon seeing Hayden. Really, he was far more sentimental than I’d expected.
At that moment, Cherez, who had been waiting at the far end of the lobby, slowly approached us. His usually sharp eyes shimmered with an unusual tenderness today.
He gazed intently at Hayden. Or rather, it seemed he was searching for someone beyond Hayden’s face.
Cherez gently touched Hayden’s small hand and murmured something so quietly that only I could hear.
“…He resembles his brother.”
“Mm.”
Hayden shook his head and pushed Cherez away.
“No no!”
Cherez smiled bitterly. Through the child, he was seeing someone he missed dearly.
It was the first time since arriving at this mansion that Cherez had spoken of his brother. The deep longing and sense of responsibility in his voice made my heart ache. He was always doing his utmost to protect the most precious treasure his brother had left behind.
I gently placed my hand over the back of Cherez’s hand.
“Hayden really is handsome, isn’t he?”
Cherez nodded at my playful remark.
I squeezed his hand and shook it gently. Stay strong, Cherez!
“Pah! Pah!”
Hayden, now fully awake in my arms, lightened the mood. He beamed brightly at Cherez. Then, twisting and squirming about, he managed to slip off his shoe and bring it to his mouth, prompting me to let out a short shriek. I stopped Cherez from snatching it away and held out my own hand instead.
“Please give it to me!”
“No!”
“Please give it to me!”
Hayden’s eyes widened as he placed the shoe in my palm. I swallowed a sigh and spoke.
“Thank you. You did very well.”
“No no!”
Hayden patted my shoulder. Watching this, Cherez seemed to have cast aside his earlier emotion entirely as he muttered.
“…Just who does that brat take after to be so willful?”
“Well, it certainly won’t be me.”
Cherez let out a low chuckle.
“I see.”
“Let’s depart soon. The carriage ride and scenery might not be so bad after all.”
Cherez nodded. As he stepped outside, he caught sight of the carriage piled high with luggage and muttered with a look of exhaustion.
“What is all this?”
“Hayden’s spare clothes, Hayden’s baby food, snacks for Hayden to eat, Hayden’s diapers, toys for Hayden to play with, books to read, a blanket for his naps, and—oh! Yureain, the baby carriage!”
I counted on my fingers while calling out toward the still-open door. Yureain nodded in acknowledgment.
“…Is there more?”
“Going out with children is always like this, Cherez. You’ll have to get used to it. And prepare yourself mentally as well.”
Cherez stared blankly at Hayden, who was wiggling his bottom as he grasped the carriage door handle and pulled himself up. That child will definitely open it. I smiled faintly as I spoke.
“If we want to arrive alive, we’ll need to keep a close eye on Hayden.”
Cherez pressed his forehead with his hand.

* * *
Why was the wedding venue so far away?
Chloe had always dreamed of having a wedding by the lakeside, and Aisen fulfilled every one of her wishes.
As a result, it took two hours just to reach the wedding venue. Hayden, tired from playing, dozed off cradled in my arms. While the child sucked on his teething ring, silence settled over the carriage interior.
Then I noticed something I hadn’t seen before—Cherez himself. Sitting across from me, Cherez emanated an atmosphere entirely different from his usual demeanor.
Today, Cherez had shed his customary black attire and donned the formal ceremonial robes of House Bereidan, complemented by a deep navy coat.
Silver embroidery cascading across his shoulders and medals adorning his chest gleamed as if proclaiming him the ruler of the Southern Region. That cool navy, contrasting with his dark hair, made Cherez’s sharp, refined features all the more striking.
Wow, really.
When a handsome person deliberately dresses up, this is the kind of devastating effect they create. Even when reading the original work, the descriptions were vivid, but this transcended what text could capture.
“…Roana? Your face is flushed. Are you unwell?”
At Cherez’s indifferent voice, I startled and shook my head.
“No. I think I applied blush a bit too heavily.”
I answered in a small voice and laughed awkwardly. He just had to be so handsome and stir people up like this.
To divert Cherez’s attention, I adjusted Hayden in my arms.
The sleeping baby stirred and half-woke. The child rested his head against my chest and blinked his eyes. Hayden wound the ribbon attached to my dress around his finger and began playing with it. I swallowed hard while patting the child’s back.
“Dada dada.”
His babbling was weaker than before.
Just as I was trying to completely redirect my gaze from Cherez and focus my attention on Hayden’s chubby cheeks—
“Yelp!”
Hayden pulled hard on my dress ribbon, and at that same moment, the front panel of my dress slipped down helplessly.
“Dada!”
At my cry, Hayden, fully awake now, lifted his head, and I pulled the child as tightly against me as I could. Then I turned my gaze toward Cherez. It had been only three minutes since I’d decided not to look at him. Cherez’s eyes were wide open, staring at me.
I was reflected in those eyes.
“…You saw, didn’t you? You just saw!”
“I didn’t—I didn’t see!”
Cherez’s face flushed as he waved his hands in denial, shaking his head. His voice trembled, entirely unlike him.
“D-d-d-d-d!”
“I saw it all!”
“No, I really didn’t see it!”
Ah, seriously!
How could you not see it? It was right in front of us!

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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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