The Husband I Thought Was Dead Has Returned - Chapter 58

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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 058
Without thinking, I held my breath and looked up at him, when Hayden’s small fist struck my cheek.
“Ah.”
So much for romance.
Hayden had snapped me out of my reverie in an instant.
“Bwahahaha!”
I was deeply grateful for that.
Cherez’s gaze left me as he straightened my posture, then lifted Hayden from my arms into his own.
“You little troublemaker.”
“Whimper.”
Hayden, tears like chicken droppings rolling down his cheeks, had no idea what danger he’d just been in. Cherez rose to his feet and extended his hand to me. I was just about to grasp it and stand when—
“Ah!”
A sharp pain shot through my wrist. It must have been strained when I grabbed Hayden. The servants rushed over in a flurry. Even the Maid who had been sitting on the second floor hurried toward us, her face drained of all color as she fell to her knees on the floor.
“I’m s-so sorry, sir. Just for a moment, just for a moment I looked away….”
Cherez’s eyes turned cold.
“That moment nearly cost the child his life.”
“I’m s-so sorry. Truly, I’m so sorry.”
The Maid bowed her head, weeping.
The mere thought that Hayden had nearly died made my legs go weak.
Yureain rushed in.
Her face had gone pale as well—she must have heard the news. She took Hayden from Cherez’s arms and checked him over completely. Yureain’s eyes were wet with tears. This was the first time I’d seen her so undone.
“It’s my fault for stepping away… I should have been here.”
“I f-fell asleep… I didn’t know the young master would wake up in the meantime.”
The Maid spoke through her sobs.
“You need not come back tomorrow.”
Cherez spoke in a tightly controlled voice. If that was how he meant to settle it, I was truly relieved. The Maid nodded and fled the room as if escaping.
In the meantime, Hayden had already stopped crying and was playing with the lapels of Yureain’s dress. Had he really nearly died just moments ago?
I was already touching my wrist, which had begun to swell.
Cherez’s hand approached. He gently caressed my wrist before pressing it lightly.
“Tsk. The ligaments are stretched.”
“…How did you know that?”
“In war, such injuries are common. It will be inconvenient to use for a while.”
“It’s fine. It’s nothing.”
I tried to pull my wrist away, but Cherez wouldn’t let go. He ordered the servants gathered around us to fetch the Physician, and he didn’t release my wrist until we had climbed to the second floor and sat on the sofa in the small sunroom.

* * *
I fidgeted with the bandage the Physician had wrapped around my wrist. Perhaps because an expert had done it, it was secured remarkably tight and firm. He’d said it wasn’t broken, thankfully—just slightly stretched ligaments. Cherez’s diagnosis matched his.
Yureain took Hayden to his room, and the Physician left as well. Only Cherez and I remained in the Sunroom.
Cherez kept fussing over my wrist. I kept insisting I was fine. This really showed how soft-hearted he was.
“Cherez, Hayden is fine, I’m fine. Everything is fine. The Physician said it would heal completely in three weeks anyway.”
Cherez opened his mouth.
“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, Hayden would have….”
Cherez exhaled heavily. He seemed unwilling to imagine what came after.
“If there’s anything you want, tell me. I’ll do anything for you.”
“Anything I want?”
“Anything.”
Suddenly, I remembered what Yureain had mentioned.
The Spring Festival. She’d said it was the largest festival in the Southern Region. There was a traditional ceremony where lanterns were released on the river. Before the war broke out, everyone celebrated it together. So I spoke without filtering my thoughts.
“I want to go to the Spring Festival with you.”
Cherez looked at me.
“The festival?”
“Yes. I want to release a lantern on the Heremone River too.”
“…All right.”
“Really?”
“You asked me to do anything, didn’t you?”
Cherez nodded without hesitation. Wow, Cherez and the festival. My heart felt like it was dropping.
This shouldn’t happen. Even knowing how little time he has left, my heart keeps wavering. It was almost instinctual. How could I not fall for someone this handsome when he’s flirting with me like this?
“My wrist feels completely better!”
My wrist throbbed dully, but that’s how I felt. Cherez let out a hollow laugh.
It was a day when the Spring Festival was just a week away.

* * *
By afternoon, nets had been strung along every railing of the Mansion.
And the next day.
Cherez summoned the Physician so I could receive treatment for my wrist once a day. Truth be told, I didn’t think it was entirely necessary, but since Cherez insisted!
In fact, I didn’t mind the feeling of Cherez looking after me. Who could dislike someone caring for them that way? It was simply unfamiliar, since this was the first genuine attention I had ever received.
In the meantime, Countess Yotlrey arrived. She looked even thinner than when I’d seen her at the last tea party. Was this what happened to a person when they lost their place in Southern High Society? I’d heard she still hadn’t abandoned her ambitions. Today, I intended to provoke those very desires.
According to Yureain, Countess Yotlrey had been excluded from social gatherings lately and was falling behind on current fashions. Yureain said she was extremely sensitive about such things.
“When we met before….”
“Yes?”
Countess Yotlrey’s head snapped up in surprise. Confusion flickered in her wavering eyes. She must be troubled, remembering the time I had criticized her.
“…When I first attended your social gathering. The day I presented Diane before everyone to win the Bereidan Household’s favor.”
At those words, Countess Yotlrey flinched.
“Compared to that day, the Countess seems a bit behind on current fashions today. Your dress, your hairstyle—everything.”
To deceive them, I needed to appear as they did. Countess Yotlrey bristled.
“That applies to the Duchess as well! Even the dress you’re wearing now is so dull that one couldn’t tell which clothing shop it came from…!”
“That’s natural, since I’m caring for Hayden. I deliberately choose to wear such clothes. But isn’t what the Countess has managed, even at her best, merely that level? There’s a difference between me, unadorned, and you, adorned.”
At my words, Countess Yotlrey’s eyes widened.
“My dressing room is in an entirely different class from the Countess’s. Was I not presentable recently? At Countess Caslit’s gathering. I’m certain I was.”
I took a gamble, trusting Yureain’s judgment. Fortunately, it seemed to work, as she had no retort. Sigh. I really wasn’t suited for this sort of thing.
“That, that is…!”
“Understandable, since you still haven’t managed to recover.”
“Duchess!”
“Of course, I didn’t summon you just to say such things. I’m seeking help. You see, Countess Caslit—I wish to grow closer to her, but I don’t know what she favors. Since Mother holds her in such regard, I feel I must become closer to her. Yet she keeps her distance. Lately, she seems to be keeping rather quiet. And I’ve noticed Countess Caslit’s influence is quite considerable.”
Yotlrey’s lips moved slightly.
“Of course, I’m not asking you to tell me outright. I’ll give you a dress from my dressing room. If the information is truly worthwhile.”
This was something I had already obtained permission for. The truly precious items had already been set aside, making such an offer possible. Countess Yotlrey hesitated for a moment, but eventually opened her mouth. After all, she was in a position where she had to grasp at even a rotten rope.

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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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