The Husband I Thought Was Dead Has Returned - Chapter 6

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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 006
Moreover, after assigning a maid to observe Diane, I discovered she had never properly cared for Hayden. The boy had spent most of his time abandoned and alone. Even when she was with him, Diane occupied herself with her own pursuits and paid him no attention whatsoever.
The maid who had been watching Diane spoke with evident displeasure.
“The young master seems to be a strong child, Lady Yureain. He has essentially survived all this time on his own.”
That said everything. But such words would never penetrate the conscience of that shameless woman. I decided to speak in terms of statistics and hard numbers.
“Ten thousand Bek for dresses, thirty thousand Bek for jewelry, and another three thousand Bek for skincare treatments.”
I recited the figures with an expressionless face.
“Do you need me to continue?”
Diane lifted her face, her makeup completely streaked with tears.
“And your credentials—those were stolen from someone else. How long did you think you could deceive Bereidan?”
“Y-Your Ladyship.”
“Go to House Yotlrey and wait there. Punishment for you and House Yotlrey will be handed down shortly.”
I delivered the notification with glacial coldness.
House Yotlrey had recommended Diane as a nanny and had assisted in forging her credentials.
During the investigation, it became clear that House Yotlrey had been receiving financial benefits from sources of unknown origin all this time.
Most of the noble families in the Southern Region pledge their loyalty to the Bereidan Family, their liege lords.
And Bereidan pledges loyalty to the Emperor.
In the immediate sense, they had deceived House Bereidan; in the broader sense, they had deceived the Emperor himself. This matter could not possibly be overlooked.
Only then did Diane, finally grasping her predicament, break down in terrified tears.

* * *
Yureain, Butler Oliver, and First Aide Borgus gathered in one place.
Cherez looked them over and ran a hand across his face.
“I’m truly ashamed—I have no face to show you all.”
At Cherez’s cold words, all three lowered their heads.
Though Cherez’s words were self-recrimination, they were also directed at those who had failed to see through Diane’s deception until now.
“My apologies, Your Grace. I should have investigated this matter personally.”
“Have you identified all those involved?”
“We are currently investigating everyone who received even a single coin from Yotlrey.”
Borgus spoke with evident mortification.
“My apologies, Your Grace. We have also confirmed that another witness who vouched for the nanny’s identity has disappeared. He has not been seen in the Southern Region since providing his testimony.”
Yureain also lowered her head.
But Cherez understood well. This matter could not be blamed on them alone.
It was also my own failure. Had I not put the child in danger?
I must never allow such a thing to happen again.
That is why this gathering has been convened.
“We need a new nanny. But as for you all….”
Yureain had married but lost her husband early and had remained alone since. She had never raised a child.
Oliver and Borgus were married with children, but they were people far removed from the work of child-rearing.
Having been deceived once, I had no desire to employ anyone I could not trust implicitly.
What about Cherez?
He doesn’t even know how to hold a baby properly.
While pursuing Countess Yotlrey, I looked into new nanny candidates as well, but none seemed suitable.
Once burned, it was difficult to trust anyone. The candidates’ impressive credentials grated on me, and their backgrounds did too.
“I will continue searching for new candidates, Your Grace. This time I’ll investigate using my own resources without relying on recommendations.”
Borgus spoke with determination.
“But I’m not comfortable bringing in another stranger.”
Yureain spoke with a darkened expression. The wound of betrayal ran deep.
“There’s no guarantee such an incident won’t happen again, Your Grace. What if you looked for someone from within the household?”
“But madam, who else can we trust? Who knows how to deceive our eyes? We must be as cautious as possible.”
Borgus said.
“What do you think?”
Oliver hesitated before answering Cherez’s question.
“Perhaps you could ask the Duchess for help. Take your time finding the right person, but in the meantime, accept her assistance. After all, the Duchess was the first to notice the nanny’s treachery.”
“But she’s from Hejest.”
“Your point is well taken, Advisor. But are all people from Hejest the same? Consider how she treats the young master.”
At Oliver’s words, Cherez fell into thought.
Roana. Roana.
He recalled Roana lifting Hayden, covered in flour soup, into her arms.
She didn’t mind the food staining her dress—she held the child and skillfully patted his back, then wiped his face clean with a soft handkerchief.
Then she spoke to the baby in a playful, affectionate voice.
‘Do I look like your mama?’
‘Ma! Ma!’
‘Oh dear. We need to get you on proper baby food first. How are you even alive eating this?’
The finicky Hayden burst into laughter at Roana’s words, and she laughed helplessly in return.
Roana was clearly fond of Hayden. And Hayden was very, very fond of Roana.
She had never smiled at Cherez that way.
The child who cried whenever he saw Cherez clung to Roana and rubbed his drool-covered face against her chin—it was truly remarkable.
Could he find a better alternative than Roana right now?
“What’s the probability that Roana would seek an opportunity to harm Hayden?”
“She didn’t seem like the type to do such a thing.”
“I will watch her carefully.”
The Butler and Head Maid each added a word. Cherez also thought of Roana.
Though she was said to be from Hejest, Roana didn’t seem like a true Hejestian. A true Hejestian would have tried to kill Hayden, not care for him.
Moreover, Roana was essentially isolated here. Most Bereidan people were wary of her for coming from Hejest.
It would be even more difficult for Roana to build her own faction and harm Hayden.
Having considered all this, Cherez made his decision.
“I think it’s best to speak with Roana first. I’ll talk to her directly.”
“If you’re planning to do that, might I suggest asking the Duchess for one more thing?”
Yureain spoke carefully.
“It concerns House of Yotlrei. The Count passed away some time ago, you see. Rather than His Grace applying direct pressure against the Yotlrei family, it would appear more favorable to work through the Duchess.”
Among noblewomen, there existed an unspoken rule: such matters were to be resolved amongst themselves. Should Cherez intervene directly, he risked drawing criticism even if Countess Yotlrey bore the fault.
Countess Yotlrey had cultivated deep roots within Southern High Society. People were remarkably lenient toward a pitiable widow.
Yureain grasped this point as well.
“It would be wise to avoid unnecessary censure, would it not? Moreover, Countess Yotlrey has been active in Southern High Society for many years—she possesses considerable experience. In contrast….”
Yureain exhaled softly before continuing.
“Bereidan has lacked a mistress for quite some time now. During this vacancy, we have been effectively ostracized from Southern High Society. As a result, we have heard nothing of the rumors surrounding Diane. If we are not careful, we may face an attack from Southern High Society itself. It would be prudent to allow the Duchess to sway public opinion in the Southern Region.”
Regardless of the facts, it meant that House of Yotlrei could exploit public sentiment to garner sympathy.
Cherez clenched his teeth. Yureain’s observation was correct—it was precisely what he had been considering.

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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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