The Husband I Thought Was Dead Has Returned - Chapter 8

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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 008
But Roana was different from them, or so they said.
Incredibly, Cherez found himself forced to acknowledge their point to some degree. Watching Roana smile so radiantly now, he couldn’t deny it.
“I’m not sure who should be thanking whom. I’m truly grateful that you’ve agreed to look after Hayden. It’s a relief to know he’ll be in good hands. And there’s one more thing I’d like to ask of you.”
“Please, just tell me what it is.”
Roana clenched her fists and spoke with absolute sincerity. Becoming someone essential to Bereidan—that was truly something to welcome.
My small heart was racing with anticipation.
Cherez, meanwhile, found himself struggling to speak. This was an utterly shameless request.
“…I would appreciate it if you, as the Duchess, would meet with Countess Yotlrey.”
“Countess Yotlrey…?”
“Yes. She’s the one who recommended the Nanny to us in the first place. She forged her credentials, covered for her, and embezzled funds together with her.”
Roana swallowed hard.
I knew about Countess Yotlrey. In the original story, she had driven out the Head Maid and the Butler, taking control of the castle’s administration. Using her position, she had persecuted Hayden and gradually brought the family to ruin.
With the embezzled funds, she had purchased grand estates and villas. She had even started businesses in her sons’ names.
‘Wait. The Nanny was connected to her to that extent?’
Roana drew a sharp breath. I had tried to avoid interfering with the original story as much as possible, but it seemed I had already destroyed it.
I had severed the limbs of Yotlrey, one of the early villains, and rescued Hayden from her grasp.
‘Is this even acceptable?’
My sense of justice seemed to have caused trouble. The anxiety was undeniable.
‘I don’t know about now, but what about six months from now? Who will care for Hayden then?’
Roana bit her lip slightly.
‘This mansion will become infested with rat-like traitors.’
Those who had been loyal would all leave or die. And what remained would be nothing but sycophants. And Cherez too… would die. No one could predict what kind of impact the variable I had created would have on Hayden in the future.
“Why does your expression look like that? Do you know something about Countess Yotlrey? Or perhaps… do you have some connection to her?”
A hint of suspicion crossed Cherez’s face.
I had never believed I had earned Cherez’s unconditional trust. There were things Hejest had done in the meantime.
And though Cherez didn’t know it yet… I exhaled deeply within myself.
‘Hejest truly deserves to die.’
In any case, that would be revealed in time. What mattered now was overcoming the immediate crisis.
Roana answered at an appropriate pace, and with complete honesty.
“No. I simply thought she was a terrible person. The fact that you hired the Nanny on Countess Yotlrey’s recommendation meant you trusted her judgment that much.”
Cherez stared at Roana with a stunned expression. He had never expected her to say such a thing.
“….”
“I’m upset that you were betrayed. Neither you nor Hayden deserve such treatment. The way trust was repaid with such betrayal…. How can people do such things?”
Roana clicked her tongue in frustration.
This was genuine. The roots of betrayal ran so deep. In the original story, the Nanny would never have been dismissed. That’s how Countess Yotlrey had been able to seize control of the castle.
The Nanny would have continued to abuse and neglect Hayden throughout his childhood in much the same way. There was good reason why Hayden came to view the world with such cynicism and doubt everything.
‘This is why childhood environment matters so much. I’m so confused. Did I do the right thing or the wrong thing?’
While Roana was lost in thought, Cherez was thinking something different.
‘She’s upset for me.’
Cherez had never considered things from that perspective. He had only blamed himself for being deceived by such people. Just because his Elder Brother and father had trusted them didn’t mean they deserved his loyalty.
What infuriated him was that to them, Cherez remained nothing more than an ignorant young master—nothing else.
He had reflected, thinking he’d done his best, only to realize it fell short.
But Roana simply said she felt sorry for him.
Yureain, Borgus, Oliver—none of their words had brought him comfort, yet Roana’s words did.
Whether it was because of her expression, or because Roana had no deep connection to Bereidan and thus stood as a neutral third party.
“…Thank you for saying that.”
Cherez spoke his true feelings with a peculiar expression.
“…It must have been truly difficult. Those people would have betrayed you no matter how well you treated them. After all, you couldn’t give them what they wanted.”
Roana’s expression was genuinely sympathetic. She appeared different to him now. The preconception of Hejest seemed to be peeling away from Roana, layer by layer. He felt as though he were glimpsing the genuine truth hidden beneath.
“I would be truly happy if I could be of help to you, Cherez.”
What on earth was this woman?
“I’ll do my very best for Hayden.”
Instead of telling him to trust only her, or insisting her words were right, Roana simply said she would do her best.
Why did that inspire more trust?
Had Roana always possessed such a cautious nature?
Only confusion deepened.

* * *
From that evening on, Hayden became my responsibility.
Though it was my own choice.
“Mama!”
He definitely sees me as food. Standing upright in his wooden crib, he flailed his arms toward me and grinned widely, revealing two tiny bottom teeth and two small upper teeth like beans—utterly adorable.
“Yes, let’s eat, shall we?”
I had already asked a Maid to help me recall the baby food my Nephew once ate, and I’d prepared new porridge for him. After passing his first birthday, we’d gradually introduce regular food. If he’d only been eating that strange flour-sugar gruel all this time, I’d need to take my time and gradually acclimate him.
My Sister-in-law and Elder Brother were wretched, but my Nephew was truly precious.
Perhaps because I raised him, he was obedient. I didn’t miss anything else, but I missed my Nephew a little.
Seeing Ttolmang made it even more so.
In any case, some babies found rough textures uncomfortable. So baby food had to be introduced in stages. The flour soup had apparently felt like mere water.
“Ttolmang, open wide.”
Hayden opened his mouth like a baby bird, following my lead. I spooned the baby food into his small mouth—a blend of beef, carrots, broccoli, and rice.
I didn’t know what baby food was like in this place. Fortunately, I had all the ingredients I knew.
“Ah!”
Ttolmang gripped the crib railing tightly with his small hands, his eyes sparkling.
“Do you like it?”
“Nya nya! Mama!”
With his maple-leaf-like hands firmly grasping the railing, he moved his short legs and pressed his body against mine. He seemed to like it. Feeding him was rewarding.
“Good, Hayden. Want another spoonful?”
“Mwah!”
This adorable little one. Eat it all up.
I’ll do even more for you. Truly, babies are harmless and adorable.
People who torment such innocent creatures are nothing short of psychopaths. How could anyone do such a thing? Hayden finished an entire bowl of baby food.
I gently stroked his rounded belly and wiped away the food he’d spilled and smeared across his face. As I touched his soft, plump cheeks, my heart melted completely.
Ah, so soft.

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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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