The Husband I Thought Was Dead Has Returned - Chapter 92

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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 092
Something seemed off about Dorpin when he returned from the town after trading grain for meat.
Dorpin was a man whose emotions rarely showed plainly on his face. Yet now his expression had visibly shifted—his complexion had turned ashen, and his eyes bore an unnatural redness.
The swollen skin around his eyes betrayed the weight of his feelings.
“Dorpin, did something happen in town?”
At Yureain’s question, Dorpin drew a deep breath. His gaze turned toward Hayden, who had just turned three and was wiggling his small bottom as he watered the tree. Water trickled steadily from the tiny watering can made just for him.
“A merchant heard of some incident in Carencia. He shared news from the outside world.”
News from outside? My eyes blinked slowly. At those words, my heart began to race with dread.
Dorpin rubbed his face with his palm, as though struggling to contain his emotions. His lips moved with mechanical precision.
“I heard news of the Duke.”
Dorpin’s voice grew heavy, as though weighed down by something invisible.
“He has fallen in battle, they say.”
At those whispered words, the world before my eyes turned black. Mila steadied Yureain as she stumbled.
I had known from the beginning. From the moment I possessed this body in this world. I knew Cherez would die. I had known my predetermined fate, yet I had only struggled against accepting it.
I drew my breath slowly.
“Madam.”
I turned my head to gaze at Hayden—at the small, pea-like silhouette of the child playing with his watering can, laughing innocently without understanding anything.
The child had lost everything. Yet he was too young to even comprehend it.
This world had been too cruel to Cherez, to Hayden, and perhaps to me as well. I steadied my breathing and spoke slowly.
“Hayden… please look after Hayden. I think I need to rest for a moment.”
“…Madam.”
“I’m fine.”
I shook my head stubbornly.

* * *
I entered the Bedroom and closed the door behind me. Then I simply slid down to the floor.
Cherez’s death became clear to me slowly, like watercolor paint deepening with each successive layer.
He would not return. The more I denied it, the more vivid everything became. I buried my face in my palms.
The bracelet caught my eye. I could see the clumsy knot Cherez had tied for me. His words echoed in my memory.
‘I wish every day of yours could feel like a Festival. Like today.’
In that moment, the tears broke free.
No sound came. I couldn’t even draw breath. My entire body felt wrung out, as though something gripped me and sought to tear me apart.
“Hh….”
A suppressed whimper barely escaped between my gasps. I clenched my fists and buried my face. The reality crashed over me—I would never see him again. I would never hear his whispered voice.
I remembered his hand draping fur over me. The careful way his fingers moved when brushing Hayden’s hair. His rough hands tying knots. The graceful curve of his lips when he smiled silently. The playfulness that sometimes showed through, and the tenderness he sometimes revealed.
The memories were so vivid I could never erase them. It felt as though he might return. In the face of loss I’d never known before, my heart felt utterly hollow.
When I read about him in the book, when he existed merely as letters on a page, I felt nothing.
「The Duke of Bereidan fell in the seven-year war against the Demonic Beasts.」
I simply turned to the next chapter and moved on. But now, creating what came next was my burden alone. It was not a matter of moving my finger to turn the page.
Tears soaked into my clothes, becoming dark spots. Did you leave without regret? Did you leave this time too, unable to abandon your final attachment?
Did the things I said I was doing for you bring even a moment of peace to your heart?
Still, I could not breathe.
Only now did I understand.
Death did not leave lingering attachment only with Cherez.
He became my regret, my attachment. If only I had done better. If only I had tried something more. All the things I might have done for him—they all became a weight upon my heart.
“Cherez….”
A single sentence that could never be complete.
This was the truth of your death.
And so our waiting faded away like the seasons.

* * *
The absence of someone and the hollow ache of loss did not fade, yet time continued its relentless march.
It was as winter began to descend that a certain couple appeared in the town.
Jake arrived carrying a backpack laden with butchered pork, exhaling heavily as he hastily drank warm tea. Then, his voice rough, he spoke.
“An outsider has come to the town. The man claims to be the Lord of Carencia. He appeared out of nowhere—what does it all mean.”
Sitting across from Jake and listening to his account, I widened my eyes.
“The Lord?”
The Lord of Carencia had abandoned everything and fled during the rebellion. I had heard he was later captured by the rebels and executed. Did he have a grown son? Wasn’t the child still young, or perhaps not even born yet?
Something about this smelled distinctly foul.
“According to him, he’s of the Lord of Carencia’s bloodline. He says he’s merely returned to his own lands. He’s making a fuss about collecting taxes. What taxes in times like these? We can barely scrape by as it is.”
Jake was right. We might have enough to sustain ourselves, but economic activity had nearly ceased. I narrowed my eyes.
“What sort of people are they?”
“A young man who appears to be in his twenties, and a woman of similar age. They claim to be a married couple. And he’s demanding that everyone residing here present themselves….”
In that moment, Jake’s gaze turned toward me. He clicked his tongue softly.
“Everyone has kept their mouths shut, but it seems only a matter of time before we’re discovered.”
Jake’s sigh deepened. The townspeople had been deliberately concealing us. It was an act of their goodwill. But if they intended to settle here permanently, as Jake suggested, discovery was inevitable.
Just as one cannot hide a cough, concealing a presence is no simple matter.
“…We need to learn more about these people first. Dorphin.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Go down with Jake. And Robin as well.”
“Me too?”
“Yes. Robin speaks more gently than Dorphin, so it will be helpful. Find out what you can about the House of Carencia Lord from the townspeople.”
Dorphin and Robin nodded. I needed to know the source of this foul stench. I couldn’t simply ignore it, not with a child here.
Just then, Hayden, who had been playing outside, returned.
“Roana!”
Hayden, whose pronunciation had become clearer now, came running over. His hands were full of acorns. It seemed he and Mila had been busily gathering them.
“Look! Squirrel food! Squirrel eats this!”
Acorns tumbled from Hayden’s hands as he spoke in increasingly coherent sentences.
“Where on earth did you get all of those.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. From his bulging pocket, glossy chestnuts tumbled out.
Hayden grinned widely. Winter had settled even on the child’s cheeks. I rubbed his reddened, chapped cheeks. I had promised Cherez that I would protect Hayden without fail.
That promise remained in effect.

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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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