The Husband I Thought Was Dead Has Returned - Chapter 93

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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 093
The situation was unfolding in increasingly strange ways. Dorpin and Robin returned late into the night, bringing Gania with them. Robin’s face was flushed with anger.
“My lady, it appears matters are taking a peculiar turn,” Gania said, breathing heavily.
Her shoulders were tense, her entire demeanor radiating fury.
Gania drank a glass of water before pouring out her story.
A man claiming to be the Lord of Carencia gave his name as Ryukan, and the woman’s name was Sena. They were demanding their rightful authority be restored immediately.
“And they’re demanding unpaid taxes be surrendered at once. Taxes that weren’t collected while the Lord of Carencia was away—they want them paid immediately.”
Gania’s voice rose involuntarily before she glanced toward the room where Hayden slept and pressed her lips shut.
She took a deep breath and lowered her voice.
“That man’s behavior is absolutely outrageous. He goes door-to-door throughout the town, pounding on doors and demanding taxes. He threatens that refusing is defying the lord’s command, and claims anyone who doesn’t pay within a week will be executed.”
Executed?
This is absurd.
The Empire’s administrative divisions were split into five major regions: the Central Region and the four cardinal directions. The Emperor ruled the Central Region, while the other regions each had a Grand Lord.
The Southern Region was governed by Bereidan, and the North by Hejest—these were the Grand Lords.
They were called Grand Lords or Dukes and ruled their respective territories. Beneath them existed other lords who governed smaller domains—the regional nobility.
To use a modern analogy, it was similar to how major provinces have central powers overseeing them, with separate administrators governing individual cities and counties beneath.
However, these regional lords possessed no authority to execute capital punishment. In this world’s system, only Grand Lords could do such things.
When the tiger is absent, the fox plays king. I let out a hollow laugh. With Cherez dead, that authority was effectively mine to wield.
Without my consent, no execution could be carried out.
I felt the gazes of Yureain, Robin, Mila, and Dorpin all turn toward me simultaneously.
“Are they truly the legitimate lords of Carencia? I heard they were all dead,” Robin interjected.
Robin spoke up.
“When we asked the elders, they said the previous Lord of Carencia did have a brother. But they said he couldn’t possibly be this young. Moreover, that brother was infertile and had no children.”
So there couldn’t be any descendants. This screams of a typical con artist.
“The problem is they possess the family seal of House Carencia and the nobility registry. They have evidence claiming to be the Lord of Carencia,” Robin finished.
Robin concluded his explanation. Mila spoke through gritted teeth.
“This is definitely a scam.”
As the war dragged on, all manner of schemes emerged. In my previous life, I’d seen news reports of con artists embezzling relief funds. It seemed corrupt vermin existed everywhere.
Gania watched my expression carefully.
“Could you possibly help us? Of course, I’m aware of how much assistance you’ve already provided, my lady.”
Gania smiled awkwardly.
“Given the circumstances, I find myself asking for help even in such dangerous situations.”
“Don’t say such things, Gania. We’ve received far more help from you all than we could ever repay.”
I meant this sincerely. Without the townspeople’s aid, we would have starved to death long ago. The thought alone made me dizzy. It felt like only yesterday that I was clinging to rotting grass roots, weeping.
Moreover, this matter was connected to us as well. Managing the nobility was the Grand Lord’s duty. And if our presence here were exposed because of these fraudsters…
That would be far more troublesome.
“I believe there’s a way to resolve this, Gania. Please don’t worry too much.”
“…Thank you, my lady.”
Dorpin escorted Gania home and returned. In the meantime, I had located the small seal stamp that Borgus had given me long ago.
“Dorphin, Dorpin.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“I need to see the faces of these swindlers. Let’s move quietly.”
Dorpin and Mila nodded in agreement.
Change had begun. The door that had been sealed shut for so long was opening, and the outside world was gradually seeping in. What could this mean?

* * *
Count Sirion slammed his hand against the table. Count Sirion was a man sent from the Imperial Court a year and a half ago—dispatched in haste by the Emperor, who had been suffering under the pressure of the Duchess of Hejest.
Count Sirion was also a man of the Duchess of Hejest.
The moment he arrived in the Southern Region, he conspired with the Liansherus Society and joined hands with Countess Caslit.
“A year and a half. A year and a half.”
Count Sirion ground his teeth.
“What have you been doing all this time without finding even one child? What exactly are you accomplishing here?”
Countess Caslit regarded Count Sirion with contempt in her eyes. She too had been honed sharp as a blade all this time.
After the Count and Countess Bruate fled, she had killed the three Temple priests who had been watching them.
Did that crimson moon drive people to madness?
Countess Caslit no longer feared killing.
She replied with ease.
“We are searching.”
“All you’ve done for a year and a half is say you’re searching!”
Count Sirion struck the table once more. Documents scattered across its surface.
“I don’t even know what to report anymore!”
Countess Caslit’s eyes narrowed.
“Do you know how vast the Southern Region is? There are tens of thousands of refugees from the war. It’s like searching for a needle in sand.”
“Still nothing but excuses!”
Count Sirion was accomplishing nothing himself, yet he poured his energy into pressing her. Should Countess Caslit ever achieve success, he would seize the credit in the middle.
Countess Caslit regarded Count Sirion with a twisted gaze. She had no intention of conspiring with him in any way.
Count Sirion settled into his chair and tapped his fingers against the table.
“But Cherez Bereidan is truly dead, isn’t he?”
Count Sirion’s voice grew low.
In that moment, Countess Caslit’s expression shifted ever so slightly.
“He has not been seen on the Battlefield. Only the Knight Commander has been struggling. If that’s the case, wouldn’t he be dead? Or at least in a state no different from death.”
Count Sirion exhaled sharply through his nose.
“Hmph, nothing is working. In any case, didn’t you say that if we spread the rumor of the Duke’s death, the Duchess would show some reaction? More than half a year has passed since we cast the bait, and not a single rat has emerged.”
It was Countess Caslit who had spread the rumor of Cherez’s death.
It was true that Cherez had gone into hiding, but his death had never been confirmed. However, the rumor was spread to flush out Roana, who must be hiding somewhere. The thought was that if she learned Cherez was dead, she would abandon all hope and reveal herself.
‘Who would have thought that damned girl could endure this long? What does she intend to do with that brat?’
Countess Caslit clenched her teeth. Everyone had thought she lived prostrate beneath the Duchess of Hejest, but no one had known she was nurturing hundreds of cunning schemes within. The moment war broke out, her skill in using a carriage accident to cover all traces was remarkable.
‘Blood cannot lie, they say.’
Perhaps Roana was the very image of the Duchess of Hejest.

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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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