The Husband I Thought Was Dead Has Returned - Chapter 95

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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 095
“Roana! Roana! Look at this!”
Hayden crouched down, pointing at something. A small puddle had formed beside the mountain road after the rain, right at the tip of the child’s finger.
A frog the size of Hayden’s palm sat at the edge of the puddle, its throat puffing in and out.
“Hayden, frog! The frog goes croak-croak!”
Hayden stared at the frog with unwavering intensity. His flaring nostrils betrayed his excitement.
The frog must be embarrassed, Hayden.
These creatures appeared every spring, yet Hayden found them miraculous each time.
The frog moved first, leaping into the grass.
“Oh!”
Hayden sprang to his feet and bounded after it.
“Hop!”
As Hayden jumped like a frog, his bottom jutted out behind him.
“Croak! Croak! Hayden is a frog too! A big frog!”
Hayden’s plump legs moved with surprising agility. He stumbled but quickly recovered and continued hopping.
“Hayden, you must be careful. The frog will be startled. What if it just runs away?”
“No. If Hayden is careful, the frog won’t go.”
“That’s right, you must be careful.”
While Hayden chased the frog with little hops, the village children came up the mountain.
“Hayden! Me too!”
Toby and Luke, with Anna trailing behind, came running after him.
“Frog!”
Hayden announced the frog’s presence, and the children’s attention immediately shifted to it. The four of them began parting the grass in unison, chasing after the frog.
“It’s gone!”
“It was here a moment ago. Where did it go?”
“There! Over there!”
“It got away again.”
The frog appeared on the other side, toying with the children.
“There it is!”
As I tried to follow, Dorpin and Jake blocked my path.
“I shall go, madam.”
“Do as Dorphin says, madam. If you keep chasing after those little ones, you’ll exhaust yourself completely.”
I nodded and stepped back.
“Children, don’t go too far!”
At my words, Toby bristled and spoke up.
“I’m a big brother!”
“Right, big brother, don’t go too far either!”
I wondered if he even heard me.
The children grew distant. I exhaled heavily. Why don’t they ever tire? Unlike these children who recharged completely after just two hours of sleep, my stamina was rapidly depleting. I shook my head and returned to the villa.
Before I knew it, spring had arrived after we celebrated Hayden’s fourth birthday. Hayden had fallen ill for a week at the start of spring and suddenly grown noticeably taller.
It wasn’t just about height. The boy had become capable of so much more.
Spring had arrived in full, and Hayden was growing with remarkable vigor.

* * *
Ryukan was experiencing the most tense and fearful period of his life.
He now found himself at the Coastal Black Market, accompanied by an expressionless man named Dorpin. Sena remained confined at the Villa—she had become Ryukan’s leash.
‘At least the payment is generous.’
Ryukan consoled himself. Moreover, the woman called the Duchess of Bereidan was wealthy enough to provide well for both Sena and Ryukan’s meals. A warm back and a full belly had a way of making people careless. Ryukan’s perspective was gradually shifting toward something more optimistic.
The Black Market lay hidden in the back alleys of Agaph, a coastal town that had already become ruins after the Rebel Forces swept through it.
Tents lined the clearings between collapsed buildings, and beneath them, dangerous and valuable goods exchanged hands.
Most were items that had lost their owners for various reasons. This place was little more than a treasure trove born from war and rebellion.
Ryukan was familiar with such places. Before he’d stolen the registry of the Lord of Carencia, he’d sold miscellaneous goods in markets like this. Of course, most of what he’d sold had been stolen. It was necessary to survive.
Dorpin stood behind him.
Ryukan glanced back and exhaled quietly.
“Standing like that makes you conspicuous.”
Ryukan whispered softly.
“Put on a hood or something.”
At Ryukan’s gesture, Dorpin pulled the hood over his head. His massive frame wasn’t truly concealed, but his presence seemed to fade somewhat. Ryukan shook his head slightly and moved forward.
“There. That tent.”
Ryukan pointed toward a tent in the corner of the market. A large man stood before it with his arms crossed. Items that should have been locked away in safes were scattered across the tent’s surface.
Ryukan approached the guard.
“I’m here to see Sesef. I’m Ryukan.”
The guard looked Ryukan up and down.
“It’s been a while.”
“Indeed. As long as you’re alive and not dead, that’s what matters, isn’t it?”
Ryukan offered a joke in the manner of this place. The guard chuckled and pulled back the tent flap.
“Be careful. What exactly have you been doing to bring something so ominous along with you?”
The guard gestured toward Dorpin with his chin. Ryukan flinched and spoke quietly.
“Just let me see Sesef.”
“Still impatient as ever. Wait here.”
The guard disappeared inside.
The man who emerged as Sesef had a lean frame and small eyes. Sesef chuckled as he spoke.
“Ryukan? It’s been ages. I heard you were going to wash your hands clean, but here you are again.”
Ryukan answered with a grumble.
“Shut it. When a customer comes looking for goods, shouldn’t you show them the goods first?”
Sesef asked in a voice tinged with amusement.
“What are you looking for?”
“Noble registries, seals, and anything that can prove identity.”
Sesef’s eyebrows twitched, and he exhaled deeply.
“That’s expensive. I doubt you have that kind of money.”
Ryukan placed a pouch containing one thousand Becks on the wooden table. Sesef’s eyes widened as he examined its contents.
“Ryukan, you…?”
“Not for me, but for my employer. She desires the seals and registries of noble families.”
At those words, Sesef eagerly retrieved a box from within. It contained various documents and seals. Among them, documents bearing the name Pelos caught his eye.
“Ah. A minor noble family. Their mansion was destroyed when the Rebel Forces swept through. The family fled to safety but couldn’t gather their belongings. A servant brought these out, and I purchased them.”
“Surely the money you’ve brought is enough for more than just this one document.”
“You’re impatient.”
Sesef produced the next item.
“Karelga. Also a minor noble family. They were a household that dealt in timber from the Inland regions, but the family head fell in battle when the war began. The remaining family scattered, and their mansion was plundered—this came from there.”
Sesef gazed at Ryukan’s money pouch with barely concealed greed, then rummaged through its interior as he spoke.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“Not for now. If anything else comes in, keep it well stored. I’ll return to purchase more.”
“Ryukan, what exactly are you doing these days? Where is all this money coming from? It seems suspicious.”
Sesef’s rat-like eyes gleamed with curiosity.
“I’m simply employed. There’s no scraps falling my way. Just do your job well. I’m a customer too, aren’t I?”
Ryukan replied coldly. Sesef glanced at Dorpin, then asked no further questions. His gaze returned to the money pouch.

* * *
At the same moment, at the Karencia Estate.
Sena dug in the field while Yureain poured water beside her. Sweat beaded on Sena’s forehead. Yureain spoke softly to the inept deceiver.
“You need to dig deeper here.”
Sena flinched and dug deeper.
Yureain observed Sena with a cold gaze. She remembered the light in Roana’s eyes when she had sent Ryukan. That radiant sparkle—it had reassured her. Since hearing the rumors of Cherez’s death, Roana had lost her vitality. If this man, however much a deceiver, could breathe life back into Roana, then she could tolerate him somewhat.
Now Roana was orchestrating something grand.
By collecting noble registries and seals, she would be able to gather votes from the Noble Council upon her eventual return. That would become tremendous strength for both Roana and Hayden.
“You need to dig even deeper there. Or rather, you should remove the stones?”
Yureain spoke while barely maintaining her patience.
Yureain barely managed to maintain her composure as she spoke.

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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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