I Wish My Husband Were Dead - Chapter 77



Only Krnovel

Husband’s Funeral
2024.01.16.

“No matter what conditions the other candidates for the Count offer, I will be the best.”

Andel’s words were right, and Cordelia nodded easily.

“Okay. After the funeral, I will write a letter to the council. I will tell them how kind Mr. Lutravin is and how well he is suited to be a Count.”

“I am glad that we can talk well.”

Andel and Baron Lancaster left smiling, as if they were satisfied with the deal.

After roughly taking care of important matters, the day to move Craig’s coffin to the cemetery finally arrived.

It had been raining since morning. It was the perfect weather for a funeral.

“Let us pray for Count Abrams, who was kind and a role model for many during his lifetime. Although he has now left the earth and ascended to heaven, the Count’s gentleness will be remembered forever.”

The priest dispatched from the temple began to recite a long and predictable eulogy. Naturally, no one gathered here listened to him.

Everyone was looking at each other sideways, obviously trying to guess who would be the next Earl.

Cordelia stared at Craig’s coffin covered with dirt while holding her umbrella.

“Goodbye, Craig. I’m sorry I buried you so late.”

He wasn’t a good husband when he was alive, but he was the best husband she’d ever had after death, so the resentment she had felt in the early days of her marriage had disappeared.

She bid Craig a short farewell as she bid him farewell. The coffin was now completely covered in dirt and out of sight.

“If you have any last words for the Earl, please do.”

Most of the mourners gathered here were either businessmen related to Abrams or lynxes who were aiming for the next Earldom.

No one mourned Craig’s death.

As expected, no one spoke. The priest finished the eulogy, as if it wasn’t surprising. The burial was over with a light moment of silence.

There were still funeral procedures left, but the most important thing was done. As she was about to return to the castle with a soft sigh, a servant came running toward Cordelia.

“Madam. A guest, ha, has arrived.”

“Right now?”

Cordelia thought that it was quite late for him to come after the funeral, but she was surprised by the words that followed.

“From Elfenbaum.”

“Who came?”

“Elfenbaum. Madam. It was definitely the Black Tiger’s emblem.”

The servant’s voice was quite loud, so the mourners behind her began to whisper when they heard the name Elfenbaum.

Just as she was about to ask if she had seen something wrong, the owner of that name appeared.

Rosenblu, drenched in rain, had turned pale since she had not seen him before. However, that was also another way to show off his sharp jawline.

“Oh, the funeral must have ended already. I’m sorry, Cordelia. I’m late.”

He apologized as if he had promised to come. Cordelia had no memory of inviting him, so she felt embarrassed by his apology.

“It’s not too late. The flowers haven’t fully bloomed yet. More importantly, how is Rosenblu coming here?”

“To remember Count Abrams, of course. It was a brief encounter, but it was so vivid that I remember it.”

He received a flower from his servant, placed it on the grave, and bowed briefly.

“May you rest in peace there.”

His condolences were sincere. Rosenblu might be the only one among those gathered here who mourned Craig’s death.

“Thank you for coming, Rosenblu.”

“Of course.”

Cordelia walked with Rosenblu to the castle. Everyone seemed anxious to speak to Rosenblu through Cordelia, but Cordelia pretended not to notice.

Rosenblu looked too exhausted. So she led him straight to the drawing room.

It was spring, but the rain made the weather quite chilly. Cordelia gave Rosenbler a towel to thaw his body from the rain and lit a fire in the fireplace.

“Now that we’re just the two of us, tell me comfortably.”

“What?”

“Why are you here?”

“… … .”

“What’s wrong?”

“… … When was the last time you and Lydia were in contact?”

“Lydia? Well, I don’t know. It’s been quite a while. About a month ago, the three of us, Master and Lydia, had tea at a cafe, and that was the last time.”

Lydia didn’t send letters after that, as if it were a lie. Cordelia was a little disappointed, but figured she must be very busy and let it go. Cordelia

had also been so preoccupied with Craig’s death and her younger brother Dennis that she had forgotten about Lydia.

“Lydia.”

Rosenbler said the name and remained silent for a long time before continuing painfully as if he were being tortured.

“Lydia has disappeared. It’s been over two weeks already.”

“What do you mean? Lydia disappeared? Where?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t know where she’s headed. That’s why she’s been wandering around Ershe.”

“Ah.”

Cordelia fell silent for a moment. She realized that Lydia hadn’t simply left home because she was tired of it.

A noble lady, and a lady from a prestigious family like Elfenbaum, had disappeared.

The only romantic thing to think about was a love affair, but Cordelia knew who Lydia was in love with, so she knew that this possibility was completely impossible.

In that case, there weren’t many options left.

“Could someone have taken her by force?”

“I’m not ruling that out either.”

It was an ambiguous sentence. Cordelia immediately understood what it meant.

“It seems like you’re not sure whether she left on her own or not?”

“If it was a kidnapping for money, they should have contacted me already, but I haven’t heard anything since that day. In addition, I found out that Lydia had taken several relics before she disappeared, but they were never found anywhere in the mansion.”

“Hmm.”

The situation certainly didn’t seem right. And this kind of uncertainty drives people crazy.

Rosenbler hesitated for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“In fact, a few days before Lydia disappeared, Cordelia was very shaken by the news of her husband’s death.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I was very surprised and asked the servant who brought the obituary several times. Was she really sure?”

“She seemed very surprised.”

“I could be surprised. But the servant said that she had been strangely anxious since that day and couldn’t sleep properly.”

“Lydia?”

For someone who overreacted, Lydia had never sent Cordelia any letters. And it was strange that she was shaken by Craig’s death, even though she had never met him.

“Did Lydia know Count Abrams?”

“No. Not at all. As far as I know, there was no connection. Craig got into a carriage accident the very day he arrived in the capital.”

“Then did you ever talk to Lydia about her husband? I’m sorry if my question was rude. I came to Cordelia in a desperate attempt.”

“It’s okay. I’ll answer anything I can. Well, I did ask her about her husband in a casual manner and she answered. But it was only for a short time and Lydia didn’t seem to be interested in it either, so I don’t remember anything in particular.”

“… … I see.”

Rosenblu’s face instantly turned into disappointment. Cordelia could hardly imagine what had made him come all this way.

“I have some letters I exchanged with Lydia in Attila. Would you like to check them?”

“That would be too rude.”

But Rosenblu’s mouth couldn’t bring itself to refuse. Cordelia made a light joke to reassure him.

“Don’t worry. There’s no gossip about Rosenblu.”

“Cordelia.”

“They’re just everyday stories, so they might not be of much help, but they can help me find clues that I don’t know about. Feel free to look at them. And Lydia is my friend, so I want to help her out, too.”

“Thank you so much, Cordelia.”

He was truly grateful. His face was slightly red in the embers.

“Don’t worry too much. Lydia will come back, for some reason.”

“… … I hope so.”

“Mr. Rosenblu must believe the most. She will come back alive and unharmed. Only then will Lydia find strength and come back to us.”

“I should be the one comforting Cordelia, but Cordelia comforts me.”

“There is no upper or lower limit to sorrow. I think my sorrow over losing my husband and Mr. Rosenblu’s pain over finding her brother are incomparable.”

Cordelia smiled and looked into Rosenblu’s eyes. His face was pale and pale from the agony, but his beautiful blue eyes still sparkled.

He pursed his lips as if trying to say something, but no sound came out.

“It’s late today, so how about staying a night?”

“Thank you for your consideration. I’m already a little tired of talking.”

He didn’t refuse her offer.

“You must be tired, too, Rosenblu. I’d like to tell you to rest for a few days, but… … I guess I have to go.”

“Yes. Lydia will be waiting.”

“That’s right. Lydia will be waiting.”

Cordelia nodded vigorously at him. Rosenblu smiled for the first time.

* * *

“What on earth happened in the capital?”

“What happened?”

“You came in Atile’s carriage when you came. And Elector Elfenbaum himself came to pay his respects!”

Emily poured more warm water into the bathtub, fussing. It seemed like she wanted to hear some exciting story, but there wasn’t much she could tell Cordelia.

“It’s just that I happened to find out about you, and you were kind enough to come here.”

“People were talking about it so much that I couldn’t tell if today was a funeral or Elfenbaum’s banquet.”

When Belluce first came, people were surprised and flocked to her, so she couldn’t imagine how surprised Elfenbaum would be.

“Besides, when I saw Elfenbaum’s face, I thought he wasn’t human. How can he be so perfectly handsome?”

“Hmm. That’s true.”

Her face was haggard, but it was shining in a different way than before.

“You’ll probably be leaving early tomorrow morning, so tell the butler to pack plenty of dry food and such.”

“You’re leaving tomorrow? So early?”

Emily looked very disappointed. Cordelia understood her feelings and smiled slightly.

However, contrary to Cordelia’s expectations, Rosenblu did not leave the next day.