IWMHWD 70

Chapter 70: The Husband’s Funeral
January 9, 2024

“What the hell is wrong with you? You were holding the reins without even looking ahead!”

“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry. I didn’t expect someone to jump out like that…”

James, who had climbed down from the driver’s seat, didn’t back down either. He took off his hat and trembled nervously, hands shaking.

A crowd began to gather. Dennis, startled by the sudden accident, stumbled backward in confusion.

Cordelia dropped to her knees in front of Craig, wailing loudly.

“Craig, please… open your eyes. Hic Craig… aaah, Craig!”

Her white dress was stained red with pig’s blood. People passing by whispered pitifully about the tragic fate of such a young woman.

After a while, just as expected, the security guards arrived while she clung to Craig’s corpse and cried. They listened to bystanders and Baron, then approached Cordelia.

“Madam, was the deceased your husband?”

“Hic… yes.”

“I see. I know this must be very confusing right now, but we need to move the body to the morgue. And then we’ll need you to come to the precinct to fill out some paperwork.”

Cordelia stood up, feigning great difficulty. As she staggered, Baron quickly moved to support her and whispered softly.

“You did well.”

“I didn’t know you were such a good actor, Baron.”

“Well, with age comes experience in all kinds of things.”

As she leaned on Baron and followed the guard, Dennis reappeared, blocking her path—someone she’d nearly forgotten.

“Sis, was that guy who just died your husband? Count Abrams?”

“Dennis, can we talk later? I’m… too shaken right now.”

“Sorry, sorry. But this is really urgent. When else am I gonna see you again?”

“Are you Prince Vasquez?”

Baron cut in politely between the two.

“Whatever it is, might I suggest you come back after the Countess has had some time to recover?”

“A mere attendant dares to—”

“Oh, I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Baron Langsha, holding the title of Junior Baron.”

“Ah…”

Dennis’s expression shifted immediately upon hearing that.

Ahem. “So you’re Junior Baron Langsha. I assumed you were just her servant since you didn’t introduce yourself.”

“Not at all. I should’ve spoken up sooner, but as you can see, things are a bit chaotic. If you’ll excuse us…”

Even though Baron’s tone clearly said “come back later,” Dennis refused to back down. In front of his grieving sister, he continued with his own agenda.

“Wait, please. I’ve got an emergency. Sis, I’m seriously going to rot in prison if this goes badly. Can’t you talk to Elector Atilay for me? You’re his student, right? A mage?”

“Prison? What are you talking about?”

Cordelia was utterly baffled by Dennis’ sudden plea. What had he done to end up talking about prison?

“I’m sorry, Lady Cordelia,” Baron interjected gently. “The guard is waiting.”

Cordelia resumed walking, and Dennis clung close beside her.

“You heard it too, right? That bastard Maximilian.”

“What about him? Don’t tell me you were in contact with Maximilian?”

“No! Have I lost my mind? Never!”

Dennis jumped in protest, waving his hands frantically.

“That damned Silver Stag Knights think I let him escape on purpose, but you have to believe me! It was an accident! Honestly, it wasn’t even my fault! How could I know he’d slip out of the cuffs and make a run for it at that exact moment?”

“Silver Stag Knights? Slipping out of cuffs? What are you even talking about? Who escaped—wait…”

Only then did she grasp what he was saying.

She had many things she wanted to say, but none came out. When someone is utterly dumbfounded, words fail them—this was one of those moments.

“You were the one who lost Maximilian during transport?”

“It was just my bad luck to be on duty that day! Sis, you’re not gonna let your only brother rot in prison, are you? What’s going to happen to the Vasquez name if I’m gone? Who will inherit it? You have to talk to Elector Atilay, please. Tell him it wasn’t my fault. The knights are jealous of me and set me up—yeah! It was a trap!”

“Hah…”

She didn’t know the exact details of how Dennis lost Maximilian, but the fact that he was more focused on avoiding punishment than taking responsibility made her feel nothing but contempt.

As Cordelia let out a deep sigh without answering, Dennis kept glancing at her nervously.

“You still believe in me, right? I’ll be okay, right?”

“Dennis. Let’s talk later. Right now, I have to deal with Craig—my husband’s accident.”

“When later! I went to Atilay’s townhouse so many times, but those arrogant bastards wouldn’t even let me in, even when I told them I’m your brother!”

“…”

“You want me to die in there? You’d be okay with your brother rotting in prison?!”

Dennis shouted, completely disregarding the eyes of the people around them.

Cordelia wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. She was ashamed to share blood with someone like him.

“Sis, hey, sis!”

She clenched her fists and walked right past him. Talking further would only mean hearing the same thing over and over again.

Fortunately, the security office was right in front of them. Cordelia entered with Baron.

“Please take a seat here.”

A guard offered her a chair. She stared blankly into space with a complicated expression, prompting the guard to offer his condolences.

“It’s unfortunate your husband was in such a sudden accident. The carriage driver has been arrested and will be duly punished.”

“Duly punished? What kind of punishment?”

“When someone kills another due to negligence, they usually receive a 30-year sentence.”

“Just thirty years? My husband was run over and died a horrible death, and that driver only gets thirty years?”

Cordelia shouted with force. The guard, clearly used to these outbursts, remained calm as he tried to soothe her.

“I apologize. But the law and legal procedures must be followed.”

“Unbelievable… just thirty years…”

Cordelia collapsed into the chair as if her legs had given out.

She had shown enough rage to look convincingly unsatisfied with the punishment. Her plan was to later arrange to take custody of James under some excuse.

“For now, please fill this out.”

The guard handed her a form requesting basic personal information. Cordelia deliberately let tears fall onto the paper as she filled it out.

“Hmm. Abrams… Are you the Countess Abrams?”

“Yes.”

“And the deceased was Count Abrams?”

“Yes. Craig—hic—Abrams.”

Just as Baron said, the guard only asked a few formal questions. When Cordelia shakily requested to see her husband one last time, he led her to the morgue.

Baron stood solemnly beside Craig’s body. Cordelia clung to the corpse, weeping again.

“Count, how could you leave so suddenly and in vain…”

“My love, hic, how… how could you leave me like this…”

“Please excuse me, would you mind stepping out for a moment?”

Baron addressed the guard, who nodded quietly and exited the room, leaving the two alone.

Cordelia’s sobbing gradually died down. She slowly straightened her back. Her eyes were still wet, but her voice was colder than ever.

“You knew, didn’t you?”

“…Knew what?”

“That Dennis lost Maximilian during transport.”

“…Yes.”

“Then the master must know too. But why was Dennis in the capital to begin with? And what’s with the Silver Stag Knights? There’s no way he got into that unit with his skills.”

Cordelia couldn’t comprehend how Dennis had entered the Silver Stag Knights.

Dennis had only been knighted less than a year ago. Joining the king’s personal order, the Silver Stag Knights, was unthinkable.

At this point, suspicion was only natural.

“Don’t tell me the master pushed him in?”

“No. Absolutely not. Dennis Vasquez entered through the recommendation of Elector Embley.”

“Embley? Why is that name coming up here?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t know beyond that.”

Only a handful knew that Embley had been summoned in the recent council meeting to determine responsibility. So Baron pretending ignorance wasn’t something Cordelia could see through.

“Hah… Dennis, what on earth are you involved in…”

Her mind became even more tangled. She had thought that once Craig was taken care of, her worries would be over, but a bigger problem had surfaced.

Then, a light knock came from the door. Cordelia quickly rearranged her expression.

“Come in.”

“Good day, Countess Abrams. My name is Carlos Rentrio.”

A middle-aged man in uniform entered and greeted her politely.

Judging from how nervous the previous guard looked while standing behind him, this newcomer must hold a high rank.

Baron whispered quietly to Cordelia.

“That’s Chief Inspector of Evodelim.”

“Chief Inspector?”

A Chief Inspector, for a simple carriage accident? She was just beginning to feel suspicious when Carlos looked deeply grieved and offered his condolences.

“I just heard from my subordinate. That Count Abrams, your husband, was in an accident.”

“Yes, that’s right. But what brings you here, Chief Inspector Rentrio?”

“With such a tragic accident, how could I not come in person?”

“…Excuse me?”