I Think My Husband Might Be a Murderer - Chapter 5

The man everyone thought was missing was standing right in front of me. Yet no one else seemed to recognize him as the missing person.

If no one knows him, how can they know he’s missing? And if others don’t recognize him, how do you know who he is?

It was the kind of situation that required a long explanation. Anyone unfamiliar would likely frown and ask countless questions.

I was no different. I stared at him for a long time, amazed that I was the only one who recognized him.

“The joint funeral date will be announced soon.”

Those had been his last words when we parted ways after I’d received help from him at naval headquarters.

“Is it okay for you to be out like this?” I asked a rather foolish question.

The Young Duke’s forehead creased slightly. “I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be.”

“But still, the navy officers would recognize you, Colonel.”

He didn’t answer. Feeling a bit awkward, I lowered my head and began to ramble unnecessarily.

“Ah… I’m here looking for a job. Thankfully, there was still an opening, and I’ve scheduled an interview for next week. At the Russell Marq—”

Suddenly, he pulled me by the shoulder, cutting off my words.

I looked up at him in surprise, and behind us came the grumbling voice of a middle-aged man.

“Hey, why are you blocking the entrance?”

His tone was laced with irritation. Clicking his tongue, the man dropped his hand from midair.

“She your boyfriend or something? Keep him in check! Next time, I won’t let it slide!”

Then, throwing me a glare, he stomped into the post office.

I had nearly been shoved. Swallowing hard, I stared at the sharp corner nearby.

It was the first time I’d ever been treated like that.

Musen, the city known for being peaceful and pleasant. Where most people were said to be kind and laid-back.

That reputation was beginning to crack, and I had witnessed it with my own eyes.

I composed myself and said, “…Thank you.”

At the port, at the naval headquarters, and now here at the post office.

For some reason, I kept ending up indebted to him. I gave an awkward smile and continued, “I’ve been rambling too much, haven’t I? You must be busy, so you should probably—”

“This doesn’t seem like the best place for a conversation,” he interrupted me in a low voice.

“…Sorry?”

I looked up at the Young Duke, furrowing my brow. Was he saying he wanted to talk with me?

“Didn’t you come to the post office for something?”

“It’s nothing urgent. So, where did you say you were applying for work? I don’t think I heard it clearly.”

Wearing a pleasant smile, he reached out his hand. I stared at his large hand for a moment, then instinctively took it. He gently led me along.

What’s going on? Why is he interested in where I’m working?

Even after walking quite a distance from the post office, I couldn’t find an answer. Then I suddenly remembered his question and quickly replied, “I haven’t gotten the job yet, but I’m scheduled for an interview next week. At the Russell Marquess’s estate.”

I felt the arm under my hand stiffen slightly. He stopped walking.

“The Russell estate in Boeln… you mean?”

“Yes. The pay was quite good.”

“I see. I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“If it’s because of the old Marchioness’s difficult personality…”

Just as I was about to continue—

“Official notice!”

Someone shouted from the direction of the plaza. It was a hurried voice. Both of us turned our attention to the source of the sound.

“An official military notice has been issued, please check!”

His expression darkened instantly.

If it was a military notice, it meant the date of the joint funeral for the fallen soldiers had been decided.

***

It was a gloomy Wednesday, with snowflakes drifting gently through the air.

The joint funeral for the fallen soldiers was held.

Together with the surviving soldiers and the bereaved families, we mourned my father and those who had lost their lives.

As I was throwing lilies beside my father’s coffin, laid in a deep grave, someone approached.

There was only one person who would come to stand beside Father and me in this place.

Johannes Schultz.

But I didn’t have the strength to acknowledge him. I simply stared blankly, continuing to toss lilies in silence.

After a long while, when I thought he would remain quiet, he finally spoke.

“I was close with Petty Officer Prim.”

“……”

“I believe now is the time to deliver the last words he left behind.”

I stopped my hand mid-motion and drew in a breath. I couldn’t say a word. My breath came out in ragged gasps. My eyelids trembled, and I squeezed my eyes shut.

Soon, his calm voice flowed to my ears on the breeze.

“He said he truly loved you.”

I gripped the hem of my skirt tightly. My arms trembled violently, and my fingertips turned pale.

“He said not to grieve too much, to live happily, and that someday, you would meet again.”

“……”

“That was the message he asked me to deliver.”

Though I hadn’t seen it myself, I could imagine how my father must have been at the end.

The sobs kept threatening to escape, so I lowered my head.

What exact illness had taken Father? How had he spent his final moments?

Those questions rose up in my throat, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask them, afraid the tears would spill over.

All I could do was bite down hard on my lip to keep from crying.

‘We’ll meet again someday?’

That kind of miracle wasn’t going to happen. My father had passed away.

I would never see him again.

“My deepest condolences.”

His quiet voice pressed down on me. It felt like he was telling me it was time to let my father go.

Gazing at the lilies piled atop the coffin, I slowly closed my eyes.

***

I had thought I’d already cried all the tears I had, but apparently, there were still many left.

In the end, I broke down again. In front of Johannes Schultz.

Only when my eyes were so swollen I could barely open them did I finally stop crying. By then, the military cemetery was completely empty.

The sun had begun to set, casting a red glow across the sky. And beneath that sky stood the man.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I always lose control when you’re around, Colonel.”

I lifted the dark veil from before my eyes and wiped them with the handkerchief he offered. The Young Duke gave a small shake of his head, as if to say it was all right.

“I heard you lived alone with your father. And that you were studying pharmacy.”

I looked up at him in surprise. “My father told you even that? You two must have really been close.”

He quietly nodded.

Still, it was a comfort to know that my father had a friend he was close with on the battlefield. At least he hadn’t been alone.

As I smiled faintly, he spoke again, still gazing at my father’s coffin, “This might be presumptuous, but I don’t recommend the Russell family.”

“If it’s because of the old Marchioness’s difficult personality, I appreciate the concern. But I’ve already made my decision.”

“No, I mean it’ll be hard to live in a distant place. I’d like to offer a more practical form of help.”

Help? Was he pitying me?

I furrowed my brow and turned toward him. He turned as well and faced me.

“If this is out of pity, then I’ve already received enough. You don’t need to do more.”

“Pity, is it? That’s a fair enough reason.”

“What?”

There was still no emotion in the Young Duke’s eyes.

“Sorry, but that’s not it. I simply couldn’t ignore the daughter of someone who helped me so much. And it so happens there’s a fitting job nearby.”

Nearby? I was indeed tempted at the mention of a job offer. But I couldn’t show it outright, so I feigned disinterest.

“Where?”

Looking back now, I wonder if that might have been his first proposal.

With eyes tinted by the setting sun, the Young Duke made his offer.

“How about working for House Schultz, Miss Prim?”