The Strongest Magician Can Only Love His Dead Wife — After I Reincarnated, My Cute Younger Husband Turned Yandere - Chapter 15

The day the magically created messenger butterfly announced Arsenio’s return, Rubia waited restlessly for his homecoming.

She looked forward to seeing how he had grown, yet felt nervous about their long-awaited reunion.

(Doing this reminds me of when I married Lord Arsenio in my past life.)

That day too, Rubia had watched the passing scenery from the carriage window, tense before meeting her husband for the first time.

What kind of person would he be? Would they get along? What if he disliked her and sent her away?

As she arrived thinking such thoughts, Arsenio spoke to her in a voice still tinged with childishness:

“Welcome… is what I’d like to say, but this marriage wasn’t my choice. Out of deference to the imperial decree, I’ll treat you as the duchess, but don’t expect any love from me.”

She remembered well how, rather than being hurt by the unchildlike mature words from the eight-year-old boy, she had been more taken aback.

Back then, to Rubia’s eyes, Arsenio seemed to be putting up a brave front, which she found rather endearing.

Even those cold words now felt so nostalgic that remembering them warmed her heart.

What kind of young man had Arsenio become?

His height, his gaze, his voice. Had he changed completely, with no trace left of how he used to be?

While lost in these thoughts, the time for Arsenio’s arrival finally approached.

When she left the detached entrance and headed toward the main gate, Jimena and Viscountess Piatti were already waiting there with their maids, holding parasols.

“Good morning, Rubia. Lovely weather, isn’t it?”

“Good morning, Lady Jimena. Viscountess.”

“Hmph. Arriving last—how ill-mannered.”

“My apologies, preparations took longer than expected.”

Bowing slightly, Rubia glanced discreetly at Jimena.

Jimena wore a rose-colored dress with a fully flared skirt and a large artificial flower decoration in her hair.

Though as glamorous as if heading to a ball, she had likely dressed up to meet her lover after so long.

From her perfectly manicured nails to the jewels adorning her body, she was impeccably dressed without a single flaw.

In contrast, Rubia wore a pale purple dress today, her braided hair neatly arranged. Not too flashy nor too plain, she thought it appropriate for meeting her husband.

Though she inevitably paled in comparison to the princess-like Jimena, in this case, that was likely for the best.

After all, Rubia was merely a decorative wife. There was no need to outshine her husband’s beloved. It was better to stay unobtrusive and play a supporting role.

Not long after, a circle of light appeared on the ground a short distance from where Rubia and the others stood.

Large enough for one person to pass through, it was a magical gate for instant teleportation, woven with complex magical formulae.

As they watched with bated breath, a figure emerged silently from the magical gate.

A tall young man in a fluttering black coat, numerous medals adorning his chest.

Lustrous black hair, crimson eyes. Dark circles were deeply etched under his eyes, perhaps from lack of sleep.

Yet his features were completely unchanged from sixteen years ago.

“Ar—”

She nearly called his name without thinking.

But before she could, Jimena let out an exuberant cry, twirling out from under her parasol and dashing toward Arsenio.

“Al! Welcome back!”

“Yeah! I’m home.”

His curt, blunt manner of speaking hadn’t changed much since then. But his voice was much deeper than she remembered, and Rubia felt so overwhelmed her chest tightened.

(You’ve become so splendid…)

Pressing a hand over her aching heart through her clothes as she watched Arsenio, she suddenly met his gaze.

“…Rubia?”

His low voice called her name.

Noticing immediately, Jimena smoothly linked her arm with Arsenio’s and smiled gently.

“I told you via the messenger butterfly, didn’t I? She arrived while you were away. Your new bride, Miss Rubia.”

“—No.”

It seemed this marriage remained unwanted for him. As Arsenio immediately denied it, Jimena gave him a look mixing concern and reproach.

“Don’t say such cruel things. Even if you didn’t want this marriage, Miss Rubia is your bride by imperial decree.”

“No, that’s not it.”

Saying this, Arsenio shook off Jimena’s hand as if brushing her away. Caught off guard, Jimena staggered slightly and stared at him with a puzzled smile.

“What’s wrong, Al? You look frightening.”

“She is Rubia.”

Though he seemed to be answering Jimena, Arsenio’s attention was no longer on her.

His gaze was fixed solely on Rubia.

Pinned by that stare, Rubia stood frozen. It was an intense look like finding something long lost, like finally obtaining something deeply yearned for.

“But that’s what I’m saying—”

“No. …Rubia. My (,,) Rubia.”

Arsenio’s firm, almost biting voice, cutting off Jimena’s frantic words, echoed across the scene.