The Strongest Magician Can Only Love His Dead Wife — After I Reincarnated, My Cute Younger Husband Turned Yandere - Chapter 20

Rubia’s room remained exactly as it had been back then.

The books on the shelves, the color of the curtains, the furnishings, and all the little decorative items—everything was just the same.

Inside the room, the footmen were carrying in her belongings one after another from the detached building.

“Listen carefully—not a single scratch on Rubia’s possessions. Handle them with care, as if they were delicate glasswork.”

“Th-there’s no need to go that far.”

“She says there’s no need to go that far. Just handle them with appropriate care.”

Arsenio, who had been making exaggerated statements, readily changed his opinion upon Rubia’s modest protest.

Thanks to that, the tense atmosphere among the footmen which had seemed to suggest that even the slightest mistake would be unacceptable, appeared to ease somewhat.

While this was happening, the maids began carrying in vases one after another. Each vase held seasonal flowers, their varied colors creating a beautiful display.

They placed the vases on stands set up in the four corners of the room and on the tables.

As she watched them, a thought suddenly occurred to Rubia.

(…As I thought, there isn’t a single servant I recognize.)

At first, she had thought it only natural that there would be new servants after sixteen years. But still, it felt strange that not a single familiar face remained.

“Um, Lord Arsenio?”

“What is it, Rubia?”

“Where are the maids Karina and Noemi? And the maid Teresa, or the footman Chico… Oh, and I’d like to greet the steward, Mr. Juan, as well.”

While maids and footmen might come and go frequently, it was rare for a steward to retire.

That’s what she thought as she asked, but Arsenio awkwardly averted his gaze.

“…I had them let go. Of course, I helped them find new positions.”

“Eh? Ah, you mean the maids?”

Now that she thought about it, maids served their mistress. Since ‘Rubia,’ who had been the Duchess, had died, dismissing the maids was only natural.

But Arsenio slowly shook his head.

“No, all of them.”

“All—all of them!? All of them, you mean!?”

“Yes, all of them.”

Arsenio’s statement was so shocking that they ended up having this strange exchange.

(But, all of them…! Why!?)

They had served Arsenio well, she was sure. At least to Rubia, they had all been hardworking servants with good dispositions.

Yet to dismiss all of them at once. Something serious must have happened.

Perhaps her inner doubts showed on her face.

Arsenio gently lowered his eyes and answered her question.

“Having people around who reminded me of our happy days together was too painful.”

“Eh…”

“Every time I spoke with them, memories of the days I spent with you and your image would flicker through my mind, but you were no longer by my side. I simply couldn’t bear that reality.”

“Lord Arsenio…”

Arsenio, with his head bowed, looked just like an eight-year-old child.

Even though his body had grown, part of his heart must have remained stuck at the moment he lost Rubia.

Once again, a sharp pain pierced deep in her chest at the thought of him spending those sixteen long years all alone.

“This time, I’ll stay by your side forever. Let’s create new memories together. Doing things we couldn’t do before, things we wanted to do.”

As Rubia clenched both her hands, Arsenio hesitantly raised his face. His gaze was like that of a lost child who had finally found their parent.

“Really, you’ll stay with me forever? In this life, the next, and the next, for all eternity?”

“O-of course! I’ll stay by your side forever, Lord Arsenio.”

For a moment, she hesitated to reply so lightly to such a heavy, endless promise. But faced with his desperate gaze, she could only nod.

Seeing Rubia like that, Arsenio’s gloomy expression finally softened.

“I’m so happy… Thank you, Rubia. Just as you said, let’s create many memories together.”

“Y-yes. I’m looking forward to it.”

For just a moment, she wondered if she had agreed too readily.

But when he tightly grasped both her hands and gave her a meltingly soft smile, Rubia immediately stopped caring about such trivial concerns.

(Handsome people are amazing…!)

If he looked at anyone like that, regardless of age or gender, they would surely hand over their entire fortune. Arsenio’s smile had that level of destructive power.

True to his declaration of ‘creating memories,’ Arsenio invited Rubia out the very next day.

‘Dress appropriately for walking around town.’

Following his instructions, Rubia paired a grape-colored dress with black leather shoes and headed to the entrance hall, their meeting spot.

Arsenio was already prepared and waiting, and his face lit up the moment he saw Rubia.

“Rubia! That outfit suits you very well. It’s the first time I’ve seen it, but it’s lovely.”

“It seems the clothes from sixteen years ago are a bit out of fashion now. I was thinking of having them remade in a more modern style when I have time.”

The capital’s fashions changed rapidly, and trends faded quickly.

They had all been her favorite dresses, but after sixteen years, they did look dated.

(I can’t walk beside Lord Arsenio in frumpy clothes and embarrass him.)

She glanced furtively at Arsenio.

He wore a navy-blue coat with silver thread embroidery, a black loop tie, a white shirt, and black slacks. With his glossy black hair swept back, he looked every bit the urban gentleman.

She genuinely thought that if you gathered a thousand people of all ages and genders, about ten of them might get nosebleeds and faint from his looks.

On the other hand, Rubia was wearing a dress with large decorative buttons currently in fashion and a belt. This should be fine to walk beside Arsenio without any issues.

“I don’t know much about women’s fashion, but you should do as you wish. I’ll get you as many seamstresses or designers as you need.”

“Thank you.”

“That’s right—since we’re going into town, why don’t we stop by some boutiques and jewelry stores? Perfume shops would be nice too, or… ah, how about buying a tea set at that tableware store that carries many works by famous ceramic artists? We could have lunch at that restaurant famous for its fish dishes, or go see a play in the evening. Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”

The places Arsenio suggested one after another were all so appealing that any young girl would surely be thrilled.

But more than that, Rubia had another place in mind that she was more curious about.

“There is a place I’d like to go.”

“Where, where? Tell me anywhere. I’ll take you anywhere.”

“I remember Señora Jimena mentioned that you run orphanages and clinics for the less fortunate, I’d like to see those places.”

It made Rubia genuinely happy to hear that Arsenio, who had once been such a misanthrope, was now putting effort into managing such facilities to help others.

What kind of places were they? What were the lives of the people there like, and what did they think of Arsenio?

She wanted to see it with her own eyes.

“Eh… You’re fine with such places? They’re in the rural territories, and there aren’t many shops or restaurants there.”

“I don’t mind. As long as I’m with you, Lord Arsenio, anywhere will be enjoyable.”

Arsenio didn’t seem very enthusiastic, but at her words, he shrugged and made a gesture of surrender.

“Alright. If my wife says so, I have no choice. Well then, Rubia. Can you hold onto me? I’m about to activate the teleportation magic circle. If you step outside the circle, your body will disintegrate.”

“L-like this?”

“More. No, no, don’t stand so far away. Here, like this.”

He pulled her waist firmly toward him, and Rubia’s body pressed tightly against Arsenio’s with no gap between them.

The degree of closeness was more than she had expected, and Rubia felt so anxious that her heartbeat might be audible to him that she could hardly feel alive.