Warning: The following contains spoilers for Spy x Family!!

Henry Henderson and Martha Marriot are one of the most beloved couples found in Tatsuya Endo’s world-famous manga Spy X Family. During chapters #97 and #98, the story of these two respectable elders was shown, revealing that they used to have feelings for each other during their time as Eden Academy’s students.

Yet, it seems that Endo had already warned fans against hoping for a happy ending between them. Many moments in the manga, mostly in Henderson’s moving origin story, point to a tragedy preventing this couple from being together.

What’s more, this seems to have already been implied by both characters in previous chapters of the manga.

Henderson’s Daughter Proves Their Separation

Master Henderson seems to have an adult daughter who is not related to Martha

In Spy X Family “Short Mission 4”, one of the smaller stories Endo releases in between bigger chapters, Master Henderson can be seen writing a letter. While the words written on the paper are hard to read, it clearly states that the older gentleman is writing to his daughter and his son-in-law. This implies that Henderson’s child is old enough to have a husband and maybe a family of her own. The mother of this unnamed woman has not yet been revealed, but it is extremely unlikely that Martha is the one.

The Blackbell’s butler has never once mentioned having children of her own, despite the many conversations she has had about her past with the family’s young daughter, the cute and endearing Becky. In chapter #97, Martha can be seen talking about her feelings for Henderson to Anya’s best friend, who questions why the butler never revealed her love for the man. This implies that Martha, most likely due to her time as a soldier, never got the chance to form a family of her own. If that is the case, the possibility of Henderson’s daughter being hers greatly diminishes.

Given that Martha left for the battlefield shortly after graduation, it is highly probable that Henderson went on to marry another woman, who would become the mother of his daughter. This could explain why both characters insist on their relationship being nothing more than friendship, as they never got to be a couple. Their feelings never went away, but by the time they were reunited, they could not act on them anymore. Endo could have been warning fans about the tragic end of Henderson and Martha’s love story years before it was shown in the manga.

What Happened To Henderson’s Wife?

Master Henderson’s wife could have been killed during the war

During chapter #98 of the Spy X Family manga, it was revealed that Henderson’s parents were forcing him to marry a woman never introduced in the manga. This revelation came shortly after Martha informed Henry about her desire to join the army to protect him and everyone she loved. Despite his reluctance to marry someone other than his best friend, Henry was likely left with no other option after the young woman went to war. The new couple would have a baby early into their new relationship, as often happens during times of conflict.

Still, the fact that Henderson’s wife has not been introduced, as well as the romantic moments he has shared with Martha, may imply that his partner is no longer in the picture. Like what happened to many other characters in the series, Henderson’s wife could have been a victim of the violent conflict between Ostania and Westalis. His wife’s death could have traumatized Henry, preventing him from ever trying to begin a relationship. This could explain why the teacher decided never to act on his lingering feelings for his former classmate.

Nevertheless, it seems as if time has helped them move on and allow themselves to look for happiness once again. In a possible attempt to rekindle their relationship, Henderson asked Martha for a dance during Eden’s yearly ball. This moment mirrors their first time dancing, during Martha’s graduation party. It was during this moment that the Blackbell’s butler found the courage to confess her feelings, although she was interrupted by an enemy attack.

Master Henderson may have wanted them to remember that moment, as well as the love they had for each other.

The relationship between Henry and Martha had been destined to fail since Endo revealed the former’s daughter. Nonetheless, the fact that the two characters still seem to have feelings for each other may point to a possible romance blooming once again between them. The creator of Spy X Family has strongly hinted at this couple finally finding their happy ending after years of struggles.