I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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As soon as Ekian returned to the capital, he grasped the entire situation.

Judith had demanded a divorce, Isabella had not delivered his letter, and ultimately she had left the Duke’s Mansion before his return.

And whatever abilities Judith possessed, despite the Emperor’s retainers, Alteon’s retainers, and even Meius’ retainers who joined later all searching throughout the Empire, no one could find her.

“What on earth….”

Ekian’s eyes shook with confusion.

“What, what did I miss….”

His retainer who had been attached to Ron Dale had noticed Ron’s scheme in advance and even warned Judith. The Judith he knew would never act rashly and would have waited quietly at the Duke’s Mansion. She wasn’t a woman who found being confined or staying still frustrating, and above all, she had a personality that would never do anything reckless.

That’s why even when doing various things with him, she only stepped forward when it was absolutely safe. But she left the Duke’s Mansion in such a dangerous situation? Without telling anyone? Why on earth?

What had he missed about her?

“E, Ekian.”

Alteon couldn’t lift his face in front of him.

Everyone wore troubled expressions before Ekian, who seemed to be facing a disaster. It was a gathering with Alteon and Melanie, as well as Isabella and Ben.

Originally, this meeting was meant to announce and celebrate Ekian’s achievements, and to reorganize his bloodline.

Isabella and Ben belatedly learned what negotiations Ekian had made with Alteon after learning about his biological parents upon returning with black hair, and how he would reclaim the Imperial Family’s castle in the future. They even discussed giving Ekian the Arten territory and deciding that Karl would be better as the successor to the Meius Ducal House.

In some ways, it was a situation where quite important truths and the future were being revealed.

However, Ekian’s expression was so hardened that no one could bring up anything about it. The topic just kept circling back to Judith’s disappearance.

“What should we do? What on earth should we… What should we do? Perhaps there’s some misunderstanding… No, but still, a misunderstanding is….”

From Alteon’s perspective, it was understandable that he was restless since Judith had left after sending Ekian far away. The same was true for Isabella.

“I, I didn’t know…. And even if I had known, I don’t think Judith should have continued being your wife. That child also had to find her own happiness, didn’t she?”

Ekian didn’t give any particular response to Alteon and Isabella. He knew it wasn’t their fault.

The Ekian they saw wasn’t Judith’s husband, after all. That made sense, since Ekian Meius had not officially stayed by Judith’s side.

The only person who knew their story was Ekian Meius himself.

And only then did he realize the cause of this problem. He had thought he left temporarily for a perfect situation after taking care of every detail, but all those actions had been meaningless.

Because the most important thing was missing.

The truth.

He was the only one who knew the truth between him and Judith. That was the problem. Because he had hidden it.

Only then did he face his own mistake. There was a desire within him so ugly and shameful that even he couldn’t confront it.

He wanted to approach Judith as a man who couldn’t be replaced by anyone else.

After solving all the problems that had entangled him, he wanted to stand before her as the lord of Arten territory, as an archduke who was the Emperor’s brother.

He wanted to become the savior of her who was just smiling while trapped in misfortune.

After seeing her being ridiculed in high society, he made Judith an archduchess. He hoped she would become someone no one could mock.

He didn’t want her to solve any of his problems. He wanted to appear in her life as the one perfect man.

That’s why he had hidden it. Since he hid it from her, the most important person, he didn’t tell the rest either.

Because of that heart that wanted to hide and keep hiding, everyone’s good intentions had gathered terribly to reach this point. Rather than blaming someone, he should regret his own ugly inner self.

‘Judith….’

Ekian thought as he felt his blood boiling and his head spinning.

‘I, I was wrong….’

That was all. It was his fault.

Perhaps she didn’t need someone to suddenly pull her out of the swamp of darkness, but just someone to smile beside her and hold her hand.

“Please… understand Judith….”

Looking at Ekian’s dazed face, Melanie carefully spoke up.

“Miscarriage… is really a big deal for a woman. If you think she went through that alone… I think… um, she’d hate the sight of you….”

At those words, not only Ekian but also Isabella and Ben let out deep sighs.

“And being alone without her husband throughout the pregnancy… that’s really anxious and heartbreaking. I too desperately want to accept Judith as family, but still, understanding that feeling itself is….”

Then Ben slowly stepped forward.

“Your Highness the Crown Princess, since we’ve come this far, it seems meaningless to hide it, so I’ll tell you. Actually, Judith was never pregnant.”

At those words, Alteon and Melanie’s eyes widened. Naturally, Isabella and Ekian showed no change in expression. Ben continued with a devastated face.

“Since Ekian was missing the entire time, we couldn’t accept the death report for missing persons that occurs after 5 years, so we fabricated it. I certified that she was pregnant with Meius bloodline, and bribed the attending physicians to arrange the marriage… Of course, it was wrong. I admit the wrongdoing.”

“W, w, wait….”

“That’s how Ekian returned, and after that, Ekian simply wanted to maintain married life with Judith, so they didn’t divorce.”

“Wait, wait. Just wait.”

“Since she couldn’t give birth to a child that didn’t exist, saying she miscarried was inevitable. Therefore, Judith has never been pregnant or had a miscarriage. Revealing this should help with future tracking.”

“J, just a moment!”

Melanie turned pale and shouted.

“Some, something seems wrong. Judith was pregnant! I’m certain!”

Everyone looked at Melanie as if she were strange. Melanie hurriedly pulled a bell cord. Then one of her maids approached her.

“This child has been trained by a physician to detect pregnancy. Last time, at the Soden Marquis’ Annex, she checked at Judith’s request whether the baby in her belly was doing well. Right? Tell them what you felt.”

The maid who was hastily summoned due to Melanie’s command answered with a bewildered expression.

“Well… when I saw her last time, Lady Judith was indeed pregnant. The baby in her belly was fine too.”

Ben and Isabella looked at each other’s faces. This was a situation they hadn’t even considered. After hesitating a bit, Ben tilted his head and asked.

“She’s not even a doctor… couldn’t she have been mistaken?”

“So far, she’s been accurate about everything. Of course, since I’m not a doctor… um… but she’s never been wrong….”

Something flashed through Ekian’s mind as he blinked blankly. Ekian’s eyes flashed as he asked.

“When was that?”

“Pardon?”

“The date when you confirmed the pregnancy. Exactly when was it?”

Melanie hurriedly checked the calendar.

“This day… it was this day.”

Ekian’s face became serious as he confirmed the date Melanie pointed to.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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