I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 111

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

Paul, the bakery owner, clicked his tongue as he watched Judith and Huyd’s retreating figures.

‘If only they’d let me be the child’s godfather, I could really take care of that child for life without any worries about food or shelter…’

Judith had responded to those words like a joke and let it pass. However, there was actually regret contained in those words.

Originally, Huyd was supposed to become the child’s godfather, but in Paul’s eyes, it looked like Huyd would become that child’s adoptive father. No, he thought that would really be wonderful.

Judith had firmly stated that Huyd was a friend, but what man in the world would look at a friend with such eyes?

Watching them shop and stroll together so harmoniously, not just Paul but others were thinking the same thing.

They stick together like perfect newlyweds, so please let things work out well!

She’s already a teacher who’s smart and clever, gaining recognition throughout the estate without anyone realizing it, so please let her live happily and comfortably with that decent man!

“Hey, I asked for some cookies. Are you spacing out?”

So Paul, who couldn’t take his eyes off their retreating figures even with Tian from the manor standing right in front of him, answered sheepishly.

“No, she’s Anne’s teacher, you see. I was just so grateful.”

“Ah, that new teacher who came to the school? Smith was talking about that. Said she was incredibly smart and rational. She even helped Smith with some documents he was struggling with.”

Smith was one of the staff members who managed the estate’s administration. He was also the person who had first granted Judith permission for the temporary teaching position.

“So that’s why you were so eager to give her something?”

“Yeah. If you hadn’t come, I probably would have made some excuse to give her even more.”

“But what can you do? Someone important is coming.”

At Paul’s words, Tian shrugged and said.

“This is really a secret… but apparently it’s not just any ordinary important person. There’s talk of a Marquis.”

“A Marquis? Was there such a person in the Empire?”

“Apparently so. It’s about the higher-ups in the distant capital… how would we know? They say he’s the Crown Prince’s brother. Then wouldn’t he be of higher rank than even our lord?”

“Probably so?”

Tian and Paul tilted their heads at each other as they finished their conversation. They didn’t know much about the upper echelons anyway.

Having been born and raised in this domain, they hadn’t even received basic education. Therefore, they couldn’t help but be slow to understand anything.

‘You know, Dad. Our teacher told us we need to learn. She said that by learning, we come to understand the world better, and that way we can live richer lives.

So when he heard such words from Anne, he was deeply grateful to the new teacher.

Living in a state of ignorance, just doing ‘what you’re told’ might be comfortable at first… but as time passes, you can’t help but feel frustrated somewhere in your heart.

“Anyway, I hope things get sorted out somehow. It’s vaguely unsettling not knowing anything.”

Paul clicked his tongue.

“Why the barbarians attacked, why they suddenly left, whether there will be additional raids… it’s frustrating that no one explains anything.”

“Exactly.”

Tian pouted and answered in a lowered voice.

“If we act on our own, they’ll fine us heavily for acting independently. I hope someone comes before something happens.”

“But then I worry what if someone even more vicious than the original lord comes. It’s unknowable, but still.”

“Right. Remember when the lord’s brother came recently? As soon as he arrived, he ordered them to gather all the pretty unmarried women in the estate.”

Tian trembled with indignation as he recalled that time.

Originally, the lord of Aarten was someone who always ruled tyrannically with the Emperor’s protection behind him, but when his brother came to visit, they experienced something even worse.

Since that had happened recently, that incident remained like a nightmare in people’s memories. Paul even felt grateful that Anne was young.

“What if someone’s even worse than that bastard?”

“Exactly. It would be fortunate if they just ordered to bring beautiful women. What if it’s someone with unusual sexual preferences?”

Paul also frowned deeply as if he didn’t want to imagine it.

Thus the topic was concluded once again. There was nothing more to discuss since they lacked information.

“Anyway, the manor seems to be thinking around three days from now. Important people always move slowly, you know. So bake plenty of cookies for delivery on that day.”

“Three days… Got it.”

Paul slowly nodded.

“I’ll deliver them at dawn three days from now.”

However, to conclude, those words would not be kept.

Because the ‘important person’ who was rumored to be coming in three days burst into Arten territory the day after that conversation took place.

“I-I-I greet Your Grace the Marquis.”

The lord’s manor was instantly thrown into emergency.

The imperial decree from the capital had arrived late to begin with. Alteon’s intention was hidden in that matter too – he was worried that if word got out beforehand, it might cause a commotion in Aarten, an estate without a master.

If it became known that the former Meius Marquis, current Marquis Ekian, was being assigned to this estate, people would obviously flock to Aarten from early on.

Alteon didn’t want to add the chaos of other nobles flocking to an already chaotic estate.

So the decree arrived a bit late, and Ekian moved as quickly as possible. To be honest, even Alteon hadn’t expected Ekian to arrive at Arten territory so quickly.

“That… ah, we’re not, um, fully prepared to receive Your Grace yet…”

Hastily, everyone from vassals to manor servants gathered and bowed their heads.

The newly arrived Marquis truly bore the imperial surname and was a handsome man with similar features to the Emperor they had recently served.

However, the atmosphere he exuded was so eerie that no one could properly look at those dark red eyes.

According to the Crown Prince’s decree, he was the person who would be responsible for the chaotic Arten territory for the time being.

But the quick-witted vassals instantly realized that ‘for the time being’ could become ‘forever.’ They even understood that this place might become a ducal territory if things went well.

“Skip the tedious procedures.”

Ekian instructed with a cold expression, not even having eaten.

“I’ll handle the most urgent matters first. Give authority to the soldiers I brought to search the area, and have whoever was in charge of administration and finances bring the documents I specify to the study.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Everyone present was secretly relieved.

They were fortunate it wasn’t an order to prepare a banquet immediately since he had traveled far, or to gather the prettiest women in the estate.

The memory of the lord’s brother recently giving the ridiculous order to ‘gather the beauties of this region’ and everyone being horrified was still vivid.

‘Anyway, it seems he really intends to work!’

Everyone felt relieved as they gathered stacks of documents.

The Marquis even grasped work priorities and processed them at amazing speed, and everyone was amazed by his work capability that was incomparable to the previous lord.

Some vassals even changed their opinion of him within hours, secretly thinking ‘I hope the Marquis becomes the master of this estate.’

However, after handling all the urgent matters throughout the morning, the Marquis commanded.

“Identify all young women with green eyes in this estate, investigate their personal details, and bring me the list.”

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