I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 142

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

“Congratulations.”

The imperial physician smiled and declared to Alteon.

“Both Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Crown Princess are in good health.”

Due to the rapidly progressing labor, not only the imperial physician but also all the attending doctors at the Marquis’ estate were in an emergency state. However, the result was good.

The newborn Crown Princess cried vigorously. While the numerous servants who accompanied the Empress took care of the baby, Alteon held Melanie tightly.

“You worked so hard, really worked so hard.”

“Phew, the second time is still difficult.”

Melanie shook her head back and forth while muttering in an exhausted state. Her hair was soaked with sweat and stuck to her face.

“I definitely remember it hurting this much, so why did I forget about it… I had thoughts like that too.”

Alteon looked at her with a pitying expression and tucked Melanie’s hair behind her ear. Though it was her second childbirth, watching his wife struggle was just as heartbreaking as the first time. That was separate from how lovely the children were.

Melanie smiled gently and changed the subject.

“By the way, we’ve caused trouble for the Marquis’ estate.”

Though the night was quite deep, everyone was unable to sleep. Outside the door, it was obvious that not only Ekian and Judith but even the Meius Marquis and his wife were anxiously waiting for news.

“Should I say it’s fortunate that the labor pains didn’t come during the wedding ceremony…?”

Melanie slowly sighed while leaning her head against Alteon.

Alteon also chuckled and muttered.

“We were prepared for it, but still, to be born in the Marquis’ domain. The Crown Princess must have liked the Marquis’ domain. I wonder if she’ll say she wants to come play often as she grows up.”

At Alteon’s joke, Melanie clicked her tongue and shook her head.

“Then I’ll have to tell her to at least do well as a cousin sister. To repay today’s debt. The Marquis’ wife is also pregnant, so she’s probably not resting either, right? I really feel sorry.”

At those words, Alteon’s eyes widened.

“Sister? Is Ekian and Judith’s child a son?”

“That’s what the Marquis’ wife said earlier.”

Melanie spoke nonchalantly. Alteon also had a somewhat surprised expression but soon smiled and nodded.

“I see. They already knew the gender.”

They had just arrived today and hadn’t even had a proper intimate meal.

It was such a hectic day, and with so many guests, it wasn’t strange that they hadn’t heard about the baby’s gender.

“I thought it was still too early to know the gender.”

“I thought so too, but they knew. Maybe the pregnancy timing was earlier than we thought.”

Judith had both a fake pregnancy and then a real pregnancy. Moreover, she had left the capital before properly announcing the situation to the outside world. So it was natural that everyone lacked confidence in the pregnancy weeks they knew and got confused about other people’s affairs.

“Well then, rest for now.”

Alteon kissed Melanie’s forehead and stood up.

“I should go tell the people waiting outside the news. I’ll be right back. You really worked so hard.”

Ben, Isabella, and Judith were all gathered in one room. Despite the late night, Karl was also awake, drinking milk next to Judith.

When Ekian arrived beside them with a somewhat tired face, the banquet had completely ended. But before they could even greet each other, the newborn’s crying filled the entire Marquis’ estate.

“Finally!”

“At least it didn’t go past midnight.”

“Is Her Majesty the Empress alright?”

“Wow, so this is how newborns cry! They really cry ‘wah wah’ just like they say!”

Everyone jumped up and anxiously said something.

“Sit down, Judith.”

Ekian gently spoke while holding Judith’s hand.

“It’s late at night, so you must be tired.”

“I’m fine. You’re the one who worked hard, Ekian. Entertaining guests all by yourself…”

“Not really.”

Looking at Judith’s worried face, Ekian shook his head.

“But not seeing you for so long was indeed difficult.”

At those words, Karl glared.

“You don’t happen to have a habit of just brushing things off with words, do you?”

Isabella also crossed her arms with a suspicious expression.

“You’re being sincere, right? You’re not deliberately acting overly affectionate in front of us, are you?”

Ben also cleared his throat and said something.

“When Isabella was pregnant, I didn’t let Isabella’s feet even touch the ground.”

“Wow.”

Ekian muttered while firmly holding Judith’s hand.

“This feels like I’ve entered enemy territory.”

“If you planned to take away my daughter-in-law, you should have been prepared for this much.”

Isabella said primly.

“I’ll never let her go easily!”

“You already have.”

Ekian, who cheekily responded to Isabella’s words, made a somewhat fed-up expression. The family was making such a fuss that he hadn’t even had a proper conversation with Judith yet.

Just as he was about to ask Judith if she had any discomfort or if there were any lacking parts in the wedding ceremony, after a clear knock, Alteon entered.

“As expected.”

Alteon, who had seen the new life, looked well. He spoke kindly.

“Everyone was waiting without rest. Both the child and the mother are healthy.”

At those words, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Since it was a sudden birth in an unfamiliar space, everyone had been tense.

“The Empress was very worried about the Marquis’ wife until the end. She said it must be very difficult today and she couldn’t even rest.”

Alteon, who conveyed Melanie’s apology, also smiled warmly at Ekian and said.

“I’m sorry for unintentionally causing trouble at the Marquis’ estate, Ekian.”

“You came all this way to congratulate our wedding and this happened, so we should be the ones feeling sorry and grateful.”

Ekian shook his head in denial. And then continued.

“We will comfortably host Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Crown Princess at the Marquis’ estate until they safely return to the capital.”

That was natural. A mother who had just given birth and a newborn couldn’t possibly make the long journey to the capital right away. Judith also readily chimed in.

“It would be an honor for us even if you rest for a long, long time. Please don’t worry about it.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Alteon smiled brightly and spoke, and Isabella naturally joined in.

“Did you happen to bring all the baby supplies for Her Highness the Crown Princess?”

“We did bring the minimum necessities.”

“Then you can use what I brought for now. I brought plenty of both boy and girl baby clothes from the capital.”

At Isabella’s words, Alteon nodded as if it worked out well.

“I see. Since they’re girl baby clothes, they won’t overlap. Thank you, madam.”

At the words “won’t overlap,” Ekian’s expression momentarily hardened.

Alteon was talking with Isabella and didn’t notice that momentary change in expression, continuing his words.

“The Empress said that since things turned out this way, the Crown Princess must definitely become a good cousin sister. Causing trouble right after being born.”

Then Ben smiled warmly and responded to those words.

“To play with a cousin brother, Her Highness the Crown Princess should also be strong. When Ekian was young, he ran around like a wild child. Well, all boys that age are similar though.”

Even Karl joined in.

“I also promised to play well with my younger sibling! If Her Highness the Crown Princess finds it difficult, then I, as the older brother, can step in!”

“Hmm, then we should also come visit the Marquis’ estate often, Your Majesty.”

Isabella smiled while displaying uncharacteristic sociability.

“I’ve only raised sons and thought I’d be seeing a grandson too, but if Her Highness the Crown Princess comes, that would be interesting to see in its own way.”

Everyone was having a harmonious conversation. But among them, there was someone who had stiffened.

“That…”

Ekian looked at Judith with an unknowingly trembling voice and asked.

“The child…”

Judith also had a very troubled expression, as if she hadn’t expected things to turn out this way.

“Ah, ah, it was a son?”

Suddenly, the room that had been filled with affectionate words was enveloped in silence.

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