I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 144

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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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The man she loved.

The person she loved.

At those words, Ekian’s entire body seemed to melt and collapse. Even though he had been prepared to accept being the ‘sixth,’ hearing those words brought forth a vivid desire.

He couldn’t be just a husband. He couldn’t be just the father of their child together. He especially couldn’t be just a connection to people she was grateful for and cherished.

Unless he was this woman’s one and only man, he could never be satisfied with this life.

“Ha.”

Eventually, Ekian pulled her tightly into his arms, buried his face in her nape, and let out a sigh.

“You really have no idea how anxious you make me feel.”

“That doesn’t seem like something to say on our wedding day.”

Judith pressed her soft body against him and spoke playfully.

“Her Majesty the Empress even scolded me, saying I accepted too easily. So I thought I hadn’t made you suffer much?”

“That’s exactly why you accepted so easily. Love and hate go together, but since you didn’t hate me much, I wondered if you didn’t love me much either.”

“There was no opposition from those around us, and everyone congratulated us.”

“That’s exactly the problem. Too much happiness for too many people depends on this marriage.”

“Oh, really.”

Finally, Judith irritably smacked his back once.

“What do you want me to do? Should I try being difficult about accepting you? Get away from me right now.”

“Of course that won’t do.”

Ekian whined with one remark and then laid her down on the sofa. Judith shot him a sharp look as he climbed on top of her.

“I said get away?”

“Everyone cleared out for us, so why would I get away?”

“I don’t think they cleared out for this.”

“For what? Don’t tell me…”

Ekian cheekily raised his eyebrows, then immediately kissed her cheek, forehead, and nape audibly.

Gently holding and pinning Judith’s wrists, he grinned.

“For this?”

“…Yes.”

With a flushed face, she avoided his eyes. Even now, whenever physical contact became a little intense, she would always get embarrassed like this. That look was so lovable that he wanted to make her even more disheveled.

Yet he was always curious. Since Ekian had received Judith’s confession anyway, he decided to voice the question that had been bothering him.

“But Judith, I have a question. Why don’t you look at my face during times like this?”

“What?”

“When we were making our baby, you didn’t avoid my face this much… Don’t tell me it’s better when you don’t look at my face?”

As he spoke, he felt a bit strange. When she had been intimate with him without being able to see his face, Judith had definitely been much more active than now.

Although they were both being very careful now because of the baby in her belly, her overall attitude was different.

Since they reunited, whenever something like this happened, she wouldn’t even try to make eye contact…

‘Maybe she really does find a masked face more attractive? She was always wearing a mask back then? Could it be that she has a tendency to be more attracted to people with covered faces?’

If that were the case, he would have to immediately remove all masks from Akiten Estate and issue a ban on ‘masks and everything that covers faces.’ And he would have to find out the schedule of every masquerade ball in the Empire and plan to never go near those places during those times for the rest of his life.

As Judith hesitated at his question, Ekian pressed his anxious lips to the corner of her mouth and whispered.

“Then should I wear a mask from now on whenever I want to kiss you?”

“What?”

“Or Judith, would you like to cover your eyes like back then?”

Ekian asked seriously.

“Actually, I don’t have that kind of preference, but if you want it, of course…”

“Oh, what are you talking about!”

Judith couldn’t stand it and frowned irritably.

“Preference? Why are you suddenly talking nonsense?”

“Well, if it’s not a preference, then why can’t you look at my face properly during times like this?”

“That’s because!”

She looked at his face with angry eyes and breathed heavily for a moment, then blushed again and turned her head away.

“See! You’re turning your head away again!”

“That’s because!”

Under Ekian’s interrogation, Judith finally squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.

“You’re too handsome!”

This was an answer he hadn’t even thought of. Ekian lost his words for a moment and just looked down at Judith.

“Wh-when I see you up close, it’s too stimulating…”

Her lips, mumbling as if embarrassed, were already glistening with his saliva.

It was definitely stimulating.

Her reddened eyes, disheveled hair, flushed ears, her chest rising and falling as she breathed heavily…

Did Judith feel this sensation of reason snapping when she looked at his face?

“Aha.”

Ekian curved his eyes and brought his face close to follow Judith’s gaze, pressing their foreheads together.

“I had it backwards. This was actually your preference.”

“Oh, really…”

When he gently kissed her lips once more and mixed their breaths, she let out a soft moan. Her cheeks were thoroughly flushed as she finally closed her eyes as if she couldn’t bear it.

“I’ll believe you.”

“…Wh-what?”

“That it’s not because I’m the sixth that I was the sixth to know our baby’s gender.”

“There’s nothing to believe or not believe.”

Judith said while breathing heavily.

“That’s the truth. If you won’t believe it, then really get away.”

“Why do you keep telling me to get away? We’re lovers.”

“Anyway, not here…”

When the baby was mentioned, some reason seemed to return, and she began to twist her body under him.

“Other people might come in at any time… Just get away for now.”

“No. I’m afraid you’ll run away again.”

“Oh, what are you really saying!”

“If you tell me again that you love me, that you like me, I might let you go for a moment. I’m still anxious.”

Now an expression of disbelief began to spread across Judith’s face. She twisted her wrists free from his grip and slapped him once.

“Is that something to say on our wedding day?”

“Since I’ve started to look pathetic anyway, let me say it all – I want constant confirmation that you can’t do without me either. Not Master, not Ekian Meius, but me as I am right now…”

He looked at her with dark eyes and shrugged his shoulders.

“Though no one else would understand.”

At those words, Judith’s eyes wavered slightly. She must have felt some sympathy for his life, having experienced his foundation crumbling overnight.

“Judith. Promise me that you’ll always stay by my side, for me who will always be anxious.”

And Ekian was prepared to fully exploit that sympathy.

If only he could monopolize her.

“Hmm?”

“I promise.”

Indeed, Judith nodded.

“Today was the occasion to make that promise socially. That we’d stay together by each other’s side for life.”

“You already broke that social promise once. I can’t trust it.”

“Then how should we make a private promise?”

Just then.

A cautious knock was heard.

“Um, Ekian?”

It was Isabella.

“I know your feelings are very hurt, but you still have sins to atone for, so shouldn’t you accept that? Try a little harder to build trust. Don’t bother poor Judith for no reason. Okay?”

She was taking Judith’s side without being able to come in. After a moment of silence, Alteon’s voice followed.

“I don’t know if this will be comforting, but, um, I also heard it from the Empress. I didn’t hear it directly from the Marquis’s wife. So you’re not the sixth, but strictly speaking, the fifth.”

Judith and Ekian’s eyes met at close range. Judith cleared her throat and then spoke toward the outside.

“Yes, I’m handling it well right now. Ekian is also gradually accepting that something went wrong with the situation.”

“Really? Then would it be okay for me to come in?”

“No! That… Ekian isn’t in a good state right now! Just, just don’t worry and go rest!”

Well, he certainly wasn’t in a good state. Ekian awkwardly pulled his swollen thigh back.

A moment later, Isabella’s sigh could be heard.

“Oh my, he must be crying. It would be sad, I suppose. I understand.”

As the sound of footsteps faded away, Judith pulled Ekian’s head toward her and kissed him. Without words, they both knew. It was their ‘private promise’ to be together for life.

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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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