I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 149

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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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“Excuse me.”

Judith looked down at him sitting in his seat and said.

“Aren’t you going to look for your handkerchief?”

“I never lost it in the first place. You know that. It was just an excuse.”

“Haven’t you finished all your business?”

“I just thought I needed some rest too, so I decided to stay for a while.”

The lion mask spoke brazenly. Only then did Judith take notice of the boy’s attire, which was clearly made of very luxurious and expensive fabric.

‘I don’t want to get involved.’

Judith instinctively sensed that this boy was quite a big shot. It wasn’t that she didn’t get along well with young lords, but if she had been a young lady who usually paid a lot of attention to young lords, she would definitely have been able to recognize who this boy was.

Hadn’t he even seemed to subtly reign over the group of boys earlier?

‘It would be troublesome if this boy turned out to be Ekian Meius.’

Due to the nature of this imperfect masquerade ball, eventually everyone’s identity would be revealed as time passed. Not just the lion mask, but things like clothing colors, buttons, and shoes were all clues that could reveal one’s identity.

So Judith simply bowed her head.

“Oh, um… Please do so. Then I’ll be going.”

“If you’re the type who dislikes being the center of attention, I wouldn’t really recommend going out right now. When the owl mask young lady appears, everyone will crowd around asking if you’re okay. I think the fortune teller’s prophecy won’t be forgotten until the first song ends.”

“Would it really be that much?”

“Because the young lady who was right behind you ended up crying.”

“What?”

“After hesitating, she eventually gave up on getting her fortune read, saying she was too scared. She kept sobbing, wondering what she’d do if she got the same prophecy as the owl mask. So now everyone knows what prophecy the ‘owl mask’ received.”

Judith pressed her forehead. She had acted as inconspicuously as possible, but Anais behind her had done something that properly drew attention.

What had probably been just a rumor of ‘she received a bad prophecy’ had undoubtedly been inflated to ‘she received such a terrible curse that the young lady behind her was trembling and couldn’t even get her fortune read.’

“I’ll offer comfort if you need it in the meantime.”

The boy said gently.

“Consider it payment for a rather amusing prank.”

“It’s fine. I don’t really believe in it, so I don’t need comfort. I’m already getting fuzzy on what was even said.”

“Still, it could be bothersome. You might keep thinking about it once you actually become an adult.”

“I wonder.”

Judith shrugged her shoulders. But anyway, the boy’s offer of comfort wasn’t bad, so she slowly turned around and sat down next to him.

“Actually, I… didn’t think it was the absolute worst.”

And only after quietly voicing her inner thoughts did she realize. It turned out she had needed ‘comfort’ after all.

Not the fuss of friends who treated it as mere entertainment, but someone who would quietly agree saying ‘It’s okay. I don’t believe in such things either’ and stay by her side.

Perhaps that’s why she didn’t dislike having this well-mannered boy who had suddenly appeared sitting beside her.

“That’s not the worst?”

“Yes.”

Judith nodded her head vigorously.

“Anyway, it’s a story about safely becoming an adult, getting married, and having children. Two of them, even. Since life with the first child was good, wouldn’t that mean I’d think to have a second child too?”

The boy couldn’t really continue the conversation. It seemed awkward for him to deliberately insert the middle parts about divorce and taking someone else’s things.

“Getting divorced means I at least wouldn’t live enduring a terrible marriage… And having options means there are places I can go, so I think it’s not bad.”

Actually, just becoming an adult in the first place was good.

Children who needed others’ protection had many restrictions.

A noble young lady who couldn’t live alone or earn money had nothing to rely on but her family’s love. So Judith couldn’t depend on anyone.

At least now she was old enough to wander the streets and find her way home alone. Judith remembered when she was younger.

Seven years old, perhaps.

It was the day Mother had a big fight with that servant.

‘Miss will eventually abandon me anyway! Isn’t that why you created such an enviable family? Right? If only I, if only I disappeared, Miss’s life would be perfect!’

How had Mother responded then.

Anyway, that day Mother took Judith’s hand for the first time and went out to the streets. All the maids and wet nurses had been dismissed.

Mother went with Judith to a hotel. It was Judith’s first time there, and she learned later that it was a place frequently visited by truly wealthy high-ranking nobles.

In that dazzling, glittering paradise-like place, Mother looked around and ordered an afternoon tea set. Pretty plates and sweet desserts spread out before them like gifts.

Mother said nothing, just crossed her arms and watched the people around them. There were well-dressed nobles enjoying elaborate desserts with their respective families.

It was the first time spending such time with Mother. So Judith was desperately observing other families too.

She smiled as brightly as possible, just like other girls. Her tongue went numb from the excessive sweetness, but she still tried to eat this and that deliciously, trying to appear lovable.

Because she could guess why Mother had brought her here. To experience the ‘Miss’s life that would be perfect if only I disappeared’ that the servant had mentioned. Back then, the Ailan Baronial Family was quite wealthy, and Mother was in a position to afford such high noble entertainment with her daughter.

So Judith instinctively wanted Mother to be happy. Just as she was extremely happy now, she wanted Mother to enjoy this time and keep coming to places like this with her.

‘Mother, it’s really delicious.’

Judith kept eating macarons without even knowing what they tasted like.

‘Would you like to try this chocolate? It has strawberries inside.’

‘…I’ll just go to the restroom for a moment.’

Mother spoke in a low voice and stood up. And she didn’t return for a long time.

Judith finally stopped reaching for macarons. Nausea rose up, but she swallowed it down. Instead, she gulped down water.

Even after emptying an entire glass of water, Mother didn’t return. Worry suddenly flooded over her.

What if Mother didn’t come back?

What if she had the realization that ‘this kind of life isn’t my life. I really don’t need a daughter or husband after all’ and just went to meet the servant, abandoning me instead of the servant?

Had she paid the bill? How would she get home without a carriage? Would they send me home from here? This neighborhood was unfamiliar and she didn’t know the way…

The seven-year-old girl’s mind worked frantically. The further her thoughts stretched, the more anxious she became.

Mother didn’t come until sunset. People at the tables gradually began to leave, and Judith trembled with anxiety but couldn’t cry.

“Phew, let’s go.”

When all the tables were empty and only Judith remained alone, Mother came. She said nothing even seeing that Judith’s plate remained untouched.

Instead, she paid the bill and returned to the baron’s manor, and Judith felt relieved even at that cold retreating figure.

That day Mother must have felt it. That all these good things were precious, but she couldn’t live on them alone. That she absolutely couldn’t give up her love either. So after that, Mother never spent such time with Judith again.

‘It was creepy. Just acting in front of others like other beloved daughters. I can’t live such a fake life. I really do need you.’

She also remembered Mother vaguely saying those words to the servant as they reconciled. Of course, Judith had learned something that day too.

That children couldn’t do anything without adults. That she had to desperately try not to be abandoned.

During those few hours when Mother didn’t appear, she had truly been as helpless as if in hell.

So she wanted to become an adult quickly. Growing day by day and being able to do more things alone was a good thing.

“It’s really not bad.”

So Judith spoke sincerely to the boy before her.

“As long as I can safely become an adult who can do something, whether I get divorced or have children alone, that’s my life, so I can just accept it.”

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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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