I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 15

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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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Of course, if that had been the case, she would have given her enough money so she wouldn’t need to live as a maid. From Sera’s perspective, since remarriage was common culture among commoners, it wouldn’t be much of a loss. Though she was from a foreign country, she could always return to her homeland.

‘Even if Ekian were to return by any chance… she seems like a child who would know how to withdraw rationally.’

But there was no need to think about Sera any further. Isabella put down her fork.

The fewer people who knew about this matter, the better. If Judith already knew about her plan, then it was right for her to do it. Judith had already caught her fancy anyway.

“Well then Karl, finish your dessert and go upstairs. I need to go to the garden to prepare for receiving a guest.”

“A guest?”

“Yes. I’ll introduce you to her later.”

Since Judith would be entering as Ekian’s wife, she would have to live as family with Karl for several months. Of course, since Karl was still young, she had no intention of telling him the truth.

When Isabella postponed the introduction for now, Karl answered indifferently with a face that showed he wasn’t particularly interested.

“Yes.”

Isabella, who had been watching Karl as he began to dig into his dessert with his fork, rose with light movements and headed to the garden.

Since Judith had said the roses in the garden were pretty, she planned to prepare a tea table over there.

Even if she had the maids handle the miscellaneous tasks, she needed to decide where to place the table herself.

It was while Isabella was examining the area near the pretty rose vines in the garden.

“Madam!”

There was a woman running toward her from the garden, clutching her skirts. It was Judith, with her wavy red hair tied high with a plain cloth, wearing a modest beige dress and somewhat worn shoes. Isabella frowned and muttered.

“…Judith?”

Though they had made an appointment, it was still too early to start tea time. It was because lunch had just ended.

She had always been calm, and she didn’t seem like the type of child who would act so impulsively from the start.

Isabella looked at Judith, who had suddenly appeared, with surprised eyes.

Karl finished his dessert completely in front of the butler and stood up. His desire not to worry the Duke’s wife was sincere. After that, Karl headed to the rear garden.

“Young master.”

Sera, who had been waiting for him sitting on a bench in the garden, greeted Karl with a bright smile among the flowers.

“Did you have a good meal?”

“Yes.”

“Madam must have been really pleased.”

Karl nodded and answered Sera’s words.

“That’s right, well. But I couldn’t dine with her until the end.”

“Oh my, why not?”

“Mother got up first saying she had to go to the garden to prepare for receiving a guest.”

Sera’s lips curved into a soft arc. In fact, she asked for confirmation even though she knew the reason.

As expected, the Duke’s wife and all the other maids would be in the garden. This matched the information she had obtained this morning.

Sera quietly watched Karl as he jumped onto the swing positioned in the garden.

Behind the boy who was swinging his feet alone, the silhouette of a young man who used to push the swing spread like a phantom. There was a time when she believed without doubt that those affectionate eyes directed at Karl would someday turn toward her.

Five years ago…

Ekian, Karl, and herself. When the three of them were together like this, it felt like flying in the sky. No other maid got to spend time with the young masters so often. That fact lifted her heart even higher than the swing Karl was riding.

‘It was only possible for me, Sera Otten.’

Everyone envied and was jealous, but on the other hand, they also acknowledged that if it was Sera, she could do that.

Sera was the prettiest among the maids and exceptionally clever. Not only did she learn to read quickly without a teacher, but she was also good at foreign languages.

‘Someone like me couldn’t possibly end up as an ordinary maid.’

The pouring jealousy made her even more conceited. And it even made her rationalize her greed that she could never become like the other maids.

There were countless servants in the Duke’s mansion who had crushes on her, but she had never shown interest in even one of them.

Sera was thinking of marrying Ekian. Marriage between a maid and a young duke was naturally uncommon, but it wasn’t unheard of either. Even fairy tales featured this theme quite often, didn’t they?

When even royalty was marrying commoners claiming love? Of course it fell apart quickly, but they did hold a national wedding ceremony anyway.

‘I was childhood friends with Lord Ekian.’

It was separate from Ekian keeping his distance and drawing lines with her. Sera thought every night as she sat on the swing where Karl had sat, swinging her feet vigorously.

If I continue to stay close to Karl like this and time accumulates, Lord Ekian will also open his heart to me. I’m pretty, and I’m this smart.

I was born to the wrong parents, but I’m originally someone who should live a noble’s life.

I’ll command all these maids under me and become a member of the Meius Ducal House.

I’m not an ordinary commoner. I’m a commoner close to nobility.

Young Duke Ekian and I will make a perfect match. He’s the only man who suits me.

So when Ekian disappeared, she couldn’t believe that her dream had crumbled. Returning to being an ordinary maid was an enormous frustration for her.

Though she had never held noble status, along with her long-cherished love, she somehow felt as if something had been stolen from her by someone.

Perhaps that was why. Sera felt exhilaration from subtly tormenting Karl. She felt she wouldn’t be able to bear it if she couldn’t feel that she could still control those times when she thought she was close to nobility.

‘See. Young Master Karl only listens to me.’

Karl, who was called a genius, was depending on her. Destroying the only remaining heir was destroying the ducal house.

‘This ducal house is ultimately in my hands. I’m different from other maids!’

There was no Duke’s wife, and no other watching eyes. Sera took out a medicine bottle from her bosom.

“Young master, this is it. A potion that will make you vomit everything you’ve eaten. I went out to the city last night and barely managed to get it.”

Delight flickered in Karl’s eyes. Karl quickly took the medicine bottle and asked with sparkling eyes.

“Really… if I become a child who doesn’t grow well and gets sick a lot, will brother come back?”

“Of course.”

“As you said, I told them to dismiss the tutor and that I wouldn’t receive knights’ training.”

Karl said while gripping the medicine bottle tightly.

“If I’m living well, then that won’t do. Receiving heir education as if something went well seems like too thoughtless an action, as you said. Thank you for telling me.”

“Not at all. It was all just something I said for your sake, young master.”

Sera smiled brightly and stroked Karl’s head.

“I also hope Young Duke returns soon… I miss those times when the three of us were together so much…”

For a moment, the leaves of the large oak tree behind her moved, but no one noticed.

Inside that tree, lush enough to easily hide a person, a large leaf fluttered and fell even though there was no wind.

When even the branches moved slightly, a bird that had been resting at the very top of the tree was startled and flew up with a flutter.

“If Young Master Karl is doing too well, everyone will misunderstand.”

Sera, standing with her back to the oak tree, said gently.

“They’ll say that Young Master Karl must be happy that Lord Ekian disappeared.”

“Ah…”

“At this rate, you’ll soon become the young duke. So the timing is even worse.”

“You’re right. You’re absolutely right.”

Karl said gloomily while holding the medicine bottle. Even the sunlight streaming through the leaves couldn’t brighten the boy’s dark face.

“For five years there’s been no evidence that he’s alive, so brother will soon be declared dead… But it makes no sense for me to be doing well.”

“Exactly.”

Sera, who had the same dark expression as Karl, sighed and nodded.

“Of course, His Grace and Madam would want you to do well because they care about you… but we have to consider outside eyes too. Of course, it would be even better if Lord Ekian returned because he was worried about you, Karl.”

“Right.”

“So drink it quickly. That’s the way to care for Lord Ekian.”

Sera sniffled and wiped away tears several times, then opened the medicine bottle cap with her white, long fingers and said.

“Young master, from now on I’ll bring this medicine after meal times. Then without worrying His Grace and Madam…”

That was when it happened.

“Don’t!”

With a shrill scream, someone rushed over in an instant. And knocked away the medicine bottle that was in Karl’s hand.

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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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