I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 152
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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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He started speaking in short sentences before turning two, and could read letters at three and a half.
“Wow, as expected of the young marquis….”
“The future of the marquis’ domain looks very bright.”
He had black hair and red eyes like his father, but his facial features themselves resembled Judith. So the child was growing up as a gentle-looking boy with chubby cheeks and black hair tied up high.
“Oh my, young marquis. You are truly the best.”
“The young marquis has won, ahahahahaha!”
The child was loved by everyone in the marquis’ domain.
It was inevitable. Because Judith wasn’t a marquis’ wife who just stayed cooped up in the marquis’ estate.
She built schools with the people of the marquis’ domain and taught some children directly, and just as she had done before becoming the marquis’ wife, she would personally hold the child’s hand and wander around the market.
So Alex was accustomed from a very young age to going out and receiving praise from strangers.
Judith and Ekian recognized the problem when the child turned four.
“Alex is a genius.”
Alex suddenly said this while eating.
“I ate my soup faster than Father!”
It was an ordinary conversation, but Judith keenly noticed.
Yesterday, the day before, and the day before that too… it seemed like Alex had said similar things?
“I’m better at dice games than Paul! I win every day! Ahahahahaha!”
Judith realized from her long experience as a tutor. The child was becoming arrogant.
In the marquis’ domain, the child was receiving nothing but endless praise, compliments, love and affection. Of course it was a good thing, but the problem was that the child was accepting it too naturally.
After turning four, Alex would play various games, and most people would deliberately lose to the heir of the marquis’ domain.
‘This won’t do. He’s growing up too naively among adults. At this rate, he’ll grow up to be a child who only shows off everywhere and can’t endure even a little frustration.’
Judith swallowed dryly.
‘I think we need to create experiences for him to interact with peers.’
But there were no little kids in this marquis’ domain who didn’t know Alex’s identity.
Even if they put Alex among his peers, it was obvious that the parents would be horrified and strictly tell their own children to keep their mouths shut.
‘Of all things, he’s smart… so he’s becoming even more conceited.’
Judith thought for a moment and then sent a letter to Isabella.
She thought Isabella, who had raised the similarly smart Karl, could give appropriate advice.
Isabella soon sent a reply.
[That’s right. Karl had some of those tendencies too.
But Karl had Ekian. Because he had an older brother who was growing up well, he was able to develop the social skills typical of a younger sibling.
Of course, Ekian caused bigger problems by running away from home, but anyway, I think I received a lot of help from Ekian around that time.
How about bringing Alex to visit the Meius Mansion?
We also have a thirteen-year-old child here.
If he spends a few days with his smart older brother, wouldn’t Alex realize that his world isn’t everything?]
Judith’s eyes widened with delight.
[We miss Alex so much too. Karl also sings every day saying he misses Alex so much.
Besides, lately Karl is… going through puberty.
He keeps talking as if to say ‘I was born smart, but what have my parents ever done?’ It’s very annoying.
I’m scolding him harshly, but it seems like our family also needs new stimulation.
Honestly, during the 5 years when Ekian was missing… it’s true that I neglected Karl.
If Alex is okay with it, I’d like him to stay here for a few days. Discuss it with Ekian once.]
Alex naturally followed the Meius Marquis couple very well.
On paper they were strangers, but he still considered the Meius Marquis couple as his grandparents. That was natural since he called them grandmother and grandfather, and saw them so often.
Alex, who still didn’t understand complicated relationships well, asked ‘But why do grandmother and grandfather have different surnames from me?’ Isabella jokingly answered ‘Because I’m both your maternal grandmother and paternal grandmother to our Alex, right?’ and they got through it somehow.
“Ekian.”
Judith ran to Ekian with the letter.
“How about sending Alex to the Meius Ducal House for a few days? To spend some time with Karl.”
The Meius Family always came to visit the marquis’ domain for young Alex. So even though 4 years had passed since Alex was born, they had never been to the Meius Mansion.
“Come to think of it, it really has been a long time since we went to the capital.”
Ekian nodded while looking at documents.
“It seems like it would be good to go once. Alex is now big enough for that kind of travel.”
“That’s right. Come to think of it, we’ve never been on a trip together.”
Originally they had planned to go on a honeymoon after having the child.
But once they actually had the child, they couldn’t think of leaving that young child behind to go somewhere together.
Both Judith and Ekian had the same opinion that wherever they went, they would be worried about Alex.
“The capital… Even though it’s a place I lived for a long time, it feels like going on a trip. How strange.”
Judith marveled at this newly realized fact and wrote a letter to Isabella.
It was about how they would soon visit the Meius Mansion with the child. She even added as a postscript that she was excited because it would be her first trip with Ekian, and then Isabella sent this reply:
[Oh my, goodness. Come to think of it, you two never went on a honeymoon!
When you come to the capital, don’t think about staying attached to the mansion, you two go around to your heart’s content. Leave Alex to us.
Karl is also very excited about playing with Alex. Lately Karl has been obsessed with hiding his identity and mingling with commoner children. He says he feels superior by seeing the inadequacies of children his age….
Can you imagine our hardship? Sorry, but Alex might grow up like this too. Ben and I have been worrying a lot lately. Even when we’re alone together, we only worry about our children.
So enjoy your time together to your heart’s content while the child is young.]
Reading that letter, Judith and Ekian couldn’t hide their excitement.
They had no intention of leaving Alex behind to go on a trip by themselves. But it seemed fine to sightsee in the capital while Alex stayed at the Meius Mansion with other family members.
It was certain that Alex would be loved and well cared for among the family, and they could see Alex anytime even while dating to their heart’s content.
“Come to think of it, Judith.”
Ekian said with a grin.
“We’ve never dated in the capital, have we.”
Although they had spent 3 years together in the capital, they had never created romantic memories together.
They had always just worked. The situation wasn’t different even when Ekian returned as the Meius Marquis.
“We could go to nice restaurants while hiding our identities, walk around the streets and look at various things….”
Ekian said in a voice that couldn’t hide his excitement.
“We could visit places with old memories… it would be fun.”
There was no one in the marquis’ domain who didn’t know Ekian and Judith’s faces. So it was impossible to disguise themselves as commoners here and live freely while avoiding others’ eyes.
But the capital had many people. There were so many nobles that commoners couldn’t even remember their faces well.
It wasn’t for nothing that Karl could hide his identity and blend in among commoner children. Anonymity was guaranteed as much as the masses lived bustling together.
“It would be fun.”
Judith also smiled brightly, unable to hide her excitement.
“The capital changes quickly, so it must have changed a lot? I’m excited thinking about sightseeing.”
“I’ll plan the entire itinerary.”
Ekian held Judith in his arms and whispered while kissing her forehead.
“Judith, just follow me.”
“We should also pay our respects at the Imperial Palace. While we’re there, we should see the Emperor and Empress too.”
Until now, Ekian and Judith hadn’t gone to the Imperial Palace either. They had continuously declined invitations because of Ekian’s belief that he didn’t particularly want to get involved in the capital’s political circles.
“Let’s go quietly.”
Ekian pathologically hated receiving royal treatment and didn’t like the Imperial Palace much either.
‘I’m not a monster, and I don’t want to frequent a place where the portrait of the father I killed with my own hands is hanging.’
Of course, when he heard those words, his brother who had become Emperor replied, ‘I’m also here eating and sleeping in that place…’
Judith thought her brother-in-law was truly an amazing person in a different sense.
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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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