I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 18
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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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Master held his forehead without saying anything, then spoke in a low voice.
“A-anyway. Judith is still young. I don’t think there’s any need to rush into remarriage.”
At those words, Judith muttered bitterly.
“Well. I don’t have any family now, so I want to make a family quickly.”
That was what she had been thinking all along.
“The families I had were all a mess. But that wasn’t my fault. It wasn’t my choice.”
Judith spoke gently.
“So I think it might be different if I become family with people I choose. Just because it was a mess once doesn’t mean it will always be a mess, so I want to try again.”
Actually, she had been a little envious of Isabella’s anger toward Karl earlier.
Judith had approached with knowledge and reason from dealing with many children, but Isabella was genuinely angry and couldn’t control her emotions. While Judith had handled the situation wisely, Isabella was clearly the one who loved Karl more.
Judith had never received that kind of love from parents. If she couldn’t receive it, she wanted to at least try being the one who gives it.
“So if Master likes me too, well, I’ll give you a chance. Though I’m not sure if you’ll win my heart.”
She spoke as if doing him a favor.
“I don’t care about status. Even a commoner is fine. As long as they have money, do their work well, and are sincere, that’s enough.”
That’s when it happened.
A groaning sound from Karl came from inside the room.
“Oh my, is he having a nightmare? I’ll see you later, Master. I’m going out, so you take care and leave safely too.”
Judith was startled and quickly said goodbye to Master before stepping out of the wardrobe.
Then she stroked Karl’s forehead as he seemed to be having a nightmare, quietly turned off the light, and left the room.
The next day.
Judith received another invitation to the Meius Mansion. This time it wasn’t from the Duchess, but from the Meius Marquis himself.
[I heard the whole story from my wife.
I’ve decided to gratefully accept the Baron’s proposal.
We’re already indebted to you for Karl’s matter.
When you come today, we’ll proceed with the formal marriage registration.
Given the circumstances, several procedures are necessary.]
‘Ah.’
Judith immediately understood what the Marquis meant.
The procedure unique to the Meius Ducal House for officially announcing that the child was Ekian’s!
The Meius bloodline emanated a unique aura that only the head of the family could sense. In other words, no paternity test was needed, and the head could manipulate it according to his will alone.
So naturally, the actual procedure had to be conducted by the Marquis, not the Duchess.
This meant that today, Judith had to go meet the head of the Meius family, the Meius Marquis, who was called the ‘Iron-Blood Duke.’
“Judith, so today too…”
And today too, Master was sitting across from her from early morning.
Since he was already a large man, the small boarding room felt completely full. Judith was surprised at herself for thinking that dense presence wasn’t bad. She wondered if it was because she had lived alone for so long.
Master casually read the letter together with her, then said nonchalantly.
“Let’s go together.”
“Master.”
Judith looked at him and asked with feigned bluntness.
“Aren’t you busy?”
“I’m working busier than ever before.”
Master answered cheekily.
“As I mentioned, we have no informants in the Meius Mansion. And right now, there’s something being conducted in utmost secrecy at the Meius Mansion.”
“Hmm.”
“Properly and accurately grasping that secret is what I should do as the Information Guild leader, isn’t it?”
Since it seemed to make sense somehow, Judith readily nodded.
Anyway, he would come through the secret passage and wouldn’t be seen by anyone, so it didn’t matter to Judith.
“Yes, well, do as you please then. But Master, do you really like me?”
“Ah, why are you bringing that up again all of a sudden?”
“No, just… I was wondering if you’re working hard because I said yesterday that I like men who work hard at their jobs.”
“I was always working hard.”
“That’s true. I was just curious so I asked. Never mind if not.”
Judith shrugged and gave another warning.
“But even if you do like me, don’t show it until the divorce is complete. Let’s not create awkward situations for each other.”
She actually wanted to address this matter beforehand.
“I’m a responsible person. As long as I’m registered in Meius’s documents, I’ll live faithfully as Ekian’s wife.”
Previously, when they had infiltrated Karl’s room and were pressed together, even she had felt a bit strange. After that, their human interactions had rapidly increased and she felt they had grown much closer.
If Master took off his mask and turned out to be incredibly handsome, she thought her heart might be moved too.
Therefore, she had set boundaries for herself to prevent such things from happening, at least while she was married.
“Well then.”
She stood up with a bright smile.
“See you at the Meius Ducal House. Oh, maybe I can’t see you? Anyway, let’s each have a good trip.”
‘Wow.’
Judith stood in front of the Meius Mansion again and thought.
Since her first visit to the mansion, she had been coming back almost every day. Well, it would be where she’d live from now on.
Just as Judith was about to enter the Meius Mansion.
“Judith!”
“Sister-in-law!”
Isabella and Karl, who had been sitting in the garden, saw Judith and ran over.
‘Huh?’
And in an instant, they stood on either side of Judith. Karl in particular was grinning widely and even grabbed her arm tightly.
Isabella lifted her chin and said.
“I wasn’t exactly waiting for you or anything. I just came out early because I couldn’t properly thank you yesterday!”
Judith smiled awkwardly and nodded. She felt she could roughly understand her personality.
Isabella wasn’t just awkward at expressing affection only to Karl. She was just someone who was awkward at expressing affection to everyone.
“And about showing my pathetic side yesterday too! I was just a bit concerned so I came out to greet you!”
Karl glanced at Isabella and said smoothly.
“I really did come out because I was happy to see you, sister-in-law. Let’s go, quickly.”
Thus Judith was escorted into the mansion by the Duchess and Karl. The servants and butlers who saw this scene whispered with surprised eyes.
It was the same when they reached the drawing room.
The Meius Marquis, who had been reading a newspaper, frowned when he saw them.
“Hmm, I knew that you and Karl were fond of this child, but…”
Judith was slightly surprised to see the Meius Marquis. It was because he was an imposing middle-aged man befitting his title of ‘Iron-Blood Duke.’
Most of all, his aristocratic blonde hair and blue eyes were truly impressive.
“This is the first time I’ve seen two people like someone simultaneously.”
Despite his languid words, his eyes were extremely sharp. He didn’t even try to hide that he still suspected Judith greatly.
He felt cold, chilly, and as if he had firmly erected walls. He was a man who openly emanated an atmosphere that said while the other family members might be easy, he would not be.
Judith smiled calmly and thought.
‘But they all look fine. In the original story, they die suddenly about a year later.’
Currently, there was no sign of illness in either of the Meius Marquis couple.
In the original story, about a year later, both suddenly passed away from sudden illness, causing Karl to receive the ducal title at the age of nine.
But now they looked like such an ordinary family that such a future was completely unimaginable.
“Now, sit.”
“Yes.”
Judith sat politely, and Isabella gestured to Karl.
“Karl, don’t you have lessons?”
“Yes, I’ll go when it’s time. I just came briefly because I wanted to greet sister-in-law.”
Soon Karl left to receive lessons from his tutor. Then only Judith and the Marquis couple remained in the drawing room.
The Meius Marquis skipped all other trivial talk and got straight to the point.
“I heard the full explanation from Isabella. Isabella already paid all the advance payment too.”
“Yes, thankfully.”
“Then let’s proceed quickly before Ekian’s death sentence is declared.”
The Duke pulled the bell cord without further ado. Shortly after, two men entered.
One appeared to be in his mid-to-late thirties, and the other seemed to be around Judith’s age. Both were wearing doctor’s coats, so they appeared to be the family’s personal physicians.
“These people are the Meius Ducal House’s personal physicians.”
The Duke explained calmly to Judith.
“We can’t deceive them as well, so the secret must be kept among those gathered here.”
“Yes.”
At the Duke’s gesture, the two doctors stood beside him. First, the younger-looking doctor who appeared to be around Judith’s age greeted her. He was a handsome man with a kind and gentle appearance, his soft brown hair complementing his doctor’s coat very well.
“Hello, I am Huyd Ramis. I’m twenty-one years old this year, and it’s been two years since I came to the Duke’s Mansion.”
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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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