I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 25

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Bart had to admit it.

It had been easy to shock the seventeen-year-old boy who was considered excellent in everything and beloved by all. Especially when touching the roots he had never doubted.

But now Ekian was an adult who had been through hell and back.

He wouldn’t be able to confuse him by feigning loyalty like before.

‘Well.’

He thought as he felt the poison beginning to circulate through his body.

‘There’s no need for that anymore.’

Hatred surged toward the young man standing before him. He had grown up more handsome than expected, which made him want to hurt him even more.

“Speak.”

Ekian commanded in a low voice with a chilling expression.

“If you weren’t loyal to Meius, why did you tell me to leave Meius?”

Despite the overwhelming pressure that seemed to crush his body, Bart grinned wickedly. His lips were completely torn from the interrogation, making his bloody smile look grotesque.

Even in this situation, he was pleased to see hope flickering in Ekian’s eyes. Bart knew all too well what words could drive Ekian to despair.

“Seeing you all grown up…”

Bart said in a hoarse voice.

“You look so much like your father. You’ve already felt it, haven’t you?”

Ekian’s dark red eyes wavered.

“You look exactly like His Majesty’s youth in the portraits.”

Deep night, silent prison.

Bart continued with a giggle.

“You might have come here hoping that Young Duke was the biological child of the Meius Duke and Duchess, but there was no lie in what I told you five years ago.”

“…”

“So you’re curious why I drove you away? There’s not much time left, but I’ll tell you the truth.”

The truth.

Ekian let out a dry breath.

What exactly was this truth that made him crave it helplessly, even knowing it would hurt him?

Bart looked up at Ekian’s deeply shadowed face with a demonic smile.

“Because that would torment you the most, Your Cursed Highness.”

Judith had a long conversation with Huyd. The conversation went surprisingly well.

They both had the common experience of living in grinding poverty before being rescued thanks to the Meius Ducal House.

“When people hear you attend the Medical Academy, they think you’re from a well-off family even if you’re a commoner. Because it means you don’t have to worry about making a living, and the tuition is expensive too.”

“I used to think that way too.”

“But that wasn’t the case for me, so I received a lot of help from my second sibling. I feel really sorry about it. Of course, now I receive a good salary from the Meius Ducal House, so I can pay for all my other siblings’ tuition myself.”

When the conversation seemed to be getting long, Huyd secretly brought some alcohol.

He said he could freely take food supplies from the Meius Ducal House. Judith clapped her hands, saying that alone was incredible welfare.

Indeed, the wine Huyd brought had an amazing flavor. It was definitely very expensive wine.

“The Meius Ducal House is totally great.”

When Judith exclaimed in admiration, Huyd also widened his eyes and nodded.

“Totally great. Honestly, both of them are really good people. Publicly, they act so coldly that their image is quite bad…”

“From what I’ve experienced, they’re not that cold.”

“Actually, when people say ‘villainous ducal house’ or ‘iron-blooded ducal house,’ it’s entirely the Imperial Family’s fault too.”

As the alcohol kicked in, Huyd became more talkative.

“The Imperial Family has always regarded Meius as a thorn in their side.”

“Huyd, isn’t that a dangerous statement?”

“It’s not exactly a surprising fact, though.”

Huyd clinked glasses with Judith and drank another cup. Then he spoke indignantly as if outraged.

“When the Duke and Duchess had been married for a long time without children, it was His Majesty the Emperor who openly mocked them behind their backs.”

“Oh my?”

“The Duchess made many requests to the Medical Academy, but His Majesty the Emperor would arbitrarily access those records and freely share them in high society.”

“What?”

“All the professors know this fact. Fortunately, Young Duke Ekian was born a few years later, so everything could just be laughed off… Anyway, I think it’s wrong to mock someone’s desperation and use it as a weakness, even if it’s His Majesty the Emperor.”

“You’re right. Huyd is right. I completely agree.”

The two glasses clinked together pleasantly again.

True to his kind and warm appearance, Huyd was a truly upright and warm person. He even had good judgment, so there was nothing unpleasant about conversing with him.

They continued to empty wine bottles, using their conversation as accompaniment. The wine tasted so good that Judith thought as she became tipsy.

‘I really need to find his birth parents quickly.’

To think of sharing wine like this, this man must be incredibly kind.

‘But where are the Soden Marquis and Marchioness now? I don’t know where they are at this point in time. I should ask Master when I meet him.’

But she had no idea how to meet Master. Until now, Master had just unilaterally followed Judith into the Duke’s Mansion. From the Information Guild owner’s perspective, interesting things kept happening in the ducal house.

But now all matters related to the ducal house people were finished. This meant there was no longer any reason for Master to be interested and approach first.

‘But I can’t visit him like before or call him personally…’

It was good to enter the ducal house, wear nice clothes, and eat good food. But there was one very important thing missing. Freedom.

Wherever Judith went, reports would obviously reach the higher-ups. It was natural. From the ducal house’s perspective, she was someone with a very big secret.

‘Hmm, there’s no choice.’

Eventually, Judith looked at Huyd in front of her and thought.

‘I have no choice but to go through this person I’ve become somewhat close to.’

The degree of freedom between her, a temporary daughter-in-law, and Huyd, who had been the family doctor for two years, had to be different. There would be no problem with Huyd going outside and delivering a letter to someone.

“Um, Huyd.”

“Yes. Please speak.”

“Could you possibly do me one favor?”

“Oh, anything. Just tell me.”

“Before I entered the Duke’s Mansion, I worked as a tutor and also frequented the Information Guild… I said my farewells, but I’d still like to send letters saying I’m doing well.”

Sending only to the Information Guild might look suspicious. So Judith deliberately mixed in other places too.

“It would be really troublesome for you, but please deliver just a few letters. You could have a capable servant do it. I haven’t gotten to know all the servants yet…”

“What’s troublesome about it? It’s not troublesome at all.”

As she expected, Huyd smiled warmly and nodded readily.

“I was planning to go out tomorrow anyway to personally check medicinal ingredients for making the antidote. You don’t need to have a servant do it. I’ll just deliver them myself.”

“Yes, thank you.”

When she smiled brightly, Huyd blinked blankly and then quickly emptied his wine glass again. Judith also drank to keep pace with him.

After emptying several wine bottles in succession, Huyd left her room when his tongue began to completely twist.

Even while drunk, Huyd showed meticulousness by taking all the wine bottles with him.

“Then, *hic*, tomorrow, *hic*, I’ll deliver the letters and, *hic*, come back again, *hic*.”

“Yes. Please do.”

Judith waved her hand while sitting in the chair, seeing him off.

Of course, she was drunk too. But even when drunk, her tongue didn’t twist and her face didn’t redden, so she hardly showed signs of being drunk.

“Whew… I’m drunk.”

Just as Judith sent Huyd away and sprawled on the bed as if crawling.

“Just what…”

Swoosh, the bookshelf door opened and Master appeared with a displeased face.

“How much did you drink with another man? And in your husband’s room at that.”

Judith blinked and frowned. No, she was planning to have Huyd call him tomorrow anyway, so why did he come already?

But one thing was certain. Master’s mood seemed lower than ever before.

Despite wearing a mask, the dark and melancholy atmosphere surrounding him was clear. Though she couldn’t see his expression, his face under the mask must be truly terrible.

‘What’s wrong?’

She had been dealing with Master for three years. Recently, they had even been together frequently. But this was truly the first time she had seen Master emanating such an atmosphere.

‘Something is definitely not right.’

Judith, who had been sprawled on the bed, tried to slowly get up, but…

She was full of motivation but ultimately couldn’t get up. It was because of her unique drinking habit.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————