I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 5

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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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The next morning.

Judith had recalled her past life, but she had still lived in this world for 20 years.

This meant she had reached a point where she wasn’t particularly surprised by most things in this world anymore.

But….

‘This is insane, absolutely insane.’

She was on the verge of hyperventilating after entering the Meius Mansion.

‘How can it be this splendid and this magnificent….’

Every step she took felt overwhelming. The gleaming marble floors and walls adorned with enormous tapestries, the beautiful stained glass windows letting in sunlight….

Even though she was a baron and hadn’t been completely cut off from noble society, she had never imagined such a luxurious mansion of this scale. It wasn’t called a house rivaling the imperial family for nothing.

“Good day, Baron.”

The person who greeted Judith as soon as she entered the mansion was the butler. He had already received information about Judith’s situation from the gatekeeper, and spoke politely but firmly with a courteous yet resolute tone.

“I apologize, but I understand there is no prior appointment scheduled.”

Judith blinked and looked at the butler.

She hadn’t expected to be able to meet the Duchess just by showing up unannounced either.

The Meius Duchess wasn’t someone that lower nobles like Judith could meet simply because they wanted to.

Given that, even if she had sent a letter in advance, it would likely have been ignored, so she had no choice but to visit suddenly like this from early morning.

‘Usually, even if she has a schedule, she would be at the mansion in the morning.’

Right now, the Meius Duke was away on an inspection tour of the duchy. In other words, it was a perfect time to negotiate alone with the Duchess.

The Meius Duke was famous for having an excellent relationship with the Duchess, so if the Duchess spoke, the Duke would undoubtedly agree as well.

It was the same in the original story.

To the Meius Duke who returned from his inspection tour, the Duchess first suggested, ‘How about having a maid pretend to be pregnant with Ekian’s child? That way we could buy at least a few months.’

“Yes, that’s right. I know I’ve come rudely without notice.”

Looking at the butler standing stiffly, Judith answered calmly.

“However, I absolutely must see the Duchess, which is why I came like this. It’s about Ekian Meius Marquis.”

At her words, the butler’s eyes flashed. The butler showed a somewhat cold expression and spoke in a low voice.

“Baron, topics regarding the Marquis are absolutely critical in this mansion.”

Unlike his earlier polite yet businesslike attitude, his tone was dripping with warning.

“It could result in great reward, or… it could incur great wrath.”

If she mentioned ‘Ekian Meius’s’ name, she would be able to meet the Duchess immediately, but if she presented false information or if it was a vain excuse just to meet the Duchess, she should prepare for several times the retaliation.

“Please convey this to the Duchess.”

Judith smiled brightly and answered without being intimidated.

“Tell her I know that Ekian couldn’t eat pomegranates when he was young.”

The butler looked at her with a surprised expression for a moment, then said.

“I’ll guide you to the reception room. Please wait.”

Ekian couldn’t eat pomegranates when he was young. As often happens with children that age, there wasn’t any significant reason—he just found pomegranates disgusting to look at. Of course, he started eating them without any problem after his mid-teens.

In a way, it was truly useless information, but it was also information that only family members knew well because it was too trivial and too old.

‘It appeared in the original story when the villain briefly reminisced about his brother while looking at pomegranates.’

Come to think of it, the villain who was the second son of this house would also be in the mansion right now.

He definitely said something like ‘If only my brother had been here, it wouldn’t have turned out like this.’ Even so, Ekian never appeared until the end of the original story.

Probably even if Judith stayed here for several months as his fake wife, he wouldn’t appear.

While Judith was lost in thought, she heard the clicking sound of heels.

When she looked up, a gorgeous middle-aged beauty was already staring at her. Judith, who had been staring blankly at her beautiful platinum hair elegantly swept up and the intricately crafted hair ornaments, quickly stood up and paid her respects.

“I greet the Meius Duchess.”

“Sit comfortably, Baron Ailan.”

As soon as they sat facing each other, maids swarmed in to serve tea and refreshments.

Everything was magnificently decorated and beautiful, but she was too nervous for it to go down easily.

That was because for Judith, this meeting would be a very important turning point that would determine her future life. She had been waiting three years, imagining only this moment.

“I found the pomegranate story interesting.”

The Duchess spoke in a cool voice.

“Getting straight to the point, you said you had something to tell me.”

“Yes, Duchess.”

“I trust you know how desperately we need Ekian. Go ahead and speak.”

“Yes.”

Judith placed her hands on her knees and spoke as confidently as possible.

“If you remove the brick from the wall at the head of the bed in the room the Marquis used, you’ll find a small space. There’s a letter he wrote to his parents in childhood inside.”

At those words, the Duchess’s complexion changed immediately. She hurriedly rang the bell.

“Go remove the brick from the wall at the head of Ekian’s bed right now.”

Judith waited leisurely, and before long, a maid brought a very old piece of paper. The Duchess’s hands trembled.

‘The villain discovers this later, but… since it wasn’t important, I’ll use this information for now too.’

She remembered it was an ordinary, and therefore warm letter thanking them for giving birth to him and raising him, and wishing to continue living happily together.

‘They were such a loving family, so why did Ekian Meius run away when he grew up?’

Even Judith couldn’t know that. Because she had never lived among a loving family.

Even in her parents’ indifference, she had nowhere else to go, so she stayed at the Baron’s Manor until the end and even inherited debts. She would probably never understand Ekian for the rest of her life.

To Judith, the Meius family was completely unfamiliar, and Ekian was a man she couldn’t guess anything about. Coming to this place in person made that stark fact clear.

Meanwhile, the Duchess, who had been dabbing at tears while looking at the old letter, slowly raised her head. Then she asked in a low voice.

“Baron, how on earth did you know this? Have you met Ekian? Where exactly is Ekian?”

She spoke again with desperate eyes, even her breathing trembling.

“If you can let me see Ekian just once more, our Meius Ducal House will do anything for you.”

Judith stared at her blankly.

It was amazing that someone who had been radiating such a proud and cool atmosphere could be this desperate.

She couldn’t even guess what circumstances Ekian Meius had that kept him from returning to the mansion despite receiving such love.

“I….”

Looking at that desperate face, Judith spoke with a cracked voice.

“While I know this information about Ekian, I also know other information.”

“What? What is it? What exactly? Hmm?”

“What you’re currently thinking about, Duchess.”

“…Hmm?”

“The plan you’re considering to temporarily prevent the death certificate, Duchess.”

The Duchess’s face froze. Judith slowly continued.

“I think you need time to look into me as well, Duchess. I’ll visit again in two days. I’d like to discuss this a bit more then.”

Saying everything today didn’t seem like good courtesy toward her negotiation partner or a good strategy. The other party knew nothing about her.

The Duchess could easily investigate Judith’s background and learn that she was in massive debt.

Then without having to say it explicitly, she would also understand what Judith was proposing this deal for.

The Duchess looked at Judith and spoke slowly.

“Then visit in two days. I’ll clear my morning schedule.”

“Thank you.”

She bowed politely and stood up.

‘Phew, I was really nervous. That intimidating presence was no joke.’

Judith staggered toward her small boarding house.

Since she had visited the mansion early in the morning, it was still before noon. But when she arrived at the alley, it was in complete chaos.

“Did you hear? There were tons of bombs there!”

“They say this whole alley almost got blown up!”

People were buzzing about, and it was obviously because of the information she had given Master yesterday.

As expected, Master had handled it very well, Judith thought as she smiled quietly to herself.

Now the people in this alley had essentially all survived, unlike in the original story. Her, the female lead, the extras, and the people from Grey Information Trading House too.

‘Thank goodness. At least I prevented the disaster.’

Just as Judith was smiling broadly, suddenly a tall young man wearing a mask approached her.

“Lady Ailan.”

She could tell who it was just from the mask. She looked up at him with a grin.

“Master?”

“I’ve been waiting.”

He said gently.

“Where have you been since this morning?”

“Ah, the Meius Mansion.”

“Pardon? What business did you have there…?”

“It’s a secret, but since Master will find out soon anyway, I’ll tell you in advance.”

Judith said cheerfully.

“I’m thinking of marrying into that house.”

At the same time, Master began coughing violently.

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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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