I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 78

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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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In fact, Judith had no need to stay here any longer since Ekian returned. But she had been lingering around simply because Ekian had requested her to “just stay a little longer.”

“You’re like a child who plays happily with a toy, but the moment someone says ‘put that down,’ you’d immediately drop it and walk away forever without looking back.”

Judith had never really thought deeply about herself. However, the moment Master said that, she felt it was an accurate description of herself.

And she was moved that Master had looked into the depths of her inner self that she herself had never examined.

“Don’t be like that with me. If there’s something you want, tell me you want it. If you want to play more, beg me to let you play more. At least, turn around once.”

She wanted to answer those words.

That what she wanted was him, and what she wanted to be with was also him.

That while the position of daughter-in-law of the Meius Ducal House was nice, she had known from the beginning that it wasn’t hers.

That she needed something that was ‘hers.’ Something ‘hers’ that she had never had once since birth.

And that she wished that could be him…

Although he had never once removed his mask in front of her, if that’s what he wanted, she would be fine with it just like that.

The reason she hadn’t confirmed his appearance until the end wasn’t due to manners, but due to fear.

Fear that when she learned some truth, their relationship might change from what it was now.

‘Right.’

Judith thought as she entered the splendid Duke’s Mansion.

‘Now I just need to live the life I want.’

Ekian had returned, and Alteon had survived safely and healthily, so she had fulfilled all her duties to the Meius Ducal House.

She had also done enough for Ben, Isabella, and Karl who had cherished her. Since she liked them as person to person, it seemed she could face them with a smile even without being entangled as the fake family called Meius.

‘I won’t stay in a position that someone else wants me in. I’ll find my own place.’

She looked into her own heart. She had only been in this position because Ben, Isabella, Karl, and Ekian all wanted her to be… Had she ever once thought this was natural? She never had.

‘Now… I need to grow up too.’

By embracing Master, she had essentially blocked her own retreat.

She wasn’t shameless enough to maintain her position as Ekian’s wife after crossing the line with another man.

Once she had done it, it seemed she could leave even if Karl or Isabella felt sorry for her. Even if Ekian said guilt-inducing words like “Are you planning to make me even more of trash,” it seemed she could stubbornly endure it with her eyes firmly closed, saying “I still want a divorce.”

Even if Master didn’t have the same feelings as her, it was still right to leave the Duke’s Mansion.

Judith took a deep breath like that.

Since things had come to this, she wanted to tell Isabella first. After all, Ekian wasn’t someone she could see just because she wanted to see his face.

“Judith, how about some warm tea?”

Isabella asked while linking arms with her. Her eyes were full of worry.

Isabella Meius.

She was the first person Judith had offered a contract to become a fake family, the one who had paid off all her debts and glared fiercely at anyone to ensure she wouldn’t be looked down upon.

But when she saw the way Isabella looked at Ekian, she realized it. That Isabella could never become her mother.

That even though Isabella cherished Judith, ultimately Judith could never become as important as Ekian. In fact, that was perfectly natural.

Nevertheless, she wanted to tell her first about ending this married life. Just as she had first become entangled with her as family.

Judith tightly linked arms with Isabella and nodded.

“Yes, Mother.”

And she gently added.

“Actually, there’s something I want to tell you, Mother.”

“To… me?”

Looking at Isabella’s somehow tense face, Judith smiled brightly.

And even in this situation, she was curious.

What was Master thinking? Was he awake now? How did he want to act from now on?

It felt like he had been dreaming a long dream.

Ekian was staring blankly at the note. It was neat and tidy.

One thing was certain. He had really been doing pathetically foolish things until now.

“Actually, I like you. I don’t know anything about you, but I do anyway.”

He had naturally thought Judith liked Huyd. So he had been continuously afraid. Afraid that she would say she wanted to go to him, who had now become the heir of Soden Marquis.

“Actually, I hoped you wouldn’t pretend not to know.”

He had thought she wanted to pretend that night never happened. But as time passed, he realized that wasn’t it. When he thought she had forgotten, he felt hurt, and eventually couldn’t resist the impulse and brought up that topic first.

As Judith said, it really was unclear what tune he wanted her to dance to. When did he want to bury it like it never happened, and then getting angry that she didn’t acknowledge it. He was pathetic to himself.

Now he could understand. Why he had been so stupid, why he had wavered back and forth not knowing whether he wanted this or that.

“When I wasn’t drunk, I wanted to try it once more.”

He had not been faithful to his own desires.

That desire that Judith spoke of so calmly was actually his own.

He wanted to do it again, hold her more, do it once more, embrace each other more deeply.

His fear was greater than his desire, so he turned away. Afraid that Judith would go to Huyd Soden who had everything. Because he was scared of that, he wanted to become even the shell called ‘Ekian Meius’ that she had once liked.

“Ah…”

Ekian groaned slightly.

“You’re like a child who plays happily with a toy, but the moment someone says ‘put that down,’ you’d immediately drop it and walk away forever without looking back.”

If Judith was an unenthusiastic child…

He was a child crying because he was afraid that the pretty bird that had suddenly flown into his cage one day might leave. He couldn’t think to ask that bird to please stay here, and was closing all the windows of the house first, afraid the bird might lose interest.

‘Could she really like me, no matter who I am.’

Ekian thought blankly.

He was afraid. His birth mother had abandoned him with a curse, and his birth father was constantly targeting him. The only purpose for keeping him alive was one thing – curiosity about whether he would really destroy Meius as his birth mother’s curse said. Because of that, hadn’t Judith almost suffered terribly at Anais’s hands?

From now on, that harassment would only get worse, not less. The Emperor wouldn’t want Ekian Meius to return and assist Alteon.

‘Even though I was born with a curse, even though I still haven’t decided what to do with myself… would she still stay by my side?’

In truth, he wasn’t confident. Because he too disliked himself.

But nevertheless, continuing to deceive her like this was fraud. She had left without looking at his face until the end, and had even said ‘I’ll wait until you want to.’

If she learned the truth, she might leave. However…

He still had to tell her. He didn’t want to do foolish things anymore.

And in order to stand completely as himself before her, he first had to acknowledge his existence that even he himself had not been able to accept. Of course, that wasn’t an easy method either.

“Judith, actually I am Master. Ah, why did I hide it? Well… it’s because I’m a cursed prince. Hmm? Who knows about that? I know it alone… What? You want me to see a doctor first?”

If he suddenly confessed everything, Judith wouldn’t believe him. He’d be lucky if he wasn’t treated like some delusional patient.

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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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