I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 8

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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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“That’s because.”

Judith spoke calmly without avoiding Isabella’s gaze.

“If I didn’t know, that would be one thing, but knowing the outcome and hiding it while exploiting someone’s hope—especially hope regarding family—wasn’t something I wanted to do.”

“What?”

“As you investigated, I need money. Really, desperately, urgently. But…”

Even in her shabby attire, Judith’s eyes held a calm vitality.

“Still, I don’t want to obtain money by deceiving someone.”

“…”

“Let me say this again. What you’re thinking of doing will only damage the ducal house’s honor and won’t bring the young duke back. You’ll just end up paying useless money. If you still want to proceed… please take me as that temporary daughter-in-law.”

Isabella felt a strange sensation. Despite having the decision-making power, she felt as if she was being considerate.

Judith continued politely.

“I will never cause any trouble for the ducal house and will fulfill my role well during the agreed period. If you’ve done a background check, you’ll know that I’ve always fulfilled my responsibilities when paid.”

That was true. Judith had performed her tutoring work more diligently and with greater dedication than anyone else. This was a fact that had been sufficiently revealed in the background investigation.

Isabella quietly observed Judith before asking.

“Let me ask one thing. Won’t the Baron tell us how she knows all of this?”

“I’ll tell you.”

Judith spoke matter-of-factly.

“I had dreams. Since childhood, I’ve often had dreams, and most of what happened in those dreams actually came to pass. I don’t know why, but I simply dreamed about the young duke as well.”

“Then Ekian is!”

“I don’t know anything beyond that either.”

Isabella caught her breath. Dreams—it was hard to believe and there was no evidence.

However, hadn’t she accurately guessed everything from the letter Ekian had left to the plan she had been secretly considering? If so, it also made sense that Judith had earned money by selling small bits of information to the information guild.

Isabella slowly regained her composure.

There wasn’t much to think deeply about. She needed someone to do a special job, and Judith was a volunteer who had come offering to do that job. It was a suitable transaction, nothing more.

“…Fine.”

Isabella looked at Judith and spoke.

“If the Baron says so, I understand. There isn’t much time. Since you’re here, would you fill out the marriage registration form before you go? The Duke happens to be returning tomorrow, so we’ll discuss it finally and submit it.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“And…”

Isabella regained her usual coldness and spoke icily.

“Even if I accept you as a daughter-in-law, I trust you understand better than anyone that it’s temporary. Let’s be clear from the start that you cannot interfere in the ducal house’s internal affairs.”

“Yes, of course. I expected as much.”

Judith spoke plainly. Such words about not treating her as a proper daughter-in-law couldn’t even hurt her. After all, wasn’t this just a contractual family for a few months? Isabella continued coldly.

“If Ekian returns in the meantime, we’ll add the condition that you divorce immediately. I want Ekian to marry the woman he loves. Is that still acceptable?”

“Of course. I know my place well. When the time comes, I’ll leave the Duke’s Mansion cleanly. Please don’t worry about that.”

Isabella slowly nodded. After that, she wrote a check on the spot.

“Here. This is the amount of Baron Ailan’s debt.”

At those words, Judith’s complexion, which had been calm throughout, turned pale. She blinked and stammered.

“Y-you’re giving this to me… now?”

“When this job is finished, I’ll give you the same amount again.”

Isabella raised an eyebrow and spoke expressionlessly.

“I blocked a young lady’s marriage prospects, so I can’t be that shameless.”

“Th-th-thank you. Thank you, Madam…”

From her trembling hands to the flush that suddenly spread across her face, Judith’s entire body was filled with joy. As if her earlier noble behavior about not deceiving others despite needing money had been a lie.

Her undeniable, obvious happiness revealed the desperation she had felt all along, and only then did Isabella feel the weight and sincerity behind her words: ‘Even if I do this job, Young Duke Ekian won’t return.’

“Hmph.”

Seeing Judith so delighted, Isabella suddenly opened her fan wide to cover her face. She felt a bit ashamed of telling a young woman who had maintained her dignity despite such desperation that she shouldn’t think of becoming a real daughter-in-law of Meius.

“This amount is nothing to Meius. That’s why I gave it so easily.”

“Yes, yes…”

“Absolutely not because I liked Miss Judith! Remember that!”

Isabella shouted, then glanced at Judith’s cheeks, flushed with excitement.

Oh my, oh my, oh my!

‘I’m free… Free from this damned pile of debt that I had to carry for life!’

After receiving the check, Judith gasped in disbelief.

Actually, she had thought she would only receive money when everything was over and she was divorced and sent away. But to think the down payment alone was this much.

‘They really are wealthy! This means she can give this much without even consulting the Duke!’

Feeling dizzy, Judith clutched the check tightly and left the Duke’s Mansion. Naturally, she had also filled out the marriage registration form with a happy heart.

After that, she immediately went to the bank and paid off the debt with her guarantor.

“Baron Judith Ailan.”

After confirming the contract with the moneylender, the bank employee smiled brightly and said.

“With this, all debts have been repaid. Congratulations.”

She felt so good her head was spinning. Judith couldn’t speak for a while.

The moneylender, who had been collecting interest punctually, couldn’t hide his amazement either. He said Judith was the only case of someone repaying such a debt.

“Ha, for Paul, who was crazy about gambling, to have such a daughter… Miss, how on earth did you come up with such a large sum?”

Of course, Judith now felt relaxed enough to smile warmly even at the moneylender.

“I gambled too. A gamble with my life on the line.”

Leaving behind the bank employee and moneylender who stood with their mouths agape, Judith lightly exited the bank. With the debt that had weighed her down daily now gone, she felt as if her feet were floating in the air, walking on clouds.

‘This is truly the best.’

Just one entanglement with Meius had changed her life. And Judith hadn’t even done anything properly yet.

‘I can do anything for the Duchess.’

And Judith was someone who knew shame. Since her debt had been paid off so quickly, she too wanted to do her absolute best.

Just as she was leaving the bank, a thought suddenly crossed her mind.

“Ah! Master told me to come!”

Yesterday, Master had sent someone to tell her to come to the Grey Information Guild.

‘He probably wants to thank me for saving his life?’

Or since she had said she was marrying into the Meius Ducal House, he might want to hear about that in detail.

‘Ah, I happen to need some information too.’

She was already deeply moved by the Duchess’s check, and if there was anything she could do to help the Meius Ducal House, she wanted to do even a little.

‘Let me ask Master for help!’

Judith excitedly went to the Grey Information Guild. Master was waiting for her, wearing his usual mask.

“What on earth kept you at the Duke’s Mansion all day? I heard you’ve been there since dawn.”

“Ah, I was there filling out the marriage registration form and such.”

“…What? No, no… H-h-how…”

“Since this will spread throughout the Capital soon, I should tell Master first out of loyalty.”

She also needed Master’s help for the Meius Ducal House. So now she had no choice but to tell Master the truth about what she had been doing.

“Soon, the Meius Ducal House will announce that I’m pregnant with Ekian’s child.”

Master couldn’t speak for a long time.

Despite having dealt with him for a long time and quite frequently, this was the first time Judith had seen him so shocked.

Even though he wore a mask and she couldn’t see his expression at all, she could keenly feel his astonishment.

“Master?”

This… would be surprising, but was it really something to be this shocked about?

Judith was reading his mood when a lightning-like realization struck her and she cried out in surprise.

“Master? Don’t tell me…”

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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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