I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 95

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

A few days later.

It was a beautiful day with clear weather and a gentle breeze.

A somewhat gloomy atmosphere had been lingering at the Meius Mansion since morning.

“Judith, do you really have to do this?”

“Yes. It’s a bit excessive, I know. But thank you so much for granting my request.”

Judith smiled brightly, wearing a maid’s outfit and holding a small travel bag.

“Thank you so much for everything.”

“No, I’d like to at least assign you some guards or maids…”

“No. I’m really fine. To be honest, it would just be burdensome.”

Today was the day Judith had decided to truly leave the Meius Mansion.

Judith had made several requests to Isabella: first, she wanted to leave quietly and secretly at all costs, and second, she wanted the divorce announcement made after she had left.

Isabella naturally agreed to Judith’s demands.

From the beginning, it had been a false marriage filled with scandals and sensational stories that would titillate people.

If it became known that Judith was divorcing and leaving the Meius Mansion while Ekian was missing, countless people would surely pay attention.

Third-rate magazines might even latch on, watching her every move and spreading rumors everywhere.

Having become the wife of Meius Marquis, Judith was no longer an ordinary person. Once the divorce news was announced, living peacefully for a while would not be easy. Therefore, Judith’s wish to “disappear quietly” was worth granting.

“I’m already an adult, and I’ve lived well on my own for a long time.”

Judith said with a gentle smile.

“I plan to travel here and there on my way to the Soden Marquis’ Domain. I’ve never been able to travel before. I’ve always wanted to wander freely. I’ll contact you slowly after I settle down.”

“So…”

Tears slightly welled up in Isabella’s eyes.

She had already said goodbye to Ben and Karl all night long. She said she would come back, that she would visit often, but the regret was unavoidable. Even though Judith said she didn’t need it, Ben had insisted on giving her blank checkbooks as well as plenty of jewelry.

The fact that she was leaving was kept secret even from the maids and servants. Judith’s wish was to leave quietly without telling anyone at all.

Judith maintained her intention not to be known by anyone until she left the capital.

So Isabella saw Judith off through the mansion’s secret door that Ben had told her about.

“If you walk straight down this path, you’ll reach the annex. You could stay at the annex for a few days before leaving.”

“Thank you.”

Judith smiled brightly and hugged Isabella once more. Judith had now cut her hair short into a bob and was even wearing glasses.

With the maid’s outfit on top of that, she looked quite different from her usual self.

To be honest, Isabella thought Judith was being overly cautious, but she understood the feeling of really not wanting to be noticed by others, so she didn’t say anything more.

“I’ll contact you soon. Stay healthy.”

Isabella watched Judith’s retreating figure for a very long time as she kept turning back before finally leaving the mansion grounds.

“Ha, really.”

Isabella chuckled as she watched her light footsteps.

“She could have developed some attachment or greed, but her steps are exactly the same as when she first came here.”

Then she slowly stopped by Ekian’s room and let out a deep sigh. Judith had left behind almost all the gold coins Isabella had officially given her, the checkbooks Ben had given her, and the jewelry. It wasn’t that she had left everything behind completely, but it seemed she had really only taken the minimum amount needed.

“Really… this girl, right until the end.”

Isabella sighed and shook her head.

Judith had really stayed for just one season before leaving. Like wind that couldn’t be caught no matter how hard you tried. Without taking anything, just disheveling the hair of the people she had stayed with before leaving without any regrets.

“Oh my, that foolish Ekian.”

Isabella muttered gloomily.

“She was a child too precious to lose, but he didn’t even try. In the end, he’s being beaten by Huyd Soden.”

And so Judith left.

Without leaving behind anything that was hers.

Looking back, it seemed like they hadn’t even properly given her a room, so Isabella wiped away a tear.

There were numerous secret passages in the Meius Mansion.

Besides the path that Master used, there were said to be many similar ones.

Master had once led her through a secret passage, but it was so dark and complicated that she couldn’t remember the way.

But if she couldn’t remember, she could just ask, couldn’t she? The head of the family already lived in this house, and Meius Marquis was someone who knew the secret passages better than anyone.

So Judith could easily ask Ben and Isabella. She asked them to tell her how to leave the mansion without being noticed by anyone.

‘It even leads to the annex.’

The small, narrow path that no one’s gaze could reach led to the mansion’s annex she had visited before.

‘That’s where our baby was conceived.’

Somehow it felt good. Though unintended, it seemed like she was taking her first new step from a place with good memories.

‘My baby.’

Judith walked with light steps.

‘Maybe it’s because you’re here that I want to live.’

She deeply related to Melanie’s words “I wasn’t originally this kind of person” much later. She wasn’t originally someone great enough to get involved in the power struggles of the Marquis’ household or the Imperial Family. She had never desired such things.

A comfortable space she could feel was ‘home,’ and real family she could call ‘her people.’ That was all she wanted.

So when she realized she had been caught up in such a massive fight, Judith might have given up everything, thinking “whatever happens, happens.” She might have just watched others’ reactions, thinking of others rather than herself.

However, because she had a child, she became infinitely selfish. She had actually demanded something far more important than money or jewelry from the Marquis’ household.

‘If I catch my breath a bit at the annex and disguise myself again, I should be able to reach my destination without anyone following.’

Her destination was clear.

Originally, she had felt truly lost, struggling and at a loss. Just like when she first took on that enormous debt.

Then, like a miracle, she came to know the future. It turned out that was the power of the Last Shaman.

The Last Shaman had left her other words as well.

[Come back when times are hard. I will guide you.]

At the time, she had thought “Will there be hard times?” and carelessly dismissed those words. The manor had even collapsed completely, so she couldn’t pay attention to it.

But surely the Last Shaman had said she would “guide” her. To someone with nowhere to go, those were words like salvation.

Perhaps, couldn’t the Last Shaman guide her to a safe path once more?

Even though it was a thought without any basis, she felt a strange conviction. It was a mysterious impulse that couldn’t be explained logically.

‘I’m being shameless.’

Judith thought reluctantly.

‘I was so busy with my own survival that I didn’t even try to find out who the Last Shaman’s son was.’

She had surely asked her to make her son happy. But since she didn’t even know who that person was, Judith couldn’t grant that request.

“Whew… Still, for the child’s sake, I have no choice. I’ll definitely be good to pregnant women too.”

Thinking of the child, Judith became shameless again. She steeled her resolve once more, rested a bit at the annex, then pulled down her hat and set out on the road again.

She planned to go to the Shrine of the Last Shaman.

She didn’t know what would happen when she got there, but surely if she went, the Last Shaman would guide her path. A vague faith led her forward.

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