I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 111

***

Paul, the bakery owner, smacked his lips as he watched Judith and Hud walk away.

“If only you’d let me be the godfather of the child, I could make sure that kid never had to worry about food or money for the rest of their life…”

Judith had replied to that like a joke and brushed it off, but there had been genuine regret behind those words.

Originally, he thought Hud would be the godfather of the child, but in Paul’s eyes, Hud looked more like someone who would become the child’s adoptive father. No—he sincerely hoped so.

Judith had firmly stated that Hud was a friend, but come on, what man looked at a friend like that?

Watching the two of them grocery shopping and strolling together, Paul wasn’t the only one thinking the same thing.

They looked every bit like a newlywed couple, always together like that—please let them turn out well!

She was already a bright and intelligent teacher, subtly recognized throughout the territory. How wonderful it would be if she could live happily and peacefully with that upright man!

“Hey, I said give me some cookies. Are you spacing out?”

That was why, even with Tian from the manor standing right in front of him, Paul couldn’t take his eyes off their retreating backs and answered awkwardly.

“Oh, she’s Anne’s teacher. I’m just really grateful to her, that’s all.”

“Ah, the new teacher at that school? Smith was talking about her too. Said she was incredibly smart and reasonable. Even helped him with some documents he was struggling with.”

Smith was one of the administrative staff managing the territory. He was also the one who first approved Judith’s position as a temporary teacher.

“So that’s why you were so desperate to give her something?”

“Yeah. If you hadn’t shown up, I probably would’ve found some excuse to give her even more.”

“Well, what can you do. A high-ranking person is visiting, after all.”

Paul spoke, and Tian shrugged.

“This is top secret… but apparently, it’s not just any noble. There’s even talk that it might be His Grace the Grand Duke.”

“The Grand Duke? I didn’t know the Empire had someone like that.”

“Seems they do. It’s the capital’s upper-class business—how would we know anything? They say it’s the Crown Prince’s younger brother. Wouldn’t that make him outrank our own lord?”

“Probably.”

Tian and Paul tilted their heads and wrapped up their conversation. Either way, they knew little about the higher-ups.

Born and raised in this territory, they hadn’t even received basic education. So it was only natural that they were slow to grasp such things.

“You know, Dad. Our teacher said we need to learn. That by learning, we understand the world better, and that’s how we live richer lives.”

That’s why, when Anne had said those words, he felt deeply grateful to the new teacher.

Living life simply by doing as you’re told without understanding anything might seem easy at first… but over time, it would only make one feel suffocated.

“In any case, I really hope things get sorted out soon. No one tells us anything—it’s all so vague and unsettling.”

Paul clicked his tongue.

“Why did the barbarians invade, why did they suddenly leave, will there be more attacks… No one explains anything. It’s frustrating.”

“Exactly.”

Tian pursed his lips and replied in a hushed voice.

“If we act on our own, they’ll just say we overstepped and slap us with a huge fine. I honestly hope someone shows up before something else happens.”

“But then again, what if someone even worse than our old lord shows up? It’s all so uncertain.”

“Right. Remember when the lord’s younger brother visited not long ago? The moment he arrived, he demanded to see all the unmarried pretty women in the territory.”

Recalling that time, Tian trembled with anger.

The lord of Arten had always ruled with tyranny under the Emperor’s protection, but when his younger brother came to visit, they experienced something even more terrible.

It had happened so recently that the memory still haunted the people like a nightmare. Paul even felt it was a relief that Anne was still young back then.

“What if he’s worse than that bastard?”

“Exactly. It’d be lucky if he only demanded beauties. What if he’s into something even more twisted?”

Paul grimaced, as if he didn’t even want to imagine it.

And just like that, the topic came to an end again. With no information, there was nothing more to discuss.

“Anyway, it sounds like the manor is expecting him in about three days. Nobles always move slowly, right? So make sure to bake plenty of cookies and deliver them that day.”

“Three days… got it.”

Paul nodded slowly.

“I’ll deliver them at dawn three days from now.”

But in the end, that promise wouldn’t be kept.

Because the so-called “high-ranking guest” everyone thought would arrive in three days suddenly arrived in Arten the very next day after that conversation.

***

“W-we, we greet Your Grace the Grand Duke.”

The lord’s estate was thrown into chaos in an instant.

The decree from the capital had already arrived late. That was part of Alteion’s plan—he had intentionally delayed it to avoid stirring up noise in the lordless territory of Arten.

If word got out in advance that Ekian, formerly the Young Duke of Mayus and now the Grand Duke, was being assigned to this land, it was obvious people would flood in.

Alteion didn’t want other nobles flocking to an already chaotic territory and making matters worse.

So the decree was delayed a little, and Ekian moved as quickly as possible. In fact, even Alteion hadn’t expected him to reach Arten this quickly.

“Th-the thing is… we’re not, um, not fully ready to receive Your Grace yet…”

All the attendants and servants of the estate had gathered in a hurry, bowing deeply.

The new Grand Duke truly bore the imperial surname and was a handsome man who resembled the recently missing Emperor.

But his aura was so chilling that none of them could look directly into those dark red eyes.

According to the Crown Prince’s decree, he was to oversee the disordered territory of Arten for the time being.

But the more perceptive vassals instantly realized that “for the time being” could very well mean “permanently.” It was even possible this land would become a Grand Duchy.

“Forget the formalities.”

Ekian issued his commands with a cold expression, skipping even a meal.

“We’ll begin with the most urgent matters. Grant my soldiers full authority to search the area. Have the officials responsible for administration and finance bring the documents I specify to my office.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Everyone present inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

They were thankful he hadn’t ordered a banquet right away or demanded all the most beautiful women in the territory to be assembled.

After all, not long ago, the former lord’s younger brother had made a ridiculous order to “gather the pretty unmarried women in the area,” terrifying everyone.

‘Looks like he’s actually here to work!’

Everyone felt relieved as they gathered documents.

The Grand Duke even prioritized the tasks at hand and handled them at an incredible pace, so much so that his competence put the previous lord to shame.

Some vassals even changed their opinions within a few hours, secretly wishing the Grand Duke would remain as the rightful ruler of the land.

But then, after clearing the most urgent matters throughout the morning, the Grand Duke gave another order.

“Gather a list of all young women in this territory with green eyes, investigate their identities, and bring it to me.”