I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 134

Side Story 1: What Happened at the Wedding

It was just before the wedding, right after Judith had accepted Ekian’s feelings.

Judith entered the Grand Duke’s manor in Ekian’s arms, receiving cheers from many of the territory’s people.

Meanwhile, the maids who had not been in the plaza and were working in the manor turned pale. They hadn’t even realized Judith had gone outside.

The maids began whispering among themselves in a panic.

“What do we do! The confinement failed!”

“Did she end up escaping after all? But she got caught, right?”

“Then why are the people cheering? Could it be that Miss Yuth sacrificed herself to save everyone because His Grace threatened to slaughter the territory’s people if she didn’t come out?”

But the murmuring didn’t last long.

Judith and Ekian looked happy. Judith gathered the worried servants and spoke to them gently.

“I’m sorry for deceiving you all. Yuth isn’t my real name. I’m actually Baroness Judith Ailan. And as for my relationship with His Grace the Grand Duke…”

After a brief hesitation, Judith spoke honestly, “He’s the father of my child and my ex-husband.”

Everyone working in the Grand Duke’s manor was shocked, but no one could say more. The difference in status was too great.

At any rate, she was soon to become the Grand Duchess. Though she had escaped and been brought back, surprisingly, nothing really changed. The manor quickly returned to normal.

After calming the staff, the next thing Judith did was write letters.

According to Ekian, everyone in the capital was worried about her. Judith could imagine just how anxious Isabella, Ben, and Karl must be, and she too grew impatient.

Ekian said with a bitter tone, “Mother was actually very angry. Even when I was a child, she didn’t hit me like that…”

Indeed, ‘Young Duke Ekian Mayus’ had always been a model student. A perfect son who never betrayed his parents’ expectations.

That’s why Isabella had cried night after night when he disappeared, and that grief must have turned into a firm resolve to discipline him with love.

“Ah, and this.”

Ekian took something out of a drawer. It was a letter sealed with the Mayus family’s crest.

“Mother told me to give this to you when I saw you.”

“…This existed? Why didn’t you give it to me earlier?”

Ekian replied awkwardly, “I didn’t want it to seem like I was threatening you with a letter from my mother. The contents are… a bit much.”

“Did you read it?”

“She wrote it in front of me.”

Unable to contain her curiosity, Judith opened the envelope right there. She immediately recognized Isabella’s familiar handwriting.

[I’ve heard everything, Judith.

I made my decision solely for your sake… but now I’m starting to doubt whether it truly was the right decision for you.

Still, as the mother of my inadequate son, I ask this of you.

He is lacking in many ways, but he’s still my son, and the father of your child…

Would you accept Ekian?

Ben, Karl, and I will repay your grace for the rest of our lives.

If your heart does not move, then please think once more about the bond between us.

Think of how I personally divorced you.

Even writing such words is shameless of me.

Please take care of yourself.

May the baby in your belly be healthy, and may your heart be at peace.]

After reading the letter, Judith let out a faint groan and blinked.

Ekian, looking embarrassed, said, “See? It kind of sounds like… she wants you to stay by my side, for her sake.”

As Judith read the letter again, Ekian continued, “She helped with the divorce, so maybe it’s her way of trying to take it back. At the very least, I never wanted you to come to me because of my mother.”

Even so, Ekian looked secretly pleased that Isabella had written such a letter.

“Mother is really something… But I’m still thankful she asked for me until the end.”

Judith didn’t respond to that.

Instead, she picked up a knife and gently began scraping the inside of the envelope.

“…Hmm?”

Ekian furrowed his brow, and Judith kindly explained.

“Mother would never write a letter in front of others. Something’s off.”

Sure enough, as she created space inside the envelope, another small note was tucked within.

“What’s this?”

As Ekian looked surprised, Judith pulled out a thin piece of paper from inside and said, “This is a method noble girls often use to exchange secret letters. They write harmless content that won’t raise suspicion in front of their parents and place it openly in a prepared envelope. Of course, the real message they want to convey is hidden inside the envelope like this.”

Judith smiled gently and unfolded the thin paper.

Written in much smaller handwriting than the previous letter, it contained an entirely different message.

[If you received this letter, it means Ekian met you, right?

He didn’t try to lock you up or anything, did he?

I can’t even trust my own child anymore. His mind might’ve snapped—he didn’t tie you down or anything?

If that’s the case, just pretend to accept his feelings for now.

I deliberately wrote a letter telling you to accept Ekian.

Say you’re accepting the position of Grand Duchess reluctantly, out of consideration for me.

Then immediately claim you’re feeling unwell and lock yourself away.

Even a beast wouldn’t ignore a pregnant woman who says she’s sick.

Once his guard is down, I’ll come and rescue you somehow.

If you’re under the protection of House Mayus, I can hide you away so no one will ever find you.]

Judith hurriedly tried to cover the contents of the note, but it was already too late.

“Ahaha, ahaha. Ekian? Um, this is really personal stuff. Ahaha…”

Of course, Ekian already had the expression of someone completely betrayed.

He crossed his arms in silence, then muttered disapprovingly, “I can’t believe I handed over this letter with my own hands…”

He seemed especially displeased with the line about hiding Judith away.

“Absolutely not.”

“What?”

“Running away again is really out of the question. I already feel like half my lifespan has been shaved off.”

“I’m not ready to become a widower that quickly. Go fetch her and bring her back,” Judith jokingly said as she set the letter down. “Still, I should write to Mother soon. I’m sure she’s very worried.”

“I’ll send it with the wedding invitation.”

“What?”

“It’ll take time for her to get here anyway. Once she knows the situation, she’ll likely set off immediately to see you. Might as well take care of everything at once.”

It was a bit sudden, but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense.

They had already decided to hold the wedding again, and since she was pregnant, there was no reason to delay. The people of the territory already knew, too.

Thus, timing the wedding with the arrival of the Mayus family seemed like a rational choice.

“Let’s do that.”

So Judith nodded readily.

***

At the Mayus ducal estate in the capital.

Isabella, having received both the detailed letter and the wedding invitation, opened her eyes wide.

“Good grief, Ekian… this boy… seriously…”

Although he was the Emperor’s younger brother and a Grand Duke, to Isabella, who had raised him from a young age, Ekian was always her precious son.

They had even agreed to use their old forms of address when not in public.

“He totally coaxed Judith into having the wedding right away out of fear something might happen, didn’t he? Unbelievable!”

Before Ben could say anything, Isabella jumped to her feet and shouted.

“We have to prepare to leave immediately!”

“Isabella, calm down. It’s nighttime. Let’s sleep and pack in the morning…”

“Shouldn’t we pack first? That place used to be a battlefield—do you think they’ll have proper supplies for a pregnant woman and a child? We need to bring everything from the capital! I need to contact the tailor, the toy workshop, the children’s bookstore—right now!”

When they finally departed for the Grand Duchy, several carriages loaded with items for the pregnant woman and the baby went along with them.