I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 135

Around that time, a letter from Ekian and Judith also arrived at the imperial palace, along with a wedding invitation.

“Are they out of their minds?”

Alteion, who had become Emperor uneventfully after holding a grand funeral for the late Emperor, clicked his tongue in disbelief.

“They set the wedding date this quickly?”

Melanie said carefully, “It’s probably because of the baby. It’s best to hold the wedding during the stable period…”

“Still, was it really necessary to rush it like this?”

Alteion furrowed his brow as he looked at the calendar. “We’d have to start preparing tomorrow to barely make it in time. Would it be such a disaster if they delayed it by a week?”

Melanie murmured thoughtfully, “Hmm, maybe this was intentional. They’re probably trying to have the wedding before people from the capital arrive and cause any trouble.”

“Hey, what did we even do in the capital…!”

“The Mayus family helped her escape, and we failed to stop it.”

“……”

“The Grand Duke trusted us and left things in our care.”

Alteion had no words.

Indeed.

Ekian had left resolutely, saying he entrusted Judith to them, that she alone mattered and he would not deny his lineage. But what returned to him was the betrayal of those around him who had helped whisk her away.

“It’s only natural that he wouldn’t trust us. But honestly…”

Melanie narrowed her eyes and continued, “I also think I accepted it all too easily.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“If it were me in that situation, I’d have made him suffer a few more days. Isn’t it a bit infuriating? She was even planning to have the baby alone and left like that—how heartbroken she must’ve been.”

“But Ekian also had his reasons and went through a lot mentally…”

“I’m not saying she shouldn’t forgive him—just that it’s okay to make him sweat a little longer… emotionally speaking.”

Melanie let out a deep sigh as she stroked her swollen belly.

“My goodness, how hard must it have been all the way out there? I think the only reason Judith forgave him so easily is because she’s too kind.”

Alteion said nothing in response.

Seeing that, Melanie narrowed her eyes and asked, “Why are you so quiet?”

“Ah, it seems Ekian made a very wise decision.”

He nodded deeply and folded his arms.

“If even you are like this, imagine how the Duchess of Mayus would be? It’s best to push through everything while he’s alone with Judith. From Ekian’s perspective, he used his head well.”

It seemed Judith had more than enough people on her side, so Alteion, who had no personal connection to her, decided that at the very least, he had to support his younger brother.

“The Duchess of Mayus… Hmm, she’s definitely the type to glare until the very moment of the wedding.”

“Exactly. So choosing this date was a clever move.”

And before Melanie could say anything more, he convened a meeting to coordinate the schedule.

Since he had only recently ascended the throne, departing so quickly for a distant place required quite a few formalities.

***

Thus, everyone finally gathered together at the wedding.

Since no one could make a scene at such a formal event, the ceremony proceeded peacefully.

The people of the Grand Duchy enjoyed the wedding like a festival, and the children who had followed Judith showered the couple with flowers and smiles.

Everything about the wedding was perfect.

And when the ceremony ended—

Isabella looked at Ekian with displeased eyes.

“It was a bit disappointing that Judith’s dress wasn’t the latest trend. Ribbon embroidery is more popular these days than floral embroidery.”

Of course, at the time, Judith was chatting with Melanie. When Judith was present, Isabella only smiled sweetly, but once she was alone with Ekian, she voiced all her complaints.

“Also, the stew was a bit salty. Judith’s so kind she ate it without saying a word, but you should be more attentive.”

Before Ekian could respond, the nagging continued.

“Also, she looks like she’s lost some weight—are you feeding her properly? I heard she’s still handling Grand Duchy affairs, right? You need to take better care of her, understood?”

“…Mother.”

Ekian let out a deep sigh and said, “Do you perhaps not like me?”

“Of course not!”

Isabella opened her eyes wide.

“Who would like a son who made my daughter-in-law suffer and deceived her? I allowed it because you’re the child’s father, but still…”

Faced with her stern expression, Ekian couldn’t help but burst into laughter. As Isabella raised her eyebrows even more, Ekian gently said, “No, it’s just that the only time you ever get this angry with me is when it concerns Judith… so I found it amusing.”

“Amusing?”

“Honestly, I always wished you would treat me a bit more casually. You always raised me with nothing but praise.”

Isabella’s eyes widened. “Th-that’s because… you really were such a wonderful son…”

“Then when I returned after running away, you should’ve scolded me harshly. You should’ve yelled about how I turned the household upside down. But you didn’t.”

“……”

“If I’d fought with Karl, you would’ve taken my side unconditionally, wouldn’t you?”

Both of them knew what was behind those words. As much as she cherished him as her son, she had always been subconsciously cautious not to hurt him, since he wasn’t her biological child.

Ekian said gently, “Now it finally feels like you’re truly my mother. Scolding me when I’ve done wrong.”

“You—really…”

Isabella smiled softly and relaxed her shoulders. Then, shaking her head, she murmured, “Thanks to that girl Judith, it really feels like we’ve become a true family, never to be separated.”

“She’s a precious person. Oh, Mother. I heard you brought a lot of baby supplies. May I take a look?”

“Of course. Come with me. There are some things that need assembling—Judith will be so pleased if you do it yourself. Oh, and I brought lots of toys you liked when you were little.”

Isabella led Ekian briskly out of the banquet hall.

Watching the conversation quietly from behind, Alteion thought to himself.

As expected, Ekian really is clever.

It wasn’t without reason that he managed to make Judith his wife, despite the tangled, twisted situation, without forcing anything.

Unaware of this, Judith and Melanie were having a pleasant conversation off in the distance.

“You should’ve made him suffer a bit more! Throw a tantrum and say you couldn’t accept it or try running away again!”

“But Ekian gets completely flustered the moment that topic comes up. Last time, he even teared up.”

“Oh my, he cried?”

“Yes. He’s really more innocent than you’d think, right? So I decided we should just live well. If I bring up the past, he’d be so anxious and wouldn’t even know how to comfort me.”

For the sake of his brother’s peaceful household, Alteion suppressed the urge to say, ‘That innocent guy calculated the wedding date perfectly and even buttered up the Duchess of Mayus like a snake.’

“It’s practically the first time I’ve spent an entire day with him, but he’s more timid and gentle than I thought.”

Alteion, thinking ‘that timid and gentle husband of yours murdered the Emperor,’ feigned disinterest. Judith probably knew the fact in theory, but it seemed too surreal for her to fully grasp.

“He truly is the brother of the Crown Prince who was famous for his kindness and warmth.”

Of course, he didn’t bother mentioning that he was the one who had directly ordered the assassination.

Melanie merely smiled and said, ‘Oh ho ho, of course,’ as if in agreement. In any case, she was now an accomplice too.

‘It can’t be helped, Judith. In the end, we’re all in this together.’

Alteion took a sip of wine and grinned.

‘You’ll have to live the rest of your life within this family.’