I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 15

Of course, if that had happened, she was planning to give Sarah a large sum of money so that she wouldn’t have to live as a maid. From Sarah’s perspective, remarriage was common among commoners, so it wouldn’t have been a great loss. She could have even returned to her homeland.

‘Even if Ekian somehow came back… she seems like someone who knows how to back down rationally.’

However, there was no longer any need to think about Sarah. Isabella put down her fork.

The fewer people who knew about this matter, the better. Since Judith was already aware of her plan, it made sense for her to be the one to proceed. Besides, Isabella had already taken a liking to Judith.

“Well then, Karl, after you finish your dessert, go upstairs. I need to prepare to meet our guest in the garden.”

“A guest?”

“Yes. I’ll introduce you later.”

Judith would be entering the family as Ekian’s wife, and she would have to live with Karl for several months. However, since Karl was still young, Isabella had no intention of telling him the truth yet.

Karl, upon hearing that the introduction would be delayed, replied indifferently, not showing much interest.

“Yes.”

After watching Karl begin to eat his dessert with his fork, Isabella rose lightly and headed toward the garden.

Judith had mentioned how beautiful the roses in the garden were, so she planned to have the tea table set up near them.

Even though she could leave the trivial tasks to the maids, she wanted to personally choose where the table would be placed. As she walked through the garden, inspecting the lovely rose vines, it happened.

“Madam!”

A woman rushed toward her, clutching her skirts in her hands. Her curly red hair was tied high with a plain cloth, and she wore a simple beige dress paired with somewhat worn shoes. It was Judith.

Isabella furrowed her brow and muttered under her breath, “…Judith?”

Although they had an appointment, it was too early for tea time. Lunch had only just finished. Always so composed, Judith didn’t seem like the type to act impulsively. Isabella stared in surprise at the sudden appearance of Judith.

***

Karl finished his dessert under the watchful eye of the butler and stood up. He was genuinely concerned about not worrying his mother. Afterward, Karl headed to the back garden.

“Young master.”

Sarah, who had been sitting on a bench in the garden waiting for him, greeted Karl with a bright smile amidst the flowers.

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sure Madam was pleased.”

Karl nodded at Sarah’s words. “Yes, but we didn’t finish the meal together.”

“Oh? Why not?”

“Mother had to go to the garden to prepare for a guest, so she left early.”

A soft smile curved Sarah’s lips. Although she already knew the reason, she asked the question to confirm.

Indeed, the Duchess and the other maids would all be in the garden. This matched the information she had gathered that morning.

Sarah quietly watched as Karl jumped onto the swing in the garden. As he sat there, kicking his legs, the silhouette of a young man who used to push the swing for him flashed like a ghost behind him. There had been a time when she believed that loving gaze directed at Karl would someday turn toward her.

Five years ago…

When it was just Ekian, Karl, and herself, it had felt like flying through the sky. No other maid spent as much time with the young masters as she did. That fact alone made her heart soar higher than Karl’s swing.

‘It was something only I, Sarah Otten, could do.’

Although others were jealous and envious, they also acknowledged that it was possible for her.

After all, Sarah was the most beautiful and the most intelligent among the maids. She had quickly learned to read without a teacher and was even proficient in foreign languages.

‘A woman like me wasn’t meant to remain a mere maid.’

The envy directed at her only served to boost her confidence further, convincing her that she was different from the other maids and justifying her ambitions.

Many servants in the mansion had fallen for her, but Sarah never paid attention to any of them.

Her plan was to marry Ekian. While it was rare for a noble to marry a maid, it wasn’t unheard of. Even fairy tales were filled with such stories.

Even the imperial family sometimes married commoners in the name of love, although those marriages didn’t last long. But at least they made it to the wedding.

‘I was childhood friends with Ekian.’

Sarah had disregarded the fact that Ekian had always kept his distance and maintained clear boundaries. Every night, she sat on the swing where Karl once sat, kicking her legs as she imagined.

‘If I stay close to Karl long enough, Ekian will eventually open his heart to me. After all, I’m beautiful and smart.’

She believed that despite being born into the wrong family, she was destined for a noble’s life.

One day, she would command the other maids beneath her as part of the Mayus family.

‘I’m not like other commoners. I’m practically a noblewoman.’

She was convinced that she and Ekian were a perfect match, and he was the only man worthy of her.

That’s why, when Ekian disappeared, Sarah couldn’t believe her dreams had crumbled. The thought of returning to the life of an ordinary maid was a crushing defeat for her.

Even though she had never attained noble status, she felt as though the love she had cherished for so long had been stolen from her.

Perhaps that’s why Sarah found a twisted sense of satisfaction in tormenting Karl.

She couldn’t bear to lose control over the life she had once manipulated so easily, believing herself to be close to nobility.

‘Look at this. Karl listens only to me.’

The genius child, Karl, depended on her. By destroying the last remaining heir of the Mayus family, Sarah was, in essence, destroying the Mayus Duchy itself.

‘This family is mine. I’m different from the other maids!’

With the Duchess and other prying eyes gone, Sarah took a small vial out of her pocket.

“Young master, here it is. This is the medicine that will help you throw up everything you’ve eaten. I had to go all the way into town last night to get it.”

Karl’s eyes sparkled with joy as he eagerly took the vial from Sarah, his eyes shining as he asked, “Really… if I stop growing, become very sick, and remain weak, do you think my brother will come back?”

“Of course.”

“I’ve already done what you told me to do. I sent the tutor away, and I refused to attend knight training.”

Clutching the vial tightly, Karl added with resolve, “If I continue to live well, that wouldn’t be right. Taking successor training as if everything’s fine… you were right, that would be thoughtless. Thanks for letting me know.”

“Oh, it was nothing. Everything I do is for your sake, young master.”

Sarah smiled warmly and stroked Karl’s hair.

“I miss Master Ekian, too… I miss the time we spent together, just the three of us…”

At that moment, the leaves of a large tree behind Sarah rustled, but no one noticed.

The tree was so thick that it could easily conceal a person. Though the wind wasn’t blowing, a large leaf fluttered to the ground, causing a slight movement of the branches. Startled, a bird resting on the very top of the tree flew away with a flutter of wings.

“If you’re doing too well, everyone will misunderstand, young master.”

With the tree at her back, Sarah continued kindly, “They might think you’re happy that Master Ekian is gone.”

“Oh…”

“If things continue like this, you’ll become the new Young Duke. The timing couldn’t be worse, could it?”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

Karl, still clutching the vial, muttered gloomily. Even the sunlight filtering through the leaves couldn’t brighten the boy’s downcast face.

“They say there hasn’t been any proof of life for five years now, so they’re going to declare him dead soon… But for you to be doing well—it just doesn’t make sense.”

“That’s right.”

Sarah, wearing a similarly dark expression, sighed and nodded. “Of course, the Duke and Duchess want you to be well and happy… but we also have to consider what outsiders might think. And, of course, it would be even better if Master Ekian came back because he was worried about you.”

“You’re right.”

“So hurry and drink it. This is the best way to bring Master Ekian back.”

Sarah wiped away a few tears, then unscrewed the cap of the vial with her long, pale fingers.

“Young master, from now on, after every meal, I’ll bring you this medicine. That way, you won’t have to worry your parents, and…”

At that moment—

“No!”

With a sharp scream, someone suddenly rushed in and knocked the vial right out of Karl’s hand.