I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 154

The first place Judith and Ekian decided to go was the building of the Grey Information Guild.

As the familiar alley came into view, Judith felt overwhelmed with emotion. It vividly brought back memories of when she lived in a small boarding house.

Holding Judith’s hand, Ekian asked, “This place was supposed to explode, right? And I was going to die.”

Judith replied, recalling the future the last priestess had forced into her mind, “Yes. I would have died too, living here.”

That future was as good as gone now. Just then, a flower shop at the entrance of the alley caught Judith’s eye. It was where the female lead had lived.

“Do you want flowers?”

Misreading her gaze, Ekian strode into the flower shop. Then, with a low chuckle, he said to the owner.

“Could you make a bouquet with only the most beautiful flowers here?”

“Oh my.”

The shop owner, who had been dozing, jolted awake and broke into a bright smile. Beside her, a child about Alex’s age was taking a nap.

“Just a moment. Could you wait a little?”

Standing behind Ekian, Judith peeked her face out. The owner, hurriedly picking out a few roses, tilted her head.

“…You look very familiar. Miss, haven’t we met before?”

“Well… um, a few years ago, I lived in the boarding house inside and worked as a private tutor.”

“Ahh.”

The shop owner smiled warmly.

“Right, I think there was a young lady like that. You were very busy every single day, weren’t you? I heard you got married….”

“Yes.”

Judith smiled softly as she held onto Ekian’s arm.

“He’s my husband.”

“Ah! I can tell just by looking. Peter never stood a chance.”

“…Peter? You mean the hardware store owner’s son?”

Peter was a young man around Judith’s age who she had greeted a few times in passing. The boarding house was old and often broke down, and he would come along with his father to help fix things, so they knew each other.

“Yes. That boy secretly liked you, but you never noticed, did you? He’s gone down south now and started a big hardware factory.”

For a moment, Ekian’s expression stiffened.

“That factory is doing very well… he knew you were in debt, so he said once he made enough money, he’d confess to you. Didn’t expect you to care about looks.”

“Haha.”

While the owner busily worked her hands, a large bouquet was taking shape. Judith ignored the ominous presence beside her and casually asked.

“Here… um… wasn’t there a girl named Rose?”

Rose was the female lead of the story Judith had believed to be the original. She was also the daughter of this flower shop owner.

“Is she doing well?”

The shop owner said with a bright smile, “She’s doing well. She entered the academy at the top of her class not long ago. She’s busy living in the dorms. She even placed first on her last exam and received a scholarship.”

Judith felt relieved.

According to the original story, she was supposed to be the only one to survive when this alley burned down and live a harsh life afterward.

The girl who had longed to attend the academy for commoners had ended up too busy just trying to survive, unable to achieve the education she wanted.

Whether or not she ended up with the male lead as in the original, Judith was satisfied that she was now living the peaceful life she had wished for. As her parents’ pride, growing toward her own dreams.

Without getting tangled up with Karl, who became a villain, and suffering because of it.

‘…Then does that mean Mother and Father are the ones suffering because of Karl? So the total amount of suffering stays the same?’

While tilting her head inwardly, a large bouquet was suddenly placed in Judith’s arms. Ekian had already paid for it.

“Miss, then be happy with your handsome husband.”

The flower shop owner waved with a smile.

“And come visit sometimes.”

Ekian answered for her, “Yes. Please be sure to tell that hardware store boy. Judith is already married and even has a son.”

Judith’s face flushed from embarrassment. The jealousy that was so obvious made the shop owner burst into laughter. At the same time, the child about Alex’s age woke up and rubbed his eyes. He seemed to be Rose’s younger sibling.

Even so, until they turned around and left, the flower shop owner’s pleased laughter didn’t stop.

“Ugh, seriously.”

Judith shot him a glare and poked Ekian in the side.

“You’re being ridiculous. You’re embarrassing me.”

“You should be prepared. They’re going to keep asking what kind of relationship we had.”

Holding Judith as if enclosing her in his arms, Ekian walked deeper into the alley. The sign of the Grey Information Guild was now gone, and a restaurant was operating on the first floor. It was also the place where a pregnant Judith once turned away in disappointment.

“Shall we go in?”

“What? This is someone else’s business now.”

“I bought the second floor again a few years ago.”

“…Why?”

“Because I wanted to.”

As expected, the restaurant only operated on the first floor. The Master had only received guests on the second floor anyway, so it wasn’t a space filled with shared memories.

“This way.”

Ekian led Judith to the staircase behind the building. Judith held his hand and climbed the stairs.

The moment Ekian opened the back door with a key, Judith burst into a bright smile while holding the bouquet.

Because the Master’s room from back then was still there, just as it was.

“How is it?”

Judith walked lightly and sat on the familiar sofa. Ekian locked the door again behind her as he spoke.

“Does it bring back memories?”

“Of course.”

Judith smiled brightly as she looked at Ekian, who was now sitting across from her. They had always faced each other like this while exchanging information.

“Now then, Miss Judith.”

Just like back then, Ekian raised an eyebrow and spoke.

“What interesting information have you brought today?”

Judith bargained skillfully as well.

“Make sure you pay well. It’s information you will find truly interesting, Master.”

“Let’s hear it first.”

“The entire conversation between Judith and Peter.”

Seeing Judith’s confident expression, Ekian let out a sigh as if he had lost.

“…That is indeed information I desire. I want to buy it no matter what. Every single word, without leaving anything out.”

“That’s a relief. How much are you willing to pay?”

“My everything.”

Ekian slowly stood up and bent toward Judith’s face.

“I’ll give you all of me.”

His breath, now so close, carried a heated warmth.

“How is it?”

Judith hesitated for a moment, her face flushed, before answering.

“…I’m not sure. Will it be useful?”

“Why don’t you test it?”

As if he had been waiting, Ekian pressed his lips against hers. From the moment the door locked, the strange tension that had been lingering spilled over.

Despite having kissed countless times before, kissing again in a place filled with memories made her heart race as if she had returned to those days.

It was a kind of transaction she had never even imagined before, and it brought with it a strange sense of unfamiliarity.

“Ah….”

As she accepted him, her lips trembling, Ekian, as if he could no longer hold back, pushed her down onto the sofa. Pressed beneath his solid frame as it came against her, Judith curled her body slightly.

“The test… is over….”

“Is it?”

With a voice thick with heat, Ekian pressed his lips to her neck.

“Will you accept it?”

“But first, this position is a bit….”

“Mm.”

Without lifting his lips, Ekian pulled her trembling body even closer into his arms. It felt like he had no intention of letting her go.

“Don’t you remember? I always paid for information in advance.”

As his lips moved lower and lower, his breathing grew heavier, as if he was losing what little restraint he had left. Judith clutched his hair and let out a faint moan. Her toes curled tightly inside her shoes.

Looking down at her clothes, now in complete disarray, Ekian smiled fiercely.

“You’ll be satisfied, Miss Judith.”

At the voice thick with excitement, Judith was drawn in as well, and in the end, she nodded, breathing heavily.

“Do your best.”

Slowly raising her hand, Judith undid one of Ekian’s shirt buttons.

“You’ve never disappointed me when it comes to payment.”

Having lost their composure, their lips met once more. Their bodies overlapped on the narrow sofa.