I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 28

Hud stared at the Master with a slightly nervous expression.

‘Did I ask the wrong thing?’

It was hard to read the masked man’s expression, and the silence between them made things even more awkward.

‘Isn’t this the kind of information they’re supposed to provide at an information guild?’

Hud had been a diligent student at the academy, having little experience in the outside world. After graduating, he had quickly secured a position at the Mayus estate, leaving him with very little understanding of how information guilds worked.

‘Still, I do need the information…’

From the moment he entered the building, he felt an odd sense of discomfort. That discomfort stemmed from the overwhelming presence of the Master.

Though Hud was a man himself, he felt a strange pressure from the Master’s tall and muscular physique.

Hud, who had never felt physically intimidated before, found himself slightly tense. The deep, resonant voice of the Master was unsettling, fading from memory as soon as it was heard.

‘I think I’ve seen magical items like that mask before,’ Hud thought as he observed the Master.

‘This man must be very serious about hiding his identity.’

Despite the mask, the Master exuded an aura of power. As Hud awkwardly stood up, preparing to leave, the Master suddenly spoke in a dark, yet oddly polite tone.

“Of course, I can provide you with that information.”

Despite the ominous voice, only the politeness stuck with Hud, and he became excited.

“Ah, thank you! The woman I’m interested in…”

“You met her at the Mayus estate, correct?”

“…Pardon?”

“Aren’t you the physician working for the Mayus family? Hud Ramis, top graduate of the medical academy. Ah, you used to work with someone who recently disappeared, didn’t you?”

Hud’s face turned deathly pale.

‘How is this even possible?’

He had heard that information guilds were powerful, but the fact that they knew about Bart’s situation—something only a handful of people at the Mayus estate knew—was terrifying.

“The woman you’re interested in… The current circumstances won’t allow you to be with her.”

“Ah, yes, I know. That’s why I plan to approach her slowly.”

Hud felt like he had been possessed by a ghost. He had no intention of confessing his feelings right away. After all, Judith was still playing the role of Ekian’s wife at the estate, and he knew that Judith would diligently fulfill her responsibilities, no matter how temporary.

Yet, Hud felt astonished by how much the Master seemed to understand.

‘This place really is remarkable. How does he know so much about my thoughts?’

Now, Hud’s eyes were filled with reverence as he looked at the Master.

“But it would be better to give up.”

When the Master said this, Hud was deeply disappointed, even though he wasn’t usually swayed by others’ words.

He had only come to the guild to seek advice, not intending to blindly follow what they said.

But the Master’s eerie accuracy made him trust the information almost without question.

“…Give up?”

“Yes. Give up. She’s not the type of woman who would see you as a man.”

“Is that so?”

Hud couldn’t hide his doubt.

He knew he wasn’t unattractive. Women often pursued him, and one maid had even told him that he looked like the type of man every woman adored.

The Master continued speaking firmly. “She will never see you as anything more than a colleague. At most, you’ll be friends.”

“Of course. We’ve only just met. But could we not get closer over time?”

The Master shook his head definitively. “Absolutely not.”

“Then, what kind of man does she like? Is it not someone who works hard and is good-looking?”

“Well, I’m not entirely sure, but…”

The Master seemed to hesitate for a moment before slamming his hand down on the table.

“Most nobles prefer other nobles.”

“…Pardon?”

“Isn’t she a noblewoman?”

Hud nodded, bewildered.

Judith was indeed a baroness, though she had once joked over drinks that she would have sold her useless title if she could, like they did abroad.

She also seemed completely indifferent about things that most nobles would consider of utmost importance, like divorce and remarriage…

And she had been casually teaching commoners as a visiting tutor…

Hud had even assumed she didn’t think of herself as a noble at all.

“Most noblewomen aren’t interested in men without titles. They usually look for someone at least of viscount rank, if not an earl.”

“I see… But she doesn’t seem like the others.”

“Regardless, that’s how most noblewomen think. You’ve spent enough time around the nobility to know this, haven’t you?”

“That’s true…”

Hud nodded slightly, recalling his experiences with the nobility. He was surprised at how disappointed he felt.

‘I didn’t realize I cared this much about her.’

He had thought his feelings were just a mild attraction, but now he realized it was more than that.

“Yes, you’re right.”

It was a fact that nobles and commoners lived in separate worlds. Judith might not have acted like a typical noble, but perhaps, deep down, she still thought like one.

“Anyway, it would be better to give up,” said the Master smoothly. “Now, if our consultation is finished, I must attend to Judith’s request. I’m rather busy.”

Hud snapped out of his thoughts and quickly reached for his wallet.

“What do I owe you for the information?”

“Nothing.”

The Master smiled mysteriously. “My close relationship with Judith allows me to offer this as a service to her colleague.”

The Master’s gaze followed Hud as he left the building, his shoulders slumped.

***

Even after returning to the Mayus estate, Hud felt oddly drained.

‘A commoner…’

Of course, it was natural for a noblewoman not to see a commoner as a potential partner. That’s just how nobles are.

The Master’s words had felt like a cold splash of water.

Judith wore elegant dresses and stayed in the Young Duke’s room. Even though she was kind enough not to let it show, Hud wondered if she found her new lifestyle comfortable.

Hud delivered the antidote to the Duke and Duchess, still feeling somewhat detached from the situation.

“Take this twice a day, morning and evening.”

Seeing the couple’s somber expressions, Hud pulled himself together and explained the treatment.

“The detoxification won’t be difficult, but it will take time. The poison is slow-acting by nature.”

The Duke and Duchess sighed in relief.

“Hud, thank you.”

“We were lucky to have you treating Karl. You saved us.”

Hud smiled softly and shook his head. “It’s nothing. I was only doing my job. The real credit goes to Ju… I mean, to the young duchess.”

Both the Duke and Duchess nodded, acknowledging Judith’s role in saving them.

“It would’ve been a disaster if not for Judith.”

“Even though she suspected something, she was brave enough to act. What a remarkable young woman.”

The Duke and Duchess praised Judith. They had no choice but to acknowledge her courage.

Hud, too, admired Judith’s bravery. Stepping up when things weren’t even certain—what if she had been wrong?

But Judith had calmly answered, “When lives are at stake, you have to step up, regardless.”

Hud thought that if he were the Duke or Duchess, he would want to reward Judith greatly as well.

“I told you,” the Duchess said confidently, turning to the Duke. “She’s far too precious to simply be labeled a divorcee. We should at least marry her into a viscount’s family.”

The Duke, looking resolute, responded with a serious expression, “A viscount? That’s not enough. We’ll find her a good earl.”