I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 35

“Yes.”

Although she had not yet been formally introduced to high society, news of the marriage registration had clearly spread throughout the capital.

Well, considering the weight of the Mayus name, such notoriety was only to be expected.

Judith politely greeted them and then quickly got to the point.

“I came to this shrine to pray for the well-being of my child and the safe return of my husband, Ekian Mayus.”

At her words, the Master standing nearby cleared his throat with a purposeful cough. Judith ignored it and continued speaking.

“But while I was inside, I heard the voice of the Priestess.”

Hearing this, the Master, who had been feigning disinterest, immediately grabbed Judith’s arm.

“Is that true, Judith? A voice? What did the Priestess say to you?”

Startled, Judith looked at him, but the Marquis of Soden quickly intervened, prying the Master’s hand away.

“Now, now, I understand your concern, but you shouldn’t keep making excuses to cling to a married woman who is carrying a child. If Ekian Mayus, the Young Duke, returns, your life might be forfeit.”

The Marquis spoke with genuine concern, even worrying about the Master’s safety.

“Though I’ve only met him a couple of times in my life, I know enough to say that Ekian Mayus, the Young Duke, is not a man to be trifled with.”

He looked the Master up and down, clicked his tongue, and muttered, “Well, maybe that’s why you’re wearing that mask… Still, if you’re going to harbor unrequited love for a married woman, you might as well be ready to risk your life.”

The Marquis seemed to have drawn his own conclusions about the Master’s masked appearance.

Although his assumptions were entirely wrong from start to finish, that wasn’t the focus now. Judith shot the Master a warning glance, signaling him to stay quiet, then turned her attention back to the Marquis and Marchioness of Soden.

“Well… anyway, the message from the Priestess was…”

Although the Priestess had specifically mentioned the Marquis, the Master seemed more tense. Judith couldn’t help but wonder why but carried on regardless.

“She said the missing eldest son of the Marquis of Soden is in the household of the Duke of Mayus…”

At her words, the Marquis and Marchioness of Soden collapsed to the floor in shock, while the Master frowned in disbelief.

“…What did you say?”

His voice was filled with suspicion and disappointment.

Judith shrugged and replied, “Exactly what I said.”

“Really?”

“I don’t know. I’m just relaying what I heard.”

Judith answered dismissively to the Master, then turned to the Marquis and Marchioness with a gentle smile.

“But since you’ve come this far, why not visit the Duke’s mansion? You’ve got nothing to lose, after all…”

The Marquis and Marchioness exchanged glances and nodded, then passionately exclaimed to Judith.

“Of course!”

“It seems all our visits to this shrine have paid off. For the Priestess herself to use her final power to find our son…”

“Should we leave immediately?”

Supporting each other, the couple hastily stood up, their faces alight with joy and hope.

Judith smiled broadly and said, “You can come with me. I came here in a Mayus carriage, so if you follow me, we can go straight to the Duke’s mansion.”

The Mayus and Soden had no particular personal connection. They weren’t politically opposed but weren’t close enough for informal visits either.

According to noble customs, the Marquis of Soden should have sent a formal letter of visit to the Duke of Mayus in such cases.

However, since Judith, as a member of the Mayus family, was inviting them as guests, it was perfectly appropriate to enter immediately. Judith would also explain the details properly.

“Oh my… My deepest gratitude…”

“Thank you sincerely, Lady Mayus. Your kindness means so much to us.”

The Marquis and Marchioness repeatedly bowed to Judith with gratitude. Meanwhile, the Master muttered skeptically to himself.

“…Hard to believe. The last Priestess using her final power… for nothing more than fulfilling the Soden couple’s wish? Not even her own child? What exactly is the Priestess’s criteria…?”

The Marquis scowled at the remark and snapped. “Nothing more? Are you calling the bond between parent and child nothing? Parents worry about their children until their dying breath!”

“Exactly!”

The Master let out an exasperated sigh and added, “Isn’t it natural for parents to worry endlessly about their own children?”

“That’s right!”

Shouting loudly, the Marquis quickly realized how strange the conversation had become. He also concluded that reasoning with the masked young man was impossible.

Deciding to ignore him entirely, the Marquis turned to Judith, holding his wife’s arm, and said, “Then we’ll leave it to you. Thank you so much. The Soden family will never forget this kindness. Whatever you ask of us, we will grant it.”

“Ahaha… Let’s get going, then.”

Judith had just started walking toward the Mayus carriage when the Master followed her.

“Excuse me, Judith.”

“Yes?”

“May I accompany you?”

“What? Why?”

“I find it hard to believe that the last Priestess would use her final power solely to fulfill the Soden couple’s wish… I’d like to see for myself.”

Despite the awkward conclusion to their previous conversation, the Master spoke seriously.

“As far as I know, the last Priestess had a son.”

Judith was taken aback. Those words mirrored what the Priestess had told her. It was something ordinary people, including herself, had no way of knowing, yet the Master seemed aware.

‘As expected of the Information Guild Master!’

While Judith marveled, the Master urged her again. “Did she say anything else?”

“What? Ah… But why are you so interested in the Shrine of the Last Priestess? How did you even find this place…?”

The Master responded without hesitation, “Isn’t such a fascinating topic irresistible to someone in the information business?”

Well, that explanation left little room for argument. Such a supernatural phenomenon was bound to attract the curiosity of any information guild.

“I’ll pay whatever it takes.”

The Master’s voice now carried a tone of desperation.

“If she said anything else, please tell me.”

However, Judith couldn’t decide whether she should share more with the Master or keep silent.

Ultimately, her conscience wouldn’t allow her to sell off the private affairs of the last priestess as a resource to a mercantile information network in exchange for money.

‘If it were me, I’d be upset if my final, honest confession was sold off as information.’

Sighing, Judith finally replied, “She did say something else.”

Though the Master’s mask hid his expression, Judith could feel the intensity of his emotions.

She calmly continued, “But I’m not sure if I should tell you. It’s a private matter, after all. Let me think about it. Instead…”

“Instead?”

“Since you seem so interested in this incident, I’ll invite you as a guest. You can come with me.”

The Master had never made a request to Judith before. Throughout their long dealings, he had always maintained a composed demeanor. While he had paid well for information, he had never demanded or pressured her for anything.

Now, for the first time, the Master openly expressed his desire for information.

Judith had no intention of granting all his wishes, but she wasn’t cold enough to completely shut him out either.

Offering a compromise, she said, “You’ll be able to see for yourself whether the Marquis and Marchioness of Soden find their child.”