I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 37

“She’s with guests. From what I hear, it seems Lady Judith received some kind of revelation at the Shrine of the Last Priestess.”

“A revelation?”

The Duke was greatly surprised, and Isabella, who had already granted Judith permission to visit the shrine knowing of her mysticism, sprang to her feet.

“So… something did happen. Let’s go and see.”

When the Duke and Isabella hurriedly descended to the drawing room, they found Judith accompanied by the Marquis and Marchioness of Soden, as well as a well-built young man wearing a mask.

“Oh?”

Isabella’s gaze first landed on the masked young man rather than the Soden couple, and she paused slightly.

“Greetings, Your Graces the Duke and Duchess. I apologize for visiting so suddenly and without prior notice.”

It was only after hearing the Marquis’s greeting that Isabella recovered and turned her attention to him.

A brief exchange of introductions and explanations followed. Naturally, Isabella and the Duke listened to the purpose of the Soden couple’s visit and granted permission to summon the household staff.

“Of course, we must cooperate.”

Isabella rang a bell as she spoke, “So we need to gather all the staff with brown hair and green eyes, correct?”

“Yes. Thank you so much.”

The Marchioness of Soden was already on the verge of tears.

“I know my son’s distinguishing features. I’m the only one who would recognize them. If he’s here, I’ll know him for sure. My son has a small birthmark near his left eyelid, close to his eyelashes. It’s usually not visible, but when he closes his eyes, it’s faintly noticeable. Since it’s near his eyelashes, he likely doesn’t even know about it…”

Isabella clasped the Marchioness’s hand tightly.

For someone often regarded as cold and aloof, rarely forging close relationships with other noblewomen, this was an extraordinary display of warmth.

“I understand how you feel.”

“Madam…”

That was enough.

Isabella, too, had a lost son. To be precise, a son who had run away…

“Me too… There’s something… a distinct feature I can recognize. Something only a mother who raised him closely for so long would know.”

Isabella continued slowly, “Ekian’s fourth fingernail is slightly straight. The others are rounded… and it’s the same on both hands. Ekian himself might not even know, but I do. After all, I was the one who trimmed his nails when he was a baby.”

“Exactly!”

The Marchioness of Soden nodded fervently. At that moment, the butler entered, responding to the bell. Isabella explained the situation. Since it was a simple instruction, it posed no difficulty.

The butler, now fully informed, nodded. “I’ll gather all the young men who meet the criteria here.”

“Thank you.”

The butler bowed and left respectfully.

Brown hair and green eyes were the most common combination in the empire.

In the large Mayus household, there were easily over ten young men who matched that description.

“I never got to watch my son grow up,” said the Marchioness of Soden, wiping away her tears with her fingers. “That’s what breaks my heart the most. I can’t even imagine how he’s grown…”

“Indeed.”

Isabella, uncharacteristically, sighed with a sympathetic expression.

“I feel pain from missing five years of Ekian’s life. I can’t fathom the depth of your sorrow…”

Judith silently observed the two mothers with a faint smile.

She couldn’t find the real Ekian, but at least Hud could be found.

Beside her, the Master sat quietly. Naturally, his mask revealed nothing of his expression.

‘Something’s odd.’

Judith thought as she glanced at him.

‘He seems down somehow.’

Though she couldn’t discern his expression or tone, she had that impression.

“But don’t lose hope, madam,” said the Marchioness of Soden warmly to Isabella. “You’ve found such a kind daughter-in-law. I hear she’s expecting a baby soon, too.”

At those words, both Isabella and Judith flinched slightly. It wasn’t a lie, but the sincerity in the Marchioness’s consolation made it difficult to address.

“The Young Duke Ekian wouldn’t be irresponsible. I’m sure he’ll return when the baby is born and healthy.”

“Ah, ahaha…”

“I haven’t spoken with the young lady much, but she seems so warm and considerate.”

The Marchioness of Soden appeared to have taken a great liking to Judith already. Isabella nodded emphatically.

“Ahem! She’s certainly a child with no shortcomings, wherever you take her.”

“Indeed. My Felix is at an age where it wouldn’t be strange for him to start a family. I suppose I should start preparing myself to welcome a daughter-in-law as well.”

Felix was the name of the Soden’s lost eldest son.

Although that son likely wasn’t using that name anymore.

The sudden flow of compliments left Judith smiling awkwardly. Even the Marquis of Soden joined in.

“If we truly find Felix, then you, young lady, will be the savior of the Soden family. We will do anything for you.”

“Ahem, we’ve already been providing plenty of support,” Isabella interjected, raising her brows.

“But she’s truly a clever and kind child who inspires such generosity.”

“Haha, if you yourself recognize your daughter-in-law, madam, she must indeed be a jewel. It wouldn’t be amiss for our Felix to bring home such a daughter-in-law.”

Before long, about ten young men with brown hair and green eyes filed into the drawing room.

‘Hm?’

Judith’s brow furrowed slightly as she observed the group.

Before she could voice her confusion, the Marchioness of Soden suddenly rose and shouted. Her energy was so overwhelming that it was hard to believe she had been engaging in a calm conversation just moments before.

“Would you all please close your eyes for a moment?”

Her face conveyed the desperation of a mother who had longed for her son for far too long, unable to wait even a second longer. Without giving anyone a chance to stop her, she strode toward the young men.

‘Wait a minute. Something feels off.’

Judith thought, her frown deepening as she stood up.

As the Marchioness examined the young men, one by one, she eventually clasped someone’s hand tightly.

“You… what is your age?”

The young man had a small dot at the edge of his left eyelid, near his eyelashes—barely noticeable unless observed closely, but undeniably present.

“Ah.”

The young man, whose hand had been grabbed by the Marchioness of Soden, blinked and answered hesitantly, “I’m not sure. I’m adopted. My adoptive parents have also passed away, so…”

“My goodness!”

The Marchioness gasped, clutching the young man’s hand tighter. At that moment, Judith interjected, frowning as she rose from her seat.

“Excuse me.”

Everyone turned to her as she continued, “Hud Ramis isn’t here. From what I know, Hud also has brown hair and green eyes, just like…”

“Oh.”

The butler’s eyes widened in realization.

“Now that you mention it, the physician was also among the staff. I hadn’t considered that and only looked through the servant roster.”

“Then, shouldn’t we summon Hud immediately—”

“But Hud is currently away. He received a letter from his family and left not long ago.”

However, the Marchioness was no longer paying attention to Judith or the butler’s conversation. The Marquis of Soden rushed over and gripped the young man’s shoulder.

“Felix, is it you? Are you really our Felix? Huh?”

“I-I… I don’t really know much, except that I’m adopted…”

The young man, surrounded by the Soden couple, stammered with a bewildered expression.

“After my adoptive parents passed away, I’ve just been working here managing mail deliveries. That’s all I can tell you.”

Darting his eyes nervously, the young man continued, “There’s an old man in the southern region who was close to my adoptive parents. If you’ll allow it, I can go there right away. Maybe I can learn something…”

“Yes, yes. Let’s do that first. Hmm? Where is it?”

“Well… as far as I know, the Imperial banquet is coming up soon… I’ll go alone. I might not even be your son, so…”

It was at that moment.

“Excuse me,” Judith interjected, stepping between them.

Then, without hesitation, she picked up a damp cloth from the table and wiped the young man’s eyelid.