I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 38

“Ahh!”

The mark on the young man’s eyelid was completely wiped off.

As everyone stared in shock, Judith caught her breath and said, “I’ve lived a life disconnected from events like imperial banquets, but I do know this: most people wouldn’t immediately consider the imperial banquet schedule if it didn’t concern them.”

Judith continued in a clear and steady voice, “It felt strange that Hud went out to deliver mail, and suddenly the mail handler stepped in. I thought it was possible the mail handler overheard the conversation in the drawing room and checked Hud’s eyelid for the mark.”

It was the position of the eldest son of the Soden Marquis family.

Unless someone possessed unique powers like the Mayus Duke family, verifying paternity was nearly impossible.

Thus, upon seeing the ‘true heir’ leave, there was certainly room for malicious intentions.

“If it were the Marquis of Soden, I imagine he would have generously funded the journey to retrieve that man,” Judith said, holding up the damp cloth.

“Whether his goal was merely that or if he genuinely intended to pose as the eldest son, I can’t say for sure.”

She already knew from the original story that Hud was the true eldest son of the Soden Marquis family.

Thus, she quickly realized that the mail handler had concocted this scheme to deceive them.

That’s why she spoke up and acted immediately.

“Whether Hud Ramis is truly the eldest son of the Soden Marquis family, I can’t be sure, but one thing is certain.”

Judith concluded firmly, “This person is a fraud.”

It was then.

“Damn it… such a done deal!”

The servant standing before her suddenly lunged at Judith, grabbing her by the neck.

Since his deception had been exposed, there was no way the Mayus family would let him go unpunished. He had nothing to lose, so he lashed out at Judith in his frustration.

“Aaah!”

Isabella sprang to her feet, and the Marchioness of Soden screamed in terror.

“…Huh?”

Judith instinctively shut her eyes and stumbled.

Just moments earlier, she had seen the enraged servant’s face rushing toward her.

“What, what is this?”

Suddenly, the servant lay collapsed on the floor.

Judith slowly processed the situation.

“…Master?”

It was the man who had been sitting next to her all along. Even when she wiped the servant’s eyelid, he had been seated there. She couldn’t fathom how he moved so quickly.

The Master, who had taken down the servant in one swift motion, spoke calmly, “This man indeed lied.”

Everyone stared at the Master in stunned silence.

“While it’s true his parents have passed away, he is not adopted.”

Isabella blinked slowly and muttered, “How… how do you know that?”

“I am the head of the Information Guild. I know as much.”

“The Information… Guild Master?”

Isabella couldn’t take her eyes off him. Meanwhile, other servants carried off the unconscious servant.

“Then I shall take my leave.”

The Master politely bowed to Isabella and added, “I see no reason for me to stay any longer.”

***

That night.

Ekian quietly read over a report.

The report’s content was simple.

Hud Ramis had been confirmed to be the true son of the Soden couple.

All circumstances had been verified, and everything matched perfectly.

“As I thought…”

Ekian placed the report firmly on the table and murmured, “So it was true.”

He had had a bad feeling ever since Judith mentioned Hud Ramis.

“Hud Ramis isn’t here. As far as I know, he also has brown hair and green eyes…”

Following Bart’s incident, Ekian had secretly investigated every servant in the Mayus household.

He had wanted to ensure no one else posed a threat to the Mayus family.

Although he hadn’t learned everything, he had gathered as much information as possible.

Thus, he had already known the mail handler was lying. However, the reason he hadn’t said so at first was…

‘Because I had a feeling Hud Ramis might actually be the Soden’s eldest son.’

It was a bad feeling.

If Hud truly were the Marquis’s eldest son, the excuse that “you can’t because you’re not a noble” would no longer hold.

Moreover, the Soden couple seemed to take an instant liking to Judith. She had even helped them find their son, making her their benefactor.

Hud also knew Judith wasn’t pregnant and that she was likely to divorce soon. If Hud were to express interest in Judith…

‘The Soden couple wouldn’t oppose it. After all, she’s their benefactor.’

And Judith had never been particularly against romance or marriage. Their personalities also seemed to align well.

In the end, Ekian had kept quiet during that brief moment. His silence was born of pettiness. And the result…

Judith had nearly been in danger. The servant had attacked her out of spite.

Ekian let out a hollow laugh. Bart’s pathetic confession echoed in his mind.

“Yes, it was because I loved her. I loved her so much that I destroyed myself in the end.”

So this was it.

He, too, could act disgracefully in the name of love.

Just like Sarah and Bart, whom he had never understood.

With this new realization, Ekian laughed bitterly, as if he had gone mad.

‘And…’

Even though he had remained silent for a moment, he couldn’t predict how much more disgraceful he might become in the future.

Ekian rose slowly. There was one more thing weighing on his mind.

It was Isabella.

From the start, she had not taken her eyes off him. Even though he wore a mask, had grown taller over the past five years, and concealed himself from head to toe.

‘Could she have noticed something?’

When the servant lunged at Judith, Ekian had acted without thinking.

“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.”

Ekian lowered his hand and looked at his fourth fingernail. It was indeed slightly flatter than the others.

He hadn’t known this about himself until hearing Isabella’s words. If she had seen something in his movements that he himself wasn’t aware of…

‘…She never took her eyes off me.’

The wistful expression Isabella unconsciously wore lingered, leaving an unsettling feeling. That peculiar atmosphere was both welcoming and, at the same time, heart-wrenching.

‘This won’t do.’

In the end, he donned his mask again.

Judith had insisted he shouldn’t come unless necessary, but today, even if he didn’t get to see her, he felt he had to go.

Because his mother—the woman who hadn’t given birth to him but had raised him with love—was weighing on his mind.

In the end, he found himself walking through the secret passage of the Mayus estate once again.

‘Ridiculous.’

A hollow laugh escaped him. For nearly five years, he had never set foot in this passage, yet since Judith’s arrival, he found himself using it almost daily.

He deliberately passed by the passage leading to his room. Judith would be there, of course, but today, he was here because Isabella was on his mind.

And when he reached the passage connecting to the Duke and Duchess’ chambers—

“The Imperial banquet is soon. I’m planning to formally introduce Judith to society then. It wouldn’t make sense for the daughter-in-law of the House of Mayus to skip such an event.”

Isabella and Ben were in the middle of a conversation.

Ekian already knew the Imperial banquet was just around the corner. Judith would be introduced to everyone there as “Ekian’s wife.” Yet, just as he started feeling slightly strange about it, Isabella continued.

“And about Judith’s remarriage… Do you remember? We decided to help her with it seriously back then.”

Ekian’s brow furrowed sharply.

What? Remarriage?

And they’re helping with it?

“Yes. Keep an eye out. Look carefully to see if there’s a young man there who seems to have fallen for Judith at first sight. We can’t send her off to some scoundrel.”

“Yes. Although, I think a suitable candidate has already appeared,” Isabella said excitedly. “Guess what? Hud has already offered to escort Judith.”