I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 50

‘The more I think about it, the better it seems. Hud already knows our situation, so there’s no need to explain Judith’s circumstances to him.’

On the way to the Ducal House of Mayus, although she exchanged a few words with Judith, that thought alone dominated Isabella’s mind.

‘I should bring this up with Ben right away.’

Ben, too, was fond of Judith and would likely approve of making her their adopted daughter without hesitation. Karl also adored Judith, so the more she thought about it, the better it sounded.

Well, it might surprise him a little. But Karl was still a child—he would support his sister-in-law’s fresh start.

Ah, would it be his sister’s fresh start?

Just as Isabella was enthusiastically forming her plan—

“Mother, we’ve already arrived. The way back felt shorter.”

The carriage had already reached the ducal house.

“Indeed. We arrived quickly, yet I feel exhausted. Let’s get off.”

Clearing her throat, Isabella stepped down from the carriage, followed by Judith.

The night had grown deep, the moon already tilting in the sky. Just as they adjusted their attire and moved toward the estate—

“You’re late.”

Judith and Isabella froze on the spot as they stepped out of the carriage. A low, languid voice cut through the warm summer night like lightning.

“It has been a while, Mother.”

With the darkness at his back, a strikingly handsome young man smiled deeply at them.

“E-E-Ekian?”

Isabella’s eyes widened as she took in the sight of the sharply sculpted, chillingly beautiful man—her eldest son, who had been missing for five years.

“Ekian, you…”

Unable to form words, Isabella could only stare as the young man offered her a faint smile. Then, his intense gaze turned toward Judith.

“And this must be…”

Judith was equally paralyzed by shock.

“Likely my wife.”

In the silence, he slowly folded his arms and added, “The one who claims to be pregnant with my child.”

***

“Hud.”

Inside the returning carriage, the Marchioness of Soden grasped Hud’s hand tightly.

“From now on, let’s do well together.”

Hud awkwardly smiled and returned the gesture.

Though he had lived in poverty and hardship, he had never been completely deprived of parental love. The farming couple who had taken him in had raised him with warmth.

Of course, after his adoptive parents passed away, he had constantly worried about making ends meet for his many younger siblings…

“Yes, I look forward to it.”

Nodding with a slightly dazed expression, Hud listened as the Marchioness smiled warmly.

“Your younger siblings’ futures have all been taken care of according to your wishes.”

Hud had already entrusted his siblings’ livelihoods to the Soden family.

From what he had heard, the Marquis and Marchioness of Soden had more than enough wealth to provide for them with ease.

Fortunately, all of the children were academically gifted and had secured scholarships to prestigious academies, ensuring their education.

“Is there anything else you want?”

Tears welled in the Marchioness’s eyes as she spoke.

“We have done nothing for you until now…”

“Well… Rather than what I want, I imagine I have responsibilities to fulfill as the eldest son of House Soden.”

Hud answered hesitantly.

“From what I’ve observed at the Ducal House of Mayus, eldest sons have much to learn and must accomplish tasks to prove themselves as heirs…”

During his time as the ducal family’s physician, he had overheard discussions about such matters.

Ekian Mayus was regarded as the perfect successor.

Even the ducal vassals acknowledged how tirelessly the Duke and Duchess had waited for him. They, too, eagerly anticipated his return.

Since childhood, he had skillfully managed ducal affairs and achieved many accomplishments.

Upon hearing that Judith had once liked Ekian, Hud suddenly felt as though he was facing a rival. A childish and foolish feeling, yet undeniable.

“Well, that’s true.”

The Marquis of Soden sighed.

“To be honest, you were suddenly dropped into this position. If you show your efforts to establish yourself, it will greatly strengthen your standing within the family.”

“I expected as much.”

“But if you don’t want to, there’s no need to push yourself. Spend some comfortable time with your family for now, and think about these things slowly. You haven’t even met your real siblings yet, have you? They’re all looking forward to seeing you.”

They planned to leave the capital and return to the Marquisate of Soden immediately.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Soden were not nobles who resided in the capital; they spent most of their time in their territory.

“There’s actually a count’s daughter with whom an engagement had been discussed for a long time. You should at least meet her once—”

“Actually, there is someone I like.”

At Hud’s words, the expressions of the Marquis and Marchioness of Soden stiffened.

To be honest, both of them had already sensed it during the banquet. They had noticed where Hud’s gaze constantly wandered.

They had wondered why he was so insistent on staying at the ducal house, why he had avoided revealing his identity until the banquet.

Of course, they owed an enormous debt of gratitude to Judith. But bringing her in as their daughter-in-law was a different matter entirely.

And above all, Judith didn’t seem to have any romantic feelings for Hud.

“I… more than that, I just want to establish myself quickly.”

Hud’s eyes glowed steadily.

“I truly want to become a noble with a foundation of my own.”

“…Hud?”

“A noble who has the power to protect at least one person on my own.”

The Marquis and Marchioness of Soden swallowed dryly. They understood exactly what Hud was thinking.

If Judith and Hud ended up together, if their hearts aligned and they got married, Judith would inevitably face scorn and criticism.

So, he was saying that he would gain the power to protect her himself. That he would establish a position that no one could challenge.

“Then let’s return to the Marquisate first and think things over gradually.”

Not wanting to argue with their newly found son, the Marquis and Marchioness of Soden refrained from pressing him further.

Ultimately, Hud’s desire to build a solid foundation as the heir of the Marquisate was not a bad thing.

“The Marquisate requires a lot of attention. Unlike the capital, it has vast lands, but the environment is not ideal.”

The Marquis of Soden spoke gently.

“But since you’re an excellent physician, there may be things only you can do. Our territory often suffers landslides, and there are many injured people.”

Hud slowly nodded and turned his gaze out the window.

Judith’s face, radiant beyond anyone else that night, flickered in his mind. But it wasn’t her beauty that captivated him.

He liked her brightness, how well they could talk, her kind heart. She seemed strong, yet fragile, making him worry for her.

The palace faded further into the distance until it disappeared completely from view.

‘Next time we meet, Judith.’

Hud closed his eyes slightly and thought to himself.

‘You will no longer be the Young Duchess of Mayus.’

There was nothing he could do for her while he remained in the capital.

Instead, he would focus on growing his own foundation in the time he had.

The carriage carrying the Marquis and Marchioness of Soden, along with their newly found son, sped away from the capital.

***

Judith was utterly speechless as she looked at the man before her.

Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

According to the original story, this man was never supposed to appear.

Had she altered the future too much? Even when Sarah played the role of the fake daughter-in-law, he had never shown up.

He hadn’t appeared at all until the very end of the original story. She had naturally assumed he was dead. There was no other explanation.

“E-E-Ekian.”

Isabella rushed forward in a fluster.

“How can this be? Ekian, what on earth is happening—”

Ekian slowly took Isabella’s hands in his.

“Mother.”

His low voice sounded like something out of a dream.

“It has been a long time. Have you been well?”