I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 53

The emperor knew nothing about Judith. He had heard she was the daughter of some noble family, but he was entirely unaware of her background. After all, he did not keep track of every fallen lower noble.

All he had heard were rumors of her beauty and that Isabella had fiercely protected her.

The fact that the notoriously prideful Isabella had taken her under her wing was enough to make Judith an interesting figure.

“Ah.”

At the mention of Judith’s name, Anais’s gaze changed.

“Your Majesty, Judith Ailan… No, Judith Mayus, correct?”

In truth, Anais was of the same age group as Judith. Back when they were both daughters of barons, comparisons were often made. Tutors and those around them frequently praised Judith.

Her pretty face, composed demeanor, and intelligent eyes had drawn the admiration of many young men.

But amusingly, Judith herself had shown little interest in any of it. She was like an object that did not blend seamlessly into the world.

Despite being bright, cheerful, and clever, there was something about her that seemed out of place. That very peculiarity made her all the more intriguing to the boys, yet she never spared them a glance.

So, when Judith’s family collapsed at seventeen, Anais had secretly relished it.

“Excuse me, Anais. I’m sorry, but could you lend me some money? I’ll repay you somehow.”

When Judith, crushed under the massive debt left by her father, had gone around borrowing money, Anais had not even responded. Instead, she had simply dropped two silver coins at Judith’s feet.

She had wanted to see Judith’s face turn red with anger or watch her, humiliated, ask for more.

But Judith had simply picked up the money Anais had tossed and said,

“You threw this at my feet, right? Since I picked up something discarded, I won’t be repaying it.”

She had even added softly,

“Feel free to throw more. If I use it sparingly, it should last me three days’ worth of meals.”

As if it truly didn’t matter. As if such things could not wound her.

That insufferable dignity had been intolerable, but Anais had consoled herself, knowing that Judith was ruined.

Yet now, Judith had reappeared, splendidly adorned as the wife of the Young Duke of Mayus.

Meanwhile, Anais had been forced into marriage with an aging baron and was now a mistress to the decrepit emperor.

Ekian Mayus had been the ideal groom for any woman of their age. Even when young ladies had gathered in small groups to steal glances at him, Judith had acted as though she was entirely uninterested.

And now, after Ekian’s disappearance, she had “miraculously” conceived his child and overturned her fate?

Anais felt a surge of bitterness.

“I know Judith well. We were once acquainted.”

Anais smirked.

“Shall I stir up a scandal?”

As the emperor’s openly recognized mistress, Anais held significant influence in social circles.

“This would also be an excellent opportunity to tarnish the reputation of House Mayus. While Your Majesty gathers information about Judith, I shall handle my part.”

Anais arched an eyebrow.

“If the Mayus family once again takes Judith’s side and dives headfirst into the mess, it will make for quite the entertaining spectacle among the nobles, don’t you think?”

***

Ben and Isabella were in a state of panic.

They had longed for Ekian’s return, but they had never expected him to appear so suddenly.

It had been five years.

The seventeen-year-old Ekian was now twenty-two. He had grown into a striking young man, exuding the maturity of his age.

Ben sighed as he gazed at Ekian’s golden hair.

For years, Bart had been mixing hair dye into Ekian’s tea, changing his hair color.

Had he stopped drinking it, his natural black hair would have returned.

They could have simply dyed his hair directly, but they had deliberately chosen the tea method. They had not wanted to tell Ekian the truth about his birth.

‘I was planning to tell him when he became an adult.’

It had never been their intention to keep it a secret forever. They had simply not wanted to burden him with the knowledge during his childhood.

They truly considered Ekian their own son.

When they had found baby Ekian on that dreamlike island during their retreat, both Isabella and Ben had vowed to raise him as their own child.

Years later, when Karl was born, nothing changed. Karl had always been their second son, never the eldest.

Ekian had been a remarkable son. He had never once failed to meet their expectations, always fulfilling the role of a dependable eldest son, making them proud.

But even if he hadn’t been, they still would have loved him as their own.

Because that’s what parents and children do.

Because no matter what, a parent cannot help but love their child.

‘But now that his hair is golden… did he dye it himself?’

Ben’s gaze deepened. He had no idea how to even begin speaking about this. Isabella seemed just as lost.

Ekian, who had been smiling calmly before them, was the first to speak.

“I must have caused you much worry. I truly regret being such an unfilial son.”

“T-that’s not something you should say!”

Tears welled up again in Isabella’s eyes.

“No, no. The fact that you returned safely is all that matters. We… My goodness, do you know how much we worried about you…?”

“I had hoped Karl would be designated as the heir. Truthfully, that feeling hasn’t changed.”

Ekian looked at Isabella and Ben with warm eyes.

“The reason… I’m sure you understand.”

Isabella and Ben’s lips quivered as they remained silent.

When Ekian had left, they had more or less guessed that he had discovered the truth about his origins. Seventeen was an age of rebellion, and learning such a thing at that age was more than enough reason to run away.

They had no idea how he had learned the truth, but secrets always found a way of slipping out.

Still, they had assumed he would eventually return. They had never imagined it would take five whole years.

“Ekian, listen carefully. We truly raised you as our own son, and we still think of you that way.”

Ben spoke firmly.

“If that weren’t the case, we would never have told you about the secret passageways. That knowledge is only passed down to the heir.”

When Karl was born, Ekian had already been named heir. At the time, it had felt natural. But looking back, they realized—despite having a biological son, they had still chosen Ekian as their successor.

“…I didn’t return to argue about that. Let’s set that matter aside for now.”

Ekian added calmly, “There are more pressing matters at hand.”

“More pressing matters…?”

“At this rate, the House of Mayus is in danger. You are aware of this, aren’t you?”

Ben and Isabella exchanged glances.

After Bart’s poisoning attempt, they had already suspected that some grand scheme was at play against their household.

“Soon, the conflict between the Crown Prince and His Majesty the Emperor will be brought into the open.”

“…What? But His Highness the Crown Prince is not the type to—”

“That is no longer the case.”

Ekian stated firmly.

“I intend to aid the Crown Prince in striking down His Majesty the Emperor. I have been a close friend to His Highness for many years, and besides, the enemy of my enemy is my ally.”

Ben and Ekian then discussed the current political situation. Despite having been absent from the ducal house for so long, Ekian’s keen grasp of affairs was razor-sharp.

His knowledge was so extensive and his judgment so meticulous that neither Isabella nor Ben could sense any trace of the five-year gap.

They were proud to see him standing before them once more.

In the end, it was the crisis facing the ducal house that had brought him back.

He wished to pass the position of Young Duke to Karl, but now was not the time.

Just as they had raised Ekian as their own, Ekian, too, still saw them as his parents.

However, there was one issue that was now rather awkward to address. Isabella hesitated for a long while before stealing a glance at him and carefully speaking.

“A-and, um… about Judith, that is, your wife…”