I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 54

“Ah, I am well aware.”

Ekian spoke calmly, as if he was not the least bit offended.

“You mean my wife.”

“Y-yes. The role of your wife…”

Isabella felt a strange sense of discord as she looked at Ekian’s overly composed expression. She had expected him to be utterly baffled, perhaps even furious that such a farce had been carried out.

From Ekian’s perspective, the entire world had been informed that he had irresponsibly abandoned a woman after fathering a child with her.

“You did well.”

“Huh? I-I did?”

“Yes.”

“T-then… there is still some time left in Judith’s contract, but since you’ve returned, we could send her away a little sooner—”

“That, too, I will take my time considering.”

Isabella had assumed he would immediately want to send Judith away, but even on that matter, Ekian showed no urgency.

“Take your time, you say.”

Isabella and Ben could only nod in bewilderment. He claimed to already know everything, so there was nothing to explain. And since he seemed fine with it, they could hardly apologize.

“Then, I will go see my wife.”

He even referred to her as ‘my wife’ so naturally.

“It is late, so please rest well for tonight. I will meet Karl tomorrow.”

With a soft smile, Ekian turned and left for his room, where Judith was waiting.

***

Coming face to face with Ekian left Judith drenched in cold sweat.

She was dressed comfortably in indoor attire, while Ekian remained impeccably clad in his formal uniform. It was embarrassing. More than that, this was Ekian’s room, not hers.

“So, you already know everything, which saves me from having to explain. That’s a relief.”

Judith forced an awkward smile, trying to ease the tension. In that moment, a maid entered, carrying warm tea.

“Oh my, as expected.”

The maid was not one of the usual attendants assigned to Judith’s room. She seemed quite old, someone who ordinarily would not be tasked with such menial duties. Clearly, she had won a fierce battle among the other servants just to be here.

As expected, she looked at Ekian and playfully remarked, “Master Ekian has that expression he only shows when seeing someone after a long time. Oh my, he really is a father.”

What nonsense…

“Our Young Duke must have known this lady for a long time, yes indeed. Oh hoho.”

We’re meeting for the first time today…

“If anyone has doubts, they just need to see the Young Duke’s eyes. I have never seen him look at any woman like this before!”

Wouldn’t he look at any stranger this way? Even a maid who had worked in the ducal house for a long time could be utterly mistaken.

Yet, Ekian smiled gently and nodded leisurely. He seemed far more generous than she had expected.

“Indeed, Marie.”

He even responded as if they were close.

“Please take good care of our Judith from now on.”

Everything from ‘from now on’ to ‘take care of her’ caught Judith off guard. Our Judith? From now on?

Shouldn’t he be telling this maid, Everything you said is wrong, I will be sending this woman away soon?

Once the maid had left, Judith immediately blinked in confusion and asked, “W-why would you say such a thing…? I will be leaving soon.”

“What do you mean? Leaving?”

Ekian took a sip of tea and responded smoothly.

“I have no intention of sending my wife away.”

What on earth was he saying? Judith’s face contorted with confusion as she stared at him.

“I mean exactly what I said.”

Ekian smiled, his eyes curving gently.

“I have no plans to divorce you.”

Judith felt her mind go blank.

No plans to divorce? With a woman he had never met before?

“Uh… why?”

She couldn’t even think to drink her tea, simply blinking in disbelief as she asked.

“Our marriage… from your perspective, was an unexpected accident.”

Her eyes, uneasy like a nervous puppy, trembled as she searched for an answer.

“You are, of course, aware that I am not actually pregnant… So wouldn’t it be best for both of us to simply say the child is gone and proceed with the divorce?”

“Then, Judith.”

Ekian spoke softly.

“Are you asking me to be the heartless man who not only abandoned a woman after making her pregnant but also chased her out after she was accepted as the ducal family’s daughter-in-law?”

So that’s how it would look.

Judith nodded blankly. Hearing it stated so plainly, it did sound like the actions of a scoundrel.

“And on top of that, the father returns, only for the mother to be divorced after a miscarriage… Doesn’t that sound criminal?”

“Th-that’s true.”

Judith immediately agreed.

“Y-yes, I suppose that does sound bad. But since there is no child, the truth has to come out eventually.”

“That may be the case. However, a divorce announcement cannot come right after.”

Well… Timing-wise, that made sense. Indeed, if he wanted to protect his reputation, it was better to delay the divorce.

“Have you found anything uncomfortable about living in the Mayus Ducal House?” Ekian asked politely.

He added, “If there is anything inconvenient, I will see to it immediately.”

“No, not at all. Everything is comfortable and pleasant.”

It was true that living at the ducal residence was comfortable. It was incomparable to the boarding house where she had previously stayed.

Even if she left the ducal house, she would never be able to live in such an environment again.

Besides, Judith genuinely liked her life at the ducal house. She enjoyed the care and attention Isabella and Ben gave her, and spending quiet days with Karl made her happy.

The servants all treated Judith with respect, and everything was peaceful. To be honest, the position of the Mayus Ducal House’s daughter-in-law was something that any woman would envy.

She had grown fond of the people she lived with, which was why she hadn’t been able to leave and had even foolishly entangled herself in the imperial succession conflict. However, there was just one thing—

They could never truly be her family.

One day, she would have to leave. From the very beginning, their relationship had been bound by a contract. Every time she felt as though she was truly being embraced as part of the family, she reminded herself that she was only an employee.

Judith needed a real family. A family that was together not because of a contract or an arrangement, but because of genuine love. She had hoped to build such a family with Master.

“If there’s nothing uncomfortable, let’s continue living like this.”

Ekian smiled softly.

“Or do you find me lacking as a husband?”

“N-no! Not at all. You are more than enough.”

Judith shook her head as she looked at his strikingly handsome face. Ekian leisurely raised an eyebrow.

“Arranged marriages among nobles often involve meeting for the first time on the wedding day. I had assumed I would marry that way as well.”

“Huh?”

“I left home for a while, and when I returned, I found myself with a wife. It’s not much different from what I had imagined marriage to be.”

“Y-you don’t mean…”

“If you are willing, why not continue living with me?”

The unexpected proposal made Judith’s head spin.

She had assumed that Ekian would be furious upon his return. She thought he would scold her for ruining his reputation and demand to know when they had ever conceived a child together.

Objectively speaking, Judith was not a good match for him. Her insignificant baronial family had long since collapsed, she had no connections, and rather than a dowry, she had brought a mountain of debt as a wife.

“I like you, and I feel like I will come to like you even more.”

As Ekian smiled gently, Judith’s mind went blank. He was undeniably handsome.

There was a reason why all the noble ladies of her generation had dreamed of marrying him.

“If you continue to live with me, don’t you think you might come to like me as well?”