I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 93

Judith did not recognize the name Heinz Ollan. However, she was very familiar with the surname ‘Ollan.’

During her childhood at the Ailan baronial estate, her mother Elizabeth had assigned all sorts of tutors to her. The Baroness Ollan, who had taught her classical literature, had cherished Judith deeply.

She vividly remembered how Baroness Ollan had warmly embraced her, saying,

“I have a granddaughter just like you…”

“Where is your granddaughter now?”

“She’s with my son. They live far out in the provinces.”

She had left for the province where her son lived when Judith was fifteen. Judith had been teary-eyed but also genuinely glad, as Baroness Ollan had always seemed lonely.

‘Heinz Ollan… could he be the son of Baroness Ollan?’

After Baroness Ollan left, Judith had never seen her again. Naturally, she hadn’t heard any news of her either. She opened the envelope, and a letter in unfamiliar handwriting slipped out.

[To Lady Judith Mayus, Young Duchess,

Greetings, Madam.

My name is Heinz Ollan.

I have heard that in your childhood, you studied classical literature under my mother.

My mother often spoke fondly of a student named Judith—so clever and kind, she would say again and again how much she adored you. At one point, she even counted the days, eager for an opportunity to travel to the capital and see you.

Unfortunately, it seems my mother will soon pass away.

As her son, I have been trying to fulfill her last wish and searched for this student. That student from her memories is now the Young Duchess of Mayus.

I hesitated to ask such a distinguished person to make a long journey, but during a brief moment of lucidity, my mother said this:

There is a ‘letter to my future self’ that she and Miss Judith buried together on the hill behind the Ailan baronial estate. She wished to see that letter full of memories once more.

If it is not too much trouble, would you be willing to retrieve and send that letter?

Forgive me for the imposition, but I am writing with a desperate heart, wanting to show her everything she longs to see before her final journey.

I await your reply. Thank you.]

Judith blinked in surprise.

It was true that five years ago, when parting ways with Madam Ollan, they had written letters together and buried them in the backyard.

“Now, let’s write letters to our future selves. Let’s both do our best so that we won’t be ashamed of what we write here. Understand?”

“Oh my. It’s just like in ‘Another Life.'”

“That’s exactly where I got the idea. When the teacher and student part ways in that book, they perform this ritual. A vow to live without regret. Let’s promise to read this together again someday.”

However, the Ailan estate now belonged to someone else. It would be difficult to access the hill through the estate.

To reach the hill without going through the estate, she would have to take a long and remote path. Since she couldn’t recall the exact location, she would need to go herself and try to remember.

As Judith tilted her head in thought, a maid knocked again.

“Excuse me, young madam. Another letter has arrived right after the first…”

“Really?”

It was highly unusual to receive letters this frequently.

Curious, Judith took the envelope without a sender. The second letter, written in unfamiliar handwriting, read:

[This is Anton from the Grey Information Guild.]

Anton was the man who guarded the entrance of the exchange. He was the one who had granted her access to the upper levels after she first mentioned the Master’s age.

Since then, she had frequented the exchange, so of course they were acquainted. Half glad, half surprised, Judith quickly continued reading the rest of the letter.

[Before Master departed, he left a request. If any letters arrived addressed to Miss Judith, I was to verify the sender without fail and begin tracking. He specifically said to watch for someone named ‘Ron Dale.’]

Ron Dale?

There was no way she wouldn’t recognize that name. He had been her mother’s longtime lover.

Whenever Elizabeth was with Ron, she acted as though Judith didn’t exist.

Judith had also noticed the flicker of anguish on Ron’s face whenever he looked at her. That was why Judith had instinctively avoided him.

Since her father, Baron Ailan, was often away, the two would brazenly indulge in secret affairs. Each time, Judith felt like a blemish.

As though she were the one disrupting their happiness.

The letter continued:

[The letter you just received was sent by Ron Dale.

It seems to be a letter meant to lure you outside the ducal estate—would that be correct?

If so, please remain cautious until Master returns, and avoid leaving the estate if at all possible.

If needed, informing House Mayus and requesting their help would also be a wise course of action.]

So Ron Dale had fabricated it…

Judith swallowed dryly and reread the letter from Heinz.

Now that she believed Ron had written it, she saw it differently.

“A letter to my future self”—yes, it was true she and Baroness Ollan had buried it together. But Baroness Ollan had clearly said, ‘Let’s read it together again.’

‘We’re doing exactly what they did in Another Life. In that story, the student and teacher dug together. Digging it up alone and sending it is meaningless.’

It had been an act inspired by classical literature. There was no reason for Baroness Ollan to request just the letter.

‘If someone who hadn’t read the book saw me and Baroness Ollan burying a letter from afar, they could easily make up a plausible story.’

The more she looked, the more obvious it was that Ron had faked it. But why…?

While pondering, Judith suddenly realized something and widened her eyes.

The backyard of the baronial estate was only accessible via a narrow and rugged path. Naturally isolated and difficult to bring many people.

Even if Judith went, she would only bring minimal escort. If they were lying in wait to ambush her, a small group would not be able to withstand it.

‘But how did he plan to deal with my body afterward, in such an exposed area?’

The answer came quickly. If it was a secluded place, and she was killed immediately after leaving with the servants of House Mayus…

‘If everything was meticulously prepared, they could frame House Mayus for it.’

A chill ran down her spine. Thinking of the baby in her belly made it even worse. The thought that the child she conceived with the Master—who hadn’t even seen the light of the world yet—might have been in danger made her heart pound harder.

‘Master had planned for me this thoroughly.’

Judith took a deep breath. If the Master hadn’t left instructions regarding ‘Ron Dale’ before he departed, even if something had felt off, she might have gone to retrieve the letter.

Even in this moment, her heart warmed. She was thankful that the Master had been so thoughtful.

‘Baby, your daddy saved us.’

What comforted her most was that it was Ron, not Elizabeth, who had targeted her.

Had it been Elizabeth, the emotional blow would have been devastating. The thought that her birth mother could harbor such malice was horrifying.

But since it was Ron, with whom she’d never had a good relationship to begin with, the psychological impact was less severe. That was truly fortunate, considering the child she carried.

‘In any case, another threat is coming our way, so we need to prepare.’

She quickly tugged the bell cord.