I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 97

The Young Duke of Mayus’s divorce was carried out quietly.

So quietly, in fact, that Alteion only found out four days after the documents had already been processed.

“What? Are you serious?”

Alteion shot to his feet, feeling as if the sky had turned yellow.

“Divorce? A divorce… a divorce actually happened? Without Ekian Mayus?”

“W-well… the paperwork is flawless.”

His subordinate answered, sweating nervously.

“So the clerks didn’t think much of it and processed it without issue… It was even handled at one of the busiest district offices on the outskirts of the capital.”

Divorce documents were typically processed at a government office.

Of course, the central office that handled noble divorces was thorough in verifying names. Since such events were often major scandals, every detail was closely scrutinized.

However, at regional offices handling commoners’ divorces, names were rarely checked carefully. As long as the forms and procedures were in order, the process would proceed as-is.

Naturally, that was because the number of divorce cases processed in a day was enormous, and due to the nature of commoners, identical names were very common. In a way, verifying names was the least important task.

But for the high-ranking House of Mayus to have the Young Duke’s divorce processed at such a peripheral office? It was obviously a calculated move to avoid public scrutiny. Anyone could see it was intentional.

Alteion went in person to see the divorce documents that had been submitted to the central administrative office.

“…Unbelievable.”

He had hoped to find some flaw, but after looking at the documents, he staggered without realizing it. Everything was perfect.

From Ekian Mayus’s seal to the House of Mayus’s official divorce approval, even the agreement letter had nothing to raise issue with.

Of course, it was unthinkable that Ekian had personally stamped it—but the seal was clearly one that had been carefully stored at the duke’s residence.

“There’s no way Ekian Mayus would consent to this divorce. Something is definitely wrong here.” Alteion clutched the documents and spoke urgently.

The clerk managing the paperwork replied cautiously, “But the documents are flawless. Could you please specify what the issue is? If there had been a problem, Young Duke Ekian Mayus himself would’ve appeared, but he hasn’t.”

Ekian had left the capital at Alteion’s request. To protect his wife, Judith, no less! And now, a divorce?

Yet Alteion couldn’t explain the reason why this was problematic.

“Isn’t there anyone who can cancel this? Someone who can at least take another look, say there’s been a mistake…?”

“That would be the House of Mayus, I suppose? But the official seal from Mayus is genuine. Do you perhaps have any other evidence or related information? It’s shocking to see Your Highness the Crown Prince react like this…”

“Hmm…”

Alteion mumbled in frustration.

“My… intuition?”

“……”

“Something we talked about before?”

“…That wouldn’t be more recent than four days ago, would it?”

“Well… that’s true, but…”

To insist this divorce was invalid now would make him look like a tyrant.

Alteion staggered back and sighed. Anyone could see the House of Mayus had cooperated in this. For now, it seemed best to go speak with them directly.

‘Then what about Judith’s whereabouts? Where is she now?’

Wasn’t she even pregnant?

Of course he had assumed she would remain quietly at the Mayus estate. He’d never doubted her safety.

Besides, Judith had saved his life.

Thanks to Hud Soden—a skilled doctor Judith had introduced to him—Alteion was currently recovering from poison.

Though he owed a debt to Ekian he couldn’t repay, the help he had received from Judith was beyond measure. And yet, this was happening in the capital while Ekian was away.

Alteion had trusted Ekian enough to ask him to leave the capital. In return for that trust, Alteion had planted numerous informants near the Mayus estate. And yet none of them had reported anything about Judith’s whereabouts.

‘Normally, she should be at the duke’s residence… but if the ducal house helped her, then the story changes.’

The duke’s residence was also an old fortress. Naturally, it had numerous secret passageways in all directions.

If she had left through a secret passage with Ben Mayus’s help, then it made perfect sense that the informants couldn’t determine Judith’s whereabouts.

The fact that the divorce documents were deliberately filed at a distant government office suggested they were thoroughly aiding in obscuring Judith’s trail…

Alteion pressed his forehead, feeling his mind go blank. Upon hearing the news, Melanie also rushed over.

She too looked over all the documents with disbelief in her eyes.

“This won’t do.”

Melanie spoke, catching her breath.

“Something’s not right. Since it’s not an official matter, it’ll carry less weight if it comes from me instead of you. As the Crown Princess, my letter shouldn’t be ignored by the Duchess either. I’ll quickly send a letter to the duchess.”

Originally, Melanie had no particular connection with Isabella. So sending a letter out of the blue was considered a breach of etiquette in social circles.

However, she couldn’t just summon Isabella, her elder, to the palace, and being pregnant herself, Melanie wasn’t in a condition to visit in person either. So she quickly penned a letter.

[Dear Duchess of Mayus,

I write upon hearing the news of Judith’s divorce. I understand that Judith Mayus is pregnant. Might she still be staying at the duke’s residence?

Perhaps you recall that we became acquainted at the garden party. Concerned for her well-being, I felt compelled to reach out.

As far as I know, Young Duke Ekian Mayus did not wish for a divorce, and I find that situation quite puzzling.

If Judith is no longer staying at the duke’s residence, may I ask where she might be now?]

“It’s a bit too direct, but it can’t be helped.”

Melanie sealed the letter, her voice trembling.

“But being this blunt might actually force them to give a reply.”

And just as she expected, Isabella responded that same afternoon.

[Your Highness the Crown Princess,

It’s true that the two have divorced, and Judith recently had a miscarriage. As it was not a happy event, we didn’t see the need to announce it publicly.

Judith plans to travel quietly for a while. Her final destination is, as far as I know, the Marquisate of Soden, but she did not wish for this to be public knowledge, so I ask for your discretion as well.]

Melanie’s hands trembled at the word “miscarriage.”

“G-good heavens… Wh-what do we do now?”

Already, a plausible story began forming in her head.

“Young Duke Ekian wasn’t with her throughout the pregnancy, and she even miscarried alone… So she must’ve gone to another man!”

The situation was far worse than they had imagined, and Alteion’s face turned pale.

“A-another man? What other man?”

“Hud Soden! The same man who checked your blood!”

Melanie trembled as she continued, “I knew right away back then that he had feelings for Judith! He definitely liked her. He only came to examine your blood because Judith asked him to. And now she’s miscarried… Judith’s heart must’ve gone to that sincere man. Don’t you think? That’s why the House of Mayus cooperated with the divorce. Anyone can see that he’ll make her happier!”

At that moment—

“Your Highness!”

One of the attendants came running.

“A letter from Arten has arrived!”