My Husband Caught Me Having an Affair - Chapter 117

At those words, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.

“Oh my, really? That’s wonderful. Congratulations. How far along are you?”

“Actually, I just found out today. After Jacques left this morning, I wasn’t feeling well the past few days, so I called the doctor… and he said it’s likely I’m pregnant.”

Ines spoke with her head lowered, as if shy. Her hands were gently resting over her lower belly.

“I see. Then it must be very early. It’s an important time to be careful, so take good care of yourself.”

“Yes, Duchess. Thank you.”

Given that the level of medical knowledge was much lower than in modern times, the miscarriage rate must also have been much higher.

‘But still… Ines being pregnant…’

I felt oddly moved. In the original story, Ines wouldn’t have been alive by this point. That must be why I felt this way.

In the original, just like Ethan, Jacques never remarried. Naturally, he never had children either.

‘But now, he’ll get to see a child who shares his and his wife’s blood… It feels fulfilling.’

Even the gloom I had been feeling recently over Elodie seemed to lighten a little.

My possession of Camille and the resulting changes to the story hadn’t brought only bad consequences. There were definitely those who had been saved because of it.

It was a realization that struck me again.

“But you’re planning to keep it from Jacques for now? Why?”

“Ah, yes. I want to wait until I’m more certain. I’d hate to disappoint him for no reason… and honestly, I’m a little scared of how he’ll react.”

I smiled gently at Ines. “There’s no need for that. Jacques will be thrilled. He’ll probably jump for joy. So much the floor will shake.”

“Goodness. With his size, that would be no joke.”

Ines let out a soft laugh as she replied. We looked at each other and laughed aloud.

***

A few days later, in the evening.

I was riding in a carriage with Jacques, heading toward Alide Street.

“…So, may I ask why you are visiting our home today, Your Grace?” Jacques asked, not bothering to hide his disgruntled expression.

“I told you. I have something for Ines.”

In truth, I had prepared a gift to congratulate Ines on her pregnancy. A set of baby clothes: a hat, outfit, and bib.

Yesterday, when Josephine from the Warnier boutique stopped by, I had suddenly thought to ask if they made baby clothes. She brought the items that very day in a hurry.

“If that’s the case, you could’ve just left it with me…”

“I also told you—I want to give it to her myself.”

“What kind of item is it that requires this much effort?”

“If it were something I could explain, I would’ve left it with you. You’re being unusually persistent today. Do you hate the idea of me interrupting your alone time with your wife that much?”

At my words, Jacques pulled an awkward face.

“No, well… it’s not that… I just thought it was curious, since you had lunch with Ines only a few days ago, and now you’re coming again.”

“You already know how fond I am of Ines. That’s enough. A husband who’s too jealous is unpleasant, you know.”

“Pardon? Jealous? I never…”

Jacques began to protest, but fell silent when I gave him a sidelong glance.

The reason I insisted on giving it to her in person was because I wasn’t sure if Jacques knew about Ines’s pregnancy.

‘But somehow, he seems to already know…’

It had been a teasing remark at first, but it didn’t seem like he was just trying to avoid having his time with his wife interrupted.

He’d looked oddly restless since earlier, so there had to be something going on.

‘It must be about the baby. Maybe Ines told him she had something important to say after he got home.’

I was tempted to tease Jacques a bit more, but decided to let it slide this time.

I rested my chin on my hand with a relaxed smile.

A short while later, the carriage arrived in front of Jacques’s home. We went in together.

“Where’s Ines?” Jacques asked the maid who had come out to greet us.

“She stepped out for a bit.”

At that, Jacques raised one eyebrow. “Stepped out? At this hour? Where to?”

His rapid-fire questions made the maid flinch and draw her shoulders in.

“Don’t be so harsh. You’re scaring her.”

I approached the maid and asked, “Did she say where she was going?”

“Ah, yes, Duchess. Well, actually… she went out for a walk with Titi. The maid who usually handles walks is off with a cold today… I offered to go in her place, but she said she’d be fine. Said it’s been a while and she wanted some fresh air…”

The maid fidgeted and spoke with her head down.

“How long has she been out?” Jacques asked.

“It’s been about twenty or thirty minutes.”

“Then she’ll be back soon. Don’t worry too much. The sun hasn’t even set yet, and you said you hired a bodyguard.”

After saying that to Jacques, I turned to the maid.

“Of course the bodyguard went along for the walk, right?”

“Yes, Duchess.”

The maid answered quickly.

Still, Jacques didn’t seem completely at ease.

“I’ll go out to meet her. I know the walking route.”

“Do that. I’ll wait here.”

“…Yes. I’m sorry.”

Jacques gave a small bow and turned toward the front door. Just then, the maid seemed to remember something.

“Ah, Master. One moment.”

She rummaged through her apron pocket and pulled out a small, folded note.

“A little boy came by just before you returned and asked me to give this to you.”

“A boy? What kind of boy?”

“He looked to be around twelve or thirteen. He said he was just delivering a message.”

“……”

Jacques frowned at the note but took it.

As he opened it and began to read, his face turned rigid.

Not just his face—his entire body froze in place. It was as if someone had poured plaster over him and left it to set.

“What is it?”

I approached Jacques and asked. He flinched, lowered his head, and crumpled the note tightly in his hand.

“It’s nothing.”

“What do you mean nothing? What did the note say?”

“It’s really nothing. It just… says Ines had something come up and will be late. I’d feel sorry to keep the Duchess waiting any longer, so it might be best to set another date.”

Jacques was trying to feign calm, but it was clear something was wrong.

“Late? What could’ve come up during a walk to make her late?”

“That… I don’t know either. I’ll know when Ines gets back.”

Jacques murmured, avoiding my eyes. I held out my hand.

“Jacques, show me the note.”

“……”

Jacques clenched it even tighter in his fist.

“Jacques.”

“…It’s really nothing. I’ll explain everything properly later, so please, just go home. I’m asking you. If you stay too long, the Duke will start worrying, and I won’t be able to face him…”

Jacques’s voice cracked as he spoke.

I stepped closer to him and whispered so only he could hear.

“Ines has been kidnapped, hasn’t she?”

I could feel Jacques’s large frame tremble faintly.

“The note said not to tell anyone if you want to save her, didn’t it? That’s what it said, right?”

“……”

Jacques couldn’t answer. His face had visibly gone pale.

‘I was hoping it wasn’t this…’

I bit my lip without thinking.

Of course, I hadn’t been completely unprepared for something like this. That’s why I’d suggested assigning guards not only to Elodie but also to Ines.

Still, that was supposed to be a precaution—a what-if measure.

Sure, Marlon was heartless and ruthless, but I hadn’t expected him to kidnap an innocent woman in broad daylight.

‘I thought he had at least some baseline dignity as a villain… But I guess he just avoided risks that might get him caught.’

Which meant the sense of danger he’d felt after the last incident was far greater than I had anticipated.

The note was still in Jacques’s hand. There was no way I could force it from him with my strength—it would only end up torn.

‘…Think. What needs to be done now. The best move possible.’

I wracked my brain.

Thirty seconds later, I lifted my head and said, “Alright. I’ll do as you say. I’ll leave now.”

“…What?” Jacques looked at me blankly.

I lowered my voice and whispered again, “There’s a high chance the perpetrator saw me enter the house with you. If I linger, they’ll suspect I’ve learned of the kidnapping. So I’ll return to the mansion. As far as the kidnapper knows, you read the note alone and sent me away with some excuse. When you meet with them, remember everything they say and report it to me later.”

Jacques’s eyes wavered slightly at my rapid explanation.

“I know how you feel right now, but listen carefully. Do not act on emotion. Don’t provoke or agitate them unnecessarily. For now, comply with whatever demands they make. The most important thing is Ines’s safety. Got it?”

“……”

Finally, a glimmer of light returned to Jacques’s eyes. He gave a silent nod.