My Husband Caught Me Having an Affair - Chapter 169

I had learned from Jacques’s report some time ago that Marlon had fled to Borcia.

But how had Nicolas found out? I had assumed he’d only gone to visit his mother’s grave—never imagined he would actually take revenge on Marlon.

I truly thought Nicolas would never be able to kill his father with his own hands. In the original story, too, he couldn’t let go of his attachment to his father until the very end.

…There must have been something. A reason Nicolas had no choice but to kill Marlon…

Most likely, Nicolas hadn’t gone there with the intention to kill. Perhaps Marlon had tried to kill him first, and it happened during a struggle.

It left a bitter taste. Honestly, just this once, I had hoped Nicolas could find happiness.

From his perspective, I might have been nothing more than someone who deceived and used him. But to me, he wasn’t. Like Elodie and the people of House Dumont, he was a character I’d grown fond of while reading the original novel.

“From Borcia’s point of view, Marlon was no longer useful once he was dead. Sending both his corpse and the killer to Alveni was likely their best move—to put Alveni in their debt.”

“…A reasonable judgment.”

I lowered my gaze for a moment, then looked up at Ethan and asked, “What about Nicolas? What will happen to him now?”

“I don’t know. For now, he’s being held in the palace prison.”

“Can’t we get him out?”

“It’s not impossible… but is it really necessary?” Ethan quietly asked in return.

“Nicolas is in a very ambiguous position. He belonged to the Girard intelligence division, but he helped us during the trial. He’s Marlon’s son, yet he killed him to avenge his mother.”

I explained calmly and continued, “He’s only twenty years old. With the right guidance, he could be led down a better path. As a gesture of goodwill, why not take him out of prison and bring him to Dumont? It would allow us to both reform and monitor him.”

“Hmm…”

Ethan listened thoughtfully.

“Nicolas was a promising talent in the Girard intelligence division. The fact that he found Marlon’s whereabouts on his own, infiltrated, and succeeded in the assassination proves it. If handled well, he could become a great asset to Dumont.”

And it was true—Nicolas needed help right now, and if he joined our side, he’d be an incredible ally.

“Let’s start by leaving him in Sir Mael’s care. If it doesn’t work out, we can always send him away later.”

“Mael? Not Jacques?”

“Yes. For now, the knight order suits better than the intelligence division. Nicolas should get a taste of the brighter side of life. If he harbors any dark thoughts, Sir Mael can easily handle him.”

“……”

After a brief pause, Ethan nodded.

“Alright. Let’s give it a try.”

“Thank you.”

***

Nicolas was released without incident. Though he had committed murder, there were extenuating circumstances, and the fact that the victim was a high-level fugitive weighed in his favor.

Of course, the one who had worked the hardest for his release was none other than Ethan.

When he first arrived at the Ducal Mansion, Nicolas’s eyes were devoid of light. He seemed to have lost all will to live after killing his father.

Entrusting him to Mael had been the right decision. Nicolas became a trainee knight, spending each day training and building his strength.

As he exhausted himself following a strict routine, his emotional state gradually stabilized.

After about six months, Nicolas had become a healthy and capable knight-in-training. An excellent one at that.

“Nicolas will become a fine knight,” Mael said with a warm smile.

Jacques shrugged. “Too bad. If you’d let me, I was going to raise him in the intelligence division.”

“You mean monitor him, not raise him. You’re still suspicious of Nicolas, aren’t you.”

“Of course. He’s a spawn of Girard. Tell him this: I’m watching him with both eyes wide open.”

Mael and I shared a quiet, wry smile at Jacques’s words.

Ines had given birth safely. It was a girl. I could already picture how overprotective Jacques would be of her.

In the original novel, Jacques never remarried after Ines died. So this was a life that never would have existed otherwise. Thinking of that made my heart warm—and proud.

“If it’s alright… would you name the baby, Duchess?”

It was the day Ines visited the Ducal Mansion, saying she wanted to show me the baby.

“Really? Are you sure?”

“You’re the benefactor of both me and my husband—and of this child. If not for you, she wouldn’t have been born. Please, if you’re willing.”

I smiled and shook my head. “Of course I don’t mind. Alright, I’ll think of a name.”

“Thank you.”

Ines smiled shyly.

After a few days of consideration, I named the baby “Bridget.” It was the name of the heroine from another novel by the same author as the original story.

That story was similar to I Became the Daughter of a Distrustful Duke in some ways, yet very different—a tale of parenting. Like Elodie, Bridget grew up surrounded by love. I chose the name hoping Jacques and Ines’s child would, too.

“It’s a beautiful name. Thank you, Duchess,” Ines said with genuine joy.

Elodie officially became a child of House Dumont.

When I first told her we wanted to adopt her, she had flailed her hands in surprise, insisting it was far too much for someone like her. That she would only be a burden to the Duke and Duchess.

“That’s not true. Just as much as Camille, I truly want you to be our daughter as well. Please, become the older sister to the child who will be born soon.”

At Ethan’s gentle words, Elodie didn’t know what to do—and then she began to sob.

“Really… is it truly alright? Does a child like me… do I deserve this kind of happiness?”

“Of course, Elodie. It has to be you.”

I wiped Elodie’s tears with a handkerchief. Her nose bright red, she carefully hugged me, mindful of my swollen belly.

Holding Elodie in my arms, I looked back at Ethan. He smiled quietly, then wrapped his long arms around both of us.

News that we had adopted Elodie, a commoner orphan, caused a stir throughout the capital.

Since I was due to give birth soon, people’s curiosity grew even more intense. Debates erupted daily about the Duke and Duchess of Dumont’s true intentions.

That was when Audrey raised her voice.

“The Duchess of Dumont is just as compassionate as Lord Armas. She believes everyone deserves love, regardless of status or class. I sincerely hope no one misinterprets her intentions.”

Wherever Elodie’s name came up, Audrey always stepped forward to defend us.

At first, I had approached her with the intent to escape my predicament, but now, she had become a precious friend.

My brother Olivier also supported my decision. Though we couldn’t meet in person due to our respective conditions, we kept in frequent contact through letters.

Olivier was as delighted by Elodie’s adoption as he was by the news of my pregnancy. Though I knew those two things couldn’t have held equal weight in his heart, his thoughtfulness touched me deeply.

A few more months passed, and at last, the day of delivery came.

“Madam! Just a little more—push a little harder!”

With the maid’s cry, I bit down on the cloth in my mouth.

Someone once said that Westerners had a physical advantage over Easterners, making childbirth easier for them. That they could walk around as early as the next day.

I wanted to grab the person who said that and ask what kind of nonsense that was. That’s how painful and excruciating it was—so much so that I felt like I lost my soul.

And then, at last, a loud wail echoed.

“It’s a boy, Madam! The heir of House Dumont has been born!”

Marie, overcome with emotion, placed the baby in my arms.

The newborn squirmed against me, unable to even open his eyes.

His hair was golden like mine, and his eyes the same silvery hue as his father’s.

My heart swelled. It was a feeling no words could ever express.

“…Camille.”

Ethan entered and kissed my cheek. He brushed aside my sweat-dampened hair, looked at me with tenderness, and kissed me again.

“You did so well, Camille. Thank you for everything.”

“Say hello, honey. He’s your son.”

I handed the baby to Ethan. He took him carefully and gazed down with awe.

Strangely, seeing Ethan hold our child moved me even more than holding the baby myself. Tears spilled down my cheeks.

“Duchess… no, Mother. Are you alright?” Elodie asked softly as she approached. Her eyes, too, were brimming with tears.

I smiled and nodded. “Elodie, this is your little brother.”

Ethan knelt on one knee and showed the baby to Elodie. She stared wide-eyed, unsure of what to do.

“Would you like to hold him?”

“N-no. What if I drop him?” Elodie waved her hands frantically.

“It’s okay. Father will help. I’ll catch him if anything happens.”

“Still…”

“Then I’ll help too. The three of us can hold him together. How about that?”

At my words, Elodie finally nodded.

Ethan brought over a chair and sat Elodie on his lap. Then he gently placed the baby in her arms and guided my hand to rest atop hers.

Elodie let out a soft gasp.

With tears trembling on her lashes, she smiled as she looked at the baby.

“…Hello, baby.”

Her voice opened the floodgates again. Tears poured down my cheeks like a broken dam.

I was happy. So deeply happy, I could die without regret.

‘…No. I can’t die yet. There’s still so much I need to witness.’

I pictured our son taking his first steps, saying his first words.

Later, Ethan would read him picture books. Maybe Elodie would offer to read, too. The thought alone made me smile.

In time, Elodie would have her debutante ball. Our son, too, would someday come of age.

Then, one day, both children would find their partners and have children of their own. I couldn’t miss the moment I first laid eyes on our grandchildren.

‘Ah, there’s still a long road ahead.’

When I came to, Ethan was watching me with a look that said, You’re off in your own world again, aren’t you?

We looked at each other—and then, as if on cue, we laughed.

And as if it had been promised, we kissed.

The End