I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 25

Bart had to admit it.

It had been easy to shock the once-admired and brilliant seventeen-year-old boy, especially by shaking the very roots of what he believed without question.

But now Ekian was a fully grown adult, hardened by life’s trials.

There was no way Bart could confuse him as he had in the past, hiding behind the guise of loyalty.

‘Well, I suppose.’

He thought as he felt the poison starting to circulate in his body.

‘It doesn’t matter now anyway.’

Hatred boiled inside him as he looked at the young man standing before him. Ekian had grown taller and stronger than expected, and Bart wanted to hurt him even more for it.

“Speak.”

Ekian’s voice was low, his expression chilling as he commanded.

“If you weren’t loyal to Mayus, why did you tell me to leave the family?”

Despite the overwhelming pressure from Ekian, Bart managed a twisted grin. His lips cracked from the earlier torture, causing blood to trickle down as he smiled grotesquely.

Even in this state, Bart found joy in the flicker of hope he saw in Ekian’s eyes. Bart knew exactly what to say to crush him.

Bart rasped, “Seeing how well you’ve grown… You look so much like your father, don’t you? You’ve already noticed, haven’t you?”

Ekian’s dark red eyes wavered.

“Just like the portraits of His Majesty in his youth.”

The deep silence of the night filled the prison cell.

Bart chuckled darkly and continued, “You might have come here hoping that you’re the true child of the Duke and Duchess of Mayus, but everything I told you five years ago was true.”

“……”

“Do you want to know why I made you leave? There’s not much time left, so let me tell you the truth.”

The truth.

Ekian exhaled a shallow breath.

What could this truth be that, despite knowing it would bring him pain, he couldn’t help but crave it?

Bart looked up at Ekian’s shadowed face and smiled like a devil.

“Because that will hurt you the most, Your Highness the Cursed Prince.”

***

Judith and Hud spent a long time talking. Their conversation flowed surprisingly well.

They both shared the common experience of being saved from poverty by the Mayus family.

“When people hear I went to the medical academy, they assume I came from a well-off family, even though I’m a commoner. It’s because of how expensive the tuition is, and it’s understood that you don’t need to worry about making a living.”

“I thought the same thing.”

“But that wasn’t the case for me. I owe so much to my second sibling. I feel guilty about it, but now that I’m earning a good salary from the Mayus, I can pay for the rest of my siblings’ education.”

As the conversation continued, Hud secretly brought out some wine.

He explained that the staff at the Mayus estate had access to provisions freely, which Judith found impressive. She clapped her hands in admiration, calling it amazing welfare.

The wine Hud had brought was exceptional. It was undoubtedly an expensive vintage, rich in flavor.

“The Mayus estate is incredible,” Judith said in awe, and Hud, with wide eyes, nodded in agreement.

“It’s truly wonderful. Both the Duke and Duchess are amazing people. They might have a cold reputation, but once you know them, they’re not as distant as people say.”

“That’s true. They’re not as cold as they seem.”

“Actually, the ‘villainous family’ and ‘iron-blooded family’ rumors are mostly because of the imperial family.”

As the wine flowed, Hud became more talkative.

“The imperial family has always seen the Mayus family as a thorn in their side.”

“Hud, isn’t that a bit dangerous to say?”

“It’s no secret, really.”

“Is that so?”

Hud chuckled, clinking glasses with Judith before taking another sip.

“When the Duke and Duchess were struggling to conceive an heir, it was the Emperor who mocked them openly behind their backs.”

“Really?”

“The Duchess sought help from the medical academy numerous times, and the Emperor even accessed those records and spread the details in high society.”

“No way?”

“All the professors know about it. Thankfully, after the young Duke Ekian was born, it was all laughed off, but… still, I think it’s wrong for anyone, even the Emperor, to mock such desperate struggles.”

“You’re right. I agree with you completely, Hud.”

Their glasses clinked together again, their conversation growing more animated.

Hud was genuinely a kind and righteous man, just as his gentle appearance suggested. Not only was he upright in his thinking, but talking to him felt natural and pleasant.

As they emptied bottle after bottle, Judith, feeling tipsy, had a thought.

‘I should really help him find his real parents soon.’

A man this generous and kind-hearted deserved to be reunited with his true family, not stuck in the role of a physician just chasing money.

‘But where are the Marquis Soden and his wife now? I’m not sure where they are at this point. I’ll have to ask the Master.’

But Judith didn’t know how to meet the Master. So far, he had always been the one to find her, sneaking into the Mayus estate whenever something interesting happened.

Now, with the major events involving the Mayus family coming to a close, there might not be a reason for him to appear again.

‘I can’t exactly summon him or go looking for him myself…’

Living in the estate with fine clothes and meals was enjoyable, but there was one thing she sorely missed—freedom.

Judith knew that wherever she went, her movements would be reported to the higher-ups. It was to be expected, as she was now privy to significant secrets of the Mayus family.

‘Hmm, it can’t be helped.’

Judith looked at Hud and thought, ‘At least I’ve made some friends here. I might as well ask him.’

As an official physician of the Mayus family, Hud had more freedom than Judith, who was temporarily bound to her role. Hud delivering a letter outside wouldn’t raise any suspicions.

“Hud.”

“Yes, Judith?”

“Could I ask you for a small favor?”

“Of course! Anything you need.”

“Before I came to the Mayus estate, I worked as a tutor and had some dealings with an information guild… I’d like to send a few letters to some acquaintances. It’s nothing important, just a quick hello to let them know I’m doing well.”

Judith intentionally mixed in various recipients to make it less suspicious.

“I know it’s a bit of an imposition, but could you deliver these letters for me? I haven’t gotten to know the servants well enough to ask them.”

“It’s no trouble at all. Don’t worry about it.”

As expected, Hud smiled warmly and agreed without hesitation.

“Actually, I was planning to go out tomorrow to gather ingredients for the antidote. I can deliver the letters myself.”

“Thank you so much.”

Judith smiled brightly, and Hud, blinking in surprise, quickly finished another glass of wine. Judith drank along with him.

After finishing several more bottles of wine, Hud finally left her room when his words started slurring beyond recognition.

Even in his drunken state, Hud carefully gathered up the empty bottles before stumbling out.

“Well then, I’ll… hic… deliver the letters… hic… tomorrow and… hic… come back… hic.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

Judith waved him off while still seated at the table.

She, too, was tipsy but didn’t show it as much. Even when drunk, her speech didn’t slur, and her face didn’t turn red, so it was hard to tell.

“Ah, I’m definitely feeling it now.”

Judith was just about to collapse onto the bed when—

“What in the world…”

The bookshelf door slid open, and the Master appeared, looking displeased.

“Just how much wine did you drink with another man? In your husband’s room, no less?”

Judith blinked and furrowed her brows. No, she had already planned to call him tomorrow through Hud, so why did he come already?

One thing was clear—his mood was worse than she had ever seen it.

Even though he wore a mask, the dark and melancholic aura surrounding him was unmistakable. She couldn’t see his face, but if his expression matched his mood, the face behind that mask must be something fierce.

‘What’s going on?’

She had been dealing with the Master for three years now, and recently, they had been spending more time together. Yet, this was the first time he had exuded such an atmosphere.

‘Something’s definitely wrong.’

Judith, who had been sprawled out on the bed, tried to sit up slowly…

But despite her determination, she couldn’t manage to get up. It was all due to her rather troublesome drinking habit.