21.
I tried to ignore it, but I couldn’t stop the thoughts from rising to the surface.
‘It’s all because Judith said those things.’
Asking if I liked her, saying it wasn’t the right time yet, and everything else…
She was a woman with a genuine talent for leaving a person flustered. But the strange thing was, the question of whether I ‘liked her’ didn’t bother me. If anything, it felt as though she had struck a nerve, leaving my heart in a state of restless agitation.
Even…
‘I knew she was pretty, but…’
I had always thought she had delicate, cute features. It was just that her bare face, the weary complexion born of fatigue, and her carelessly tied-back hair had kept her beauty hidden.
But seeing her dressed up with all of Isabella’s heart and soul, she was truly stunning.
It was surprising that such a curvaceous body had been concealed beneath those modest, worn-out, ready-made dresses. If she walked into a banquet looking like that, it was obvious no man would be able to look away. I had been so stunned myself that I couldn’t speak for a time.
When I saw her fair skin peeking out from the subtly plunging neckline of the dress, my heart had hammered against my ribs. That was because the time we spent pressed together in this secret passage came to mind with agonizing clarity.
‘This won’t do. It’s dangerous.’
Ekian thought to himself.
‘I shouldn’t come back to the Ducal Mansion ever again.’
Between this secret passage and the fact that I kept running into Judith, I was losing my composure.
I kept having strange fantasies. I knew better than anyone that those fantasies would eventually turn into something close to greed in an instant.
What would happen if I just went back like this, pretending as if nothing had occurred?
My parents would be overjoyed, and I would be able to face Judith without wearing a mask.
And Judith was, at least on paper, his wife—and no one else’s. She was even someone who had harbored feelings for Ekian in the past…
I was terrified of myself, fearing that I might succumb to this strange greed and the desire I was desperately trying to suppress.
But then.
“Right now, all three members of the Ducal House are at risk of being poisoned.”
Judith dropped the bombshell. In an instant, Ekian was jolted back to reality as if someone had splashed freezing water on him.
“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem too late yet. In any case, I intend to catch the culprit beforehand and prevent the poisoning, but I need your help, Master. Please, help me.”
He had no choice.
His family was more precious to him than his own life.
His family, whom he would have protected even by disappearing from this world himself.
“Tell me, Judith.”
Standing in his room, looking at the woman who had become his wife, he spoke in a strained voice.
“What do I have to do?”
* * *
At that same time, in the Duke Mayous’s office.
“She’s a girl who is quite a waste to let rot like this. Forget commoners—I feel bad that we’ve ruined the marriage prospects of a girl who even holds a noble title.”
Isabella was talking to her husband while sipping tea.
“Why don’t we arrange a marriage for her ourselves later? If we do that, even if it’s a remarriage, she would be able to wed the son of a suitable noble family since she’ll have the Mayous name.”
Her husband gave no answer. Isabella sighed again and continued.
“She’s quite pretty, diligent, and… she seems to have a kind heart as well.”
These were things she couldn’t bring herself to say in front of Judith because she was too embarrassed.
“She seemed to look after Karl’s heart well yesterday, too. Karl was able to overcome it bravely. Like how she pointed out to me that even if he is a genius, he is still just a child…”
Isabella gripped her teacup with a troubled expression.
“Even though her irresponsible parents left her behind with a mountain of debt, didn’t she grow up to be very sturdy and well?”
“Hmm.”
“Ben.”
The mouth of the Duke, Ben, who had remained silent the whole time, finally opened when Isabella couldn’t hold back and called his name.
“It seems you’ve taken a great liking to that girl.”
“…Ahem.”
Isabella rolled her eyes slightly. She felt a bit of resentment toward Ben, who had emphasized to Judith—who had promised to do her best with responsibility—that she was just a ‘temporary hire,’ but she couldn’t show her feelings. After all, she had said the exact same thing when she first saw the girl.
But thinking about it in reverse, Ben might eventually end up like Isabella, too.
Perhaps she wanted to do something for her even more because she couldn’t stop thinking about the girl’s expression when she had responded calmly, ‘I thought as much,’ to those harsh words.
Isabella blinked and asked.
“What about you? What do you think?”
“Think? What is there to think about?”
Ben said indifferently.
“In a few months, we’ll be strangers anyway.”
From Ben’s perspective, she was just a girl he had seen briefly. There was no reason for him to be interested.
Having a colder personality than Isabella, he actually believed that even if they did this, Ekian wouldn’t return. It was a prediction that felt like it would tear his heart apart, but he felt that if it was the Ekian he knew, he would certainly do it.
In any case, they had to let Judith go. According to Isabella’s suggestion, taking a little better care of her at that time was something that didn’t matter at all from his standpoint.
“Arranging a marriage, too… If that’s what will make you feel at ease, then do as you wish.”
Ben replied nonchalantly and took another sip of tea.
“But isn’t the price of the dress you had her wear today a bit too generous for that penniless girl?”
“Hmph.”
Isabella muttered with a pout.
“Says the man who would give her more than anyone else if he actually took a liking to her.”
* * *
The next morning, Ben was in his office. He had to finish his paperwork after returning from inspecting the territory. Additionally, he needed to finalize the marriage registration for his son.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
“Duke?”
Ben was startled for a moment at the unfamiliar woman’s voice. He wondered who it was, and then the voice continued.
“It is Judith Aylan. May I come in for a moment?”
She was the woman who had agreed to pretend to be pregnant with Ekian’s child. In other words, his temporary daughter-in-law.
“Come in.”
As soon as permission was granted, Judith entered. Behind her, a maid followed, pushing a tray with a tea set.
“Ah, it’s nothing much, really.”
Judith said softly.
“I’ve come because there is something that weighs on my mind regarding the marriage registration.”
“Hmm.”
He had intended to tell her to just leave if she were going to engage in trivial chatter, but if it were an official matter, he was willing to face her. Ben looked at her indifferently.
Well, it wouldn’t be easy to leave a record of… getting pregnant and then getting a divorce.
He had been willing to cancel it anytime if Judith asked to do so.
“Yes, have a seat.”
Ben said, gesturing to the table.
“I already have my tea. There is no need to prepare a separate cup.”
A cup of tea was already placed on his desk. That tea was provided morning and evening by Bart, the Ducal Mansion’s personal physician.
It was something Bart prepared himself by adding various medicinal herbs according to his physical condition, which was exactly what it meant for Bart to manage the overall nutritional health of the Ducal Mansion.
Not only Ben, but Isabella and Karl also drank the tea prepared by him for nutritional management every morning and evening according to Bart’s prescriptions.
The Duke trusted Bart.
After Ekian disappeared, the Duke and his wife had suffered emotionally, and their health had deteriorated day by day.
But after Ben began drinking the tea he prescribed, the Duke’s health had improved. Isabella also said she slept well and felt at ease after drinking the tea.
“Ah, I received mine this morning, too.”
Judith smiled brightly and held up her teacup.
“Mr. Bart checked my condition himself and prescribed it. He didn’t tell me the details, just that he included ingredients for the nutrients my body was lacking.”
Ben nodded indifferently. That was because he didn’t consider the tea to be particularly important.
Perhaps noticing Ben’s expression, which suggested she get to the point, Judith shifted the subject softly.
“It’s nothing other than… it hasn’t even been a week since my birthday passed.”
“Hmm?”
“But if we announce the pregnancy… effectively, it means I became pregnant while I was still a minor. Well, it’s not as if such things never happen, but I am worried—would it be all right, considering the Young Duke’s honor?”
It was something he hadn’t considered. Ben furrowed his brow and sank into thought for a moment.
At the same time, he felt that she was a very thoughtful girl. She could have just taken the money and left, yet she was even worrying about Ekian’s honor…
Even though she had never even met Ekian. In a way, she was practically considering the honor of the entire Ducal House.
“Then, even if it’s a bit artificial, we should set the date just before the death certificate…—”
That was when it happened.
“Just a moment, Duke.”
Judith, who had finished her tea, let out a soft ‘phut’ sound and furrowed her brow.
“This… something is strange.”