Chapter 18
Master pressed a hand to his forehead in silence before speaking in a low voice.
“An-Anyway… Judith is still young. I don’t think there’s any need for her to rush into remarriage.”
Judith gave a bitter smile.
“I’m not sure about that. I don’t have a family anymore, so I want to build one as soon as I can.”
It was something she had been thinking about for a long time.
“The families I was born into were all a mess. But none of that was my fault. I didn’t get to choose them.”
She spoke softly.
“So I think… if I become a family with people I choose myself, maybe it’ll be different. Just because things went wrong once doesn’t mean they’ll always go wrong. I want to try again.”
Truthfully, she had been a little envious of Isabella’s anger toward Karl earlier.
Judith had approached him with the knowledge and composure of someone experienced with children. Isabella, on the other hand, had genuinely lost control of her emotions out of pure fury.
Judith had handled the situation more wisely, but there was no doubt that Isabella loved Karl more deeply.
Judith had never received that kind of love from her own parents.
If she could never receive it, then perhaps she wanted to be the one who gave it.
“So… if you really like me, Master, I’ll give you a chance.”
She said it as though she were generously granting him a favor.
“I don’t care about social status. A commoner is perfectly fine. As long as he’s wealthy, good at his job, and hardworking, that’s enough.”
Just then—
A faint groan came from Karl’s room.
“Mmm…”
“Oh my, is he having a nightmare?”
Judith looked startled.
“I’ll see you later, Master. I’m heading out now, so make sure you leave safely too.”
She hurried out from behind the wardrobe.
Walking over to Karl’s bedside, she gently stroked his forehead as he tossed in his sleep, then quietly extinguished the lamp and left the room.
The Next Day
The following morning, Judith received another invitation from the House of Mayus.
This time, it came not from the Duchess—but from the Duke himself.
I have heard the full story from my wife.
I have decided to gratefully accept Baroness’s proposal.
It seems we already owe you a debt because of Karl.
Come today, and we shall officially complete the marriage registration procedures.
Given the circumstances, there are a few formalities that must be observed.
“Ah.”
Judith immediately understood what the Duke meant.
It was the Mayus family’s own procedure for publicly announcing that she carried Ekian’s child.
The bloodline of House Mayus possessed a unique aura that only the family head could perceive. In other words, there was no need for a paternity test, and no one except the Duke himself could manipulate the result.
Naturally, this wasn’t something the Duchess could handle—it had to be done by the Duke personally.
Which meant…
Today, Judith would finally meet the head of House Mayus—
The man known throughout the Empire as the Ironblood Duke.
“Judith, then today as well…”
Master was already sitting across from her early in the morning.
He was such a large man that the tiny boarding room felt completely filled by his presence.
Judith found herself surprised that she didn’t dislike the feeling of the room being so crowded.
Maybe it’s because I’ve lived alone for so long…
Master casually read the letter with her before saying as though it were the most natural thing in the world,
“I’ll come with you.”
“Master.”
She looked at him suspiciously.
“Aren’t you busy?”
“I’m working harder than ever.”
He answered with a playful grin.
“As I mentioned before, we don’t have any informants inside the Mayus estate. And right now, something highly confidential is taking place there.”
“Hmm.”
“As the Guild Master of the Intelligence Guild, isn’t it my duty to uncover exactly what that secret is?”
…That actually made sense.
Judith nodded without much resistance.
After all, he would enter through one of his secret passages, so no one would ever notice him. It made no difference to her.
“Alright then. Suit yourself.”
She paused before asking casually,
“But, Master… do you really like me?”
“Huh? Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”
“I was just wondering… Yesterday I said I liked hardworking men, so I thought maybe you’re suddenly working extra hard because of that.”
“I’ve always worked hard.”
“That’s true.”
She shrugged.
“I was just curious. Never mind.”
Then she reminded him once more.
“But even if you do like me, don’t show it until my divorce is finalized. Let’s not put either of us in an awkward position.”
It was something she wanted to establish beforehand.
“I’m a responsible person. As long as I’m legally listed in the Mayus family records, I’ll fulfill my duties as Ekian’s wife.”
Back when they had infiltrated Karl’s room together, being so close to Master had made even her heart flutter a little.
Since then, they had grown much closer through their constant interactions.
And…
If he ever took off that mask and turned out to be incredibly handsome…
Well…
She thought she might actually be tempted.
Which was precisely why she needed to draw a firm line now.
At least while she was still legally married.
“Well then.”
She stood with a bright smile.
“See you at the Mayus estate.”
She blinked.
“Actually… I probably won’t see you. Anyway, let’s both have a safe trip.”
Wow…
Standing once again before the grand gates of the Mayus estate, Judith couldn’t help thinking the same thing.
Ever since her first visit, she had practically been coming here every single day.
Then again…
This would become her home before long.
The moment she stepped through the entrance—
“Judith!”
“Sister-in-law!”
Isabella and Karl, who had been sitting together in the garden, immediately ran toward her.
“Huh?”
Before she knew it, the two had stationed themselves on either side of her.
Karl even wrapped both hands around her arm with a cheerful smile.
Lifting her chin proudly, Isabella declared,
“D-Don’t misunderstand! It’s not like I’ve been waiting for you or anything! I just didn’t get the chance to thank you yesterday, so I came out early!”
Judith smiled awkwardly and nodded.
She felt like she was beginning to understand Isabella’s personality.
It wasn’t that Isabella only struggled to express affection toward Karl.
She was simply terrible at expressing affection to everyone.
“And… after showing you such an embarrassing side of myself yesterday… I just kept thinking about it, so I came to greet you!”
Karl glanced at Isabella before speaking brightly.
“I really did come because I wanted to see you, Sister-in-law.”
He smiled sweetly.
“Come on, let’s go.”
With Isabella on one side and Karl clinging to the other, Judith was escorted into the mansion.
The servants and butlers who witnessed the scene exchanged astonished whispers.
The same thing happened when they reached the reception room.
The Duke of Mayus, who had been reading the newspaper, looked up and frowned slightly.
“Hmm.”
“I knew my wife and Karl had taken a liking to you…”
Judith couldn’t help being a little surprised upon seeing him.
The title Ironblood Duke suited him perfectly.
He was a strikingly handsome man in late middle age, exuding overwhelming authority.
Above all, his aristocratic blond hair and piercing blue eyes left an unforgettable impression.
“But I’ve never seen the two of them become so attached to the same person.”
Despite his lazy tone, his eyes remained razor-sharp.
He made no effort whatsoever to hide the suspicion directed at Judith.
Cold.
Distant.
As though he had built an impenetrable wall around himself.
His very presence declared:
Don’t expect me to be as easily won over as the rest of my family.
Judith simply smiled calmly.
But everyone looks perfectly healthy…
In the original novel, both of them suddenly die about a year from now.
At present, neither the Duke nor the Duchess showed the slightest sign of illness.
Yet in the original story, both would suddenly succumb to an unexpected illness roughly a year later, leaving nine-year-old Karl to inherit the dukedom.
Looking at them now, however, that future seemed impossible to imagine.
They looked like nothing more than an ordinary, healthy family.
“Please, have a seat.”
“Yes.”
Judith sat gracefully.
Isabella turned to Karl.
“Karl, don’t you have lessons?”
“Yes.”
He nodded obediently.
“I’ll go on time. I just wanted to greet Sister-in-law first.”
A moment later, Karl left with his tutor.
Only Judith and the Duke and Duchess remained in the reception room.
Skipping all small talk, the Duke got straight to the point.
“My wife has explained everything.”
“I also hear she has already paid the advance.”
“Yes. I’m very grateful.”
“Then we’ll proceed before Ekian’s death is officially declared.”
Without another word, the Duke pulled the bell cord.
Moments later, two men entered the room.
One appeared to be in his late thirties.
The other looked to be around Judith’s age.
Both wore physicians’ coats.
They were evidently the Mayus family’s personal doctors.
“These are the physicians of House Mayus.”
The Duke explained evenly.
“We cannot deceive them, so the secret discussed here must remain among those present.”
“Understood.”
At the Duke’s signal, both physicians stepped beside him.
The younger doctor, who looked to be about Judith’s age, greeted her politely first.
His gentle brown hair matched his white coat well, and he possessed a handsome, refined face with a kind expression.
“It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“My name is Hude Ramis.”
“I’m twenty-one years old, and I have served at the ducal estate for the past two years.”
