Chapter 19
Twenty-one years old, and already in his second year.
That meant he had started working at the ducal estate immediately after graduating from the Medical Academy.
Judith’s eyes widened in surprise, and Isabella added proudly,
“He was the top student at the Medical Academy from beginning to end. We offered him an excellent salary and brought him to House Mayeus. He mainly looks after Karl and me. Karl especially has a delicate stomach, so Hugh prepares medicine for him practically every day.”
Judith nodded in admiration.
Just hearing the explanation was enough to tell how extraordinary he was. To begin with, anyone who could afford to attend the expensive Medical Academy—even if they were a commoner—must have come from a fairly wealthy family.
“I look forward to working with you.”
Judith smiled brightly, and Hugh’s ears flushed ever so slightly.
Just then, the other physician standing beside him spoke up.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Bart Kallon. I have served the ducal family as their physician for ten years.”
“…Huh?”
“And before becoming the official physician, I worked here as an assistant for well over fifteen years.”
The smile on Judith’s face stiffened.
Bart Kallon? Bart Kallon…?
The Duke spoke coolly as he sipped his tea.
“Bart mainly oversees my health. He is also responsible for maintaining the nutritional well-being of every member of this family. As for your fake pregnancy, Hugh will be handling that for the time being.”
Judith stared at Bart’s gray hair and golden eyes, swallowing hard.
She was so flustered that she couldn’t answer immediately.
Her thoughts raced.
If I don’t get rid of this man… Duke Mayeus will soon be in grave danger.
She knew exactly who he was.
* * *
The House of Mayeus possessed power rivaling even that of the imperial family.
Its history, prestige, wealth, and military strength were all second to none.
Which also meant…
…they were a thorn in the Emperor’s side.
And the current Emperor, in particular, despised House Mayeus.
The future villain Karl would eventually come into fierce conflict with the imperial family as well.
In the end, Karl would be defeated by them and meet a tragic end without ever ending up with the novel’s heroine.
Bart Kallon… wasn’t he one of the Emperor’s closest agents?
Judith remembered his name only because of the original novel.
Bart Kallon.
A gifted physician who specialized in poisons.
He was the Emperor’s hidden operative, someone who would later become a major obstacle even for the male protagonist.
She clearly remembered one of his lines.
“I am His Majesty’s loyal servant. After remaining undercover for over fifteen years, I finally fulfilled His Majesty’s long-cherished wish.”
Judith swallowed nervously.
Then… the place where he spent those fifteen years undercover was House Mayeus?
The Duke and Duchess of Mayeus would both die suddenly one year from now.
Given Bart’s mastery of poison…
A terrifying theory rapidly took shape in her mind.
After the Duke and Duchess died, nine-year-old Karl would inherit House Mayeus, and the family would slowly begin its downfall.
The imperial family had been trying to eliminate them from the very beginning…
“Fortunately, the procedure itself isn’t particularly complicated.”
While Judith remained lost in thought, the Duke calmly picked up his fountain pen.
“First, a signed declaration from me stating that I can sense the Mayeus bloodline within the child in your womb.”
He handed her a prepared document.
Its contents were exactly what he had just described.
Judith snapped out of her thoughts and carefully read every word before the Duke elegantly signed his name.
“Next, a certificate confirming Baroness Aylan’s pregnancy.”
That document had already been prepared as well.
The pregnancy certificate contained two signature lines.
Apparently, one doctor’s opinion wasn’t enough.
Both physicians had to sign it.
That was why the Duke had summoned both of the family’s personal doctors.
“I do apologize for asking you gentlemen to falsify official documents.”
The Duke said it in a tone that suggested he wasn’t sorry in the slightest.
“But I hope you’ll understand the feelings of parents.”
Both physicians had undoubtedly been paid handsomely.
The Duchess paid off my astronomical debts in the blink of an eye…
Judith glanced at the two doctors.
She could only imagine how much money the Duke had spent to ensure their silence.
Besides, House Mayeus pays them generously. Of course they’d want to keep working here.
Hugh and Bart calmly signed the certificate.
It was all astonishingly simple.
“Well then.”
Resting his chin lazily against one hand, the Duke continued,
“My aide will handle the remaining paperwork. Your marriage registration should also be completed shortly, so Baroness Judith Aylan, it would be best if you stayed here at the estate.”
“You don’t have to be so formal.”
Judith straightened her posture and replied politely.
“Please just call me Judith.”
“Very well.”
The Duke nodded.
“We’ll be family for the next few months, after all.”
He deliberately emphasized the next few months.
It was a reminder that their relationship was only temporary.
“I’ll send someone to your boarding house to collect your belongings.”
Just as the Duke finished speaking in his usual businesslike tone—
“Ahem.”
Isabella suddenly interrupted.
“Baroness… no, Judith. Judging from what you’ve been wearing, your dresses are terribly outdated, and you hardly own any.”
“Ah… yes…”
She had barely been able to keep up with the interest payments on her debts.
There had been no room in her life to worry about dresses.
She had always tried to keep herself neat and presentable for her work as a tutor, but buying new clothes had been out of the question.
“That simply won’t do for someone living in House Mayeus.”
Lifting her chin proudly, Isabella declared,
“Even if you’re only here temporarily, you should carry out your responsibilities properly.”
“Of course.”
Judith answered enthusiastically.
“I fully intend to do my best.”
“Then get up this instant.”
Isabella clapped her hands decisively.
“We’re going shopping!”
…
For a brief moment, Judith wondered whether this was really happening.
But she’d just declared that she would fulfill her duties as a temporary daughter-in-law with complete dedication.
In the end, she allowed herself to be dragged out of the drawing room by the Duchess.
* * *
Everything afterward became something of a blur.
The Duchess took Judith from one dress shop to another.
After the first boutique, her memories became hazy.
Try on.
Take off.
Try on.
Take off.
And buy every single one.
“Hmph!”
Isabella kept writing check after check.
“It’s only because I never got the chance to do this with a daughter. Don’t misunderstand—I don’t especially dote on you. I’m doing this because I want to. Though… that yellow dress looks absolutely wonderful on you.”
She spent an utterly unbelievable amount of money.
The dressmaker, who had been quietly bringing out outfit after outfit while suppressing her curiosity, finally asked cautiously,
“If I may ask… who is this young lady?”
“My future daughter-in-law.”
“…Pardon?”
Every madam in the shop stared in shock.
But Isabella, every inch the proud noblewoman, only ever answered the questions she felt like answering.
Ignoring their curiosity, she looked only at Judith.
“Hmm. That one looks good.”
She nodded approvingly.
“Can you alter it immediately? She’ll wear it home.”
Then she glanced at Judith’s old dress with open disdain.
“And throw away the trash she came in.”
It wasn’t until evening that they finally returned to the ducal estate.
Judith’s modest belongings from the boarding house had already arrived.
But the room prepared for her was completely unexpected.
“This used to be Ekyan’s room.”
…Or perhaps it wasn’t unexpected after all.
Judith blinked in astonishment before a room nearly ten times the size of her tiny boarding room.
“It was naturally shared with his wife.”
Even though Ekyan had been gone for almost five years, the room remained spotless.
It didn’t even feel abandoned.
Someone had clearly cared for it all this time.
Crossing her arms, Isabella said,
“You’ll stay here.”
“…Yes.”
Judith nodded absentmindedly.
Isabella slowly looked around the room once more.
“I only hope Ekyan returns before then.”
“I told you already…”
Judith answered gently.
“Please don’t get your hopes up too much.”
“But… if the young Duke does return, I’ll divorce him immediately, just as I promised.”
She smiled softly.
“I wouldn’t want him to lose the chance to marry another woman because of me.”
Among the nobility, remarriage certainly carried a stigma.
But someone with Ekyan’s appearance and status would have little trouble overcoming it.
“I promise.”
She spoke sincerely.
“I’ll never become an obstacle in his life.”
Just then—
Knock. Knock.
A cheerful voice came from outside.
“Sister-in-law! It’s me!”
“Ah, yes. Come in.”
Karl entered together with the young physician Hugh.
The moment he opened the door and saw Judith, his eyes grew wide.
“…Huh?”
He blinked several times in complete disbelief before quietly murmuring,
“…Sister-in-law…”
He stared at her.
“You… really look like a completely different person.”
