Chapter 88
Chapter 88
"Ah, yes. That's right."
Judith hurriedly stood up with Melanie. Melanie smiled softly and clasped Judith's hand.
"Take good care of yourself. The Young Duke will return soon with good news. Please trust and wait for him. I'm sure he's thinking only of you right now."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"It must be very lonely being pregnant without the child's father by your side..."
Judith didn't really register what Melanie was saying.
She just wanted to be alone as soon as possible to gather her thoughts.
To think she wasn't alone—that a child had come into being without her knowing.
"Then I'll be off. You didn't bring any attendants?"
Judith smiled brightly."There's a coachman waiting down below. I'll rest here a little longer before going. I thought it would be better to stagger our departures."
Melanie met her gaze and said gently, "Alright, Judith. Let's meet again soon, with happy news. I already think of you as family."
"Thank you."
Judith let the words pass her ears and gave a polite bow. Melanie squeezed her hand once more before leaving the annex.
Afterward, finally alone, Judith collapsed into a seat.
Only after taking several deep breaths could she gently place her hand on her stomach.
She had never imagined a child would enter her life so suddenly, but in a very paradoxical way, Judith had also never imagined a life without a child. She had always wanted one.
So even when the doctor who examined her as a child had said"pregnancy will be difficult,"she had never considered giving up on having a child.
He hadn't said it was impossible—just that it would take effort. So she had intended to try.
'Ah...'
Judith placed her hand on her belly and breathed deeply.
'I didn't expect it, but still...'
Even Crown Princess Melanie had said without hesitation that she already thought of Judith as family—proof that her place was secure.
Even Hud had asked whether she was really okay giving up the position of Young Duchess Meius.
At the imperial banquet she had attended just once, so many people had been jealous of her.
And yet Judith had never once felt reluctant to give up that position. Because it had never truly been hers.
She had already learned how quickly a family held together by force could collapse.
A father who left without so much as a note, and a mother who walked away without looking back. The Baroness Judith Aillan had been left all alone just like that, one day out of the blue.
So she had never coveted the title of Young Duchess Meius, which had come to her just as suddenly. She had never believed it was truly hers.
But this child was different.
This was a life born from a man to whom she had willingly given her body and heart. It had nothing to do with knowing the future.
This child was a family she had created through her own will, and the most natural thing she had ever had.
Maybe the papers wouldn't be perfect. But the"perfect"family she'd had on paper had only felt more fake.
'Dear child.'
She took a breath and thought,
'Welcome.'
She had no idea where the child's father—the Master—was.
But if he came back, he would surely remove his mask and be overjoyed. The letter she had read over and over again carried a depth of longing she'd never seen from him before.
He had asked her to wait a little—so all she needed to do was wait.
He might never come, even after all the waiting. But if so, it only meant he was never truly hers to begin with. If he didn't want the child, she had no intention of holding him accountable.
She trusted him, but even if she was wrong, Judith would be fine. She had never once believed that anyone would naturally stay by her side.
But this child— would stay by her side naturally.
That thought made her feel stronger than ever.
She felt like she could leave House Meius now. Because Judith finally had a family of her own.
'First, I need to hurry and finalize the divorce. I can't just keep waiting endlessly for Ekian Meius to return...'
She began thinking ahead.
'If I'm not careful, people might suspect it's the child of the Meius family. I need to finalize the divorce as quickly as possible. If I say the child came right after the divorce, they might buy it. The timing won't add up, but I could claim it was a premature birth... or I could fudge the birthday...'
She had no intention of staying in the capital. She planned to leave for some rural area where no one knew her.
Secrets never stayed buried forever, and there might be someone looking for her. She had to plan for all possible scenarios.
She suddenly stood, thinking she needed to ask Isabella to push the divorce forward quickly.
"Oh?"
Something dropped onto her lap with a light tap. It was the letter Hud had given her.
She had been so distracted she had completely forgotten about it.
Now that she was alone and remembered it, curiosity prompted her to quickly open the envelope.
[Dear Judith,]
The letter began modestly.
Words of gratitude, comments about her time at the ducal estate, and news that he had built a large charitable hospital in the Soden marquisate and was running it.
But the most important part was that he would continue to conceal his identity until the hospital was more established.
[They say it's better for me to reveal I'm the Marquis of Soden's heir after I've built up trust and reputation locally. It would make my position more secure than if I just jumped straight from the ducal physician to a marquis's successor.]
It was a bit calculating, but a logical decision.
People usually only cared about one's most recent role, so it was a far more credible path to claim the title of the marquisate heir that way.
[The address of the charitable hospital is listed below. Please feel free to visit anytime. I've arranged for any letters to be delivered directly to me.]
When he had left the capital, he had only provided a private mailbox number since his destination wasn't confirmed. Now she had an actual address she could contact him through.
'He really is a good person.'
Judith smiled faintly as she put the letter away.
'Most people wouldn't express this much gratitude even after receiving such a huge favor.'
He had reunited her with her birth parents—high-ranking nobles, no less—so some might say such gratitude was only natural.
Still, people usually remembered their enemies more than their benefactors, so his attitude felt all the more heartwarming.
Judith gratefully accepted the sincerity behind each sentence.
'Either way, I'll need a doctor when the baby is born. I can ask Hud for help.'
Hud's letter felt like it was showing her the way forward.
She, too, could live under a hidden identity there, just like him.
Of course, she had committed no crime—but she didn't want to draw attention by giving birth on a suspicious date and causing trouble for House Meius.
She could stay near the Soden marquisate, take care of her health, and safely deliver the baby. Hud would take care of any paperwork the hospital needed.
She fully intended to leave a message for the Master, too. So that he could find her when he returned.
He had always been a highly skilled information broker—if he set his mind to it, there was no way he wouldn't find her.
'Now that I have a destination...'
Judith adjusted her clothes and blinked slowly.
'I really should go file for divorce. As quickly as possible.'