# Chapter 8
“That's because...” Judith replied calmly, without evading Isabella's gaze, saying:
"If I didn't know the outcome, it would have been different, but since I knew, I didn't want to use someone's hope for my own benefit. Especially when it involved hope for their family."
"What?"
“As you've already discovered, I need money. Lots of it, badly. But...”
Despite her simple clothes, Judith's eyes held a calm, lively energy.
“I don't want to get money by cheating anyone.”
“I will explain it again. The plan you are thinking of will only harm the honor of the Maius family. It will not bring back the young duke. You will only be wasting money in vain. But if you insist on going ahead, then… please make me a temporary daughter-in-law.”
Isabella felt a strange sensation. Even though she had the decision-making power, she felt like she was the one being cared for.
Judith spoke politely:
“I promise to do my part without causing any trouble to the Maius family. If you have done your investigation, you should know that I always fulfill my responsibilities whenever I am hired.”
And it was true. Judith was always hardworking and did her best in her work as a tutor. This was clear from the investigation.
Isabella stared at Judith for a while before asking her:
"Let me ask you one thing. Aren't you going to tell me how you know all this?"
“I'll tell you.” Judith replied without hesitation:
“I had a dream. Since I was little, I have often had dreams that come true. I don’t know why, but I dreamed of the young Duke.”
“So Ekian...”
“That's all I know.”
Isabella caught her breath. dream? It was hard to believe, and there was no evidence to support it.
However, Judith was meticulous about the letters that Ekian had hidden and even the plan that Isabella was secretly thinking about. Based on this, it seemed logical that Judith had made some money by ling small pieces of information through the Information Syndicate.
Isabella slowly regained her calm.
There was no need for deep thinking. She needed someone to fulfill this specific role, and Judith stepped forward as a willing volunteer. It's a simple deal, nothing more.
"… Good." Isabella looked at Judith and said:
“If you say so, I understand. We don’t have much time. Since you are here, let us register the marriage now. The Duke will return tomorrow, and we can finish the procedures and submit it.”
“Yes, Duchess.”
Isabella, returning to her usual coldness, continued in a cold tone:
“Even if I accept you as my daughter-in-law, I expect you realize that it is only temporary. Let us make it clear that you will not be allowed to interfere in the internal affairs of the Maius family.”
“Of course. I expected that.” Judith replied calmly. Being told that she would not be treated like a real daughter-in-law did not surprise her. After all, this was a contract of only a few months. Isabella continued coldly.
“If Ekyan returns within that period, you will agree to the divorce immediately. I want him to be free to marry the woman he loves. Is that acceptable?”
“Of course. I know my place very well. When the time comes, I will leave the Maios family’s estate quietly. You don’t have to worry about it.”
Isabella nodded slowly. Then she immediately wrote a check and said: “This is to pay off Baroness Aylan’s debts.”
Hearing these words, Judith, who had been quiet the whole time, turned pale. She blinked rapidly and stammered: “A-You’re giving it to me now?”
“When this is all over, I will give you the same amount again.”
Isabella raised her eyebrows and added in an expressionless tone: "You're at the age when marriage opportunities are at their peak, and I've ruined it for you. Do you think I'm so shameless that I won't make it up to you?"
“Th-thank you. Thank you very much, Duchess...”
Judith blushed all over with joy, from her trembling hands to her face. The calm and nobility she had previously displayed seemed like a lie, and had been replaced by an overwhelming feeling of relief and gratitude.
Her sincere happiness revealed how desperate she was, and Isabella finally understood the weight and truth of Judith's earlier words: “The young Duke will not return.”
“Hmm.”
As Judith's happiness became more evident, Isabella suddenly opened her fan and hid her face behind it. She felt a little embarrassed by her earlier comment to Judith about not considering herf a true daughter-in-law of the Maios family.
“For the Maios family, this amount is nothing. That’s why I gave it so easily.”
“N-yes...”
"And certainly not because I love you, Judith! Don't think such a thing!" cried Isabella, then glanced at Judith, whose cheeks were still flushed with excitement.
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!
“I am free... finally free from this miserable mountain of debt!”
After receiving the check, Judith couldn't believe her eyes and found herf gasping in surprise.
She thought she would get the money only after the contract ended and she got divorced. But she never expected the first batch to be this much!
“Then the Mayus family is indeed very wealthy! If the Duchess is able to give me this amount without even consulting the Duke, then it is true!”
Still dizzy, Judith hugged the check tightly to her chest as she left the Maios' estate. Of course, she had completed the marriage registration as well.
She went directly to the bank, accompanied by a guarantor, to pay her debts.
“Baroness Judith Aylan.”
The bank employee smiled happily after reviewing her loan agreement with the moneylender.
“Your debt has been paid in full. Congratulations.”
Judith was so overcome with happiness that she was unable to speak for a moment.
Even the moneylender, who had been collecting loan interest from her for years, could not hide his astonishment. “I have never seen anyone pay off such a large debt,” he commented.
He added in astonishment: “Huh, for Paul, who is obsessed with gambling, to have a daughter like you... How did you manage to collect this much money?”
Of course, Judith was now so comfortable that she could smile even at the moneylender.
“I gambled, too. A gamble that changed my life.”
Judith left the bank clerk and the moneylender in a daze behind her, and walked lightly out of the bank. Now that the burden of debt that weighed on her every day was gone, she felt as if her feet were floating on the clouds.
“This is amazing.”
Her life changed once she got involved with the Mayos family. It looked like she didn't do anything of note.
“I would do anything for the Duchess.”
Judith knew well the value of giving back. Since the Maios had helped her pay off her debt so quickly, she was determined to do her best in return.
As she was stepping out of the bank, something important suddenly occurred to her.
“Oh! The master asked me to visit him!”
Yesterday, Master sent her someone asking her to visit the Gray Information Guild.
“I bet he wants to thank me for saving his life, right?”
Or maybe he wanted to hear more about her plan to marry into the Mayus family.
“Anyway, I need some information from him too.”
Indeed, thanks to the Duchess's generosity, Judith felt even more motivated to help the Maios in any way she could.
“I will ask Master for help!”
Judith excitedly headed to the Gray Information Guild. As usual, the master was waiting for her, wearing a mask that concealed his face.
“What have you been doing at the Maius family estate all day? I heard you were there since early morning.”
“Oh, I was busy filling out the marriage registration form.”
"...What? No, k-how...?"
“The news will spread around the capital soon, but I'm telling you first out of loyalty.”
Because she needed the Master's help for the sake of the Maius family, Judith decided to tell him the truth about what she was doing.
“The Maios family will soon announce that I am pregnant with the young Duke’s child.”
For a moment, the master lost the ability to speak.
Although he had worked with Judith a lot over the years, this was the first time she had seen him this shocked.
Even with him wearing the mask, Judith felt his complete shock and disbelief.
"my lord?"
Sure, what she said was surprising, but was it really that much of a shock?
While Judith was watching him cloy, an idea struck her like a thunderbolt, and she exclaimed in astonishment:
"Sir? Don't tell me that..."
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