《So the Duchess Disappeared》 Chapter 1 - The Truth I Learned 1. The Truth I Learned Duchess Psyche Valentine was now making plans to run away from the Duke mansion with a very serious face. It was because of the truth she had only learned a few days ago. * ¡°Psyche¡­¡­¡± She had something to say to the Duke, so Psyche, who was about to stop by the office and knock on the door, froze on the spot because of a familiar voice that called out her name. The next words were muffled and could not be heard, but then she could hear them clearly. ¡°That woman must be killed when the baby is born.¡± She couldn¡¯t believe that the voice belonged to her husband. Her heart was pounding, wondering if she heard wrong. She looked down subconsciously. The belly, which began to rise convexly, is now quite noticeable. It had been more than half a year since she was pregnant. ¡®Ah¡­¡­¡¯ She barely held back her screams. ¡®Who are you going to kill?¡¯ Psyche recalled what she heard. ¡®He must have said he would kill a woman when the baby was born.¡¯ Psyche trembled with anxiety and thought back to the meaning of her husband¡¯s words. Psyche¡¯s heart was racing and she couldn¡¯t calm herself down. But looking back, it didn¡¯t feel too strange that he would try to kill her. The Duke and herself were in a ¡®contractual marriage in exchange for giving birth to a baby.¡¯ Even though there might be no love or affection, he promised that if she gave birth to a baby, he would at least free her from the fear of death and give her a comfortable life. And she firmly believed in that promise. But there is only one contract condition. She will give him a child who will be his heir. ¡®You mean I won¡¯t be needed anymore after the baby is born?¡¯ Thinking about that, Psyche was confused, and her eyes felt like they were spinning. Until yesterday, no, even this morning, weren¡¯t we talking about a happy future when the baby is born? Were all those words and actions a lie? Psyche got goosebumps in an instant. She stroked her belly. Without realizing it, her legs lost strength and she staggered. creak. ¡°Huh? Ma¡¯am!¡± It was Alexandro, the duke¡¯s henchman, who came out of the office and found Psyche about to fall. Having managed to support Psyche, he was surprised to see her pale face. ¡°Madam, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Pushing him away, Psyche stepped back and bit her lip. She felt sick to her stomach to think that all of his kind demeanor was a pretense. No. He is just a subordinate of his master. ¡°The Duke is inside. Would you like to come in?¡± Psyche hesitated for a moment and then shook her head. She might make a mistake if she met her husband now. ¡°No. He must be busy, so I won¡¯t disturb him.¡± She wrapped her arms around her belly and turned around quickly. It was because she thought she was going to cry. When she got to her room, she flopped on the bed and stared blankly into the air for a moment. Then she patted her cheeks with both hands. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to be sad.¡± After this, she would not be willing to do the Duke¡¯s wishes. So that he could feel what it was like to lose what he wanted so badly before his eyes. To lose what he values ??the most; the life in her belly. Psyche gently stroked her belly. She spoke inwardly to her baby, ¡®Let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s get out of this terrible place.¡¯ She immediately got up and began to look for a way out of the Duke¡¯s mansion. * Psyche sat still in the room and remembered the first day she first came to the mansion. To leave this place, she naturally remembered the day she came here. ¡®How did I end up marrying him?¡¯ She laughed as she recalled her ridiculous situation. ¡®I didn¡¯t mean to get married.¡¯ Psyche felt a strange feeling as she glanced around the bedroom, which she was now accustomed to. ¡®He¡¯s a persistent man. He also had a face that seemed like he would never ask for a favor.¡¯ That was her first impression of meeting the Duke for the first time. Psyche was the eldest daughter of a wealthy Viscount family. However, when she was young, she lost her parents in an unfortunate accident, and her relatives¡¯ interference caused her family to falter. When Psyche is old enough, all she had left was a large, unmanaged castle. Despite her noble status, she became more and more concerned about food, because she might starve to death. Then one day, a man suddenly appeared to her and offered a marriage contract. ¡°Are you Miss Psyche Alistair?¡± A shabby castle and a neatly dressed man were not very compatible. So it was a more impressive meeting. The marble on the ground he stepped on had worn out and made his shoes look more stand out. Naturally, she didn¡¯t believe him at first. That he is a Duke. Even offering her a contract. However, he continued to visit her every day, persuade her, and even return her property that had been stolen by her relatives. Psyche, who seemed like she would starve to death even if she just stayed still, eventually accepted his offer. At that time, she thought of him as a truly gentlemanly man. ¡°My name is Clint Valentine.¡± In the first place, she even had no money to take as a dowry, but from such small things to weddings, she didn¡¯t have to touch anything. It was because the Duke took care of everything. At the time, she thought it was really good. ¡°It¡¯s funny.¡± Psyche laughed. The joy of the past can be the tragedy of the present. The man who said her name while holding up a dazzling brilliant ring was a very handsome man. A luxurious outfit that was hard to find in the neighborhood where Psyche lived stood out. But his appearance was more impressive than that. Black hair that contrasted well with his white skin accentuated his cold face. And, blue eyes as clear as ice. All in all, he was a very handsome man. His long legs, a straight waist, and broad shoulders were in perfect proportions. Maybe it was because of the tight shirt, but even Psyche, who didn¡¯t know much about men, could tell that he had a solid body. He had made an unromantic proposal with an indifferent face. Psyche immediately refused. At first, she couldn¡¯t believe it. But, he didn¡¯t give up. He came every day. He was a very strange man, who did not show any haste or obedience at all. Naturally, Psyche refused his proposals consistently. ¡°I have no intention of marrying you, Duke.¡± One day, he asked Psyche, who was constantly rejecting him. ¡°May I ask why?¡± ¡°Then may I ask why you want to marry me?¡± He made a serious face again. ¡°It is for an heir.¡± I was a little surprised by the calm and concise answer. ¡°I¡­¡­ do I just have to give birth to an heir?¡± Psyche liked that he didn¡¯t talk about love or emotions. The Duke nodded in affirmation. Then Psyche answered the previous question. ¡°I don¡¯t trust people, so I don¡¯t want to get involved with other people through a bond like marriage.¡± At those words, the Duke made a bright face. As she thought ¡®Can he smile like that?¡¯, he approached her. ¡°Then let¡¯s make a contract relationship.¡± ¡°A contract relationship?¡± In the first place, Clint was in a position where anything could be done with just his orders, so she thought it odd that such a person would suddenly propose to her. From the beginning, Clint approached her because he had a purpose. With a confident face, he continued, ¡°I promise you a comfortable life. All you have to do is give me an heir.¡± It seemed like a reasonable deal, Psyche thought. An emotional marriage was inconvenient and cumbersome, but if it was a deal¡­¡­ You don¡¯t have to trust anyone. Instead, if the marriage is conditional on a deal that pays off for each other¡­¡­ Rather, it was considered a good choice. ¡°¡­¡­not bad.¡± After that, the contract between the two went smoothly. The night before Psyche left her hometown, Clint came to pick her up. ¡°Now that we are going to live as a couple, I want to ask you one thing.¡± As Psyche looked at him still, he continued, ¡°What do you hate the most?¡± ¡°Why are you suddenly asking that?¡± On a quiet moonlit night, Psyche was confused by the sudden question. ¡°Even if I can¡¯t do what you like the most, I won¡¯t do what you hate the most.¡± Psyche was very fond of those words. Not ¡®I¡¯ll only do what you like¡¯ but he said ¡®I won¡¯t do what you don¡¯t like¡¯. She turned her gaze and looked up at the sky. It was a night full of stars in the sky as black as his hair. The soft moonlight shone on the two of them. ¡°I¡­¡­ I hate seeing someone I know die. On the other hand, I don¡¯t like someone I know killing people.¡± She suddenly recalled the miserable death of her parents. She shook her head, not wanting to remember the end of her parents, which ended tragically and the betrayal of the people she trusted the most. ¡°And¡­¡­ I hate it even more when someone close to me dies.¡± ¡°Then I must not die.¡± Psyche laughed at his response without realizing it. It was a short conversation, but she could tell he was a man who could really treat people sincerely. Even if it won¡¯t be a happy and loving marriage, she can expect a peaceful marriage. But it wasn¡¯t. She had good memories of the past. But soon, the memory was buried in the tragedy of reality. The memories of the day she first met him are gone, and only the terrible words she heard a while ago remain in her mind. ¡°That woman must be killed when the baby is born.¡± His voice rang in her ears and tormented her. Now that she thinks about it, it was a strange contract in the first place. He was giving away too much. He only needed an heir. He just needed a woman who wouldn¡¯t say anything after giving birth to a baby. Psyche was horrified to think that she was the only woman who met those criteria. Psyche quickly escaped from the thoughts of the past. Now, it was time to leave him. Chapter 2 - Escape Plan 2. Escape Plan I decided to think about the future. I had no regrets about my relationship with the Duke. Wasn¡¯t it just a contract anyway? With that in mind, the date to run away was quickly set. I grabbed a quill and started to scribble. Exactly two weeks later, the day the banquet was held in the Imperial Palace seemed most appropriate. There was a condition in setting the day of the run away. First, the possibility of escaping with a heavy body from the heavily guarded Duke¡¯s mansion was almost zero. So when I went outside, I had to run away. There are two opportunities; a social ball in a few days and a banquet at the Imperial Palace in two weeks. ¡®Which day is better?¡¯ Being a Duchess, it was cumbersome to move freely anywhere. So, it was perfect for me to go out on the pretext of an official meeting. Second, the Duke must not accompany me. The Duke was a very smart, quick-witted person. If he was by my side, it would have been difficult to escape the surveillance. ¡®The Duke decided not to go to the banquet.¡¯ Psyche circled the word Banquet. I will go to the social ball accompanied by the Duke, but not with the banquet held in the Imperial Palace. The banquet hosted by the Empress was a gathering of noble wives, to which only married women could enter. The men, of course, could not come. Moreover, the Duke had work starting from the day the banquet was held, and he said that he was going overseas. So he wouldn¡¯t be able to immediately notice I had run away. It was also related to the first reason. Even if I run away from the Duke, it¡¯s useless if he follows me right away. So that was the most appropriate day. Psyche, set all the plans perfectly, thought so. ¡®Never let the Duke know that I¡¯m thinking of running away.¡¯ There are still about three months left. Until then, I decided to act as calmly and naturally as possible. ¡°Whoo.¡± I took a deep breath. I didn¡¯t want to share the pain with my baby. If there was only one thing I got from my marriage to the Duke, it would be the new life in my womb. It was simply a product of a contract, but the meaning of the baby¡¯s existence was greater for Psyche than expected. It was a strange feeling. It was a very strange thing to carry a new life in my womb. At first, there were many times when I felt uncomfortable because my body did not feel like mine. ¡®At first¡­¡­ surely it was.¡¯ Even though it was just a contractual relationship, she still found it strange. In the midst of such confusion, the Duke treated her with the utmost respect. ¡°Wife, please sit here.¡± ¡°Wife, it is cold. Come on in.¡± ¡°Wife, you must not skip breakfast.¡± There was a time when she was happy for a moment to see the Duke visit her regularly and check on her every morning. The relationship between the Duke and Psyche was contractual, but the relationship between the Duke and his bloodline was different. Maybe he acted like that because of the baby? At that time, I thought that I could experience the happy family I could only dream of. But it was all acting. Looking back, he never revealed his true feelings to me. He¡¯s always been kind on the outside. In fact, it¡¯s just a deceptive attitude to get an heir. ¡®You can¡¯t have a child without a mother.¡¯ She sat still and shook her head. ¡®I have to leave this place for the sake of the baby and for myself.¡¯ However, I had no intention of living as a single woman and having a hard time giving birth. ¡®To do that, I have to go to a place with a good environment. I also have to raise money.¡¯ Even if I can¡¯t give the same thing the Duke could give me, I will raise my child well. So I need a more meticulous and well-planned plan. ¡®It will be quite expensive if I sell the jewelry I have. By the way¡­¡­ my belly is already quite big, so I won¡¯t be able to carry much.¡¯ Psyche opened a small drawer under the bedside table. ¡°I should have asked for more jewelry.¡± She didn¡¯t know that she would regret the past when she refused the gifts the Duke had offered her. Fiddling with the necklace in the drawer, she found a small bouquet of flowers dried next to the jewels. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s amazing to make a perennial herb into a bouquet here¡­¡­ People here seem to be ignorant of herbal medicine and plants.¡± knock knock knock. Startled by the knock, Psyche quickly fixed her shawl. My cheeks are red because I¡¯m so focused. Looking out the window, the bright yellow sun was already setting behind the mountain. It looked as if the sun had melted in the sky. ¡®Oh, I didn¡¯t know it was already evening.¡¯ She forgot that once a week she used to have dinner with the Duke, it was today. After patting her cheeks with her hands, Psyche said, ¡°Come in.¡± Then, one of the maids quietly opened the door and came in and reported, ¡°Madam, the dinner is ready. The Duke said he was going first. Should I guide you?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ll go by myself.¡± ¡°All right.¡± It took mental preparation to treat the Duke casually. She took a deep breath and looked at her reflection in the mirror. ¡®No need to be nervous, act as usual, as usual.¡¯ She stood up from her seat after calming her expression once more. That was because she couldn¡¯t make the quick-witted Duke suspicious even in the slightest. Thinking so, she unknowingly had reached the dining room. ¡°Whoo¡­¡­¡± ¡°What makes you so nervous?¡± Psyche was startled by a voice whispering in her ear from behind. ¡°Wife?¡± The maid said that the Duke would go to the dining room first. ¡°Ah, I, I thought you were already here.¡± ¡°Then why are you so surprised?¡± ¡°That, that! It¡¯s because Your Grace seems to be making fun of me!¡± At that, the Duke chuckled. ¡°Is that so? I just wanted to surprise my wife. Let¡¯s come on in and eat.¡± He reached out from behind and opened the door. Psyche was embarrassed because she was suddenly locked in his arms. ¡°You¡¯re shy.¡± He lightly put his hand on her shoulder. It looked friendly. At one time I felt it was just his duty to be so kind to me. It would have been better if it was. Now that I found out the truth, it all felt like a fake. ¡°Sit down, wife.¡± He kindly pulled out the chair. The Duke of Valentine was an impeccable gentleman. He was also the groom of every woman¡¯s dream. He has status, wealth, and appearance. But now it all feels useless. At his kindness, Psyche glanced at him and smiled. ¡°Now that you¡¯re here, this place becomes brighter, wife.¡± As soon as he sat down, the prepared meal began to be served. Originally, they had to sit facing each other at the end of the very long table, but the Duke asked Psyche to sit close to him. Back then, I thought it was very romantic, but now I think it¡¯s for surveillance. ¡°How are you doing?¡± Even though they were only a contracted couple, he always looked at Psyche¡¯s condition and situation. He was meticulous and did not forget to always make sure that there was no shortage of money, and to give her a new dress as a gift every month. On the surface, he really is a kind husband. Psyche was sick of just thinking about it. I know he said he was going to kill me. He said that a little while ago. How can he sit with such a look on his face? I was scared of his sweet face more than anything else. But Psyche smiled as if nothing had happened. ¡°Well, Your Grace has always taken care of me, so it¡¯s perfect.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that.¡± The Duke smiled picturesquely. Simple but colorful appetizers are served at the table. Tomato soup sprinkled with finely ground walnuts came out. The Duke smiled as he suggested, ¡°Tomato and walnut were said to be good for pregnant women, so I prepared it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Psyche, who unwittingly answered curtly out of laziness, quickly smiled and added, ¡°Thank you for always caring for me.¡± ¡°Of course I have to.¡± His kindness did not end there. The Duke took the steak, cut it into bite-sized pieces, placed it in front of Psyche, and smiled softly. Psyche¡¯s mind became more complicated by that action. ¡®You can¡¯t be weak by this, Psyche.¡¯ Psyche looked at the steak in front of her and calmed her complicated mind. The Duke who was slicing the steak again said, ¡°Oh, wife. About the Imperial Palace banquet¡­¡­¡± When the Duke suddenly spoke of the banquet, which he had no interest in, Psyche¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°What surprised you so much?¡± ¡°Ah, you said you were not interested in banquets where women gather, so it was surprising.¡± She escaped the crisis as calmly as possible and smiled as usual. But that was also for a while. At the Duke¡¯s next words, Psyche lost her composure and dropped the knife she was holding. Chapter 3 ¡°About that. I¡¯m thinking of going to the banquet with you.¡± She dropped the knife and looked at him, not realizing it. Her reaction surprised the Duke as well. It was the first time he¡¯d seen Psyche, who had always been polite, so uncomfortable. The Duke called her in a friendly tone as if he didn¡¯t have any complaints. ¡°Wife.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Psyche quickly apologized and held her breath. She disliked the tense atmosphere. When she reached for the knife she had dropped, the Duke raised his hand to dissuade her, and he bent down himself. ¡°Let me bring you a new one.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Thank you.¡± She shifted her gaze. The Duke looked very worried. It was as if she was doing her best to resist the fake smile that was about to come out. ¡°Are you feeling unwell anywhere?¡± She chose to act as a sick woman today because she didn¡¯t know what else to do with the awkward atmosphere. The month of giving birth was approaching anyway, and it was the most plausible excuse. ¡°I just feel like I¡¯m in bad condition these days.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been negligent. I¡¯m sorry. Wife.¡± The man who cuts down people with a single sword was always like a gentle sheep in front of her. However, it was all due to the child. Knowing the reason, his kindness seemed all pretense and surveillance to her. There were times when she thought his kindness was quite nice. Come to think of it, it was the same when he first proposed a contract marriage. But now that she thinks about it, she wonders if he didn¡¯t make room for her in the first place. However, he never made mistakes in marital relationships and was a gentleman even in his formal relationship with the intention of having children. It was like having everything planned in advance. He was an inhumane person. All the kindness he has now must have been fabricated. Psyche responded with a smile to his apology. ¡°No. Your Highness has always given me the best.¡± All because of the child. She swallowed the last words and smiled bitterly. Come to think of it, when she married him, there was a riot in the Capital. The Duke was the most desired groom for all the noble family¡¯s girls, and the young Viscount¡¯s daughter, whom they didn¡¯t know, appeared out of nowhere and took the place of the Duchess. The story of ¡®Psyche Alistair¡¯ stirred up the social world. Some were envious of her and spread rumors about her. But one day, those rumors disappeared, and according to a circulating story, it was retaliation by the Duke for misusing their mouth. Psyche didn¡¯t believe it. No one would do something like that for her. Now she knew he was just a man who was only concerned about his heir. Psyche unintentionally grabbed the hem of her dress. It would be not good if he followed her there. The plan could be ruined. Psyche said calmly as she wiped her lips with a napkin. ¡°But, Your Highness. Men are not allowed in there.¡± She waited for an answer. That fleeting moment seemed so long. ¡°I know. I¡¯ll just accompany you there and back home.¡± Psyche¡¯s eyes widened as she looked at him. Even until returning home. It was too much. She wasn¡¯t even a child. ¡°I can go alone.¡± ¡°No. The months you¡¯ll be giving birth are also approaching, and I can¡¯t let you go alone because I¡¯m worried.¡± Oh. As expected. It was once again due to the child. She should¡¯ve realized his attention was solely on the child. However, there was no need to be misunderstood by refusing for nothing. ¡®Because I¡¯m leaving soon.¡¯ After a while, Psyche, who was still smiling, changed her posture quietly. ¡°I said it because I was afraid it would bother you. Thank you for accompanying me.¡± ¡°My wife and child¡¯s matters are not a bother for me. Your words make me sad.¡± There was nothing strange about the way his cool face changed expressions every day. Psyche looked at her husband¡¯s face piece by piece. In terms of appearance, he was unquestionably the best man in the country. He was a man with black hair that was blacker than the darkness, and he matched the ice-cold wall perfectly. He gave the impression of being a cold person, but he often smiled in front of Psyche. As she stared, Duke Clint, spoke again. ¡°Now that the time has come for the child to be born, I think I need to put more effort into protecting my wife.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± The Duke is acting strangely today. She knew Clint cared about the child. Psyche couldn¡¯t get rid of the feeling that he was strangely clinging to her. She¡¯s got to be mistaken¡­ He moved his knife and added some words. ¡°I would like to attach an escort knight to your side.¡± Psyche unknowingly clutched the knife tighter at those words. Escort knight. How much more was there to surveillance her. She didn¡¯t like that. This had to be stopped somehow. Even if Duke Clint was not present, if the escort remained by her side, she would not be free, let alone escape. He wasn¡¯t asking if he could attach an escort knight, but he was saying it in the tone that he had already decided. That¡¯s right, this man has always been like this. As if his wife¡¯s wishes didn¡¯t matter at all. After that, he pretended to be nice and smiled as if he was doing a favor to her, so she couldn¡¯t say anything. Because declining the favor would make her look like a bad person. Come to think of it, she didn¡¯t think she ever said she didn¡¯t like anything to him. Psyche bit her hard-to-open lip and then let it go. She has always been an obedient and docile wife. He seemed to believe he could swing whatever he wanted to her. She met his gaze again. And gradually opened her mouth. ¡°The escort knight¡­ I do not like it. Your Highness.¡± At those words, she saw Duke Clint¡¯s face wrinkled very slowly and subtly. It was a strange feeling to see the Duke¡¯s expression like that. There was silence. Psyche couldn¡¯t be more comfortable with the look of the Duke, who looked subtly displeased. She added hastily to get out of the situation. ¡°Without Your Highness¡­ People call me a woman who can¡¯t do anything.¡± Her face saddened. The Duke was also taken aback by her facial expression. She was a woman who had never properly expressed her opinion once. She was a woman who said with a smile that she could do whatever the Duke wanted, whatever he wanted. Even when selecting a wedding gown. Psyche didn¡¯t see the point in going against his wishes because he was in charge of paying all the expenses, taking care of the house, and living in general. Moreover, the Duke is a person who doesn¡¯t really do things roughly, so he prepared only the best and most expensive things, so it was true that she had nothing to do other than accept his opinions. Of course, that was when she didn¡¯t know he was trying to kill her. ¡°Who said that?¡± Also, he looked like someone wanted to kill someone. He appears to have spoken in a much lower voice than usual. Psyche asked in surprise. ¡°Yes?¡± The Duke¡¯s face gradually changed color. Psyche did not make up words on the spur of the moment. Malicious rumors were circulating in the shadows, claiming that she was only using the Duke. She said this because he seemed to have no idea. On the contrary, it was always Psyche¡¯s side that was forced to do what the Duke said. However, it was natural for her to be unable to respond when she was asked who said such a thing. ¡°No. I¡¯m not saying anyone specifically says that¡­¡± ¡°Then it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The Duke had a tough mind. ¡°It is for your own safety, so please consider it a good thing. I¡¯ve assigned someone from the headquarters as you¡¯re uncomfortable if it was a man.¡± ¡°Already¡­?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Psyche sighed heavily at those words. The Duke noticed the big sigh, so he opened his eyes wide and looked at her. It was because Psyche wasn¡¯t herself today. ¡°Your Highness.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Duke seemed to have lost his appetite, so he pushed the food away and wiped his mouth with a napkin. ¡°I don¡¯t mind if I don¡¯t have an escort knight.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Psyche¡¯s eyes were anxious, as she knew she had to stop the escort knight from protecting her no matter what. ¡°Can¡¯t you do what I want this time?¡± He put down his napkin at the remark. Not a single facial expression had changed, but Psyche could also tell that the atmosphere around Clint had changed. He was very displeased now. Psyche doesn¡¯t move the way he wants her to. ¡°No. I¡¯m not sure why my wife despises the idea of an escort and is so stubborn about it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m being stubborn?¡± Psyche was dumbfounded. The tone of treating her like a child got on her nerves. But he didn¡¯t give her a chance to respond. ¡°It¡¯s all for my wife.¡± The Duke dismissed it with a wave of his hand as if he didn¡¯t want to argue any further. He then lowered his gaze and closed his lips. Psyche first stopped looking at him because he had a solemn expression on his face as if it was truly for her sake. How could he act so pretentiously? It had always been this way. He¡¯s never done anything she asked of him. Just fit it into his frame. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s already time. I¡¯m leaving first. Eat slowly.¡± Finally, he reached the conclusion he wanted and left. He didn¡¯t forget to give Psyche, who was sitting still, a friendly kiss on the cheeks. She sat, rubbing her cheek after the kiss. Chapter 4 The next day, ¡®Alexa Brighton,¡¯ who was reported to be an escort knight from the start, arrived. She was a formidable knight with soft brown hair and a warm demeanor. ¡°I will just stand by your side. You don¡¯t have to worry about it.¡± ¡°Okay. Nice to meet you.¡± Alexa is innocent. Psyche treated her like any other person. But she didn¡¯t want to act as good as it used to be. Alexa was probably told to report everything about Psyche. With this in mind, Psyche decided to try her hand at acting. Even the Duke pretends to be all for the child and his wife. She couldn¡¯t let the good husband play alone. After a quick shower, Alexa inadvertently instructed the maid to serve more soup than usual for breakfast, then looked at the meals in front of her. As expected, Alexa stood in front of her and was staring at Psyche while she ate her breakfast. Psyche gave her a glance, and Alexa turned away as if nothing had happened. But it was clear she was still watching. It was impossible to starve because of the child. She sighed and set the spoon down after eating slightly more than half of the soup, a larger portion than usual. ¡°¡­¡± Psyche shook her head when she saw the untouched food other than the soup. ¡°Madam, do you have no appetite?¡± Marie, who was standing by to serve the meal, asked as she poured the water. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m not feeling well. I want to stop eating. Put everything away.¡± Alexa raised her brows slightly. She apparently thought something was wrong with Psyche. All of these things will be heard by the Duke. He is bound to come across something strange because he values children more than gold. Psyche went straight to bed after breakfast. Marie was surprised when she saw Psyche go straight to bed instead of going for a walk as she usually does. ¡°It seems your body not feeling well today. Madam. Shall I call a physician?¡± Walking around the garden was the only hobby she had at the Duke¡¯s. Viscounty, where she used to live, was a place with rough mountains and greenery all around. The nobility had no choice but to handle and manage the plants. It was easy to live there if you quickly learned about the characteristics of plants, medicinal herbs, and poisonous herbs. Psyche was no different. Furthermore, she preferred the distinct fresh scent of trees and flowers over others. So it was very strange that she would skip a walk. Alexa, who couldn¡¯t help it, stepped up. ¡°I¡¯ll bring the physician.¡± Alexa, with a worried expression, appeared to be about to rush out. ¡°No, I¡¯ll be all right after a little sleep.¡± Psyche made a helpless expression. It was because she was going to play a woman who was ¡®sad that her husband put up an escort knight that she didn¡¯t want¡¯ from now on. So he would raise his hands and surrender because he was concerned about the child¡¯s health. *** Though Psyche¡¯s condition was not as good as it used to be these days, the Duke didn¡¯t even show his nose. Finally, a few days passed, and it wasn¡¯t until the day of the social ball that she could see him. ¡°Wife.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She resented the Duke for not moving as she had predicted, but she had no intention of doing anything else wrong with that feeling. Psyche took his well-dressed hand in hers and entered the carriage. The two remained silent for a long time. As they approached the Count¡¯s house, where the ball was being held, the Duke¡¯s lips slowly opened. ¡°I heard your health is not good these days.¡± Also, there was no way that her condition was not reported to the Duke. ¡°No, it¡¯s not true. All women are like this as the month of giving birth approaches.¡± She had more than three months until giving birth, but she struck his words coldly. The gaze of the Duke looking at her with his arms crossed felt a little different than usual. It was understandable. She was always obedient to his words. ¡°Is it because of the escort knight?¡± He got it exactly right. Psyche took advantage of the opportunity because he seemed to want to talk. ¡°Yes. I feel like someone is always watching me, so I can¡¯t be comfortable.¡± In fact, Alexa was very kind and talkative, so she wasn¡¯t a nuisance while they were together. Except, she¡¯s the Duke¡¯s informant. Clint appeared tired and troubled at those words. He had no idea why the woman in front of him had changed so drastically. However, it cannot have a negative effect on the child. He sighed and uncrossed his arms. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s reconsider.¡± It was an unexpected answer. It was the first time. Clint followed her requests. No, because she never expressed her thoughts in the first place. Psyche, taken aback by his reaction, searched for words to respond, but the carriage arrived at its destination. The door opened from outside. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived. Your Highness.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get going.¡± He was back outside, so he took care of her. Psyche, who had grown accustomed to the kindness, was devastated. She wrapped her arms around him and went inside, as she usually did when she was outside. ¡°The Duke and Duchess of Valentine are entering!¡± Everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to them when they appeared. Many people were curious about their situation after rumors spread that the Duchess was pregnant. She was very careful in the early stages of pregnancy, and social activities would be impossible for the time being after having a child. Today¡¯s ball provided a rare opportunity to catch the Duke or his wife¡¯s attention. Psyche entered and took a slow look at both sides at the same time. They exchanged a formal greeting with an eye or silent salute when they made eye contact with the aristocrats who had already arrived. People took notice of Psyche¡¯s protruding stomach. It was a ball, but it seemed unlikely that Psyche would dance today. Psyche, who was sitting at the bar table with a glass of wine in one corner, she sighed as if it were difficult. The strange smell stimulated her sense of smell from the moment she entered, and she didn¡¯t feel well. It also made her feel sick to her stomach. ¡°It seems you used a unique scent today.¡± ¡°Is that so? I can¡¯t smell it.¡± The Duke looked around, smelling nothing. ¡°I guess it¡¯s because I¡¯m sensitive.¡± Psyche wrinkled her eyebrows, glancing over that it was because of her pregnancy. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Oh. Rachel!¡± Suddenly, someone approached them. The Duke was delighted with her appearance. ¡°Greetings to the Duke and Duchess, Rachel Halston.¡± She over-polished herself. But maybe because it was Rachel, it felt like she was playing a prank. Psyche felt more headache at the sight of the woman appearing in front of them. The Duke¡¯s childhood friend and the famous daughter of the count, she was a very strange woman. She was a very strange woman who sometimes came out in unconventional clothes that broke the formality, and also participated in swordsmanship matches that were exclusive to men. Among the male aristocrats, she was famous for being easygoing, so everyone treated her without hesitation, and women generally hated her. Basically, she had good reasons to get along better with married men. ¡°Wow. The baby is coming soon!¡± Rachel approached Psyche after greeting the Duke on the cheek. Without waiting for Psyche to respond, she reached out and touched Psyche¡¯s stomach without requesting her consent. Psyche¡¯s face hardened as soon as she touched her stomach. ¡°Put it away.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Put it away.¡± Rachel¡¯s blankly questioning face made her stomach nauseous, so she slapped the hand on her stomach away. ¡°Ah.¡± Rachel seemed a little surprised to see her hand in the air. ¡°I told you to clear it. Young lady.¡± ¡°Oh. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Rachel¡¯s face was visibly indifferent, but she wasn¡¯t dismayed either. Psyche, on the other hand, was even more dissatisfied with the fact that she had no idea what she had done wrong. She sighed and put her fingers around her temple. It was none other than the Duke who broke the awkward silence. ¡°Ah. Lady. I¡¯m sorry. My wife is a bit sensitive these days.¡± The Duke, standing between Psyche and Rachel, set out to rectify the situation. Still, more attention was paid to them. There was soft music playing behind them, but it looked like they needed a quick cleanup because everyone was looking at them. Upon hearing the Duke¡¯s words, Psyche raised and lowered her eyebrows. ¡°Sensitive?¡± To say that a pregnant woman is sensitive was not very pleasant to hear. ¡°You¡¯ve been looking bad since before, so please take a break. I¡¯m going to talk to Rachel over there. Alexa.¡± Alexa, who had been standing far away, approached him, raised her sword, placed it against her chest, and bowed her head. It was in lieu of a response to the order. ¡°Well, come on. Let¡¯s go. Rachel.¡± It bothered her once more that the Duke, who always worked with his wife, made a friendly appearance to the Count¡¯s daughter, who was not disturbed. They used to have that kind of relationship, but do they have to be so friendly even at an official event? Psyche sat down with a sour expression on her face and spoke quietly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to protect your wife at times like this?¡± Psyche said to herself as she looked at his back. Alexa, who was listening, scratched the back of her head awkwardly. ¡°¡­Whatever. I don¡¯t care.¡± Psyche, realizing that what she was doing was driven by sadness, she then shut her mouth. Her stomach ached. Because being sad had to be premised on the feeling of expectation. It was because she had grown accustomed to his kindness. Chapter 5 ¡°Ha¡­¡± She stopped looking at the Duke¡¯s back. She was going to leave anyway. She has no right to expect anything from him. She turned away from the Duke and sat down comfortably. After all, she didn¡¯t think she had much time to see it anyway, so she felt better. Alexa kept carrying food over, not sure if it was to cheer her up or if she wanted to eat it. It was a simple dessert and finger food, but it appeared quite luxurious because it was a gathering place for nobles. Time flew by as she watched people dance and selected a dessert topped with fruit. ¡°Wife.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The Duke suddenly returned to her side. She frowned at Clint, who stood next to her and continued to eat fruit. She ate mostly soup because she was acting, and everything went well so far. ¡°Yes?¡± Then Psyche, who had suddenly noticed a crowd forming, tilted her head. Clint moved his gaze in the direction of her gaze and opened his mouth to explain. ¡°The Crown Prince has also come. I have to go say hello¡­¡± Psyche stood up to go to the Crown Prince after nodding to him, but she stopped in surprise. Clint also ceased speaking. ¡°What is it?¡± Something unexpected happened in an instant. She opened her mouth, surprised. It was because the Crown Prince collapsed to the floor unexpectedly. People shouted at him. ¡°Oh my god!¡± ¡°Your Majesty!¡± The Duke was the first to approach the Crown Prince. Psyche followed him slowly. The Crown Prince, who had collapsed on the floor, was conscious, but his face was pale and he looked like a corpse. ¡®This smell¡­¡¯ Psyche, who knew the reason for the headache from before, quickly covered her nose. Why didn¡¯t she know of this disgusting smell before? The scent of a plant with such a strong presence. As soon as she figured out the identity of the plant, Psyche stepped forward without realizing it. ¡°It¡¯s poison.¡± She spoke carelessly and quickly approached the Crown Prince. It was obviously poison. She was sure. Psyche knew better than anyone that he was dying from poison. Because Psyche¡¯s grandfather and both of her biological parents were poisoned and murdered. Fortunately, the Crown Prince was found right away. The Duke took Psyche¡¯s hand and shook his head as she was about to walk out. It meant not to go. ¡°Wife.¡± She was aware. Furthermore, if she went out of her way, the problem could worsen. But she couldn¡¯t just let people die because of the poison. This was due to the fact that the image of her deceased parents was overlapping with the image of the Crown Prince¡¯s dying breath. And this poison¡­ Maybe she could solve it. Clint grabbed Psyche¡¯s wrist and stopped her from going towards the Crown Prince. It was an unspoken expression not to intervene in troublesome affairs. She gave him a quick glance before vigorously shaking her hand. The Duke was taken aback by Psyche¡¯s unusual appearance for the first time, and he hardened on the spot. Then he hurriedly gave the order to the maid who was terrified beside him. ¡°Bring gauze and cold water. Oh. I think there is ice. Ice too.¡± With the Crown Prince lying on the floor, she faced the tragedy of the past. ¡°¡­¡± She wasn¡¯t feeling well. Psyche¡¯s parents died a long time ago. Things from the past tend to fade away, leaving only a faint shape, like a stone weathered by the winds of time. However, some things in life cannot be forgotten even after time has passed. Sometimes, like deep darkness, an event or memory was not buried in time. Psyche¡¯s parents passed away at a time one day. Perhaps even if Psyche dies, he will never forget that day. The whereabouts of the Viscount couple even in the late afternoon remained unknown, and Psyche, who had just turned five, stepped out. ¡°Mom? Dad?¡± The Viscount had always been a very diligent person, so he never overslept. Psyche ate breakfast alone at the table on that strange day, with no one else around. It was definitely a strange day. No one answered her call. The parents do not answer their children¡¯s calls. As Psyche entered the room, she abruptly turned the corner, and an unbelievable sight unfolded before her eyes. Even during the day, the couple¡¯s bedroom was dark, with blackout curtains. It smells strangely hazy and gives her the feeling that she was about to get drunk. As well as humid air. Overall, it was a strange day. Psyche looked at her parents¡¯ bloodless bodies in the darkness with her own eyes. Even though there was no light, the dead person¡¯s face was so pale that she couldn¡¯t take her gaze away from them. ¡°Mom¡­?¡± Although she was young, she knew the situation was very serious. It¡¯s also something that shouldn¡¯t be happening. The cause of death was poison. How meticulous it was, even the Viscount, who was knowledgeable about medicinal herbs and poisons, was deceived. And later when she came of age. She was aware of who had killed her parents. The Viscount¡¯s younger brother, on whom he placed the most trust. Nobody in the world could be trusted. How can you betray your faith in such a way? As a result, Psyche decided not to trust anyone. Believe it or not, it will only make them stick a knife behind your back. To think about it. Perhaps the Duke was so kind that she had trusted him all along. ¡®Okay. I can¡¯t repeat the same mistake again¡­¡¯ She had a deeply ingrained belief in her heart that if she trusted someone, she would always return to betrayal. And a series of events made her more firm. She shook her head to clear the afterimage of her parents from the fallen Crown Prince. Psyche spoke to the maid again, who was still astonished despite hearing her command. ¡°What are you doing? Hurry up, bring it.¡± The maid hurriedly followed her orders. Psyche hurriedly checked the pulse between his ear and neck and checked to see if he could breathe on his own. His breathing was weak. However, the poison did not appear to have spread throughout his body. When she went to check on the Crown Prince¡¯s condition, his servant, who appeared to be in a hurry, saw her and cried out in surprise. ¡°Don¡¯t touch him thoughtlessly!¡± When the servant tried to come forward, it was unexpectedly Clint who stopped him this time. He looked at Psyche with a strange face. ¡°Don¡¯t be rude to the Duchess.¡± His face was so cold that the servant couldn¡¯t go any further. He was unable to do anything between his responsibility to protect the Crown Prince and the threat of the Duke. ¡°However!¡± The Crown Prince¡¯s attendants were quite perplexed. But Psyche didn¡¯t care and placed her face near the Crown Prince¡¯s lips. Her nostrils were filled with the strong aroma of a wine. The servant looked tearful when he saw it. ¡°It¡¯s not poison. It doesn¡¯t respond to silver.¡± At that, Psyche stood up. ¡°It¡¯s not a poison if you just eat it. Did you bring ice?¡± The maid who took the order then handed over the ice in the glass. When she attempted to put ice in the Crown Prince¡¯s mouth, the Duke stepped forward and snatched the ice. ¡°I¡¯ll do it. Wife.¡± Eventually, as time passed, the Crown Prince¡¯s complexion returned, and Psyche stood up with a sigh of relief. She stumbled because she was concentrating too hard, but Alexa next to her held her up so she didn¡¯t fall. Because of Psyche¡¯s quick response, the Crown Prince, who was having breathing difficulties, gradually found stability. Fortunately, knowing how to deal with it was very helpful because it was something she had been familiar with when she was in the Viscounty. ¡°He will wake up soon.¡± As soon as Psyche finished speaking, the Crown Prince coughed and came to his senses. ¡°Cough.¡± ¡°Oh, Your Royal Highness!¡± The agitated servant hugged the crown prince as if he had only lived for that moment. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Gosh! Your Royal Highness!¡± The servant helped the Crown Prince get up with a careful hand. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Psyche saw him awake and simply added. ¡°The tender leaves of the Zavia tree are very expensive tea leaves, but they are poisonous when consumed with alcohol, such as wine.¡± Her words shook everything around him. Everyone made a curious face because it was the first time she had participated after always quietly participating in all gatherings and banquets and then disappearing. Psyche concentrated on explaining to the attendant, unaware that she was drawing attention to herself. ¡°No matter how expensive and good it is, if you don¡¯t know how to eat it properly, it can become poison.¡± She smiled bitterly. No matter how good it looks on the outside. It felt like the words were for her and the Duke, so she was upset. Rather, it was not a toxic relationship. It is now. At her explanation, the servant exclaimed. ¡°Ah!¡± The nobles were alert to the fact that the Duchess had an unexpected talent. Those who had only assumed that the Duke would protect the fallen aristocrat on the outskirts, who knew nothing, were taken aback. Everyone was muttering and staring at Psyche. The Duke¡¯s power, which was still strong, was not to be consolidated any further. She saved the next Emperor¡¯s life. Hearing her words, the servant asked with a curious expression. ¡°How did you know it was a Zavia leaf?¡± As if everyone was waiting for Psyche¡¯s answer to that question, their attention was drawn to her. Chapter 6 Psyche, who grew up in an environment surrounded by thick mountains, learned about these herbs at a young age and was very familiar with them. She spoke up quickly, saying it wasn¡¯t a difficult question. ¡°Your Highness brought it, right?¡± Psyche, who had gradually recognized the identity of the smell emanating from the prince¡¯s side, responded with a question. She didn¡¯t have time to care about plants after marrying the Duke, so she just forgot about it. Previously, the Crown Prince would have known he had a Zavia leaf as soon as he arrived at the banquet. ¡®I¡¯ve become very dull.¡¯ She made a strange face. At her words, the waitress asked with a puzzled face. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Zavia tea leaves. I think the Highness has it on his body.¡± Then the servant slapped his forehead hard. ¡°Ah. He said that it is very difficult to obtain, but he said that he had a cup in the morning and took it with him. I didn¡¯t know he¡¯d bring it all the way here¡­¡± Being treated as a freak in the royal family, it was something he would do. The Zavia leaf has a distinct and potent scent, and it has even been used as a spice in other countries. She wasn¡¯t like ordinary people so it could not escape her sense of smell, which had been trained to distinguish and smell grassy smells after years of studying plants. ¡°From now on, after making tea with Zavia leaves, he shouldn¡¯t be drinking alcohol. Tell him that.¡± Psyche, who was about to turn around, added another word. ¡°Remember that a small amount of poison can be detoxified by unexpectedly cold water or ice..¡± Psyche explained softly. Contrary to how he had been wary of her at first, the servant expressed his gratitude to her several times. He also didn¡¯t forget to apologize for his previous rudeness. After trying to smile, she quickly turned away from the crown prince. Sweat was glistening on Psyche¡¯s face. ¡°¡­¡± Ignoring the Duke¡¯s gaze, who was looking at her with his arms crossed and a strange expression on his face, Psyche began to walk slowly. She felt that her body wasn¡¯t in good condition. The Duke¡¯s gaze as if he was interrogating her was not very pleasant, but it was more urgent to leave this place sooner than that. This was due to the fact that Zavia leaves were harmful to pregnant women. It was fine for a while, but it was too much for a long time. That¡¯s why her body felt sluggish. Furthermore, her face hardened as her headache became severe. Alexa looked at her as she walked slowly. Psyche suddenly stumbled. ¡°Are you tired, Madam?¡± Alexa asked and quickly walked over to her side. Duke Clint, who was following her with an odd expression, then slowly opened his mouth. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± At that, Psyche made a strange face. ¡°Already?¡± ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t think you can go any further with that body. Wouldn¡¯t it be difficult for both you and the child?¡± ¡°¡­¡± It would have sounded good as usual. But now it didn¡¯t sound nice because he was just talking about the child. ¡®Yeah. To him, I¡¯m just a body for carrying his child¡­¡¯ Psyche let out a long sigh. She hated Duke Clint and wished she could stay longer, but she was aware that her condition was rapidly deteriorating, so she nodded her head without complaint. It was not acceptable to wait a little longer and wait for four months. Clint sighed and supported her. t was time to leave the garden where the ball was held. Clint paused for a moment as if thinking of something. ¡°Wife, I¡¯m sorry. Wait a moment.¡± He stopped her at the entrance to the garden and strode out somewhere. It seemed rather urgent. Alexa quickly held Psyche from Clint and stood by her. She looked at the back of the Duke, who had disappeared. She wondered if there was anything more urgent than a wife who was sick and hungry. Thinking about breaking his expectations for him and him acting like that didn¡¯t bother her at all. It was merely a contractual relationship between the two of them. But she was unknowingly drawn to his excessive kindness. She initially thought she couldn¡¯t believe it. To consider it right away. You can live a more comfortable life if you don¡¯t trust anyone in the first place. As she learned from her parents¡¯ accident¡­ While living with such tenacity that she should not put her trust in anyone. She seemed to have forgotten because she had enjoyed a comfortable life. Psyche smirked. She took a deep breath and tried to control her queasy stomach. It may or may not have improved. It may or may not have gotten better. The moment she was thinking of wanting to lie down anywhere. Someone suddenly called them. ¡°You there.¡± It was very disrespectful to refer to the Duchess in that way, so Psyche and Alexa¡¯s brows furrowed at the same time. She was surprised to hear the words, which could not be easily heard in such a place where only nobles gathered, but it was the Crown Prince who unexpectedly called them. She¡¯d heard rumors about how free-spirited and selfish he was, but she didn¡¯t expect it to be this bad. The Crown Prince appeared in front of Psyche with a very different expression, as he wasn¡¯t the same person who had almost died a while ago. ¡°You¡¯re as beautiful as I heard.¡± He spoke with a mischievous expression on his face. When Psyche realized the compliment was meant for her, she stood up straight, lifted the hem of her dress, and responded politely. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I should be the one who is thankful.¡± The prince smiled brightly. He was a handsome man with moon-like silver hair and deep green eyes. When he smiled, Psyche tried to smile with a flustered expression. However, as if he didn¡¯t care about her embarrassment, the Crown Prince suddenly bent one knee in front of her. It was a gesture used when a man proposed to a woman or recited the Knight¡¯s Oat. Or it was something they would do when vowing to their master, so everyone was taken aback. Not only Psyche and Alexa but also the nobles surrounding them, were taken aback. Wasn¡¯t it the Crown Prince who got down on his knees? Psyche, of course, was the most surprised. She put both hands over her mouth. Then she quickly talked him out of it. ¡°Your Highness! What¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I owe you my life, so let me do this.¡± It would be a surprise if Duke Clint saw it. ¡°I will be in trouble. Your Highness. Please, stand up!¡± When Psyche spoke as if she was about to scream at any moment, the playful face smiled again. ¡°Really? If my benefactor is in trouble, it won¡¯t happen again.¡± He got up again, brushed his knee, and asked. ¡°I came here to say thank you, and I have a question.¡± She couldn¡¯t figure out what was going on because the prince kept smiling. Psyche, who was naturally wary of strangers, was unable to accept his attention. This place made her feel very uneasy. Despite the fact that she was the one who saved him. She just wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. ¡®Where did that man go?¡¯ Psyche searched for the Duke until he showed up and gave an uncomfortable look. Still, the prince continued talking as if he didn¡¯t care at all. ¡°Are you usually familiar with poisons or these kinds of things?¡± ¡°I¡¯m familiar because I was born and raised in that kind of woodland with lots of trees and grass.¡± ¡°However, it¡¯s strange that a noble daughter who grew up to be precious knows that.¡± He showed a very excessive interest. ¡°It was normal where I grew up.¡± ¡°Still¡­ You seemed very professional. Especially in things like poison.¡± When the Crown Prince smiled mischievously, Psyche responded bluntly, hiding her expression as much as possible to hide her emotions. ¡°That¡­ ¡± She held her breath once and then exhaled. ¡°Because both my parents died of poison.¡± The meaning of those toneless easily sputtered words was so heavy that the Crown Prince was speechless for a moment. ¡°Ah.¡± There was a slight ripple on the prince¡¯s face, who seemed never to be shaken by the completely unexpected answer, and then it disappeared. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to hear that kind of past. I am sorry.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Psyche grimaced involuntarily. It was because she smelled too strong of a Zavia tree. Her head started to hurt more and more. She didn¡¯t want to have a playful conversation with him here anymore. She first said goodbye by bending her knees slightly and straightening them out. ¡°Then I will leave.¡± She hurriedly tried to leave his side. The Crown Prince then quickly reached out to her again. Psyche looked uncomfortable as she avoided his touch with a very subtle difference. ¡°Because I owe you my life.¡± The Crown Prince continued speaking with his hand in the air. ¡°There will come a moment when you too will ask me for a favor. Don¡¯t you think so? Then I¡¯ll leave everything behind and run to you.¡± At those words, Psyche took a step back and spoke quickly. ¡°All right.¡± The Crown Prince chuckled at her reaction. Usually, aristocratic women would say, ¡®It¡¯s okay.¡¯ or ¡®No.¡¯ This was because Psyche¡¯s appearance of proudly taking out debt was very impressive. ¡°As expected, there¡¯s something different.¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯ll get going¡­¡± She turned quickly as she became more nauseous. The ground shook and roared as she retreated as if it was about to leap out in front of her eyes. The sky was spinning in the same way. ¡°Madam!¡± At the familiar voice from somewhere, she was relieved in her heart and collapsed as it was. Chapter 7 The Crown Prince tried to hold her reflexively. However, someone stepped in front of him and Psyche, forcing the Crown Prince to step back. Psyche¡¯s fall was only a matter of time. It was none other than Clint who caught her. He shot back at the crown prince with fierce eyes. ¡°Your Majesty. This woman is my wife.¡± From a distance, it appeared that the Crown Prince was playing a trick on his wife, and Clint had quickly returned with a very unpleasant expression. He was worried about Psyche¡¯s cold demeanor these days, so the appearance of a Crown Prince who was like a playboy made him very unhappy. Furthermore, he was shocked by Psyche¡¯s condition in his arms. Psyche¡¯s face was pale. Despite the fact that she was pregnant and her belly was convex, her limbs were so thin that he didn¡¯t seem to be holding a pregnant woman at all. It was a weird feeling. ¡®Did I not have enough interest in my wife?¡¯ Clint thought he was paying enough attention to Psyche. Because he thought he was providing her with the best, the best environment, and she thought it was a great blessing. But Psyche was so thin ??as if she had received no attention. Even her body was cold Clint suddenly became suspicious. ¡®I never thought she¡¯d be left unattended. That¡¯s strange.¡¯ He used the best quality ingredients and provided quality food for every meal. On the other hand, it was a figure that was too thin for Psyche. So he didn¡¯t feel any better. The Duke didn¡¯t even want to greet the Crown Prince. He barely chewed on what he wanted to say before returning to the Crown Prince, and he finally turned back with the least respect for the Crown Prince. ¡°The Duke has a delightful wife. I¡¯m so envious.¡± From behind his back, the crown prince said with a smile. It wasn¡¯t even worth fighting for. Ignoring it would have been enough. However, the Duke was pathologically sensitive to the words ¡®mine¡¯ or ¡®my person.¡¯ It was the same even if it was the Crown Prince who would become Emperor in the future. He couldn¡¯t stand it when other people looked over his own. Despite being a prince with the emperor¡¯s support, he was known for being a fool. The nobility only bowed to him on the outside and treated him poorly. Therefore, the Duke dared to say something that should be disregarded. ¡°Be content with what you had in the imperial court.¡± ¡°What?¡± At the Duke¡¯s sharp remarks, the Crown Prince asked with a displeased expression. ¡°¡­ ¡± The prince burst into laughter at the sight of the Duke full of hostility to his superiors. ¡°You seem to be talking nonsense?¡± ¡°Please regard it as advice from your loyalists that it is best to give up the habit of coveting others.¡± However, the Duke did not lose. A cold, sword-like word fell at the Crown Prince¡¯s distance. It was a stark contrast to his demeanor when interacting with Psyche. He was like a different person. The Crown Prince, on the other hand, was a man second only to the Emperor in this country. Meanwhile, he had met nobles who pretended to respect him on the outside, despite the fact that they all looked at him pathetically. But the Duke was relentless. There were even rumors that the Duke¡¯s sword, which had a terrifyingly cold disposition, could cut through ghosts. It was the Crown Prince¡¯s first encounter with the Duke in this manner, and he seemed at a loss for words. Clint is now offended by everything. The lightness of the woman holding his heir in his arms. And the eyes of a crazy man looking at his wife. There wasn¡¯t one thing he liked. However, as the confrontations with the Crown Prince escalated here, the result did not appear to be of any use. Clint turned away from him. ¡°It¡¯s impossible even if it¡¯s your majesty. Then, excuse me.¡± He waved goodbye before turning around and walking away. The Crown Prince looked at Psyche for a long time. *** Maybe it was because she was in the carriage, her head was ringing. Psyche, who had lost consciousness due to the scent of zavia, was wandering in the past for some reason. The moments when she first met the Duke, who would become her husband, passed like a lantern. In the past, she was always smiling faintly in front of the Duke. ¡®Why was I smiling?¡¯ It just felt silly now, and it made her stomach ache. The pleasant memories of the past that she had forgotten disappeared in an instant. Her mouth was bitter at the reality that turned into a nightmare in an instant. A headache made her frown unknowingly. Soon, the dream of the past became a reality and landed right in front of her feet. Why hadn¡¯t she thought of that? Why couldn¡¯t she have guessed why he was so nice? She grimaced involuntarily. Her consciousness was gradually waking up. ¡°¡­ Wife¡­ Before she notices¡­ I have to deal with it quickly.¡± She doubted her ears. She closed her eyes pretending not to hear. However, the Duke shut his mouth as soon as he realized that she had regained consciousness. She slowly opened her eyes. ¡°Wife, are you awake?¡± As her vision gradually started to brighten, she saw Clint looking at her with a very worried expression. Psyche felt suffocated as soon as she saw him. Psyche sat quietly in the bedroom and fell into deep contemplation. The day she came back from the ball. What did the Duke say in the carriage? She bit her nails with her lips in frustration. ¡®Before I noticed¡­?¡¯ What does it mean to take care of it quickly? The child¡¯s birth date was approaching. His words sounded like he was going to kill the child as soon as he was born. Why¡­ Psyche burst into tears at the thought of being cornered. It was because the man¡¯s kind face suddenly came to mind. Even if all of that was a lie, there were times when she wanted to lean on that kindness. ¡°This is not the time to be swayed by this.¡± She tapped her cheek with both hands. She needed to keep her mind alert. She had already wasted too much time on him. She calmed down and regained her rational thoughts. She had decided on the day she would run away, but she had no idea where she would go. Even if she was hiding in this country, there was no place where the Duke¡¯s eyes and feet did not reach. Also, simply deciding where to go was not a good idea. ¡°First¡­ I will also need living expenses¡­ ¡± Psyche looked at the door. ¡°I can¡¯t give birth or raise a child in a shabby place¡­¡± She mumbled to herself and turned her head. She didn¡¯t know about anything else, but she had to protect the child. ¡®Later, really if. Even if I escape and is caught again, this child is the only one who can carry on her life.¡¯ He was a man crazy about posterity He may be reluctant to kill the mother of an already grown child. In the first place, she had no intention of completely running away from the man who ruled this country. If he¡¯s determined to find her, he¡¯ll go to any length to do so. She organized her thoughts calmly. Where is the best place to protect herself? Where she knows best. The only place she knew was around the castle of the Viscount, which was now in ruins. The mountains were rough, and if she try to hide¡­! If she was determined to hide, there was no better place than her hometown. The only place she knows better than the Duke was there. ¡®How should I come up with the expenses? Jewels and dresses are too conspicuous.¡¯ She struggled to find a better way alone. The thought of going back to her hometown suddenly made her heart flutter. As she was making plans step by step, a servant came to her in a hurry. ¡°That, Madam.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± She suddenly jumped up from her seat like someone caught doing something bad. The startled servant looked at her curiously and then quickly explained why he had called her. ¡°Ah, you have a visitor.¡± ¡°Guest?¡± Clint had disliked people entering and exiting the Duke¡¯s residence since he was a child. But he was expecting a guest without giving her a notice? Clint had been gone for a while, so she had to greet the guest instead. And it wasn¡¯t until she went down to the reception room and checked the person did she find out that the person who appeared was an uninvited guest. Chapter 8 It was Rachel Halston. She was sitting in the reception room as if she were the owner of the place, and Psyche involuntarily frowned at her. ¡°Madam!¡± Sitting on the edge of the sofa with her back leaning over and her legs stretched out to the side made her didn¡¯t look lie to be a cultured noble lady. She looked at Psyche and stood up quickly. ¡°I was expecting Clint to e, but I didn¡¯t expect his wife to e.¡± Psyche raised his eyebrows again at the words and lowered them. ¡°Call him Duke Valentine here.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°This means that you should not use the Duke¡¯s name in the public eye.¡± ¡°Ah! Oh. I have been rude.¡± Psyche, ignoring Rachel laughing ??with embarrassment, sat down on the sofa opposite her. Like it or not, she was already tired of having to deal with this woman until Clint came. ¡°Oh, I brought precious tea leaves as a gift for my visit. I was planning on giving it to Duke Clint, but since his wife is here, shall we have a cup of tea together?¡± Rachel, who was the first to notice the awkwardness between the two of them, smiled and reached for something. Psyche made a rough motion to the servant standing next to her. Then one of the standing servants took what Rachel had given her. The two sat awkwardly facing each other. It was Rachel who broke the strange silence first. ¡°You are very lucky, Madam.¡± ¡°Am I lucky? Me?¡± Her husband is trying to kill he. She wasn¡¯t lucky at all. Psyche looked at her with a smirk. Rachel continued without hesitation. ¡°That, have you heard the rumors about Count Baisek?¡± When Psyche just stared at her without answering, she continued. ¡°Well, it seems that Count Baisek brought a woman from somewhere. I¡¯m not sure if he just let her in, but she kicked out the Countess and her son. I¡¯ll get her a job with the government. Furthermore, the right to succeed to her son¡¯s title was also taken away. It¡¯s really absurd, isn¡¯t it?¡± Psyche just shook her head, wondering why she had said this to her. ¡°I guess men must be like that. If you go crazy in love, you can¡¯t recognize your child and wife. But the Duke is not like that so you don¡¯t need to be worried about that. I envy you.¡± Rachel laughed exaggeratedly. Psyche was perplexed, not knowing what to say, but a simple refreshment table arrived just in time. Soon, a teacup filled with tea from Rachel¡¯s tender tea leaves was placed in front of them. The light green tea water fluttered transparently. Rachel glanced at Psyche for a moment and then quickly raised the teacup in front of her. ¡°Um¡­ It smells so good!¡± Rachel was making a fuss alone, smelling the scent of the tea she had brought. After all, she was a guest, so Psyche sighed again, picked up the teacup, and covered her mouth with the other hand, startled by the unpleasant smell, ¡°Huh?¡± Rachel looked at Psyche with her eyes wide open while savoring the scent. ¡°This¡­¡± Psyche put the teacup down aloud, not knowing that she was grimacing so much. It was Zavia tea leaves. ¡®Maybe this woman¡­ ¡® Zavia leaf is not good for pregnant women. Psyche pushed the teacup away as she struggled with nausea that caused her to want to vomit. Rachel looked a little embarrassed. ¡°The leaves of the Zavia tree¡­ Pregnant women like me, ugh¡­¡± Finally, she couldn¡¯t help but groan and put a napkin to cover her mouth. ¡°This¡­ what happened?¡± An unfamiliar voice rang between them. Clint, who appeared just in time, saw Psyche¡¯s pale face and strode into the reception room. When Psyche saw Clint, she felt relieved that she did not have to stay in the reception room, so she jumped up and stood up. It was because she wanted to leave as soon as possible from this place filled with the disgusting smell of zavia leaves. ¡°Are you all right? Rachel. What else have you done?¡± Clint looked at Psyche carefully. She waved her hand roughly, covering her mouth with one hand, feeling like she was about to open her mouth. It was rather her saying that she would go. ¡°Ugh.¡± Psyche stepped aside from the table. Rachel suddenly shouted at Clint who was trying to support Psyche. ¡°What are you doing¡­ Clint, no, Duke. Do you know how expensive this tea is?¡± Rachel said with a sad face. ¡°Don¡¯t say anything weird, sit here. Wife, wife. Are you all right?¡± Clint, who roughly criticized Rachel, supported Psyche. He personally carried her to the bedroom. Her head was dizzy, she couldn¡¯t walk properly, and she was out of her mind, so Psyche lay in bed without knowing how she got to the bedroom. ¡°I¡¯ve called the physician.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± She felt like the tense vision had found returned as the smell faded when she lay down. Psyche took a deep breath with her gaze fixed on the ceiling. Cold sweat was forming on her forehead. She thought she¡¯d buy some time. She said helplessly to Clint, who stood next to her with a worried expression. ¡°Lady Halston will be waiting for you. Go ahead. It¡¯ll be all right to have the physician here.¡± Psyche urged him to go quickly. ¡°No. I¡¯ll wait for the physician¡¯s report¡­ You¡¯ve been collapsing a lot lately, and you don¡¯t appear to be in good health, so I¡¯m concerned about the child.¡± Psyche made a deflating laugh at him. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a big deal if something goes wrong with the child.¡± ¡°Yes. So I hope you don¡¯t overdo it. Why don¡¯t you skip the next banquet? I will write to Her Majesty the Empress and request for her understanding.¡± Psyche was startled by those words and jumped up, only to fall back down because her head was spinning. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Be careful!¡± ¡°That¡­ I will go to the banquet.¡± ¡°Do you have to go?¡± Of course. She doesn¡¯t have a chance to run away unless it¡¯s then. After trying to hide her thoughts, Psyche said with a smile. ¡°When I have a child¡­ I can¡¯t move around for a long time and I have to stay at home. I think it will be my last outing¡­¡± At that, Clint made a worried face and then nodded. ¡°I hadn¡¯t thought of that. But I can¡¯t acpany you, so you must bring Alexa.¡± ¡°Alexa?¡± ¡°The physician has arrived.¡± Despite the fact that she stated that she disliked escort knights. However, she was unable to continue the conversation due to the arrival of the physician before she could even argue with him. *** ¡°How long were these symptoms last?¡± The physician examined Psyche¡¯s body carefully and asked. ¡°Symptoms¡­ It was never repeated.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that. You may have a very weak premature birth, but you¡¯ll be fine if you continue to rest.¡± ¡°Premature?¡± ¡°Yes. It is preferable not to wander around, to walk as little as possible, and to lie down as much as possible. I¡¯ll make sure you have fresh herbs every evening.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Psyche felt lucky that Clint left the bedroom after the physician came in. If Clint had been here, she really would have been stuck and lying in bed. Let alone a banquet, she was sure she won¡¯t be able to get around. ¡°All right, get out.¡± She let the physician go and caressed her stomach. In the meantime, she has maintained a healthy state, but the sudden change was most likely caused by her constant exposure to the Zavia leaves. So she wasn¡¯t concerned. She assumed it was a one-time occurrence. Rather, it was more pressing to pay for living expenses after running away. She thought over and over, and it felt stuffy inside, so she went for a short walk outside. The Duke said he would reconsider, and Alexa stopped staying by her side one day. Of course, there were other conditions attached. Back from the ball and the next day. The Duke called her. ¡°I want to be alone until I give birth.¡± The Duke sighed as Psyche asked with sad eyes. ¡°All right. Let me fix it. But when a child is born, there is absolutely no promise. Wife. Please understand that this is all for my wife and children.¡± ¡°¡­ All right.¡± This made Psyche alone again. The air outside was fresh after a long time. She went to her usual walking spot in the garden. Her favorite spot was the garden, which was close to the main gate. The afternoon sun, which was just setting, felt warm. She organized her thoughts one by one as she walked. It seemed like it would be better to trade jewelry or dresses for expensive herbs or spices. There were some light and expensive herbs that bid the price of a rare diamond. An unfamiliar voice flew into her ear as she was thinking about this. ¡°Hmm. Even though I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m gonna do?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I want to bother you like this.¡± At the voice that seemed to seduce a man, Psyche recognized the woman in the garden. She hurriedly approached the voice. As soon as Psyche passed the neat topiary, he was able to bump into Clint and Rachel, who were a little flustered. She narrowed her eyes and fixed her gaze on them both. ¡°Wife?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Rachel placed her hand on Clint¡¯s chest. Clint backed up as he met Psyche¡¯s displeased gaze. ¡°It seems that you two are having fun here?¡± ¡°Oh. Madan must be misunderstood. I just.¡± They are funny people. Psyche had no desire to question what kind of relationship she had with her husband. ¡°Keep doing what you are doing.¡± She¡¯s thinking of running away anyway, there¡¯s no need to heat things up like that. She walked rashly. She could hear Clint following her from behind, but Rachel appeared to have caught him again. While they were arguing, Psyche walked through the garden wherever she could. It was the first place she had seen when walking. Psyche looked around with a slightly bewildered expression. Chapter 9 Chapter 9: Deviance Due to personal reasons Youhwa won¡¯t be able to translate anymore but don¡¯t worry Breezee will continue this series. The schedule will be 1 chapter every Monday for now. She blinked and looked around, all unfamiliar scenery, so it wasn¡¯t very pleasant. ¡°When did I e out of the main gate¡­.¡± Psyche, who looked around and murmured, sighed. Someone grabbed her and stopped her, but she was angry, so she just ignored it and walked recklessly. Maybe it was the guard guarding the main gate. ¡°Ah.¡± She was sure they were all over the place trying to find her. ¡°Who cares!¡± It was a freedom I hadn¡¯t enjoyed in a long time. If I knew this, I would have e out more often. Every time I tried to get out, I¡¯d run into the Duke¡¯s opposition. ¡°No, it¡¯s dangerous.¡± She sneered to herself, mimicking the Duke¡¯s face and voice that had e to her naturally. ¡°Well, it¡¯s always dangerous.¡± There were many restrictions on what could be said to have been only seen by the Duke at the Duke¡¯s residence. But keeping a good marriage was more important to each other, and to Psyche, so she did not do much against him. I thought about the past again. Before the marriage of the two, she did not know why, but Psyche had asked this question. It was right after the contract was signed between the two. ¡°Do you trust me?¡± I thought that the contract was more reliable than the faith that came from the relationship, but I was curious about what the Duke thought. Clint, at the question, had a very troubled face. After a long pause, he spoke cautiously. ¡°I trust you.¡± Clint seemed to smile. ¡°Isn¡¯t it important between couples, trust or faith? Even if it¡¯s a contracted relationship, I¡¯m going to trust my wife from now on.¡± It was an unexpected answer and I remember nodding my head because it wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡°I¡¯m not revealing all of my secrets, are you saying you want to trust me?¡± The sincere response was amusing, so she asked again. ¡°Isn¡¯t it something you can trust even if you don¡¯t have to reveal all your inner feelings?¡± Psyche laughed because it was a very exemplary and typical answer. ¡°I don¡¯t know the truth, can you tell the truth?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessarily a good thing to show all your emotions. Even if there is no such thing, a relationship that you can trust without it is a true relationship.¡± It seems that Clint laughed lightly. Then he added, ¡°So now, my lady, you can trust me anytime.¡± Psyche, who recalled the conversation, made a deflating sound without realizing it. ¡°Trust, faith.¡± It is not funny. The more experienced the con man, the more he asked her to trust him. She turned away from her past thoughts. The air outside the castle was unfamiliar, so I felt refreshed. Time passed quickly as I walked around looking at the surrounding trees. I walked without feeling it was boring. At first, she was angry, but now she was intrigued. She came here and stayed only in the Duke¡¯s house, and this place was a different place for her because she had never e out. She looked around and headed for the most eye-catching place. ¡°Are you selling all of these?¡± The merchant who was arranging the dried herbs in front of the shop was surprised to see Psyche because her clothes were so colorful that they did not fit in there. But Psyche didn¡¯t care what she looked like, because she¡¯d never been outside, and she didn¡¯t have any idea how anyone other than the nobility would see her. ¡°This is how they display and sell.¡± She murmured to herself and was busy looking at the herbs whether the merchant spoke or not. ¡°Oh. This, this will wither if you do this.¡± ¡°Ah! How did you know? It¡¯s expensive, and I¡¯m losing money because it withers quickly.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t let it see the sunlight, because it only grows in the shade. You just need to move it.¡± She muttered to herself, carefully changing the position of the herb. ¡°It will be effective in half a day.¡± ¡°Oh really?¡± The merchant¡¯s face turned red. ¡°Can I pay the price with jewelry?¡± ¡°Of course! Anything is possible!¡± It turned out to be a pretty satisfactory deal when I paid with the necklace I wore every day, a thin gold ring excluding the wedding ring, and the pearl earrings I wore fortably. ¡°I¡¯ll e back later to buy it, so make sure to leave it out.¡± She deliberately chose dried herbs to make them easier to carry, and she savored the most expensive herbs she had not yet bought. ¡°It¡¯s a really good herb. So you must save it and sell it to me.¡± She made another promise, just in case someone else bought it because it didn¡¯t look like there was anyone in this place who¡¯d pay this much for herbs anyway. The moment I thought that I should e back later, someone suddenly cut in between the merchant and Psyche and spoke. ¡°Huh? Who is this?¡± He was a very tall man. Psyche had to raise her head to see him. Psyche looked at the man who pretended to know her and narrowed her eyes at what she thought was an oddly familiar face, a man she recognized from somewhere but didn¡¯t know for sure. Moreover, he would be at least a noble or similar person to recognize her but it didn¡¯t make sense to meet in a place like this. As Psyche frowned and struggled to remember the man in front of her, the man laughed as if it were ridiculous. ¡°Wow. You don¡¯t know me now?¡± ¡°Who . . Oh! Oh!¡± When she tried to pretend to know him, he quickly came up and covered Psyche¡¯s mouth. His hand blocked the words ¡®Your Highness the Crown Prince¡¯. ¡°You¡¯re not going to expose my identity here, are you?¡± Psyche stared at the prince, who had silenced her. ¡°Nice to see you, Miss Psyche?¡± His calling, without the title duchess, seemed very clever. Psyche felt a little strange to meet the prince, who had written everywhere on his face that he looked like a high nobleman. Come to think of it, unlike her who wore the same clothes she wore at the duke¡¯s house, the Crown Prince looked a perfect moner in appearance. It was then that she realized how conspicuous she was here. The Crown Prince and Psyche naturally walked down the street. ¡°I see. So you often go there to buy herbs.¡± ¡°Right. Think about it. Why would the merchants bring such expensive herbs? There¡¯s no one to buy them anyway¡± Psyche finally understood the whereabouts of the expensive herbs and nodded. The Crown Prince, who came out to play every time, had placed a separate order. ¡°But. Because in a place like this, most people don¡¯t know that it¡¯s expensive.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The two naturally walked around and talked fortably. The crown prince showed great interest in making something using herbs, poisonous herbs, or something out of them. ¡°Even nobles don¡¯t know something like that. I heard that you learned it before. I¡¯m learning history these days. Who learns herbal medicine separately?¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± ¡°I am very surprised. Madam, no, Miss Psyche can be a professor of herbal medicine at the academy.¡± He flattered Psyche by saying that she was great. ¡°No, that¡¯s not much.¡± Psyche was overwhelmed by the untimely pliment. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, that¡¯s why. I think it¡¯s fate that we met here, and can you be my teacher for a while?¡± Psyche stopped walking in surprise at the sudden request. ¡°What? Suddenly?¡± ¡°Not suddenly, I was going to ask you formally when I met you later. But luckily I met you today. Is this what you call fate?¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± Psyche forced a smile to her lips. ¡°What¡¯s with the smile? Oh, the duke doesn¡¯t like it?¡± He caressed his chin with his hand, making a worried face. ¡°Come to think of it, what about the Duke?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± When the duke was mentioned, Psyche¡¯s face hardened quickly, and she felt bad for the fuss she must have made. Rather than worrying about the Duke, I thought it was too bad that if he made a fuss about looking for me, the hardships were ultimately up to the employees. ¡°Did you e out here alone?¡± The prince looked around, and when he realized that she was alone, he gave her a very strange look. Then he gave a big laugh. ¡°No wonder. With that outfit, did you sneak out? I¡¯m telling you, you don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± The Prince, who had managed to stop laughing when Psyche gave him a sullen look, wiped away his smile as much as he could. ¡°You have a lot of nerve. No. Don¡¯t you know the way of the world?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡± When Psyche walked again with a distasteful look, the prince quickly followed her. ¡°But thinking about it, it wasn¡¯t like this.¡± ¡°My impression?¡± She made up her mind to go back to the duke¡¯s house before the motion escalated. because there was no need to make a big deal out of it. She hurriedly walked, spewing the prince¡¯s words out of one ear. ¡°You looked so obedient and tender but now you¡¯re different. Did you fight with the Duke?¡± The crown prince spoke rapidly like a gun. That¡¯s what she was like in the real world. She used to go to banquets with the duke all the time and didn¡¯t even talk to another man. Although she was a beauty, her image was relatively light due to the strong impression of the Duke. Of course, some disapproved of her behavior, but most of all, she was able to walk quietly because of the Duke¡¯s excessive protection, which now seemed to be all surveillance. Thanks to this, women from noble families who tried to get along with her at first would always fall away on their own from Psyche¡¯s attitude. A quiet, cold, snobbish duchess gentle only to the duke. That was the nobles impression of Psyche. ¡°Do you fight? I don¡¯t think so at all. That¡¯s surprising too. I like it very much.¡± Chapter 10 C10: Strange Husband But come to think of it, there was no particular need for her to take a different attitude. It was enough for her to remain on good terms with the Duke. A good duchess. It¡¯s just an external appearance that¡¯s been maintained narrowly well. She sneered. The prince, who had no idea what was going on, spoke again. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous here. I¡¯ll take you home.¡± ¡°No. Thank you for today. As you said, it¡¯s dangerous here. I must go back.¡± When Psyche refused, the prince made a sad face. His expression was like that of a child. There was nothing good about provoking him until she ran away, so she thought about going back. ¡°Hmm. I¡¯m bored.¡± He seemed unwilling to leave Psyche so continued to follow her with a languid face. Psyche, who still felt uncomfortable with the prince while was still on her way to the duchy, suddenly wondered if the prince could be here at this time. It was rather suspicious. ¡°Your Highness goes around like this, does His Majesty know?¡± He pretended to be sick as if he had been stabbed in the stomach. ¡°So hurry up and go back, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Promise me you¡¯ll teach me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why my father removed herbalism from the basic curriculum. It¡¯s so much fun.¡± The way he pouted and grumbled was like a child. He clung to her like a child so Psyche quickly answered hastily, thinking that she should stop the Duke¡¯s soldiers from coming all the way here to make a fuss about finding her. ¡°Is it up to me? Get permission from my husband.¡± ¡°No. Did you use the Duke as a shield?¡± Thinking that it was a relationship that they would never meet again, she turned her refusal to express it. ¡°I¡¯ll get permission from the Duke. When can I come?¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was such a persistent man. He followed Psyche without getting tired of walking fast. ¡°Or should I go with you now and ask for permission?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Even with a blatantly embarrassed expression, he never backed down. ¡°Aren¡¯t you bored alone anyway? Let¡¯s go together.¡± Psyche was a little annoyed at the tone that sounded like a child begging her to play, but she kept in mind many times that he was the crown prince and did her best to keep a smile on her face. In no time at all, the two of them had arrived at the end of an alley in the downtown area. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°Are you going?¡± The prince stood with a really sad expression. Psyche shook her head involuntarily at the expression with her eyes wide open. ¡°I have to go.¡± Before things get serious ¡°That¡¯s too bad. Really.¡± The prince raised Psyche¡¯s hand to say goodbye to her. The moment his lips touch the back of her hand. ¡°It¡¯s here!¡± A crowd of armed men appeared from nowhere and overpowered the prince at once. In front of Psyche¡¯s eyes, the prince fell to his knees. It was a very fleeting thing. Psyche was so surprised that she made a stunned face. Before long, the Duke appeared at the end of the group. He was slowly approaching Psyche, looking completely at her. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Psyche put her head on the commotion that unfolded in front of her. ¡°This is why¡­¡± I was going to go back quickly. I looked up and saw the Duke walking toward me. The situation I wanted to avoid the most was unfolding right in front of my eyes. My back hurts. As the armed knights blocked the alley, her eyes were forced to focus on them. Psyche sighed and approached those who subdued the prince. But the Duke stopped her. ¡°Madame.¡± ¡°Ahhhhhhh! Let go! It hurts!¡± The prince, who was overpowered by the knight, screamed. His reaction was so one-dimensional, I could tell just by looking at how much he hurt. ¡°Let him go, please¡­¡± Psyche swept her face in embarrassment. The Duke, who only stared at her, did not seem to know who was kneeling. He didn¡¯t even look interested. It wasn¡¯t until Psyche spoke that his eyebrows went up a little when he found the crown prince subdued by the knight. Clint wasn¡¯t even surprised and asked calmly. ¡°Why is Your Highness here?¡± After confirming that he was the crown prince, he ordered him to be released with a chin. However, Clint looked directly at Psyche as if he didn¡¯t want an answer from the prince and said, ¡°Madam, let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The Duke seemed unwilling to ask why she had come all the way here. ¡°No, don¡¯t I get an apology?¡± The prince, who stood up grumbling, shook off the dust on his clothes. ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to be here, are you?¡± Even the crown prince made a tired face at the extremely cold tone. ¡°Be content with what I close my eyes to Your Highness.¡± At that, the prince stuck out his lips. A grown adult looked like a child. ¡°Really, Duke is not fun. That¡¯s why your wife goes out alone. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t do anything for the current situation, Your Highness.¡± Rather, Psyche quickly responded to the words of the prince, who made the situation worse. Because the Duke¡¯s face looked angry enough. She was tired anyway, and just wanted to go back and rest. She didn¡¯t want to argue about what kind of relationship he had with Rachel or why and wasn¡¯t particularly curious about the reason. For Psyche, the relationship with the Duke is just a contract. ¡°Your Highness, I had a great time today. Then I¡¯ll go home now.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s too bad. Can¡¯t you do that favor earlier?¡± ¡°Please make a formal request later. Then I¡¯m leaving.¡± She turned away from the prince who was about to cling to her again. ¡°Then I¡¯ll visit you!¡± After bowing politely to the loudly shouting prince, Psyche turned around without hesitation. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I just passed by the Duke, who looked like he had a lot to say, pretending not to know anything. I heard him sigh. ¡°Madame.¡± Clint called her but Psyche did not stop. ¡°Madame!¡± Eventually, Clint came running and grabbed her arm, and stopped her. In the end, Psyche raised her voice in annoyance. ¡°I¡¯m saying I¡¯m going back! Why!¡± ¡°¡­¡± In an instant, the wounded eyes turned cold again. ¡°Let¡¯s go in the carriage. Are you going to walk home?¡± ¡°¡­¡± He said awkwardly to Psyche, who was angry. Well, he¡¯s not a great person to start a fight in a crowded place. Thinking that she was angry for no reason, Psyche nodded with an embarrassed face. After seeing off the prince, they awkwardly climbed into the carriage. As the driver whipped, the wagon began to move slowly. A very awkward silence passed between the two. Psyche just wanted to get to the Duke¡¯s mansion without saying anything. She didn¡¯t have the energy to have an emotional fight with him. ¡°Why did you go alone?¡± ¡°¡­¡± However, there was no way the Duke would just let it go. ¡°Strictly speaking, I wasn¡¯t alone.¡± When she said it sarcastically, Clint frowned. ¡°Madam, I¡¯m not trying to play with words like that. Do you know how surprised I was? You¡¯ve never been like that before.¡­.¡± Psyche looked as if she didn¡¯t care at all. ¡°No matter how stable you are, you should be careful.¡± ¡°Careful?¡± Psyche asked with her eyes wide open. What do you mean? Who¡¯s using the word to be careful with whom? He made a completely unconcerned face, but when he saw Psyche¡¯s face change, the Duke changed his words. Originally, he was not considerate of others¡¯ positions or bent on it, so he did not try to understand others. Psyche¡¯s experience made him feel that way. Born in the Duke family with everything in his hands, did he ever had a hard time? Since he was little, everything must have been his way. So, the Duke must have thought that Psyche would come in according to the picture he drew. In the first place, she didn¡¯t want much sympathy from him, but Psyche was full of spirits. The Duke closed his mouth, then opened it with difficulty. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about Rachel¡­¡± His apology was even considered bizarre. Was he someone who could say sorry? I thought I knew him pretty well, but he was full of unfamiliar things. Perhaps it¡¯s because he doesn¡¯t want to make it big, so he apologized. After all, he sympathizes with and regrets what Psyche is upset about. She didn¡¯t think he was sincere, but Psyche didn¡¯t want to argue. ¡°¡­¡± She just chose to shut up because she didn¡¯t want to fight him or raise her voice before fleeing. ¡°There was a situation.¡± I guess so. Everyone must have a situation. ¡°From now on, no. If you have someone you love, you should be careful about that with other women.¡± Psyche was in a bad mood, and after saying that, she regretted what she had said as if she had been rude. Hearing that, Clint made a face of thought for a moment, then quietly opened his mouth. ¡°What do you mean, I¡¯ll have someone I love in the future?¡± She shut her mouth tightly. ¡°My wife seems to be different from usual these days, but I hope she¡¯s okay.¡± The Duke sighed. Chapter 11 C11: Late Night Uninvited guest Before she knew it, the carriage reached the Duke¡¯s house. The two got out of the carriage and went inside together. Psyche was so tired from going here and there for the first time in so long that she just wanted to go in and rest but Clint stopped her from going up to the bedroom without saying a word. ¡°Madam, can we talk for a minute?¡± ¡°¡­¡± It must be obvious nagging. I tried to refuse it, but I soon changed my mind. As he said in the carriage, he seemed to have said everything he wanted to say these days. Psyche, who was cautious that her actions would be reproached again, quietly followed after him, determined to be cautious. It was a tremendous rebellion for her to go out alone. She thought it wouldn¡¯t be bad to keep quiet for the rest of the time until the banquet. Upon entering the Duke¡¯s office, he first suggested a place to sit. Psyche sat in the seat he pointed to and watched him sit across from her. Even though he must have rushed out to follow her, he was a person who was never disorganized. ¡°Would you like some tea?¡± ¡°Yes. Tea is fine.¡± Psyche frowned as if the scent of the Zavia leaves that Rachel had given her in the morning seemed to come back. ¡°I¡¯d like you to stay inside the mansion for the time being.¡± Like a duke, he went straight to the point without beating around the bush. It was a curious remark since Psyche had never been outside except today. She always stays inside anyway so he asked, wondering if there was anything else. ¡°I won¡¯t go out like this again.¡± ¡°Yes, you don¡¯t have to. If something happens to you¡­¡± The Duke shook his head in horror. ¡°But why, what is the reason you insist on telling me to stay inside?¡± ¡°I am thinking of canceling all future banquets and gatherings.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Psyche overreacted unwittingly. It was so unexpected that she couldn¡¯t help but scream. ¡°I sent a message in advance that you won¡¯t be able to attend the banquet hosted by Her Majesty the Empress. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll forgive me for that.¡± ¡°Ha¡­¡± Psyche was so out of breath that she couldn¡¯t say anything. With an absurd face, Clint added an explanation. ¡°You said you didn¡¯t like escort knights, and even went around alone today. Considering my wife¡¯s state of health, it¡¯s not something I can ignore, and I apologize for interfering.¡± ¡°Knowing¡­ You want to do that?¡± The Duke said without looking away from Psyche¡¯s gaze staring at him. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s all for my wife.¡± ¡°How can it be for me when my wishes are not respected?¡± ¡°Do you think I just do this for no reason?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯d like to hear what the reason is.¡± Clint raised his eyebrows slightly at Psyche¡¯s words, revealing a rare displeasure. It was bizarre that his face, which did not show any emotion, changed. ¡°Do you think I did not listen to the report of the attending physician who came to my wife?¡± Ah ¡°You might give birth prematurely, so you should be more relaxed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s simply because of the Zavia leaf.¡± ¡°Zavia leaves?¡± Clint¡¯s eyes widened slightly at herwords. ¡°Rachel brought¡­ Zavia leaves¡­¡± He muttered, then looked a little confused and met Psyche¡¯s gaze again. The bewildered look was quickly erased from his face. ¡°Your highness!¡± Eventually, Psyche raised her voice. ¡°Then go in and rest.¡± He insisted that he could no longer back down, and as if he did not want to hear any reason from Psyche, he ordered her to take a rest. Still, when Psyche stubbornly sat down, he finally ordered his employees. ¡°Take madam to the bedroom.¡± It was aimed at Psyche, knowing that she did not want to embarrass the employees. In the end, Psyche left the room at the gaze of the employees, who were staring at her as she did not want to. It was because she didn¡¯t want to make it difficult for others with the problems of the two of them. ¡°Ha.¡± She left the room and let out a sigh as she walked slowly. I don¡¯t know why the hell Clint is trying to imprison me. ¡°Come to think of it, the time I came to the Duke¡­.¡± 4 years have passed. Back then, of course, the prestige of the ducal family was great, but not as much as now. Clint, who had just become a duke, was still only a duke on the surface but was still a fledgling boy who hadn¡¯t yet established himself as a duke. But after his marriage to Psyche, he cemented his position as duke every day. As the duke settled down, Psyche thought that their married life would become more stable. So even if the two of them aren¡¯t exactly friendly to each other, I thought it wouldn¡¯t be bad to raise a child together. ¡°My dear¡­ I wanted to give you a good family¡­¡± Strangely, her eyes were sore. From an early age, she longed for a happy family. She was also largely to blame for accepting the Duke¡¯s contract. Because he promised her and their child a peaceful life. ¡°What everyone else enjoys¡­¡± It¡¯s not easy for me to give it. Blame your mom for not being good enough. She smiled bitterly and sat quietly on the bed. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Soon it will be over¡­ Let¡¯s get out of here¡­¡± Still feeling the pain, she leaned against the headboard in a cold sweat. Her body was limp on its own. It seemed to be due to overdoing it today. ¡°Rachel¡­ that woman¡­¡± What the hell is a woman doing? Swallowing, she let out a labored breath. As I remembered what had happened in the garden, the discomfort increased and the pain intensified. Oh, let¡¯s not think about it. Only good thoughts¡­ The door opened, and it was Rachel who appeared. Moreover, it was a strange visit, very late at night. As soon as Psyche saw Rachel, she frowned. Besides, the fact that she was still staying at the Duke¡¯s house, she was a woman who didn¡¯t even care. The fact that Rachel was in front of me was shocking in many ways. What¡¯s more, a woman is left alone in a place where a married couple stays. ¡°I never asked you to come in, young lady.¡± Psyche flatly refused. But Rachel had already entered and stood in front of her with the door closed. ¡°¡­¡± She was even more amazed by the way Rachel was dressed. It did not make sense that a woman from an aristocratic family who had not yet been married could go around like that. ¡°It¡¯s late at night, so go back to the Count.¡± Psyche issued a congratulatory order. Come to think of it, the words that were unconventional and easy-going were just rude behavior from the point of view of others. Psyche let out a sigh. Rachel flinched at her attitude, but she didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of leaving, standing as if nailed to the ground. Rachel, who had been avoiding her gaze without looking directly at Psyche, hesitantly opened her mouth. ¡°Sorry for coming this late.¡± Feeling that her words of apology didn¡¯t match her behavior at all, Psyche burst out laughing. ¡°I¡¯m glad you know that you¡¯re sorry for coming late. I have nothing to say to the young lady, so please go back.¡± However, despite Psyche¡¯s cold treatment, Rachel stood firm. ¡°It¡¯s a story you must hear.¡± It was a very, very meaningful tone.