So the Duchess Disappeared

41. Third-rate Acting

“What on earth, sister, what is this really about?”

Helen shook with excitement while looking at the letter stamped with the Duke’s emblem.

“It’s an emblem used only when high nobles exchange formal letters, right?”

Helen continued talking excitedly as she didn’t know what was going on with Psyche.

As she said, what he had sent was an “official letter.” It wasn’t just a letter announcing his visit; it carried a more formal purpose.

Such letters were used when the Emperor visited a lord’s castle for an inspection or when nobles “officially” visited each other’s castles.

So, there was no way to refuse.

It wasn’t a private visit; they had to present a public pretext.

Psyche thought Clint seemed weak after seeing the letter, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Without a doubt, the Alister Castle had to prepare to receive the Duke.

“By the way, did the Duke get married?”

Helen asked Psyche with sparkling eyes.

Psyche had no energy to answer, and eventually, the missing Claude stepped forward.

“No, he hasn’t. And Lady Psyche, the lord needs to work, so Helen, please return to your room.”

“No! I’m here to help! The Duke is visiting tomorrow, and how can sister prepare everything alone? Right, sister?”

Helen continued to chatter noisily, but Psyche just sat there blankly.

“Wow, the Duke is still unmarried at that age?”

Even without Psyche’s response, Helen continued speaking to herself.

Since she thought Psyche had gone through the formal divorce procedure, she believed the Duke was a divorced man.

Since Psyche never mentioned anything about the Duke, it was a natural misunderstanding.

Claude, seeing that she wouldn’t be convinced, reluctantly explained.

The Duke is currently divorced.

Psyche thought he believed she had gone through the formal divorce process, so the Duke was already a divorced man.

Since Psyche never spoke about him, it was a natural misunderstanding.

Hearing this, Helen became even more interested.

“Is divorce common in the Empire? Both you and sister.”

Again, she thought that Psyche had divorced, so that’s all she could say.

Since Helen believed Psyche had divorced, she was fascinated that she, who she thought was the wife of a grand Duke, had divorced.

Psyche couldn’t connect the Duke and herself from the beginning.

To Helen, the Duke was too high and distant a noble, making it even more so.

But Psyche didn’t want to add words to it. As she remained silent, Helen kept murmuring to herself.

“Wow, I wouldn’t mind being a duchess if he’s such a high-ranking noble.”

As if she were dreaming, Psyche opened her mouth as if she couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

“Don’t think strange thoughts, Helen.”

“Oh, no.”

As Psyche scolded and spoke, Helen finally pouted her lips.

Psyche added more firmly, thinking it would be better not to raise false expectations.

“He’s just a guest. Don’t think about making a fuss.”

“sister, you’re something. How do you see me?”

When Psyche made a stern face, Helen finally put on an impression, pursing her lips.

Even though Psyche tried to act uninterested, she couldn’t help but be nervous.

After Psyche said that, Helen continued to chatter incessantly about Clint.

Psyche pretended not to care, but she couldn’t help but feel agitated.

Despite Helen’s incessant talk and the situation of Clint’s visit, Psyche couldn’t gather her thoughts.

However, she soon decided to play along with her schemes.

Since he requested an official visit, Psyche also decided to accept it as a simple “Duke’s visit” without personal feelings.

Let the guest in and send him out as a guest.

That’s what she decided.

“An eye for an eye.”

Suddenly, she slammed the desk and stood up.

“Surprise.”

Helen, who had been babbling, looked at Psyche in surprise.

Suddenly, Psyche, whose face turned red, quickly opened her mouth.

“Right. Let’s get to work. We need to prepare for the guest. Claude, what should we do?”

“Oh. I’ve been instructed to prepare the guest room.”

“Okay… If you’re going to do it, do it in the best room, just tidy it up. There’s no need to overdo it.”

After all, he had lived in a place better than the palace.

Even if they decorated and put effort into it, it might not be as good as the Duke’s barn.

Thinking that way, Psyche decided to keep it simple and not overdo it. It might look more strange to do something too much.

“We should pay attention to the food, though.”

“I’ll take care of the food!”

“Will you?”

“Yeah!”

“Okay, then I won’t worry about the food.”

Psyche actually didn’t want to pay attention to everything.

She didn’t want to get involved in matters related to Clint. She didn’t understand why he was still looking for her in the first place.

If it was to ask about the responsibility for losing the child…

She didn’t want to think about it.

To clear her mind of distracting thoughts, she deliberately focused more on work. Time passed quickly.

There was a lot to do in the castle, which had been neglected for a long time.

Psyche had done her best to maintain it since she arrived, but it wasn’t a very lavish environment, so there were still many unrepaired walls and interiors.

Psyche just quietly did what she could do confidently.

Finally, the sun set, and it was time for the Duke’s scheduled visit.

Since he was a rare guest, the few employees inside the castle were full of curiosity and anticipation.

Moreover, a Duke from the capital made him seem very intriguing.

Soon, with Alejandro and several knights, the Duke arrived at the Alister Castle.

❖ ❖ ❖

As Psyche treated the high-ranking noble just like receiving any other noble, the Duke responded in kind.

Unlike before when he seemed eager to take Psyche away, he now behaved very politely and refined.

He was not as eager as before to take Psyche away immediately.

For Helen, who didn’t know anything, it seemed like they were meeting for the first time.

“Although it’s very modest compared to what you might have in the capital, please appreciate the prepared hospitality of the castle.”

As Psyche led the Duke and Alejandro to the prepared dinner table, she spoke as if she were dealing with a stranger.

To Helen, who didn’t know anything, it seemed like they were meeting for the first time.

“To the eyes of a tiger.”

Suddenly, Psyche stood up by slamming the desk.

“Surprise.”

Helen, who had been chattering, looked at Psyche in surprise.

The suddenly flushed Psyche quickly opened her mouth.

“Let’s work. We have to get ready for the guest right away. Claude, what should we do?”

“Oh. I’ve been instructed to prepare the guest room.”

“Okay… Let’s do it in the best room, just clean it up. There’s no need to overdo it.”

He had lived in a place better than the palace anyway.

Even if they decorated and put effort into it, it might not be as good as the Duke’s barn.

Thinking that way, Psyche decided to keep it simple and not overdo it. It might look more strange to do something too much.

“We should pay attention to the food, though.”

“I’ll take care of the food!”

“Will you?”

“Yeah!”

“Okay, then I won’t worry about the food.”

Psyche actually didn’t want to pay attention to everything.

She didn’t want to get involved in matters related to Clint. She didn’t understand why he was still looking for her in the first place.

If it was to ask about the responsibility for losing the child…

She didn’t want to think about it.

To clear her mind of distracting thoughts, she deliberately focused more on work. Time passed quickly.

There was a lot to do in the castle, which had been neglected for a long time.

Psyche had done her best to maintain it since she arrived, but it wasn’t a very lavish environment, so there were still many unrepaired walls and interiors.

Psyche just quietly did what she could do confidently.

Finally, the sun set, and it was time for the Duke’s scheduled visit.

Since he was a rare guest, the few employees inside the castle were full of curiosity and anticipation.

Moreover, a Duke from the capital made him seem very intriguing.

Soon, with Alejandro and several knights, the Duke arrived at the Alister Castle.

❖ ❖ ❖

As Psyche treated the high-ranking noble just like receiving any other noble, the Duke responded in kind.

Unlike before when he seemed eager to take Psyche away, he now behaved very politely and refined.

He was not as eager as before to take Psyche away immediately.

For Helen, who didn’t know anything, it seemed like they were meeting for the first time.

“Although it’s very modest compared to what you might have in the capital, please appreciate the prepared hospitality of the castle.”

As Psyche led the Duke and Alejandro to the prepared dinner table, she spoke as if she were dealing with a stranger.

To Helen, who didn’t know anything, it seemed like they were meeting for

However, oblivious Helen continued to scrutinize the Duke’s face, never letting up since earlier. Alejandro was the only one aware of the entire situation, making him feel increasingly frustrated.

He was barely managing to hold back the urge to escape from this frustrating meal setting. He couldn’t bring himself to say, “Madam, please return to the Duke’s side.”

“Thank you for your troubles coming all this way. I understand that it may not be as comfortable as where you stay, but I have prepared a bedroom. I hope you can rest comfortably.”

Psyche offered these words before starting the meal.

“Thank you for the hospitality,” Clint replied succinctly.

However, tension began to build between them.

Clint was the one who initiated it.

“It must be tough taking care of the territory by yourself.”

“Ah… It was fine because there were many helpers.”

“Oh. But aren’t there people who should be helping you?”

What Clint meant was ‘husband.’ Psyche understood immediately that he was politely asking why she was doing everything alone when he could help.

Psyche smiled and accepted it.

“Oh, I don’t have anyone to receive help from. Isn’t life originally a solitary journey?”

“…”

Clint was initially taken aback by her firm tone, but he quickly regained composure.

“Did you raise the child alone? Where is your husband going?”

Suddenly, it was such a personal question that everyone there was shocked.

Since they didn’t know they were a married couple, the reaction was natural.

Alejandro was the only one dying a little inside.

“As for the child… It seems like it’s not something you need to be concerned about, Your Excellency.”

Drawing a clear line, Psyche made it evident, and Clint, though appearing somewhat angered, quickly found his calm.

“Ah…”

As Alejandro struggled to find the courage to speak, Psyche intervened.