So the Duchess Disappeared

48. Once Again

Psyche didn’t want to be swept away by Clint’s attitude, but she couldn’t help feeling angry.

Without wanting to reveal her true feelings entirely, Psyche spoke quietly.

“Fine. If I give birth to the child, will the contract end?”

As Psyche asked again, Clint, who seemed to be trying to sever their connection in any way, also wore an irritated expression.

“You must properly fulfill the contract. Don’t think of running away until you give birth to the child.”

He added another condition.

Even though he had promised to treat her with the utmost nobility if she just gave birth to the child, and even offered wealth and honor, Clint’s intentions were unclear.

He felt annoyed for no reason.

“During the contract period, you must faithfully fulfill the duties of the Duchess.”

The Duke stated coldly, as if giving an order.

Although the tone was noble, it was dry and seemed angry, making Psyche feel even more eerie.

Originally, she hadn’t thought about returning to the ducal estate so quickly, but even if she did, she didn’t want to go back to the days when she quietly stayed in the ducal estate and adjusted herself to the Duke.

Even if she didn’t live in the Duke’s shadow, she thought she should create her own path.

So, lifting her head proudly, Psyche stared directly at the Duke and spoke.

“Yes. If I’m doing it, I’ll do it properly.”

And she wanted to return to Alistair Castle on the day she became free from the contract, with a more dignified appearance than anyone else.

There was no time to fight emotions with him.

She thought she should fulfill her role as the Duchess perfectly, even more than anyone else.

“Alright.”

The Duke was somewhat surprised by Psyche, who didn’t back down at all from his words.

‘Well, she didn’t seem so weak before. She seemed to go along with me…’

Clint felt his heart ache at her current state.

He wanted her to rely on him a bit more. It seemed like she was trying to distance herself from him.

He didn’t know what this emotion was.

Still, thinking that he could hold onto her until the child was born, Clint extended his hand towards Psyche with a relieved feeling.

“I look forward to working with you.”

“I feel the same way.”

Grabbing the hand extended towards her in the air, Psyche’s face was like that of a knight ready for battle.

“To celebrate Madame’s return, let’s gather for a simple meal tonight.”

“…Alright.”

Although Psyche found the suggestion uncomfortable, she didn’t seem to have to avoid him.

Psyche finally lifted her lips and smiled.

That’s when it happened.

“Sister!”

The door suddenly opened with a bang, and Helen hurriedly entered, recoiling at the sight of the unexpected guest.

“Oh?”

About to run towards Psyche, Helen quickly stopped when she saw Clint in the room.

“Ah, Your Grace.”

Awkwardly standing there, Helen quickly and politely greeted him.

“Oh, I was about to leave.”

Clint, after pressing his lips against Psyche’s hand, gracefully stood up. His movements were extremely elegant and refined. Without a single wrinkle, he stepped back.

Watching him leave the room, Helen, who was staring at him in a daze, quickly turned her head.

“Sister!”

Helen quickly approached Psyche and plopped down at the end of the bed. Then, with a pout, she said, “No, how could you hide such a thing?”

“…What?”

Psyche retorted to the unexpected remark.

“Seriously, the fact that my sister is the Duchess? I never imagined this could be true.”

“Oh… I wasn’t trying to hide it.”

“When the Duke pointed at you and said his wife was here, I almost spilled everything, you know?”

“…Helen.”

Helen widened her eyes, making a fuss. While Psyche usually spoke without much thought, today seemed even more special.

Considering Psyche had been taking care of Alistair Castle for so long without ever talking about Clint or married life, the revelation that she was the Duchess could be more shocking.

Moreover, with the fantasies Helen had about palaces, royalties, and high nobility, it was bound to be even more surprising.

“We can’t talk about it. So, I didn’t bring it up.”

“But how can you be so nonchalant! When we first met, we both pretended not to know each other. Isn’t that how it is with the nobles?”

“It’s not like that. I never planned to come back… No. Let’s stop talking. How’s Shilard, is he okay?”

Helen, curious about their conversation, nodded sadly as Psyche changed the subject.

“Shilard was quite ill, but the resident physician here said he’d be fine soon. But the Duke seemed more worried about you?”

“…Worried, huh?”

Psyche chuckled with a sense of disappointment.

“What’s there to worry about…”

Unable to disclose the nature of their contract, she trailed off her words.

“Still, it’s hard to believe for someone who knew nothing.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, nothing. Just talking to myself.”

Psyche clapped her hands and stood up from the bed.

“Where are you going, sister?”

“Oh, I was planning to see Shilard…”

Helen grabbed Psyche’s wrist and pulled her back.

“No, don’t. The doctor advised him to rest as much as possible.”

“Really? I wanted to see him…”

“Well, it’s not like he’s your own child.”

“Helen!”

Psyche yelled loudly at her remark.

“I’m not deaf. Why are you suddenly like this?”

“Don’t say such things if you don’t know the truth. Do you know how close I was to admitting everything when the Duke pointed at you and said his wife was here?”

“…Helen.”

Helen shrugged her shoulders and nodded, making a pitiful face.

“Sorry. Maybe you have your reasons for keeping it a secret.”

“Oh, come on. How casually! You pretended we were strangers when we first met. Aren’t all nobles like that?”

“No. Forget it. Don’t mention it outside, at least for now.”

Clint was probably treating Shilard kindly, thinking he was Psyche’s child. It seemed absurd that he would treat another child born outside as his own, but it was the truth.

Psyche didn’t want to reveal the truth, as she wanted to provide a good environment for Shilard.

“Ugh, ugh. Okay, got it. Maybe you have your own thoughts.”

Helen shrugged her shoulders, nodding.

“Oh, by the way, where’s Claude?”

“Oh, since my sister isn’t here, he said he’d be taking care of the estate for a while.”

“Really? Is that all he’s doing?”

“Yeah, why? What more should he do?”

Psyche waved her hand as if to say there was nothing more.

Clint thought of him as Shilard’s father. So, naturally, she expected him not to come here, but surprisingly, Clint didn’t seem to exert any pressure.

Psyche thought it might be better this way. If Clint and Claude got into an unreasonable emotional battle, it would only make things more difficult for her.

Helen got up and adjusted her clothes.

“Why don’t you take a break too, sister? You’ve been working tirelessly at Alistair Castle without a day off. You must be exhausted.”

Helen genuinely worried about Psyche, especially after hearing that she cried and almost fainted from fatigue.

She was the one who had been by Psyche’s side, witnessing her suffering more than anyone else.

“Sister, you too, huh? The Duke tells you to take it easy, and you act all stubborn. Stop acting tough all the time. Got it?”

“You really… have a way with words.”

Psyche couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Helen’s comment.

“That’s my charm! Anyway, I’m going. Rest well!”

With that, Psyche waved her hand in farewell as Helen left the room, leaving behind a deep silence.

“…”

Although she lay down to sleep, she couldn’t seem to find any rest. However, she didn’t want to reveal the fact that she had been wandering around and returned to the Duke’s estate.

“Sigh…”

She sat up and naturally began contemplating the future.

“First…”

She needed to clarify the terms of the contract with Clint.

If she were to become pregnant and give birth, Clint might consider her unnecessary again and might even want to kill her, she anticipated.

“I shouldn’t get pregnant before establishing a foundation to live on my own.”

Psyche sat quietly on the bed, planning.

“I need to ensure contraception for the time being.”

Taking care of her own body was a priority. She didn’t want to experience the days of living in fear of being killed again.

She felt she had to build her own strength.

“For the child, for Shilard, and for myself, we all need to survive.”

She mumbled to herself and absentmindedly touched her now non-swollen belly.

It felt strange to touch her stomach, which had become flatter as if it had been called. It had been a long time since she touched it.

But then, the door creaked open.

“Excuse me, Master Shilard. If you come this way. Oops!”

“Mom!”

As the door that had been gradually opening suddenly swung open, Shilard rushed towards Psyche as if he were charging.

Unexpectedly, Psyche embraced Shilard as he approached, holding him in her arms.

“Shily!”

“Mommy!”

“Sorry for being late. He insisted on seeing you, so… His lordship just wanted you to send him away if he’s too bothersome.”

“His lordship?”

“Yes. Then, I’ll be outside. Call me if you need anything.”

“Mom! Mom!”

Shilard kept playing around in Psyche’s arms.

Psyche, caught off guard by Shilard’s unexpected visit, quickly got out of bed and embraced him as he came towards her.

“Shily!”

“Mommy!”

“I’m sorry for being late. Because his lordship wanted to see you… he just told me to let him be if he’s too annoying.”

“His lordship?”

“Yes. I’ll be outside. Call me if you need anything.”

“Mom! Mom!”

Shilard continued to play in Psyche’s arms.

Just as she lay down to try to sleep, she couldn’t seem to find any rest. However, she didn’t want to reveal the fact that she had been wandering around and returned to the Duke’s estate.

“Sigh…”

She sat up and naturally began contemplating the future.

“First…”

She needed to clarify the terms of the contract with Clint.

If she were to become pregnant and give birth, Clint might consider her unnecessary again and might even want to kill her, she anticipated.

“I shouldn’t get pregnant before establishing a foundation to live on my own.”

Psyche sat quietly on the bed, planning.

“I need to ensure contraception for the time being.”

Taking care of her own body was a priority. She didn’t want to experience the days of living in fear of being killed again.

She felt she had to build her own strength.

“For the child, for Shilard, and for myself, we all need to survive.”

She mumbled to herself and absentmindedly touched her now non-swollen belly.

It felt strange to touch her stomach, which had become flatter as if it had been called. It had been a long time since she touched it.

But then, the door creaked open.

“Excuse me, Master Shilard. If you come this way. Oops!”

“Mom!”

As the door that had been gradually opening suddenly swung open, Shilard rushed towards Psyche as if he were charging.

Unexpectedly, Psyche embraced Shilard as he approached, holding him in her arms.

“Shily!”

“Mommy!”

“Sorry for being late. He insisted on seeing you, so… His lordship just wanted you to send him away if he’s too bothersome.”

“His lordship?”

“Yes. Then, I’ll be outside. Call me if you need anything.”

“Mom! Mom!”

Shilard kept playing around in Psyche’s arms.

Psyche, caught off guard by Shilard’s unexpected visit, quickly got out of bed and embraced him as he came towards her.

“Shily!”

“Mommy!”

“I’m sorry for being late. Because his lordship wanted to see you… he just told me to let him be if he’s too annoying.”

“His lordship?”

“Yes. I’ll be outside. Call me if you need anything.”

“Mom! Mom!”

Shilard continued to play in Psyche’s arms.