So the Duchess Disappeared

12. I have a child. 

She even appeared somewhat unusual.

Psyche  took a deep breath as if to calm herself and washed her face.

The pain intensified, and Rachel’s face was so displeased that it was difficult to look at.

“I don’t know why you are here at this hour.”

It was a tone full of annoyance.

Psyche  openly expressed her discomfort to her, pointing out that her behavior was very impolite.

It seemed like that was enough to make her leave.

But Rachel stubbornly stood with tightly closed lips.

It was the kind of expression that seemed to wait blindly until Psyche  would acknowledge her. When Psyche  just stared at her with an annoying look, Rachel’s mouth slowly opened.

“I’ve been waiting for Madam.”

Nonsensical words.

Her voice was somewhat poignant, which annoyed Psyche  even more.

It’s a funny thing. Why would she wait until late at night just because she had something to do with her? Psyche  deliberately wrinkled her furrowed brow even more.

“Ha….”

“It’s a story madame must know.”

“Does my husband know you are here?”

When Rachel’s words were abruptly cut off, she looked somewhat flustered.

“Well….”

She hesitated again.

So, it made her even more irritated.

Psyche, who was irritated by her appearance, which was very different from her confident and unreserved self, sighed again.

“Go back, and when the day breaks, let’s talk through proper channels. And… please refrain from coming here privately like this. We have no such relationship.”

“But…”

Rachel couldn’t let go of her foolishness and made an impression.

Psyche wanted to send her away quickly and take a break. She didn’t want to continue wrestling with her like this. Just being in the same space was exhausting in itself.

“Please go back. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

This should be enough for her to leave. Psyche was about to lie down again.

“Well, I’ll just talk about the main point.”

Rachel had come in while disregarding her rejection. She was a stubborn woman.

Approaching with a pitiful expression, she reached out her hand and came closer.

It seemed like her expression had changed a bit.

As Psyche didn’t insist on her leaving, Rachel changed her attitude, standing somewhat awkwardly.

Their gazes clashed sharply.

“Right now… It would be better for you to listen.”

Did Rachel’s words feel like a threat, or was it just a misconception?

Psyche stared at her intensely.

Rachel tightly held both her hands.

In the end, Psyche decided it would be better to finish the conversation with her and send her away quickly. It seemed like Rachel wouldn’t leave this place unless force was used.

She was very tired and didn’t want to make things worse. The frequent conflicts with the Duke had already brought her enough exhaustion.

She still gently touched her slightly aching belly, then leaned back on the bed and looked at Rachel.

“I’ll give you five minutes. Speak.”

Without waiting, Rachel began to speak.

“I… I have Clint’s child.”

“….”

What did she just say?

Psyche doubted her ears because it sounded unreal.

The shape of Rachel’s mouth as she said it slowly entered her field of vision, but it felt like the voice was repeating and not making sense.

It was uncomfortable…

This was an emotion that couldn’t even be described in words.

“What did you just say?”

Psyche, who had straightened her upper body again to sit comfortably, asked with every syllable emphasized.

Not a single word from what came out of Rachel’s mouth pleased her.

Starting with the audacious use of the name ‘Clint.’ It’s as if she’s calling someone else’s husband like a lover, without any shame.

What’s more, what? Having a child?

These were words that couldn’t be easily dismissed, and it was astonishing. She couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

However, Rachel, for some reason, was undeterred and spoke again.

“Exactly as I said. I have Clint’s child.”

As if she didn’t even consider the weight of the words she had uttered, she remained nonchalant.

Psyche found the words surreal, and she couldn’t help but chuckle. She pressed on.

“Whose child?”

Psyche kept her gaze fixed on Rachel without averting her eyes.

“Cl… The Duke’s child.”

She had been about to use his name, but at Psyche’s unrelenting gaze, she changed her tone.

Still, it seemed to bother Psyche a little.

“….”

Rachel was about to come closer to Psyche, but she stopped when she saw her expression.

Just being a little closer felt like the scent of fresh ivy was bothering the tip of her nose, and Psyche looked even more stern.

Psyche couldn’t help but smile, considering Rachel’s gibberish. She inquired further.

“Do you have any evidence?”

“….”

“Rachel.”

Psyche, who had fixed her gaze on Rachel after looking around, called her name with a faint smile.

“Perhaps you don’t have any attachment to the Duke. Maybe you’re not angry, but you still came all the way here and said this, so you must pretend to believe me, right?”

Although her tone was quiet and matter-of-fact, each of her words was enough to pin Rachel down.

Psyche even chuckled without realizing it.

She had expected that the revelation of having the Duke’s child would leave her speechless and helpless, but her reaction was quite unfamiliar.

She didn’t seem surprised.

She hesitated a little, as if she would no longer give in to Rachel’s request for empathy.

Rachel looked down in response to Psyche’s tone, which sounded like an ultimatum and indicated she wouldn’t show any sympathy.

“Are you absolutely sure?”

“….”

Rachel nodded her head without saying anything.

Psyche was still calm and dry as she continued.

“Actually, Rachel, I don’t believe that your child is my husband’s, even if he’s born right now. My husband is a man with an infertile woman. But because you’ve come this far, taking such a risk to say this, I suppose I should at least pretend to believe you?”

It was a quiet and indifferent tone, but each of her words had enough force to make Rachel wilt.

Psyche let out a chuckle once again without realizing it. She had thought she’d be frightened and unable to do anything upon hearing that she had her husband’s child. But her handling of the situation was unexpectedly aristocratic.

Psyche spoke calmly and again.

“So, that’s why you told that crazy Count’s story the other day, right? Could it be that you’re afraid my husband and your child might receive the same treatment? By the way, the crazy Count can’t even enter the palace anymore. And I don’t think my lady will risk such danger… I don’t think so.”

Psyche spoke quietly, but the power of her words couldn’t be ignored.

“Your child, and you, will be marked as dirty for the rest of your lives. Don’t even think that your child will have a chance to see the light. Rachel. Ah, I wish I didn’t know about this. Shouldn’t you have kept it a secret?”

When Psyche asked with a strange expression, Rachel couldn’t bear it any longer and opened her mouth.

As she continued to speak, it was clear that Rachel’s intention was to hand the reins back to Psyche.

“Madam’s words are all true. He’s a man who knows how to keep his faith.”

“Hah.”

In the midst of it all, Rachel’s behavior, supporting the Count’s, seemed ridiculous to Psyche, and she openly scoffed at her. But Rachel continued to speak.

“I knew that he had a severe infertile woman. So, if I had to drug him to sleep with me?”