So the Duchess Disappeared

4. An unpleasant woman

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.