So the Duchess Disappeared

6. Debt

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.