So the Duchess Disappeared

78. The Truth of That Day 2

‘What did I just hear?’

Who was trying to kill whom?

As Psyche hesitated, Rachel raised her voice, almost screaming as if she were pleading her case to the emperor himself.

“When I found out that the Duke intended to kill me if I had a child with you, I lost my mind!”

At first, Psyche thought she had misheard. But Rachel’s repetition made it clear.

Psyche felt as if she had been struck in the head with something heavy. It was entirely unexpected.

She stopped and slowly turned her gaze back to Rachel.

Their eyes met, Rachel’s filled with desperation.

Psyche, her eyes unfocused, asked, “Who, who was trying to kill whom?”

Rachel faltered, taken aback.

“Well…”

As Rachel hesitated, Psyche pressed, “You better explain clearly.”

Rachel glanced around nervously.

Psyche stopped her intended exit and sat back down, her posture rigid.

“Speak.”

Rachel, feeling Psyche’s unwavering demand, reluctantly began.

“You know I have liked the Duke for a long time.”

“…”

Yes, that was expected.

Everyone knew about Rachel’s infatuation with Clint.

“I believed that there was no affection between you and the Duke. I was foolish… At the time, I thought he would return to me.”

This, too, was somewhat expected. Rachel had often behaved as if she knew Clint better than anyone.

“…”

“And… the Duke was always more familiar with me than with you. He took care of me often. I misunderstood.”

Strictly speaking, that wasn’t true.

Clint had always prioritized Psyche among the women, never making the mistake of giving Rachel any advantage.

However, there were instances that could have led to Rachel’s misunderstanding.

“A misunderstanding?”

Psyche, too, recalled the past.

Indeed, there were times when it caused her distress.

She remembered Rachel’s ill-mannered habit of calling Clint by his name and how Clint seemed to tolerate it. That had contributed to her not having any regrets about leaving the Duke’s residence.

“Yes… I mistakenly believed that he liked me, that you were merely given a position.”

“…”

“But it was all a trap… It was to disguise the fact that he intended to kill me.”

Clint had kept Rachel close to find a way to eliminate her.

It was truly incomprehensible. What was all this now?

“Ha.”

Psyche let out a breath, unable to find any other words.

Why had she been the only one unaware of such crucial matters?

She was astounded.

The misunderstanding that Clint wanted to kill her was cleared up, but now this new revelation made her feel strangely out of place.

“At that time, I wasn’t in my right mind and planned to harm you and your child. The Duke seemed to have discovered my intentions first.”

This was the first time Psyche had heard any of this.

How had she lived all this time, unaware of such things while carrying her child?

“I had no idea…”

Psyche murmured to herself in a daze.

Rachel bowed her head even lower.

“The Duke probably didn’t want you to know he intended to kill someone.”

“How would you know that?”

“That… I know your parents were killed by someone else. So, I know you despise murder more than anything…”

“…”

Ah.

Psyche frowned instinctively.

She remembered discussing that before their marriage. The Duke had asked her what she hated most.

“I… hate murder. I despise seeing someone die the most.”

“And I especially hate it when someone close to me dies.”

Her past words echoed back to her, rooted in the present reality.

Had that simple statement complicated things so much?

Psyche couldn’t believe it.

Or rather, she didn’t want to believe it.

Clint’s face, friendly and caring, came to mind. He had given her good and beautiful things, but he had kept the most crucial matters from her. That realization made her even more uneasy.

Wasn’t this something he should have told her?

‘Did he only see me as part of a contract?’

Thinking that made her heart feel as though it was being crushed.

Clint, who had acted like a kind and loving husband, came to mind.

‘In the end, I’m just…’

Psyche bit her lip, feeling her heart shift inexorably towards him. Tears threatened to spill from the depths of indescribable emotion.

The tangled web of events, with no clear starting point, seemed impossible to unravel.

Rachel continued speaking.

“So, I became defiant. I wanted to make you unhappy.”

“You’re insane…”

Psyche felt her mind blank out. She was dizzy and nauseous. Past and present seemed to blur together, leaving her trapped in a whirlpool of confusion.

“And so the Duke intended to kill me…”

Psyche didn’t want to hear any more from Rachel. Regardless of the truth, she wanted to be alone. Above all, she didn’t want to see Rachel’s face. Summoning all her willpower, she scoffed and spoke.

“So it was all planned?”

“But! I never intended for the child to die! I only wanted to separate you from the Duke! I had no intention of harming anyone!”

Rachel bowed her head again, crying as she confessed her wrongs.

Psyche was no longer angry. Her mind was in chaos.

Despite uncovering the truth that the Duke hadn’t intended to kill her, she felt no joy.

She didn’t want to believe in the chaotic reality that had been hidden from her. She shouted in anguish.

“I lost my child!”

Maybe Clint was never meant to be anything more than a fleeting connection. Unable to voice this thought, Psyche’s throat tightened.

She forced out words, her voice hoarse from the long-held knot in her chest squeezing her heart.

It was hard to breathe.

“I know, Madam. That’s why today…”

“Shut up. Don’t ever show your face to me again.”

Psyche held back her tears.

Rachel wasn’t worth even a single tear.

“I know now! I regret my past mistakes. Even if you don’t forgive me, I will live my life as a sinner…”

Slap—

Rachel’s voice was abruptly cut off by the sound of a slap.

Psyche had struck her without even realizing it.

Rachel held her cheek, tears streaming down her face.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

“Get out.”

Rachel sobbed and hiccuped.

“Isn’t there anyone outside? The Marchioness is leaving!”

Psyche’s tearful shout brought Alexa rushing into the room. She halted, shocked by the sight of a pale Psyche and a crying Rachel.

“Alexa… Show her out.”

Alexa approached swiftly.

“Since the Madam isn’t feeling well, I suggest you leave now,” she said to Rachel politely, though the words carried the weight of an order to leave.

Rachel wiped her tears and stood up quickly.

“Madam, I will leave now…”

Psyche didn’t even look at her.

Rachel hesitated, bowed, and then hurried out of the reception room.

Psyche staggered back to her seat and collapsed.

“Are you alright?”

“…”

Psyche pressed her temples, unable to say anything.

No, she couldn’t say anything.

“I shouldn’t have agreed to this meeting…”

Psyche felt overwhelmed by the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

She laughed bitterly at herself.

“…”

Alexa, unaware of the full story, couldn’t find the words to respond.

Psyche was filled with emotions she couldn’t describe, unable to cry but laughing bitterly.

Her head ached, and she felt nauseous.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“I think I’m just too stressed…”

Psyche stood up, still feeling unsettled.

She had learned too much in a short time.

The person Clint truly wanted to kill, the tangled past, the lost child… Psyche felt utterly shattered.

Driven by a single thought—to get away from here—she stood up.

Then it happened.

Suddenly, the floor rushed up to meet her eyes.

“Madam!”