So the Duchess Disappeared

79. The Calm Before the Storm

Suddenly, Psyche felt dizzy. Her head ached slightly, and she felt nauseous. She hadn’t been feeling well for a few days now.

She thought it must be due to the stress.

“Are you alright?”

Alexa asked in alarm. Psyche assured her she was fine and tried to steady herself.

“I must have been too stressed.”

Psyche waved off Alexa’s attempts to help her and stood up on her own.

“I’ll be fine after some rest.”

She said this to ease Alexa’s worry, offering a faint smile.

Psyche wrapped her arms around herself, feeling a sudden chill.

“Wake me up around dinner time, okay?”

“Understood.”

Psyche left Alexa and quickly returned to her room.

As she walked, her thoughts churned.

She regretted agreeing to meet Rachel.

The past wounds were best left undisturbed.

Digging them up wouldn’t help them heal.

Everyone had their reasons for burying painful memories.

“Ha…”

Though it wasn’t as painful as before, revisiting those memories still made her heart ache as if it were burning.

“But still…”

Psyche decided to set aside thoughts of the child. She shook her head unconsciously.

The next thought that came to her was…

“When I found out the Duke intended to kill me, I wasn’t in my right mind.”

Rachel’s words echoed back at her.

And with them came Clint’s voice from that day.

“If that woman gives birth, kill her.”

Everything had stemmed from that single sentence.

Psyche felt more confused.

‘He wasn’t trying to kill me?’

Her headache intensified at the thought.

She felt she needed to find the starting point of everything, to understand where it had all gone wrong. But the more she thought about it, the more her head hurt.

“What exactly should I ask?”

She had believed he wanted to kill her, so she hadn’t dared to ask.

Even if he had intended to kill her, if he denied it, she would never know the truth.

But now, she couldn’t ask why he hadn’t told her.

It felt too much like asking what she meant to him.

“We’re just a contractual relationship…”

Psyche thought there was no point in questioning him.

She couldn’t reach a conclusion.

She didn’t know how to view Clint anymore.

Psyche pressed her temples, trying to alleviate her headache, but it wouldn’t go away.

She felt nauseous and cold, suddenly overwhelmed with fatigue.

Feeling so tired, she thought she might fall asleep at any moment.

Despite her dizziness, she made it to her bedroom and lay down.

She fell into a deep sleep almost immediately.

❖ ❖ ❖

“What time is it?”

Psyche awoke groggily, then sat up in alarm.

The curtains were drawn back, and it was pitch black outside.

Alexa, who had been tidying up to ensure Psyche’s rest, approached her.

“You were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t want to wake you…”

“You should have woken me…”

Psyche slowly got out of bed.

“Where’s Clint? We were supposed to have dinner together…”

She trailed off, realizing she also needed to tell him about Rachel’s visit.

“The Duke said he wouldn’t be able to return tonight. He might not be back until tomorrow.”

“Really? That’s strange…”

He rarely broke his promises.

If he said he would return at a certain time, he would. He was always punctual.

Psyche found it odd, but Alexa reassured her it was nothing to worry about.

“Maybe he’s just delayed with work? I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.”

“Maybe…”

Psyche, who had grown accustomed to her routine with Clint, felt strangely unsettled without him.

When had she started feeling this way about him?

Psyche felt a pang in her heart.

Alexa, noticing her expression, spoke up.

“Perhaps you should sleep a bit more.”

“I don’t think I can sleep anymore. I’ve already slept a lot.”

Psyche said as she got out of bed completely and looked out the window.

“I thought I’d feel better after sleeping, but I still feel a bit dizzy.”

“You should rest more.”

Alexa looked worried, but Psyche dismissed her concern, moving to the window in her negligee.

“I just feel cooped up.”

Psyche flung the window open and took a deep breath. The gust of wind that rushed in felt refreshingly cool.

The sudden chill cleared her head a little.

“I think I’m hungry.”

“Shall I bring you some refreshments?”

“Hmm, I feel sleepy again.”

Psyche yawned, perching on the window ledge.

Alexa smiled awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

“Did Alejandro go with Clint?”

“Yes, I saw them leave together yesterday.”

“What could it be about?”

“I’m not sure. It’s probably nothing serious.”

Psyche nodded.

Clint always informed her of his plans when leaving the estate.

Despite her uneasy thoughts, she decided to ask him when he returned.

“I need to tell him Rachel visited…”

The thought gave her a headache.

Should she start by admitting she had misunderstood him? Or ask why he didn’t tell her he intended to kill Rachel?

Ultimately, the question she dreaded was: What did she mean to him?

But…

‘We’re just in a contractual relationship.’

It always came back to that.

Even though they had grown closer since her return, they hadn’t had a heart-to-heart conversation.

She had assumed their closeness was simply due to spending more time together. But now, with him absent, she felt a strange emptiness.

“When is he returning?”

Psyche asked again, and this time, Alexa laughed.

“Madam, do you miss the Duke that much?”

“Ah… No, that’s not it.”

Seeing Psyche blush deeply, Alexa couldn’t help but laugh harder.

“I just have something to talk about!”

“Yes, I understand.”

Alexa tried to stifle her laughter.

Psyche frowned, embarrassed, and quickly changed the subject.

“I suddenly crave something sour.”

“Sour fruit?”

“Yes.”

Psyche’s eyes widened as she licked her lips.

“I’ll arrange for it.”

“Not too much, just a little.”

“Yes, too much at night isn’t good for your stomach.”

“You sometimes talk like a mother, even though we’re not that far apart in age.”

“It’s all for your sake, Madam.”

Alexa arranged for the servants to bring some refreshments.

Despite the late hour, a small feast was prepared.

Psyche gasped at the amount.

“Goodness, this is too much.”

“Leave what you don’t want. Since you missed dinner, they brought a larger portion.”

“I only want the fruit. The tea and cookies feel heavy.”

“Please try a little of everything. You need to put on some weight.”

“…”

Psyche immediately reached for the fruit.

She wondered why she was suddenly craving sour fruit as she picked up a piece and popped it into her mouth.

The tangy flavor spread through her mouth pleasantly.

“Heavens, isn’t it sour? It’s not fully ripe yet; you should dip it in honey.”

Alexa pushed a small glass dish of honey toward her.

The sweet scent wafted up, but Psyche shook her head, refusing.

She swallowed the fruit and spoke.

“It’s not that sour. It’s good. I dislike sweet things more.”

As Psyche reached for another piece, the door to her room suddenly burst open.

“Who dares enter the Madam’s room without permission!”

“Huh?”

Alexa snapped irritably, turning her head, but then stopped.

Psyche, too, turned toward the door with a piece of fruit in her mouth.

“Your Grace!”

Alexa quickly adjusted her attitude.

Standing there was none other than Clint.

He had come alone, without Alejandro.

Clint, with a much more serious expression than usual, walked a few steps into the room and addressed Alexa coldly.

“I need to speak privately with my wife. Everyone, leave.”

Alexa and the other servants bowed and quickly exited the room, leaving Psyche and Clint alone.

Psyche felt a mixture of confusion and anticipation as she watched him approach, her heart pounding in her chest.