So the Duchess Disappeared

80. Catastrophe

Clint’s voice, heavy with tension, had an eerie chill to it.

Though Alexa felt something was off, she couldn’t defy him. She quickly bowed and left the room.

As she exited, Psyche turned her gaze slowly toward Clint.

She, too, could see that Clint was not his usual self. But her own unresolved feelings left her unsure of how to interact with him.

He was the man who hadn’t intended to kill her but had kept everything from her.

Their relationship’s ambiguity left Psyche in turmoil.

Yet, she didn’t want to reveal her emotional upheaval.

Psyche broke the silence awkwardly.

“Is something wrong?”

At her question, Clint finally moved his eyes to meet hers.

But he remained rooted in place, saying nothing.

Ignoring his silence, Psyche began to clear the food from the table.

“I suddenly craved something sour. I felt a bit sleepy, so I thought I’d have a light snack to wake up. Would you like some?”

“…”

Feeling unusually flustered after her encounter with Rachel, Psyche found herself rambling in Clint’s presence.

But Clint still said nothing.

With a faint smile, Psyche tried again.

“Did you come back late? You should have gone to your room to rest. Why are you here?”

She finished clearing the tray and stood up.

“Why are you alone? Where’s Alejandro?”

“…”

Clint continued to stare at her, unmoving, as she approached.

“What are you doing? Come in.”

“…”

Psyche reached to remove the robe Clint wore over his jacket.

Clint grabbed her hand, stopping her.

His face was a mess.

Psyche had never seen him show such an expression, as he was usually adept at hiding his emotions.

Initially, she had thought about telling him Rachel had visited.

Starting that conversation might lead to discussing her misunderstandings, hopefully finding some resolution.

But the atmosphere felt wrong.

Clint took Psyche’s hand from his shoulder and held it.

“…?”

Psyche looked at him in confusion.

Clint couldn’t imagine what expression he was wearing.

He thought he had mastered hiding and controlling his emotions, but now he couldn’t.

Just before Rachel visited the duke’s estate, Alejandro had reported to Clint the findings on ‘the item Psyche had possessed.’

It had been late at night.

Clint finished his work late and assumed Psyche would be asleep. He intended to stop by her room to see her before going to bed himself.

“Your Grace.”

Alejandro entered the office without a sound.

“No knock? This late at night?”

“…”

“Is it that urgent?”

Clint asked, sounding irritated. Alejandro looked uneasy.

“It’s about… the thing you asked me to investigate. Do you remember?”

Clint frowned, trying to recall. Then he remembered.

“Ah, the item found in the Madam’s room?”

“Yes.”

“And this is so urgent you had to come at this hour?”

Clint had assumed it was merely a poison, something Psyche might have carried for self-defense.

But Alejandro’s expression was serious.

“…What did you find?”

Alejandro took a deep breath, then spoke.

“The item… it’s a powerful curse, Your Grace. One designed to inflict extreme pain and suffering over time.”

Clint’s eyes widened in shock.

“A curse?”

“Yes. It’s an ancient, malevolent magic. Whoever placed it intended to cause unbearable torment.”

Clint felt a surge of anger and fear.

“Who would do such a thing?”

“We don’t know yet, but it’s clear someone has targeted the Madam with malicious intent.”

Clint’s mind raced.

Psyche had been carrying this curse, unaware, suffering because of it. He felt a crushing weight of guilt and protectiveness.

Returning to the present, Clint looked at Psyche, who was watching him with concern.

“Psyche…”

He finally spoke, his voice strained.

“We need to talk.”

Psyche felt a knot in her stomach. She had never seen Clint so distressed.

“What’s wrong, Clint?”

He took a deep breath, struggling to find the right words.

“I found out about something… something terrible. And it involves you.”

Psyche’s heart pounded in her chest.

“What do you mean?”

Clint’s grip on her hand tightened.

“Someone placed a curse on you. A curse meant to cause you immense pain and suffering.”

Psyche’s eyes widened in shock.

“A curse? But… who would do such a thing?”

“We don’t know yet. But I promise, we’ll find out. And I’ll make sure you’re safe.”

Psyche felt a wave of emotions wash over her—fear, confusion, and an unexpected sense of relief at Clint’s determination to protect her.

“Thank you, Clint.”

He looked at her, his eyes filled with resolve.

“I won’t let anything happen to you. Not ever again.”

For the first time in a long while, Psyche felt a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos.

“Yes… I received a response this evening from someone who specializes in herbal studies about its use.”

“And?”

“They said this herb was specially made. Initially, even they didn’t know what it was used for and struggled to figure it out.”

“And then?”

Feeling that the explanation was dragging on, Clint furrowed his brows.

“This is something passed down among women in a special region, specifically in Alistair’s territory…”

Once again, Alejandro stopped speaking.

Clint, irritated by Alejandro’s roundabout way of getting to the point, raised his eyebrows.

“So?”

Alejandro swallowed dryly several times as if his mouth was dry. His face showed a troubled expression.

“It was… something women made for contraception-”

“What?”

Clint cut off Alejandro’s words instantly.

Clint couldn’t believe his ears.

“What did you just say?”

“…”

“What is it used for?”

“Women who don’t want to have children.”

Bang!

Before Alejandro could finish speaking, Clint slammed the table hard.

“…”

Alejandro was speechless.

The fact that the Duchess was taking contraceptives was shocking to anyone.

Everyone thought that since Psyche had returned to the duchy, their relationship had improved significantly.

There were even rumors wondering why they weren’t having children.

Although he couldn’t know everything about his lord’s private life, it seemed that…

Alejandro couldn’t find the words to describe his dismay.

No one should know about this, and it was a confidential matter that should never be disclosed, which is why, even though it was late, he quickly came to Clint.

“Are you sure?”

“…”

Alejandro couldn’t bring himself to look Clint in the eye.

“I asked if you were sure.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for? I’m asking if you’re sure.”

“And… there’s one more thing…”

Hesitantly, Alejandro pulled out a document from his pocket. Unable to say anything more, he closed his eyes tightly.

“What is this?”

Clint, with intense eyes, looked down at the document in front of him.

“…”

Clint recognized the document’s purpose immediately.

“Divorce papers…?”

“That was found in the Duchess’s room.”

“Unbelievable.”

Clint rubbed his face in disbelief.

He remembered the last time he had looked for Psyche. She had hurriedly put something away in front of him. Although he didn’t want to believe it, everything was starting to make sense.

Clint clenched his fists.

Psyche’s words flashed through his mind like a carousel.

She always said strange things whenever they were intimate.

“No matter what, it’s pointless.”

“We might not be able to have children…”

The echoing voice of the woman was unfamiliar. He hadn’t anticipated that those words carried such a meaning.

“Ha.”

It felt like the fragmented pieces of the puzzle were finally coming together into a picture.

It wasn’t pleasant.

Yes, those words had meaning.

Since she was taking contraceptives, everything would seem pointless to her.

Clint couldn’t contain his anger.

Not only was she taking contraceptives, but she had also prepared for divorce while pretending otherwise.

It was unimaginable and unthinkable.

He was trembling with betrayal.

He was extremely angry.

An indescribable emotion engulfed his entire body.

“I…”

Clint took a deep breath and looked back.

From the day he first met Psyche until now.

What exactly was she to him? He pondered.

At this point, they were bound by more than just a contract; he had given her too much.

He hadn’t anticipated or calculated that he would become so deeply involved in a relationship that started as a mere contract.

So… he wanted her to stay by his side.

And he thought that would happen.

He hadn’t anticipated facing such a harsh and miserable reality.

No, Psyche had always been like that.

She was always unpredictable, and just when he thought they were getting closer, she would suddenly drift away.

Everything was the worst.

Thinking that, he found himself in front of Psyche’s bedroom.

When he opened the door and faced Psyche, the emotions that surged along with his anger were…

Unexpectedly, the desire not to lose her.

Pathetically so.

“I need to speak with my wife in private, so everyone, please leave.”

He sent everyone away, leaving just him and Psyche.

Clint, taking in her flustered appearance, pulled out her belongings from his pocket and showed them.

Psyche’s face hardened in an instant as she greeted him with various words.

“What… is this?”