Chapter : 08
“The Uninvited Guest”
It was Rachel Hailston.
She was sitting in the reception room as if she were the mistress of the place, and Psyche frowned without realizing it.
“Madam!”
Leaning back against the edge of the sofa, legs stretched out to the side, she looked nothing like a refined noble lady.
When she spotted Psyche, Rachel startled and quickly stood up.
“I thought Clint would come out—I didn’t expect you, Madam.”
At those words, Psyche raised her eyebrows, then lowered them again.
“Please address him as Duke Valentine here.”
“Pardon?”
“I mean that you shouldn’t casually use the duke’s name in front of the servants.”
“Oh! My goodness, how rude of me.”
Ignoring Rachel’s embarrassed laugh, Psyche sat down on the sofa opposite her. Like it or not, the fact that she would have to deal with this woman until Clint returned already felt exhausting.
“Oh, right. I brought some rare tea leaves as a visiting gift. I was going to give them to Cli—ah, the duke, but since you’re here, Madam, shall we have some tea together?”
Sensing the awkwardness between them, Rachel chuckled and pulled something out. Psyche gestured casually to the servant standing nearby, who stepped forward and took what Rachel offered.
The two women sat facing each other in an uneasy silence. It was Rachel who broke it first.
“You’re very fortunate, Madam.”
“Fortunate? Me?”
When her husband was trying to kill her? Hardly. Psyche let out a faint, humorless laugh and looked at her. Unbothered, Rachel continued.
“Have you heard the rumors about the Viscount of Baisek?”
When Psyche merely looked at her without answering, Rachel went on.
“Well, it seems that Viscount Baisek brought a woman from somewhere. That alone would be one thing, but apparently he drove out the viscountess and her son. He even plans to make that woman his lawful wife—and stripped his son of the right to inherit the title. Isn’t it absurd?”
Wondering why Rachel was telling her this, Psyche simply nodded.
“Men must be like that. When they’re mad with love, they can’t see their wives or children. But there’s no need to worry about that with the duke. I’m jealous, really.”
Rachel laughed loudly and theatrically. Psyche hesitated, unsure how to respond, but at that perfect moment a simple tea service was brought in. Soon, cups filled with tea brewed from the tender leaves Rachel had brought were placed before them.
The pale green liquid shimmered clearly in the cups. Rachel glanced at Psyche and quickly lifted her own cup.
“Mmm… the aroma is wonderful!”
Rachel made a fuss, inhaling the fragrance of the tea she had brought. Since she was still a guest, Psyche swallowed the sigh rising in her throat and lifted her own cup—but froze at the sudden, pungent stench. Startled, she clapped one hand over her mouth.
“Huh?”
Rachel’s eyes widened as she looked at Psyche.
“This is…”
Unaware that her face was tightly twisted in discomfort, Psyche set the cup down on the table with a sharp clink.
They were jabia tea leaves.
Could this woman possibly…
Jabia leaves were known to be harmful to pregnant women. Fighting the wave of nausea threatening to make her retch, Psyche pushed the cup away. Rachel looked slightly flustered.
“Leaves from the jabia tree… for someone pregnant like me—ugh…”
Unable to endure it any longer, Psyche let out a groan and hurriedly pressed a napkin to her mouth.
“What is going on here?”
A strange voice cut into the space between them. At just that moment, Clint appeared, and upon seeing Psyche’s deathly pale face, he strode into the reception room.
Seeing Clint, Psyche felt an overwhelming sense of relief that she no longer had to remain there. She abruptly pushed herself up, desperate to escape the room filled with the nauseating smell of Jabia leaves.
“Are you all right? Rachel—what did you do this time?”
Clint carefully examined Psyche. Feeling as though she might vomit if she spoke, she covered her mouth with one hand and waved vaguely with the other, indicating she was leaving.
“Mm.”
She stepped aside from the table. As Clint tried to support her, Rachel suddenly shouted.
“What do you mean, ‘what did I do’? Clint, Duke. Do you have any idea how expensive that tea is?”
Rachel, wearing an aggrieved expression, looked on the verge of tears.
“Stop saying nonsense and sit down. Madam, are you all right?”
After giving Rachel a cursory glance, Clint supported Psyche.
He personally escorted her to the bedroom.
Dizzy, nauseated, barely able to walk and not fully conscious, Psyche had no clear memory of how she reached the bedroom before collapsing onto the bed.
“I’ve sent for the physician.”
“Ah…”
As the smell faded and she lay down, the spinning in her vision finally seemed to settle.
Psyche lay on her back, staring at the ceiling as she released a shaky breath. Cold sweat beaded across her forehead.
She felt a little more alive now. Weakly, she spoke to Clint, who stood beside her with a worried expression.
“Lady Hailston will be waiting. Please go to her. The physician is coming, so I’ll be fine.”
Holding her head, Psyche urged him to leave.
“No. I’ll listen to what the physician has to say first. You’ve been fainting lately, and your health doesn’t seem good. I’m worried about the child.”
At that, Psyche let out a hollow laugh.
“Yes… it would be terrible if something happened to the child.”
“Indeed. So please don’t overexert yourself. How about skipping the next banquet? I’ll send a letter to Her Majesty the Empress to ask for her understanding.”
At those words, Psyche jolted upright in shock—only for the spinning world to force her back down again.
“Ah…”
“Careful!”
“Th-that banquet… I’m going to attend.”
“Must you?”
Of course I must. If not then, there won’t be another chance to escape.
Hiding her true thoughts, Psyche forced a gentle smile.
“Once the baby is born… I won’t be able to go out much and will have to stay inside all the time. It might be my last outing…”
Clint pondered for a moment, then nodded.
“I hadn’t considered that. Very well. But since I can’t accompany you, you must take Alexa with you.”
“Alexa?”
“The physician has arrived.”
She had already said she didn’t want a guard knight, but before she could argue, the physician entered, cutting the conversation short.
“How long have these symptoms been continuing?”
After carefully examining Psyche, the physician asked.
“They haven’t really… occurred repeatedly.”
“Then that’s a relief. There are faint signs of premature labor, but if you continue to rest, you should be fine.”
“Premature labor?”
“Yes. Please avoid going out, refrain from walking as much as possible, and spend your days resting comfortably in bed. I’ll have good medicinal herbs brought to you every evening.”
“……”
Psyche thought it was fortunate that Clint had left the bedroom before the physician arrived.
If Clint had been there, she might truly have been confined to bed without moving at all.
She wouldn’t even be able to think about attending the banquet, let alone going out.
“I understand. You may go.”
After dismissing the physician, she gently stroked her belly. She had been healthy all along, so this sudden change was likely due to repeated exposure to jabia leaves.
That was why she wasn’t overly worried. She considered it temporary. More urgent than anything was securing money for life after she fled.
Lost in thought, she grew restless from staying inside and decided to take a short walk outside. The duke had said he would reconsider, and from some point on, even Alexa was no longer to be seen—though, of course, with conditions attached.
The day after returning from the ball, the duke had summoned her.
“I want to be alone, at least until I give birth.”
When Psyche pleaded with sorrowful eyes, the duke finally sighed.
“All right. I’ll make adjustments. But once the child is born, there will be absolutely no compromise, Madam. Everything is for you and the child, so please understand.”
“…I understand.”
And so Psyche was alone once more. The outdoor air felt fresh after a long time. She headed for the garden she always walked through—the one closest to the main gate and her favorite place.
The afternoon sunlight, just beginning to fall, felt warm. As she walked, she organized her thoughts one by one.
It seemed best to exchange jewelry or dresses for expensive medicinal herbs or perfumes. They were light, and some rare herbs were worth as much as precious diamonds.
As she was thinking this, a familiar voice reached her ears.
“Hmph. Even knowing what I might do?”
“What?”
“That I might end up tormenting you like this.”
At the voice—sultry, as if seducing a man—Psyche immediately knew who the woman in the garden was. She hurried toward the source of the sound. Passing neatly trimmed, she soon came upon a slightly flustered Clint and Rachel. Narrowing her eyes, she looked at them.
“Madam?”
“……”
Rachel’s hand was resting on Clint’s chest. Meeting Psyche’s displeased gaze, Clint hurriedly stepped back.
“Looks like the two of you are having fun here.”
“Oh my, Madam, you must be misunderstanding. I was just—”
Ridiculous people. Psyche had no desire whatsoever to question what kind of relationship her husband had with this woman.
“Please, continue what you were doing.”
Since she was already planning to run away, there was no need to get worked up over something like this.
She walked off without hesitation. She could hear Clint following behind her, but it seemed Rachel grabbed him again soon after. As the two argued behind her, Psyche passed through the garden and kept walking wherever her feet carried her.
Perhaps she was angrier than she realized—before she knew it, she found herself in an unfamiliar place. Psyche looked around, slightly flustered.
End Of Chapter : 08
