Chapter 35
Evening at the Grand Duke’s castle began with a grand welcome for the Clement Count and Countess.
The dinner, held at dusk in Nyx’s palace, was perfect.
The sky and clouds shifted in soft colors as they passed before the fading sun.
Dishes made with ingredients rarely seen in the Cigarr Empire appeared one after another. To consider the Count and Countess, who might not like unfamiliar tastes, meat dishes were also served in a very appetizing way.
Meanwhile, Psyche watched her father, whose sickly appearance had slightly improved, and quietly let out a sigh of relief.
‘It’s a relief… Father seems to be recovering a little.’
While they were apart, she constantly worried about his condition.
She sometimes received news from their estate, but not being by his side, not being able to see him with her own eyes, had always made her restless.
Seeing him healthier than before finally eased her heart.
“Father, does the food not suit your taste?”
“…No, Psyche. I am only grateful to His Highness for caring for us so much despite our sudden visit.”
Psyche looked at her father’s still-full plate even though dinner had already started.
As the Count said, the Grand Duke welcomed them far more generously than expected. Dishes they had never seen in their entire lives were served.
Grilled lobster, lamb ribs, and even salted sturgeon roe meant to be eaten alongside the meat.
But while many dishes came and went, the Count of Clement’s plate remained untouched.
“If the food doesn’t suit you, you don’t need to force yourself. I can ask them to prepare something else—”
“That won’t be necessary, Psyche.”
The Count’s feelings were complicated.
Their family fortune had begun to decline during the previous count’s era—Psyche’s grandfather.
He already knew there were countless things in the world he had never experienced… but he had never felt that gap so clearly until now.
Especially that strange-looking roe… He didn’t even know how to eat it. Bringing it near his nose already filled the air with a strong, fishy smell.
But Psyche looked as if it were normal, something she saw every day.
‘It’s a relief that Psyche enjoys such luxury now. But…’
All the things he had never been able to give his daughter.
Thinking of reality made it difficult to swallow any food.
“Father, this one is delicious too. Please try it.”
Not realizing his heavy thoughts, Psyche smiled softly and looked at the newly replaced plate.
A maid behind the Count stepped forward to bring the plate closer. They worked together smoothly, like it was routine.
“…Yes, it looks good.”
The Count sighed inside.
Just as Psyche said, she seemed to be living well. He couldn’t know what she felt inside, but at least her appearance showed no problem.
“Psyche, I… have something to discuss with you. Could you ask the servants to leave the dining hall for a moment?”
Psyche’s eyes widened. Her pink eyes—so similar to her father’s—showed surprise.
“Yes, Father.”
She gave a small signal to the servants.
Soon, every servant in the hall left. The Count wet his dry lips.
The Countess’s warm hand rested over his, giving him a bit of comfort.
“Psyche… why has His Highness the Grand Duke not shown himself at all?”
The Grand Duke had not appeared even once since they arrived.
He had welcomed them splendidly, but that was all.
“The Grand Duke rules a country. He must be very busy.”
As if she had expected the question, Psyche answered calmly. But the light that usually shone in her eyes seemed dim.
There was a hint of effort… as if she was trying to pretend to be fine.
“Even so, aren’t you two future spouses? Does His Highness show himself to you often, Psyche?”
“Of course, I see him every day. Don’t worry, Father.”
“But Psyche, my daughter… I heard His Highness’s office never turns its lights off, not even at night. Then when do you even see him?”
The Count recalled the words of the Grand Duke’s messenger, Sir Aster, who had guided them here.
Aster had shared many things, but one sentence had stayed in the Count’s heart:
‘Your daughter is living in loneliness.’
In noble society, marriage might be considered a business deal, but he at least wished that his daughter would be happy with someone she loved.
He knew this was something he needed to talk about eventually.
“Psyche, I am still looking for a way to take you back.”
“No, Father. There’s no need. I’m doing well.”
“…Are you truly doing well?”
Rumors said the ruler of the Hayer Grand Duchy had never revealed his face to the world.
So perhaps he didn’t greet the Count because he never appeared to anyone… or worse, maybe he didn’t even show himself to Psyche, his fiancée.
When the Count asked, Psyche’s eyes trembled.
Not only that—her mother’s hand resting on his began trembling too.
At that moment, the Count became certain.
“Answer honestly, Psyche. Has His Highness… not shown himself to you either?”
“Honey, we’re eating. Psyche must have worked so hard preparing for our visit. Let’s eat first.”
The Countess hurried to stop him, but the Count took a deep breath, steadying his anger, and stared straight at Psyche.
A moment of silence passed… and Psyche’s tightly closed lips slowly opened.
“…Yes, Father. I have met the Grand Duke, but I’ve never seen his face.”
“…….”
“When I accepted the proposal, there was a condition… that I cannot see his face until marriage. Our meetings happen only in the dark.”
The Count felt his anger explode all the way to the top of his head.
“Psyche, how could this be?!”
To not even see the face of her fiancé?!
More than the fact that everyone had lied to him, he was furious that Psyche had accepted such a strange condition.
Because of his illness. Because of the cursed sickness that weakened his heart.
“It’s all right, Father. His Highness treats me with great care. He even opened the western wing just for me.”
Psyche smiled softly.
“As His Highness never shows his face to the public, it is natural he avoids me as well. I am still a guest in this land.”
“…….”
“Gaining his trust will take a long time, but… I’m grateful simply for being given the chance.”
For a low-ranking noble girl to become the lady of a whole country—it was unheard of.
Psyche knew that all too well, and she seemed to have fully accepted it.
Her lovely pink eyes shone brightly, just like when she once said she would become the lady of the Clement family.
The Count couldn’t bring himself to say anything more.
The words he wanted to tell her remained locked in his heart.
It had always been that way. Although they were honest with each other, he was the one who had broken that unspoken rule first.
His lovely daughter remained warm and strong as always…
“I’ve heard… that he doesn’t look human at all. Psyche, if someday you see his true form and he appears not human… use this.”
You must know how to protect yourself.
The Count quietly added this as he placed a dagger on the table.
A bright red jewel was set where the sheath and handle connected.
The metal scraped across the table as he slid it toward her.
When Psyche’s gaze fell upon it, the dagger shone sharply—bright and cold.
