Saiki didn't want to get sucked into Clint's attitude, but she couldn't help but feel angry.
Without wanting to fully reveal her true feelings, Saiki spoke calmly.
“Okay. If I have the baby, will the contract end?”
As Saiki asked again, Clint, who looked like he was trying to break off their connection in any way, was also wearing an annoyed expression.
“You must fulfill the contract to the fullest. Don’t think about running away until you have the baby.”
He added another condition.
Although he promised to treat her with the utmost nobility if she just gave birth to the child, and even offered her wealth and honor, Clint's intentions were unclear.
He felt upset for no reason.
“During the contract period, you must faithfully carry out the duties of a duchess.”
The Duke stated coldly, as if giving an order.
Although the tone was noble, it was dry and sounded angry, which made Saiki feel even more strange.
Originally, she wasn't thinking about returning to the ducal estate so quickly, but even if she did, she didn't want to go back to the days when she quietly stayed at the ducal estate and adjusted to the duke.
Even if she didn't live in the Duke's shadow, she thought she should create her own way.
So, raising her head proudly, Psyche looked directly at the Duke and spoke.
“Yes. If I do it, I will do it right.”
And she wanted to return to Alistair's castle the day she was freed from the contract, looking more dignified than anyone else.
There was no time to fight emotions with him.
She thought she should fulfill her role as Duchess to the fullest, even more than anyone else.
"Good."
The Duke was somewhat surprised by Psyche, who did not take back her words at all.
Well, she's never looked so weak before. She seemed to agree with me...
Clint felt a pain in his heart at her current condition.
He wanted her to depend on him more. It seemed like she was trying to distance herself from him.
He didn't know what this feeling was.
However, thinking he could keep it until the baby was born, Clint extended his hand towards Saiki with a feeling of relief.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“I feel the same way.”
He held her hand extended towards her in the air, and Saiki's face was like that of a knight ready for battle.
“To celebrate the lady’s return, let us gather for a simple meal tonight.”
"…Good."
Although Saiki found the suggestion uncomfortable, she didn't seem compelled to avoid it.
Saiki finally raised her lips and smiled.
And here it happened.
"sister!"
The door suddenly opened with a loud sound, and Helen hurriedly entered, retreating at the sight of the unexpected guest.
“Oh?”
When she was about to run towards Saiki, Helen quickly stopped when she saw Clint in the room.
“Ah, Your Majesty.”
As she stood there awkwardly, Helen greeted him quickly and politely.
“Oh, I was about to leave.”
After Clint pressed his lips to Saiki's hand, he stood up gracefully. His movements were very elegant and elegant. Without a wrinkle, he stepped back.
When she saw him leave the room, Helen, who had been staring at him in amazement, quickly turned her head.
"sister!"
Helen quickly approached Psyche and sat on the edge of the bed. Then she said grimly: “No, how could you hide something like this?”
"…What?"
Psyche responded to the unexpected remark.
“Seriously, the fact that my sister is a duchess? I never thought this could be real.”
“Oh… I wasn't trying to hide that.”
“When the Duke pointed to you and said his wife was here, I almost spilled everything, you know.”
“…Helen.”
Helen's eyes widened, making a noise. While Saiki usually spoke without thinking, today seemed more private.
Considering that Psyche has been looking after Alistair's castle for so long without ever speaking about Clint or married life, the reveal of her being the Duchess might be even more shocking.
Moreover, with the fantasies Helen had about palaces, kings, and high nobility, it was sure to be even more surprising.
We can't talk about this. So, I didn't mention it.
"But how can you be so indifferent! When we first met, we pretended not to know each other. Isn't that how noble people are?"
"It's not like that. I never planned to come back... No. Let's stop talking. How is Shellard, is he okay?"
Helen was interested in their conversation, so she nodded sadly when Psyche changed the subject.
“Shilard was very ill, but the resident doctor here said that he would recover soon. But it seemed that the Duke was more worried about you?”
“…Worried, huh?”
Saiki laughed with a feeling of disappointment.
“What's there to worry about...”
Because she was unable to reveal the nature of their contract, she stopped talking.
“However, it is hard to believe for someone who knows nothing.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”
Psyche clapped her hands and stood up from the bed.
“Where are you going, sister?”
“Oh, I was planning to see Shelard...”
Helen grabbed Psyche's wrist and pulled her back.
“No, don’t. The doctor advised him to rest as much as possible.”
“Really? I wanted to see him...”
“Well, it's not your baby.”
“Helen!”
Saiki screamed loudly upon noticing her.
“I'm not deaf. Why are you suddenly like this?”
"Don't say like that if you don't know the truth. Do you know how I was about to confess everything when the Duke pointed to you and said that his wife was here?"
“…Helen.”
Helen shrugged and nodded, a sad face on her face.
“Sorry. Maybe you have your reasons for keeping it a secret.”
"Oh! Oh! You pretended we were strangers when we first met. Aren't all nobles like that?"
"No. Forget it. Don't mention it outside, at least for now."
Maybe Clint was being nice to Shellard, thinking he was Saiki's son. It seemed ridiculous that he would treat another child born abroad as his own, but it was the truth.
Psyche didn't want to reveal the truth, because she wanted to provide a good environment for Shilard.
"Ah, ah. Okay, I see. Maybe you have your own ideas."
Helen shrugged and nodded.
“By the way, where is Claude?”
“Oh, since my sister isn’t here, he said he would take care of the property for a while.”
"Really? Is that all he does?"
"Yes, why? What more should he do?"
Psyche waved her hand as if to say there was nothing else left.
Clint viewed him as Shellard's father. So, naturally, I expected him not to come here, but surprisingly, Clint didn't show any pressure.
Saiki thought it might be better this way. If Clint and Claude get into an unjustified emotional conflict, it will make things even more difficult for her.
Helen got up and straightened her clothes.
"Why don't you take a break too, sister? You've been working tirelessly at Alistair Castle without a day off. You must be exhausted."
Helen was really worried about Psyche, especially after hearing that she cried and almost fainted from exhaustion.
She was the only one who had been by Saiki's side, and witnessed her suffering more than anyone else.
“Sister, you too, huh? The Duke is telling you to slow down, and you’re being stubborn. Stop acting so tough all the time. Understood?”
“You really… have a way with words.”
Psyche couldn't help but burst out laughing at Helen's comment.
"This is magical! Anyway, I'll go. Rest in peace!"
However, Psyche waved her hand goodbye as Helen left the room, leaving a deep silence behind her.
“…”
Although she lay down to sleep, she found no relief. But she did not want to reveal the fact that she had been wandering around and then returned to the Duke's house.
“Sigh...”
I sat down and naturally began to think about the future.
“First...”
She needed to clarify the terms of the contract with Clint.
If she became pregnant and gave birth, Clint might consider her unnecessary again and might want to kill her, she suspected.
“I shouldn't get pregnant before I establish a foundation to live on my own.”
Psyche sat quietly on the bed, planning.
“I need to ensure contraception right now.”
Taking care of her body was a priority. She didn't want to go through days of fear of being killed again.
She felt she needed to build her own strength.
“For the baby’s sake, for Shelard’s sake, for my sake, we all need to survive.”
She mumbled to herself and unconsciously touched her now non-swollen stomach.
She felt strange touching her stomach, which had become flatter as if it had been fattened. It's been a long time since I touched him.
But then, the door creaked open.
“Excuse me, Madam Shellard. If you come this way, pardon me!”
"or!"
When the door that had been gradually opening suddenly opened, Schildard lunged at Psyche as if he were attacking her.
Unexpectedly, Psyche embraced Shilard when he approached her, and carried him in her arms.
"Chilean!"
"mama!"
“Sorry for the delay. He insisted on seeing you, so… His Majesty just wanted you to send him away if he was so annoying.”
“His lordship?”
"Yes. I'll be outside then. Call me if you need anything."
"Mom! Mom!"
Schilder kept playing in Psyche's arms.