So the Duchess Disappeared

61. Whose Child Is It? Part 2

Clint was in a panic as if Psyche had fallen seriously ill.

Due to Psyche’s illness, the appointment with the queen was also canceled.

Clint, who already disliked their meetings, took it as a sign and simply canceled the appointment altogether.

During the party, there was a mansion prepared specifically for the Duke and Duchess, but Psyche didn’t even make it there and ended up being nursed within the palace.

Although it wasn’t anything serious, and she was just a little tired, Clint made sure Psyche couldn’t move a muscle.

Despite going back and forth to the palace every day, Clint, perhaps not trusting it, even sent a high-speed carriage to bring their personal physician.

Only when the doctor said it was simply fatigue and exhaustion did Clint finally calm down.

Psyche had just been a little tired, not seriously ill, but somehow it had escalated to this situation.

While Psyche was lying down, it was Helen who mingled energetically among the nobles.

Using her outspokenness and her position as a confidante of the duchess, she displayed tremendous sociability.

She attended the party vigorously and would come to Psyche every day to tell her what happened during the day.

“So, the Countess drank all that wine by herself?”

Helen spread gossip from today’s party as if reporting on it.

Stories about which lady came overdressed, turning into a laughingstock, or about the emperor and empress playfully arguing over their prince, were the topics of conversation.

After talking for a while, Helen suddenly changed the subject.

“Sister, let’s go to the party together tomorrow.”

Psyche nodded her head.

Since the appointment was canceled, she felt she should meet with the queen once more.

“Yeah, we should go. Her Majesty will be leaving soon, too.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Oh!”

“…?”

As if she had forgotten something important, Helen clapped her knees and opened her mouth again.

“They say Her Majesty also lost a child when she was young.”

“What?”

“Why, about four or five years ago, there was quite a commotion with the rebel forces in Tarang.”

“Yeah, I remember…”

Psyche nodded vaguely, already knowing the story.

“At that time, it’s said that she secretly sent the child to our country with the nanny to save the child’s life.”

“Our country?”

Psyche’s eyes widened at the mention.

Indeed, that woman must have been the nanny. She had spoken with a mix of Tarang’s accent. Psyche listened to Helen’s words, recalling the events of that time.

“Yeah, but while they were escaping in a carriage, they ran into a group of bandits, and it’s said that the child died.”

“What? Can you explain that in more detail?”

Psyche’s hopes, which had been somewhat dashed when she searched for Shilard, were rekindled in a situation very similar to what she had experienced before.

“Well, the queen herself didn’t know much about the situation, but the nanny who was with the child at the time knew better.”

“But…”

“I don’t know about the rest, but it’s said that only the nanny survived by fleeing from the bandits. They said the child died?”

“Are you sure?”

“Well… probably? The nanny went back to the scene of the attack to confirm.”

“…”

Psyche felt a sense of unwarranted certainty.

It couldn’t just be dismissed as a coincidence that the circumstances when the queen lost her child were so similar to when Psyche brought Shilard.

“Why? Do you know something?”

Helen asked, curious, as Psyche remained silent.

“No, it’s just…”

Psyche was about to ask something else when someone entered the room.

“Oh, Your Highness!”

Psyche’s question to Helen was cut off by Clint’s appearance.

After spending the whole day with the emperor, a tired-looking Clint sat heavily on the chair next to Psyche’s bed.

“Are you feeling a bit better?”

“Um… yes.”

It seemed that the ongoing discomfort was due to the contraceptive made from jebia leaves, so she stopped taking it, thinking that there wouldn’t be any trouble while she was at the palace.

After doing so, her condition improved significantly.

Taking off his jacket, Clint sighed lightly and carefully examined Psyche.

“It seems that Her Majesty is quite disappointed that she can’t meet with you often.”

“Ah…”

Psyche also felt disappointed that she couldn’t meet the queen often.

Clint, who glanced at Psyche’s face, opened his mouth again.

“The queen suggested that if Madame is feeling well, we could have a brief tea time and chat in the evening…”

Clint quickly added, in case Psyche might refuse.

“If you’re tired, you can decline.”

“Oh, no! I’m also very disappointed that I couldn’t have a proper conversation with Her Majesty.”

Psyche, who thought it was fortunate that she couldn’t ask about the child, quickly accepted the offer.

“Then I’ll have someone prepare a place.”

“Oh, by any chance, is Her Majesty going to join us?”

“No. The queen suggested meeting separately.”

Psyche smiled and said it was fine.

Clint sent Alejandro to arrange the meeting in a small hall in the palace.

❖ ❖ ❖

Psyche and Clint headed to the hall alone, accompanied only by Alejandro and Alexa.

Since it wasn’t a formal meeting, they didn’t need to dress too formally, so their attire wasn’t too out of line with etiquette.

The people in the palace were preparing to go to bed, so it was very quiet.

When they arrived at the hall, Queen Sandrine, who had come earlier, waved with a delighted face.

Psyche greeted her respectfully and approached her.

“I apologize for coming late at night. Since I’ll be leaving soon, I regret not being able to have a proper conversation with the marchioness.”

“Oh, I felt the same way.”

Psyche blushed as if she was embarrassed for no reason and took her seat.

Seeing Clint standing behind Psyche, Sandrine burst into a small laugh.

“Are you gentlemen joining our ladies’ gathering?”

“…”

Clint, who was standing awkwardly, came and sat next to Psyche as if on cue.

“Don’t stay too long, Your Highness.”

“Oh my, are you already taking the lady’s side without her husband? I feel left out as a woman coming alone?”

When the queen made a joke, the tense atmosphere eased a bit.

“What’s wrong with that?”

As Psyche and Clint remained silent, Sandrine, as if sensing something, spoke first.

“I… You’re curious about my child, aren’t you?”

“Uh…”

Perceptive Sandrine easily changed the course of the conversation.

“In fact, that’s why I wanted to meet you.”

“Is that so…”

Thanks to Sandrine bringing up the topic first, Psyche felt somewhat relieved.

“Those in similar situations understand each other better.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ve heard rumors about that child.”

Sandrine pointed to Shilard. Psyche quickly responded.

“Oh, are you referring to Shilard?”

“Yes. I knew there were rumors about the child, but since a couple’s affair is something only the couple knows about…”

Sandrine carefully chose her words.

“Unless you’ve experienced the grief of losing a child, you wouldn’t know. That’s why those who haven’t lost a child shouldn’t speak lightly about it…”

Psyche nodded silently.

“I don’t pay much attention to those rumors, so feel free to speak comfortably, Madame.”

With a bright smile that seemed to cover up sadness, Sandrine said.

Psyche quickly understood that the smile barely masked her sorrow.

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty…”

“No, as I mentioned earlier, it’s about understanding and living with each other in similar situations.”

“…”

Psyche suddenly felt her heart sink with the approaching emptiness.

It wasn’t particularly special because it was a feeling she often felt after losing her child.

But the fact that there was one more person who could understand her feelings somehow brought a warm comfort.

And at the same time, Shilard came to mind.

There were too many overlapping events. Psyche gathered her emotions and opened her mouth again.

“So, may I hear more about the day you lost your child?”

As Psyche was talking, she suddenly became aware of Clint next to her and slightly changed the subject.

“I somehow feel like you might know about that incident…”

As Psyche hesitated in her words, Sandrine looked a bit embarrassed.

“Oh… Unfortunately, I don’t remember that event at all. I was too preoccupied with saving my own life as a miserable mother… That’s enough. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I had escaped with my child that day.”

“I see…”

Since Psyche couldn’t continue to stir up memories of that painful day, she had to close her mouth.

“Oh! Speaking of that day, my child’s nanny remembers it well. She’s now my maid and is here with us… She’s here to do my errands… Oh! There she is!”

Sandrine pointed to the entrance of the hall.

A woman with dark brown hair was coming in.

Approaching them, she greeted them politely.

“Maery, there’s someone here curious about you.”

As Sandrine pointed to Psyche, the maid named Maery raised her head.

And… Psyche instantly recognized that face.