So the Duchess Disappeared

56. Disagreement

Clint raised his eyebrows at Psyche’s sudden remark.

Psyche’s earlier fixated expression during the Emperor’s words wasn’t because he mentioned her inheritance.

‘A blonde beauty.’

It was because the unknown queen’s image overlapped with Shilard’s face.

He had vaguely thought she might have an extraordinary background.

Shilard’s shining blonde hair and other features didn’t look ordinary at all.

Moreover, if the King had anticipated the rebellion in Tarun and made his successor flee beforehand, then the timing of Psyche bringing Shilard aligned somewhat.

Perhaps, the child lost by that queen might be Shilard, causing Psyche to feel as if all her thoughts were paralyzed.

The queen’s appearance resembling Psyche, the timing of the rebellion coinciding with when Shilard was rescued—it all seemed oddly coincidental. Especially with a woman speaking in the Tarun accent beside Shilard! This couldn’t just be a mere coincidence.

The eerie feeling that he could be the heir of Tarun gave him chills.

So as soon as the Emperor left, he brought it up.

“Where are you planning to take the child, madam?”

Clint asked with a puzzled expression.

“I want to take Shilard to the welcoming reception as mentioned by His Majesty earlier.”

Clint didn’t reply. Only the sound of their footsteps echoed dryly in the corridor.

Psyche quietly waited for Clint’s response.

After walking for a while, Clint suddenly stopped and stood upright.

“Do you know what kind of commotion will arise if you bring Shilard?”

He asked Psyche, looking at her with a strange expression.

She seemed unaware of how much he had endured to keep her at the duchy.

He seemed to suddenly burst with anger, as if all the moments of his silent suffering were suddenly trivialized.

It was obvious what people would say if the Duchess, who had returned after several years, brought a child who looked nothing like her to the reception.

He didn’t want to leave such a flaw.

“But… I still want to make sure.”

Psyche answered, avoiding his gaze.

“You really don’t think, do you?”

“What?”

Psyche raised her head in surprise.

The Duke’s pupils were as cold as frozen ice.

This kind of aggressive speech was new to Psyche, so she was taken aback.

But knowing there was no point in arguing with him, she swallowed her rising emotions.

It was true that there were parts about Shilard he was turning a blind eye to.

He thought it was more important to bring Shilard to the reception and show him to the queen than to argue with him.

“Shilard is…”

Psyche swallowed her saliva as she contemplated her thoughts about Shilard.

She knew it was unreasonable even by her standards.

Yet she was always plagued by an inexplicable sense of guilt.

She didn’t even realize that her actions were a reaction to the loss of her child.

Psyche still harbored guilt over losing her child, and this manifested as a strange obsession to find parents for Shilard.

To her, this behavior was a form of atonement.

For her child she never got to see in the sunlight…

But Clint, who couldn’t understand her feelings, became even angrier.

“Seriously! I never knew madam would be this unreasonable.”

Clint raised his voice.

Since he rarely raised his voice outside of the study, all attention was immediately drawn to him.

Clint couldn’t understand why he was so angry.

In fact, turning a blind eye to Psyche’s child was something he thought possible, given their contractual relationship.

When he first met Psyche with the child, there was a strange feeling piercing his heart. But not knowing its origin, he pretended it was nothing.

But today, that feeling resurfaced as if ignited by fire.

From his head to his toes, the sensation felt like it would pierce through him, prompting him to speak again.

“His Majesty also told us to bring him along!”

Psyche retorted, her voice trembling.

Shilard hardly had any desire to comply with the Emperor’s suggestion.

“How much should I overlook, madam?”

“What do you mean…?”

“Are you not ashamed that a child born outside is freely wandering around this mansion?”

Psyche suddenly found herself speechless at his icy expression.

A few of the servants stole glances at them. Psyche took a deep breath to keep calm and replied slowly.

“People are listening. Please choose your words carefully.”

The observant servants discreetly retreated one by one upon hearing Psyche’s words.

But Clint still seemed unable to calm down, raising his voice again.

“Did madam just tell me to watch my words?”

There was a hint of madness in Clint’s eyes. It was the first time Psyche had seen him like this, and she was bewildered, but she tried to speak calmly.

“Stop it. People are watching.”

“Do you care about what others see and hear?”

“…”

“Are you worried about what others think? Yet you want to take the child to the reception? Ha!”

Clint seemed completely irrational.

“If you were worried about people seeing, you shouldn’t have brought the child here in the first place!”

He shouted angrily. Seeing no other option, Psyche took him and hurriedly entered her bedroom, closing the door.

Still following her lead into the room, Clint continued to pour out his words, his anger still not subsided.

“Do you even know what true shame is?”

“Are you unaware of what shame is? Your words are too harsh…!”

Psyche was about to confront Clint, but she stopped in surprise when she saw Shilard suddenly pop out from under her bed.

However, Clint seemed to have eyes only for Psyche.

“Do you not understand what it means for that child to be here?”

Clint couldn’t contain his anger.

Losing his composure like this was unprecedented.

No, it was similar to the feeling when he knew Psyche had escaped, a feeling that gnawed at his limbs.

“Not understanding your place is even worse!”

“Not understanding my place…?”

Psyche stuttered in response.

“Do you even realize you want to stab that Claude fellow right now?”

The sudden thought of Psyche spending the past few years affectionately in a home with Claude made Clint feel like his heart was sinking.

Seeing her reject him so vehemently and live with another man made him feel like his throat was being squeezed shut.

He wanted to rush to Alistair Estate right away and tear Claude apart limb by limb.

Not knowing what his feelings towards Psyche were, he was just consumed with anger. And he never realized that all these emotions stemmed from a pathetic sense of jealousy.

“Clint!”

Psyche shouted, unable to bear it.

Her obsession with him turned into impatience and soon manifested in this form of emotion.

“What exactly are you thinking, madam?”

“Clint! We’re just in a contractual relationship!”

Psyche shouted again to remind him of their relationship.

His behavior was incomprehensible.

It was originally a relationship where she agreed to bear a child. There were no conditions like not seeing other lovers. She simply didn’t want that chaotic lifestyle. Psyche knew that despite all this, the duke had taken her back. Considering that he couldn’t engage with other women and even considered investigating Shilard, she now felt that it was inconsistent for him to be angry now.

Since the queen’s suspicion about Shilard’s mother was still just a suspicion, she didn’t want to reveal it to Clint until it was certain. Of course, she would have to tell him everything after the reception, but she didn’t know how he would react once he knew what she was up to.

“…”

They had been at odds for a while now, and being forcibly brought to the duke’s estate only added to the tension. She wasn’t sure if she even wanted to explain the situation where Shilard was mistakenly believed to be his son.

Psyche… Perhaps she thought he would suffer a little more through her decision not to reveal the truth to him.

It might have been a kind of revenge, but without delving deeper into it, she reached a conclusion.

However, she didn’t know that her words would strip Clint of his last remaining sanity completely.

“Yes, we are in a contractual relationship. I should make that clear.”

Clint stepped closer to Psyche.

“What is that supposed to mean…?”

“Uh, uh-oh, scary, scary!”

Seeing Clint’s approach and the escalating argument between the two, Shilard became frightened and burst into tears.

Quickly, Psyche approached Shilard.

“Stop it! Shilard is scared!”

Psyche quickly hugged Shilard, who seemed like he was about to burst into tears, and covered his ears.

Shilard might not understand their conversation, but Psyche didn’t want to leave a bad impression on him for no reason.

Finally realizing Shilard’s presence, Clint struggled to suppress his anger. Then, he approached the bed and pulled the curtain.

As soon as the servant entered the room, Clint coldly commanded.

“Take the child out, now.”

The servant, who usually guarded Psyche’s room, hugged the sobbing Shilard and fled the room as if running away.

As soon as Shilard disappeared, Clint slammed the door shut.

Then, he approached Psyche.

“You mentioned the contract, didn’t you, madam?”

Although Psyche did mention the contract, what that contract meant was too clear.

“Considering your circumstances ends today.”

“Even if you say that, it won’t change anything!”

As Psyche exclaimed, Clint replied sarcastically.

“Whether it changes anything or not, we’ll have to see, won’t we?”

He threw his jacket on the floor.

“Let’s see if you fulfill the contract properly, madam.”

He began to undress one by one.