75. Fracture in the Relationship

Clint’s brow furrowed as he took it.

“What is this?”

A slightly bitter scent emanated from the leather pouch.

He opened the mouth of the pouch and peered inside. It contained crushed dried herbs, causing dust to scatter. The dried herbs were discolored to a dull brown, making it difficult to discern their shape.

“It seems to be a mixture of various herbs, and I’m not sure what it’s used for,” Alejandro explained.

Upon hearing Alejandro’s words, Clint brought the pouch closer to his nose and grimaced.

The scent wafting from the tip of his nose was not pleasant.

It didn’t seem to be tea leaves.

“If you allow me, I’ll investigate what it’s used for.”

Clint hesitated for a moment at Alejandro’s offer.

Although he didn’t feel good about prying into Psyche’s affairs for no reason, he felt that he couldn’t let the identity of an object that had passed into and out of the Emperor’s hands remain unknown to him alone.

During the hunting expedition, the Emperor had attacked Psyche, so he might try to create another unreasonable weakness to trap her.

Thinking that such a thing should not happen again, Clint slowly spoke up.

“Find out what herbs were used and what it’s used for.”

“Understood.”

As Alejandro accepted the command and turned away, Clint’s expression seemed uneasy.

And it was much later when he learned about its purpose.

❖ ❖ ❖

The wind was quite cool that night.

Through the half-opened window, a refreshing breeze gently caressed her face, bringing a sense of relief.

Amidst the swaying curtains, the stars emerged one by one, sparkling as they settled into the sky.

Psyche sat in her bedroom, lost in thought.

She had been contemplating her future, and the darkness outside was as uncertain as her own path.

Much had changed since her return to the ducal estate.

As the Duchess, she had solidified her position as she had wished, and now no one could treat her lightly.

Even if the Duke were to silently kill her, there was no longer the possibility of simply covering it up and moving on as if nothing had happened.

“Then…”

Psyche sighed softly.

Running away was never part of the plan.

Even if she did flee, there was no safe place within the empire or the continent where she could hide from the Duke’s gaze.

Moreover, no matter how many years she lived alone, he would soon come after her.

She recalled something she had been considering for some time.

Originally, she had planned to divorce him.

‘Divorce.’

It was the formal way to break free from the Duke.

There was no other way except divorce.

She looked down at the documents before her.

She had hired external help to investigate what was needed for a divorce.

Now that she possessed both power and wealth, such tasks were not difficult for her.

It seemed that there would be no major obstacles to preparing for a divorce.

When she first became the Duchess, she didn’t understand the rules of the court and thought she could simply leave the Duke’s side. So she had resigned herself to the foolish idea of running away.

“Ha…”

Thinking back on such foolishness, Psyche let out a bitter laugh.

But now she knew enough, and although it was a system that drew criticism, divorce seemed to be the best way to escape from the Duke.

“…”

She had thought that she must escape from him, but…

She had now reached the point of considering the documents before her.

Actually divorcing him seemed impossible.

If she were to hand them to Clint, what expression would he make? Just thinking about it made Psyche suddenly feel a pang in her chest.

She couldn’t understand why she was so troubled by this.

Psyche felt weighed down by unfamiliar emotions.

“Could it be that I’ve developed feelings for him?”

She recalled various moments she had shared with Clint and found herself smiling involuntarily before quickly suppressing it.

“Goodness.”

Her heart felt heavy in between.

Without realizing it, she had clenched her hand tightly.

“Well… it’s not possible.”

“What do you mean it’s not possible?”

Suddenly realizing that Clint had entered her bedroom, Psyche jumped in surprise.

“How can you be so lost in thought that you don’t even notice someone coming in?”

He naturally kissed her forehead and then removed his jacket.

It seemed he had come straight from the study to her.

Psyche quickly moved the documents in front of her out of his sight and forced a smile.

‘Not yet, not yet. I need more time to make up my mind,’ she reasoned with herself.

“Do you have something on your mind?”

“…No, nothing.”

Come to think of it, it had been quite some time since Clint had been coming to her bedroom every day.

Hadn’t she mentioned something about getting soaked in the drizzle?

She was surprised to find that she didn’t dislike Clint’s kisses.

When had they become so close?

“Don’t make that face.”

Clint chuckled softly and gently pressed his index finger against Psyche’s forehead.

Psyche seemed to put on an expression unknowingly because she was nervous.

To dispel the awkward atmosphere, she turned her gaze anywhere randomly.

“Oh.”

Suddenly, she noticed the portrait of the former Duchess.

Following Psyche’s gaze, Clint moved his eyes in the same direction and paused momentarily when he saw the portrait.

“It’s still here.”

Clint stopped his casual gesture of patting Psyche’s shoulder and reached out towards the small frame on the table.

Psyche quickly turned her gaze to Clint. His expression seemed subtly sad.

“I forgot it was here since… the Duchess came…”

He looked at the frame with a complex expression and wiped it with his hand.

Come to think of it, Psyche knew nothing about his childhood.

Although he wasn’t very young, he had lost both parents, so she thought there must be some story behind it, but she hadn’t been very interested.

Since she originally intended to keep her distance from him, there was no reason to inquire about such things.

As the conversation naturally turned, she asked to ease the awkward atmosphere.

“What was Clint’s mother like?”

“My mother, my mother… She was a very cruel woman.”

“Cruel…?”

“Yes. A very selfish woman who abandoned her son and left.”

“Ah…”

Psyche couldn’t ask any further. Clint quickly turned the frame over to hide it from view.

“It’s not a pleasant story. Shall we talk about your day now?”

Clint, who had changed his expression in an instant, looked at her.

Although he was smiling, Psyche could sense the subtle stiffness in his demeanor.

How long could they keep up this charade?

How long could she deceive him?

Feeling stifled by his unknown expression, Psyche’s chest tightened.

She also felt sorry for him, grieving for his mother.

The feeling of empathy that should not be embraced.

Psyche quickly turned away and pretended to smile.

“I just stayed inside and read a book today.”

“Oh, then shall we go outside tomorrow?”

“No, you’re busy.”

“If it’s for the lady…”

It was just another amusing drama.

She thought she couldn’t understand his inner thoughts.

However, she didn’t dislike him talking about their near future together, and she didn’t dislike what he did for her.

As she stared blankly at Clint as he spoke, he asked again.

“What does the lady think?”

He smiled at her.

His laughter made her chest ache inexplicably.

Behind his harmless laughter, the starlight scattered through the night sky felt cruel.

“…”

For a moment, she felt breathless.

He was the one who tried to kill her.

She knew it was an emotion she shouldn’t feel.

“Why are you like this?”

As Psyche wiped the smile off her face, Clint looked at her with a worried expression.

‘Don’t look at me like that.’

Psyche swallowed the words she couldn’t say.

Because she wanted to rely on his sincere gaze. Because she wanted to accept everything just as it was.

Because she might want to accept him as her real husband. Psyche chewed on her words unconsciously.

“Also, don’t smile.”

Clint jokingly pressed Psyche’s forehead a little harder.

Her expression changed amusingly, and he burst into laughter.

She raised her hand to stop him from doing it again.

Then, unexpectedly, Clint hugged her tightly and lightly pressed his lips against hers.

“Eep.”

It was a sudden kiss, but she didn’t dislike it.

Suddenly, she trembled, thinking how familiar her relationship with him had become.

Then, she suddenly faced the truth that she had been tightly locking away, unable to confront.

Ah, I’ve fallen for this man.

In the end, in the end. It turned out like this.

Psyche felt tears welling up in her eyes from the uncontrollable emotions.

The overwhelming emotions surged and engulfed her entire being.

The barriers she had erected, standing tall as if to swallow up the roaring rage, collapsed without a trace in an instant.

Everything she had been guarding for so long suddenly seemed meaningless.