The Duke had been searching for Psyche for the past ten days. There was nothing else he could do.
He felt like the last ten days had been relentless, like he was in a coma, and he was consumed with intense anger over Saiki's disappearance, yet he didn't know why.
As expected, the killers were unable to enter the duke's estate.
In the first place, they did not send someone able to enter the property.
Therefore, he became more concerned about the danger they posed. Those who couldn't enter the property but set up an ambush in the forest posed a great threat to Psyche
When I ran away.
The way everything seemed to conspire to threaten Saiki was terrifying.
Everything seemed suspicious.
So Clint became even more worried.
What if something happened to Saiki?
What if something terrible happened to Saiki's baby?
He spent his time in a state of mindlessness.
He didn't even know how much time had passed.
The Duke, who had never reprimanded his knights before, was angry and scolded them.
But no matter how angry he was and how many knights he sent, they couldn't catch Psyche.
They couldn't find it anywhere.
Then the news came, and it was devastating.
He approached Clint with the caution of a knight who had been searching day and night for several days.
But no matter how angry he was and how many knights he sent, they couldn't catch Psyche.
They couldn't find it anywhere.
Then the news came, and it was devastating.
He approached Clint with the caution of a knight who had been searching day and night for several days.
His face was full of worry.
"What is this?"
Clint was the first to speak to the knight, who hesitated in front of him.
He needed to hear something, anything.
Despite Clint's question, the knight hesitated for a long time before finally speaking with difficulty.
“Um… we found a body.”
The word "body" alone made Clint feel as if the world was disappearing before his eyes.
He had sent knights to search, and the news felt like a bolt from the sky.
He barely managed to maintain his composure and asked, “A corpse?”
The knight blinked at the icy tone, as if Clint might kill him at any moment.
"It's the body of a pregnant woman. Her face is badly disfigured, but... she, um, she..."
“Hurry up and tell me.”
“The corpse is dressed as a duchess.”
"What.?"
“The corpse is dressed as a duchess.”
"What.?"
It's an incredible statement.
There is no way.
Death can't be easy like this.
He could barely contain his feeling of madness, yet his searches in the forest yielded no results.
At the time of the Duchess' death and the Duke's estate in mourning, Chancellor Alexandro approached.
“Your Highness, I heard that the Duchess met with the Crown Prince just before she left.”
This news, which came to him while he was sitting in his office depressed, where everything was in chaos, prompted him to return to work.
Even though he was tired from searching in the forest all night, he opened his eyes wide and got up.
Crown Prince.
A man who openly hates the growing power of the Duke faction.
He knew that the Crown Prince was working behind the scenes to purge the noble factions that had grown exponentially before he became Emperor. But he did not know how the Crown Prince would deal with the Duchess.
At the very least, he thought he could do something with it.
After hearing the news of the Crown Prince's visit, he immediately prepared to meet him.
“I will meet him today.”
But at the Duke's request, the Crown Prince postponed the meeting with various excuses.
He has become impatient.
He needed to make sure that Saiki and their child were alive or dead. Living day to day was not real life. He felt as if his life's blood had dried up.
What in the world...?
Why did things get so bad?
In this crazy situation, the fact that Saiki may or may not still be alive was suffocating him.
“Your Highness, will you spend the night here again?”
"The damned Crown Prince is hiding something. She can't be my wife."
“
He said it like he was spitting out the words.
“It's been ten days already. Maybe I'd better go back...”
“If you wait one more day, I will mobilize the army.”
“What?”
Stunned, Alexandro was unable to continue talking.
The Duke was a man who did not speak words that he did not intend to carry out.
His words were very serious.
“Are you saying you're going to commit treason...”
“But the author must have written some useless pages. If he hadn't, he would have definitely met me. He definitely kidnapped Psyche.”
“But...”
“I value my family more than anything else. And then come the damned people who talk about justice and homeland.”
“…”
While Alexandro was searching for the appropriate words to respond, the reception room door opened wide.
A servant of the Crown Prince appeared at the entrance.
The man who had conveyed the Crown Prince's refusal several times and disappeared was now coming over and had a noticeably embarrassed look on his face.
In response to his entrance this time, Clint drew his sword.
Whistling. The sound of the sword being drawn from its sheath was sharp.
“If you make another weak excuse this time, you will have to give up your life.”
At his words, the frightened servant trembled and quickly lowered his head.
“No! Your Highness the Crown Prince has summoned you.”
“Ha.”
At the Duke's horrified gaze, the servant bowed respectfully and quickly left the reception room.
“Prepare yourself and come out, we will accompany you.”
****************
Finally, Clint and Alexandro appeared, who cleaned up their appearance.
The servant still had a frightened look on his face.
He knew that the Duchess was with the Crown Prince, and knowing that the Duke had been sharpening his sword and looking for Saiki for the past ten days, he was even more worried.
He wished the Duchess had not been there when the Duke came up. With this hope in mind, the servant deliberately walked slowly.
But the Duke, realizing the obvious trick, said impatiently: "Can you walk a little faster? How long does it take to get from here to there?"
“Sorry, I apologize.”
The servant felt as if a cold sweat was starting to break out all over his body, although this was just his nervousness.
When the Duke urged him, they reached the door in no time.
The servant hesitated and wavered, unsure of what to do.
“Why are you hesitating? Open the door now?”
“Okay, we have to announce you first. Please wait a moment.”
It was important to tell that the Duke had arrived.
"You'll know I'm here. You know I'll meet you. Just open it."
When the Duke ordered, the servant quickly blocked his way.
“But you still have to advertise!”
“Then announce it.”
His gaze was extremely cold, and when he stared at her, the servant felt that he might not be able to speak, but with all his might, the servant shouted.
"Your Highness! Duke Valentine has arrived!"
At the same time, the one who opened the door by kicking it was the Duke himself.
"What…!"
Of course, after hearing the order to enter, the frightened servant was about to enter. But the Duke's actions left the servant confused and perplexed.
But the situation inside was more chaotic.
The servant sighed and covered his face, unable to bear to open his eyes.
******************
When the Duke opened the door, he witnessed an incredible sight.
Psyche was there.
The relief of seeing her alive was accompanied by a wave of anger.
Rachel was lying on the ground, subject to the guards, and the Crown Prince...
The Crown Prince was kneeling in front of Psyche.
The situation was extremely confusing and inexplicable.
"What is this?"
He entered the room with long strides.
Saiki, who was wearing a cold expression, averted her gaze.
Saiki and Clint's eyes met for a moment, but Saiki suddenly looked surprised and then stormed away.
"wife!"
"Guards! Stop the Duke! Quickly!"
By a decisive order from the Crown Prince, the guards blocked the Duke's path.
When he saw Saiki running away, he couldn't believe his eyes.
The woman who was supposed to look plump was… strangely emaciated.
Her tired face, rough skin, and sad expression were carved into his heart like a knife.
He stood still for a moment, as if all his senses had been paralyzed.
Everything that was happening around him seemed slow, as if time was moving very slowly, and Saiki's facial expression and demeanor were imprinted on his mind.
“Get out of the way!”
He only woke up after Psyche disappeared from his sight, and he unexpectedly pulled his sword from his waist.
As he pulled out his sword, the guards blocking his way retreated to stop him in panic.
The Duke was a man unparalleled in swordsmanship within the empire.
Who dares to risk his life and confront him?
Then this time the Crown Prince rushed to him.
He wanted to help Saiki escape at least once, not more.
“Are you crazy?”
The Duke pushed the Crown Prince aside.
"Let Saiki go! This woman wants to leave you!"
Hearing the Crown Prince's words, the Duke, who was about to follow Psyche, stood frozen in place.
He did not move, as if he was pinned in place.
With a sickly blue face, he took a step, as if he remembered something.
He pointed his sword at Rachel, who was hiding in the corner.
“Rachel, this time I won’t leave you. You must tell the truth about everything you did.”
As his terrifying words penetrated Rachel's mind, the color of her face suddenly changed.
The woman who was confident in front of Saiki and the Crown Prince now seemed as if her gaze had turned dark, trembling as if she was about to die.