“What is this, sister, what is this really?”
Helen trembled with excitement as she looked at the letter stamped with the duke's crest.
“It's an emblem only used when high nobles exchange official letters, isn't it?”
Helen continued talking excitedly because she didn't know what was going on with Psyche.
As she said, what he sent was an “official letter.” It was not just a message announcing his visit; Rather, it had a more formal purpose.
Such letters were used when the emperor visited a lord's castle for inspection or when nobles "officially" visited each other's castles.
So there was no way to refuse.
It was not a private visit, they had to make a public excuse.
Psyche thought Clint was weak after seeing the message, but there was nothing she could do about it.
Certainly, Alister Castle had to prepare to receive the Duke.
“By the way, is the Duke married?”
Helen asked Psyche with sparkling eyes.
Psyche had no energy to answer, and in the end, the lost Claude stepped forward.
“No, he didn't. And Mrs. Saeki, God needs work, so Helen, please go back to your room.”
“No! I’m here to help! The Duke will visit us tomorrow, so how can sister attend to everything on her own? Right, sister?”
Helen continued to chat noisily, but Psyche remained sitting there expressionless.
“Wow, is the Duke still unmarried at this age?”
Even without Psyche's response, Helen continued to talk to herself.
Since she believed that Psyche had gone through formal divorce proceedings, she believed that the Duke was a divorced man.
Since Saiki didn't mention anything about the Duke, it was a natural misunderstanding.
When Claude saw that she would not be convinced, he reluctantly explained to her.
The Duke is currently divorced.
Psyche thought he thought she had gone through the formal divorce process, so the Duke was already a divorced man.
Since Saiki never talked about him, misunderstandings were natural.
After hearing this, Helen became even more interested.
“Is divorce common in the empire? You and your sister.”
Again, she thought Saiki had broken up, so that's all she could say.
Since Helen believed that Psyche had divorced her husband, she was intrigued that she, whom she believed to be the wife of the Grand Duke, had divorced her husband.
Psyche was unable to bind the Duke to herself from the beginning.
To Helen, the Duke was a high noble and out of consideration, which made the matter even more dangerous.
But Psyche did not want to add words to her words. While she remained silent, Helen kept muttering to herself.
“Wow, I wouldn't mind being a duchess if he was a high-ranking noble.”
As if dreaming, Saiki opened her mouth as if she couldn't watch any longer.
“Don't think strange thoughts, Helen.”
“Oh no.”
While Psyche was fussing and talking, Helen finally frowned with her lips.
Saiki added more firmly, thinking it was better not to raise false expectations.
“He's just a guest, don't think about making a fuss.”
“أختي، أنت شيء مميز. كيف ترينني؟”
When Psyche showed a stern face, Helen finally made an impression, pouting her lips.
Even though Saiki tried to act like she didn't care, she couldn't help but feel nervous.
After Saiki said that, Helen continued to chat incessantly about Clint.
Saiki pretended not to care, but she couldn't help but feel annoyed.
Despite Helen's incessant talking and the state of Clint's visit, Saiki couldn't collect her thoughts.
But she soon decided to play with her plans.
Since he requested an official visit, Saeki also decided to accept it as a simple “duke’s visit” without personal feelings.
Enter the guest and exit the guest.
This is what I decided.
“An eye for an eye”
Suddenly, she hit the desk and stood up.
"a surprise."
Helen, who was speaking loudly, looked at Psyche in surprise.
Suddenly, Saiki quickly opened her mouth, and her face had turned red.
"Okay, let's get to work. We have to prepare for the guest. Claude, what should we do?"
“Oh, I've been instructed to prepare the guest room.”
“Well… if you're going to do it, do it in the best room, just tidy it up. No need to overdo it.”
After all, he lived in a better place than the palace.
Even if they decorated it and put effort into it, it might not be as good as the Duke's barn.
This way, Saiki decided to keep it simple and not overdo it. It may seem even more awkward if you do something too much.
“We should take care of the food, though.”
“I'll take care of the food!”
“You will?”
"Yes!"
Well, then I won't worry about food.
In fact, Saiki didn't want to care about everything.
She didn't want to interfere in matters related to Clint. She didn't understand why he kept looking for her in the first place.
If the question is about responsibility for the loss of a child...
She didn't want to think about this.
To keep distracting thoughts out of her mind, she deliberately focused on work. Time passed quickly.
There was a lot to do in the castle, which had been neglected for a long time.
Saiki had done her best to preserve it since her arrival, but it was not a very luxurious environment, so there were still many unrestored walls and interiors.
Psyche calmly did what she could do with confidence.
Finally the sun set, and it was time for the Duke's scheduled visit.
Since he was a rare guest, the few staff inside the castle were full of curiosity and anticipation.
Moreover, the presence of a duke from the capital made him seem very interesting.
A little while later, the Duke, accompanied by Alejandro and several knights, arrived at Alister's castle.
❖ ❖ ❖
Since Psyche treated a high-ranking noble just as she would receive any other noble, the Duke reciprocated.
Unlike before when he seemed willing to take Saiki away, he now acted very polite and classy.
He was not as willing as before to take Saiki away immediately.
To Helen, who knew nothing, it was as if they were meeting for the first time.
“Although it is very modest compared to what you might find in the capital, please appreciate the hospitality provided at the castle.”
As Psyche led the Duke and Alexandro to the prepared dinner table, she spoke as if she were dealing with a stranger.
To Helen, who knew nothing, it was as if they were meeting for the first time.
“To the eyes of the tiger.”
Suddenly, Saiki stood up by slapping the desk.
"a surprise."
Helen, who was speaking, looked at Psyche with surprise.
Saiki's face suddenly turned red and she quickly opened her mouth.
"Let's get to work. We have to prepare to receive the guest immediately. Claude, what should we do?"
“Oh, I've been instructed to prepare the guest room.”
“Okay… let's do it in the best room, just clean it. No need to overdo it.”
He lived in a better place than the palace anyway.
Even if they decorated it and put effort into it, it might not be as good as the Duke's barn.
This way, Saiki decided to keep it simple and not overdo it. It may seem even more awkward if you do something too much.
“We should take care of the food, though.”
“I'll take care of the food!”
“You will?”
"Yes!"
Well, then I won't worry about food.
In fact, Saiki didn't want to care about everything.
She didn't want to interfere in matters related to Clint. She didn't understand why he kept looking for her in the first place.
If the question is about responsibility for the loss of a child...
She didn't want to think about this.
To keep distracting thoughts out of her mind, she deliberately focused on work. Time passed quickly.
There was a lot to do in the castle, which had been neglected for a long time.
Saiki had done her best to preserve it since her arrival, but it was not a very luxurious environment, so there were still many unrestored walls and interiors.
Psyche calmly did what she could do with confidence.
Finally the sun set, and it was time for the Duke's scheduled visit.
Since he was a rare guest, the few staff inside the castle were full of curiosity and anticipation.
Moreover, the presence of a duke from the capital made him seem very interesting.
A little while later, the Duke, accompanied by Alexandro and several knights, arrived at Alister's castle.
❖ ❖ ❖
Since Psyche treated a high-ranking noble just as she would receive any other noble, the Duke reciprocated.
Unlike before when he seemed willing to take Saiki away, he now acted very polite and classy.
He was not as willing as before to take Saiki away immediately.
To Helen, who knew nothing, it was as if they were meeting for the first time.
“Although it is very modest compared to what you might find in the capital, please appreciate the hospitality provided at the castle.”
As Psyche led the Duke and Alexandro to the prepared dinner table, she spoke as if she were dealing with a stranger.
To Helen, who knew nothing, it seemed as if they were meeting for...
However, the oblivious Helen continued to scrutinize the Duke, and has not stopped since. Alexandro was the only one who was aware of the entire situation, which made him feel increasingly frustrated.
He was barely able to restrain his desire to escape from this annoying dining place. He couldn't bring himself to say: “Madam, please return to the Duke’s side.”
“Thank you for all the effort you put in to get here. I understand that this place may not be as comfortable as where you are staying, but I have prepared a bedroom for you. I hope you can rest comfortably.”
Saiki said these words before starting to eat.
“Thank you for the hospitality,” Clint replied shortly.
However, tension began to grow between them.
Clint was the one who started it.
“It must be difficult to take care of the area alone.”
“Ah…it was good because there were many helpers.”
"Oh. But aren't there people who should help you?"
What Clint meant was “husband.” Saiki immediately understood that he was politely asking her why she was doing everything on her own when he could have helped.
Saiki smiled and accepted it.
“Oh, I have no one to ask for help. Isn't life essentially a solitary journey?”
“…”
Clint was initially taken aback by her firm tone, but quickly regained his composure.
"Did you raise the child alone? Where does your husband go?"
Suddenly, the question became so personal that everyone there was shocked.
Since they were not aware that they were a couple, the reaction was natural.
Alexandro was the only one who was dying a little inside.
“As for the child... it seems that it is not something that requires your concern, Your Excellency.”
Having drawn a clear line, Saiki made it clear, and although Clint looked rather angry, he quickly found his calm.
“Ah…”
As Alexandro struggled to find the courage to speak, Psyche intervened.