The next day, Alexa Brighton, who was said to have been an escort knight from the beginning, arrived. She was a formidable knight with soft brown hair and a friendly demeanor.
“I'll just stand by your side. You don't have to worry about this.”
“Well, nice to meet you.”
Alexa is innocent. Psyche treated her like everyone else. But she didn't want to act as good as before.
Alexa may have been asked to report everything related to Psyche. With this in mind, Saeki decided to try her luck at acting.
Even the Duke pretends to be interested in the child and his wife. She couldn't let the good husband play alone.
After a quick shower, Alexa inadvertently asked the maid to serve more soup than usual for breakfast, then looked at the meals in front of her.
As expected, Alexa stood in front of her and stared at Saiki as she ate her breakfast.
Saiki glanced at her, and Alexa turned away as if nothing had happened. But it was clear she was still watching.
It was impossible to starve to death because of the child. She sighed and put the spoon down after eating a little more than half of the soup, a larger portion than usual.
“…”
Saiki shook her head when she saw the food that no one had touched except for the soup.
“Madam, do you have no appetite?”
asked Mary, who was standing serving food, as she poured water.
"Yes, I don't feel well. I want to stop eating. Put everything away."
Alexa raised her eyebrows slightly. She seemed to think there was something wrong with Saiki. All these things the Duke will hear. He's sure to come across something strange because he values children more than gold.
Psyche went to bed right after breakfast. Mary was surprised to see that Saiki went straight to bed instead of going for a walk like she usually did.
“Your body doesn't seem to be feeling well today. Ma'am, should I call the doctor?”
Walking in the garden was her only hobby in the Duke's house. The province of Visconti, where she lived, was a place with rugged mountains and greenery on every side. The nobles had no choice but to deal with and manage the plants.
Living there was easy if you quickly learned the properties of plants, medicinal herbs and poisonous herbs. Psyche was no different. Moreover, she preferred the distinctive fresh scent of trees and flowers to others.
So it was very strange for her to stop walking.
Alexa, unable to help, stepped forward.
“I'll get the doctor.”
Alexa looked, with a worried expression, about to rush out.
“No, I'll be fine with some sleep.”
Saiki made a helpless expression. This was because she was going to play a woman “sad because her husband has hired a knight-companion she doesn’t want.”
From now on. So he was throwing up his hands and giving up because he was worried about the baby's health.
****************
Although Saiki's condition was not as good as it used to be these days, the Duke did not even show his nose. Finally, a few days passed, and she only got to see him on the day of the social party.
"wife."
“…”
She resented the Duke for not moving as she expected, but she didn't intend to do anything else wrong with that feeling. Psyche took his elegant hand and entered the carriage.
The two remained silent for a long time. As they approached the Count's house, where the party was being held, the Duke slowly opened his lips.
“I heard that your health is not good these days.”
There was also no way for the Duke not to be informed of her condition.
“No, this is not true. All women are like this as the month of giving birth approaches.”
It had been more than three months since she had given birth, but she had attacked him coldly. The Duke's look at her with his arms crossed was a little different than usual. It was understandable. She was always obedient to his words.
“Is this because of the escort knight?”
He hit the target perfectly. Saiki took advantage because he looked like he wanted to talk.
“Yes, I feel like someone is always watching me, so I can't feel comfortable.”
In fact, Alexa was very kind and talkative, so she wasn't a bother while they were together. Except that she was the Duke's informant.
Clint looked tired and upset at those words. He had no idea why the woman in front of him had changed so dramatically. However, this cannot have a negative effect on the child.
He sighed and opened his arms.
“Okay, let's reconsider.”
It was an unexpected answer.
This was the first time Clint had responded to her requests. No, because she never expressed her thoughts in the first place. Psyche was surprised by his reaction, so she searched for words to respond, but the carriage had reached its destination.
Open the door from the outside.
“We have arrived, Your Highness.”
“Let's go.”
He was back outside, so he took care of her. Psyche, who was used to such kindness, was shocked. She wrapped her arms around him and entered, as she usually did when outside.
“Duke and Duchess Valentine enter!”
These photos caught everyone's attention as soon as they appeared, as many people began to wonder about her condition after rumors spread about the Duchess's pregnancy.
She was very anxious in the early stages of pregnancy, and it was impossible for her to engage in any social activities at the moment after having a baby. Today's party provided a rare opportunity to attract the attention of the Duke or his wife.
Saiki entered and slowly glanced at both sides at the same time. They exchanged formal eye salutes or silent salutes as they looked at the aristocrats who had already arrived. People noticed Saiki's protruding belly. It was a ball, but it seemed unlikely that Psyche would be dancing today.
Saeki, who was sitting at the bar counter with a glass of wine in one corner, sighed as if it was difficult.
The strange smell had stimulated her sense of smell from the moment she walked in, and she didn't feel right.
It also made her feel sick to her stomach.
“It seems you used a unique scent today.”
"Is that so? I can't smell it."
The Duke looked around, and didn't smell anything.
“I think it's because I'm sensitive.”
Saiki frowned, giving a look that it was because of her pregnancy.
"Welcome."
"Oh. Rachel!"
Suddenly, someone approached them, and the Duke was delighted with her appearance.
“Greetings to The Duke and Duchess Rachel Halston.”
She over-polished herself. But maybe because it was Rachel, she felt like she was playing a prank. Saiki felt an even bigger headache at the sight of the woman appearing before them.
The Duke's childhood friend and the Count's famous daughter, she was a very strange woman. She was a very strange woman. She would sometimes go out in unconventional clothes that broke the formalities. She also participated in sword fencing matches that were exclusive to men.
She was famous among the male aristocrats for her ease, so everyone treated her without hesitation, and women generally hated her. Basically, she had good reasons to get along better with married men.
“Wow, baby is coming soon!”
Rachel approached Psyche after greeting the Duke on the cheek. Without waiting for Saiki's response, she reached out and touched Saiki's stomach without asking for her approval. Saiki's face hardened as soon as she touched her stomach.
“Put it away.”
"Yes?"
“Put it away.”
Rachel's blank, questioning face made her feel sick to her stomach, so she slapped a hand on her stomach.
"Yes."
Rachel looked a little surprised when she saw her hand in the air.
“I asked you to clear this up, young lady.”
“Oh, I'm sorry.”
Rachel's face was clearly indifferent, but she wasn't upset either. Saeki, on the other hand, was more upset by the fact that she had no idea what she had done wrong. She sighed and placed her fingers around her temple.
It was no one but the Duke who broke the awkward silence.
"Oh, ma'am, I'm sorry. My wife is a bit sensitive these days."
The Duke, who was standing between Psyche and Rachel, set out to rectify the situation. However, more attention has been paid to them. There was soft music playing behind them, but it looked like they needed a quick clean up because everyone was looking at them.
After hearing the Duke's words, Psyche raised and lowered her eyebrows.
"sensitive?"
Saying that a pregnant woman is sensitive was not a pleasant thing to hear.
"You've been looking bad for a long time, so please take a break. I'll talk to Rachel over there. Alexa."
Alexa, who was standing far away, approached him, raised her sword, placed it on her chest, and bowed her head. That was a response to the command.
“Okay, let's go, Rachel.”
It annoyed her once again that the Duke, who was always working with his wife, was making such a friendly appearance to the Count's daughter, who was not disturbed. They are used to having this kind of relationship, but do they have to be so friendly even on a formal occasion? Saiki sat with a sour expression on her face and spoke calmly.
“Aren't you supposed to protect your wife during times like this?”
Saiki said to herself as she looked at his back. Alexa, who was listening, scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
“…Whatever it is, I don’t care.”
Psyche realized that what she was doing was driven by grief, so she closed her mouth. Her stomach was hurting.
Because the sadness must arise from her feeling of expectation, because she has become accustomed to his kindness