Chapter 283
“Yes. I have some insomnia, and I heard hypnosis therapy has been effective lately, so I’ve been doing it since last month. But I heard the Duke has been undergoing it for quite some time? Didn’t you know?”
“Yes…”
What’s going on? They’re together every day, so it shouldn’t be insomnia caused by the Name.
After they reconciled and first shared a bed, she remembered how he sometimes groaned like he was having a nightmare.
Eren said it was because he hadn’t properly treated the Name before, that it wasn’t a big deal—but could it be more serious?
Lately, he hasn’t been waking up in the night, so she thought it was getting better. But maybe he’s hiding something from her…
“Did I say something wrong?”
Macy’s expression darkened noticeably, and the princess glanced at her cautiously.
“No, thank you for telling me.”
“I don’t know for sure, but I doubt the Duke’s feelings have cooled or that he’s hiding anything malicious. He’d probably hide things so you wouldn’t worry.”
“I know. It was a useless worry. I know better than anyone how much the Duke cherishes me…”
Macy said this quietly, then quickly brightened her expression.
“Thank you so much for talking to me today. I’ll try to talk to my husband.”
* * *
“Duke Krygen, how is married life treating you?”
After the parliamentary session, Baron Moyan followed Rubens closely.
“My wife is also very fond of the Duchess’s paintings. So, if the opportunity arises, I’d like to invite you to our estate.”
“An invitation?”
Rubens paused thoughtfully, then continued.
“Please send the invitation through your wife. If my wife goes, I will accompany her.”
“Thank you, Duke.”
Baron Moyan left with a bright expression.
Rubens didn’t particularly welcome the nobles showing interest in Macy. Most likely, they had ulterior motives.
They might summon her just to insult her subtly, talk nonsense to make her feel inferior, or try to curry favor with the Krygen family through her.
It was typical behavior toward a noblewoman born a commoner. Previously, Rubens would have dealt with this swiftly before Macy even received invitations.
But now, he could only watch quietly from the sidelines. He knew this was close to obsessive control and overprotection.
Rubens had decided to change for her. Macy wasn’t as fragile as he thought, and he chose to recognize her as an equal person, so he couldn’t act recklessly.
Contrary to his expectations, Macy was handling herself well, mingling appropriately with the nobles. Nothing he feared had happened so far.
‘But why do I still hate those clinging to Macy so much…’
Rubens swallowed his troubled thoughts and habitually reached for his cigar case. Lighting one, a cloud of smoke drifted out like a sigh.
“Your Grace, I have a report.”
“What is it?”
Kronen, who had been observing nearby, cautiously stepped closer and spoke softly.
“We investigated the exhibition coordinator, and it turns out he has a same-s*x lover.”
“A same-s*x lover?”
Rubens’s eyebrows shot up.
“Yes. Because of that, he often consulted with Madam about relationship issues, so they met frequently outside of official business.”
“I see.”
So that’s why they hugged so casually and acted so friendly.
Now it made sense to him.
At the same time, he recalled the male coordinator staring intently at Macy, mouth slightly open.
“Ha. What foolish misunderstanding I had…”
A bitter laugh escaped Rubens’s lips. Meanwhile…
“Did I order you to investigate the coordinator?”
“No, not exactly…”
Kronen cut himself off awkwardly. This was his own initiative.
Rubens’s temper had been very sensitive lately, making the servants feel like they were walking on thin ice every day.
Besides Dia, Philips, and Morgan at the cabin, even Baron Shearton was nagging Kronen to do something about Rubens’s inexplicable irritability.
From the brief look of relief on his face, Kronen seemed to have figured out the cause, but it was clearly an overstep.
“My apologies, Your Grace. I was presumptuous.”
Kronen immediately bowed deeply.
“From now on, do not investigate anything about the Duchess’s private life. Nor anyone close to her.”
“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”
The scent of the cigar on Rubens’s lips tasted bitter.
Though he pretended otherwise in front of Macy, Rubens had been sharp and irritable with others recently.
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