So the Duchess Disappeared

29. Young Mother

With Psyche’s help, the baby’s cries subsided. For a brief moment, Psyche exchanged simple greetings with the baby’s mother, who introduced herself as ‘Maery.’ She had tightly pulled back her chestnut-brown hair and appeared somewhat frightened, as if being chased by someone.

Moreover, her command of the imperial language was quite rudimentary, with a subtle blend of the accent from the neighboring country, Taran. However, there was little room to be overly concerned about it. Maery, in many ways, knew nothing about the baby.

While Psyche wasn’t exceptionally knowledgeable either, she still seemed more capable than the young mother.

In any case, thanks to Psyche, the carriage could resume its journey in peace.

As the baby quieted down, everyone displayed a relieved expression. Although the baby’s mother still looked uneasy, glancing around nervously, they assumed she was just a new mother and let out a sigh.

Cloud, however, was more surprised than anyone at Psyche’s actions. She usually seemed indifferent to others’ affairs, but her willingness to step forward was unexpected.

Cloud hesitated for a moment before cautiously speaking to Psyche, who sat silently beside him.

“What method did you use on the child?”

In response, Psyche raised an eyebrow. It was nothing extraordinary. Instead, it seemed the baby’s mother couldn’t breastfeed, and the baby was crying due to hunger.

Disappointed, Psyche gave the baby some water she had and then noticed wildflowers blooming nearby. The flower, also used as a sleep aid, had a calming effect on the mind. Psyche often used it to put babies to sleep in the place she lived.

As they approached the Alistar Territory, Psyche recognized many familiar plants.

Since it seemed the baby’s mother needed to eat something to produce milk, and she couldn’t breastfeed, Psyche decided to…

Psyche shared a few pieces of bread she had purchased for the journey with the young mother. Then, she used a sleep-inducing herb to lull the baby to sleep. By the time the baby woke up, the mother could breastfeed.

“You don’t need to know… really.”

Psyche’s assistance to the baby was not driven by any other reason or goodwill. She simply felt a pang of sadness from the crying baby, reminding her of the baby she had lost. It seemed like she might cry too if the baby continued crying.

Those who were unaware of her situation seemed curious about Psyche, and Cloud, especially, became more intrigued when he noticed her adeptness with plants.

“Do you happen to know how to handle plants?”

When Cloud asked again, Psyche narrowed her eyes.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Oh, miss. Why so uptight? People find you impressive. Don’t they?”

A middle-aged woman intervened with her opinion.

However, Psyche had no desire to engage in further conversation. Instead of responding, she chose to keep her mouth shut.

This time, an elderly man beside her spoke up.

“Hey, miss. Why so standoffish? Since we’re traveling together on this carriage for a few days, wouldn’t it be better if we talked and helped each other?”

Psyche had no inclination to talk. Not only did she fear that speaking would inadvertently reveal her identity and destination, but she also felt she couldn’t control her emotions if she engaged in conversation.

So, she chose to remain silent, not wanting to be too comfortable with words. Despite the friendly attempts to initiate conversation, Psyche remained unaffected and closed her lips firmly.

Feeling the attention on her, Psyche adjusted her robe to cover herself more. She wrapped her head tightly, obscuring half of her face.

Observing her behavior, the others in the carriage, including Cloud, eventually gave up on trying to talk to her.

And so, a day passed.

As they continued their journey towards the Alistar Territory, and with no sign of Clint following after about two days, Psyche, feeling a bit more relaxed, was finally able to get some rest.

Everything seemed to be unfolding as planned.

She hoped to reach the Alistar Territory safely as it was, wanting to forget Clint for a brief moment amid the disturbance that had allowed her to escape his thoughts. Suddenly, she felt like she had a dream of peaceful days. Just for a moment…

The deep night continued.

“Aaargh!”

“Thieves! Thieves!”

The calm carriage ride through the night turned chaotic as if an earthquake had occurred. Those inside, who were quietly sleeping, were startled. Psyche, who had managed to get some rest, woke up abruptly.

The sleep that she had managed to find completely slipped away. Still, perhaps due to exhaustion, her cognitive functions returned rather slowly.

The surrounding noise felt like it was tearing her ears apart. As her mind gradually cleared, Psyche realized that the carriage she was in had been attacked by a band of thieves.

The carriage was already empty. Everyone seemed to have evacuated. The carriage stood still, and the coachman was nowhere to be seen. Despite being inside, it didn’t feel safe. Psyche lowered herself as much as possible and crawled out of the carriage.

Somewhere in the distance, the clash of metal sounded like it was ringing in her ears. “Damn it!”

At the edge of her vision, she faintly saw Cloud wielding a sword.

Cursing vehemently, he swung his sword with all his might. He seemed to be single-handedly facing the onslaught of the band of thieves.

Even though he was a skilled fighter, facing the band of thieves like a swarm of animals seemed overwhelming. Numerically, they were at a significant disadvantage.

If it weren’t for Cloud, everyone here might have already perished.

Nevertheless, he, being a renowned mercenary, skillfully wielded his sword. The band of thieves, who lacked coordination, fell like ripe wheat every time Cloud swung his sword.

Seeing his efforts, Psyche unintentionally sighed.

“Hah.”

The darkness ahead was as profound as the pitch-black night itself.

What was the point of running away from Clint? She hadn’t even set foot on her homeland, and it seemed she might die without experiencing it…

Fleeing felt utterly pointless.

However, that was when it happened.

A baby was lying alone in front of her.

“…?”

Looking around, the baby’s mother was nowhere to be seen.

“No way…”

It seemed like she had already run away, abandoning the child.

While Cloud was in a tough situation, if he could fight so well, they might survive if they managed to escape…

“Abandoning the child…?”

Psyche stood still, staring at the place where the baby was.

Despite having likely fallen asleep after nursing in the middle of the night, the baby’s expression seemed content. Perhaps thanks to the sleep herb Psyche had given to use if the baby cried during the day, it still seemed undisturbed in its sleep.

Then, at that moment, one of the thieves passing by Cloud seemed to notice the baby.

What was going through Psyche’s mind at that moment is unknown.

Psyche’s entire mind went blank. Other than the single thought of needing to save the baby, nothing else seemed visible.

She unknowingly threw herself toward the baby.

“Aaargh!”

Someone’s scream echoed above her.

Holding the baby in her arms, Psyche quickly rolled to the side. The thought that she might die crossed her mind, but her body moved before she could make such calculations.

She closed her eyes.

Holding the baby, she quickly rolled. Even though the thought of possibly dying crossed her mind, her body acted before she could consider such calculations.

She closed her eyes.

After holding the baby, she could finally understand her true feelings, why she didn’t want to mix with people. Besides the sole thought of saving the baby, nothing else seemed visible.

For fear that the abandoned child might come to mind and make her cry.

Because she didn’t want people to see her like that, she avoided them.

Even though she had left her own child behind…

If she could save this child here, even if she died in the process, she decided it was better. She couldn’t protect her own child, but if she could save anyone, it was okay. That was the moment when she made up her mind.

“This is insane!”

Cloud, with the head of a thief on the tip of his sword, forcefully thrust his surprised face forward.

Lifting Psyche’s upper body, which had collapsed on the ground, Cloud hoisted her up and glanced at the baby in her arms.

“It seems there’s no end to this.”

He muttered under his breath.

Then, he raised his head and roughly calculated a makeshift escape route.

That’s when it happened.

“Aaargh!”

Suddenly, the forest lit up with a bright light.

It seemed that another group had appeared in front of the thieves.

Judging that now was the right moment, Cloud instantly grabbed Psyche and the baby and sprinted toward the direction where no one was present.

In the cover of the tree forest, Cloud, with Psyche, peered at the fallen carriage.

Psyche felt uneasy as the baby could wake up at any moment.

If the baby woke up and cried, it would easily reveal their hiding place, making their escape meaningless.

“Ha. I need to retrieve my belongings…”

Cloud seemed to have come here after putting down his belongings in the carriage, and it looked like he couldn’t leave so easily.

However, that wasn’t the issue.

Psyche squinted her eyes and, while checking if the baby’s mother was around, abruptly blocked her mouth as a man’s figure came into her view.

The band of thieves was effortlessly dealt with by the newcomers who had suddenly appeared.

Initially, they weren’t much of a match.

Finally, the figures of those who dealt with the bandits in the darkness became visible.

Two men, appearing to be leaders of the group, slowly walked towards the carriage.

“It seems that those starving in the Alister Territory formed a band of thieves and came down here.”

One of them spoke, stroking his chin.

“Hmm…”

The two were none other than Alejandro and Duke Clint.