The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 1

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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In Search of the Duke’s Husband – Episode 1

Prologue

Artia spoke.
“Let’s get a divorce.”
Lloyd’s eyes widened before a distorted laugh erupted from his lips.
As if he’d just heard the most amusing joke in the world.
Once he finally ceased his laughter, he leaned down and grasped the chin of his wife, who lay collapsed on the floor.
“Go ahead and try, divorce.”
“….”
“If your goal is to part ways with me, hanging yourself would be far easier than divorce, wouldn’t it?”
His frigid voice contained not a shred of affection for his wife.
And I felt the same. Three years of marriage had left me with nothing but an overwhelming desire to sever this suffocating relationship.

1. The Duchess Desires Divorce

Coward. Crybaby. Fool.
These were the words used to describe Artia, the only daughter of House of Edenberg.
Perhaps it was because she had been born small and frail from the beginning.
From childhood, Artia harbored a pathological fear that consumed her entirely.
Unable to meet people’s gazes, I could only stare at the floor, and even to the servants, I couldn’t speak my true thoughts.
“Stop your mumbling and look your conversation partner in the eye when you speak, clearly and distinctly!”
The sharper my father, Duke Benedict of Edenberg, pressed me, the more I shrank into myself, and the louder the mockery of those around me grew.
“Hahaha, what kind of duke’s daughter trembles like that? A beggar who came to our house begging would have more nobility than her.”
Yet there was one person who treated Artia with genuine kindness.
It was Lloyd, the fourth son of House of Rainer.
Whenever Lloyd encountered Artia, he spoke to her with tenderness.
“You don’t need to be afraid when you’re with me, Artia.”
With the gentle Lloyd, I could lift my head and meet his eyes.
I could smile.
I adored the kind Lloyd.
But I desperately concealed my feelings.
‘Lloyd is not someone someone like me should ever aspire to.’
He deserved a woman far more beautiful and wise.
When the day came that he took such a woman as his wife, I would bless him with all my heart.

Meanwhile, as Artia grew older, Duke Benedict of Edenberg’s worries deepened.
The empire did not allow women to inherit titles.
“To continue the family line, we must bring in a son-in-law.”
A man who would become part of House of Edenberg and follow his orders like a dog.
Many families and men wished to form a connection with House of Edenberg, but choosing was not easy.
My symptoms, which prevented me from even speaking to servants, only worsened before adult men—I would tremble as if facing a vicious beast.
It was not a new concern about my daughter.
“In that state, she won’t even manage the wedding night properly.”
Perhaps, no matter how much time passes, it will remain so.
Benedict intended to pass the ducal title to the child born of Artia, his own bloodline. Thus, his daughter’s marital relationship was an issue of utmost importance to him.
Then an unexpected visitor came to the duke.
It was Lloyd.
“Your Grace, grant me the honor of becoming the husband of the lady of House of Edenberg.”
His voice was respectful and earnest, yet the duke’s expression turned glacial.
No matter how lacking Artia might be, the fourth son of a minor noble house was far beneath her station.
However, the moment the duke’s eyes fell upon Artia beside him, his gaze widened.
“…!”
Whenever a noble suitor approached, Artia would stare at the floor and tremble.
But now, Artia gazed at Lloyd with her face flushed crimson like a rose in bloom.
Even Benedict, a man devoid of even a speck of romantic sentiment, could see it clearly.
It was the face of a woman who had just received a proposal from the man she loved.
Benedict asked her.
“Does the gentleman suit your fancy?”
Artia summoned courage for the first time in her life and spoke.
“Yes, Father. I would be honored if Lloyd became my husband.”
Benedict was not a man who concerned himself with his daughter’s heartfelt wishes.
But he judged that with Lloyd, Artia would have no difficulty consummating the marriage. Then she could bear a true heir.
At last, Benedict made his decision.
“I accept Lloyd von Rainer’s proposal of marriage.”
Lloyd and Artia both broke into radiant smiles.
That night, Lloyd came to find Artia.
He carried a bouquet of pink hydrangeas that matched the exact shade of her eyes.
“I love you, Artia. I’ll protect you for the rest of our lives.”
At his confession—sweeter than anything she had dared imagine—Artia laughed with tears glistening in her eyes.
That year, Artia and Lloyd held a grand wedding ceremony.
Artia transformed from the young lady of House of Edenberg into the Duchess of Edenberg. Lloyd, too, took the Edenberg name as his own.
Artia was happy as though living a dream.
…For exactly three months.
Three months after the wedding, Benedict, the Duke of Edenberg, fell from his horse and died.
“Father….”
Lloyd whispered softly as he stroked the shoulders of Artia, who wept in black mourning clothes.
“Stop your sniveling. It’s irritating.”
“…!”

After the funeral concluded, discussions regarding the Ducal title of House of Edenberg took place.
In the will prepared beforehand by the late Duke, the title was to be transferred to any child born to his daughter Artia von Edenberg.
However, should the late Duke pass away before Artia could bear children….
“It is explicitly stated that the Ducal title shall be entrusted to Artia von Edenberg’s husband.”
The lawyer continued.
“However, this is merely a temporary arrangement. Once Artia von Edenberg’s child is born, the title must be immediately transferred to them.”
Lloyd smiled brilliantly.
“There is no question about it.”
Thus Lloyd became the twenty-third Duke of House of Edenberg.
And that was the gravest mistake Benedict had ever made.
Once Lloyd became Duke of Edenberg, he transformed into someone entirely different.
He no longer smiled when looking at Artia.
He no longer called her name with tenderness.
Gathering her courage, Artia grasped Lloyd’s collar and spoke.
“If I’ve done something wrong, please tell me.”
Artia believed the reason Lloyd had changed so suddenly must lie with her.
So she would apologize.
She would strive to correct the behaviors he disliked.
Then he would surely return to his former self.
But the answer that came was far too cruel.
“You still don’t understand, Artia? The tenderness I showed you was solely because I coveted the name Edenberg.”
“…!”
“Our marriage was the sole opportunity for the fourth son of a minor noble house—one destined to live in poverty without inheriting title or fortune—to become a member of the great nobility.”
“….”
“The late Duke was so vigorous that I never even dared hope to become Duke. But what fortune! The old woman died less than a hundred days after our wedding.”
Lloyd’s smile twisted into something grotesque.
“It seems I was always fated to become Duke of Edenberg.”
Artia could not breathe.
The true heart of the man she had loved for the first time in her life was far too merciless.
Lloyd gazed coldly at Artia, who wept silently without a sound.
“Now that you understand, confine yourself to your chambers like a corpse. You have no allies in this mansion.”
Lloyd’s words proved prophetic.
The servants of the mansion followed their master Lloyd rather than the powerless Artia.
No matter how cruelly Lloyd treated Artia, no one came to her aid.
Within that hellish existence, Artia slowly crumbled.

On a day when sunlight gleamed brilliantly, Artia stood before the Garden Lake.
With a haggard face drained of tears, Artia gazed into the deep waters and took a step forward.
Splash.
As the ice-cold water flooded her lungs with searing agony, what consumed her mind was neither a will to live nor resentment toward her husband.
Only contempt for my own foolishness.
‘I despise myself.’
I wish I could disappear forever like this.
Please.
Please.
Please.

.
.
.

Artia’s eyes opened.
She blinked her pink eyes and murmured.
“…Wasn’t I dead?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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