The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 11

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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 11

Bibi steadied Artia as she covered her mouth against the rising nausea.
“Are you alright?”
“No—after witnessing something so breathtakingly beautiful, seeing something so hideous makes it difficult to restrain myself.”
Lloyd and Lirika’s expressions twisted, suddenly cast as the ugly ones.
Yet unlike before, Lirika remained silent instead of clawing at Artia. It seemed one stomping had frightened her into submission.
‘And here she was, prattling on about being my sister to the Duchess with barely a shred of courage.’
Lloyd spoke upon seeing Artia break into genuine laughter.
“You seem to be in high spirits after your visit to the Imperial Palace?”
“…!”
“Did you think I wouldn’t know? How could I not? I am the Duke of Edenberg. I know everything you do—every last detail.”
Lloyd approached and flicked Artia’s forehead with his finger.
“No matter who you meet at the Imperial Palace or what you whisper to them, nothing will change. You remain nothing but a worm beneath my feet, and no amount of writhing will let you so much as scratch the tip of my smallest finger.”
Lloyd laughed as though the notion were absurd.
But that smile vanished like a lie the very next day.
Along with a single document from the Imperial Court.

* * *

Lloyd burst into Artia’s chamber without so much as a knock.
In his hand, he clutched a white document bearing the Imperial seal.
“What in the world is this?!”
Artia set down her book and replied calmly.
“You may not be particularly intelligent, but you can read, can’t you? It’s a divorce petition confirmation from the Imperial Court.”
“Then why did this arrive?!”
“Because I filed for divorce with the Imperial Court.”
“What?!”
Lloyd’s expression resembled that of a man who had been struck on the back of the head.
Divorce petitions were extraordinarily difficult to process unless one possessed immense power as a high noble or maintained close ties with the Imperial family.
Such a complicated matter had been expedited in merely a single day—thanks to Killian.
‘I never expected him to handle matters so swiftly… He was terrifying, certainly, but I’m so glad I asked for his help.’
Lloyd shouted at Artia, who wore a satisfied smile.
“I don’t know which mad member of the Imperial family you enlisted, but go at once and beg for forgiveness. Tell them you spoke nonsense in a moment of derangement, that you wish to withdraw the divorce petition.”
“I refuse.”
“…!”
“And lest you remain ignorant, once the formal divorce proceedings commence, the matter falls under the Emperor’s direct purview, and no one—not even the Duke of Edenberg—can interfere arbitrarily.”
She continued, fixing Lloyd with an unwavering gaze.
“Therefore, it would be wise for you to consent to the divorce gracefully. If both spouses agree, we need only beseech His Majesty to grant the dissolution, but if our positions diverge, matters become far more complicated.”
Each spouse would be compelled to argue vehemently for their respective reasons—why the marriage must end, or why it must endure.
“Then I shall recount before His Majesty all the vile deeds you have committed against me, and surely even someone as shameless as you would find that… embarrassing?”
“This is absolutely…!”
Lloyd’s fury reached its zenith as he raised his hand.
Yet his hand never descended.
Violence was grounds for divorce approval.
Though such cases were rarely accepted in practice.
Instead of striking Artia’s cheek, Lloyd seized her slender wrist.
‘It hurts.’
Lloyd gazed down at Artia, whose brow furrowed at the brutal force, and spoke.
“The Emperor has never approved a single divorce during his entire reign.”
Artia countered swiftly.
“Did it seem possible that someone as worthless as I could even submit a divorce petition to the Imperial Court?”
“…!”
“That the fourth son of a viscount’s house, living no better than a commoner, could become the Duke of Edenberg?”
Lloyd’s handsome face contorted hideously. Artia felt a surge of satisfaction as she pressed on.
“The only way to know what’s possible is to try.”
For the first time, fear flickered in Lloyd’s eyes.
A moment later, Lloyd tightened his grip on Artia’s wrist as he spoke.
“It appears my wife has not recovered her mental faculties from her incident at the Lake. She seems to require rest and recuperation.”
“…!”
Lloyd cast Artia down onto the floor without ceremony. He left her lying there and opened the door.
“Rest well, Artia. Don’t entertain any foolish thoughts.”
Bang.
The moment Lloyd stepped out, the massive door swung shut with a resounding finality.

* * *

The Doctor grasped Artia’s wrist as she lay in bed and spoke.
“Your pulse is weak, which suggests both body and mind are in poor condition. You require complete rest.”
Artia found it absurd.
Her body had never been in better health.
Artia asked him directly.
“How much were you paid to conduct this fraudulent examination?”
“…!”
She continued, watching his face contort in an instant.
“Whatever sum you received, you’ll pay ten times that price for it.”
“I-I don’t understand what you mean, madam. I only have your health as my priority.”
After the Doctor fled the room, Artia exhaled softly, alone at last.
“I expected him to react strongly upon receiving the divorce petition confirmation, but I never imagined he’d lock me away entirely….”
Immediately after Lloyd had closed her door yesterday, he had declared:
“Artia needs rest. From now on, no one enters without my permission.”
All the servants bowed their heads—all except one. Bibi did not.
Bibi stepped forward before Lloyd and spoke.
“I am madam’s personal Maid. Please allow me to attend to her.”
“Ah, it’s you. The Maid who failed to serve your mistress properly, reducing my wife to such a state.”
“…!”
“I must punish you for your incompetence. Seize her at once!”
From within the room, Artia heard the commotion outside and cried out.
“Run, Bibi!”
The sound of multiple footsteps echoed beyond the door, then faded into the distance.
That evening, Artia asked the Maid who brought her meal:
“What happened to Bibi?”
Lloyd had ordered the Maids not to respond to anything Artia said.
But there was something he had overlooked.
The Maids capable of treating Artia with such disrespect had long since been dismissed.
The Maid hesitated before answering.
“The master had the servants search for her, but they couldn’t find her. It seems she escaped beyond the Edenberg Mansion.”
At those words, Artia felt relief wash over her.
‘Lloyd tried to harm Bibi because of me.’
To show me what becomes of those who follow me.
As I imagined Bibi’s body covered in wounds from Lloyd’s whip, a chill ran through me.
I was grateful that Bibi hadn’t suffered such a terrible fate.
I clenched my fists and muttered under my breath.
“Don’t come back, Bibi.”
Not until I’ve driven Lloyd from this mansion.
And if I fail, then never.
At that moment, there was a knock, and the door opened.
Aside from the Doctor, only the Maid who brought meals ever entered my chamber.
But the person who appeared was not the Maid I saw every day.
It was Elma.
“The master has ordered that since your health is poor and digestion difficult, your meals be kept as simple as possible.”
Of course, the truth was different.
Lloyd simply wanted to punish me under the guise of illness.
And no doubt he calculated that if I was hungry, I wouldn’t be able to move properly and would remain docile.
“My heart ached so to think of you eating only thin soup all day.”
Elma, her eyes glistening with tears, set down a plate filled with soft bread and fresh vegetables.
“Please eat. I’ve brought your favorite foods.”
I gazed at the carefully prepared meal before speaking.
“You’re still sitting in the head maid’s position, Elma.”
When I confronted Lirika, Elma had locked her in her chamber.
I thought Lloyd would never forgive her for that, yet she still held her post.
Elma answered with a smile.
“I knelt before the master and begged, my hands worn raw, explaining that I locked Lirika away only because of your orders, fearing greater punishment otherwise. Fortunately, the master understood my situation and graciously forgave me.”
Surely not.
Lloyd was not such a magnanimous man.
‘The reason he kept Elma in her position was…’
I stared at Elma and spoke.
“You told Lloyd about Bibi, didn’t you? You said I had a favored maid, and told him to use her to blackmail me.”

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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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