The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 117

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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 117

“…!”
The Empress’s eyes, which had remained downcast throughout, widened for the first time. As though she had never anticipated this moment.
The Empress accepted the roses with an awkward expression.
The Empress accepted the rose with an awkward expression.
Descending the staircase, Artia distributed the flowers one by one to the women gathered there. Those who received them carefully plucked the petals and shared them with those beside them, laughing like schoolgirls.
It was a sight unseen throughout the decades of Masked Gatherings held to select an Ethereal.
No one grieved. No one envied.
They simply smiled—with elegance, with pride, with shyness, with grace.
Watching Artia surrounded by the crowd, Killian von Orpheus, seated on the dais, lifted the corners of his mouth into a smile.

The banquet was extremely lively.
The Masked Gathering had been nothing short of harmonious.
As the gathering drew to a close, Marigold, her face flushed with wine, cried out.
“This is such a special day—my Artia has become an Ethereal! We can’t possibly end it here. Let’s go to my estate and celebrate through the night!”
She seemed prepared to exhaust every drop of wine and morsel of food in her mansion for the sake of the party.
However, Artia politely declined her generous offer.
“It’s grown late, and everyone must be exhausted. I’ll extend a proper invitation another time.”
Marigold pouted, but she could protest no further. Her husband, Count Goljus, simply lifted her into his arms and deposited her into the carriage.
Dahlia shook her head with a weary expression, Frigia blushed like a maiden with an embarrassed laugh, and Artia clapped her hands with sparkling eyes.
After bidding farewell to her friends and arriving home, she found that the servants, having already heard the news, had decorated the entire mansion with flowers and were waiting to greet her.
“Congratulations, my lady!”
Artia, holding a bouquet larger than her own body, beamed with radiance.
“Thank you all.”
Her gratitude did not end with mere words.
“In celebration of this auspicious occasion, I’m granting all of you a holiday. Go out and enjoy yourselves.”
The servants erupted in cheers so thunderous it seemed to shake the mansion itself.
Only Bibi remained expressionless.

Vivi said, following Artya into the room.
Bibi, who had followed Artia into the chamber, spoke.
“Shall I prepare your bath?”
“No, I’ll do it in a moment.”
She usually bathed immediately after returning from outings—was she tired today?
Bibi nodded and replied.
“Understood. Please let me know when you need anything.”
After Bibi left, Artia sat at her vanity and gazed into the mirror.
Though she had spent hours at the Masked Gathering, her appearance remained impeccable thanks to the touch-ups she’d applied throughout the evening. Still, she tidied her hair once more and reapplied her lipstick.
As she studied her reflection for any remaining imperfections, a sound came from behind her. Artia’s head whipped around.
Killian von Orpheus stood by the window.
Artia’s face brightened with a radiant smile.
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
‘Why am I smiling when I’m not wearing the butterfly mask?’
Killian spoke, trying to suppress the childlike excitement that threatened to show through.
“You always act startled like a frightened rabbit, yet today you smile as though you knew I would come.”
“Yes, I did know.”
“…!”
“You’ve always come to me whenever something significant happens.”
Killian stared intently at Artia’s innocent smile.
Though they had occupied the same space throughout the Masked Gathering, they had not exchanged a single proper word. Artia had wanted it that way.
Now that they were alone, Killian could finally voice what he had longed to say all evening.
“Congratulations.”
Today, Artia had received more congratulations than she had in her entire life. Yet his words carried no warmth, no radiant smile, no excitement—only a blunt sincerity. And yet…
‘Why is my heart racing like this?’
Artia’s face flushed crimson. She murmured softly and retrieved something from the table.
A Gold Rose, gleaming with golden brilliance. She extended it toward Killian von Orpheus.
“I gave one to each of my closest friends as a gift. Since Your Highness is one of my most treasured friends…”
Artia swallowed hard as she studied Killian von Orpheus’s unreadable expression.
The Gold Rose symbolized a beautiful woman. Would he find it absurd to receive such a flower? Would he be troubled?
Perhaps it would mean nothing to him, seeing such things daily at the Imperial Palace?
But Artia’s worries were entirely unfounded. Killian von Orpheus gazed at her with eyes that had widened almost imperceptibly.
As though he had received a gift he had never anticipated.
“…”
His hand brushed lightly against Artia’s, then withdrew. His eyes curved gracefully as he brought the Gold Rose to his lips, and they gleamed more brilliantly than the golden petals themselves.
“It is an honor.”
The predatory gaze that had seemed so menacing now shone with a radiance that outshone the golden rose.
Artia stared at him in a daze before hastily placing her hand over her heart.
She feared the violent pounding of her heart would betray her to him.
His voice reached her ear.
“I wish to give you a congratulatory gift as well. What would you like?”
Artia was not surprised. She did not demur or politely refuse.
As if she had anticipated this very moment, she tilted her head with composure, her eyes rolling thoughtfully before she spoke.

A moment later, Artia was sitting on top of a huge black leopard.
Moments later, Artia found herself perched atop a massive black panther.
The gift Artia had requested was not something frivolous like “Please give me a ride on a black panther!”
Yet this extraordinary turn of events had come to pass because Killian von Orpheus had declared it the easiest way to grant her wish.
“W-what if I fall?”
At Artia’s trembling voice, the black panther responded.
“You won’t.”
“What if someone sees us?”
“They won’t.”
“No matter how I think about it, this is….”
“We’re going.”
The black panther moved.
It accelerated with such tremendous speed that Artia’s hair whipped violently in the wind. Yet despite her initial terror, there was scarcely any jolting at all. It was smoother than riding in a carriage.
‘How is this possible at such speed? Is this the power of magic as well?’
Before she could marvel further, the Imperial Palace loomed before them. The moment she glimpsed the towering palace walls, fear seized her once more.
“Your Highness, perhaps it would be far safer if you returned to your true form now and entered through the proper gates….”
Whoosh—
With a rush of wind, the black panther leaped skyward. As if gravity itself had been cast aside, it soared impossibly high and cleared the palace walls in a single bound.
Landing with barely a whisper of sound, the black panther turned to face Artia’s astonished expression as she asked.
“How did you do that? Did you just… fly through the air?”
“Something like that.”
The black panther spoke of this extraordinary feat as though it were nothing at all, then plunged back into the darkness, racing deeper into the palace until arriving at a small garden nestled in its heart.
Though it was a moonless night when no birdsong could be heard, this place alone blazed with light as if dozens of lanterns had been lit.
It was because the Gold Rose Garden—treasured as the Imperial Palace’s greatest jewel—was in full bloom.
At the dreamlike sight, Artia covered her mouth.
Hours earlier, when Artia had spoken of the gift she desired….
“I would like to see the Gold Rose Garden.”
As Artia immediately grew hesitant, wondering if it was too much to ask, Killian von Orpheus had told her.
“You could ask for the entire garden if you wished.”
For a moment, Artia’s eyes gleamed with naked desire, but she quickly regained her composure and shook her head.
“Just seeing it once is enough for me.”
The Gold Rose Garden was renowned throughout the realm for its breathtaking beauty, yet few had ever witnessed it with their own eyes. Access was strictly controlled to members of the Imperial Family alone.
Which made this space all the more irresistible to the curiosity of others….
“It’s beautiful….”

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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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