The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 135

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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 135

I wanted to tell her to do it, but Bibi was currently cradling the Elderly Woman in her arms.
Even for Bibi, subduing someone while holding an elderly woman was no simple task.
One misstep could leave us surrounded by those harboring resentment toward the Empire.
Artia made her decision swiftly.
“Let’s go to the clinic outside the village.”
Artia boarded the carriage she had stationed nearby and headed toward the clinic on the main street.
“Emergency patient!”
The Doctor, turning at the sound of Artia’s voice, let out a startled cry.
The person cradled in Bibi’s arms was an elderly woman with deep brown skin. The Doctor spoke with irritation.
“I don’t treat slaves….”
Crack! Bibi swung her foot and split the desk the Doctor had been sitting at in half.
Artia, standing before him, spoke with an uncharacteristic cold expression.
“Do it, unless you wish to make an enemy of House of Edenberg.”
A thug, and a great noble.
The Doctor nodded without even having time to verify whether Artia’s words were true.
If he didn’t, it seemed his own life would be in danger rather than the patient’s.

* * *

“Sigh…”
The Elderly Woman’s eyes fluttered open with a shallow breath.
Artia, who had been standing beside the bed, smiled.
“You’re awake.”
“What… what on earth is…?”
Artia explained the situation to the startled Elderly Woman.
“You collapsed and lost consciousness, so I brought you to the Doctor. He said your body was weakened, and you pushed yourself too hard—you need rest.”
The Elderly Woman stared blankly at Artia’s kind words, then her eyes grew moist.
“Thank you for helping me.”
Artia’s face flushed crimson as she pointed to Bibi standing beside her.
“You should thank her instead. Bibi is the one who brought you here.”
The Elderly Woman immediately bowed her head to Bibi.
“I’m truly grateful.”
Bibi replied with a stoic expression.
“Think nothing of it. I’m just relieved you’re safe.”
Artia spoke.
“Now that you’re awake, we should be going. I’ve already spoken with the Doctor, so don’t worry—just stay here until you’re better.”
“Ah…”
The Elderly Woman grasped the hem of Artia’s skirt.
“As you can see, I have nothing to offer you right now. But I will repay this debt without fail—please tell me your name.”
What should I do? Artia pondered for a moment, then answered honestly.
“Artia.”
I deliberately omitted my family name.
I didn’t want to burden the Elderly Woman unnecessarily.
After exchanging farewells and leaving the room, I approached the Doctor, who wore a sour expression as if he were being tormented by a troublesome patient.
What is it? What’s wrong?
Toward the frightened Doctor, I extended my purse.
The Doctor’s face brightened instantly as he opened it.
Inside the purse were gold coins.
I spoke.
“Take good care of her. Treat her the same as any other patient.”
I glanced at the desk that Bibi had split in half and continued.
“And get a new desk.”
The Doctor’s face lit up unnaturally as he nodded vigorously.

* * *

Returning to the Edenberg Mansion, Artia found herself lost in thought.
The Doctor had taken one look at the Elderly Woman’s face and loudly declared he would not treat slaves.
That was far from all.
The other patients who saw the Elderly Woman lying in the Bedroom wore expressions of displeasure, questioning why such a thing existed in a hospital.
When Bibi flexed her thick arm muscles, they said nothing more.
It was shocking.
‘I knew Kudran people faced discrimination, but I never realized it was to this extent.’
That wasn’t all.
The Kudran people’s resentment toward the Empire exceeded her imagination.
The vivid memory of the hostile gleam in a young Kudran’s eyes the moment they saw Artia’s face remained fresh.
‘Perhaps casting Kudran people as performers truly is impossible….’
While wrestling with this concern, Bibi spoke.
“Mistress, you have a visitor. He says he is the grandson of the elderly woman you helped before.”
It was an unexpected guest.
Unable to keep even an unannounced visitor waiting long, Artia made her way directly to the Reception Room.
Upon opening the door, a man of considerable stature stood beside the sofa.
The moment the man turned, Artia’s eyes widened.
Hair the color of blazing flame, smooth bronze skin, eyes of striking violet.
With features so refined they could captivate any woman’s gaze wherever he went, he was….
“Shine…?!”
At her softly uttered words, the man’s eyes widened.
Rather than answering Artia’s bewildering remark, he immediately dropped to one knee.
Before a flustered Artia could say anything, he pressed his forehead to the floor and spoke.
“I offer my respects to your noble presence.”
There was no formal protocol for commoners greeting nobility.
One simply bowed their head with respect for their superior, and that sufficed.
Artia had never received such a greeting before.
Flustered, Artia spoke.
“Lift your head…. No, stand up.”
“Thank you.”
Fortunately, the man did not stubbornly insist he could not, and rose obediently.
Seeing his face again, it remained beautiful.
‘His large frame and distinct features made him appear mature, but up close, he looks quite young.’
Could he be around eighteen?
As Artia was trying to gauge his age, she realized the man was still standing.
“If nothing is uncomfortable, would you sit down?”
The man glanced around the room.
No matter how he looked, he could see no seat befitting a lowborn Kudran.
That left only the sofa across from Artia.
The man carefully perched on the edge of the sofa, then shifted his gaze slightly downward to the floor.
Like Artia in the past, unable to meet someone’s gaze properly.
‘No, I’m different from that.’
Rather, I resembled the people who stood before Killian von Orpheus.
Those who bowed with utmost reverence and fear.
Artia was a great noble, but because I appeared so approachable—or rather, so virtuous—I had never received such treatment even from servants.
Yet now that I was experiencing it myself….
‘It’s absolutely dreadful.’
Rather than feeling proud, I only felt embarrassed.
I was about to tell him to meet my eyes comfortably, but I stopped myself.
Such words might only make him more uncomfortable.
Instead, I spoke differently.
“My name is Artia von Edenberg. What is yours?”
The man’s eyes widened as if he hadn’t expected such words, and his face flushed slightly.
“Please call me whatever you are comfortable with. Shine is fine as well.”
Did he not want to give his name?
Or was he embarrassed?
I couldn’t discern the shy man’s intentions. This only sparked my curiosity to learn his name, but I held back.
I didn’t want to pry into something he was deliberately hiding.
I spoke.
“Then I’ll call you Shine. Tell me the reason you came to find me.”
“I came here after asking the Doctor who treated my grandmother for his name. The Doctor said that if my grandmother hadn’t come to the hospital, she might have passed away. I truly thank you for helping my grandmother.”
Sincerity trembled in his voice.
Then the man extended a pouch with a visibly tense expression.
“It’s not much, but I hope you will accept it.”
The man was from Kudran.
His face was striking, but his appearance was shabby. The same could be said of his grandmother.
‘His financial situation must be quite strained….’
Yet he had come all this way to offer money, which meant he desperately wanted to express his gratitude.
I could not refuse such sincerity.
I carefully accepted the pouch.
Opening it, I found it filled with low-denomination coins that nobles never used—currency of the common people.
Unlike gold coins, these crudely made copper pieces were dented and discolored.
Shine spoke anxiously as I stared at them.
“I apologize. I should have given you clean money, but I couldn’t.”
Without even asking, I understood what he must have endured.
He was likely turned away from the Money Exchange the moment they saw he was from Kudran.
If even a Doctor—someone whose profession was to save lives—faced such treatment, it was obvious what would happen elsewhere.
I replied as if it were nothing.
“Shiny or tarnished, it’s all the same money.”
“…!”
“There’s quite a lot here.”
Artia withdrew a few coins and handed the purse back to Shine.
“I’ll only take what I gave to the Doctor. That way, my conscience will be at ease.”

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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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