The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 142

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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 142

‘Come to think of it, Luka remained composed even when Madame Tungguel made him do strange things.’
The only moment Luka’s eyes wavered was when I asked about him.
‘And he’s only eighteen years old….’
Sandra turned to me with an excited expression, her eyebrows raised.
“Wow, you were right, Director! It’s like Shine just jumped out of a book.”
Mikhail, still holding Lamb, nodded in agreement.
At their reactions, my shoulders lifted slightly.
“Isn’t he?”
I smiled and spoke.
“Let’s exchange greetings. We’ll be working together from now on.”
Sandra gave Luka a fresh wink, and Mikhail bowed his head slightly. Even Lamb, who had been restrained by Mikhail, regained his senses for that moment and waved his hand.
Toward Luka, who bowed at the waist out of habit despite his confusion, I spoke.
“Luka, starting today, your job is to take on the role of Shine and perform as an actor.”
“What?!”
Luka cried out in surprise, then covered his mouth. Questioning a noblewoman’s words was a grave mistake.
I didn’t particularly point that out and continued.
“Why are you surprised? I told you I wanted to keep hiring you as an actor.”
To be honest, Luka had never seriously considered those words.
The content was too absurd.
‘I’ll make you a nobleman,’ or something like that—the kind of empty promises noblewomen often spouted.
It was Luka’s misunderstanding.
“That’s why I set your salary that way. The five hundred gold signing bonus I mentioned when I first met you and proposed the acting position. I divided that over one year.”
Only then did Luka realize why his salary had been so unreasonably high.
As Luka stood there bewildered and at a loss, Lamb, freed from Mikhail’s seal, approached him.
Lamb’s eyes, darkened like a panda’s, flickered as he asked.
“Your name?”
The answer tumbled out as if programmed.
“Luka.”
“How old are you?”
“Eighteen years old.”
“Three years younger than Shine. That’s not a problem. Your build is large enough that you don’t look like a child at all.”
Lamb hummed and asked again.
“Have you ever acted before?”
“Have you ever acted before?”
“No.”
Luka was perceptive.
The man who looked as though he might collapse at any moment was clearly someone entrusted with an important role in creating the performance.
Luka had braced himself, expecting disappointment at his answer, but Lamb broke into a grin instead.
“That doesn’t matter either. I’ll teach you everything.”
Even Luka, who had encountered all manner of people while attending to noblewomen, felt a madness he had never experienced before—cold sweat trickling down his spine.
But only for a moment; soon Luka cried out loudly.
“I’ll do my best!”
Watching him, Artia smiled with satisfaction.

* * *

On a night when the moon had just begun to shine.
Artia was reading through documents she had organized about the performance in her chamber. Then, sensing a familiar presence, she lifted her head.
Killian appeared at the open window.
Seeing him, Artia spoke as though she had been waiting.
“Your Highness, I succeeded!”
He approached Artia’s side and asked.
“Succeeded in what?”
“In casting Shine, like I mentioned before. I managed to get him for the role! Though I did push rather forcefully.”
Killian greatly enjoyed listening to Artia’s stories.
He found it even more delightful when she spoke animatedly with a bright smile in her soft voice.
But today’s conversation was taking an unpleasant turn.
“You’re having him stay at the mansion?”
“Yes, because formally speaking, even as an actor, he’s a servant I’ve employed.”
“There are workers who commute rather than live on the premises.”
“Luka’s home with his grandmother isn’t close enough for daily commuting. And I’m worried about what Madame Tungguel might do if I let him out.”
“….”
“I brought him here. I want to protect him from anything dangerous.”
Killian knew how much effort Artia was putting into creating this performance.
That she would invest this much care in someone like Shine or Luka must be part of that effort.
‘So I can’t let any displeasure show. It would be unseemly.’
Fortunately, he had received thorough training in concealing his emotions since childhood.
He could easily hide something as trivial as this feeling….
“Are you angry?”
At Artia’s words, Killian’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Why would you say that?”
“The atmosphere around you seems to have sharpened.”
“….”
“If I’m mistaken, please disregard it.”
Killian stared intently at Artia before speaking.
“He’s a man.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I don’t like having such a dangerous element in your home.”
Artia was taken aback by his unexpected words.
“As long as Bibi is by my side, a thief couldn’t lay a finger on me. Besides, it’s a stretch to even call Luka a man. He’s only eighteen.”
Her innocent response made Killian dizzy.
Artia clearly had no idea.
No idea how visceral and consuming desire could become at eighteen, burning for a woman.
Killian knew it well.
The image of Artia in that pink gown at the debutante ball kept haunting his dreams.
Sometimes she smiled radiantly; other times her expression turned wanton in ways he knew she would never allow herself in waking life.
Each time he jolted awake, shame consumed him.
The thought that he had defiled her innocence in his mind.
He had even begun staying awake through the nights, terrified of dreaming such things again.
…It was a secret he could never tell Artia. So Killian held his tongue.
But he couldn’t restrain himself and spoke again.
“Eighteen is a proper man.”
“…!”
“So don’t be alone with him. Don’t be kind to him. Don’t smile at him.”
Why did her heart race so at his childish demand, delivered in such refined diction and a voice so low it sent shivers down her spine?
With her ears burning red, Artia found his words too mortifying to hear and simply nodded.
She had the strange feeling this exact situation had happened before…

Upon returning to the Imperial Palace, Killian ordered Nocton von Alihas to investigate.
“Find out everything you can about Luka.”
Luka? Who is that…?
Nocton von Alihas couldn’t bring himself to ask where this unfamiliar name had come from, so he simply nodded obediently.
What choice did he have? Orders were orders.
He relayed Killian’s command to the Rat Network, adding clarification.
“Don’t bother searching for any other Luka. Just gather information on the one who serves the Duchess of Edenberg.”
The efficient members of the Rat Network assembled their findings within half a day.
After hearing the report, Killian spoke.
“He’s been seducing noblewomen?”
I never used such crude language. I said he was favored by the noblewomen.
Nocton von Alihas protested indignantly.
“Though they kept it quiet to avoid scandal, those who needed to know already did. His appearance is far too striking to go unnoticed.”
Killian’s left eyebrow arched sharply.
“His features are sharp and defined, his physique robust and distinctly masculine, yet his temperament is remarkably gentle. The arrogant noblewomen found this combination utterly irresistible. There have even been instances where they came to blows competing for his affections.”
The longer Nocton von Alihas spoke, the more menacing Killian’s gaze became.
Nocton von Alihas felt hot tears welling up inside.
He’d only gathered the information as requested—why did he deserve such a murderous look?
Unaware of his subordinate’s suffering, Killian muttered coldly.
“How irritating.”

* * *

A sudden chill made Luka’s broad shoulders tense.
Lamb shouted toward him.
“Luka!”
“Yes!”
Luka’s head snapped up.
Lamb approached, his pallid face marked by dark circles that extended to his jaw, his eyes flickering with exhaustion.
Though the sight of him resembled a walking corpse, Luka didn’t recoil and remained still.
Lamb leaned close to Luka’s face and cried out.
“Who knew you could act that well?!”
Luka had been cast solely for his appearance. No one had expected him to actually act. Lamb was no exception.
He’d thought it sufficient if Luka could simply take the stage on cue and maintain an appropriate expression.
(Of course, by Lamb’s standards, “appropriate” was still quite demanding.)
Yet something remarkable had occurred.
Luka had recreated exactly what Lamb envisioned.

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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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