The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 144

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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 144

Crackers topped with finely shredded and roasted carrot rapé, fluffy carrot cake adorned with a cute carrot-shaped decoration.
Delicate carrot cookies molded into charming shapes, and carrot juice served in a glass etched with intricate patterns.
It was nothing short of a carrot party.
Killian spoke to Artia, whose eyes sparkled as though she had discovered treasure.
“Try it.”
Artia nodded and took a bite of the cracker.
Crunch!
‘The combination of crispy cracker and tender carrot is absolutely sublime!’
Killian’s gaze softened as he watched Artia mumble contentedly, her face radiant with joy.
‘Ugh.’
Nocton von Alihas turned his gaze away as though witnessing something unbearable. Goosebumps erupted across his entire body.
He had no desire whatsoever to see Killian von Orpheus wear such an expression.
Killian lowered his gaze from watching Artia eat.
The scene on the first floor came into view at a glance.
His golden eyes slowly swept across the people—more precisely, the men.
The first to catch his attention was Mikhail.
‘I’ve seen him before.’
His tall, handsome appearance had been quite irritating.
But watching him mumble happily with carrot cake in both hands, his wariness evaporated instantly.
Lamb, pass.
Then his gaze halted.
‘There he is.’
The eighteen-year-old boy Artia had taken an interest in lately.
He possessed the distinctive features of a Kudran, with impressive height and build. Yet his face still bore the softness of youth.
I understood why Artia did not regard him as a man.
But a boy becomes a man in an instant.
There was no telling when this wretch would begin to exude the scent of a male before her.
At that thought, unrefined hostility surged within me.
“…!”
Luka’s body went rigid as he felt the predatory gaze upon him, and he jerked his head up.
The moment Luka’s eyes met Killian von Orpheus’s on the second floor, his face drained of all color.
His body trembled at the chilling light emanating from those golden eyes.
Just as transparent tears began to form in Luka’s violet eyes….
“Why are you staring like that?”
Artia, oblivious to the unfolding drama, popped a carrot cookie into her mouth and asked innocently.
Killian von Orpheus swiftly suppressed his ferocious aura and turned his face toward Artia.
“Nothing.”
He answered brazenly, reaching out to touch the corner of Artia’s mouth.
Killian von Orpheus spoke to her as she startled.
“You had whipped cream on your face.”
“Oh, I see. Thank you.”
Artia stammered, her face flushing redder than the carrot itself, blinking rapidly.
She looked exactly like a startled rabbit, and Killian von Orpheus let out a soft chuckle.
It was a smile unbefitting the man who had just been growling at an eighteen-year-old mere moments before.

* * *

Luka, regardless of other matters, had grown keenly attuned to the gazes of women who coveted him and the men whose anger they provoked.
‘Could it be that His Highness the Crown Prince has taken an interest in Lady Artia…?’
That night, Luka suffered a nightmare.
A black monster with gleaming golden eyes chased him down and tore into him with its fangs.
“Ahhh!”
Luka jolted awake and wrapped his arms around himself. The dread still wouldn’t fade.
He had encountered men like Killian von Orpheus more than once or twice.
Every man who had stood beside the women who possessed Luka had despised him.
The fact that Luka harbored no feelings for those women mattered little to them.
Some of them had vented their rage through brutal violence.
Had Luka not possessed a robust constitution, he would have been beaten to death long ago.
‘I’m terrified…’
For Luka, who already harbored a deep fear of noble men, the intensity of Killian von Orpheus’s gaze today had been overwhelming.
In this state, sleep seemed utterly impossible.
‘I’ll step outside and get some fresh air.’
Luka carefully left the room without waking the other servants who shared it.
The corridor was silent in the pre-dawn hours when everyone slept.
He gazed up at the vertiginously high ceiling, lost in thought.
Luka had always despised mansions of such enormous scale.
It felt as though he were trapped in a labyrinth ruled by demons.
But in the Edenberke Estate, he felt none of that.
Luka understood why.
Here, no one scorned him for being from Kudran. No one mocked him for standing out, nor struck him for being an eyesore.
It wasn’t because only miraculously virtuous people had gathered here.
It was thanks to Artia.
“Hey, you really did serve those noble ladies, didn’t you—oof!”
Another servant clamped his hand over the mouth of the servant who had been snickering and trying to tease Luka.
“Don’t you remember the Master telling you never to say such things?”
“No, I was just curious.”
“Your intentions don’t matter—watch your tongue. If you’re caught saying anything like that even once, you’ll face the Master’s wrath.”
The Maid added something for Luka as well.
“If anyone else speaks such filthy words, don’t just listen—report it to the Master.”
Artia had never boasted to Luka with phrases like “I’m protecting you” or “You can live comfortably because of me.”
She simply showed him consideration quietly.
Because of that, Artia was not a “woman” to Luka.
She was an admirable, gracious adult he wished to emulate.
It was then.
“Luka.”
A clear voice reached him from behind.
Luka’s eyes widened as he turned around.
Artia stood in the long corridor.
She looked different from her usual composed appearance.
She wore flowing indoor sleepwear, and her silver hair fell naturally loose around her shoulders.
“It’s late—what are you doing here?”
“I…”
One must answer the Master promptly.
Yet somehow, the words wouldn’t come easily. He barely managed to gather his voice to respond.
“I had a frightening dream.”
As he spoke, Luka thought to himself.
Artia would never mock him for losing sleep over a bad dream like some boy.
His expectation proved correct.
Artia’s expression filled with concern.
“You must have been quite frightened. Would you like a warm cup of tea?”
“Yes!”
It wasn’t a mechanical response to the Master’s command. He moved of his own will.
Though Luka himself remained entirely unaware of it.

A late-night tea party had been arranged.
Artia and I sat at a round table inside the pergola in the Garden.
Bibi, who had been with Artia, swiftly brought tea and desserts.
My eyes widened at the generous spread of desserts piled high on the plates.
Artia spoke with a smile.
“You’re still at an age where you need plenty of nourishment. You looked hungry, so I had this prepared. Eat as much as you’d like.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
“Chamomile tea will help you sleep well too.”
As she said this, I saw Artia reach for the teapot and jumped to my feet.
“Allow me to pour!”
Artia shook her head.
“I’ll do it.”
“But…”
“There’s no one watching. It’s fine.”
I fidgeted nervously before sitting back down.
Artia began pouring tea into the cup before me.
I had witnessed countless noble ladies in elegant poses during my service.
But never had I been so utterly captivated by the sight.
Without makeup and with her hair cascading loosely, Artia appeared far younger than usual.
She looked not like the noble and dignified Duchess, but like a girl who had only recently come of age.
The moment I felt a tingling sensation near my chest, the teacup was filled with steaming tea.
Only then did I come to my senses, grasping the cup with both hands.
In truth, I had never been fond of tea. I disliked its bitter taste.
Yet when I took a sip, my eyes widened.
‘It’s sweet.’
The fragrant chamomile aroma combined with the sweetness made it utterly delicious.
Seeing my relaxed expression, Artia asked.
“Does it suit your taste?”
“Yes, it’s delicious.”
Artia laughed softly.
“All that honey was worth it then.”
“…”
Though I had not served Artia directly, I had learned from the maids that she disliked overly sweet things.
Yet she had deliberately added honey to the tea.
‘For me.’
In that instant, heat flooded my face.
Flustered, I gulped down the hot tea, then shoved an entire large cookie into my mouth and chewed awkwardly.

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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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