The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 145

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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 145

I watched Luka with a satisfied expression before asking.
“How do you feel about acting?”
Every time we met, I asked Luka so many questions.
At first, he struggled even with simple yes-or-no answers, but he had improved considerably.
Luka carefully gathered his thoughts and answered earnestly.
“It’s enjoyable. Receiving praise feels wonderful. I want to do even better.”
These weren’t words spoken to gauge someone’s reaction or to appear favorable.
They were genuine.
I exhaled softly with relief and spoke.
“I forced you into acting, after all. I was so worried you’d find it difficult—I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you’ve done so well.”
“….”
I was paying him an excessive salary.
The environment I provided was abundantly comfortable and pleasant.
I even gave him the special experience of performing on stage alongside the finest actors.
Yet I had never once boasted to Luka about my generosity or demanded his gratitude.
Luka opened his mouth with a confused expression.
“Why do you treat me so kindly?”
It was Luka’s first question to me.
Even if I had said, “You’re a Kudran without parents. You’re so pitiful.”
it would have been a sufficiently grateful answer for him.
But the words that came from my lips were entirely different from what he expected.
“I haven’t treated you kindly at all.”
“…!”
“Everything you’ve received, you’ve earned through your own excellence.”
I extended my hand.
Soon, my pale, soft hand touched his red hair.
I ruffled his thick hair and smiled with pride as I spoke.
“And in the future, you’ll accomplish and possess far more. You have the talent for it.”
“…!”
A foul-smelling Kudran.
An ignorant fool who could only say “yes, yes.”
A vulgar wretch with nothing but his body.
He’d live as some noblewoman’s pet, and when he aged and became unsightly, he’d be discarded.
The poisonous words that had accumulated and festered within Luka were washed away by a single phrase from her.
Tears welled up in Luka’s eyes.
Flustered, Luka wiped the tears away with his hand.
“I’m s-so sorry!”
“No, if tears come, you should cry freely.”
Artia considered stepping away but instead gently patted Luka’s back.
His back was broader than most adult men’s, yet the person within was still just eighteen years old.
At her tender touch, Luka’s tears came pouring down.

‘How embarrassing….’
After a long while, Luka’s sobs subsided, and he bit his lip with reddened eyes.
Artia found the sight endearing and laughed.
“Luka.”
“Yes.”
What Artia offered was a small rabbit-shaped doll.
The faded fabric spoke of years past, yet it was well-maintained, still fluffy and carrying a pleasant fragrance.
“I had Bibi bring it. It’s the doll I slept with when I was little, and it has an incredibly special ability.”
Artia lowered her voice as if sharing a secret.
“It can eat people’s nightmares.”
It wasn’t a doll made by a mage. It had never received any special blessing.
Young Artia, afraid of sleeping alone at night, had simply chanted an incantation over it.
Yet it had proven quite effective for her.
“Sleep with this little one, and you won’t have any more frightening dreams.”
“…Thank you.”
Back in his room, Luka started to place the doll beside his pillow but instead held it gently against his chest.
In the darkness where he couldn’t see even an inch ahead, he recalled the golden eyes he’d been trying to forget, but they no longer frightened him as much.
‘Is it the rabbit doll’s power?’
Or perhaps the effect of the tea and sweet pastries he’d consumed earlier?
Or could it be….
The moment Artia crossed his mind, his chest ached sweetly.
With flushed cheeks, Luka drew the rabbit doll closer.

* * *

Edenberg Production Company Practice Room.
The moment the door opened, Luka, who had arrived earlier, snapped his head around.
“Hey there.”
Mikhail entered with a cheerful greeting that clashed with his cold demeanor.
“The youngest, have you been practicing diligently?”
Luka, with his hands clasped together, answered in a loud voice.
“Yes!”
Sandra wore a mischievous, cat-like smile.
“He’s working hard, but his mind is clearly elsewhere. Why do you keep staring at the door? Are you waiting for someone?”
Luka startled and waved his hands frantically.
“No! I’m not!”
“The way you deny it makes it even more suspicious.”
Mikhail approached Sandra, who was giggling, and pinched her lips with two fingers.
“Don’t tease the youngest.”
“I’m not teasing—I’m playing with him.”
“Your playing is teasing.”
“That’s not true. Let me show you what real teasing is.”
While the two bickered, Luka turned to Lamb and asked.
“Director, isn’t the master coming today either?”
Lamb, whose dark circles had descended to his jaw, replied.
“Yeah, she’s busy. It’ll be hard for her to come regularly from now on. There’s a nauseating amount of work for her as a producer.”
In the beginning, she came frequently because there were many decisions to make together.
But once the production gained momentum, Artia entrusted everything about the performance to Lamb and began handling the accumulated work.
‘So that’s why the master was awake until dawn the other day.’
Recalling Artia’s plain appearance that day, heat suddenly rushed to my face.
Seeing this, Lamb’s eyes widened.
“That’s it, Luka!”
“Yes?”
“That look in your eyes just now. That’s exactly the look of a lovesick Shine!”
At the word love, Luka’s face flushed crimson.
Regardless, Lamb, now in high spirits, made his skeletal frame quiver with excitement.
“Good. Remember that look in your eyes just now and let’s practice once more.”
Luka answered yes, but his gaze drifted toward the door.
The firmly closed door felt like a loss.

* * *

As Lamb had said, Artia was spending a hectic day.
The first place I visited was Dahlia’s Mansion.
Dahlia, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, seemed more animated than usual. She spoke.
“The sight I witnessed a few days ago keeps flickering through my mind.”
Recently, Dahlia had watched the actors during their rehearsals.
Since it was a closely guarded secret that she was the original author of the Northern Region Grand Duke’s Burning Heart, she wore a specially crafted mask.
Watching the actors perform, Dahlia was struck with an impression as sudden and brilliant as a lightning bolt.
“I never imagined that seeing my novel manifest into reality would be so thrilling.”
Hearing Dahlia’s candid impressions, I laughed and replied.
“I feel the same way. Every time something that didn’t exist in this world is created piece by piece, my heart swells with emotion.”
I continued with an excited voice.
“So this is the magnificent work you’ve been doing all this time, Author. You’re truly remarkable.”
There she goes again, captivating people like that.
What was even more frightening was that Artia hadn’t calculated anything before saying those words—she meant every syllable.
Dahlia’s ears flushed crimson as she cleared her throat with a soft hum before speaking.
“But when we adapted it for the performance, we changed some of Shine’s dialogue into songs.”
Performances in the Empire typically featured either singing alone or acting alone.
The format combining both song and acting was borrowed from performances in Leju.
“The actors’ singing was quite moving, but one performer particularly stood out. Shine, that is.”
Shine was a memorable character—a servant harboring unrequited love for the heroine—but being mute, he had no dialogue at all.
“The actor playing Shine… was his name Luka? He has a beautiful voice.”
What is this feeling?
It felt as though I myself were being praised.
My face flushed with excitement as I nodded twice.
“That’s right. Luka’s voice is as clear and crisp as an autumn breeze.”
“So I was thinking—what if we added a song part for Shine in the latter half of the play?”
“…!”
Dahlia handed me a piece of paper, my eyes widening.
Written there was Shine’s confession to the heroine.
“Of course, since this song is sung only in Shine’s heart, only the audience can hear it. Maria, whom Shine loves, won’t hear this confession. I think it would express Shine’s tender feelings even more beautifully—what do you think?”
After reading all the lyrics, I spoke in admiration.
“It’s absolutely fantastical just imagining it!”
Dahlia’s face brightened.
“Really?”
“Yes, the audience will definitely be deeply moved. I’ll speak with the director and make sure this part is added without fail.”
I added with heartfelt sincerity.
“Author, you’re truly a genius of the century. It’s an absolute honor to work with you!”
She really is a master of praise.
Dahlia’s nose lifted proudly.

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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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