The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 163

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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 163

My earlier concerns proved entirely unfounded as Frigia demonstrated remarkable competence in no time at all.
It was only natural.
Frigia possessed an exceptional eye for dresses, and her talent for managing even the most discerning noblewomen—those as ethereal as they came—was truly outstanding.
Andy spoke with a smile.
“Many customers come seeking dress recommendations from Frigia regardless of the performance. Some enter merely to browse, but after hearing Frigia’s explanations, they become so enchanted they order dozens of dresses.”
Artia nodded with a satisfied expression, as though she herself had received the praise.
“It’s the handiwork of the most beloved princess in High Society.”
The two who had been whispering fell silent as Frigia approached.
“When did you arrive, Artia?”
“Just a moment ago. By the way, did you give the gift to Elizabeth?”
Not long ago, Frigia had purchased a piano for her daughter with her first earned wages.
“Yes, she was delighted with it.”
Frigia added with a shy smile.
“Since I bought it with money I earned myself, I felt my chest swell with pride.”
At those words, Andy and Artia chuckled knowingly.

The next place I visited was Kudran Village.
The people on the street brightened at the sight of me.
“Lady Artia!”
It was a far cry from the reception I’d received on my first visit here.
The villagers’ perception had shifted once I built a school and hospital in Kudran Village.
“Why would a noble suddenly help us? There must be some ulterior motive.”
Some of the Kudran people remained wary of me, but far more accepted my goodwill genuinely.
The village representative was one of those people.
“What brings you here today?”
I spoke to him, his face wreathed in smiles.
“I’m looking to hire workers for the Estate. Do you know of anyone suitable?”
The representative’s eyes widened, then his brows furrowed.
“If you employ Kudran people, there will be gossip.”
I sipped my arancha
(a tea favored by the Kudran people)
before answering.
“That prejudice exists only because people believe Kudran are inferior.”
That perception needed to be shattered.
“The mere fact that House of Edenberg employs Kudran workers will shift people’s minds.”
I would open the floodgates, but whether the current flowed long and wide would depend on the Kudran people themselves.
“Please select carefully and send me those who are diligent, clever, and of excellent character.”
He would be the one to change it.
The perceptions of the servants working at the Edenberg Estate, the merchants who visited, and the nobility themselves.
The representative’s expression grew serious.
“For mere workers, the responsibility feels quite heavy.”
“Is the burden so great that it’s difficult to find suitable talent?”
The representative spoke eagerly, as if asking what I meant.
“The young people of the village who once hesitated are now ambitious like Luka, determined to succeed. I’ll select those with three times the grit of Empire citizens and contact you.”
I smiled softly.
“I’ll be waiting.”

* * *

After that, I stopped by a few more business-related locations before returning to the Edenberg Estate.
‘I’m exhausted~.’
Yet an unexpected visitor sat waiting in the Reception Room.
It was Derek and Ian.
I furrowed my brow as I spoke.
“Uncles, even if we’re family, showing up without a word like this is quite rude.”
At my words, Derek and Ian’s expressions grew tense.
Derek managed to suppress his true feelings, but Ian did not.
Ian spoke in an irritated tone.
“You kept saying you were busy and wouldn’t meet with us, so we came all the way here!”
“It’s not that I wouldn’t meet with you—I was genuinely busy.”
Derek stopped Ian from saying anything more in response to my words.
“That’s enough. We haven’t seen each other in so long—why say such hurtful things? We’re the adults here; we should be understanding.”
Surprisingly, Ian huffed but fell silent.
After all, he wanted something.
Derek brought up the matter first.
“Artia, get us more performance tickets.”
Though I had spearheaded it, the performance was clearly a House of Edenberg venture.
Ignoring the family elders would have been disrespectful.
So before the performance premiered, I gave my uncles and Evangeline several tickets.
At that time, Ian and Derek’s reactions had been far from positive.
“People may be talking about the performance, but it’s just gossip because we’re staging a vulgar novel that women read. Will this even work?”
“I’m worried the performance will flop and bring shame on us. If that happens, our house is truly finished.”
But when the performance became a success, their attitudes changed completely.
Derek smiled awkwardly as he spoke.
“My friends are pestering me for tickets. They’re desperately asking to see our performance—it would be rude to ignore them, wouldn’t it?”
With the performance’s success, even Derek, who had been unremarkable, suddenly drew people’s attention.
He didn’t want to let that slip away.
But my response was cold.
“Uncle, there are many people disappointed they couldn’t get tickets. If we hand them out left and right, it will invite criticism.”
That wasn’t all.
“Tickets that sell out instantly are money. If we give them away for free, that becomes an expense rather than income. Unless there’s a clear justification, I cannot provide tickets.”
Derek’s expression twisted as if he’d bitten into something foul, but he didn’t give up.
“Then just ten…”
Six… two…
No matter how persistently he wheedled, I shook my head, and Derek was left disappointed.
Ian pushed past Derek, who was grumbling about how harsh I was, and stepped forward.
“When are you dividing the profits?”
My eyebrows rose.
“Profits?”
“That’s right. The Edenberg Company brings in an enormous amount of money.”
The success of the performances.
Beyond that, the jewelry and dresses produced in conjunction with the performances generated substantial additional revenue.
There were whispers that all the money from the Convent was flowing into Edenberg.
Ian spoke up with a self-important air.
“That’s not your money. Obviously you have to split it with us.”
Derek, who had been looking dejected on the other side, quickly interjected and nodded in agreement.
Artia regarded the two men with their greedy expressions, then exchanged a glance with Bibi.
Bibi brought over a stack of documents and began piling them onto the table.
Eventually, there wasn’t enough space, and they spilled across the floor as well.
Artia spoke to her uncles, who now found themselves trapped amid the mountain of papers.
“These are just some of the documents I’ve reviewed and prepared since announcing my new business venture. There’s twice this amount stacked in my office.”
Ian cried out in bewilderment.
“What, are you trying to brag about how hard you worked to earn this money?”
Artia answered cheerfully.
“Yes!”
“…!”
“I achieved this result without sleep, through sheer effort. While it’s true that the money earned from the business belongs to the family’s assets, all the credit for that contribution belongs to me.”
At words that bordered on arrogance, the two men found themselves speechless.
Derek was the first to recover and speak.
“Surely you’re not planning to ignore us like Benedict does and monopolize everything?”
Ian growled in response.
“You just try. No matter how much you’re our niece, we won’t stand for it.”
Artia replied calmly to her uncles, whose tone had become decidedly ominous.
“As the legitimate daughter of House of Edenberg, I will care for the family. I will help those in need, whether from the direct line or the Cadet Branch Family. I will continue to provide you uncles with your living expenses as before. However….”
Artia’s pink eyes deepened.
“If you need additional money beyond that, you must earn it through your own effort.”
“What?!”
“Bring me documents outlining where, how, and why you need the money, and convince me. If I judge the matter to be reasonable, I will provide the funds.”
Artia smiled as she said this.
But her two uncles could not manage even a semblance of a smile.

A few days later, Evangeline came to visit and spoke with a hearty laugh.
“You certainly said something bold. Your siblings came swarming in, complaining that you were spouting nonsense about not giving them money. They were quite vocal in their grievances.”
Artia asked.
“So what did you do?”
“I chased them out with a few swats to their backsides, telling them to grow up already.”
Evangeline wore a satisfied expression as she spoke.
After taking a sip of tea, Evangeline continued.
“Artia, you did wonderfully.”
Many people, including Derek and Ian, dismissed Artia’s success as mere luck.
But those who truly knew her understood the truth.
That every bit of her glory had been earned through sheer effort and determination.

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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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