The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 164

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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 164

Evangeline spoke.
“To be honest, I wonder who in our family could ever presume to mentor you. You’ve demonstrated the most exceptional capabilities among all of us.”
“Oh, please. I’ve merely succeeded in a single venture. I hope you’ll continue to guide me with your wisdom in the days ahead.”
It wasn’t flattery spoken for pleasant ears—it was sincere.
And so Evangeline found herself greatly comforted.
“Very well.”

* * *

Edenberke Estate.
Artia was reading through dozens of letters stacked upon the table.
Among them were invitations from both the Nobility and the Imperial Family.
It wasn’t mere curiosity like when she had just divorced—the kind that made people wish to see her.
The letters overflowed with goodwill and respect for Artia, who had become an Ethereal and achieved great success in her ventures.
Though scattered among them were those with other intentions.
Killian von Orpheus glanced at the envelopes and sifted through a dozen or so, then spoke.
“You don’t need to read these.”
They were all marriage proposals sent by men who wished to meet Artia.
Artia, realizing this fact, asked in surprise.
“How do you know what’s inside without even opening the envelopes?”
“The envelopes reek. An irritating stench that makes me want to hunt down the senders and slit their throats on the spot.”
Killian von Orpheus continued in a cold voice.
“Burn them.”
Rather than reproach him for arbitrarily burning letters addressed to her, Artia simply nodded.
Golden flames erupted from the letters, reducing them to ash in moments.
‘I’ve seen it countless times, yet it never ceases to amaze me.’
Artia asked with wide eyes.
“How far can you go with your mana?”
Those who learned that Killian von Orpheus could wield mana began spreading all manner of rumors.
“They say His Highness Killian can summon storm clouds.”
“I heard he can even resurrect the dead.”
But it was all nonsense.
Killian von Orpheus was not omnipotent like Emperor Orpheus, who had been revered as a god.
“I cannot do everything I wish. It’s like folding white paper to create something.”
I gathered the magical power within my body to manifest what I desired.
Sometimes it materialized exactly as I envisioned, but other times it crumbled into utter failure.
Artia asked carefully.
“Have you ever failed?”
Killian’s answer came a beat too late.
“…I couldn’t heal my brother.”

* * *

After young Killian was discovered having transformed into a baby bird and entered Arsen’s chamber, the two brothers were kept apart for some time.
Killian desperately wanted to ask the Empress to let him see Arsen again, but she avoided him so thoroughly that he could never deliver his plea.
Then, months later, he encountered the Empress in a corridor of the Imperial Palace.
The moment the Empress saw Killian, her expression twisted as though she’d encountered something repugnant.
As she turned to flee, Killian cried out after her.
“Mother, I can heal Brother Arsen!”
“…?!”
The Empress stopped in her tracks.
Facing her, Killian revealed everything.
“I’ve learned to use my magical power.”
The Empress’s eyes widened as she murmured.
“So that’s how you were able to sneak into Arsen’s chamber.”
In that moment, the truth of an affair she had buried, unwilling to think of Killian at all, came to light.
Magical power.
Omnipotent strength.
It wasn’t as though she had never shown Arsen to a mage before.
The Empress had painstakingly found rare mages, as scarce as gold dust, and commanded them to heal Arsen.
But all had failed.
‘Yet this child is different from such mediocre practitioners.’
A descendant of House of Orpheus, said to possess godlike power.
Perhaps he could work a miracle.
Hope bloomed in the Empress’s previously despondent eyes.
Meanwhile, Killian stared at the Empress in a daze.
It was the first time he had held her gaze for so long.
‘Mother’s eyes are truly beautiful.’
The Empress spoke to Killian, whose plump cheeks had flushed crimson.
“Try to heal Arsen with your power.”
“…!”
“But you must tell no one of this. It will be a secret shared only by three—you, me, and Arsen.”
It was because of the Emperor.
The Emperor disapproved of Arsen’s very existence.
If he discovered this fact, he would undoubtedly interfere.
Even the young Killian von Orpheus, aware of this truth, nodded in understanding.
From that day forward, I burned through countless nights, searching for and devouring books on magical power and human physiology.
Though the contents were difficult enough to challenge even adults, I found them effortless.
My desire to bring joy to the Empress and Arsen eclipsed all difficulty.
Days later, guided by the Empress, I made my way to Arsen’s Chamber.
“Brother!”
“Killian!”
The two, reunited after so long, embraced one another.
The Empress’s brow furrowed, and she pulled Arsen toward herself, separating him from me.
Then, in a sharp voice, she spoke.
“Arsen’s body is frail. It’s dangerous for him to make careless contact with others. Be mindful from now on.”
“…Yes.”
My chest tightened, but I concealed it and nodded obediently.
The Empress spoke with urgency in her voice.
“Now, heal Arsen at once.”
Until now, the only thing I had accomplished by manifesting my magical power was transforming my own appearance.
I had never healed another person.
Yet healing Arsen was not a matter of capability or incapability.
It was something I simply had to do.
So I closed my eyes without entertaining a single thought of failure.
Beads of perspiration began to form on my rounded forehead.
Gathering every fragment of magical power within my body, I opened my eyes and gazed upon Arsen.
From my golden irises, a luminous golden radiance rippled forth.
The Empress, witnessing my use of magic for the first time, could not hide her exhilaration as she gripped Arsen’s small hand tightly.
‘This aura is different from what I’ve felt from other mages. With this power, perhaps I can heal Arsen.’
…Yet the Empress’s hopes shattered into fragments.
Though I unleashed my magical power, nothing happened.
Even after hours had passed, the result remained unchanged.
Toward the Empress, whose face had hardened, I spoke with desperate urgency.
“It’s because this is my first time. It was the same when I first transformed. But I’ll improve with practice.”
“…Very well.”
The Empress barely suppressed her anger and nodded.
She could not afford to be angry.
I was her only hope.
Thereafter, I visited Arsen’s Chamber once every fortnight to cast my magic.
Yet even after years had passed, the result remained identical.
Arsen still could not walk, still struggled to breathe at the slightest provocation, and fell gravely ill from the smallest shock.
The Empress’s hope transformed into despair and resentment.
“Do you truly intend to heal him at all?!”
Killian was wounded when his own mother denied his sincerity.
Yet he dared not let that pain show.
A man of no worth had no right to such feelings.
“I apologize.”
Killian forced strength into his small voice and continued.
“I will work harder. Please allow me to keep coming here.”
Arsen smiled toward Killian, avoiding the Empress’s irritated gaze.
‘Thank you, Killian.’
Only that faint smile could comfort him.
Then, days later, the incident occurred.
The moment Killian cast his magic, Arsen—who had been perfectly fine moments before—let out a strangled gasp and collapsed.
“No, Arsen!”
The Empress rushed to embrace him in shock.
He was not breathing.
His body was cold as ice.
Like a corpse.
“No, Arsen, come to your senses, Arsen!”
The Empress cried out, frantically massaging his small frame, but Arsen did not wake.
Killian watched in alarm, then bolted from the chamber and shouted to the Empress’s attendants waiting outside.
“Fetch the Doctor at once!”
Arsen’s personal physician, stationed in the adjacent chamber, arrived immediately.
The Doctor examined Arsen and spoke with a grave expression.
“He is still breathing.”
But the breath was so shallow that it would not be strange if it stopped at any moment.
To make matters worse, no matter how many thick blankets they piled upon him or how fiercely they stoked the hearth, warmth would not return to his body.
He could not open his eyes.
“Arsen, please wake up!”
The Empress called her son’s name with desperate cries, but nothing changed.
The Doctor spoke carefully.
“Your Highness has faced many critical moments, but I have never witnessed a condition like this. Has something happened?”
Everything had been the same.
Food, clothing, sleep—all of it.
No, there was one thing different.
The Empress’s gaze turned toward Killian, who still stood in the chamber.
“What have you done to Arsen?!”
“…!”
“The moment you cast your magic, Arsen became like this!”
Venomous words spilled from the Empress, her reason shattered.
“Ah, I must be mad. To rely on the one person in this world who wishes to destroy Arsen most….”
His own mother’s words pierced Killian’s heart like a dagger.

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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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