The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 173

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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 173

Charlotte recalled Arsen as she had seen him through Killian von Orpheus’s and the Empress’s eyes.
Compared to their profound affection, Arsen’s form was so blurred it was barely visible.
‘Could it be because he has so little life remaining?’
If so, even if I look, I may not be able to find any way to fix it.
As Charlotte thought this, the moment she looked at Killian von Orpheus beside her, she furrowed her brows.
The beautiful face that had always seemed infinitely cold to her now held a tender emotion.
Charlotte sighed inwardly.
Seeing a handsome man grieve weakened her resolve.
‘Fine, since I’ve come all this way, I might as well read every strand of hair properly.’
Charlotte steeled her determination and stopped in her tracks.
A large bed stood at the far end of the vast chamber, its curtains drawn so that the interior was hidden from view.
Killian von Orpheus spoke.
“Brother, I’ve brought the mage you mentioned the other day.”
“Yes.”
From within the curtains came a small voice that seemed as though it might vanish at any moment.
As Killian von Orpheus drew back the curtains, Arsen’s form was revealed.
Charlotte lifted her head high and looked at Arsen.
“Hello, Arsen. Since it’ll be easier for both of us to finish quickly, I’ll take a look right away.”
Charlotte’s eyes met Arsen’s hazy golden gaze.
Her vision then began to read the traces left upon his soul.
‘What is this….’
Normally, a twenty-five-year-old should have been filled with countless things.
Yet the memories etched into Arsen’s soul were as pristine white as a newborn child’s.
Within it, there was only Killian von Orpheus.
Killian von Orpheus smiling.
Killian von Orpheus crying.
Killian von Orpheus irritated.
This was the first time she had seen a soul filled with only ‘one person’ like this.
What was even more astonishing was that this emotion contained no dark obsession whatsoever, only an endless serenity and harmlessness.
Like a flower loving the sun.
‘Unbelievably kind, this one….’
As Arsen passed the young Killian von Orpheus he had first met, only white appeared again.
Yet Charlotte did not stop and delved deeper inward.
Hoping to find even some small something that could help Arsen.
At last, her gaze fell upon Arsen as a newborn.
And….
“Kyaaaah!”
Charlotte shrieked and staggered. Had Killian von Orpheus not caught her, she would have collapsed entirely.
Charlotte stared at Arsen, cold sweat dripping down her face.
“…?”
Arsen blinked his eyes slowly.
With an innocent expression, as if asking why.
That made goosebumps rise across her entire body all the more.
Charlotte trembled violently as she spoke.
“I want to leave.”
Charlotte grabbed Killian von Orpheus’s arm and cried out.
“Let go of my hand so I can get out!”
Killian von Orpheus deliberated.
She was the only mage who could find a way to fix Arsen.
There was no benefit to upsetting her.
‘Besides, the Rat Network is watching now, so she can’t escape anyway.’
Having reached his conclusion, Killian von Orpheus released his grip on Charlotte.
Free from him, Charlotte didn’t even look back as she left the room.
In an instant, only Killian von Orpheus and Arsen remained in the vast chamber.
Killian von Orpheus exhaled softly and examined Arsen.
“Are you alright? You weren’t startled?”
Arsen offered a faint smile.
“I’m fine. She seemed far more startled than I was.”
Arsen showed no sign of alarm whatsoever.
Everyone in the world, even the Empress who despised her own son, believed Arsen to be weak.
But that applied only to his body.
Arsen was never surprised or frightened by anything. He simply accepted it all with equanimity.
Even his own death.
Arsen spoke upon seeing Killian von Orpheus’s darkened golden eyes.
“Everyone says they wish I didn’t exist, so why do you want to save me so badly?”
“Because you’re my brother.”
Arsen was precious to me.
I wanted him to be happy.
I hoped he would emerge from the darkness by his own strength, bask in brilliant sunlight, and gaze down upon the entire world.
As a radiant Emperor.
In that moment, the smile vanished from Arsen’s face.
“When did I ever say I wanted to become Emperor?”
“You did.”
Not long after I met Arsen, he was always reading books.
Killian von Orpheus frowned upon seeing the book’s cover.
“Ugh, this is a book on imperial governance. The teacher isn’t even scolding you—why read such a tedious book?”
Arsen replied.
“Because I must become Emperor when I grow up.”
Arsen clenched his small fist.
“I will make the Orpheus Empire the most prosperous and powerful in the world. So that everyone in this land can be happy.”
His hazy golden eyes sparkled like stars in that moment.
Young Killian von Orpheus understood then.
His older brother wanted to become Emperor.
Not because someone told him to, but by his own will.
Arsen’s expression hardened.
“Those were just the words of a child who knew nothing. How could I become Emperor in this body?”
“You can.”
….
“A mage told me I possess magical power comparable to Orpheus himself.”
A stronger resolve kindled in his golden eyes.
“I will heal you with this power. This time, I promise.”
Had it ended there, Arsen would have felt only gratitude for his brother’s heart.
But the words that followed froze Arsen’s face like ice.
“When you become healthy, I will renounce my claim to the throne.”
Arsen held his breath before finally speaking.
“What are you saying?”
“The Empress Mother, the whole world—they all nodded when they said I should become Emperor. But I have never once wanted to be Emperor.”
….
“I will support you from your side once you become Emperor. That is what I wish to do.”
It was a conversation the two brothers had shared long ago, playfully, like children.
Yet Arsen could not smile as he had then.
His expression vanished, and the atmosphere shifted.
From his pallid face, like a wax figure, a desolate voice seeped out.
“Do not speak words you do not mean. You simply wish to escape from me and go to that woman.”
Arsen’s voice was sharper than ever before, and malice flickered in eyes that had once been kind.
Arsen spoke to Killian von Orpheus, whose eyes had widened in shock.
“I cannot allow it.”
Taken aback only briefly, Killian von Orpheus spoke in a low voice.
“This is not a matter of your permission or refusal.”
“Why? Because compared to you, radiant as the sun, I am weak as a corpse?”
“That is not what I mean….”
“That is why I hated you. I suffered every time I saw you, thinking how much better it would have been if I had been born in that body!”
Arsen’s true feelings, heard for the first time, pierced Killian von Orpheus like a sharp blade.
Tears welled up in the corners of Arsen’s eyes.
“But hatred never lasted long. Because I loved you far too much.”
And so Arsen began to dream a different dream.
“You must ascend to the throne in my stead. You must perfect this nation, Killian von Orpheus!”
A brilliant, dazzling light flickered in Arsen’s hazy golden eyes.
Directed toward Killian.

* * *

Noble Council Chamber.
Though Artia had barely managed to take her seat, the nobility’s resistance to her was formidable.
Throughout the meeting, some glared at her as though they would tear her apart.
Yet Artia maintained an upright posture and composed expression the entire time, voicing her opinions.
As acting head of House Edenberg.
After the meeting concluded, Count Golzess spoke.
“You performed admirably today. While some may object to your being a woman, none will fault you for lacking ability as acting head.”
Artia laughed with relief.

Upon returning to the Edenberg Mansion, Artia collapsed onto her bed without even changing clothes.
Her entire body felt limp from the tension of the entire day.
Sprawled across the bedding like a discarded blanket, she gazed toward the window.
‘I want to see His Majesty so badly.’
I wanted to tell him everything that had happened today, from beginning to end.
Killian would listen without missing a single word I spoke.
At the thought of his beautiful face focused entirely on me, my heart raced.
‘I wonder how the meeting between Charlotte and His Majesty Arsen went. There should be good news.’
Yet despite my waiting, Killian did not come.
Artia, who had spent the entire night awake with open eyes, furrowed her brows at the bright morning sun.
‘Why didn’t he come?’
Worry began to gnaw at me.
But going to the Imperial Palace just because he hadn’t visited for a single day could put Killian in a difficult position.
I would wait.
Artia spent the day trying to steady her resolve.
Yet that day and the next, Killian still did not come.
As time passed, my anxiety only grew.
By the third day, Artia concluded she could no longer wait patiently.
‘I must meet His Majesty directly and find out what’s happened.’

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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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