The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 181

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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 181

“….”
“…The person I saw regained their senses after witnessing their child’s death.”
Aaaahhhhh!
The anguished wails of a parent cradling their child’s corpse echoed vividly in my ears.
Charlotte spoke with a pained expression as that image surfaced in her mind.
“But that’s an extremely rare case. In most instances, the brainwashing never breaks, no matter what.”
Yet Artia’s pink eyes gleamed with sudden brilliance.
As if she had discovered hope within the depths of utter despair.
Charlotte examined Artia in confusion before crying out in exasperation.
“You think he’ll regain his senses if you die before Killian?! Have you lost your mind?!”
Rather than answering, Artia posed a different question.
“Why do you think Orpheus is going to such lengths to capture me, even issuing a bounty?”
“Well, it’s because he hates you so much, obviously.”
“But you said it yourself, Charlotte. He judges people solely by their usefulness. He wouldn’t spare a glance at someone worthless.”
If that were true, he should have abandoned his interest in Artia after she vanished before Killian.
Yet he pursued her relentlessly.
Artia suspected there might be another reason beyond personal animosity.
“Isn’t he afraid that the magic he cast on Killian might be undone because of me?”

It was merely a hypothesis.
The probability was low.
Yet I had no choice but to pursue this method.
‘Because it’s the only option I have right now!’
I drew my blade and plunged it into my own chest.
The moment the sword pierced through, crimson blood spilled from my lips.
I smiled toward Killian, whose eyes had widened in shock.
“I love you, Killian.”

* * *

It seemed as though a spell to freeze time had been cast over the entire Grand Chapel.
No one could move.
Only after Artia collapsed, bleeding, did people snap back to their senses and scream.
“Artia!”
Many women, including Marigold, tried to rush toward Artia, but their families held them back.
Armed Imperial Palace knights came charging toward the platform.
Amid the chaos, only Killian von Orpheus gazed down at Artia lying on the ground with a cold expression.
Though Arsen’s magic had stripped away his emotions, his reason remained intact.
He recalled the facts he knew with chilling clarity.
‘Artia von Edenberg.’
The illegitimate daughter of House Edenberg.
A woman who had divorced her husband.
She had aided in the trial of the Countess Elysium’s wife and gained the support of noblewomen to become an Ethereal, and now she desired to become the head of House Edenberg.
And….
The moment he tried to think further, an overwhelming pain crashed over him—as if hundreds of long needles were piercing his skull.
From somewhere deep within his mind came a sharp, shattering sound.
“Aaahhhhh!”
Killian von Orpheus screamed, clutching his head.
Arsen, who was on the second floor, contorted his expression, but it was too late.
A strained voice escaped from Killian von Orpheus’s lips.
“Artia.”
He spoke again.
“Artia von Edenberg.”
Killian von Orpheus’s golden eyes regained their brilliant light.
But what greeted him as consciousness returned was Artia lying on the ground, bleeding.
The image of her lying in that coffin flashed through his mind.
The immense sorrow he had felt then surged forth anew, lashing across his soul.
“No! Not like this!!!!”
At Killian von Orpheus’s cry, a brilliant golden light poured forth from Artia’s entire body.
The flowing blood stopped, and the wound on her chest began to heal rapidly.
Color returned to her pallid face.
Moments later, Artia’s eyes opened.
The first words Artia spoke as her gaze met Killian von Orpheus’s were….
“Do you recognize me now?”
“…!”
Her voice pierced painfully through his chest.
Killian von Orpheus’s eyes reddened. With trembling hands, he pulled Artia into his embrace.
“I’m sorry.”
No—those words could not express it all.
He was so ashamed and resentful of himself for wielding a blade against her, for ultimately forcing her to drive that blade into herself, that he felt he might go mad.
Artia smiled, as if to comfort him.
“It’s alright.”
It truly was alright.
He remembered me now.
He had returned to being my Killian von Orpheus.
The moment Artia’s tears touched his hand against her cheek—
“…!”
As if a black curtain had been drawn, the entire world transformed into darkness.
The people who had been watching and the Grand Chapel’s scenery all vanished.
There stood Arsen.
No—it was Orpheus wearing Arsen’s face.
Orpheus spoke to Artia and Killian von Orpheus, whose eyes had widened.
“This wretched body is difficult to move, so I used magic.”
This was a Mental World created by Orpheus.
In other words, the three people here existed not as bodies, but as spiritual forms.
That was why Orpheus could walk toward Killian von Orpheus.
“….”
Killian von Orpheus’s gaze was captivated by that figure.
A scene he had desperately longed for over countless years. Yet he felt not a shred of joy.
To him, the man before his eyes was merely an ‘enemy’.
Killian von Orpheus rose to his feet, shielding Artia behind him as he faced Arsen.
Orpheus spoke in a gentle voice.
“What’s with that look in your eyes? Are you trying to kill your brother?”
“If necessary.”
At those cold words devoid of emotion, Orpheus laughed sorrowfully.
“That’s too much, Killian von Orpheus.”
“…!”
For a moment, the expression that flickered across Arsen’s face shook Killian von Orpheus’s eyes, but only briefly.
His gaze, gripping Artia’s hand firmly, was as fierce as one facing an enemy.
Orpheus understood with certainty.
The rift between himself and Killian von Orpheus had become irreversible.
Tears welled in Orpheus’s hazy eyes as the corners of his mouth lifted.
With that grotesque expression—laughing while crying—he opened his mouth.
“There’s no choice then. I’ll have to use magic once more to make my beloved Killian von Orpheus mine again.”
In that instant, tremendous magical power erupted from him.
The golden, jagged spear was directed at Artia.
‘If I kill that woman, Killian von Orpheus’s mind will shatter, and I can brainwash him again in that moment.’
But before that force could reach her, a brilliant radiance burst forth from Killian von Orpheus’s body, shielding Artia.
A collision of tremendous forces.
…And gradually, Killian von Orpheus’s magical power began to overwhelm Orpheus’s.
Orpheus’s expression hardened.
This Mental World was created by Orpheus himself. His magical power should have held absolute dominion here.
‘But how…’
The arrogant Orpheus had never considered it.
That Killian von Orpheus’s magical power, now fully unleashed, had surpassed his own.
Killian von Orpheus opened his mouth.
“You can’t defeat me,”
As those words left his lips, Orpheus’s magical power shattered like glass with a resounding crack.
Killian von Orpheus seized the moment and lunged forward, wrapping one hand around Orpheus’s slender throat.
“Gasp…”
Under the overwhelming force, Orpheus could not draw breath.
If Killian von Orpheus applied even slightly more pressure here, the soul would shatter.
Orpheus barely managed to gather his voice and speak.
“If… if I disappear, Arsen will… die too.”
When the soul is destroyed, the body cannot endure.
The fragile Arsen would be no exception.
Yet Killian von Orpheus spoke without the slightest hesitation.
“Release my brother if you wish to live.”
Killian von Orpheus’s grip tightened further.
Orpheus had reached his limit.
Just before his breath ceased, he opened his mouth.
“It’s me, Killian.”
With the madness gone from his eyes, he appeared like an entirely different person.
He looked like the real Arsen.
But…
“The warning is over.”
Golden light leaked from Killian von Orpheus’s hand, engulfing Orpheus’s entire body.
“Aaaahhhhh!”
Orpheus’s piercing scream filled the space.
Artia’s eyes widened from where she stood behind Killian von Orpheus.
Orpheus’s body was beginning to crumble like sand.
“Will you really kill me?! After all the love I’ve given you! All the care!”
His anguished voice carried a desperate, twisted affection.
“I hate you, Killian! I despise you!”
Killian von Orpheus gazed silently at Orpheus as he spewed curse-like words.
His expression was cold enough to betray no emotion, yet Artia understood.
Just as Orpheus’s soul was crumbling, so too was his heart.
Yet Artia could not stop Killian von Orpheus. Instead, she could only watch him through tears she fought to suppress.
It was when half of Orpheus’s body had vanished.
“Killian.”
“…!”
Killian von Orpheus and Artia’s eyes widened simultaneously.
It was Arsen’s gentle and warm voice.
The golden eyes that had gleamed moments before now grew clear and hazy.
It was the real Arsen.
“Brother…!”
Arsen spoke to Killian von Orpheus, who was hastily trying to withdraw his mana.
“Don’t stop!”

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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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