The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 187

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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
Side Story – Episode 2

His heart lay bare in every carefully formed letter.
Yet the surge of emotion was fleeting—the fact that he was not here remained unchanged.
Artia collapsed onto the bed with a face full of disappointment.
She turned the note over in her hands, lost in thought.
‘Did he leave only this note because he was busy?’
Killian von Orpheus had never shown it, but the mountain of work that fell upon a newly crowned Emperor was incomparable to her own burden.
In a schedule so suffocating that even breathing felt like a luxury, the fact that he found time to visit her at all was already an unreasonable feat.
“I knew it all along, but I pretended not to notice because I was happy to see His Majesty.”
As she confronted the truth she had been avoiding, her face flushed with heat.
Ashamed of herself for wishing he had come despite everything, Artia kicked off her blanket.

At that very moment, Killian von Orpheus sat in the Imperial Office, his expression glacial.
Nocton von Alihas, standing beside him, swallowed his tears in silence.
As the Emperor’s closest aide, he had been living through relentless days since Killian’s ascension to the throne.
The only reason he had endured was because Killian would sharply conclude his work by afternoon and leave his post.
But today was different.
Late into the night, Killian showed no sign of departing.
Killian was not the sort of man to offer considerate words like “you may leave” to his subordinates.
And since he was radiating an aura more terrifying than a battlefield, Nocton could not bring himself to even suggest leaving and could only continue assisting him in silence.
‘Why aren’t you visiting the Duchess of Edenberg today!’
Had Killian known Nocton’s thoughts, he would have said this:
‘I want to go right now.’
He wanted to brush Artia’s silver hair back with his fingertips.
He wanted to caress her soft cheeks and press his lips to her pale pink mouth.
But—
“Every time Your Majesty visits the Performance Hall, Artia cannot focus on her work properly. The next day, she is always exhausted.”
With Luka’s words came the image of Artia, worn down by fatigue.
‘My love for her is making her suffer instead….’
To Killian, Artia was like honey far too sweet.
Once he tasted her, he could not easily pull away.
A brief visit was impossible from the start.
So the method he chose was to not meet her at all.
Killian had learned patience from birth. He was more accustomed to endurance than anyone.
Yet this time, an unprecedented anguish pressed down upon my chest.
I swallowed heavily and moved the pen with difficulty.

* * *

[Sleep well. I love you, Artia.]
Artia’s face grew grave as she stared down at the note.
For days now, Killian von Orpheus had vanished, leaving only a single slip of paper behind.
On the first day, I thought he must be busy.
On the second day, I worried he was terribly occupied.
And now, on the third day….
“No matter how busy, does he not wish to see me?”
A petulant complaint rose unbidden in my heart. But I quickly collected myself and shook my head.
‘I must be understanding. He must be overwhelmed with work.’
Yet understanding was one thing; missing him was another entirely.
Artia made her way to the Imperial Palace, forsaking the Performance Hall for once.
Normally, an audience with the Emperor required navigating complex protocols, but Artia could bypass them all and enter freely.
“Duchess of Edenberg!”
Artia started in surprise.
Nocton von Alihas, always impeccably groomed like a prince from a storybook, bore a noticeably gaunt countenance.
“Welcome! I shall bring you to His Majesty at once.”
Watching Nocton guide her with such urgency, Artia grew uneasy.
‘Has something happened to His Majesty?’
Artia arrived at the Emperor’s Imperial Office in moments.
As the door opened, Killian von Orpheus, seated in his chair, widened his eyes.
“Artia?”
Artia spoke urgently as she examined his face.
“I’m sorry. I came without even sending word—my heart was anxious. You haven’t visited in days, and I grew worried….”
Fortunately, he didn’t appear to be ill.
Relief flooding through me, I barely exhaled before Killian von Orpheus strode forward and pulled me into his embrace.
Nocton, ever perceptive, had already slipped from the room.
Alone together in the silence.
The two of us felt each other’s warmth and fragrance in stillness.
‘This is wonderful!’
Unlike innocent Artia, Killian von Orpheus felt something deeper and dizzying.
His emaciated body and spirit coming alive once more.
More.
Just a little more.
Killian von Orpheus unconsciously tightened his arms around Artia.
Only when a soft moan escaped between her lips did he suddenly come to his senses.
Artia looked up at him, her face flushed slightly.
“Did you miss me a lot?”
“Of course.”
At his blunt response, Artia broke into a radiant smile.
Like a child who had just received the most precious gift in the world.
“If you’re going to be busy, should I come visit you instead?”
Killian almost nodded immediately, but barely caught himself.
He had remembered the reason he hadn’t sought her out.
“The performance opening is coming up soon—you must be swamped.”
“Even so, I can manage that much.”
Artia spoke with spirited confidence, but Killian now understood.
Just how much she was sacrificing to see him.
Killian forced himself to speak, his voice strained.
“Don’t come.”
“…!”
Artia’s pink eyes wavered.
His gaze nearly weakened his resolve, but Killian pushed forward.
“We both have too much to do right now.”
But his true feelings lay elsewhere.
Parting from you is unbearably painful.
Once we meet, I want to stay with you for hours, for days without end.
Yet I must endure.
For the sake of my beloved’s dream of being recognized as the Duke of Edenberg.
“Once the busy season passes, we’ll meet then.”
I don’t like this?!
For a moment, Artia wanted to cry out like a child.
She held back only because Killian’s eyes looked so anguished.
‘This is difficult for Killian too.’
And realistically, his words were right.
Though she had spoken boldly, Artia truly had no spare time to visit the Imperial Palace.
A single visit would throw her entire schedule into disarray.
Accepting the harsh reality, Artia nodded with a face full of longing.
“I understand. Let’s do it that way.”
“…Yes.”
Killian gazed at Artia intently before lowering his head.
His lips brushed against her pale, rounded forehead and withdrew.
They always parted with a kiss, but not today.
If he did, he feared he would never let her go.
Killian looked down at Artia and spoke.
“Work hard until then.”
Artia stared intently at Killian’s lips before nodding.
“Yes, Your Majesty too.”
I love you.
The two exchanged confessions like a greeting and parted ways.

* * *

After parting with Killian, Artia threw herself into work with tremendous fervor.
Those working alongside her were gasping just trying to keep up.
“She used to work like a madwoman, but now she’s just insane.”
“Aren’t we going to die from overwork at this rate?”
“I heard she sends people home right before they collapse, then has them come back once they’ve recovered.”
While the staff wept, Luka wore a bewildered expression.
‘I thought she’d take it easier when His Majesty wasn’t around, but why is she pushing herself harder instead?’
The atmosphere was unfolding in a way completely contrary to Luka’s expectations.
Yet no matter how relentlessly she drove them to work, she made sure they ate well.
While the staff eagerly consumed the special meals Artia had ordered at her own expense, she sat alone in her office reviewing documents.
Knock, knock.
At the sound of the knock, Frigia appeared.
Frigia, as a partner of the Edenberg Production Company, provided costumes and frequently held meetings with Artia.
“Welcome, Frigia.”
Greeted warmly by Artia, Frigia shook the picnic basket she was holding.
“I brought this so we could eat together while we talk.”
She had brought it deliberately after hearing from Luka that Artia wasn’t eating properly because she was so busy working.
Artia looked at the pile of documents scattered across her desk, hesitated for a moment, then set down her pen.
She couldn’t let a friend who had gone to the trouble of bringing a meal eat alone.

“This is delicious!”
Artia savored a sandwich generously filled with carrot rapé, her face radiant with contentment.
Frigia, smiling with satisfaction, asked carefully.
“Did you perhaps have a quarrel with His Majesty?”

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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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