The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 2

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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 2

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Billowing white clouds drifted across a cerulean sky, and beneath it, an even more brilliant azure shoreline hosted a celebration.
A woman buried among a doting Father, a robust Mother, and mischievous friends laughed radiantly.
“Happy birthday!”
Savoring the affectionate congratulations from the gathered guests, the woman strolled along the Beach.
The cool breeze sent her hair dancing, and the soft sand and undulating waves caressed her feet.
The woman, humming contentedly with a joyful expression, suddenly widened her eyes.
A wave towering taller than any giant surged toward her. She fled with a blanched face, but the wave was faster.
Crash.
The colossal wave engulfed the woman.
She couldn’t even scream as the current swept her away. Thrashing in the frigid water, she thought desperately.
‘No, I don’t want to die. There’s so much I still want to do…!’
Anyone, please—save me!
As that cry tore from her, seawater flooded her mouth.

After a long while, the woman opened her eyes.
“…Wasn’t I dead?”
The moment I muttered those words, forgotten memories came flooding back like waves.
Artia von Edenberg.
My sickly mother lying in bed, smiling faintly.
My father wielding a cane with an enraged expression.
A grand wedding ceremony with Lloyd.
My father’s sorrowful funeral.
A hellish married life….
After recalling everything, one phrase burst forth.
“Lloyd, you bastard.”
No, wait—that insult was unfair to the lovely and courageous dogs of this land.
“Lloyd, you worthless piece of filth who deserves to eat nothing but garbage.”
I refined my curses with considerable satisfaction and gathered my thoughts.
I had no idea how this happened, but one thing was certain: I had become Artia.
Strangely enough, this impossible reality felt natural to accept.
“Perhaps because I nearly died and came back to life….”
I murmured and picked up the mirror resting on the table beside the bed.
The moment I saw the face reflected in the mirror, a pure exclamation escaped me.
“Wow….”
Artia, who had always been dismissed by others, had believed herself to be ugly.
“That’s a ridiculous misconception, Artia.”
Wavy silver hair and skin as white as snow.
Pink eyes like white milk mixed with strawberry syrup.
Her features weren’t classically sharp, but her face was beautifully innocent—the kind of pretty that seemed to say “I’m a good person,” pure and harmless.
Among all her features, I loved her eyes the most.
“Unlike the red eyes passed down through House of Edenberg, I was mocked for these hazy pink ones. They said I was born defective.”
But to my eyes, they were simply beautiful, like spring blossoms.
“If I’m going to have a face like this, dying and coming back to life isn’t so bad after all.”
I smiled faintly and examined my face from different angles, then furrowed my brow.
“But if I’ve entered this body, where did the real Artia go?”
The final image of Artia came to mind.
Artia, sinking deep into the lake, crying out that she hated herself and wanted to disappear from this world.
Unlike the vivid memories of Artia, the memories of my original body were hazy, as if obscured by fog.
Perhaps because of that.
Rather than bewilderment at becoming someone else, I felt a kinship with Artia like that of a twin sister.
At the same time, I felt pity for her, who had to endure painful times alone.
That was when it happened.
Grrrrrr….
My stomach made an embarrassing sound, completely at odds with my serious thoughts.
Looking down at myself, I could see just how emaciated my stomach had become from prolonged hunger.
‘First, I need to eat something.’
I pulled the bell cord with all my strength.
Yet no matter how long I waited, there was no sign of a maid arriving.
It wasn’t surprising—I’d experienced this countless times before—but it infuriated me nonetheless.
‘Even so, I’m the mistress of this mansion. Is this really how I should be treated?’
Just as I reached for the bell cord again, the door burst open with a bang, and a woman appeared.
Eyes as large and round as a puppy’s.
A large ribbon adorned thick, wavy periwinkle hair.
A woman with a cute face but a mature figure came rushing toward me.
“You’re awake, big sister!”
Lirika.
That bitch—no, Lloyd’s mistress.

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A year ago, Lloyd brought a woman to the mansion.
“I’ve found a woman I truly love. I’m going to keep her by my side for the rest of my life.”
Lirika, nestled in Lloyd’s embrace, spoke in a coquettish voice.
“Hello, I’m Lirika. Since I’ll be serving the Duke alongside you, is it alright if I call you big sister?”
In this society, it was natural for a nobleman to keep a mistress or two, but it was rare for one to bring a concubine into his own home.
It was disrespectful to one’s spouse.
And for a commoner to call a noblewoman “big sister” at that.
It was absurd.
Yet Lloyd paid no attention to my feelings whatsoever and said:
“Call yourself whatever you like, big sister or big brother.”
Lirika laughed melodiously.
“Big brother? What’s that supposed to mean? I’m not some thug from the back alleys.”
I couldn’t say anything to either of them, only my hands trembled as I gripped my skirt.
And so began the cohabitation of one man and two women.
Lloyd expressed his affection for Lirika openly throughout the mansion.
“My lovely Lirika, my little bird.”
Each time I witnessed this, my heart felt as though it were being torn to shreds.
Yet I couldn’t let those feelings show.
I was afraid of being despised by Lloyd even more.
All I could do was bite my lips and turn away from them both.
Behind me, I heard Lirika’s voice.
“Where are you going, big sister? Let’s play together!”
What is she saying, that adulteress.
Even now, remembering those words filled me with rage, and my eyes grew cold without my realizing it.
Whether Lirika failed to notice or simply didn’t care—the latter being far more likely—she pulled Artia into a tight embrace.
“I was so worried when you wouldn’t open your eyes, sister. You have no idea how frightened I was.”
Now I understood why Lloyd had spent all his time buried in Lirika’s arms.
She was as soft and pliant as a hot water bottle cradled through the winter months.
‘But unlike a kind hot water bottle that warms the body, this one made my heart feel as cold as a winter’s day.’
Treating Lirika as an adversary, I furrowed my brows and pinched the bridge of my nose.
“Could you step back? If you keep this up, I’ll faint again from the stench of that cheap perfume.”
“…!”
Anyone would feel humiliated being told they smelled foul.
Even if it was because she’d deliberately doused herself in perfume.
Lirika’s face flushed crimson as she took a step backward.
Only then could I breathe freely. I lowered my hand from my nose and exhaled sharply.
Then, as if the thought had only just occurred to me, I spoke.
“I was rather harsh to someone who came running out of concern for me.”
Was I finally coming to my senses and about to apologize?
I addressed Lirika, who harbored such hopeful expectations.
“I’m sorry, so this one time I’ll make a special exception and forgive you. For all the disrespectful conduct you’ve shown me today.”
“D-disrespectful conduct?”
I spoke in the gentle tone of a teacher instructing a child who lagged behind her peers.
“First, you entered my chambers without permission. Second, you didn’t even offer a proper greeting—instead, you addressed me with the presumptuous title of ‘sister.’ Third, as if that weren’t enough, you laid your hands upon my person without leave.”
I continued, my pink eyes fixed upon Lirika with full intensity.
“For a mere commoner to conduct herself in such a manner toward the Duchess of House of Edenberg—she deserves to be whipped and cast out of the mansion without a word of protest.”

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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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