The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 21

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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 21

‘The Emperor is advanced in years and suffers from illness besides.’
The face before me bore the unmistakable pallor of sickness.
Yet the authority of one who had ruled the Empire for twenty-nine long years had not faded.
Gazing upon those golden eyes sharp as a predator’s, I swallowed hard.
The moment the formalities concluded, the Emperor broached the matter directly.
“The divorce petition submitted to the Imperial Court bore only one seal. Does this mean the other party does not wish for a divorce?”
The Emperor’s gaze turned toward Lloyd.
Emboldened by being granted the first word by the Emperor himself, Lloyd answered with conviction.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I do not wish to divorce.”
Lloyd placed his hand over his heart and continued.
“Three years ago, I swore an oath before Your Majesty the noble Emperor, the Almighty Goddess, and all the people of this world. I swore to become husband and wife with Artia von Edenberg and to walk together for all our days. I am honoring that vow.”
The man in his white formal attire spoke his convictions with such apparent sincerity.
Regardless of the rot that emanated from within him.
The Emperor nodded.
“Indeed, promises are sacred. All the more so when made to me.”
“…!”
Color flooded back into Lloyd’s face.
Since becoming Duke of Edenberg, Lloyd had been eager to swagger before others, but never before the Emperor.
He supported the Emperor’s every pronouncement without question, and each time sent far more gold to the Imperial Court than the prescribed taxes required.
He never failed to present extravagant gifts of immense value on every Imperial occasion.
I furrowed my brow.
‘Lloyd may be condemned as incompetent by others, yet he might well enjoy a reasonably favorable reputation with His Majesty.’
There would be no reason to dislike one who prostrates himself like a dog in obedience.
At the thought that the Emperor might take Lloyd’s side, the tips of my clasped hands grew cold.
Then the Emperor’s gaze shifted toward me.
“For one who claims the title of Duchess, you present a rather unsightly appearance.”
He was referring to the bruises that darkened my face.
“My apologies.”
“Why do you wish to divorce?”
His irritable tone betrayed not a shred of sympathy toward me.
I opened my mouth, striving to conceal my anxiety.
“I enclosed documents with the divorce petition detailing precisely how vicious a husband Lloyd has been during our time together. Did you read them?”
“I reviewed them. However, they fall woefully short as justification for breaking a marriage in which you pledged eternity to me. Do you have another reason?”
He was asking me to offer words persuasive enough to sway him.
‘I want to stop living with that dog… I mean, Lloyd. What more reason do I need?’
Artia wanted to lash out, but she held back.
If she did, it wouldn’t just be the divorce that flew away—her neck would follow.
Exhaling slowly, Artia opened her mouth.
“Your Majesty, I too remember that day three years ago with perfect clarity. Lloyd and I swore an oath to Your Majesty, noble and almighty as you are. We vowed to become a couple who loved and respected each other, and to contribute to the glory of the Empire. But Lloyd…”
Artia paused before continuing.
“He refused to share my bed from the very first night. Moreover, he deceived me and made me consume contraceptives. He said he had no intention of bearing children with me. He didn’t want to lose the Dukedom of Edenberg to a child.”
Since the matter of succession was extraordinarily sensitive, the Emperor’s brow furrowed despite already knowing these facts.
Sensing hope in his expression, Artia continued.
“That is not all. Since Lloyd inherited the dukedom, House of Edenberg has been on a downward spiral. In three years, the family’s wealth has been halved, and conversely, debts have doubled.”
She was not exaggerating. The documents she had sent to the Emperor contained evidence of every detail.
“Our marriage lacked love, lacked care, lacked sincerity, lacked trust, and has headed not toward growth but toward decline. We are insufficient and foolish, unworthy of Your Majesty’s congratulations.”
Thump. Artia knelt down.
For the legitimate daughter of Edenberg to kneel before the Emperor was an extraordinary act.
Artia looked up at the Emperor and spoke.
“I beseech you to withdraw your grace, vast as the sea, from these two sinners and bestow upon them the punishment they deserve.”
Artia believed one reason the Emperor was reluctant to approve the divorce was that it would damage his authority.
The Emperor himself had even offered his congratulations—for them to separate would wound his noble pride.
But what if she made it so the Emperor held the sword, rather than a noble requesting the divorce?
What if the Emperor was severing the marriage as punishment, not because a noble demanded it?
Then the Emperor’s authority would only rise. It would become an opportunity to demonstrate the Emperor’s power—his ability to cruelly sever the bonds of a couple he had once united.
‘Please, let Your Majesty move at my words.’
Artia prayed fervently in her heart.
As the silence lengthened, not only Artia’s face but Lloyd’s as well grew increasingly rigid.
After a moment, the Emperor spoke.
“How presumptuous. Punishment is for me to choose, not for a criminal to select.”
His voice carried displeasure.
Lloyd clenched his fist with elation, while Artia bit her lip.
‘What if His Majesty refuses to approve the divorce after all?’
I’ll kill Lloyd without leaving any evidence.
Artia was desperate enough for divorce to entertain such horrifying thoughts. Blood was beginning to seep from her bitten lip.
“And yet, that punishment… I find it quite agreeable.”
“Your Majesty?!”
Lloyd cried out in surprise. Artia’s eyes widened as well.
The Emperor regarded Lloyd with a piercing gaze.
“Lloyd von Edenberg!”
The Emperor continued, addressing Lloyd, who was too overwhelmed by the Emperor’s presence to respond.
“Your mistreatment of your wife, your taking of a concubine, your failure to properly manage your house—these are actions worthy of reproach, but I have no intention of addressing them. They are, after all, merely personal matters.”
The Emperor was not a man emotional enough to concern himself with such trivial affairs. But…
“The deeds committed under the name of the Duke of Edenberg, however, are utterly unforgivable.”
The Emperor hurled a stack of papers at Lloyd.
Lloyd scrambled to gather the fallen documents from the floor, and his face drained of all color.
They were accusations written by nobles who desired the divorce of the Duke and Duchess of Edenberg.
Every misconduct Lloyd had committed over the years was meticulously documented.
The Emperor spoke in a voice trembling with fury.
“The position of Duke of Edenberg is not a place where one merely flatters superiors and tyrannizes subordinates. You must conduct yourself in a manner befitting that title. Yet the results you have delivered over these past three years are utterly deplorable.”
“…!”
“Your shameful conduct has poisoned the atmosphere of noble society, your acceptance of bribes has placed incompetent men in positions of power and crippled organizational efficiency, and your seizure of thriving enterprises has driven them to ruin, inflicting grievous economic losses upon the realm.”
The Emperor cared little for Artia’s misfortune, whatever it might be….
“I cannot forgive one who brings harm to my nation.”
His golden eyes blazed as he thundered his words.
“Your presence as Duke of Edenberg is nothing but a catastrophic loss to this Empire. Step down from that position at once!”
Lloyd fell to his knees, his face crumpling as though he might weep.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I shall do better. I will endeavor harder. Please, grant me one more chance.”
“No. Over these three years, you have amply proven your incompetence. An incompetent man requires no further chances.”
The Emperor raised his staff and brought it down upon the floor with a resounding crack.
“By the authority of Gregory von Orpheus, Master of the Empire, as of this moment, Lloyd and Artia are no longer husband and wife.”
“As of this moment, Lloyd von Edenberg and Artia von Edenberg are husband and wife.”
It was the exact opposite of what had been declared in this very chamber three years prior.

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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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