The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 30

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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 30

“….”
Killian von Orpheus regarded Artia with his inscrutable golden eyes for a moment, then nodded.
“Very well.”
“Thank you.”
The moment the words left Artia’s lips, she pivoted with lightning speed. Then she deployed one of her hidden techniques: “gracefully walking while moving swiftly.”
‘…But why does the back of my head feel so hot?’

Killian watched Artia’s retreating figure intently.
‘She looks just like a fleeing rabbit.’
Pale, small, delicate, and captivating.
In that moment, Killian’s brows rose sharply.
I had entertained thoughts of eliminating humans before, but never had I felt the urge to capture one.
‘What would I even do with her if I caught her?’
A rabbit could be skinned for fur to make clothes, or its meat could be eaten, but Artia was neither of those things.
Killian exhaled a small sigh as he pondered this.
Whenever I encountered Artia, I found myself entertaining the most absurd thoughts.
How irritating.
And Nocton, who stood beside him as though he were invisible, wore an expression of utter shock.
Killian had initiated contact with the woman first and spoken to her.
That alone was already startling, but the way His Highness gazed at the departing woman was as if….
‘Why does he have the expression of a cat abandoned by its master?’
It was so incongruous with his nature that it was almost frightening.
Nocton’s expression crumpled inwardly.
‘Your Highness, please do not lose your mind further here. This is already more than I can bear.’

* * *

The day the fifth suitor arrived.
Artia was dressed plainly as always, her expression one of utter indifference.
‘I wonder what sort of man it will be this time.’
A bachelor bragging about his first marriage?
A father burdened with five daughters?
Or perhaps a grandfather with precious little time left in this world?
Without a shred of anticipation, I opened the door to the Reception Room.
Standing within was a young man with tousled chestnut hair and gentle, docile eyes.
“It is an honor to meet you, Duchess Edenberg. I am Simon von Rushian.”
I was taken aback.
Of all the men I had met thus far, he was the most sensible.
Artia recalled the information she had already familiarized herself with regarding House of Rushian.
Though not a particularly distinguished family, they had amassed an enormous fortune through generations of financial enterprises.
And the man before me was the younger brother of the current Rushian Baron.
‘Having lost his parents early, the Rushian Baron raised his younger brother as though he were his own son.’
Perhaps that was why.
Despite being the same age as Artia, Simon possessed a far more youthful demeanor.
Simon hesitated as our eyes met, then spoke.
“Madam, forgive my rudeness on such short acquaintance, but I have something to tell you.”
“Yes, please do.”
Simon swallowed hard before opening his mouth.
“I have no intention of marrying at present.”
I deserve a beating for this! If you’re going to strike me, aim for this side!
Having cried out thus, Simon turned his head to one side and bit his lip firmly.
Yet the response that came was remarkably composed.
“That’s perfectly fine.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’m not particularly different in that regard.”
“Ah…”
“Since you’ve come all this way, please sit comfortably and have some tea. The chamomile my mother prepared is quite fragrant.”
Simon’s mouth fell open as he stared at Artia, and before he knew it, he was nodding in agreement.

After confirming Artia’s consent, Simon von Rushian’s expression grew noticeably more at ease.
“I haven’t even experienced romance once yet. It’s not that I avoided it—I simply haven’t met my destined woman.”
“Your destined woman?”
“Yes, I believe in love at first sight. I want to marry a woman like that.”
Simon von Rushian spoke with an innocence unbecoming of nobility, crunching on a macaron as he did.
“But my brother dismissed my feelings.”
A bit simple, but endearing younger brother.
All women are the same. In the end, what matters most is status.
So stop your whining and marry the woman I choose for you.
Unable to utter even a peep of protest to his brother, Simon von Rushian had no choice but to come all the way to the Edenberg Mansion without refusing.
But sitting face-to-face with a woman when he had no intention of marrying was utterly awkward.
So he gathered his courage and spoke honestly, and miraculously, the outcome was favorable.
“I’m truly relieved that you agreed, madam.”
Watching Simon von Rushian grin with macaron crumbs clinging to his lips, Artia’s eyes widened.
He possessed not a shred of masculine charm.
Yet his loose, childlike innocence held something that put people at ease.
Meanwhile, Simon von Rushian was experiencing an entirely different emotion.
‘My brother said the Duchess isn’t a beauty, so I shouldn’t expect much in terms of appearance…’
My brother’s standards are simply too high. To me, she looks quite beautiful…
Simon von Rushian lacked experience and interest in matters of the heart, so he was dull to such feelings.
Thus, he dismissed his own emotions and spoke what was on his mind.
“Madam, would you be willing to meet me just two more times?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“If we meet only once today, my brother won’t leave me alone. He’s quite persistent, you see.”
Simon von Rushian held up three fingers.
“But if we’ve met three times and things still haven’t worked out, even my brother will give up.”
Simon von Rushian’s eyes were earnest.
It was not an unfavorable proposal for Artia.
While meeting with him, she could avoid Catherine’s pressure to meet suitors, and she could also leave evidence that she was actively meeting with them.
Artia nodded readily.

* * *

After Simon von Rushian departed, Catherine approached Artia with unbridled excitement written across her face.
“You spent more time together than usual. Did he appeal to you?”
Yes, especially the fact that he still shows no desire to marry.
Rather than speak her mind freely, Artia offered a brief response.
“I thought I might see him once more.”
“Eek!”
Catherine let out a delighted shriek like a child and continued with unbridled enthusiasm.
“House of Rushian may pale in comparison to House of Edenberg, but they’re absolutely drowning in wealth.”
House of Edenberg possessed vast tracts of land and numerous business ventures.
Yet years of mismanagement had eroded the value of those lands, and the enterprises were in steady decline.
On top of that, loans taken from various creditors had left the cash flow in disarray.
In essence, it was a name steeped in prestige but hollow of substance.
In that regard, House of Rushian made for a rather suitable match.
Artia’s brows drew together.
“Can they truly be called a suitable match when their reputation is so thoroughly tarnished?”
Shylock von Rushian, the current head of House of Rushian and Simon’s elder brother, was notorious as a cold-blooded pragmatist who would stop at nothing—absolutely nothing—in pursuit of wealth.
“What does a little unsavory gossip matter when they have wealth in abundance?”
“….”
“The beauty of it is this: if you two were to marry, Rushian would gain the prestigious title of Edenberg Duke, and you would secure a fortune vast enough to last you a lifetime. Where could you possibly find a more perfect arrangement?”
I’ve only agreed to meet him twice more.
Knowing that voicing such a protest would only invite a torrent of nagging, Artia sipped her tea in silence.
After that day, Catherine ceased her relentless barrage of portraits, no longer insisting that Artia meet yet another suitor.
Though she did ask once every hour when Artia would see Simon von Rushian again.
It was a brief respite purchased by the alliance with Simon von Rushian.

* * *

The day Artia and Simon von Rushian met for the second time.
Simon von Rushian, who had come to the Edenberke Estate, spoke.
“The weather is lovely today. Wouldn’t it be nice to talk outside?”
“I’d like that.”
That Artia, who loved her home, readily accepted Simon von Rushian’s proposal was because of Catherine.
Catherine was positively thrilled that Simon von Rushian was the only suitor to visit again.
She seemed ready to burst into the Reception Room and immediately press him about setting a wedding date.
Unaware of Artia’s true thoughts, Catherine waved her hand with an expression brimming with anticipation.
“Have a wonderful and intimate time together!”
Even if you return very late at night, that’s fine.
Receiving Catherine’s enthusiastic farewell, Artia left the estate with Simon von Rushian.
Moments later, as Artia descended from the carriage, her eyes widened.
“This place is….”

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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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