The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 40

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

In Search of the Duke’s Husband – Episode 40

* * *

“My goodness, what a distinguished gentleman….”
The woman whose face had flushed at the sight of the man in the black mask could not continue her words.
The woman in the white mask standing beside her was glaring at her with such intensity.
‘Why does she have that look in her eyes?’
The woman spun around as if she wanted nothing to do with a lunatic.
Killian von Orpheus, who had been watching her, spoke in a low voice.
“Impressive.”
Was he being sarcastic? Or sincere?
After successfully repelling approaching women several times already, Artia decided after a moment’s consideration to interpret his words as the latter and responded.
“All that practice in my room paid off.”
A glimmer of interest flickered in Killian von Orpheus’s golden eyes.
“You practiced?”
“Yes, as you can see, my appearance looks quite frail.”
To put it bluntly, I look like an easy mark.
In everyday life it didn’t matter, but navigating this harsh world often presented problems.
So I received formal training from Bibi.
“I’ll teach you how to subdue wild animals with just a look.”
Raise your eyebrows as high as they’ll go, strain your eyes until they nearly bulge from their sockets, and glare silently!
“Gasp.”
As soon as I glared forward exactly as I’d been taught, the woman approaching from the other side turned her head away with a frightened expression.
Delighted by the more intense reaction than expected, Artia spoke to Killian von Orpheus.
“I must be incredibly terrifying.”
“…Yes, incredibly terrifying.”
Having received recognition from the most frightening man in the Empire, Artia’s confidence grew and she opened her eyes even more forcefully.
However, there was one fact she didn’t know.
No matter how wide she opened her eyes, she alone wouldn’t be enough to make every stranger flee.
Yet the reason both women and men alike had no intention of approaching the two of them was…because of Killian von Orpheus standing beside Artia.
His gaze, barely visible through the black mask, was so utterly chilling.
‘The woman already seems out of her mind, but the man looks even worse.’
The thoroughly frightened people either lowered their gazes or turned their bodies away entirely to avoid the two of them.
Thanks to this, Artia was able to observe the Banquet Hall far more comfortably.
It wasn’t merely about hiding my identity and indulging in reckless amusement.
At tables scattered throughout the venue, various games were underway, yet the atmosphere was far from ordinary.
Gold coins towered precariously atop each table.
The eyes of those holding cards burned with a frenzied madness.
A man’s voice suddenly erupted.
“Damn it, I lost again!”
The person beside him fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face.
“If you take that money too, I’ll be completely ruined. Please, just this once, spare me.”
The one wearing a fox mask cackled wickedly, sweeping all the coins on the table toward himself as he spoke.
“Oh my, have you forgotten? The rule of this Masked Gathering is that no matter how wildly we play, we adhere strictly to the rules of the game. If you’re so desperate, simply play another round.”
This is….
Killian’s voice reached Artia’s ear as her expression grew grave.
“So the reports of high-stakes gambling taking place at the Masked Gathering were true.”
In the Empire, gambling itself was not illegal.
Yet when the stakes climbed, it inflicted catastrophic losses, and some lost their fortunes overnight.
The realization sent a chill cascading through my entire body.
‘Mother has been frequenting such a place….’
Originally, I had intended merely to observe the atmosphere of the Banquet Hall and leave, but now that I knew the truth, I could not.
I turned my head.
Catherine had dressed lavishly for her outing today as well.
‘She must be here.’
Moments later, I spotted the ornate rose mask I had seen days before.
Catherine sat at a circular table laden with hundreds of gold coins, several cards clutched in her hand.
My heart plummeted in that instant.
‘I had hoped it wouldn’t be….’
Though the shock left my mind reeling white, I quickly regained my composure and strode forward, seizing Catherine’s wrist that held the cards.
“What?!”
Catherine’s head whipped around, her eyes blazing at whoever had grabbed her hand.
I spoke in a voice only Catherine could hear.
“Let’s go home, Mother.”
Catherine’s face drained of color in an instant.
“Y-you? How did you….”
Rather than answer, I pulled Catherine’s hand.
“We’re leaving.”
“I won’t!”
“If you don’t leave now, I’ll remove your mask.”
“…!”
Then the rumors would spread in an instant.
That the Duchess of Edenberg frequented such a debauched, greedy gathering without shame.
For Catherine, who had lost her husband and her power yet clung desperately to her pride, it was a hellish prospect.
At last, Catherine rose to her feet.
Artia spoke to Killian von Orpheus.
“I apologize for requesting your company, Your Highness. Might I take my leave first?”
I had thought this time he might actually grow angry with me.
“Do as you wish. I’ve finished what I came here for anyway.”
Had he already surveyed the entire Banquet Hall?
Artia found it puzzling, but she asked nothing further and bowed respectfully.

I practically forced Catherine, who couldn’t tear her gaze from the Banquet Hall, into the carriage she had arrived in.
Catherine, now seated in the carriage, began to grumble.
“Why did you drag me out? That game was already won. If I could just win that one more hand, I could pay off all my debts in one go….”
Catherine gasped and covered her mouth, but it was too late.
I removed my mask and asked with a distorted expression.
“You borrowed money because of gambling?”
“….”
“If you judged it to be something you could handle on your own, you needn’t have said anything. But if you fail to clean up your own mess, then you’ll have to bear my wrath.”
My gaze was far more piercing than when I had driven away those women who had approached Killian von Orpheus moments before.
Even Catherine shrank back at my intensity.
After a moment, Catherine opened her mouth with a tearful expression.
“Actually….”

* * *

On the first night I attended Baron Crobason’s Masked Gathering.
Catherine won game after game at the card tables, using the gold coins Shylock von Rushian had provided.
The spectators gasped in amazement, their applause thundering through the hall.
“My, what extraordinary skill you possess!”
A man wearing a leopard-spotted mask seized Catherine’s shoulder and cheered with fervent enthusiasm.
“Magnificent, Lady Rose!”
A torrent of attention cascaded upon her. And with each successive game, her winnings doubled and tripled.
Catherine returned home intoxicated by the dreamlike sensation of it all.
After that, she began frequenting the gathering every night.
Each victory at the card tables added to her coffers, and her confidence swelled accordingly.
“It seems I possessed a talent I never knew I had.”
Then came the evening when Catherine, her confidence blazing like a flame, wagered every last coin she possessed.
“All in!”
…And in that single hand, she lost it all as if it had been nothing but a cruel illusion.
The realization that her own fortune had transformed into another’s in the span of a heartbeat was unbearable.
Shylock von Rushian approached Catherine, who bit her lip in bitter resentment and frustration.
He whispered to her.
“Should you require funds, you need only ask. I would be delighted to extend credit to the Duchess at any time.”
Words as sweet and terrifying as a demon’s whisper.
Yet Catherine did not perceive the danger lurking within them.
Her mind held only one thought: she must reclaim what had been stolen from her.
“Then perhaps just a little….”
At Catherine’s words, the corners of Shylock von Rushian’s mouth curved upward beneath his golden mask.

Artia’s face turned to ice as she asked.
“So you borrowed money from Baron Rushian?”
Catherine couldn’t even bring herself to meet Artia’s gaze and nodded.
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“…Around 1.5 billion gold in total?”
“…!”
In that moment, my mind went blank.
A moment later, an unexpectedly vicious curse spilled from my lips.
“That damned snake.”
Catherine slumped from her seat in the carriage. Artia’s expression had turned more fierce than ever before.
‘S-so scary….’
Catherine spoke carefully, watching Artia’s reaction.
“I-I didn’t plan to borrow that much from the start. But once I started borrowing….”
“….”
“Don’t worry. I’ll repay every coin I borrowed.”
Artia, who had been silent, finally spoke.
“How?”
“….”
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to win it back through gambling. If you do, I fear what little sanity I’m barely holding onto will slip away.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————