The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 65

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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 65

The former I could understand, but the latter was another matter entirely.
Carrots? Creating a dessert from such a divisive ingredient would surely invite complaints from the guests.
Yet the Maid held her tongue.
She had served in the Imperial Palace long enough to see mountains crumble and reform—she knew better than most.
When the Imperial Family commanded, one obeyed without question. No matter how absurd or outrageous the order might be.
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
Nocton von Alihas, watching the entire exchange unfold behind Killian von Orpheus, smiled to himself with amusement.
‘Perhaps I should have him post a grand banner at the entrance to the Banquet Hall declaring “Welcome, Artia von Edenberg.”‘

* * *

To prepare for the tea party beginning in the afternoon, I started my preparations early that morning.
Bibi stood behind me as I sat before the mirror, hands clasped together.
Even Bibi’s usually composed face carried an unusual tension.
Preparing a noblewoman was the exclusive duty of her personal maid, and Bibi had always been the one to dress me for every outing until now.
But today’s engagement was on an entirely different scale.
‘A tea party at the Imperial Palace!’
She bore the responsibility of drawing out my beauty to its absolute limit.
Watching Bibi’s expression grow ten times more serious, radiating an almost ominous intensity, I let out a soft laugh.
“Bibi, do you realize what your face looks like right now? You look like a servant attending a knight marching to war, not a noblewoman attending a gathering.”
“My apologies.”
Yet despite her words, Bibi’s tension did not ease in the slightest.
Since childhood, Bibi had dreamed of serving a beautiful noblewoman, and she studied diligently in her spare time, devouring books on makeup and fashion.
But as the daughter of a hunter, the information available to her had its limits.
After becoming my personal maid, she received professional training, yet her skills still fell far short of mastery.
Even within this mansion alone, there were many maids more skilled than she was.
The reason she had not sought their help was simple.
‘I want to prepare my mistress with my own hands, not someone else’s.’
It was the burning ambition that Bibi, always so composed that people called her steadfast as stone, harbored in her heart.
“Then I shall begin.”
With those determined words, Bibi picked up her cosmetics.
Fingers thick enough to fell a bear began to move with the delicate precision of a pianist’s touch.
As Bibi applied my makeup, I reflected.
‘Bibi’s expression has grown ten times more solemn than usual.’
Anyone else would have looked ready to drop to their knees and beg forgiveness, but to Artia, she simply appeared…
‘Magnificent.’
Artia, so often overlooked because of her unremarkable features, gazed at Bibi with enchanted eyes.
Bibi was so absorbed in her work that she didn’t even notice.
It took exactly three hours before Artia’s appearance was complete.
Bibi, who had moved her hands without blinking once the entire time, finally looked up at her work.
‘It’s presentable enough that no one would dare criticize it, but I haven’t managed to elevate my lady’s beauty as dramatically as I would have liked.’
Just as Bibi’s expression was about to fall, Artia caught sight of herself in the mirror and broke into a radiant smile.
“Wow, I look so beautiful.”
“…!”
“Your skills have improved even more. You’re amazing, Bibi.”
“…”
Though her expressionless face revealed nothing, Bibi’s heart was racing wildly.
Her heart, which had remained unmoved even when she left home after trapping her father—who would never permit her to become a maid—had begun to flutter uncontrollably whenever she stood before Artia.
Bibi spoke, her ears flushed crimson.
“Next time, I’ll make you even more beautiful.”
“Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”
Artia answered with a smile, gathered the hem of her skirt, and twirled gracefully.
As if she were utterly delighted with her own reflection.

* * *

The Imperial Palace. Artia stood before the grand doors of the Banquet Hall, her face taut with tension.
She had attended gatherings at the Imperial Palace several times before, yet not a single memory brought her comfort.
Her father had raged, Lloyd had sneered, and the people had shunned her.
With her head bowed low, she would endure those occasions with a trembling face, desperate to escape this place at the earliest moment.
“Is that why? This beautifully adorned door feels like the very entrance to hell itself.”
A revulsion carved deep into the core of my being.
“It’s alright. I’m not the Artia I once was. I can do this.”
Steeling myself with determination, I stepped through the doors, and my eyes widened.
The entire Banquet Hall was adorned with pink flowers.
‘How beautiful….’
It felt as though spring itself had arrived.
Yet my admiration for the flowers was fleeting—the gazes of the women in the hall suddenly fixed upon me.
“Goodness, it’s the Duchess of Edenberg. She’s been keeping to herself since the divorce, so why has she decided to attend?”
“They say she’s changed like a different person, and it’s truly so. She used to look like she might cry at any moment, always staring at the floor, but today she’s holding her head high.”
With keener ears than most, I caught every whispered word the women exchanged.
‘Excuse me, gossiping about someone right in front of them is terribly rude.’
“But was the Duchess of Edenberg always this beautiful?”
Such remarks, at least, I could tolerate.
I offered the social smile I had practiced for days—neither excessive nor frivolous.
Yet despite my smile, no one approached. Whenever their eyes met mine, they would grow uncomfortable and quickly turn away.
It was not merely because they lacked familiarity with me. These noblewomen had ignored me all this time, and some had even mocked me openly.
They found the transformed Artia unsettling and frightening.
‘Even greeting them will be difficult….’
Just as my shoulders began to sag under the weight of despair, a cheerful voice rang out.
“Artia!”
It was Penelope, dressed in a yellow gown.
Penelope grasped my hand warmly and smiled radiantly.
“You arrived early. I’m so happy to see you here~!”
It was extraordinary.
With merely Penelope’s appearance, the loneliness that had made me feel utterly alone in the world vanished, replaced by a sense that the entire world had become my ally.
I beamed with genuine joy.
“Yes, I’m happy too.”
As Penelope and I gazed at each other with bright smiles, several women approached us.
“Pepe!”
The women who had come to greet Penelope gasped in surprise upon seeing me.
‘W-why is the Duchess of Edenberg here….’
Though these women had seen me a few times before, they had never exchanged proper greetings with me.
Just as Penelope was about to ease the awkward tension, I spoke.
“Delighted to see you, Lady McKilla, Lady Keysis.”
The women’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Artia came from House of Edenberg, a prestigious noble family, and was the central figure in the divorce scandal that had recently shaken the Empire.
In contrast, the two women were merely ordinary nobility—people far more often unknown than known.
‘The Duchess of Edenberg knows my name….’
Artia continued speaking with a smile toward the astonished women.
“Lady McKilla, the tulips adorning your hair are truly exquisite. I’ve heard the Tulip Garden of the McKilla Barony is as beautiful as a painting—are these flowers cultivated from there?”
“Lady Keysis, your necklace bears the swan emblem that symbolizes the Keysis Family. It suits such an elegant lady perfectly.”
As the words flowed forth, the women’s faces flushed with color.
Praise for one’s family—a matter of noble pride—was always pleasant to receive. Even more so when it came from someone entirely unexpected.
The women responded with expressions far more relaxed than before.
“The Duchess of Edenberg is also looking particularly beautiful today.”
It worked!
Artia let out a silent cheer within herself.
Having neglected high society for so long, Artia naturally knew little about the noble ladies.
That she could rattle off information about them was entirely thanks to Penelope’s intensive lectures over the past several days.
‘Well done, my student!’
Penelope gave Artia a thumbs up.
‘Thank you, my teacher!’
Artia formed her hands into a heart shape toward Penelope in return.
As Artia successfully steered the conversation and continued speaking with the noble ladies, the women suddenly fell silent in unison.
Not only they, but all the women in the Banquet Hall turned their gaze to the same point with identical expressions.
Artia turned her head as well.
Three women were entering the Banquet Hall at that very moment. They were the Flower Ladies.

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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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