The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 8

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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 8

When her pleas fell on deaf ears, one of the servants invoked Lloyd’s name.
“The Duke will never forgive us for being cast out when he returns.”
At those words, Artia let out a small laugh.
“You needn’t worry about that. Lloyd won’t even remember your name.”
It wasn’t sarcasm—it was the truth.
Lloyd had no interest whatsoever in those beneath him.
I could wager a hundred gold coins that he wouldn’t notice even if every servant in this mansion were replaced.
But I did not dismiss Elma, the one who had treated me most cruelly.
“Th-thank you, my lady. This Elma will devote every fiber of her being to serving you.”
Elma rejoiced as though I had opened my heart to her.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
‘I hold her weakness in my hands, and I can move her as I see fit. There’s no reason to dispose of such a useful tool now.’
With the servants replaced en masse, the atmosphere of the mansion transformed entirely.
Even the maids who had mocked the lady’s change as temporary now kept their discipline sharp, and none in the household dared to disrespect Artia.
“Now then….”
Artia extended her hand to Elma.
“Return them to me—the Ducal House ledgers.”
“My lady, keeping the ledgers is tedious and difficult. It would be better if you continued to entrust them to me….”
“The ledgers.”
Artia waved her hand dismissively at Elma.
Forced at last to surrender the evidence of her own crimes, Elma’s eyes welled with tears.
“The truth is, my parents are gravely ill. I had no choice but to do those things to pay for their treatment—I swear by God I meant no malice and will never do such a thing again.”
“Yes, yes.”
Artia replied with an indifferent expression as she pored over the ledgers.
The entries Elma had made on my behalf over the past three years were staggering. It took a full week of sleepless nights to read through them all, but it was worth the effort.
I discovered countless traces of Lloyd squandering the family’s wealth.
Yet even this was insufficient to stand against Lloyd.
“I am like a newborn fawn, barely able to stand on its own legs.”
My will was strong, but the power I possessed was pitifully weak.
To gain strength, I needed an ally.
Artia rummaged through her memories.
My biological mother had died of chronic illness thirteen years ago, and my biological father had died of a heart attack three years ago.
There was a stepmother, but she had fled to a villa far from the Convent after Benedict’s death.
“Besides, she has little affection for me, so asking for her help would be pointless.”
The same held true for my other relatives.
Benedict’s selfish nature had poisoned his relationships with every member of the Ducal House, and I bore the full brunt of those consequences.
Not a single soul in the family spared a glance for the late Duke’s only daughter.
Hostility, perhaps—but never genuine concern.
‘Sigh… I’ll abandon any hope of finding salvation within this bloodline and search beyond it instead.’
Yet no matter how deeply I searched my memories, not a single name surfaced.
A single scalding tear rolled down my cheek.
“What kind of life have I lived, truly…?”
Fortunately, I possessed one final weapon.
“The name Edenberg.”
I may have been powerless, but Edenberg was not.
An ancient noble name carried weight that transcended individual merit.
‘Who would be willing to pay the highest price for that name…?’
After much deliberation, I composed letters.

「 from. Artia von Edenberg 」

I sent missives bearing my name to twelve recipients.
‘Would they even deign to read a letter from a powerless Duchess of Edenberg?’
I couldn’t be certain of even that.
All I could do was pray that someone—anyone—would respond.
Three days after dispatching the letters, Lloyd returned.

* * *

Thump, thump, thump.
‘Ever since becoming Duke, he’s walked with such measured dignity. For him to make such noise… he must be absolutely furious.’
The door burst open with a bang, and an angry voice filled the chamber.
“Artia, how dare you lock Lirika in her room…”
Lloyd trailed off, staring at me.
I stood by the window, bathed in brilliant sunlight.
My face bore no cosmetics, and the simple indoor dress was familiar to him, but everything else had transformed.
The pallid, corpse-like complexion had regained its vitality, and the hollowed cheeks from malnutrition had become smooth and full.
Most striking of all, those pink eyes that had always trembled with fear now sparkled like precious gems.
Who are you?
Lloyd’s expression was so bewildered he looked ready to ask that very question. I observed him with quiet amusement.
‘His features are still intact, at least.’
My affection for Lloyd had never stemmed solely from his kindness.
Half of it came from his appearance.
Lloyd was a handsome man with chestnut hair and blue eyes.
Yes, I had always been susceptible to a beautiful face.
But unlike before, when my heart would race at the mere sight of him, I felt nothing now.
Because I knew the truth—beneath that polished exterior lay nothing but rotting filth.
‘I have no taste for perversion. I won’t be attracted to something so vile.’
I opened my mouth with an indifferent expression.
“Yes, I locked Lirika in her room.”
I touched my cheek as I continued.
“She slapped me. But out of consideration for you, I refrained from any other punishment.”
Lloyd’s carefully groomed brows shot up.
I expected him to demand how I could treat his precious little bird so harshly, but instead, he said something entirely unexpected.
“Why are you speaking like that?”
Was he really complaining about my lack of formal speech?
I responded with exasperation.
“You speak that way too. I’m simply responding in kind.”
Lloyd’s face twisted further.
“So the rumors are true. You really did go mad after falling in the Lake and waking up.”
I replied calmly this time as well.
“I’m not mad.”
…!
“If anyone’s mad, it’s you. Bringing your mistress into your wife’s home and flirting with her shamelessly.”
Deep contempt gleamed in my pink eyes.
Shame flushed Lloyd’s face crimson, though the emotion quickly transformed into rage.
“This is really…!”
Lloyd reached out toward me.
Splash—!
Lloyd’s hand came down hard across Artia’s right cheek.
It was the same spot Lirika had struck days before.
‘Like a pair of cockroaches, they resort to identical tactics.’
With that thought, I crumpled to the floor.
The difference in physical strength between man and woman was undeniable. The blow hurt far more than when Lirika had struck me.
Lloyd stared down at me as my cheek swelled visibly in an instant.
“It seems you’ve made quite the bold decision while I was away. Come to your senses. You are the shame of Edenberg. Cowering flat on the ground like this suits you perfectly.”
Whenever Lloyd wielded such merciless violence, I could only weep in terror.
‘But I am no longer the Artia I once was.’
I lifted my head.
Lloyd’s shoulders flinched involuntarily as his eyes met mine—those luminous pink irises burning with clarity.
I spoke.
“For the past three years, you have ignored me, subjected me to violence, and even brought a mistress into this house. You even made me consume poison that rendered me incapable of bearing children.”
“H-how did you….”
That hardly mattered now.
“I will no longer endure this hellish marriage.”
I uttered the words I had longed to speak.
“Let’s divorce.”
“…!”

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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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