The Search for the Duchess’s Husband - Chapter 9

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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 9

Lloyd’s eyes widened.
As if he had never heard such a word before, nor ever imagined he would.
It was understandable.
While divorce existed as an institution in The Empire, it was strictly forbidden among the nobility.
Even in the rare cases where someone sought divorce, it was not easily granted. All noble marriages and divorces required the Emperor’s approval.
And the current Emperor had never approved a single divorce. Not once in his twenty-nine years of reign.
There had been nobles who attempted it, but all had failed.
So Lloyd burst into a twisted laugh.
“Pffhaha!”
Lloyd leaned down and grasped Artia’s chin.
His face twisted into something savage, as if he meant to devour her, as he spoke.
“Go ahead and try, divorce.”
“….”
“If your goal is to part ways with me, hanging yourself would be far easier than divorce.”

* * *

The moment Lloyd left the room, Bibi entered.
When Bibi saw me collapsed on the floor, cracks appeared in her stoic expression.
Bibi helped me up and spoke.
“I’ll call a physician at once.”
“I’m fine.”
“Then at least let me apply some salve.”
I touched my swollen cheek as I spoke.
“Never mind. I need to look more pitiful if I’m going to wear these marks.”
“….”
“Just prepare me for an outing.”
Bibi’s eyes betrayed her concern for my swollen face, but she obediently followed my orders.
Fortunately, Lloyd didn’t interfere with my departure.
‘As expected. That dog—no, Lloyd—sees me as nothing but a worm buried deep underground.’
No one pays attention to a small worm whose only talent is wriggling.
‘But Lloyd, you’ll regret that arrogance soon enough.’
Standing before the carriage, I gazed toward a distant window.
I could see Lloyd cradling a weeping Lirika in his arms.
“Ugh.”
I left a deeply moving comment on the touching reunion of that pair of cockroaches before boarding the carriage.
The sensation of the carriage moving felt unfamiliar.
‘It’s been so long since I’ve gone out, so that makes sense.’
I never left the Edenberg Mansion unless I absolutely had to attend something.
I was always shut away in my room, reading books.
‘No wonder my skin is pale as paper and my wrists are as thin as a child’s.’
I clicked my tongue and opened the window. Warm sunlight and cool air rushed into the carriage.
‘Wonderful. They say people really do need sunlight.’
But the smile on my face vanished the moment the carriage arrived at its destination.
The residence of the Empire’s most noble and arrogant.
The Imperial Palace.

* * *

A few days ago, I sent letters to twelve people.
Only one of them replied.
Killian von Orpheus.
The Empire’s second prince. The one closest to the throne.
Moreover, he bore the irreverent epithet of “the Mad Prince.”
‘He spent four years on the battlefield starting from age nineteen, finally led the war to victory, and returned just a few months ago.’
Because he had spent years on the battlefield, the nobility of the Convent knew little about him.
Only eerie rumors circulated—that the prince still reeked of blood-soaked earth from the war.
I sent a letter even to such a fearsome man because he was the one most capable of helping me.
‘But I never expected him to reply….’
Killian’s letter contained no courteous words offering to help me.

「 Come speak to me directly. 」

That was all—a single, terse line.
I couldn’t fathom Killian’s intentions, but that hardly mattered.
‘I have to seize this opportunity, no matter what.’
I swallowed hard and stepped into the Prince’s Palace.
A slender, handsome man with dark green hair greeted me.
Nocton von Alihas.
The second son of House of Alihas and attendant to Prince Killian.
He offered a gentle smile in greeting.
“Welcome, Duchess of Edenberg. I shall guide you to His Highness.”
I exchanged light pleasantries and followed Nocton.
As we walked down the long corridor, I asked cautiously.
“May I inquire about His Highness’s condition today?”
He bore the terrifying epithet of “the Mad Prince,” after all. I could only hope his mood was favorable.
But my hopes shattered immediately.
“He woke an hour earlier than usual, despite always rising at precisely the same time without deviation. He skipped breakfast, saying he had no appetite. His sword training this morning lasted twice as long as usual, and his gaze grew so menacing that two attendants fainted.”
In short, His Highness’s condition is at its worst?
I suppressed the urge to turn back and leave, and spoke.
“If I don’t make it out alive, please insist that Lloyd von Edenberg is absolutely the culprit.”
“Understood.”
Listen, answering like that makes it sound like I’m really walking to my death.
Nocton chuckled softly at my troubled expression.
“I was joking. He’s far more reasonable than the rumors suggest, so please don’t worry too much.”
“Really?”
“Perhaps?”
….
Shortly after, Nocton stopped before an enormous door.
He opened the door with an elegant gesture.
“Then please come in, Duchess of Edenberg.”
I gazed into the doorway that felt like a lion’s den before stepping forward.
Thud. The massive door closed behind me with a heavy sound.
After a short walk, I saw a man seated in a chair. Before I could even properly see his face, I bowed my head.
“I pay my respects to the blood of the almighty Orpheus. I am Artia von Edenberg.”
There was one more reason why Killian had earned the nickname of the Mad Prince.
He harbored a pathological hatred of women.
Tales circulated of women who had carelessly touched his hand losing their wrists, or those who had hidden in his bed losing their lives.
‘As long as it’s not a sexual advance, it should be fine, but there’s no need to court danger. I must be careful not to displease him in any way.’
So after finishing my greeting, I kept my head lowered and my gaze fixed on the floor.
After a long moment, a low voice resonated from above my head.
“What could you possibly have to say as someone from Edenberg?”
His husky voice, devoid of any emotion, carried a sinister, demonic chill.
I swallowed hard, my face tense with anxiety.
‘If I say something trivial, he might cut out my tongue as punishment for my insolence.’
I opened my mouth, desperately hoping he would find my words at least somewhat interesting.
“I’m not certain if you remember, but I greeted you two years ago.”
It was at a banquet held to welcome Killian’s return from the battlefield, where he had spent all his time.
Lloyd and I bowed our heads to Killian together.
“I pay my respects to the blood of the almighty Orpheus. I am Lloyd von Edenberg, the 23rd Duke of Edenberg.”
Lloyd, making his first formal greeting as Duke of Edenberg, introduced himself with a flushed, excited face.
Meanwhile, I was too terrified to even lift my head.
I had always been afraid of Prince Killian, and I could only wish for this moment to pass quickly.
Shortly after, I heard Killian’s cold voice near my ear.
“Trash like this calling itself Edenberg.”
“…is what Your Highness said.”
Instead of offering some pathetic excuse, Killian replied with an arrogant tone.
“It’s the truth, isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“…”
“My husband Lloyd is trash. The kind of irredeemable, vile trash at that.”
Killian stared at me intently before muttering.
“Your thoughts have changed quite a bit in just two years.”
“…!”
I was shocked.
I had never expected him to remember such a fleeting moment.
Two years ago, when I still loved Lloyd desperately, I unconsciously lifted my head and glared at Killian.
But the moment our eyes met, I immediately lowered my head again.
For someone as timid as I was, it had been an act of extraordinary courage.
‘It’s a dark chapter I’d rather forget now….’

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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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