The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 121

“My sister’s favorite is me?!”

 

“Yes, Uncle Ian, even though you’re not the brightest bulb in the box and you always get into trouble…”

 

At these words, Ian almost turned back into a bad-tempered hyena, but…

 

“She said that of her three siblings, you are the most loyal to her, and that when she gets old and sick and everyone else leaves her, you will be the only one she will stick to.”

 

Artia was surprised.

 

Ian, who she had expected to be smug, was so touched by her words that he was in tears.

 

“I can’t believe my sister, who is always telling me to get my act together, actually thinks that…”

 

“Well, Auntie doesn’t scold you without affection.”

 

“That’s right, she doesn’t give a damn what anyone does, she just gets rid of them right away.”

 

Ian nodded, his eyes wet, and then asked quietly.

 

“What else did she say?”

 

“That…”

 

Artia’s words continued for a long time.

 

Ian’s face brightened, unlike when he first arrived.

 

“Artia, I misunderstood you all along. I thought you were a shady, selfish girl who took after my dead brother, when you were such a nice girl…”

 

All she had to do was say nice things about Evangeline and suddenly Artia was a nice girl.

 

‘I’m offended that he treats me like a child, but let’s drop it for now.’

 

There are many ways to deal with a bad haircut and a bad personality.

 

The first step was to repair the relationship, as my aunt had hoped.

 

Ian turned to Artia, who smiled kindly.

 

“I’ve noticed that my sister seems to like you a bit more lately, maybe because you’ve become an Ethereal. Every time I see her, she says all kinds of nice things about you. Or better yet, invite me over so we can hang out.”

 

‘I don’t want to, why should I hang out with you?’

 

Artia nodded obediently, hiding her true feelings.

 

“I will.”

 

It was easy enough to give him the answer he wanted to hear.

 

If he couldn’t think of a good reason, so be it.

 

Feeling much better, Ian left the mansion with a big shrug.

 

‘He’s even dumber than I thought…’

 

Artia muttered to herself as she watched Ian’s retreating figure.

 

“Now that I’ve made friends with my third uncle… all that’s left is my first uncle.”

 

 

* * *

 

 

Crank was locked in a cell in the capital for helping Count Elysium kidnap Artia.

 

Sitting helplessly on the floor, he jumped to his feet when he saw a woman appear in the darkness.

 

“Artia von Edenberg!”

 

The man, who had lost all semblance of elegance and nobility in just a few months, shouted as he gripped the bars.

 

“How dare my niece imprison me in a place like this!”

 

The hooded Artia covered her mouth in surprise.

 

“Oh, Uncle, that’s for me to say, how could my own uncle help kidnap his niece?”

 

“I told you, I was blackmailed by Count Elysium, and I did not do it of my own free will.”

 

“If you’re going to lie, at least try to make it plausible. You didn’t even pretend to listen to Judge Calvin when you rambled on like that.”

 

Crank’s eyes flickered at the mention of the inquisitor.

 

“You know Calvin, the man who sent me here, don’t you?”

 

“What?”

 

“Count Elysium said you seduced Calvin into ruling in favor of Freesia. That’s what you did!”

 

“…….”

 

“Vain, spiteful bitch.”

 

Artia wanted to rise to power within the House, and to do so, she needed to establish close ties with the people of the House. But…

 

‘You can’t always dangle a carrot. Some people need a stick too.’

 

Artia’s pink eyes clouded over and she smiled wryly.

 

“That’s right, I’m an acquaintance of Mr. Calvin’s.”

 

“……!”

 

Of course, it wasn’t the secret relationship Crank had made it sound like. They hadn’t seen each other in person for a long time.

 

But why bring it up?

 

He’s only going to hear what he wants to hear anyway.

 

‘Then I’ll take full advantage of your dirty misunderstanding.’

 

Artia snorted with amusement and continued.

 

“So I must go to Mr. Calvin right away and tell him that he must never let my uncle out of prison, because I don’t want him to say anything untrue about us.”

 

“……!”

 

“It’s nothing for a judge to increase a sinner’s sentence if he feels like it, is it?”

 

The blood drained from Crank’s face.

 

Crank shuddered and could barely speak.

 

“Do you think you could do that, and do you think my sister and brother would stand for it?”

 

Artia laughed.

 

“Uncle, pull yourself together. Has anyone from your family visited you lately?”

 

“……!”

 

In the first place, Derek had only sent a servant, claiming to be too ill to come, and Ian had insisted that he’d come himself and get Crank out in no time, but he’d only come once or twice.

 

Evangeline, meanwhile, came regularly, but…

 

 

“I want you to sincerely apologize to Artia, and then obediently accept whatever sentence the judge gives you to make amends.”

 

“How could my sister say such a thing to me?” Crank said as if he realized something.

 

“You’re just trying to take advantage of my absence and use the family’s power and wealth to your advantage, aren’t you? You’ve always coveted it!”

 

“I didn’t know you felt that way about me.”

 

Evangeline hasn’t visited since.

 

Evangeline and her two younger siblings had gotten the message, and no one from the Edenberg family came to visit.

 

Crank’s face fell and he cursed.

 

“You’re all in this together, trying to steal what’s mine…”

 

Artia watched him calmly.

 

As long as he thought like that, Crank would be estranged from his brothers.

 

The longer he was in prison, the better.

 

“I’ll come back to you when I think the world is really on my side.”

 

If Crank had any intelligence at all, he would no longer be at odds with Artia but would instead try to look good to her.

 

That way, his rotten self could get out of this prison as soon as possible.

 

That’s how she would tie him up, slowly.

 

Like taming a bad dog.

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

After completing her mission with her three uncles, it wasn’t too difficult for her to get to know the other members of the Edenberg family.

 

She sent precious wines to those known for their liquor, went shopping with those with a taste for the extravagant, and invited those who loved to eat to her home for a hearty meal.

 

“I have been too careless,” she said, “and from now on I will take care of my people, the people of House Edenberg.”

 

Artia was the only daughter of the Duke of Edenberg, and the one who would give birth to the next Duke of Edenberg.

 

It was hard not to be impressed by the arrogance of such a woman, but when she spoke to them in such a way, they could not help but be pleased.

 

The number of Artia’s followers in the Edenberg family began to grow rapidly.

 

 

* * *

 

 

As Artia selected gifts for her clan, she suddenly wondered.

 

‘What would Prince Killian want?’

 

A prince who was not only trusted by the Emperor, but respected by nobles and commoners alike.

 

It was hard to imagine what he would like from a woman who seemed to have everything in the world at her disposal.

 

Unable to find an answer, Artia turned to Killian, who had entered her room.

 

“Is there something you wish to receive, Your Highness?”

 

Killian stared at Artia, then spoke.

 

“I…”

 

As Artia had thought, Killian had had everything in the world since birth.

 

An emperor and empress were his parents, a huge imperial palace was his home, he wore only clothes made by designers from the finest fabrics, and he had all kinds of rare treasures and new toys every day.

 

They were surrounded by dozens of servants every day, and they were taken care of with such care that they never felt uncomfortable.

 

But there was one thing he didn’t have.

 

“Oh, my God.”