The Search for the Duchess’s Husband – Chapter 123

Author: Dakku-san

One second later and he would have fallen out the window.

But young Killian pouted his lips, unaware of the danger he was in.

“I’m not supposed to be out of my transformation yet…”

He thought about sneaking in for a moment, just to watch Arsen.

But there was no way he could fit through the small window in his current form.

“What the hell. I’ll get in trouble if they find me.”

But after a moment’s thought, Killian stood up.

Even if he got in trouble, he’d accomplish what he came here to do.

In a room as large as Killian’s, there were many things.

Toys, books, dolls, flowers… And in the middle of it all, on a large bed, lay a child.

This was Arsen von Orpheus, the owner of the room and Killian’s older brother.

Killian took a step closer to the bed.

It was a dark night with no moonlight and not a single lantern lit, but his night vision was much better than most, and he could see Arsen’s form.

He looked nothing like Killian had imagined.

Long white hair like an old man in a fairy tale, a pale face without a single wrinkle. His features were doll-like, but so lifeless that it was impossible to recognize them.

Like a dead man.

A shiver ran down Killian’s spine.

Killian had never seen a corpse before, and yet he felt an instinctive sense of foreignness toward Arsen.

It was the instinctive sensation of a living creature.

He took a step backward, and Arsen’s eyes flashed open.

His eyes were golden.

But they were nothing like Killian’s eyes, which radiated a brilliant light like gold.

They were so empty of light that they seemed to be empty.

Arsen opened his mouth to speak to Killian, who was mesmerized by those eyes.

“Killian?”

“……!”

The voice was faint, almost inaudible in the stillness of dawn, but Killian heard it all too clearly.

Kilian shot him a wary, catlike look.

“How do you know me?”

Arsen smiled faintly.

“Of course I know you, you’re my brother…”

My brother.

Killian’s expression instantly softened at the unfamiliar yet pleasant word.

Kilian blushed slightly.

“I know your name, Arsen.”

Arsen’s smile deepened at the words.

A faint glimmer of life returned to his dead face.

Maybe it was because they shared the same parents, or maybe it was because they were born in the same womb.

The two began to chat with such ease that it was hard to believe they hadn’t seen each other in four years.

Killian learned a lot about Arsen.

Since he was a baby, Arsèn’s legs hadn’t moved properly and he couldn’t walk.

He couldn’t leave his room because the sun would burn his skin.

Having had little emotional contact with others since birth, Killian didn’t know how to empathize with others.

But that day, for the first time, his heart ached for someone else.

Killian said to Arsen.

“I can use magic.”

It was a secret he had never told anyone.

Arsen’s eyes widened, and Killian continued.

“I’ll study hard and I’ll heal you.”

“…….”

“Let’s go play outside the castle together.”

A few hours later, with his powers restored and safely in his room, Killian fell asleep with excitement.

He had a dream that day.

It was a sunny day, and Arsen and Killian were running through a dense forest of green trees.

“I’m faster.”

“No, I’m faster.”

As they ran and ran, they saw a giant longhorn scarab flying away with a whoosh, and they forgot about running and followed it.

Sweat beaded on his forehead, he smiled broadly.

It was only the second wind in his life.

From then on, Killian would visit Arsen’s room as a baby bird whenever he could.

They talked, read books together, and sometimes played with toys.

Neither Arsen nor Killian enjoyed this time, as they were usually alone.

But the secret didn’t last long.

One day, the Empress entered Arsèn’s room unexpectedly.

Killian, who was playing with a horse-shaped toy on the bed with Arsen, opened his eyes wide.

“Uh, um…”

Before Killian had a chance to stammer out an excuse, the Empress’s hand slammed down on his tiny cheek.

Ouch!

The Empress’s eyes widened as she shouted at Killian, who was thrown back down the bed by the unmerciful force.

“How dare you come in here!”

The Empress had always been cold to Killian, but she had never used such violence before.

She grabbed Killian’s thin arm, too stunned to say anything.

“Mother…!”

Arsen tried to stop her, but it was no use.

The Empress dragged Killian across the floor and threw him out of the room.

Glaring at Killian, who looked like he was about to cry, unable to breathe, the Empress screamed.

“You will never appear in front of Arsen again!”

‘If you do that one more time, I will kill you.’

Her angry eyes said so.

After that, Killian was never allowed to visit Arsen.

The Empress stayed by his side, even in the middle of the night.

Despite the grief he felt for his mother and the sadness of not seeing his brother, Killian tried.

“I will hone my magic to be stronger, and I will heal him.”

‘Then he won’t be sick anymore, and Mama won’t hate me anymore, right?’

But the plan failed miserably.

His dream of walking out of the castle with a healthy Arsen never came true.

Even now.

* * *

“Your Majesty.”

He turned at the sound of the clear voice and found Artia staring up at him, her eyes wide.

“Don’t you have anything you want so badly that you’re thinking about it?”

“I have so many…” Killian said to Artia, who mumbled something.

“There is something I want to get.”

“What is it?”

“If I tell you, will you listen?”

“Only if it’s something I can do for you.”

“…….”

Her pink eyes sparkled, not with pressure, but with anticipation of what he would say.

Killian was thrilled.

“Artia von Edenberg, do you realize how terrifying what you’ve just said is?”

‘I… want to take your hand.’

‘I want to weave my fingers between your white, slender ones, so they never fall apart.’

‘I want to hug you, so tight I’m afraid you’ll break.’

‘I want to kiss you on the lips, like you don’t remember.’

‘No, more insistent and tender than then.’

‘But I’m never supposed to say that because at that moment, you won’t think of me as a friend.’

Killian didn’t want to break this miraculous relationship. Very desperately.

So he opened his mouth, pushing down the desire that filled his head.

“I want you to stay by my side.”

“What?”

“Breathe, talk, smile.”

“…….”

Artia didn’t know what expression to make.

At best, she dreamed of a huge library filled with her favorite books, but Killian’s wishes were too esoteric.

Despite her embarrassment, a part of her heart tickled.

“So you mean you want to stay friends with me?

That’s an odd way to put it.

Artia smiled, hoping he couldn’t hear her heartbeat.

“I will.”

She wouldn’t know.

That she was the only one who had ever given Killian what he wanted.

* * *

Evangeline turned to Artia and said,

“My brother’s snarls have gone quiet as a sheet at the mention of you, and even the men of the Edenberg clan are singing your praises whenever we meet.”

Artia smiled.

“It’s worth the effort.”

“It’s not just hard work that wins people’s favor. You’re quite skilled.”

Indeed, she had the makings of an Ethereal.

Evangeline looked at Artia with pride.

“I think you’ve gotten close enough to the clan, so let’s move on to the next step.”

Thump!

Dozens of ledgers fell onto the desk.

Evangeline pointed to the stack of ledgers.

“These are the real estate, businesses, and other assets of the Edenberg family. It’s the real power of the Edenbergs.”

“…….”

“If you want power, you need to know all of this and be able to maneuver it.”