The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 124

All a woman needs is to adorn herself, maintain her home, and obey her husband.

 

True to her father’s beliefs, Artia was taught many things to become an elegant and beautiful lady. But it didn’t include how to manage money.

 

This remained true even after she became a duchess.

 

She had learned how to do math and keep books to make ends meet, but only in a rudimentary way.

 

Evangeline smiled bitterly, as if she knew.

 

“So did I.”

 

As a girl, Evangeline was never allowed to see the books because she had married into another family.

 

But after Artia’s divorce, her three younger brothers, who had taken over the management of the books on her behalf, had been nagging.

 

Benedict and Lloyd had done it all, they said.

 

“Sister, please help us.”

 

They held out the ledgers for her to look at, and for the first time in her life, Evangeline was able to see the ducal ledgers that had been passed down through the generations, and she knew for sure.

 

“It’s worse than I expected.”

 

She wasn’t expecting much, but this is even worse…

 

Artia flipped to the first page of the ledger, preparing herself for whatever she found.

 

The jargon and numbers were much harder to understand than the paperwork that listed information about people.

 

Artia checked off the sections she didn’t understand, asking Evangeline or consulting specialized books.

 

Ten days later, when she had finished reading the thick ledger, Artia said with a sad face.

 

“My aunt was right.”

 

The family had long since sold off their prime real estate, leaving them with only a few plots of land in the countryside.

 

The state of the business, which had been in the family for generations, was even worse.

 

Rather than evolving with the times, the businesses were becoming more and more outdated, and the losses piled up.

 

“At this rate, the Edenbergs will go bankrupt.”

 

“Yes, they won’t last long.”

 

Even Evangeline’s help as Marquise of Glosta could only go so far.

 

The great ship Edenberg was riddled with holes and slowly sinking.

 

“That’s why I wanted you to remarry as soon as possible, because it’s the easiest and quickest way to stabilize your assets.”

 

Evangeline’s expression darkened as she said this.

 

She thought of noble marriages as a thorough business.

 

That was how she had married, and that was how she thought Artia should marry.

 

But now she thinks differently.

 

She felt ashamed that she had forced such a thing on her niece, who followed her with such clear eyes.

 

Evangeline lowered her eyes, not daring to look at her, and Artia’s voice was in Evangeline’s ear.

 

“I think so, too.”

 

“……!”

 

“I’ve tried marrying out of pure love once, but I’ve long since lost my romantic interest in the institution, though I do believe in using it properly.”

 

She would be willing to marry someone who would benefit her family and whom she could trust as a lifelong partner.

 

“But not now,” she says, “because if I were to pursue marriage in this financial state, I would be disrespected, not an equal partner, and if I did, it would have to be after I had stabilized my finances somewhat.”

 

Evangeline stared at Artia, then said, “I thought you were like me, but you’re not. You’re much smarter than me.”

 

Artia smiled affectionately.

 

“That’s because I look like my aunt.”

 

“Hahaha!” Evangeline laughed out loud.

 

With four immature younger brothers and two blunt sons, she could finally understand why her friends who had daughters were so doting on their children.

 

Evangeline asked with a smile.

 

“So, is there anything you can do to stabilize your financial situation?”

 

“Unfortunately, not yet, but I’ll start looking.”

 

Artia’s pink eyes, usually as bright as spring flowers, shone brightly.

 

The three younger siblings, who had seen the ledger, were busy grumbling.

 

None of them were doing anything to remedy the situation, except standing around talking about how they would have done better if they had done it from the beginning.

 

All they could think about was how they could spend every last penny of the money they had left.

 

But Artia was different.

 

She was serious about the situation, and she was determined to solve it.

 

Like it was her job.

 

Evangeline narrowed her eyes.

 

Her twenty-three-year-old niece glared at her.

 

 

* * *

 

 

Artia read and re-read the ledger, but no matter how hard she looked…

 

‘I don’t see any answer.’

 

The real estate was better.

 

The value was terrible, but at least they weren’t losing money on what they had.

 

But the business was bad. It had a bad income structure, and the more they ran it, the more debt they accumulated.

 

With her brow furrowed, Artia went to see Count Golgus.

 

“Welcome home, Tia!”

 

“It is an infinite honor to have you in my home, Artia!”

 

Marigold and Cecil clung to Artia’s sides with glee.

 

Count Golgus looked at the scene with disdain.

 

“What is it you wish to ask me?”

 

Artia turned to the man, who was built like a bull and had a gaunt face that would rival any bandit.

 

“I want to ask Count Golgus, the Empire’s greatest businessman, for some business advice.”

 

“……!”

 

Count Golgus’s eyes widened at the unexpected comment.

 

It was common for nobles who valued dignity to look down on the idea of putting money first.

 

As such, Count Golgus, who neglected socializing in favor of business, was flattered but not respected.

 

To him, the phrase “the Empire’s greatest businessman” was a phrase that caused his broad shoulders to shrug quite a bit.

 

Artia handed the papers to Count Golgus, who seemed to relax.

 

It was a compilation of some of the entries in the Duke of Edenberg’s ledgers.

 

“Do you think there is any way to resuscitate this business?”

 

Count Golgus flipped through the papers with a stern face before answering.

 

“You’d better cut off that poisoned foot as soon as possible, before the poison spreads throughout your body and kills you.”

 

“So you’re saying it’s better to clean it up.”

 

Count Golgus nodded.

 

“If they were good business items, you might be able to salvage them somehow, but they have no future value whatsoever, and even if you miraculously kept them alive, they wouldn’t last long.”

 

So true…

 

Artia sighed, her conclusion not unlike her own.

 

She cleared her throat and asked her next question.

 

“If you were to start a new business, how would you make it successful?”

 

Count Golgus’s dark eyebrows knit together at the ambiguous question.

 

After a moment, he answered.

 

“Sell what I know. I’ve been surrounded by diamonds since I was a baby, and now I can look at a piece of stone in a diamond mine and know how much it’s worth and how best to cut it.”

 

Marigold, sitting next to Count Golgus, spoke up with interest.

 

“When he’s finished with the diamonds, I’ll put them all on and go out to the ballroom, and the ladies will come rushing in and want to buy them.”

 

The Golgus’ sold the diamond to the highest bidder.

 

Artia said admiringly.

 

“So you see, a successful business requires an eye for the good stuff and the ability to sell it for a lot of money.”

 

Marigold clapped her hands together.

 

“My Tia is smart, after all.”

 

Golgus nodded.

 

“That’s the business.”

 

For the next few hours, Artia listened to Count Golgus’s lecture to her on his business know-how.

 

As Artia listened intently, even taking notes, Count Golgus, who was chattering away excitedly, finally shared his business philosophy.

 

“The important thing is that you don’t give up.”

 

Count Golgus said, glancing at the papers Artia had brought with her.

 

“If it’s a business with no more promise than dog shit, cut it off faster than a lizard’s tail, but if it’s something you’ve researched thoroughly, believe in it and stick with it. Like a warrior in a diamond mine with a pickaxe.”

 

Artia nodded.

 

“I will keep that in mind, Master!”