The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 125

 The conference room at Edenberg Manor was open for the first time since Artia’s divorce.

 

Artia fiddled with the chair at the end of the long table, where the host of the meeting sat.

 

‘I never pictured myself sitting in this chair…’

 

This was her father’s seat, Lloyd’s seat.

 

Artia had never dared to enter this room.

 

But not today.

 

Artia sat nervously in her chair.

 

A few moments later, the guests she had invited arrived. Derek, Ian, and Evangeline, the elders of the family.

 

When Derek saw Artia sitting at the head of the table, his mouth dropped open as if he’d seen something unseemly.

 

“You, where do you think you’re sitting!”

 

Ian clicked his tongue and waved his hand.

 

“So much for being cocky. It’s not a pretty sight, so get down.”

 

Artia laughed softly.

 

“I’m the sole owner of this Edenberg manor, don’t you think it’s weird for the owner to sit in the guest seat?”

 

“What?!”

 

The two uncles jumped up, their faces reddening. They were about to say something to Artia when Evangeline opened her mouth.

 

“Enough.”

 

She looked at her siblings with a stern glare.

 

“We are here today because Artia has something important to tell us about family matters. I’d rather hear it than watch your childish bickering.”

 

“…Agreed, sister.”

 

The two men sat back down in their chairs, grimacing, not at all amused.

 

‘I can’t believe you were able to subdue those two little bastards with one word… My aunt is amazing.’

 

Artia looks at Evangeline, her eyes twinkling.

 

“But where’s my seat?”

 

Evangeline wielded great influence in the Edenberg family, but she was, after all, a member of another family.

 

So whenever the elders gathered for a meeting, she would sit in a veiled seat on one side of the room and remain invisible. She attended the meetings unofficially and in secret.

 

But in this room, there was no veil anywhere in sight.

 

Artia pointed to the seat closest to her.

 

“Please sit over here, Auntie.”

 

“……!”

 

The two men’s eyes widened, as well as Evangeline’s.

 

Turning to Evangeline, Artia said,

 

“You’re the eldest daughter of the former Duke of Edenberg, and the eldest sister of the current Duke of Edenberg and the current Elders, and you’ve been very attentive to the family even after you married.”

 

Artia’s clear voice continued.

 

“I would like to respectfully honor my aunt as an elder of the family.”

 

“…….”

 

Evangeline stared at Artia for a moment, unable to speak.

 

She was cold enough to be called icy, but at this moment, heat rose in her throat.

 

Artia’s gaze shifted to the two men, who were looking puzzled.

 

“Uncles are in favor of this, aren’t they?”

 

No.

 

Derek thought it was ridiculous that anyone from another family, even his sister, would openly attend a meeting. But…

 

‘What if my sister gets mad…’

 

If his second brother, Crank, spoke up first, he might agree, but he didn’t have the courage to speak up.

 

He kept his mouth shut, even as he gave her a disgruntled look.

 

Ian, on the other hand, agreed with Artia.

 

“You should have been in that seat a long time ago,” he said, “I‘m sorry I’ve been hiding it from you at every meeting.”

 

And so, the four Edenbergs sat down.

 

Pale silver hair and reddish eyes.

 

Looking at them, each with a different look but similar colors, Artia spoke.

 

“I’ll get right to the point.”

 

Artia was silent for a moment, then spoke.

 

“We’d like to wind down all of House Edenberg’s businesses.”

 

Bang! It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck the room. So shocking was the statement.

 

Derek’s face fell and he exclaimed.

 

“Are you, are you, are you crazy?”

 

“No, I’m sane, and I wasn’t kidding.”

 

Artia handed the three of them the papers she had prepared.

 

“This is a summary of the current Edenberg family business, which, as you can see, has been running at a loss the entire time it’s been in operation, barely staying afloat by drawing on other budgets. And it’s getting bigger every year.”

 

Artia continues.

 

“I’ve consulted with experts, and their conclusion is that if we continue as we are, the Edenbergs will be completely bankrupt in about 20 years.”

 

“What?!”

 

Derek and Ian’s mouths dropped open.

 

They knew the books were in the red. But they hadn’t thought it was bad enough to be considered bankrupt.

 

Derek said, “It’s a business that’s been in the family for a long time, even if it’s in the shape it’s in because your father and your husband ran it so poorly. How dare you suggest getting rid of it. We’ll keep it at all costs.”

 

“I didn’t realize you cared so much about the family business.” Artia said, pulling out one of the ledgers Evangeline had given her.

 

“You sold off some of the more profitable farms so you could expand your mansion.”

 

“That, that’s…”

 

The unexpected attack left Derek speechless.

 

Ian, who was sitting next to him, smirked.

 

“Brother, I’m disappointed in you. You nagged me to honor the family name on a fictitious day, and then you dabbled in business with such a nasty thing.”

 

Oh, well, Uncle Ian wasn’t much different.

 

Artia’s gaze flicked to Ian.

 

“You’ve been siphoning off a lot of money that should be going into the business in the name of investment.”

 

Ian’s smug face drained of all color.

 

“That’s an investment! I’ve been working to build up the family fortune!”

 

“I looked into that investment, and it’s a gambling house masquerading as an investment, and the money my uncle has lost there so far runs into the billions of gold.”

 

“…….”

 

A murderous silence filled the room.

 

The two uncles stared at Artia with distorted faces.

 

Artia opened her mouth, willing to accept their near-hostile glares.

 

“We have no reason to stay in business, nor do we have the ability to stay in business. Why don’t you just admit it and agree to close up shop?”

 

After a long pause, Derek said, “Okay, let’s say I agree with you. But what are you going to do when you’re done with the business?”

 

Even the most venerable of noble families don’t make money sitting still.

 

To keep the family name alive, they needed a way to keep the money flowing.

 

Artia said, “Exactly. That’s why I’m starting a new business.”

 

The two uncles blinked in confusion.

 

“Who?”

 

“Me, Artia von Edenberg.”

 

Derek and Ian were at a loss for words.

 

They were more surprised when Artia pointed out their incompetence than when she suggested that they wind up the family business.

 

It was just as ridiculous.

 

Derek repeated in disbelief.

 

“You’re going to run the business?”

 

“Yes.”

 

At Artia’s answer, Derek couldn’t hold it in and shouted.

 

“What business does a woman have, all she does is pick out dresses and gossip over tea!”

 

“I didn’t realize you thought that.”

 

Derek groaned at Evangeline’s words, who had been quiet the entire time.

 

Evangeline continued with her trademark stern face.

 

“You came to me for help every time you were scared of your father, scolded by your brothers, or in conflict with your friends, and I helped you with all my heart. Is that what you were really thinking?”

 

“You’re not like other girls.”

 

“…….”

 

Evangeline’s red eyes were cold.

 

Derek paled and stammered, then lowered his tail.

 

“I-I’m sorry, sister, I slipped up.”

 

Ian, beside Evangeline, scowled.

 

“You’ve done that once or twice, be careful.”