The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 128

After the show, Vivi said, “I’m going to go back to my quarters first and make my bed.”

 

It was something she could do with Killian by Artia’s side; as long as he was there, she wouldn’t have to worry about her safety.

 

“Will you do that?”

 

Artia stammered, then added an ugh.

 

“Not for any other reason, but because I think you’ve had a rough day. Take care of your bed and get some rest, Vivi.”

 

She had just returned from a four-day wolf hunt where she had cut up the kill, roasted it over the fire, and done the laundry and cleaning.

 

She shouldn’t have had to answer.

 

“I see.”

 

Vivi replied, turning her head to look at Killian.

 

He seemed to lighten up at the mention of Vivi’s departure-it was such a subtle change that only Vivi could feel it-and bowed to him.

 

“Please take care of my master.”

 

One of Killian’s eyebrows rose.

 

As usual, he found the polite words quite annoying.

 

But this was Artia’s favorite maid.

 

Killian cocked his head arrogantly, hiding his displeasure.

 

“Right.”

 

After dismissing Vivi, the two headed to the night market near the theater.

 

As expected of an artistic city, the night market was colorful.

 

People dressed in their own style were selling various items, all of which were new to them.

 

“Beautiful! Interesting! Cool! Funny! Scary!”

 

A low voice whispered in Artia’s ear as she looked at the wares.

 

“Artia von Edenberg.”

 

“What?”

 

Artia turned her head, and Killian placed something on her head.

 

“Because I have something for you.”

 

“What is that…?”

 

Artia looked in the mirror above the stall and let out a small squeal.

 

It was a headband of elongated rabbit ears.

 

It was too cute for a twenty-three-year-old noblewoman. Blushing to the tips of her ears, Artia started to pull it off, then changed her mind.

 

“I should give it back.”

 

Artia quickly scanned the stalls.

 

Quickly finding something suitable, she pointed over there and exclaimed.

 

“Oh, that’s…!”

 

“…….”

 

Taking advantage of Killian’s head turning away (He’d be mistaken for thinking he looked disinterested…), she grabbed the headband she’d been aiming for and tried to put it on him…, but oh no.

 

She couldn’t reach it!

 

‘I knew there was a height difference, but you can’t cut me down like this…’

 

Artia locked eyes with Killian, who had managed to get his face back in the right position.

 

Killian looked down at Artia, who was as still as stone.

 

“Looks like the assassination failed.”

 

“Is that…”

 

Artia rolled her eyes in confusion, then nodded like an enemy general admitting defeat.

 

“That was rude.”

 

As Artia lowered her hand in defeat, Killian bent his knee.

 

Locking eyes with Artia, Killian said, “Keep it up, I’ll get you.”

 

Artia’s eyes narrowed.

 

After a moment of surprise, she seized what might have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and put a headband on him.

 

A muscular man with a mummy-like scarf wrapped around his face and a cat-eared headband…

 

“Your Majesty, you look so Reju.”

 

Artia held her stomach and chuckled.

 

‘Though it is amusing to see him like that…’

 

Killian tugged at the scarf wrapped around his face.

 

The scarf came loose, revealing a face that had been hidden.

 

Hair as black as the night sky, golden eyes that reflected the moonlight.

 

Artia’s laughter stopped at the sight of the flawlessly beautiful man’s face.

 

Killian’s eyes narrowed as Artia looked at him with wide eyes.

 

He liked the confidence in those pink eyes, and he wanted to hold her gaze.

 

But there was one thing Killian hadn’t counted on.

 

That passersby-even men-were mesmerized by the sight of a man whose beauty was more powerful than the moonlight.

 

The ever-moving crowd stood still, mouths agape, staring at Killian.

 

“Hmph…!”

 

Artia, noticing the stares, snatched the scarf from Killian’s hand and wrapped it around his face again.

 

No, she needs to wrap it around him in case he breaks the seal again.

 

Artia muttered as she fumbled with the ends of the scarf.

 

“You’re right about cats. Too dangerous.”

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Even with the more combative wrapping of the scarf, it couldn’t hide Killian’s handsomeness.

 

Seeing the sharp-eyed women staring at him, Artia spoke in a serious voice.

 

“Now that we’ve seen enough, shall we go somewhere quieter?”

 

Killian nodded as if he had been waiting.

 

He didn’t want to show Artia to the other men, and neither did she.

 

They left the busy street and headed down a back alley.

 

It was late at night, and the only places open were dingy taverns.

 

Unlike Killian, who raised an eyebrow at the idea of taking her into such a dismal place, Artia’s eyes twinkled.

 

“I’ve always wanted to come to a place like this.”

 

“You wanted to come here?”

 

“Yes. It’s the stuff of romance novels: the noblewoman who sneaks off to a commoner’s tavern!”

 

 

A young, worldly, spoiled noblewoman sneaks off to a commoner’s tavern without her parents’ knowledge.

The drunken thugs flirt with her as she looks elegant in the simple dress she got from her maid.

[You’re pretty, lady. Shall we play?]

[Go away, I won’t forgive you if you get too close!]

The woman summoned all her courage and shouted, but it was no use.

The thugs giggled and taunted her.

[Come near me and I won’t forgive you!]

[Oh, be scared, I was so scared I almost ran to my mother].

 

 

Killian, who had been listening to Artia’s story in silence, raised an eyebrow.

 

“That’s just annoying…”

 

“Hear more.”

 

 

Just as the thugs were reaching for the woman, a man sitting in the corner of the bar swung his sword with lightning speed, sending the thugs sprawling to the ground with an unearthly scream.

[Who is that man?]

[Who could it be, the prince who came out of hiding!]

 

 

The corners of Kilian’s mouth turned up in a pout as Artia’s face lit up with excitement.

 

“It makes sense that royalty would be there at that hour…”

 

Killian was about to say something, but he shut his mouth.

 

Because that’s what he did.

 

It was no coincidence that he had bumped into Artia everywhere in Oman: roadsides, bookstores, cafes, banquets, and more.

 

Killian had set out to find her.

 

Deciding that no good could come from talking about this for too long, Killian grabbed the doorknob of the shop.

 

“Come in, young noblewoman.”

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Unfortunately (?) for Artia, the novel didn’t happen.

 

It wasn’t that the shop was empty. There were a few scruffy-looking men sitting around, reeking of alcohol. But…

 

“Hey, what’s that?”

 

A man with a huge build, a sword at his waist, and a women’s scarf covering his face, revealing only his eyes.

 

That alone was bizarre, but he was also radiating an eerie aura.

 

‘A madman of rare proportions! Run!’

 

The men, no matter how drunk they were, still retained their survival instincts and scurried out of the shop.

 

Without so much as a glance at Artia.

 

It had happened so quietly that she hadn’t even noticed what had happened between the men, and she was shocked.

 

‘So it’s not just anyone who gets into trouble with the village thugs.’

 

It was not an episode that could have happened to someone as blurry as me…

 

Artia sat down at Killian’s table with a newfound sense of the heroine’s awesomeness.

 

The corner seat with the blurry back was so squeezed in that it looked like a rabbit hole.

 

‘This is where I belong.’

 

She liked it even better when Killian’s solid body blocked the open side.

 

‘It’s the best, with a really strong gatekeeper.’