The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 134

He said, not hiding his delight.

 

“I won’t let you fail.”

 

Artia laughed softly.

 

“How, by threatening an entire nation to force them to watch them perform?”

 

It was meant as a joke, but Killian nodded approvingly.

 

“If you want.”

 

“……?!”

 

Killian said, turning to Artia, whose eyes were wide as if they were going to pop out of her head.

 

“But that won’t get your business recognized as a success, and neither will you.”

 

Killian knew Artia better than anyone.

 

The seemingly glazed, gentle woman had a way of unraveling when she got what she wanted.

 

The only good thing was, now she’d allow him to help.

 

“If there’s anything I can do, just tell me.”

 

Killian’s words were not taken lightly.

 

And by “anything,” he really meant “anything in the whole world”.

 

It was too much for a mere favor from a friend.

 

Artia looked at Killian with mixed emotions… With a bang, the door opened and Lam walked in.

 

Mikhail and Sandra grabbed his arms, trying to stop him, but apparently failing.

 

He looked like a corpse rising from the grave, his eyes flashing, and he shouted.

 

“Your Majesty! Please play the role of Shine!”

 

Killian was not understanding enough to pity the madman.

 

But he knew Lam was the genius director Artia had spoken of, so instead of cutting him down, he decided to hear what he had to say.

 

“A face so beautiful that it can steal a man’s attention without saying a word! There is no one in this empire better suited to the role of Shine than you!”

 

Lam exclaimed hoarsely and desperately.

 

Turning away from him, Killian asked Artia.

 

“Is he right?”

 

“Yes. I agree that Shine is the most beautiful man in the play, though his image is very different from yours.”

 

“He is the most beautiful man in the play.”

 

She didn’t know how anyone could look like that.

 

Even after seeing him so often, his face still often took Artia’s breath away.

 

Slowly closing and opening his eyes, Killian spoke.

 

“Do you want me to play that role?”

 

“Ye— Mpfh!!!”

 

Mikhail stopped Lam’s mouth as he was about to reply.

 

Artia was so stunned that it took a beat before she spoke.

 

“You’re kidding, right?”

 

“No.”

 

No, she wasn’t in the mood for jokes. Though she did blurt out what he hoped was a joke.

 

“But you’ve never acted before,” Artia said in a gibberish voice.

 

“I have.”

 

“When?”

 

“All the time.”

 

Killian was good at acting because the prince had to hide his true feelings and wear a mask.

 

If the need arose, he could always do it.

 

But Artia couldn’t help but nod.

 

“The whole world would be up in arms if the crown prince was acting.”

 

“You said you wanted to make it so.”

 

“I want to be recognized for my work, not for your fame.”

 

Artia replied, her voice slightly louder.

 

“And most of all, I don’t want to dishonor you.”

 

Artia thought acting was cool, but the world didn’t see it that way.

 

Acting was considered a lowly activity for commoners.

 

In such an atmosphere, a prince who was considered the next emperor was sure to be criticized.

 

“It doesn’t matter. If I cared about reputation, I would have been called a mad king in the first place…”

 

Killian trailed off.

 

Artia was glaring at him with her lips pursed.

 

Like she really, really, really didn’t like it.

 

‘Ah, cute.’

 

Killian glared at Artia, then said,

 

“I won’t, so stop looking so scared. It’s making me nauseous and close to tears.”

 

“…Good idea.”

 

Artia breathed a sigh of relief, and Killian felt a little disappointed when she dropped the scary look.

 

Maybe he should have been more insistent.

 

 

 

It was only after Killian left that Lam, freed from Mikhail’s seal, burst into tears.

 

“Artia, go to the prince now and ask him to play Shine, okay?”

 

Mikhail, who had come to grab Lam again, arched an eyebrow.

 

“Stop talking nonsense, how can His Highness, the crown prince of a nation, act?”

 

Lam screeched.

 

“Why not, it’s not even illegal! Every performance we organize is a first for us in the first place. It’s not like nobles spend money to make a show, and it’s not like it’s based on a novel that ladies read, so shouldn’t His Imperial Highness be able to take the stage?!”

 

Sandra, who had been quiet, nodded.

 

“I agree. It would be amazing to have His Highness on stage. Maybe all the women of the empire would fall in love with him?”

 

For a moment, Artia’s shoulders twitched, and Sandra, who hadn’t seen it, spoke up.

 

“Ah, that would be a problem for the leading man, but don’t worry, I’m the only one who will love the Northern Grand Duke.”

 

Mikhail made a face.

 

“It’s not necessary.”

 

“Oh, really? Then I guess I’ll just have to go to His Highness without my duties.”

 

“Who will accept you if you go?”

 

“You think they won’t?”

 

Sandra’s droopy eyes curved into crescents and the corners of her mouth lifted.

 

There was a provocative charm in her eyes that was rarely seen in a demure noblewoman.

 

Mikhail clicked his tongue and shook his head, but Artia’s eyes grew cold.

 

Artia clenched her fists.

 

“Your Highness will never be allowed on stage.”

 

‘I will save Shine at all costs.’

 

 

* * *

 

 

Artia thought.

 

‘What if we found someone who could play Shine in a field other than acting?’

 

A dancer, a singer, even a flirt who was known to stir the hearts of the ladies these days…

 

Like a prospector looking for a goldmine, Artia’s eyes darted to the men who were rumored to be handsome.

 

Each was handsome, but not in the way she envisioned Shine.

 

“Women are more beautiful than flowers, will you give me your time, which is more precious than gold?”

 

To the one-eyed flirt, Artia replied politely.

 

“No.”

 

Turning away, Artia muttered.

 

“I’ll have to go there after all.”

 

A few moments later, Artia arrived at a slum on the outskirts of the capital.

 

It was distinctly different from the other slums in that its inhabitants were not Imperials, but Kudran, who had been dragged into the war over a hundred years ago.

 

All the people she saw on the ramshackle streets were dark-skinned.

 

Beneath her hood, Artia’s pink eyes sparkled.

 

‘This is exactly how I imagined Shine’s skin color.’

 

Though it’s not explicitly stated in the novel, Shine has Kudran features.

 

When asked to choose an actor, Dahlia nodded in agreement.

 

Nevertheless, the reason Artia didn’t come here sooner was because of the Kudran’s closedness.

 

Forced to remain in the Empire because their homeworld was destroyed and they had nowhere else to go, the Kudran were enslaved for many years.

 

Even twenty years after the abolition of slavery, the persecuted people naturally feared the Empire and kept to themselves.

 

Artia’s face, hidden by her hood, grew impatient.

 

“Even if I find the perfect person for the role of Shine, they won’t want to play the part. I wonder if I can convince them…”

 

At that moment, Artia’s eyes widened.

 

The old man who had been walking over there had fallen to the ground.

 

Artia rushed to the old man.

 

“Are you okay?!”

 

But the old man was in no condition to answer: he was gurgling and not breathing.

 

Artia shouted urgently.

 

“We need to take him to the doctor, Vivi!”

 

“Yes.”

 

Vivi nodded and scooped the old man up in a quick hug.

 

Artia grabbed the nearest person and asked.

 

“Where is the closest clinic to here?”

 

But when he saw Artia’s face hidden by the hood, he muttered something unintelligible and flung her hand away, running away.

 

The next man did the same.

 

“Is he doing this because I’m an Imperial?”

 

Artia was taken aback by the unexpectedly violent reaction.

 

Vivi, who was carrying the old man, spoke up.

 

“Shall we grab one of them and have him lead the way?”