The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 136

Shine took the pouch obediently, though with an embarrassed expression.

 

Then he looked at Artia cautiously.

 

Artia was mesmerized by the sight.

 

“You look just like Shine, right down to your amethyst eyes.”

 

Purple was a rare color among her people.

 

Then it dawned on her.

 

Shine was waiting for Artia’s congratulations.

 

But Artia had no intention of sending him back.

 

“Have you ever thought of becoming an actor?”

 

“What?”

 

Shine’s eyes widened at the sudden question, and she explained the performance she was preparing.

 

“Don’t worry if you’ve never acted before. We’ll have the best directors and actors to help you.”

 

Feeling uneasy at Shine’s silence, Artia hastened to add.

 

“I’ll give you 500 gold if you sign a contract!”

 

If nothing else, the actor’s pay was generous.

 

Even the current actors who were already under contract were impressed, saying it was the best they had ever received.

 

The power of money was amazing.

 

Shine narrowed his eyes.

 

“Five hundred gold?”

 

“Yes. After the play starts showing there, I’ll pay you extra for every time you go on stage.”

 

‘Well, even if he’s not interested in acting, he can’t resist, right?’

 

Shine turned to Artia, who had gotten to his feet and clutched his head as he had earlier.

 

“Forgive me, my lady. I cannot follow your suggestion.”

 

Artia said, embarrassed by yet another attack on her temple.

 

“Will you sit down and talk to me?”

 

Artia asked, turning to Shine, who was sitting on the end of the couch as before.

 

“Why can’t you follow my suggestion, are you afraid of acting?”

 

“No, I can do anything if you ask me to.”

 

He meant it. He was a Kudran.

 

He wasn’t in a position to hide his work.

 

“But I have work now.”

 

Shine was a young, healthy man.

 

She expected him to have a job.

 

“A lot of actors act on the side while working other jobs. I’ll do my best to accommodate you so you can practice when you’re not working.”

 

But Shine shook his head.

 

“My master won’t allow it, I’m afraid.”

 

Seeing him look so embarrassed that she felt bad for suggesting it, Artia couldn’t say anything.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Leaving Edenberg Manor, Shine remembered the last time he had seen Artia.

 

“If you change your mind, come back to me. I’ll wait.”

 

To the end, she didn’t command. Nor was she angry.

 

She just smiled ruefully.

 

He’d thought it strange ever since his grandfather told him the story.

 

A lady helped a Kudran in the village of Kudran.

 

It was as ridiculous as an angel visiting hell and saving the devil.

 

But he understood it.

 

Sometimes nobles have good intentions.

 

Grandpa said he wanted to thank the lady. The Shah agreed.

 

If it weren’t for her, he would have lost his only family in the world.

 

He asked the doctor for the name of the woman who had shown him mercy.

 

Duchess Artia von Edenberg.

 

How surprised he was when he heard that name, a name he dare not even think of as blasphemous.

 

Shine thought it unlikely that such a great person would meet a Kudran, but he came to her mansion anyway.

 

He knew he was a penny to the noblewoman, but he wanted to thank her somehow.

 

The servant who opened the door frowned at the sight of Shine’s dark skin. It was the expected reaction.

 

‘If he kicks me out, I’ll ask him to deliver my greetings and the money.’

 

But then something surprising happened.

 

The servant led him into the parlor.

 

“What?”

 

Shine was bewildered as he entered the luxuriously decorated room.

 

The Duchess had been merciful enough to allow him into the parlor.

 

Shine stood with his hands folded in front of him, not daring to sit on the couch in the parlor.

 

“When will my lady come?

 

An hour, two hours?

 

He wouldn’t be surprised if she came tomorrow or a week later.

 

But before he could get bored of standing in the room, Artia entered.

 

She looked just as he’d expected.

 

White, fair, and good.

 

He could tell at a glance that she was a “good” lady.

 

He was relieved.

 

Shine thought he could thank her and leave without incident.

 

But he soon realized that he was completely wrong.

 

Artia introduced herself and asked for his name.

 

Shine obediently accepted the dirty money.

 

She “asked” him to become an actor.

 

Over the years, Shine had seen many ladies.

 

But what Artia had shown him in the short time he’d known her was unfamiliar.

 

If it weren’t for the gunshot look in her eyes, he would have wondered if she was truly mentally ill.

 

Shine flipped the coin in his pocket that Artia had given him back earlier onto his palm.

 

…The coin was clean.

 

Artia had taken the dirty ones and left the good ones.

 

But he didn’t notice.

 

She wasn’t drunk with her own good intentions and making things up.

 

“What the hell?”

 

Shine clutched the coin in confusion.

 

He felt like he’d just walked on and off a carefully choreographed stage.

 

Everything that had just happened was unreal.

 

 

* * * 

 

 

The temporary offices of the Edenberg production company.

 

Lam’s heart pounded in his chest as Artia told him the story.

 

“Oh, you can’t just let Shine go when you’ve finally found him. You should have grabbed him by the crotch to keep him from leaving, and then threatened him to make him sign the contract!”

 

To be honest, Artia was tempted to do just that, but…

 

“He was bossing me around more than I could handle.”

 

If Artia hadn’t let him go, Shine would have stayed where he was.

 

With a dark face as if he had committed a sin.

 

Artia may be a noble, but she’s seen enough of the abuse of power.

 

She didn’t like it when people pushed people around. So she couldn’t be strong anymore.

 

But she regretted it when days passed and he showed no sign of returning.

 

“I should have at least known his name.”

 

Mikhail said as he listened to the two of them talk over his sandwich.

 

“He’s Kudranian?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Red-haired, violet-eyed Kudranians are common, but not so common that you fell in love with them at first sight…”

 

“I didn’t fall in love.”

 

Mikhail quickly corrected himself at Artia’s firm tone.

 

“It’s not often that someone is handsome enough to feel qualified for the role of Shine.”

 

Sandra nodded in agreement.

 

“Because you’re the handsome one.”

 

“If you know that, be nice to me.”

 

“You’re a pretty face, but you’re a lousy person inside.”

 

“I don’t want to hear that from you, the one with the pretty face.”

 

The two argued for a while, but when Lam gave them a look that said, “Shut up and say what you’re going to say,” they shut up.

 

Mikhail spoke up again.

 

“Actually, there’s someone who comes to mind.”

 

Mikhail picked up a pen and began scribbling on the paper on the table.

 

On the white paper, he drew the face of a man with a pronounced brow, a face that resembled the man he had seen a few days earlier.

 

Mikhail asked, “Is that him?”

 

Artia asked, nodding in surprise.

 

“How do you know?”

 

“Well, as you know, many of our actors are very good-looking, so I’ve had quite a few people ask me to flirt with them.”

 

Sandra nodded, looking like she was going to throw up.

 

“Many, many.”

 

“The most famous of them is Madame Tunguel.”

 

Sandra gulped, as if she knew the name.

 

Mikhail, on the other hand, turned to Artia, whose eyes widened at the unfamiliar name.

 

“Rumor has it that there’s a Kudran she’s fallen for lately. I don’t know his name, but I know his nickname.”

 

Mikhail’s lips moved.

 

“Madame Tunguel’s red dog.”

 

 

* * *

 

 

Madame Tunguel.

 

A commoner born into a family that had been doing business for generations, living more like a nobleman than a noblewoman.

 

She had it all.

 

A huge mansion, sparkling jewelry, a gorgeous rose garden.

 

And a man.