The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 137
Madame Tunguel was never satisfied with ordinary men.
She chose only the handsome ones who shone brighter than jewels and kept them by her side.
“Be my pet.”
It was hard for anyone to resist her offer.
She offered money that a man could work a lifetime to earn, and she threatened those who refused with frightening intimidation.
She had to have what she wanted, one way or another, for her intuition to work.
Mikhail said, “The problem is that she’s an animal abuser. She doesn’t just pet them because they’re pretty, she curses at them and beats them.”
Sandra, next to him, chimed in.
“She sits on people instead of chairs, tells them her feet are dirty, makes them lick them, and does all sorts of nasty things.”
The good news is that she’s a quick study.
She used to kick out pets before they were three months old.
“But the one she has now is over a year old and she shows no signs of getting rid of him, so the word is out among the capital’s handsome men that Madame Tunguel has fallen head over heels for this one.”
Back at home, Artia thought about Mikhail’s words and drew her eyebrows together.
She was more offended by the way he referred to Shine than by Tunguel’s behavior.
“I don’t think it’s fair to call someone a dog.”
“I’m not a dog, I’m a cat.”
“Oh, my God!”
Artia looked up in surprise.
Killian stood by the window.
“It’s been a long time, Your Highness.”
Instead of returning the greeting, Killian spoke.
“Have you found a dog that interests you?”
An interested dog. What a strange thing to say.
Artia shook her head.
“Not dogs, but people.”
There was an eerie gleam in Killian’s golden eyes.
But he was good at hiding it in front of Artia.
Thankfully, Artia didn’t notice anything, so she told him the story of Madame Tunguel that Mikhail had told him.
Artia lowered her eyebrows at Killian’s face, which was even sterner than before.
“That’s an uncomfortable thing to hear. I’m surprised, too. I mean, I know there are all sorts of weirdos in the world, but to treat people like pets…”
“So. Was the dog handsome?”
Artia nodded, surprised by the sudden question, and raised an eyebrow.
She was embarrassed to have answered a question that referred to a human as a dog without denying it.
Though the look on Killian’s face when he asked the question was almost brazen.
Killian let out a small sigh, as if he didn’t like something, and ran one hand through his dark hair.
His delicately tipped eyes closed and opened, his golden pupils shining brilliantly.
Standing in the white moonlight, he asked, “More than me?”
“……!”
If Mikhail, recognized as the most handsome actor in the empire, had said that, she would have laughed at his shameless joke.
But now she couldn’t help but laugh.
His face was too…
Her whole body stopped as if it had broken down, making it hard to breathe.
Biting his lip, Killian stepped toward Artia.
He leaned in and growled in her ear.
“Artia von Edenberg, don’t you dare praise another man’s looks in my presence.”
Her mind raced as she tried to interpret his words.
Perhaps he takes great pride in his own beauty and is offended when someone tells him someone is handsome.
Like a stepmother jealous of Snow White.
But Artia doesn’t think he should have to feel that way because he has an overwhelmingly beautiful face that makes even the most handsome man look ordinary…
Killian said to Artia, who was rambling on and on with her nonsensical thoughts.
“Answer.”
His voice, barely above a whisper, penetrated her ears and stabbed her in the heart.
Artia nodded, not daring to protest.
Like a rabbit caught by a black panther.
* * *
Finding a nameless Kudran was hard, but finding out about Tunguel was easy.
Now that she had confirmed that Shine worked in her manor, Artia could go and see him at once.
But she didn’t want to.
“From the stories I’ve heard, Tunguel doesn’t seem like a normal person, and I might get in trouble with Shine if I just show up unannounced.”
It seemed like a good idea to meet with Shine without Tunguel’s knowledge.
‘What should I do?’
As she pondered, Vivi entered the room.
“My Lady, a letter has arrived from Madame Tunguel.”
‘What is this?’
Artia took the envelope Vivi handed her like an unexpected punch in the face.
The paper was heavily perfumed to the point of making her nose hurt.
Dear Mrs. Edenberg,
My child tells me you’re very interested in him.
He’s so cute, so coveted, and so far I’ve ignored him.
But I’d like to have a word with the famous Mrs. Edenberg.
You are welcome to stop by my beautiful rose estate anytime.
After hearing such frightening words, she shouldn’t have been surprised if the letter contained a curse, but it was more mundane than she expected.
Artia didn’t mind that it was a letter from a commoner to a nobleman.
The opportunity to go to Tunguel’s manor, which she had been wondering how to get to, came naturally.
Artia gladly accepted her invitation.
A few days later, Artia wore her hair up and her makeup darker than usual.
“Tunguel is a formidable woman.”
She doesn’t know what kind of conversation she’ll have with her today, but she has a feeling it won’t be a good one.
As rumored, Tunguel’s mansion was enormous in size and decoration.
The crimson roses in the vast gardens were almost frightening in their grandeur.
“Welcome, Frau Edenberg. Let me show you to the master.”
The butler who greeted Artia was a handsome man of impeccable good looks.
He was followed into the parlor, where two fine-looking servants stood in front of the door.
They opened the door with an exaggerated bow, as if they were escorting the queen.
‘It’s a little embarrassing.’
Artia blushed slightly and stepped into the room.
A woman and a man stood in a room filled with the dizzying scent of roses.
It was Madame Tunguel and Shine.
Sitting reclining on a long couch, Tunguel was thick-set, with a grave, aged face.
Her hair was pinned up high, almost touching the ceiling.
‘It’s one of those wigs women wear when they want their hair to look fuller. I’ve never seen one that high before…’
She looked at Shine standing next to her, thinking she wasn’t as unusual as she’d heard.
He wasn’t dressed in the same modest attire as when he’d come to see Artia, but was dressed as colorfully as a doll, with a smile like a painting.
Tunguel’s red dog.
Artia’s brow furrowed as she remembered the terrible nickname.
Tunguel’s bubbly voice spoke.
“Thank you for coming, Frau Edenberg, but I have just injured my leg and am finding it difficult to get up, which I hope your gracious heart will understand.”
With that, Tunguel leaned back on the couch and shook her head.
‘Ridiculous. Does she belittle me now?’
Tunguel imagined the young noblewoman’s face contorting in anger, but Artia nodded, her face calm.
“So be it.”
Artia sat down on the couch across from Tunguel and opened her mouth.
“Why did you call me here?”
Tunguel spoke as if she’d been waiting for her.
“You met my child a few days ago, didn’t you?”
After meeting Artia, Shine told Tunguel everything he’d told her.
He hadn’t done it with any particular intention.
He had to ask Tunguel’s permission to go out, and when he returned, he had to tell her what had happened.
If it was a woman, even more so.
As she listened to the story while being massaged by another servant, Tunguel’s eyes narrowed.
“Edenberg asked you to become an actor?”
“It was more of a suggestion than a demand. I said I couldn’t do it, so if the master doesn’t mind…”
Before Shine could finish his sentence, Tunguel slapped the servant who had been massaging her.
She raised her hand to the servants, but never to Shine.
She didn’t want to see that perfect face and body scarred.
“How can you not care, when a High Noble bitch wants to steal you away from me!”
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