The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 144

Crackers with shredded and sautéed carrot rapé on a thin crust, fluffy carrot cake with cute carrot-shaped icing.

 

Carrot cookies in cute shapes and carrot juice served in glasses with delicate patterns.

 

It was a carrot party.

 

“Here,” Killian said to Artia, whose eyes sparkled as if she’d found a treasure. “Eat.”

 

Artia nodded and took a bite of the cracker.

 

‘The combination of crispy crackers and crunchy carrots is fantastic!’

 

Killian’s eyes softened as he watched Artia beaming with happiness.

 

“Hic.”

 

Nocturne looked away as if he had seen the worst. Goosebumps rose all over his body.

 

He didn’t want to see anything like that on Killian’s face.

 

As he watched Artia eat, Killian lowered his gaze.

 

His gaze took in the scene on the first floor.

 

His golden eyes slowly swept over the people, or rather, the men.

 

Mikhail was the first to catch his eye.

 

‘I’ve seen him before.’

 

He was so clean-cut and handsome, it was almost unnerving.

 

But when he saw him grinning from ear to ear with a carrot cake in each hand, his guard was immediately down.

 

Lam, pass.

 

Then his gaze stopped.

 

‘That’s him.’

 

The eighteen-year-old who had Artia’s attention these days.

 

He was tall and well-built, with Kudran features, but his face was still very young.

 

It was easy to see why Artia didn’t see him as a man.

 

But a boy becomes a man only for a moment.

 

He could be standing before her at any moment, smelling like a male.

 

At that thought, an unrefined hostility rose in him.

 

“……!”

 

Luca’s head snapped up, feeling a chill run down his spine at the sight of the beast.

 

His face instantly paled as he locked eyes with Killian on the second floor.

 

A shiver ran down his spine at the chilling glare from the golden eyes.

 

Transparent tears threatened to form in Luca’s violet eyes…

 

“What are you looking at?”

 

Artia asked, shoving a carrot cookie into her mouth, oblivious to what was happening.

 

Killian, his fierce aura suddenly sharpened, turned to Artia.

 

“Nothing.”

 

He replied brazenly, reaching out and pressing his hand to the corner of Artia’s mouth.

 

When she gasped, he said, “You got whipped cream on it.”

 

“Oh, that’s right, thank you.”

 

Artia stammered and blinked, her face redder than a carrot.

 

She looked like a startled rabbit, and Killian smirked.

 

It was an unmanly smile, the kind of smile he’d been snarling at a mere eighteen-year-old just moments ago.

 

 

* * *

 

 

If nothing else, Luca could recognize the stares of women who coveted him and the men who resented him for it.

 

‘I don’t believe His Imperial Highness has sent Artia to…’

 

That night, Luca had a nightmare.

 

A black monster with flashing golden eyes chased him and bit him.

 

“Ow!”

 

Luca woke up and hugged himself. Still, the creepiness didn’t go away.

 

This wasn’t the first time he’d seen a man like Killian.

 

All the men who had been with the women who had had him hated him.

 

It didn’t matter to them that Luca had no feelings for them.

 

Some of them took out their anger in brutal assaults.

 

If Luca hadn’t been in good health, he would have been beaten to death.

 

‘I’m scared…’

 

Luca already had a fear of noblemen, but the intensity of Killian’s gaze today was too much.

 

There was no way he was going to be able to sleep again.

 

“Let’s go outside and get some air.”

 

Luca slipped out of the room, careful not to wake the servants who shared it.

 

The hallway was quiet in the early hours of the morning.

 

He stared up at the high ceilings, lost in thought.

 

Luca had always hated mansions this large.

 

They made him feel like he was trapped in a demonic labyrinth.

 

But in Edenberg Manor, he didn’t feel that way at all.

 

Luca knew why.

 

Here, no one looked down on him for being a Kudran. They didn’t harass him for standing out, or beat him for being a nuisance.

 

It wasn’t because they were miraculously good people.

 

It was because of Artia.

 

“Dude, I can’t believe you heard the ladies’ maids outside.”

 

Another servant interrupted Luca, who was about to chuckle and mock him.

 

“Didn’t your master tell you never to say such things?”

 

“No, I’m just curious.”

 

“I don’t know your intentions, so watch your mouth. If I catch you talking like that again, the master will be very angry with you.”

 

The servant added to Luca.

 

“If anyone else says such filthy things to you, don’t just sit there and listen, tell them to come to the master.”

 

Artia had never been mean to Luca, saying things like, “I’m protecting you,” or “I’m the reason you’re comfortable.”

 

She was just quietly caring for him.

 

So for Luca, Artia wasn’t a “girl” at all.

 

She was a cool, appreciative, adult he wanted to emulate.

 

It was then.

 

“Luca.”

 

A crisp voice said behind him.

 

Luca’s eyes widened as he turned.

 

Artia was standing in the long hallway.

 

She didn’t look like the well-groomed woman he was used to seeing.

 

She wore a flowing nightgown and her silver hair was loose and flowing.

 

“It’s late, what are you doing here?”

 

“Oh…”

 

He should have answered immediately.

 

But somehow, the words didn’t come out right away. He finally managed to stammer out an answer.

 

“I had a scary dream.”

 

As he spoke, Luca thought.

 

Artia wouldn’t criticize a boy for having a scary dream.

 

He was right.

 

Artia looked worried.

 

“You must have been very scared. Would you like a cup of hot tea?”

 

“Yes!”

 

He wasn’t reacting mechanically to his master’s command. He moved of his own volition.

 

Though Luca was completely oblivious.

 

A midnight tea party was held.

 

Artia and Luca sat at a round table inside the pagoda in the garden.

 

Vivi, who was with Artia, quickly brought tea and dessert.

 

Luca’s eyes widened as he looked at the rich dessert that filled his plate.

 

Artia smiled.

 

“You’re still a big boy, so I figured you’d be hungry, so make yourself at home.”

 

“It’s…, thank you.”

 

“Have some chamomile tea, too, and you’ll sleep better.”

 

With that, Artia picked up the teapot and Luca jumped to his feet.

 

“I’ll pour it!”

 

Artia shook her head.

 

“I’ll do it.”

 

“But…”

 

“No one’s watching. It’s okay.”

 

Luca fidgeted and sat back down.

 

Artia began pouring tea into the teacup in front of him.

 

Luca had seen her graceful form many times before, serving noblewomen.

 

But he’d never looked at them as mesmerized as he did now.

 

With her bare, makeup-free face and long, flowing hair, Artia looked even younger than usual.

 

Instead of a noble and regal duchess, she looked like a girl who had just come of age.

 

The teacup was filled with steaming tea when he felt a tickle near his chest.

 

Luca regained his senses and grabbed the teacup with both hands.

 

Truth be told, Luca didn’t like tea. He hated the bitter taste.

 

But after taking a sip, his eyes widened.

 

“Sweet.”

 

The sweetness combined with the fragrant chamomile flavor was delicious.

 

Seeing Luca’s expression of relief, Artia asked, “Does it taste good?”

 

“Yes, it’s delicious.”

 

Artia gave a small smile.

 

“It’s worth the honey.”

 

“…….”

 

Luca hadn’t tasted Artia’s tea, but he knew from the maids that she didn’t have a sweet tooth.

 

Yet she had put honey in her tea anyway.

 

‘For me.’

 

Instantly, Luca’s face heated up.

 

Embarrassed, he gulped down the hot tea, then popped the entire cookie into his mouth.