The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 147

Marigold looked at Count Golgus and said sarcastically.

 

“I know you’ve been acting like you’ve got connections and all that, but you’ve got His Highness in mind, too, haven’t you, and you don’t think there’s any chance of it failing because it’s a show that Killian is so interested in.”

 

Count Golgus replied with a stern face.

 

“You’re pretty, so you don’t have to be smart.”

 

“Hmph, don’t be a greedy man who likes the better his wife is, and say things you don’t mean.”

 

Unlike the two women who were flirting with their guests, Artia’s face was serious.

 

Artia asked cautiously.

 

“Hasn’t it hurt his reputation?”

 

At that, both Marigold and Count Golgus’s eyes widened equally.

 

Then they burst out laughing at the same time.

 

Marigold wiped the tears from her eyes.

 

“Nonsense, Tia, I don’t have any more reputation to give to the mad king. He’s got so many bizarre anecdotes, he could dance a sword dance naked and everyone would do it.”

 

“…….”

 

She was relieved to hear that, but she couldn’t help but feel strangely bad.

 

“He’s not as weird as the rumors say!”

 

Artia gave them an ambiguous look, neither laughing nor angry.

 

 

* * *

 

 

That night, Killian came to visit Artia.

 

As he came to the window, Artia asked him.

 

“Did you enjoy the book?”

 

Killian immediately realized the book she was referring to.

 

The story itself hadn’t been particularly interesting.

 

He didn’t care for the idea of an arranged marriage where the couple fought and fried and fought and fought and found love.

 

But he didn’t force himself to watch something he didn’t want to see.

 

“The story is exquisitely constructed, the prose is elegant, and it’s well written.”

 

It’s a bland comment compared to Artia’s teary-eyed exclamation that it was the work of the century.

 

But the man in front of her was Killian.

 

‘That’s a lot of praise for your highness to say,’ she thought.

 

The corners of Artia’s mouth turned up at the thought of her favorite work being recognized.

 

“You look like a rabbit who just got a hundred carrots.”

 

Killian found this far more interesting than the novel. He wanted to see more of that face.

 

So he asked an uncharacteristic question.

 

“What was so interesting about the novel?”

 

Now Killian knew for sure.

 

If he asked Artia this question, it would definitely work.

 

As he expected, the pink eyes lit up like a lamp.

 

Artia opened her mouth with a happy expression on her face, as if she didn’t know which treasure to grab among so many others.

 

“Reinhard wraps his cloak around a bouncing Maria, and it’s so big that she fits in it like a baby, and that part is so cute and exciting.”

 

Killian glared at Artia.

 

It was fun to watch.

 

It makes his heart race and his body heat up.

 

‘If she can get this kind of reaction out of other people, her show will be a huge success.’

 

Artia, who had been rambling on for a while, sobered up and pouted her lips.

 

“I’m the only one talking, so please respond as a reader who enjoyed the same work.”

 

Killian graciously obliged her request.

 

“I read that scene, too.”

 

Then he took off his jacket.

 

“Wow, the way you take off your clothes is like a work of art…”

 

He turned to Artia, who was mesmerized.

 

“I didn’t realize there was such a difference in physique between two adults of the same gender…”

 

Killian draped his jacket over Artia’s shoulders.

 

His form-fitting jacket was instantly transformed into a baggy robe, and Killian chuckled at the sight.

 

“This works.”

 

“…….”

 

The grin was so beautiful that Artia stared at him, dumbfounded.

 

After a beat, her face turned bright red.

 

“It’s because your highness is so big!”

 

It was hard to tell with such a beautiful, refined face, but Killian was built like a knight.

 

His muscles were lean and manly.

 

“So it’s not just because I’m small,” she said, “any other woman could stand in front of you and look like this… Oh, you should never do this to anyone but me, it’s too hard on the heart… and it’s rude.”

 

‘What the hell are you talking about, Artia, please stop…’

 

Artia wanted to cry, but Killian didn’t.

 

Watching Artia fidget and rant, wrapped up in his jacket, was so much fun.

 

Killian couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

It was only when Artia’s embarrassment turned to anger and she looked like she was going to hit him with a carrot that he stopped laughing.

 

To placate her, he asked again.

 

“What else did you like?”

 

“If you thought I was going to obediently answer that now that you’ve asked me again, …is the correct answer.”

 

Artia opened her mouth with a twinkle in her eye.

 

She draped Killian’s large jacket over her body.

 

The story ended after mentioning almost every scene in the novel, so Killian didn’t return to the palace until dawn.

 

Among her long-winded remarks, one stood out.

 

“I loved all the scenes, but the best was when Reinhard gives Maria the snow diamond ring after they’ve confirmed their love for each other, because it’s been passed down through the generations, and it contains Reinhard’s heart, and when he gives it to her, it’s like he’s giving her all of him, and I still get teary-eyed when I see that.”

 

On Artia’s arm as she speaks is a bracelet studded with sparkling pink diamonds.

 

It had been given to her by Marigold sometime ago.

 

Killian pulled out a box from deep in the room.

 

Inside was a bracelet with vivid pink diamonds.

 

He had once made it for Artia.

 

“I don’t accept gifts from men.”

 

He failed to give it to her.

 

Killian stared at the bracelet and muttered in a low voice.

 

“I’ll take what a friend gives me.”

 

She allowed her friends many things.

 

But one thing bothered her.

 

The bracelet was a top-of-the-line item, commissioned by the Empire’s finest designers under duress.

 

But it was nothing like the ring the High Duke of the North had given his beloved.

 

“I’ll try my magic…”

 

Killian’s golden eyes began to glow.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Artia handed the paper Dahlia had given her to Lam.

 

“This is…!”

 

“I added a scene of Shine, what do you think?”

 

Lam’s eyes darted from side to side as he read the words at breakneck speed, then he exclaimed.

 

“It’s the latest!”

 

Madness was young in his dark-circled eyes.

 

Lam began to improvise and sing the lyrics Dahlia had written down, making up notes as he went.

 

Mikhail hummed and whistled and put his arm around Sandra’s shoulders.

 

“Normally, you’re a crazy person who’s about to die, but at times like this, you’re a genius.”

 

“So. God is fair after all.”

 

Artia clapped her hands together and looked thrilled.

 

“It’s much more poignant than the lyrics suggest. I’m sure this song will resonate with a large audience.”

 

When Lam finished singing, he looked at Luca.

 

“Sing what you just heard, Luca!”

 

Luca remembered all the words once he heard them. He could even sing the notes pretty close.

 

But unlike usual, Luca stiffened.

 

“Luca?”

 

“…….”

 

Not only Lam, but also Artia, Mikhail, and Sandra stared at him with wide eyes.

 

“Sir, I’m sorry. I can’t do it.”