The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 150

Luca, who hadn’t heard a word the two had said, stood in front of Artia, a look of remembrance on his face.

 

Artia asked, “How’s practice going?”

 

Luca tried to answer cheerfully, out of habit, but then lowered his shoulders with a grimace.

 

“No… I still can’t sing.”

 

“You’re doing great, Luca, just by not giving up.”

 

Artia’s encouragement instantly lifted Luca’s spirits and made him smile.

 

But that was only for a moment…

 

His eyebrows lowered as Artia turned to leave again after talking to the others.

 

“You’re leaving already?”

 

“Yeah, I have somewhere to go today.”

 

‘Don’t go. Stay here.’

 

Luca said, barely holding back what he wanted to say.

 

“Be careful where you go.”

 

He was so sullen that his drooping tail looked like a hallucination.

 

Artia found it both cute and sad that Luca was like that.

 

But that didn’t mean she couldn’t do what she was supposed to do, so she ruffled Luca’s red hair.

 

“I’ll be back. Keep up the good work.”

 

After Artia left, Mikhail and Sandra walked over to the limp Luca.

 

They clicked their tongues and pulled him into a hug.

 

“Don’t cry, little one.”

 

“We’ll play with you until your master returns.”

 

Luca whimpered in their arms.

 

 

* * *

 

 

Artia headed for the Montecito mansion.

 

After purchasing the building, she had begun extensive renovations to turn the mansion into a theater.

 

It was thanks to this man that the difficult work went off without a hitch.

 

“Welcome, Mrs. President!”

 

Jack.

 

Jack was the Empire’s premier architect, responsible for the Imperial Palace and every other large building in the country.

 

His skill was so great that he was in demand.

 

He’d come to Artia first this time, though she knew she’d have to wait years for a commission.

 

“I have heard from King Kilian. He’s building a theater to showcase the performances you’re looking forward to, and I’d like to help you do him the honor!”

 

Artia coldly drew up a contract with him.

 

Jack pointed to the building under construction and spoke in a gruff voice.

 

“When it’s finished, His Highness will surely be impressed that such an ominous-looking mansion has been transformed into such a grand and beautiful theater!”

 

He added with a rugged blush.

 

“I’m sure you’ll give me some compliments, too?”

 

Yes. Jack was one of Killian’s most ardent admirers!

 

“Of course.”

 

Jack’s nostrils flared at Artia’s answer, as if he was delighted by the thought.

 

Artia felt a small stylized pang of remorse at the sight.

 

She nodded to cheer him on, but inside she didn’t feel that way at all.

 

Killian was good at intimidation, but not so good at compliments.

 

‘Let’s ask Jack to say something nice about the theater when it’s finished.’

 

Artia thought as she and Vivi entered the building.

 

It was still unfinished and cluttered, but the magnificent stage was enough to envision a performance.

 

Lights twinkling like stars, beautiful actors basking in the glow, radiating intense energy.

 

The hundreds of people watching the show will be immersed in the world they’ve created.

 

Artia almost didn’t want to come back to the real world.

 

“I can’t wait for performance day, bam!”

 

Artia turned her head, a look of exasperation on her face, then let out a small squeal.

 

Killian was standing where Vivi should have been.

 

Artia asked in surprise.

 

“Why is your highness here?”

 

“I was wondering how the construction is going.”

 

If Jack had been listening, he would have shouted, “I am infinitely honored that you care about what I’m building!”

 

But Artia couldn’t take Killian’s words at face value.

 

‘Every time I’ve come here, you’ve shown up at just the right time.’

 

Once or twice, Artia thought it was a coincidence, but after the third time, she thought differently.

 

Killian was here just in time for Artia’s arrival.

 

She doesn’t know how on earth that’s possible.

 

“Is that how you miss me, though of course I’m happy to see you, Your Highness.”

 

“People watching, doesn’t it bother you?” Killian said to Artia, who blushed slightly.

 

Artia suddenly realized that the workers were looking at them.

 

Artia was nervous to even say hello to Killian in front of them.

 

She was worried about starting a rumor.

 

But for now, it was okay.

 

“It’s been all over the place that you’re infatuated with the Northern Grand Duke’s Burning Heart.”

 

So instead of focusing on their relationship, people were surprised to hear that His Highness was as interested in the performance as they’d been told, even when Killian was with Artia.

 

Artia asked, “Does the rumor bother you at all?”

 

“Not at all.”

 

Which was what Killian had hoped for in the first place.

 

“It’s a little annoying, though. Nobles send me all sorts of novels as gifts. Some of them smile shyly and say they like them too.”

 

Artia giggled as she pictured Killian sitting across from a dignified nobleman, discussing the passionate love of the Grand Duke of the North.

 

Killian stared at the image, then muttered.

 

“Cute.”

 

“……?!”

 

Artia stopped laughing, startled by the abruptness of the words.

 

Her eyes widened, but unlike her, Killian’s expression remained impassive.

 

“Did I mishear?”

 

She wondered, but didn’t bother to check if Killian had just called her cute.

 

‘Calm down, it’s not like he said anything outrageous. I just said I thought the fluffy clouds in the sky were cute today, too.’

 

Artia clutched her chest, which was thumping uncontrollably, and said something to deflect the situation.

 

“Finally, in a few days, the performance,your highness, is so eagerly anticipated.”

 

Killian took Artia’s words in stride.

 

“So eagerly anticipated. I assume you have prepared a flawless performance?”

 

“Of course.”

 

She wasn’t bluffing.

 

The actors’ performances, the costumes, the music, the venue. They couldn’t have done it any better.

 

Seeing Artia’s eyes light up, Killian asked.

 

“So now the fear of failure is gone?”

 

“……!”

 

It was something she’d confided in him one day, something she’d never thought he’d remember.

 

After a moment, Artia’s eyes narrowed.

 

“Yes.”

 

In the early days of the business, only results mattered. She was nervous and scared, thinking that she had to succeed somehow.

 

But…

 

“Working with so many people has given me a joy I didn’t know I had before.”

 

The joy of coordinating, persuading, and sometimes even fighting to create something together.

 

The excitement of putting your best work out into the world.

 

It’s a different sense of accomplishment than she felt when she became an Ethereal.

 

‘Even if it doesn’t work out, I won’t regret it, because it was worth it to me.’

 

Passion filled Artia’s pink eyes.

 

No one would recognize her as the woman who had been confined to her room not long ago.

 

Killian was convinced.

 

‘Artia von Edenberg will soar to greater heights.’

 

The world thought Killian had everything in the world.

 

But he had been shackled by the shackles of the title of the prince since birth.

 

It was so strong and heavy that he never moved a single step freely.

 

It was often uncomfortable, but never overwhelming.

 

Until he became close to Artia von Edenberg.

 

As his feelings for her deepened, the weight of the shackles grew heavier and heavier.

 

He feared that he would no longer be able to follow her as she walked away.

 

“Your Highness?”

 

Artia’s voice brought him back to his senses, and Killian realized he was holding her fingertips.

 

Artia didn’t pull her hand away, didn’t ask why.

 

She just stood there, her cheeks flushed.

 

“King Killian!”

 

Killian let go of Artia’s hand only when he saw Jack rushing toward him with a roar that sounded like a building about to collapse.

 

With a look of regret on his face that made Artia, who doesn’t even speak, feel sorry for him.

 

 

* * *

 

 

After finishing her work, Artia returned to the mansion in the dark of night.

 

Upon her arrival, she was met with an unexpected report.

 

“Luca is gone?”