The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 157

“Bravo! That was the best show ever!”

 

The audience was so excited that they couldn’t leave the theater.

 

As if they wanted to stay in the dreamlike time.

 

“The actors’ performances were amazing. I knew they were good, but I’ve never seen them show so much charm.”

 

“The same goes for the direction. Mr. Lam is the one who can make such an unconventional show.”

 

The outpouring of attention also turned to Artia, the producer.

 

“Mrs. Edenberg, we have many questions about the show.”

 

After an hour of being surrounded by people, Artia said,

 

“It’s the first day of the show, and I have a lot of work to do, so I’ll leave you to it, but I’ll organize a formal time for us to talk later, and I hope you’ll join us then.”

 

Leaving the disappointed people behind, Artia headed for the waiting room.

 

Many nobles wanted to meet the actors, but they were strictly forbidden.

 

Thankfully, the actors, who were resting comfortably, stood up when they saw Artia.

 

“Master!”

 

Luca was by far the fastest of them all, his eyes shining.

 

“How did I do today, was I good?”

 

“Compliments!”

 

Luca was so excited that Mikhail and Sandra could have read his mind and muttered, “Praise!”

 

But instead of stroking his red hair, Artia looked at the actors, including Luca, and said,

 

“You all did a great job today. You went above and beyond what you practiced, which is why we were able to pull off a successful performance.”

 

The actors beamed with pride at Artia’s praise.

 

“I’d love to talk to you guys some more, but I have an urgent matter to attend to, so I think I should go first, if you don’t mind?”

 

Lam, who had collapsed on the floor from tension, spoke up.

 

“I know you’ve been working hard without sleep, so go ahead and pass out. We’ll do the same.”

 

“Thanks, you guys should go home and rest for the night, too, and we’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

 

With a hasty bow, Artia turned and left the waiting room.

 

Luca didn’t even have time to speak to her once more.

 

“Master, I’m with you…”

 

Mikhail and Sandra grabbed Luca as he started to follow Artia.

 

“Uhhhh, the dumbass should go clean up the mess with us.”

 

 

* * *

 

 

As soon as they got into the carriage, Artia’s face changed.

 

Gone was the relaxed, calm demeanor she’d worn in front of everyone, and she spoke urgently.

 

“To the mansion, as fast as you can.”

 

As soon as the carriage sped up to the mansion, Artia broke into a run.

 

She didn’t even bother to respond to the workers’ greetings before running to open the door.

 

Killian lay in her room.

 

Just as she had seen him just before she left.

 

Artia turned to Nocturne, who was standing by Killian’s side.

 

“How is he?”

 

“He’s still sleeping.”

 

Artia felt a twinge of fear.

 

“Is he okay?”

 

“Yes, the doctor I saw earlier said he’s sleeping soundly, so don’t worry.”

 

Artia breathed a sigh of relief at that.

 

“Now that Mrs. Edenberg is here, I’ll leave you to it.”

 

Nocturne quickly left the room, looking pleased as punch.

 

The two of them are alone in the room.

 

Artia, sitting on the side of the bed, looked at Killian, whose eyes were closed, and spoke softly.

 

“I’m home.”

 

At that moment, something amazing happened.

 

Killian’s eyes opened like a princess whose curse had been lifted.

 

Artia asked in surprise.

 

“Weren’t you asleep?”

 

“I woke up because I heard your voice.”

 

Artia looked exhilarated. Killian, on the other hand, looked calm.

 

“How was your first performance?”

 

After a beat, Artia answered.

 

“Yes.”

 

Artia said, her voice trembling.

 

“We repaired the damage from the fire perfectly and gave the audience the full show we had prepared, and they loved it.”

 

“But what’s wrong?”

 

“What?”

 

Killian glared at Artia.

 

“You’re upset.”

 

“…How does your highness know that?”

 

“I just, I know it when I see it.”

 

Artia felt like she was going to cry.

 

After a moment, Artia spoke with the emotion of a child.

 

“You weren’t at the theater.”

 

“…….”

 

“I wanted to show you the most.”

 

How adorable she looked.

 

Killian lifted a hand that still didn’t move properly and cupped Artia’s white cheek.

 

“I’ll come tomorrow.”

 

“…….”

 

“And the next day, and the day after that, and so on until the last show.”

 

Artia lowered her eyebrows.

 

“It won’t be easy to get tickets, will it?”

 

“Don’t worry about that, Nocturne is good.”

 

Artia smiled broadly, then said,

 

“Your Highness…”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I like you.”

 

“…….”

 

Her confession was so natural that Killian didn’t recognize the words until a moment later.

 

Turning to Killian, who wore an expression she’d never seen on his face before, Artia said,

 

“When I’m with you, my heart races and my face heat up. I want to look you in the eye, I want to hold your hand.”

 

“…….”

 

Killian couldn’t say anything.

 

This moment didn’t seem real to him.

 

But Artia’s voice kept coming back to him.

 

“But I hid it, desperately.”

 

“…Why?”

 

His voice, arrogant and carefree, trembled slightly.

 

Artia lowered her eyebrows.

 

“Because Your Highness and I… are not an ordinary man and woman.”

 

Killian was the next Emperor, and he was supposed to marry the woman who would become Empress and lead the country with him.

 

Artia was the daughter of the Duke of Edenberg and was looking for a husband who would take her surname.

 

The two were not compatible.

 

So, she tried to hide her feelings for him. She tried to stay friends.

 

But not anymore.

 

Love was not something she could stand.

 

“I want to be your lover.”

 

That was Artia’s conclusion.

 

Love is love; reality is reality.

 

Marriage was out of the question.

 

Still, she wanted to have a special relationship with him.

 

Even if it was an unstable relationship that she didn’t know how long it would last.

 

“Do you think it can?”

 

Artia’s voice was young with anxiety.

 

Killian was a prince.

 

‘He’s confessed his feelings to me, but he might not want to get any closer…’

 

Artia’s eyes widened.

 

The man the world feared, the so-called Mad King, looked as if he might cry.

 

Killian reached out and pulled Artia into a hug.

 

Thump, thump, thump.

 

His heart pounded like it was about to explode, and in a low voice said,

 

“Yes.”

 

Tears formed in the corners of Artia’s eyes at the intense joy in the short answer.

 

She hugged him tightly.

 

Then, spontaneously, they kissed.

 

At first, it was a light baby kiss, then their lips met for a longer period of time.

 

Artia breathed out excitedly.

 

“This time, I don’t want you to forget.”

 

Killian replied, his voice rising in heat.

 

“That’s what I want to say.”

 

And with that, their lips met again.

 

 

* * *

 

 

The next day, Killian appeared in the theater.

 

He looked so regal that it was hard to believe he’d just spent the night kissing her, having exhausted his magic to the limit the day before.

 

Killian watched the performance with his arms folded in an arrogant posture.

 

After the performance, he approached Artia, surrounded by people, and said,

 

“A performance worthy of a place in the history of the Empire, Artia von Edenberg.”

 

The uncharacteristic praise didn’t end there.

 

From then on, Killian never missed a performance.

 

The joke was on him.

 

 

“The love story of the Grand Duke of the North, who fell so madly in love that even the mad king fell madly in love.”

 

 

To this was added the enthusiastic response of other theatergoers.

 

 

“At the Montecreux Theater, you must abandon your noble dignity.”

“You laugh out loud, you cry like a child, and in the end, you beg to be allowed to see it one more time.”

“There are people who have never seen the show, but there are no people who have only seen the show once.”

“The number of people who want to see the show again is growing like a mushroom…”

“It’s harder and harder to get tickets, and ticket prices are skyrocketing.”

 

 

The joke now is that you can’t get one even if you offer a diamond mine instead of one carat.