The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 161

Turning to Nocturne, Killian said,

 

“Get out.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Nocturne stormed out of the room as if he had been waiting.

 

The brothers were alone in the silent room.

 

Killian looked at Arsen.

 

Arsen was so weak.

 

The slightest breeze caught him cold, and the slightest sunlight made his skin turn red.

 

If he ate the wrong thing, his stomach twisted and he vomited, and if he got a small cut, it didn’t heal for long.

 

Killian put his hand to Arsen’s forehead out of habit.

 

Thankfully, he wasn’t feverish.

 

Killian let out a small breath of relief and asked,

 

“What brought you here?”

 

Arsen’s weakness made it extremely difficult for him to leave his room.

 

That’s why Killian always visited him.

 

The Empress hated it like a bug, but unlike when he was younger, he was powerless to stop her. But…

 

Arsen blinked his hazy eyes and slowly opened his mouth.

 

“You haven’t been coming.”

 

“…….”

 

Killian didn’t go to Arsen these days. He couldn’t afford to with all his attention on Artia.

 

Arsen spoke, his voice barely audible.

 

“Do you hate me now?”

 

Killian arched an eyebrow.

 

“I don’t know what that means.”

 

“Or is it because of her?”

 

“……!”

 

“It’s all over you now, the aura of the woman who was with you in the Gold Rose Garden.”

 

Turning to Killian, whose eyes widened, Arsen continued.

 

“I can tell by the layers of auras that you didn’t just meet today, but yesterday, the day before, and countless other times.”

 

Arsen had magic, too.

 

Though the Emperor hadn’t bothered to tell the world about it, claiming that it would be meaningless to have magic in a weak body that could die at any moment.

 

Knowing this, Killian nodded obediently.

 

“I have a woman I love.”

 

Killian’s low voice was filled with passionate affection. Arsen stared at him, then his eyes softened.

 

As if he couldn’t be happier.

 

Then he spoke.

 

“I’d like to meet her. Can you arrange a meeting?”

 

It was the first time Arsen had ever shown interest in another person.

 

Killian replied, intrigued.

 

“I’ll ask her.”

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

Artia was surprised to hear Arsen’s words from Killian.

 

“You don’t have to meet if it’s too much trouble.”

 

Artia shook her head.

 

“Not at all, I’m just surprised that you told His Highness Arsen about me…”

 

She thought it was a secret they couldn’t tell anyone.

 

Killian’s eyes narrowed at the thought.

 

Killian had never told Artia about their future relationship.

 

But it wasn’t because he was avoiding the complexity of the situation, or because he expected a bad future.

 

He’d waited because he didn’t want Artia to feel the slightest pressure.

 

Killian locked eyes with Artia and said,

 

“I’m holding back the urge to tell the whole world right now that I’m in a relationship with Artia von Edenberg.”

 

“……!”

 

“I’ll tell everyone whenever I can.”

 

Artia’s eyes widened at the confident statement, and then she burst out laughing.

 

It was a curious thing.

 

The more time she spent with him, the less anxious she felt when she first started dating him.

 

She realized that she could be happy with this man in some way.

 

Artia spoke softly.

 

“I, too, would like to meet His Highness Arsen.”

 

She added playfully.

 

“He’s my lover’s favorite brother.”

 

A few days later, the meeting was arranged.

 

In Killian’s room.

 

“I’ll bring my brother,” Killian said as he ushered Artia into the room without the others knowing.

 

The Empress would never allow Arsen to see an outsider, so Killian had arranged to bring him here under the pretense of spending time with him.

 

Artia, who had been informed of the arrangement, nodded.

 

Killian left, leaving Artia alone in the room.

 

Her face flickered with recognition.

 

“So this is your chamber.”

 

The room was large, many times larger than Artia’s, filled with the finest furnishings, and beautiful in its antiquity.

 

But why?

 

“It looks barren.”

 

She realized in hindsight.

 

There were no personal items, like a favorite book or a cherished doll.

 

Then she noticed a single golden rose on a round table.

 

‘This is…’

 

Artia’s eyes widened as a gentle voice whispered in her ear.

 

“Your Highness received it from somewhere the day you became an Ethereal, Frau Edenberg.”

 

She turned to see Nocturne entering, pushing a tray.

 

“He never gave it a second glance, thinking flowers were useless, but he chose the vase himself, and every morning he sprinkles it with magic, so it stays fresh and never wilts.”

 

Artia blushed, realizing the secret of the flowers she hadn’t thought of.

 

“I see.”

 

Nocturne smiled wryly and began pouring tea into the teacup in front of her.

 

It was a graceful gesture, more graceful than any lady.

 

Artia stared at him, then asked.

 

“What do you know, Lord Alihas?”

 

The vague question was met with a vague answer.

 

“As much as His Highness has allowed me to know.”

 

Staring into her teacup filled with fragrant tea, Artia asked more specifically.

 

“Has the King informed Lord Alihas of his relationship with me?”

 

“He is not a delicate man, and he did not give me the details, but he did give me these orders.”

 

“I am to put Artia von Edenberg first under all circumstances.”

 

Artia blushed, the second time she’d heard something so unexpected after Gold Rose.

 

She sipped her tea in embarrassment, then stammered.

 

“You don’t object to my association with your highness, do you?”

 

Nocturne’s eyes narrowed this time.

 

“Why do you ask?”

 

Artia answered bluntly.

 

“Because I’m not the right person for His Highness.”

 

The next closest prince to the emperor.

 

Married once and obligated to bear the duke’s heir, Artia was not the right woman for him.

 

She knew that if their relationship became known, it would be met with concern and criticism rather than celebration.

 

Especially from Nocturne, the man closest to Killian.

 

But Nocturne laughed, as if to say.

 

“Frau Edenberg must have forgotten in the sweetness of love. How foul-tempered… and demanding your highness is.”

 

“…….”

 

“Rumor has it that His Highness Killian is a virulent misogynist, but that rumor has been exaggerated.”

 

Nocturne whispered, as if telling a great secret.

 

“He’s not a misogynist, He’s a misanthrope.”

 

From birth, he had never received an ounce of affection from his father or mother.

 

The countless servants who surrounded him smiled every day, but half of their faces were masks.

 

It was impossible for such a man to grow up healthy.

 

Killian hated people.

 

Nocturne continued.

 

“You have no idea how terrified I was when, at the age of twelve, I was taken by my father and forced to serve him.”

 

Nocturne’s eyes were too fierce for a child.

 

The young prince would punish and cast out anyone who made the slightest mistake.

 

As if that was the only value of the human being in his presence.

 

“I’m no different, and the only reason I’ve been able to serve him for over a decade is because I’m competent.”

 

If Nocturne had been deemed useless, he would have been dismissed immediately (though Nocturne would have preferred to go out on a high note).

 

“Then your Majesty changed.”

 

Nocturne knew exactly when.

 

Ever since Artia von Edenberg’s letter had arrived, asking for his help.

 

He asked her about Artia, desperate to help her.

 

He stood next to her and smiled.

 

The moment Nocturne saw that…

 

“Goosebumps broke out all over my body, to the point where I sincerely wondered if someone else had gotten into his body.”

 

It was as startling as watching a black panther nibble on a carrot, but not as bad.

 

It was much nicer to see than the expressionless faces on the battlefield, ringing the enemy’s bell, or sitting in the imperial palace like a doll.

 

More human, less terrifying.

 

Nocturne poured tea into Artia’s empty cup again, whispering as if to tell her a secret.

 

“So I hope he and Frau Edenberg will remain close in the future, for that is the heart of Nocturne von Alihas.”

 

As he spoke, the door opened, revealing Killian and Arsen.