The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 162

Artia bowed toward Arsen, who sat in a wooden wheelchair.

 

“Greetings to the blood of the almighty Orpheus. I am Artia von Edenberg.”

 

A small voice spoke up.

 

“Raise your head, Artia.”

 

Artia slowly raised her gaze.

 

The prince who should never have been born.

 

A prince who should have been dead.

 

Arsen von Orpheus, the man people spoke of in hushed tones and were forbidden to mention in public.

 

Always confined to his chambers in the Empress’s palace, never seen by any of the nobility, Artia couldn’t take her eyes off him the first time she laid eyes on him.

 

At twenty-four years old, a year older than Killian and Artia, he looked like a boy beyond belief.

 

What made his pale, pale face and thin body seem anything but sickly was the mysterious aura that radiated from his delicate, beautiful face, as if it had been painstakingly painted by a painter.

 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

 

The friendly voice brought Artia back to her senses and she nodded.

 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, too.”

 

Contrary to her fears, Artia felt comfortable talking to Arsen.

 

It was Arsen’s warmth that made her feel at ease.

 

Most of all, she was excited to tell him all about Killian.

 

“What did His Highness Killian look like when he was younger?”

 

Arsen replied to Artia’s question.

 

“He was very small and adorable, and he called me his big brother.”

 

Big brother!

 

Artia’s jaw dropped at the adorable name.

 

Arsen chuckled and continued.

 

“Killian is a really nice and sweet kid.”

 

“So you know the real Killian, and it’s so frustrating and upsetting when people who don’t know him say bad things about him because he’s crazy.”

 

It was hard for Killian to hear, but he didn’t say anything.

 

Artia and Arsen.

 

He didn’t want to break this dreamlike time when the two people he loved were smiling at each other.

 

Unfortunately, it didn’t last long.

 

Arsen’s body was beginning to take a toll.

 

*Kluck*

 

As soon as he heard Arsen cough, Killian sat up and looked at him.

 

“You can go to your room and rest. Don’t worry.”

 

Arsen reassured Killian and turned his head toward Artia.

 

He looked at Artia’s worried face, his hazy golden eyes reflecting her own.

 

“Artia, please continue to make Killian happy.”

 

His voice was thin, without the slightest hint of strength.

 

But it was filled with the deepest love she’d ever heard.

 

Artia answered stiffly, her eyes red with tears threatening to fall.

 

“Yes, I will.”

 

Arsen smiled reassuringly.

 

And that was the end of their brief encounter.

 

 

* * *

 

 

On the way home from the palace.

 

Artia was riding on the back of Killian, who had turned into a black panther.

 

As they sped through the air, Artia thought back to the events of a few hours ago.

 

Nocturne and Arsen.

 

The two people closest to Killian had supported his relationship with Artia.

 

Suddenly, the uneasiness in the back of her mind faded, and she felt brave enough to stand by this man.

 

‘I don’t care if you think I’m reckless and shameless, I’m going to dream of a future with… with you.’

 

Whatever that looks like.

 

Artia hugged the black, soft fur tightly.

 

 

Same time.

 

Back in his room, Arsen was breathing heavily, his face flushed.

 

Only half an hour out.

 

As he hugged his weak body, he thought of Artia.

 

It was as Killian had said.

 

“Pretty and warm as a cherry blossom in spring.”

 

He was glad.

 

That was the kind of woman Killian loved.

 

She could make him happy after a lifetime of loneliness.

 

The moment Arsen’s eyes softened despite the pain that shuddered through his body, a completely different word came out of his mouth.

 

“I want to tear you apart.”

 

Arsen said, his face turning grim in an instant.

 

“Killian is mine, and no one else can be with him but me.”

 

Once again, Arsen’s expression changed. He looked like he was about to cry.

 

“No, Killian needs to get away from me. He needs to meet people who can really be there for him.”

 

Arsen smiled eerily, as if he’d heard something funny.

 

“If you really think that, you should have died a long time ago, Arsen von Orpheus.”

 

“……!”

 

“You always talk like that, and you’ve always been as small as a bug.”

 

To live.

 

To be with Killian for a little while longer!

 

Another Arsen said, looking at Arsen who couldn’t say anything.

 

“We can’t leave Killian.”

 

Because we love him too much.

 

 

The love of Orpheus

 

 

The office of the Edenberg production company is finally officially open.

 

On the third floor of the Montecreux Theater.

 

The office is bustling with daily visitors.

 

Today’s visitor was Count Golgus.

 

Count Golgus grinned with a bandit-like grimace.

 

“Orders for snow diamonds are rising rapidly.”

 

Artia collaborated with Count Golgus to create the Snow Diamond from The Northern Grand Duke’s Burning Heart.

 

Although she named it the Snow Diamond, it was actually a regular diamond.

 

But the unique design of the snow crystals and the romantic story of the Northern Grand Duke’s love for them made them incredibly popular.

 

“The demand is not keeping up with the supply, so why don’t we increase the production of snow diamonds?”

 

Count Golgus suggested, and Artia replied.

 

“What makes diamonds more special than other gems is their scarcity. The harder they are to come by, the more they shine. I’ll keep the quantity the same.”

 

“You’re going to get a lot of complaints from your customers.”

 

“That’s my sales strategy. The more I keep my customers on their toes, the more popular I become.”

 

The corners of Count Golgus’s mouth turned up.

 

“Who the hell taught you that so well?”

 

Artia wiped the businessman’s face and laughed heartily.

 

“My master, of course.”

 

When Artia finished talking with Count Golgus, she headed to her shop on Diamond Street.

 

As the capital’s premier shopping street, the rent was exorbitant.

 

But the shop was bustling with customers, so she didn’t mind the expense.

 

When Andi saw Artia, she came running out.

 

“What are you doing here, Ms. President!”

 

“I’m just here for a quick look around. Don’t mind me, go about your business.”

 

“Well, how could I, you’re a heavenly employer.”

 

The shop selling costumes similar to those worn by the actors in The Northern Grand Duke’s Burning Heart was a hit.

 

Andi, who had taken over the costume-making duties, was earning a hefty sum of extra pay.

 

Looking at Andi, whose face was still tired but whose eyes shone like diamonds, Artia asked.

 

“Are you having any trouble running the store?”

 

“No!”

 

Andi replied cheerfully.

 

“The hardest part is that Freesia does all the work.”

 

As a commoner who specialized in making stage costumes, Andi was not used to dealing with noble customers.

 

Freesia made up for it.

 

As she stood there, showing the women the clothes, Artia remembered something that had happened not long ago.

 

“I’ve been talking to Andi,” she said, “and I’d like to officially put Freesia in charge of the dress shop.”

 

When Artia held out the contract, Freesia shook her head in bewilderment.

 

“It’s not like I’ve done anything to deserve this.”

 

“No, your help has gone beyond the level of a friend’s favor, to the point where I feel bad asking you to help me anymore. That’s why I’m asking for a formal contract, so I can use your abilities with confidence.”

 

It was extremely rare for a noblewoman to work for pay.

 

Freesia looked confused and withheld her answer.

 

A few days later, Freesia came to Artia.

 

“I asked Liese,” she said, “what do you think it would be like for your mom to work and earn money?”

 

Elizabeth’s eyes widened and she exclaimed, “Yes!”

 

“Awesome!” Artia said.

 

“My daughter said that, so I thought I’d try it.”

 

Freesia signed the contract with a mixture of anxiety and excitement.