The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 163

Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long for Freesia to prove herself proficient.

 

It was no surprise.

 

She had a great eye for dress, and she had a knack for dealing with ladies who were demanding enough to be Ethereal.

 

Andi smiled.

 

“We get a lot of customers who come in to ask Freesia for dress recommendations, regardless of whether they’re performing or not, and some who come in just to browse and then are mesmerized by her descriptions and order dozens of dresses.”

 

Artia nods with pride, as if she’s just given her a compliment.

 

“Not bad for the most sought-after princess in society.”

 

The two of them stopped talking as Freesia approached.

 

“When did you get here, Artia?”

 

“A little while ago. By the way, did you get Elizabeth a good present?”

 

Not long ago, Freesia had bought her daughter a piano with her first paycheck.

 

“Yes, she loved it.”

 

Freesia smiles shyly and adds.

 

“I bought it with my own money, so she kind of shrugged it off.”

 

At that, Andi and Artia giggled in sympathy.

 

 

Their next stop was the village of Kudran.

 

The people on the street beamed when they saw Artia.

 

“Artia!”

 

It was a completely different reaction than the first time she’d been here.

 

The perception had changed after she built a school and hospital in Kudran.

 

“Why would a noblewoman suddenly help us? She must have something up her sleeve.”

 

Some Kudran were still wary of Artia, but many more accepted her favors out of the goodness of their hearts.

 

The head of the Kudran village was one of them.

 

“What brings you here today?”

 

Artia said to him, a smile on her face.

 

“I’m looking for a laborer for the manor, do you know anyone suitable?”

 

The representative’s eyes widened and he lowered his eyebrows.

 

“I’m afraid a Kudran would say something bad.”

 

Artia sipped her arancha, the Kudran’s favorite tea, and replied.

 

“It’s only because of the perception that Kudranians are lowly.”

 

She had to dispel that perception.

 

“Just the fact that the Duke of Edenberg hired a Kudranian should change people’s minds.”

 

And while Artia is the one who opens the water, it’s up to the Kudranians to see how long and how big they can make the flow.

 

“Be selective and send me someone who is tenacious, bright, and of good character.”

 

They will change.

 

The servants who work at Edenberg Manor, the merchants who visit the manor, and the perceptions of the nobility.

 

The headman looked nervous.

 

“That’s a lot of responsibility for a mere laborer.”

 

“So much responsibility that you can’t find anyone worthy?”

 

The chief asked curiously.

 

“There’s a lot of young men from the villages who want to be as successful as Luca. I’ll get back to you with a list of those who have three times the grit of the Empire.”

 

Artia smirked.

 

“I’ll wait.”

 

 

* * *

 

 

After that, Artia made a few more business-related stops before returning to the mansion.

 

“I’m tired~.”

 

But there were unexpected visitors sitting in the parlor.

 

It was Derek and Ian.

 

Artia raised an eyebrow.

 

“Uncles, it’s rude to come unannounced like this, even if you’re family.”

 

Derek and Ian cringed at that.

 

Derek hid his disapproval, but Ian did not.

 

Ian’s tone was one of annoyance.

 

“I’m only here because you’ve been so busy and haven’t met with me!”

 

“I didn’t not see you, I was actually busy.”

 

Artia retorted, but Derek stopped Ian from saying anything more.

 

“Enough. You haven’t seen her in a long time, you don’t have to say anything unkind. We’re adults, we’re supposed to understand.”

 

Surprisingly, Ian kept his mouth shut, even though he was grumpy.

 

He had something he wanted.

 

Derek spoke first.

 

“Artia, get us some more tickets for the show.”

 

Artia had taken the initiative, but this was House Edenberg business.

 

It wasn’t polite to disrespect the elders of the family.

 

So Artia gave her uncles and Evangeline a few tickets before the show.

 

Ian and Derek’s reaction was less than favorable.

 

 

“I know people are talking about the show, but it’s just a performance of a low-grade novel for women, with an afterword, and that’s it?”

“I’m afraid the show will flop and we’ll be embarrassed. Then it’s really the end of our family.”

 

 

But when the show was a hit, his demeanor changed.

 

Derek smiled awkwardly and said,

 

“My friends are begging me for tickets. It’s not polite to ignore them when they’re begging to see us.”

 

The success of the show drew attention to Derek, who hadn’t even been there.

 

Derek didn’t want to miss it.

 

But Artia’s response was cold.

 

“Uncle, there are a lot of people who are upset that they couldn’t get tickets, and if we scatter them around, they’ll say bad things.”

 

He wasn’t alone.

 

“Tickets are money, and if we give them away for free, it’s not income, it’s an expense. We can’t give them away unless we have a very good reason.”

 

Derek’s face contorted like he’d chewed shit, but he didn’t give up.

 

“Then just ten tickets…”

 

Six tickets… two tickets…

 

But no matter how persistent he was, Artia shook her head, and Derek grew frustrated.

 

Ian pushed past Derek, who mumbled something about how he couldn’t be so mean.

 

“When are you going to split the money?”

 

Artia’s eyebrows rose.

 

“The money?”

 

“Yeah, the money we make at Edenberg.”

 

The show was a hit.

 

And the additional income from the jewelry and dresses made in conjunction with the show.

 

It was said that all the money in the capital was flowing to Edenberg.

 

“That’s not your money,” Ian said haughtily.

 

“That’s not your money. You should share it with us.”

 

Derek, who had been sullenly watching from the other side, cut in and nodded in agreement.

 

Artia looked at the two greedy-faced men, then at Vivi.

 

Vivi grabbed a stack of papers and began to place them on the table

.

Later, the stacks were piled to the floor.

 

Turning to the uncles, who seemed to be trapped in a pile of papers, Artia said.

 

“This is part of the paperwork I’ve been reviewing and filling out since I announced my new business, and there’s a stack in my office that’s twice as big as this one.”

 

Ian exclaimed, puzzled.

 

“So, what, you want to make a pitch for your hard-earned money?”

 

Artia replied cheerfully.

 

“Yes!”

 

“……!”

 

“I worked my ass off with no sleep, and while the money from the business belongs to the family, I take all the credit for it.”

 

The words, which bordered on arrogant, left both men speechless.

 

Derek was the first to recover.

 

“You don’t mean to tell me you’re going to be like Benedict and just ignore us and take everything?”

 

Ian growled through clenched teeth.

 

“You try that. I won’t let you, even if you’re my nephew.”

 

Turning to face her uncles, Artia spoke calmly.

 

“I will look after the family, both immediate and extended, if anyone needs help, and I will pay my uncles as before, but…”

 

Artia’s pink eyes deepened.

 

“If you need additional money beyond that, you’ll have to work for it.”

 

“What?!”

 

“Come to me with a paper outlining where, how, and why you need the money and try to convince me. I’ll listen, and if I think it’s a good case, I’ll give you the money.”

 

Artia smiled as she said that.

 

But the two uncles couldn’t muster anything resembling a smile.

 

 

When Evangeline returned a few days later, she laughed out loud.

 

“You said some pretty bold things, didn’t you? My siblings came running up to you and said you were saying some crazy things to not give them the money…?”

 

Artia asked, “So what did you do?”

 

“I slapped their asses and chased them away.”

 

Evangeline had a wistful look on her face as she said that.

 

Taking a sip of her tea, Evangeline said, “Well done, Artia.”

 

Many people, including Derek and Ian, dismissed Artia’s success as lucky.

 

But those who knew her well knew better.

 

They knew it was all hard-earned.