The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 165

Killian shook his head, looking hurt.

 

“No, no, no, no. I want to fix my brother…”

 

But the Empress wanted to hear nothing from her hater.

 

“Get lost!”

 

Killian insisted, wanting to see Arsen’s condition.

 

But no matter how big and strong he was, he was still a child.

 

He was grabbed by the servants and dragged away.

 

“Oh my God, please let me stay here!”

 

Arsen’s face, lying on the bed, was as pale as it had been when they first met.

 

Like a dead man.

 

Or like someone who was about to die.

 

‘I can’t. I can’t be away from him like this.’

 

Just before the door slammed shut…

 

“Arsen von Orpheus!”

 

The moment Killian called Arsen’s name, his golden eyes flared, and his body began to be enveloped in the same light.

 

“Don’t die.”

 

Killian said, his eyes filled with tears.

 

“Don’t die, don’t die, don’t die!”

 

Red blood leaked from Killian’s nose as his golden eyes flashed.

 

At the same time, the light that enveloped Arsen’s body grew larger.

 

It was so dazzling that the people in the room had to squint.

 

A moment later…

 

“Hah…”

 

A small gasp escaped from Arsen’s mouth.

 

The Empress, who heard it close by, hugged his tiny body.

 

“Ah, Arsen!”

 

Warmth returned to his ice-cold body.

 

Her breathing and heartbeat returned.

 

In the Empress’s arms, Arsen slowly opened his eyes.

 

Killian’s eyes softened at the sight of his hazy golden pupils.

 

“Thank God…”

 

Thump.

 

With those words, Killian collapsed.

 

 

For the next three days, Killian lingered.

 

When he opened his eyes, his body shaking and groaning in horrible pain, he saw the emperor.

 

His golden eyes were as cold as ice, and his fury was fierce.

 

The emperor opened his mouth.

 

“I told you to stay away, even by mistake, so why did you go there?”

 

The emperor denied Arsèn outright.

 

He would not forgive anyone for even the slightest mention of Arsen.

 

So, the Empress kept Killian’s visit to Arsen a secret.

 

But when Killian collapsed, the news escalated, and even the Empress could not stop it from leaking out.

 

“Answer me.”

 

Killian, still not quite whole, thought desperately.

 

‘How much does my father know?’

 

He wouldn’t have asked that if he knew he’d tried to heal Arsen with magic.

 

He’d be furious.

 

Gathering his thoughts, Killian managed to get his voice out.

 

“I just wanted to see him.”

 

A plaintive word from a child barely ten years old.

 

But the Emperor, far from being moved, looked as if he’d heard something he shouldn’t have.

 

“Killian von Orpheus.”

 

The voice rang out menacingly.

 

“You are the one who will rule the empire after me in the future. It is not acceptable for you to approach a sinister being on a whim.”

 

The emperor increased Killian’s number of servants and had them watch over his every move.

 

Even when he slept.

 

After that, Killian didn’t see Arsen for a long time.

 

Until the aging emperor fell ill and his heavenly power was shaken.

 

 

* * *

 

 

Artia’s eyes reddened as she listened to Killian’s story.

 

Killian’s eyes looked so sad as he spoke so calmly.

 

Artia barely managed to hold back her tears and asked.

 

“Your power opened Arsen’s eyes after he collapsed, didn’t that mean he’s getting better?”

 

“No. He hasn’t been able to walk since then, he hasn’t seen sunlight, and he’s been sick.”

 

Killian spoke in a low voice.

 

“My power was completely useless to him.”

 

Why did his heart sink at those words?

 

Artia pulled Killian into a hug.

 

His eyes widened, and Artia spoke to him.

 

“Don’t say that.”

 

“…….”

 

“You’ve tried to do the best you can for your brother at such a young age, and that’s admirable.”

 

Artia said to Killian, who didn’t respond.

 

“Look at our family, siblings growl at each other for fear of taking anything away from each other, let alone friendship. You have such a beautiful, precious heart, you’re so good.”

 

These were words Killian had never heard before in his life.

 

A smile flickered across his face that quickly turned cold.

 

“More of that, my compliment.”

 

“Sure, sure. I could stay up all night.”

 

Artia could indeed stay up all night, listing all the good things about Killian.

 

At first, Killian listened, happy to hear her say nice things about him, but then his eyebrows gradually drew together.

 

Sweet, warm, cute, gentle and…

 

“Am I right?”

 

The Killian she was talking about didn’t sound like him at all.

 

He wondered if she was exaggerating to make him feel better, but Artia’s eyes were as serious as ever.

 

“You’re really looking at me like that.”

 

Killian was dumbfounded, and one side of his chest tickled.

 

It was strange and gratifying to see myself as such a man in her eyes.

 

“And you’re so sensitive,” she continued, “the other day you realized I hadn’t slept as soon as you saw my face and tucked me into bed.”

 

Artia’s eyes widened in excitement.

 

A pink diamond-encrusted bracelet glistened on her wrist, where nothing had been a moment ago.

 

“This is…”

 

Killian let out a small laugh at Artia’s belated realization.

 

“This bracelet, remember?”

 

At Artia’s nod, Killian continued.

 

“You said you wouldn’t take anything a man gave you, but you’d take a bracelet from your boyfriend, right?”

 

Artia’s face flushed.

 

“Boyfriend! Where did you learn that word?”

 

“It’s in the novel you recommended. It’s a word for a man who is both a friend and a lover, which is perfect for our relationship.”

 

That’s not what it means.

 

Artia’s mouth twitched in amusement.

 

It was so cute to hear him use the word boyfriend in such an elegant way, not even realizing it was a word used by young girls among the commoners.

 

Artia clasped the bracelet, overwhelmed with emotion.

 

“Thank you, it’s beautiful.”

 

Artia said as she fiddled with the bracelet that jingled on her wrist.

 

“The snow diamond in “The Northern Grand Duke’s Burning Heart” contained Reinhardt’s heart, and this one has something special in it, too.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“I enchanted it to protect you when you were in danger.”

 

‘With all my heart.’

 

“I’ve never used my power like this before, so I’m not sure if it will work.”

 

Artia’s eyes narrowed at that.

 

“It doesn’t matter, I’ll always have you by my side anyway.”

 

Killian smirked and kissed her braceleted wrist.

 

“That’s the way it should be.”

 

 

* * *

 

 

Artia, who had been preoccupied with business, organized a long-overdue tea party.

 

Penelope was the first to arrive.

 

“Thank you for inviting me, Tia!”

 

Penelope greeted her cheerfully and asked excitedly.

 

“He’s coming today, too, right?”

 

“Yes, he’s coming.”

 

Penelope ooh-ed and ahh-ed at Artia’s answer, and clenched her fists.

 

Soon after, Marigold and Freesia arrived.

 

And finally, Dahlia made her entrance, running out with the book Penelope had brought with her.

 

“Ms. Redlip, can I get an autograph?!”

 

Dahlia nodded casually.

 

“Of course.”

 

 On the day the Montecreux Theater caught fire, Dahlia revealed herself to be Redlip.

 

Marigold and Freesia, who were with her that day, were so surprised their eyes practically popped out of their heads.

 

Marigold, in particular, was stunned to the point of stuttering.

 

“You were a Redlip?! Why didn’t you tell me until now?!”

 

“I didn’t have the courage. I’m sorry I kept it from you.”

 

Marigold was taken aback by the bland apology.

 

“No, there’s nothing to be sorry about…”

 

“…….”

 

“I get it. If I’d known, I’d have told the whole world.”

 

Marigold wasn’t the kind of person to get mad at a friend for keeping a secret.

 

She said with a twinkle in her eye, as if she were surprised.

 

“Now that you’ve told us, you’re not going to hide it from us, are you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Dahlia’s answer thrilled Marigold.

 

Marigold had made no secret of the fact that Dahlia was a Redlip, and she made sure to add.

 

“Isn’t it wonderful, my friend, to be the author of one of the most popular novels of all time?”