The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 72

“I told you not to report uselessly.” 

 

Nocturne replied, unable to stop himself. “They say he’s very active in socializing.”

 

“Is that all?”

 

“Would you like me to find out more?”

 

“That’s all.”

 

To ask more would be to pry into his private life. Killian wasn’t going to do any of that shit.

 

“I’ll just go check it out.”

 

A few hours later, Killian transformed into a black cat and traveled to Edenberg Manor.

 

Fortunately, Artia was not in her underwear, as she had been that day, but in a comfortable indoor dress.

 

Atria was sitting at her desk, writing intently, when she saw the black cat at the window and smiled.

 

“Butterfly!”

 

Artia beckoned for it to come in.

 

‘It would be rude not to accept such an urgent invitation.’

 

The black cat walked gracefully into the room and up to the desk. A letter lay on the desk.

 

Artia was surprised to see the look on the black cat’s face.

 

“You can’t tear this one up like the last one (the suitor papers Catherine had organized). It’s very important.”

 

‘A letter?’

 

Instinctively sensing something sinister, Butterfly glanced at the paper.

 

 

“I want to drown in your eyes.”

 

 

“……!”

 

His long tail twitched.

 

Squinting, he looked down at the paper and saw a name written in masculine handwriting.

 

 

“From Edward, who lives in your heart. “

 

 

At that moment, Nocturne’s voice, the one he’d heard today, flashed through his mind.

 

“A man named Edward has been sending eloquent letters, stirring the hearts of noblewomen.”

 

Sharp claws protruded from between his front paws, which had always been as sleepy as a kitten’s when he was with Artia.

 

He wanted to tear up that awful letter with Edward’s name on it.

 

The black cat raised her front paws with a horrible face.

 

“Butterfly~”

 

Artia’s voice woke up the black cat and it flicked its front paws down.

 

If you touch the letter, Artia of Edenberg will be angry. Maybe even hate you. I wouldn’t like that.

 

The black cat stamped her rounded forepaws.

 

“Don’t touch it.”

 

Just looking at it makes him angry, but it’s Artia von Edenberg’s stuff.

 

He can touch it instead.

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

That night, back at the palace, Killian ordered Nocturne.

 

“Bring me this Edward at once.”

 

‘What? The Edward I mentioned in passing this morning?’

 

Nocturne asked in surprise. “For what reason?”

 

Killian was not one to dabble in such things, so there must be a good reason he didn’t know about. But…

 

“The bastard wrote a dirty, filthy letter.”

 

‘To Artia von Edenberg, how dare he.’

 

Nocturne swallowed hard as he looked into Killian’s sinister eyes.

 

These are not the eyes of a ruthless man who wrote a letter to a mere child.

 

Even a traitor would have found those eyes warmer.

 

In any case, when Killian looked at someone like that, it was best to obey orders quickly to save one’s life.

 

Nocturne unleashed the lord’s intelligence “rats” to gather information and reported back exactly two hours later.

 

“Your Majesty, we have Edward’s identity.”

 

“I told you to bring him before me, and when did I say I was curious about his identity?”

 

“But Edward’s identity is… Mrs. Edenberg.”

 

“……?!”

 

Killian’s eyes widened at the unexpected statement.

 

Nocturne continued. “There never was a man named Edward, because Mrs. Edenberg wrote the letter under the name Edward.”

 

“Why would she do such a thing?”

 

‘Did Artia von Edenberg have a thing for women?’

 

His blood ran cold at the hypothesis.

 

Fortunately, Nocturne cleared up Killian’s misunderstanding.

 

“She wrote letters to help women she knew. She hopes that when their husbands find out that their wives have received Edward’s letters, they’ll jump up and down and rant like madmen.”

 

‘Just like Your Highness.’

 

Nocturne continued, omitting the word.

 

“It started out as a joke, but lately I’ve been told that many women are genuinely comforted by receiving letters from a fictional character named Edward, so much so that they ask to write to Mrs. Edenberg even when nothing much has happened.”

 

‘What the hell do you think you’re doing, Artia von Edenberg?’

 

Nocturne asked, noticing Killian’s furrowed brow.

 

“Do you think I should drag Edward down here now?”

 

Killian gave him a look that said, “What the hell are you talking about?”

 

Nocturne leaned back as if expecting it.

 

“I’ve finished my report, so I’ll leave you to it.”

 

Once alone, Killian leaned back in his chair and let out a small sigh.

 

“The letter was from Artia von Edenberg.”

 

He vividly remembered the contents of the letter from a few hours ago.

 

It was strange.

 

To think that the words that had disgusted him to the point of disgust had been written by Artia…

 

 

“From the Artia that lives in your heart. “

 

 

“My heart tickles.”

 

Killian could understand why noblewomen commissioned letters from Artia.

 

 

* * *

 

 

The Flower Ladies, three women finer than flowers, sat in a parlor decorated with flowers.

 

Marigold, who wore a large set of violet diamonds, spoke.

 

“Have you heard the story about Mrs. Edenberg?”

 

Dahlia nodded, her face calm.

 

“They say she listens to women’s problems, and is especially good at giving advice on marital matters.”

 

Freesia’s beautiful face frowned.

 

“I don’t understand. Why would you tell someone such a personal story if you weren’t ashamed of it?”

 

Marigold smiled.

 

“It’s just that when you’re having a hard time, you want to vent to anyone who will listen, even if it doesn’t apply to us.”

 

The three women in this room could be the envy of society women because they had it all.

 

They were beautiful, elegant, wealthy, and had great relationships with their husbands.

 

They didn’t have any problems they could confide in anyone else. No, they had to.

 

Marigold hugged Freesia from behind.

 

“They call it counseling, but all she’s really doing is listening to someone else’s story. It’s no better than a merchant in a shop listening to me while I wag my tail to sell my wares. It may make the women feel better, but it won’t earn them any respect.”

 

Freesia nodded, relieved at Marigold’s words.

 

A few hours later, the banquet took place.

 

Hosted by the socialite Freesia, it was the kind of banquet any noblewoman would want to attend.

 

Every woman in attendance wore a look of remembrance.

 

“Thank you for inviting us, Lady Elysium.”

 

Freesia’s eyes softened as she took her husband’s arm.

 

“I, for one, am grateful for your presence.”

 

The women’s faces flushed bright red.

 

“How can she be so beautiful…”

 

“It’s the same woman, but every time I look at her, my heart pounds.”

 

Marigold, watching the scene from a foot away, grinned.

 

“Everyone can’t take their eyes off the princess.”

 

Dahlia replied, “No wonder. You’ve been on such a regimen lately; a common noblewoman couldn’t possibly keep up.”

 

Freesia followed a strict diet, combed her hair for hours every day, got screaming massages, and stayed indoors at all times for fear of burning her skin.

 

With her natural beauty and hard work, Freesia renewed her beauty every day.

 

Marigold said, “It’s fun to watch, but it’s hard work. Why would a pretty girl go to all that trouble?”

 

“Because you and I have become Ethereals.”

 

Marigold’s eyes widened at Dahlia’s words.

 

“What does that mean?”

 

“It means that the name Ethereal is no longer special between us, so we have to become Ethereals again so that we can be recognized as the one and only best woman in this society.”