The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 73

Marigold’s eyes widened, then she burst out laughing.

 

“What the hell was that?”

 

“…….”

 

“Anyway, you look like an angel and you’re greedy, you sneaky little princess.”

 

Marigold whispered to Dahlia.

 

“So, if Freesia becomes an Ethereal this year, why don’t you ask her to push me again next year so I can become an Ethereal again and you can see the look on her face?”

 

Dahlia knitted her dark eyebrows.

 

Her friend, whom she had known since she was a baby, really had a nasty temper.

 

 

* * *

 

 

“It was a pleasure to be with you today. I’ll see you again, Mrs. Edenberg.”

 

With a warm greeting from the noblewomen, Artia returned home.

 

After listening to Clara’s problems, she began counseling many women, and her circle of contacts grew.

 

She received several invitations a day, unlike before. But…

 

“Many noblewomen are still reluctant to approach me.”

 

This was the aftermath of Freesia’s bitter words to Artia at the last imperial tea party.

 

After all, the influence of the Flower Ladies in social circles was great.

 

“We must make them more friendly, if not intimate, than they are now.”

 

Only then would the possibilities of the Ethereals open up.

 

The next day, Artia made her way to Diamond Street, one of the most luxurious streets in the capital.

 

With the Elders still in charge of Edenberg’s finances, Artia couldn’t afford luxury goods.

 

But she had come all this way to meet Marigold, one of the Flower Ladies.

 

“She’s supposed to be the richest lady in the capital, and she comes here every day, doesn’t she?”

 

If she saw her wandering the streets, she would say hello and strike up a conversation.

 

Praying that her plan would work, Artia strolled down the street.

 

This is the kind of street where only the most prestigious shops in the Empire would set up shop.

 

Clothes, jewelry, shoes… Everything on display was of the finest quality.

 

Artia’s gaze, fascinated as if admiring a work of art, stopped on one in particular.

 

Through the glass she could see men’s suits.

 

Unlike the colorful suits worn by most nobles, the simple design and all-black color reminded her of a man.

 

“Prince Killian always wears this style of clothing.”

 

Normally, a man would be dull in such a suit, but he was not at all. On the contrary, it shone like obsidian.

 

She never knew black could shine like that.

 

‘I think he’d look amazing in that suit.’

 

As Artia stood there, staring at the suit and the image of Killian, a low voice spoke in her ear.

 

“Artia von Edenberg.”

 

“……?!”

 

Artia whipped her head around, gasped in surprise, and then covered her mouth as the sound startled her again.

 

The man from her head a moment ago was standing there.

 

His eyes were more arrogant than she could have ever imagined and his aura more intimidating.

 

“Why is Your Highness here?!”

 

Artia blushed like an adolescent boy imagining a beautiful lady and bowed deeply.

 

“Greetings to the blood of the almighty Orpheus.”

 

Killian said, glaring at Artia. “Your face is red. Did you catch a cold or something?”

 

“No, I’m fine!”

 

Before he could probe further, Artia interrupted.

 

“I’m just surprised to see you in a place like this.”

 

The royal family invites merchants to the palace to purchase goods for reasons of security and dignity.

 

So the arrival of Second Prince Killian, the pinnacle of power, came as a shock. Everyone on the street turned in surprise.

 

Artia looked at them and asked.

 

“What brings you here…”

 

‘I smelled you, so I came.’

 

It was impossible to say, so Killian deflected the question.

 

“Shopping for a change.”

 

“You have a surprisingly mundane hobby.”

 

“You think I wield a sword and cut people up when I get bored?”

 

Half the people in the realm wouldn’t be surprised to hear that.

 

Killian turned his head, a disapproving look on his face as he watched Artia’s eyes widen.

 

His gaze fell on the black suit Artia had been staring at in fascination.

 

“You, a woman without a husband, are looking at something strange. Do you want to give someone a present?” Killian said, not hiding his displeasure.

 

At that moment, Artia’s barely calm heart dropped with a thud.

 

She realized that she had imagined Killian in a black suit, so she blurted out.

 

“I only looked at the clothes because they were nice!”

 

“Nice?”

 

“Yes. The design is simple and sophisticated, and the fabric is luxurious.”

 

 

 

A moment Later…

 

‘Why am I sitting here?’

 

Artia sat on a plush couch inside the shop where she had been loitering outside only moments before.

 

The reason was something Killian had said out of the blue.

 

“You seem to know a lot about men’s clothing. Help me pick something out.”

 

‘Me? I don’t know anything about men’s clothing, and I don’t really care about clothes. I’m sure you have a much better sense of fashion than I do. And isn’t it weird that I’m helping him?’

 

She nodded, even as she thought to herself.

 

“It’s the crown prince’s orders,” was a lame excuse.

 

The real reason Artia followed him here was…

 

‘I want to see him in that outfit!’

 

But time and reason had returned to Artia, and she sighed, clasping her hands around her forehead.

 

“I don’t know how I got here.”

 

The good news was that as soon as Killian walked in, all the staff and customers had left, and the doors were firmly shut.

 

The only people in the huge shop were Killian, Artia, Nocturne and the boss.

 

Nocturne smiled.

 

“Don’t worry about security. Nobody will ever know what happened here.”

 

The owner standing beside him nodded his head up and down, looking extremely nervous.

 

‘At least there won’t be any pesky rumors that I picked out His Highness’s clothes.’

 

To Artia’s relief, she heard the sound of the curtains opening.

 

Artia looked up and froze, as if time had stopped.

 

The sight of Killian in his form-fitting black suit was not what she had imagined.

 

The man who had been so picturesque in her imagination was…

 

He was intimidating and handsome.

 

Dangerous and mesmerizing.

 

It was a charm that only a man named Killian of Orpheus could exude in this world.

 

Artia had always known that Killian was incredibly handsome, but she’d been too intimidated by his presence to fully appreciate it.

 

Gradually, however, her wariness of him faded, and she began to see Killian’s form more clearly.

 

Though Artia hadn’t noticed.

 

“What do you think, are you okay?”

 

“……!” 

 

Artia nodded, sobered by Killian’s voice.

 

“Yeah, you look fine.”

 

A corner of Killian’s mouth twitched slightly, as if he’d been surprised by the bluntness of her answer.

 

As if that was a satisfactory answer.

 

Artia, who had been staring at Killian, said, “Aww. The cravats are a bit crooked.”

 

At that moment, something surprising happened. Kilian bowed his head to Artia.

 

“Do it.”

 

“……?!”

 

Artia’s mouth fell open at the unexpected attack, and her head whipped around in surprise.

 

Nocturne and the owner, who had just been standing next to Killian, had vanished like a lie.

 

‘Where did they go?’

 

Artia’s hypnotized gaze hadn’t even registered that Killian’s stern look had told her to get lost.

 

Artia looked at him, confused.

 

He had no intention of touching the cravat with his own hands.

 

‘Of course not, His Royal Highness the Prince would never perform such a trivial task himself.’

 

‘I can’t help it.’

 

After a moment, Artia reached out her hand.