The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 78

Freesia wasn’t happy when Marigold told her the other day that she’d gotten along with Cecil on Artia’s advice.

 

‘But Marigold was happy, so I didn’t say anything, and now you’re bringing it up again.’

 

Freesia arched her fine eyebrows in disbelief.

 

“Did even Marigold fall for Mrs. Edenberg?”

 

The words were only half in jest, but Marigold nodded stiffly.

 

“A little?”

 

“……!”

 

Marigold turned to Freesia, who looked as shocked as if she’d just been told her lover had found someone else.

 

“I know you don’t like her, but she’s too good a person to ostracize just because she’s divorced, and I hope we can get along.”

 

In contrast to Marigold’s beaming face, Freesia bit her lip and looked like she was about to cry.

 

Marigold shrugged.

 

“I won’t push if you don’t want me to. But, Princess, you should know this.”

 

“…….”

 

“I’m not your handmaiden.”

 

She wasn’t going to give up something she liked just to please Freesia.

 

“Ahhh, Princess, you don’t seem to be in the mood, so I’d better go.”

 

Marigold stood up, and Dahlia, who was sitting next to her, got out of her chair as well.

 

“I’d better go too.”

 

Freesia wanted to grab them both, but she couldn’t. She wasn’t sure if she could face Marigold with a smile on her face anymore.

 

 

On the way out of the mansion, Dahlia looked at Marigold.

 

Dahlia knew her friend’s tastes well, having grown up with her since they were babies. 

 

Marigold liked colorful, beautiful things.

 

People and things.

 

“Mrs. Edenberg is not your type of woman.”

 

“True, her face is hardly in the category of beautiful, but not admirable. It’s as dull as early winter snow.”

 

“…….”

 

“But up close, her pink eyes sparkle like pink diamonds, and I love her white, thin body that looks like it could crumble under the snap of a finger. And her voice is so soft, but her pronunciation is so clear.”

 

Dahlia’s eyes glazed over as she listened to Marigold’s excited rant.

 

Marigold chuckled and held out her hand.

 

“Don’t look at me like that, because it’s not a dangerous enough feeling to make me leave my rich husband.”

 

“I know.”

 

Marigold liked men. She just had a temper that got the best of her.

 

“With that in mind, how would you like to fall in love with Mrs. Edenberg?”

 

Dahlia had never been much of a social butterfly, only going to social gatherings to fulfill her duties as a noblewoman.

 

But she wondered what it was about Artia that had caught Marigold’s attention when only Freesia was watching her so intently.

 

How she had managed to make a name for herself in social circles in such a short time.

 

“Let me meet her.”

 

Marigold was thrilled at the unexpectedly positive response.

 

 

* * *

 

 

Artia was surprised. Marigold had sent her an invitation.

 

The words on the lavish, gold-dusted invitation were even more surprising.

 

“You are inviting me to a tea party?”

 

Artia had met and befriended many noblewomen over the past few months, but her public profile had not improved.

 

The image of being ostracized by the flower ladies who led the social circles was too strong.

 

Many of the noblewomen were reluctant to approach Artia, and some were even hostile.

 

Marigold’s invitation was therefore significant.

 

‘If it is known that I have a friendship with her, it will change my reputation.’

 

Artia clutched the golden invitation in her arms with a pensive look on her face.

 

 

* * *

 

 

A few days later, Artia visited Marigold’s mansion.

 

As befits a family so wealthy that they were nicknamed the Diamond Earls, the mansion was dazzlingly opulent.

 

‘The ceilings are gold, the floors are gold, even the window frames are gold. Even if the diamond mine collapses and they go out of business, they can still live if they sell the pillars of their mansion one by one.

 

It was a far cry from the opulence of Baron Rushan’s mansion.

 

While the Rushan Barony was crudely decorated to show off its wealth, this was luxurious in every way.

 

The drawing room was even better.

 

Marigold and Cecil sat in the ornate room, looking as if they were in a jeweled music box.

 

When Cecil saw Artia, she scurried over and lifted the hem of her skirt.

 

“Welcome, Lady Artia!”

 

Artia’s eyes widened at the unexpectedly enthusiastic greeting.

 

She had met Cecil a few weeks ago, sulking at Marigold’s hand.

 

“I thought you would dislike me for saying something unpleasant to Miss Cecil then, but I never expected you to welcome me so warmly.”

 

Cecil blushed at Artia’s questioning look.

 

“I embarrassed myself then, so please forget it.”

 

Was Cecil, like me, possessed by another soul?

 

Marigold whispered to Artia, who had legitimate doubts.

 

“Cecil says she’s a fan of yours.”

 

“A fan?”

 

“Yes. The Duchess of Edenberg has a whole group of girls who worship you because you’re a hero for freeing yourself from your devil husband, and my daughter is one of them, and when she found out you were Edenberg, she said the little devil was quite a reflection of her. She said she must have done something really wrong if Artia scolded her.”

 

Artia’s white cheeks blushed like midsummer peaches at the unimaginable story.

 

“This is an infinite honor.”

 

Artia leaned down and locked eyes with Cecil, holding out a beautifully wrapped box.

 

“Since this is my first visit, I brought you a small gift.”

 

“Wow!”

 

Cecil opened the box with a look of excitement on his face. Inside were three items.

 

A gold tie, a gold headdress, and a gold ribbon.

 

“It’s a fashionable set,” Artia said, “and it’s very nice to wear when you go out as a family.”

 

The old Cecil was not amused, saying, “Why should I wear the same color accessories as that pretty, flamboyant lady?”

 

But now things have changed and it was a gift from Lady Artia!

 

“Thank you, I’ll treasure it forever!”

 

Marigold beamed.

 

It was something she had wanted to buy, even if she hadn’t tried because she was afraid Cecil wouldn’t like it.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Artia smiled shyly at the mother-daughter greeting.

 

“I’m the one who’s grateful. I was so happy to get the invitation.”

 

There she goes again, being so un-aristocratically honest.

 

It’s fascinating.

 

Artia’s eyes twinkled softly, and Marigold couldn’t hold back any longer, spreading her arms like a shark that had caught its prey.

 

But her hunt was in vain.

 

For Dahlia had just entered the parlor.

 

With her dark hair and eyes, Dahlia’s entrance transformed the once cheerful parlor into the serious atmosphere of an academic conference.

 

Cecil, sensing this more than anyone else, waved his hand.

 

“I will leave now. Lady Artia, you’re welcome to come back anytime!”

 

Artia waved back and said goodbye to Cecil.

 

As soon as Cecil left the room, Marigold burst out laughing.

 

“I was in trouble because Cecil insisted on having tea with Mrs. Edenberg, and then you came along and she ran off like she’d never been away before. My friend is amazing.”

 

For years, the children had hated Dahlia, even though she had done nothing wrong.

 

Dahlia bowed to Artia with an expressionless face that didn’t seem to bother her at all.

 

“Greetings to the Duchess of Edenberg. I am Dahlia von Gregg.”

 

A woman of such severity, as I had sensed when I saw her at the banquet, that she would not allow an ounce of liberty.

 

Artia smiled, feeling nervous, like a student in front of a tiger teacher.

 

“I am Artia von Edenberg. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Gregg.”

 

It was a warm greeting, like a spring day, in contrast to Dahlia’s wintry greeting.

 

At the sight of the two, Marigold watched with interest, as if watching an interesting spectacle.

 

Ah, the cookie pull.