The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 85

At his innocent question, Artia squeezed her eyes shut, unable to answer.

 

Her excitement was overwhelming and her whole body felt like it was about to explode.

 

It took her a long time to open her eyes, and then she forced herself to speak.

 

“Your Majesty, just in case you don’t know, you should never say what you just said in front of other women.”

 

“Why would you do such a crazy thing?” Artia added in a serious voice as Killian gave her a cold stare.

 

‘If you do, there will be plenty of women who won’t be afraid to have their throats cut to tell you that they don’t care if you’re a vicious misogynist.’

 

“…….”

 

Kilian gave a small chuckle as he glared at Artia.

 

As if that was a satisfying answer.

 

Artia’s barely calmed heart started pounding again, much to her embarrassment.

 

 

* * *

 

 

“Let’s meet at my place next time.”

 

Dahlia was a social butterfly, but it was very rare for her to invite someone to her home.

 

So Artia nodded her head several times, her cheeks flushing peachy, unable to hide the emotions she felt.

 

A few days later, Artia arrived at Dahlia’s mansion, her heart full of excitement.

 

The old mansion was nothing fancy, but it had the feel of an old library.

 

Dahlia and Marigold, who had arrived earlier, greeted her.

 

“Welcome, Tia.”

 

“Welcome, Mrs. Edenberg.”

 

They sat across from each other at a square table for four, which was the source of the conversation.

 

“Sit here, Tia.”

 

Marigold patted the seat next to her playfully.

 

“Sit here, Mrs. Edenberg.”

 

Dahlia followed suit, gesturing gracefully to the seat next to her.

 

The two women looked at each other with sharp eyes. Dahlia spoke first.

 

“Marigold, it is the hostess’s prerogative to seat her guests at tea parties.”

 

“This is not a polite place, so why don’t you make yourself comfortable?”

 

The two bickered like cat and dog, with Artia between them.

 

After a while, there were three people sitting side by side in a chair meant for two.

 

“Cramped!”

 

Marigold exclaimed in annoyance.

 

“Undignified.”

 

Dahlia said with a look of embarrassment.

 

Sandwiched between them, Artia spoke cautiously.

 

“I’m going the other way…”

 

“Hoho, sitting like this reminds me of when I was a kid and you were squeezed into a chair.”

 

“Well, sometimes it’s fun to reminisce.”

 

Eventually, the three of them squeezed in next to each other and enjoyed a tea party.

 

“Tia, ah~”

 

As Marigold picked up a macaroon and held it out to Artia, Dahlia, sitting across from her, held out a plate of plump tomatoes as if to block the macaroon’s attack.

 

“Mrs. Edenberg doesn’t like sugary desserts like macaroons, does she?”

 

Artia looked at Marigold and nodded.

 

“Yes.”

 

Marigold, who hadn’t noticed, looked surprised, and Dahlia made a face that was the opposite of cheerful.

 

“That’s what I thought, so I prepared the fruit on purpose. Don’t look at it, just eat what you want.”

 

Marigold put down her macaroon and looked at Dahlia questioningly.

 

“Why are you suddenly pretending to be friendly with Tia?”

 

Dahlia had befriended many women, but there was a limit. She’d never been this friendly.

 

Marigold asked with a hint of jealousy.

 

“Is it just me, or did you notice Tia’s cuteness too late?”

 

‘Please stop…!’

 

Artia looked like she was going to cry. Fortunately, Dahlia just knitted her eyebrows in a calm expression.

 

“Am I you?”

 

She didn’t know what to think of the child, but she didn’t have the perverse taste to find the grown woman cute. But…

 

“Mrs. Edenberg helped me the other day.”

 

“When? What? How? Why didn’t you tell me?!”

 

Artia was taken aback by Marigold’s remorseful look.

 

‘She wanted to keep that day a secret!’

 

Dahlia, on the other hand, remained calm.

 

“You were traveling that day.”

 

Of course, even if she hadn’t, she would have wondered if she should ask for help.

 

Marigold was willing to help her friend, even if it meant scattering dozens of diamonds in a back alley, but she had a fatal flaw.

 

Marigold was glib. She couldn’t keep a secret.

 

‘It wouldn’t be long before everyone in the capital, or even the entire empire, would know that I was Redlip, the author of a dirty, secret novel.’

 

Worst of all, Marigold had gotten hold of Redlip’s book and was going to read it out loud in front of Dahlia to tease her.

 

That must never happen, that’s why Dahlia turned to Artia, not Marigold, for help.

 

“I told her I was in trouble,” Dahlia said to Marigold, who was on the verge of sulking.

 

“You told me, if I ever have a problem, I can talk to Mrs. Edenberg.”

 

“Oh…”

 

“You were right, Mrs. Edenberg is very wise.”

 

With those words, the disappointment that Dahlia hadn’t asked her for help flew away.

 

Marigold was more pleased that her friend recognized something she liked.

 

“You’ve finally recognized Tia’s awesomeness. But she’s not just wise, she’s cute, adorable, and sweet.”

 

‘Just do what you two want.’

 

Realizing that there was nothing she could do to stop the onslaught of praise from both sides, Artia popped a tomato into her mouth in a humble attempt to take it all in.

 

 

* * *

 

 

Throughout the tea party, Marigold gushed about how sweet Artia was. Dahlia also wanted to talk to her more than before.

 

Artia was busy responding by turning her head from side to side, and by the end of the tea party her neck was stiff.

 

As the sun set, Marigold decided to go play some more, so Artia left the mansion alone.

 

Artia walked through the gardens, rubbing her neck.

 

‘It was hard work, but it was fun.’

 

‘It was nice to have two beautiful, wonderful women tell me so openly that they liked me.’

 

‘I didn’t realize it, but I like being loved…’

 

Artia’s eyes widened; her cheeks turned peach.

 

A beautiful woman in a white dress walked through the blooming flowers. It was Freesia.

 

Wow, your beauty never fails to impress.

 

Artia looked at Freesia in fascination, then her eyes widened.

 

“It’s good to see you, Lady Elysium. It’s been a long time.”

 

Despite the polite greeting, Freesia’s beautiful face frowned.

 

She bowed awkwardly, as if someone had told her to, and walked right past Artia.

 

‘You still don’t like me.’

 

Artia wasn’t simple enough to shout, “Your friend is my friend, so we’re all friends.”

 

She wasn’t naive enough to expect everyone to like her.

 

It was just a bit disappointing.

 

‘I wanted to be friends with you…’

 

But with this level of animosity, anything she said would backfire.

 

Artia tore her eyes away from Freesia and walked in the opposite direction.

 

 

 * * *

 

 

Marigold looked surprised at Freesia’s appearance, then smiled.

 

“Welcome, Princess. You’re earlier than promised.”

 

Instead of returning Marigold’s greeting, Freesia said something else.

 

“Did you call for Mrs. Edenberg?”

 

She looked devastated, as if she’d just caught her husband cheating on her.

 

Marigold muttered an “ah…” before answering honestly.

 

“We only had time to see each other today, and you freaked out at the mere mention of Edenberg’s name, so I had to call you at different times.”

 

Freesia knew that Marigold had been seeing Artia lately, but she hadn’t said anything about it.

 

Marigold was always curious about people, and she thought she’d get tired of it after a few dates.

 

But when she realized that Dahlia was with Artia, her heart sank.

 

It was as if Artia had stolen her place where she belonged.