The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 91

‘I went into debt for what? To throw a banquet for them…!’

 

He wanted to be the one everyone looked up to.

 

But no one cared about him, and it was clear that even if he danced with Freesia again, the tide would not change.

 

And that infuriated him.

 

‘Damn the prince. Why does he suddenly come to my banquet and do that shit when the other nobles ask him to come, and he never even puts his nose in the ballroom?!’

 

Count Elysium cursed under his breath and gulped down the wine on the table.

 

A fearful glint flickered in Freesia’s eyes as she stood beside him.

 

 

* * *

 

 

As soon as the dance was over, Artia ran out of the ballroom. She wanted to get away from all the attention.

 

There was only one problem. Killian, the man responsible for all of this, was hot on her heels.

 

When they reached the deserted garden, Artia spun around and yelled.

 

“Why are you following me?”

 

Her voice was sharper than usual. She thought Killian would let her get away with it.

 

As expected, Killian wasn’t angry at all. Just…

 

“I’m afraid to be there alone.”

 

“……?”

 

“There are too many girls.”

 

“……??”

 

Artia looked at Killian with the same confusion as if she’d caught him eating a carrot, and then sighed.

 

‘Yeah, you’re good around me, but that doesn’t make you any better at misogyny.’

 

Artia touched her forehead and asked.

 

“Why are you here at all, it’s not like this is some important banquet you have to attend as a prince.”

 

“To socialize?”

 

“And why are you putting a suspicious end to it?”

 

“Because it’s not the truth.”

 

“You’re a pretty straightforward liar.”

 

Artia quickly gave up making judgments about Killian’s reasons for being here and answered his question.

 

“This isn’t like the Crovachon banquets I’ve been to before, where you can’t say things like ‘You mess with the king, you mess with the ladies’ when you’re not masked.”

 

Otherwise, stories would start circulating that Killian and Artia were a couple of lunatics.

 

She couldn’t let that destroy the relationship she’d spent months building.

 

At Artia’s raised eyebrows, Kilian said something uncharacteristic.

 

“Did I get you in trouble?”

 

Artia hesitated, then nodded.

 

Artia was the only divorcee in the kingdom.

 

Without a husband, she was available to many men for remarriage, but she was also an easy target for sordid scandal.

 

That she was a prodigal daughter who had abandoned her husband for a life of debauchery.

 

Once the rumor spread, it was over.

 

Artia could never become an Ethereal.

 

“I can’t imagine what they’d say if they saw you dancing with the king.”

 

Of course, Killian is no ordinary man, so he could be forgiven for assuming that the mad king had committed an act. On the other hand, he could also start a bizarre rumor that the virulent misogynist has a special woman in his life.

 

In the latter case, the problem grows.

 

‘I was out of my mind; I was hypnotized by your face. I shouldn’t have danced, even if I had to pretend to faint…’.

 

With a snap, Killian’s fingers traced across Artia’s deepening forehead.

 

Smooth in appearance like a noble prince, rough in texture like a battle-tested swordsman, his fingers brushed across Artia’s forehead.

As if to loosen her deepening wrinkles.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“If this is it, don’t worry. I’ll make sure there are no rumors about you.” Killian said, looking at Artia, who was too frightened to speak.

 

‘How?’ Artia wanted to ask.

 

There was rustling in the distance.

 

Artia pulled Killian with her and ducked into the trees.

 

She didn’t want to hear that they were having an affair, let alone dancing with the prince in front of everyone.

 

Then Artia’s eyes widened. It was Count Elysium and Freesia emerging from the moonlight.

 

‘Why would a couple that likes to be admired in the brightest places come to this dark corner of the garden?’ She thought to herself.

 

Count Elysium glared at Freesia.

 

“What is there to say?”

 

His voice was gruff, not at all like the rumors of his terrible love for his wife.

 

Freesia replied, her face a mask of horror.

 

“My dear, I’m afraid you’ve had too much to drink, and if you make a mistake in front of our guests-“

 

Count Elysium grabbed Freesia’s golden hair and pulled her toward him.

 

“Have you ever seen me make a mistake in front of people?”

 

Freesia shook her head, unable to answer. Count Elysium tightened his grip on her hair and spoke in a low voice.

 

“Then shut up, because even if you do, people will still go home drunk.”

 

She nodded, “Okay. I can’t show any tears.”

 

But despite her best efforts, a clear tear gathered under Frizia’s green eyes, and when Count Elysium saw it, a curse flew out of his mouth.

 

“I’ve barely been able to contain my annoyance with the prince, and now you’re pissing me off, you damned bitch.”

 

“……!”

 

“If you’d been good in the first place, we wouldn’t have had to throw this banquet in the first place. I was going to hold it in until it was over, but I can’t, so I’m going to punish you.”

 

Count Elysium pulled the chain ornament from his chest and held it between his hands.

 

The chain, which had been a gentleman’s accessory only moments before, now looked as spooky as a bullwhip used to train beasts.

 

Frightened, Freesia barely managed to speak, her whole body trembling like an aspen tree.

 

“Don’t, dear. There’s a lot of guests.”

 

“Don’t worry, I’ll cut you where no one will notice.”

 

It must be hard to smile through the pain, but that’s none of his business.

 

Count Elysium was about to swing the chain. Artia, hiding behind a tree, shouted.

 

“Stop your dirty tricks, Count Elysium!”

 

Count Elysium whirled around, startled.

 

“Who are you!”

 

“I don’t think this is the time for you to worry about me, but about the fact that the man who was thought to be so terribly in love with his wife is a completely different man when they are alone.” Artia replied, still unseen.

 

The voice from the darkness was calm, but there was an unmistakable accusation in it.

 

Count Elysium’s eyes glowed eerily.

 

‘What shall I do, hunt her down and cut out her tongue?’

 

It would be easy enough for a simple maid. But from the tone of her voice, it was clear that she was one of the nobles attending tonight’s banquet.

 

Nobles are a nuisance to deal with.

 

‘But I can warn her.’

 

Count Elysium said with a fierce glare.

 

“For all your bravado, you keep hiding like a coward because you know you saw something you shouldn’t have.”

 

“…….”

 

“Whoever it is, it’s a wise move. If you had shown yourself, you would have become my enemy.”

 

Count Elysium was a high-ranking member of the nobility. There weren’t many who wouldn’t mind having him as an enemy.

 

A mad messenger, perhaps.

 

Count Elysium’s arrogant voice continued.

 

“I’ll forgive you for coming between me and my wife today, but you need to shut up and stop telling people what you’re doing. If you want to keep the peace. If you start talking about me and my wife, I’ll find you no matter what.”

 

Artia listened in silence, then spoke.

 

“You too must stop being a scumbag who touches his wife. If you want to keep your hypocritical routine.”

 

‘That bitch!’

 

Count Elysium’s eyes widened, and instead of searching for the source of the voice, he let out a sneering threat.

 

“I don’t care if you change your mind and start a rumor, my wife and I have a solid image. People will call anyone who says outrageous things without proof a liar, and I’m confident I can make that happen.”

 

With those words, Count Elysium’s eyes softened.

 

He held out his hand to Freesia, who was trembling with fear.

 

“Freesia, are you okay?”