The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 96

That’s when it hit her.

 

If she did nothing, nothing would change.

 

Her little girl would grow up to see the mother she loved most in the world beaten by her own father.

 

Fear and despair will grow in those innocent green eyes, and then they will be the same eyes as Freesia’s, and she will say, “You have to take it.”

 

She has to take it, because that’s what she did.

 

“Oh, no…”

 

She doesn’t know about her, but she can’t let her daughter live like that.

 

Even if it means being the woman the whole world condemns, even if it means suffering terrible retribution from her husband, she has to do everything she can.

 

For her little girl.

 

Freesia’s voice choked with tears.

 

“Report it, I will.”

 

Her body stiffened as if she had committed a grave sin just by saying the word. 

 

Nevertheless, she opened her mouth again.

 

“Help me, Mrs. Edenberg.”

 

Her voice was desperate.

 

Artia took Freesia’s hand in hers and nodded.

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

The next day, Count Elysium somehow found his way to Edenberg Manor.

 

He was puzzled as to why Freesia was there, since she didn’t seem to like Artia very much, but he didn’t care; the relationship between the two women was none of his business.

 

Count Elysium got right to the point.

 

“I have come for my wife and daughter.”

 

But Artia shook her head firmly.

 

“Freesia was very upset about what happened, and she asked me to tell you that she wants to stay in my house for a few more days.”

 

‘Are you out of your mind, a married woman spending the night in another house, and with her little daughter!’

 

Count Elysium barely resisted the urge to shout.

 

He didn’t want any ugly rumors about his runaway wife running amok in someone else’s house.

 

He and his wife had to be perfect at all times.

 

Count Elysium gave an artificial smile.

 

“We actually had a little disagreement. My wife was very upset because she did not agree with me. She’s a very sensitive person…”

 

It never occurred to him that Freesia might have told Artia what had happened yesterday.

 

She hated being embarrassed in front of others even more than she hated being beaten.

 

Knowing that, Count Elysium relaxed.

 

“I will miss my dear wife,” he said, “but I must return, for every husband must wait for his beloved wife to come to her senses.”

 

Before leaving the mansion, he added a curt remark.

 

“Mrs. Edenberg, please don’t tell anyone that Freesia is here. I’m afraid that word will get around and bring her honor into disrepute.”

 

He sounded as if Freesia had done something shameful.

 

Artia nodded, barely restraining herself from wanting to slap the impertinent man’s face.

 

“Yes, as Freesia’s friend, I will do my best to defend her honor.”

 

Climbing into the carriage, Count Elysium was stunned.

 

That Artia would act to honor her words from earlier.

 

As soon as Count Elysium left, Artia sat down with Freesia to draw up the paperwork.

 

It was a report of Count Elysium’s repeated assaults on Freesia after their marriage.

 

“This isn’t a diary entry or a letter to a friend,” Artia said, “it’s a document for an institution called the court. You can’t be fluffy, you can’t appeal to emotion, you have to write down exact dates and facts, and if you have proof, so much the better”.

 

Artia’s words startled Freesia.

 

“How do you know that so well?”

 

“Because I’ve written something like this before.”

 

It wasn’t much different from a document asking to leave a dirty husband or a document asking to stop a violent husband.

 

 

 

The next day they went to court together.

 

Dressed in a darker dress than usual, Freesia handed the junior magistrate the document she’d spent the night writing.

 

The woman was a powerful one, the Countess of Elysium, so the magistrate read the paper on the spot.

 

But as the minutes ticked by, the magistrate’s face twisted. When he finished reading, he said with some difficulty.

 

“Countess Elysium, this is not the place to arbitrate private matters such as marital problems.”

 

Artia, at Freesia’s side, spoke up.

 

“You say that when you’ve read the papers. This isn’t just a marital matter, it’s an assault case. It’s in the Imperial Code. It’s a capital offense, punishable by imprisonment.”

 

The junior magistrate was taken aback by this brazen invocation of the law, but his face returned to a stern expression.

 

“Still,” he said, “the law should not interfere in family matters. This should be settled within the family.”

 

“But we’ve come to court because we can’t settle it at home.”

 

“I still can’t accept this document.”

 

The attitude of the lower courts was harsher than she expected. This is what happens when women are beaten by their husbands and they take it too lightly.

 

She thought, ‘Oh no. Should I beg him to help me just once?’

 

Freesia bit her dry lips. Artia opened her mouth.

 

“Then I guess I have no choice.”

 

‘Will the madwoman give up now?’ Artia’s voice continued in the junior magistrate’s ear, her complexion visibly brightening.

 

“We can only ask for help from Freesia’s homeland, Palenta.”

 

“……?!”

 

Both Freesia’s and the junior magistrate’s eyes widened at the mention of Palenta.

 

“Freesia is the favorite daughter of His Majesty the King of Palenta. His Majesty would be furious if he knew about this, and it could easily become an international issue.”

 

Artia added with a scowl.

 

“Maybe even a war?”

 

Despite the rumors, Freesia was not King Palenta’s favorite daughter. Even if there were a war, Palenta’s power was nowhere near that of the Empire.

 

Still, the description “favorite daughter of a foreign king” and the word “war” were enough to intimidate a lowly magistrate.

 

Not missing the moment when the junior magistrate’s face paled, Artia whispered (audibly) to Freesia.

 

“When King Palenta asks you who gave you a hard time, name Count Elysium and all those who looked the other way when the princess was attacked.”

 

For example, the name of the one magistrate who had the audacity to dismiss her report of the assault as a matrimonial matter…

 

A junior magistrate locked eyes with Artia and let out a muffled yelp.

 

It was clear which was the better option: being dragged before an enraged King Palenta and having his throat slit, or being scolded by his superiors for taking such a report.

 

The junior magistrate snatched the papers from Freesia’s hand and took them away.

 

“I’m going to file a formal complaint,” he said, “and after a thorough investigation, I’ll give him the punishment he deserves.”

 

Freesia looked surprised, then smiled brightly.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“……!”

 

The junior magistrate’s face, which looked like it could be stabbed and not draw a drop of blood, instantly turned bright red.

Artia’s lips twitched up at the sight.

 

It’s just beginning.

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

The next day, Count Elysium came to the Edenberg estate. Gone was all the ease he had shown yesterday, and he shouted.

 

“Freesia!”

 

Vivi stopped him, and beside her stood Artia.

 

“It’s not like you to come into someone else’s house without permission and shout at them.”

 

Count Elysium didn’t respond to Artia’s remark, but instead gave her a harsh glare.

 

“Did you lure my innocent wife into reporting me?”

 

“Ah, that’s what you’re here for, but I’m afraid you don’t know your wife very well, and she’s not foolish enough to fall for my seduction.”

 

Artia spoke up, her voice clear.

 

“She acted of her own free will.”

 

No, that couldn’t be true.

 

She had been raised her whole life in slavish submission. To her father as a child, to her husband when she married.

 

So she must be being manipulated, even now, by Artia von Edenberg.