The Search for the Duchess’s Husband

“Your Majesty…!”

Lloyd shouted in frustration.

 

The Emperor spoke in a nervous voice.

 “Enough. If you say another word, I will consider it treason.” 

His golden eyes were as fierce as ever.

 “Aaah…” 

Lloyd said nothing in response, collapsing to the ground in a heap.

 

Watching, Artia clasped her hands tremblingly.

 

She hadn’t made the decision for Artia’s sake, but to remove Lloyd from the Ducal Council, but that didn’t matter.

 

She was filled with joy that she had gotten what she had longed for.

 

Finally, finally, I’m divorced!

 

* * *

 

 

The emperor rose from his seat and left the chapel, and Artia, who had been kneeling the entire time, rose to her feet. 

 

Lloyd, who had rushed to her side, grabbed her wrist and shouted.

 “Run to the Emperor at once and tell him you will not divorce me!” “No.” 

Lloyd’s face hardened at her firm tone. Nevertheless, Artia continued in a calm voice.

 “You have heard and you know. The King has punished us for our failure to fulfill our marital and ducal duties, and no one can overturn his decision.” “What!” “That’s right.” 

Artia turned her head and Lloyd lunged at her.

 

Lloyd’s snowy form overlapped with the one that had attacked Artia the night before.

 

For a moment, Artia stiffened. She bit her lip.

 

‘No!’

 

But it was Lloyd, not Artia, who hit the ground with a thud.

 “Vivi?” 

Not this time.

 

Standing over Lloyd was Prince Killian, with his jet black hair and golden eyes.

 

Dressed in full regalia for some sort of meeting, he cracked his riding whip with a bloodied hand and muttered.

 “An ugly worm in the holy chapel.” 

Despite his languid voice, his golden eyes were uncanny.

 

Lloyd shuddered as if he were about to die, unable to ask how anyone could whip a man.

 

Killian turned away and looked at Artia.

 “What are you going to do, Artia von Edenberg?” “Wha-what?” “Kill the bug or let it go?”

He asked, his lips parting in an exquisite line as he looked at the nervous Artia.

 

His voice was monotonous, as if he was asking,

“Do you want candy or chocolate?”

 

Artia realized the meaning of the words a beat too late.

 

She was sure she wouldn’t be sad if Lloyd died, not even a speck of dust.

 

But she didn’t want him to die in front of her.

 

Not for him, but for her.

 “Your Majesty, I would prefer to see only the most beautiful things. If you want to do it, do it without me.” 

Killian lifted the corner of his mouth and said without looking at Lloyd.

 “Piss off.” “Thank you, thank you!” 

Lloyd thanked Kilian as if he were a benefactor for whipping him and was out of the chapel in a flash.

 

That left him, Artia, and Killian alone in the massive chapel.

 “It’s still incredibly beautiful.” 

Artia looked at Killian in awe, then bowed her head in apology.

 

No matter how sparkling, the man before her was a severely misogynistic, insane ambassador.

 

She had to be careful.

 

Artia’s jaw clenched, but Killian’s voice was in her ear.

 “Your wounds are worse than the knights reported.” 

Artia’s head snapped up in surprise.

 “Could it be that you sent the Golden Knights?” 

To her surprise, the answer came in the affirmative.

 “Yes.” “Why?” 

The words flew out of her mouth, as surprising as they were polite.

  

***

  

Looking down at Artia, who looked up at him in astonishment, Kilian thought back to the night a few days ago.

 

On behalf of the Emperor, Kilian had read a report from the nobles.

 

The ones about the running of the country were interesting, but the ones asking him to mediate in conflicts with other houses were irritating.

 “I’ll slit the wrists of all those who write down private matters and send them to the imperial court so they won’t bother me again.” 

He was muttering something that wasn’t meant as a joke when Nocturne appeared.

 “Your Majesty, a message from Mrs. Artia von Edenberg arrived a little while ago.” 

Artia’s letter was neither a matter of tense state affairs nor a family matter. It was a personal request from

a woman 

Normally, such appeals would have been left in a corner for the lower echelons of management to dispose of.

 

But Nocturne, who had learned of the letter by chance, took it to Killian with a cold shoulder.

 

His instincts as a longtime servant of the mad king told him.

 

“He’ll be damned if I don’t bring it to him and then find out it’s here.”

 

And he was right.

 

Killian’s eyes flashed as if he’d never been bored before, and he coldly took the letter from Nocturne’s hand and began to read.

 

Nocturne breathed a sigh of relief as he watched.

 

But a moment later, Nocturne was horrified.

 

Kilian’s golden eyes, which had seemed to have found a fun toy only moments before, now glowed eerily.

 “What the hell is she talking about?” 

‘You crazy prince, you’re only as good as your face, you have to be a man first.’

 

That’s what Nocturne often fantasized about.

 

Tearing his gaze from the letter after a moment, Killian spoke.

 “Send the Golden Knights to guard Artia von Edenberg.” 

Nocturne’s mouth dropped open.

 

The Golden Knights were knights of the Imperial Court, and their primary duty was to protect the royal family.

 

To send them to escort a noblewoman.

 

But Nocturne couldn’t say,

“That’s a bit…”

for Killian’s golden eyes were unnerving.

 

One must never insult the mad king like that or it’s straight to hell.

 “I’ll see to it.”

Nocturne replied with lightning speed and fled the room.

 

Before the door closed, Killian met Nocturne’s eyes.

 

“Finally, you’ve lost your mind.”

was the look in his eyes.

 

Killian thought to himself.

 

He’d read the letter as if he’d been waiting for it, enraged, and acted immediately.

 

None of it was like her.

 

And now this little woman was looking at him with those same Nocturne-like eyes.

 

“Why?”

 

Killian’s brow furrowed slightly.

 

Of course. But why?

 

‘Why was the story of a woman being abused and assaulted by her husband so upsetting?’

 

It was a horrible story, but not enough to stir Killian, who was usually indifferent to others.

 

After much thought, Killian finally concluded.

 “When you see a tiny caterpillar struggling to get out of a spider’s web, you want to help it.” 

Artia, the caterpillar in the story, raised her eyebrows.

 “So you’re saying… you pity me?” 

Killian nodded, even though he had the uncomfortable feeling he’d given the right answer.

 “Yes.” 

Pity is shameful. Especially if you were a noble.

 

But Artia was not angry.

 

Instead, she smiled.

 

As if relieved to have the right answer.

 “I see. I’m surprised you have such a mundane emotion, but…”

Artia covered her mouth, then looked at Killian and said.

“Forgive me, I never meant to criticize Your Highness.” 

Fortunately, Killian’s expression didn’t change, as if he didn’t care.

 

I mean, who could be mad at a caterpillar for slurring his words?

 

Artia looked at Killian, grateful for his weak presence.

 

She couldn’t tell what was going on in those fierce golden eyes, but one thing was certain.

 

He had helped her.

 

Artia lifted the hem of her skirt and bowed her head.

 “Thank you for your favor in so many ways, Your Grace. You have helped me achieve what I wanted.” 

Artia announced the day’s victory in a high voice.

 “I am divorced.” Visit my Ko-fi for advance chapter discounts!!