The Search for the Duchess’s Husband

“What?!” 

Artia’s eyes widened at the astonished boss.

 “Surely you don’t mean such a ridiculously small amount because you think an elegant lady would never show any dissatisfaction with the price?” 

She was right.

 

He couldn’t say it.

 “Of course not,”

he replied, trying to keep a straight face.

“I always treat everyone who donates with the utmost sincerity. If you don’t like my sincerity, you can tell me how much you want.” 

Artia replied gracefully.

“Fifteen million gold.” 

Suddenly, the boss’s expression crumbled.

 “Well, that’s a bit… How about six million gold?” “…….” “Would you be satisfied with seven million gold?” “…….” 

After some more haggling, the deal was made for 10 million gold. Twice as much as the first time.

 

The boss, who was now dazed, smiled weakly.

 “The young lady is indeed enthusiastic.” 

It was an insult to the lady’s generosity, but Artia didn’t mind in the least and gestured to Catherine.

 “Mother, take out the other dress you brought. We should donate it as well.” 

Artia took all the items at twice the price of the owner’s first offer.

 

The soul-crushing boss didn’t even bother to haggle over the last item, he just asked for the right price from the start.

 

Catherine walked out of the shop with a large bag of money and looked at Artia excitedly.

 “When did you go from shaking at the sight of the floor to being able to do something like this?” “After all, I’m the first woman to get divorced since the emperor ascended the throne, so it’s not that hard to negotiate.” “I see, but next time, do it when I’m not around. It’s embarrassing to stand there.” 

Artia’s eyes narrowed at Catherine’s words, as if her impending death would not diminish a noblewoman’s pride.

 “I will.” 

Catherine stepped closer to Artia, who replied bluntly, and put her arm around her.

 “Come on then, let’s go. Let’s go shopping!” 

As embarrassed as Artia was, Catherine was giddy with excitement. She had much more money than she expected.

 

As they entered one of the finest dress shops in the capital, Catherine said proudly.

 “I’ll get her a dress.” 

The staff beamed at the arrival of a glamorous customer who seemed to have a taste for luxury.

 

Catherine, who had been reserved in the thrift store, became a chatterbox in the dress shop.

 “I don’t want anything too embellished or revealing. I like to see younger girls wearing that stuff, but she’s not really into it. Keep it elegant and innocent.” “She’s white, so clean, bright colors work well.” “I don’t want to emphasize her breasts, but I want to cinch her waist because she has a very thin waist. We need to emphasize that.” 

Catherine didn’t settle on a dress until Artia had tried on this dress, that dress, and dozens of dress changes.

 “Thank you, client!” 

Catherine and Artia walked out of the store to the cheerful greeting of a clerk who had just made the day’s sales on that one dress.

 

Unlike Artia, who was exhausted and disheveled from the ordeal of the dress shop, Catherine was more energetic than ever.

 

Her mother has always loved to shop.

 

But the only thing she bought today was Artia’s dress. She’d spent all the money she’d made from selling her goods today on her dress.

 

For some reason her heart tickled.

 

Artia said to Catherine.

“Thank you. I’ll carry it.” “If you’re grateful, don’t just say thank you, make yourself pretty and marry a man with money, and tell the new Duke of Edenberg to give me a generous budget.” “I will,”

she replied, her voice touchingly Catherinean.

  

* * *

 

 

That night, dressed in comfortable indoor clothes, Artia smoothed her pink dress.

 

Then she heard a rustling. She looked up to see a black cat standing by the window.

 “Butterfly!” 

Artia jumped out of her chair and ran to the window.

 “You were so surprised I wasn’t here when you came the other day, weren’t you? I was so afraid you wouldn’t come back.” 

Unlike Artia, who was giddy with excitement and babbling like a child, the black cat was unperturbed.

 “That’s cool, too…” 

Artia, looking ecstatic, caught the black cat’s gaze. His golden eyes were fixed on the pink dress.

 

Artia smiled giddily.

 “It’s pretty, isn’t it? This is the dress I wore when I was a debutante.” 

Five years ago, eighteen-year-old Artia had worn it.

 

As a debutante’s dress should be, it exuded the innocence of a girl who had just come of age.

 

Artia looked at the gown and said

 “My mother bought me a dress today that I’ve been missing for a long time. She chose this one too.” “…….” “Everyone else is so excited about the debutante ball that they’ll never forget it, but not me.” 

Everything was horrible for Artia.

 

She had to stand in front of a room full of people, looking as beautiful as a store-bought doll, and dance with a man she barely knew.

 “But I loved the dress.” 

Choosing a dress for her debutante ball with her mother was something Artia had dreamed of doing since she was a little girl.

 

After her mother’s death, it was Catherine who fulfilled a dream she thought would never come true.

 

Even though she was a stepmother and not as close as other mothers and daughters, Artia enjoyed the time she spent with Catherine choosing the dress.

 

She loved the dress.

 

Although people at the banquet teased the sullen Artia for wearing such a bright dress that she didn’t deserve it…

 

Artia smiled brightly as she held the dress in front of her.

 “What do you think, is it pretty?” “…….” 

Artia pursed her lips, newly embarrassed by the cat’s lack of movement.

 “Not me, the dress.” 

On his way back to the palace.

 

As the black cat walked along the road less traveled, he thought back to five years ago.

  * * *  

Killian, Artia’s age, had attended the debutante ball on the same day.

 

Killian entered the ballroom, dressed elegantly from head to toe.

 

Everyone in the ballroom was fascinated by him.

 

There was no hint of the immaturity of a young man who had just come of age; he was simply perfect and beautiful.

 “Look at this majestic figure. He will surely bring unprecedented glory to this realm.” 

But despite the praise, Killian’s condition was terrible.

 

The perfume of the women in the banquet hall was overwhelming. Their birdlike voices were hard to hear.

 

Turning to Killian, who furrowed his brow, the empress said in a low voice.

 “Don’t look ugly.” 

The Empress had not yet realized that Killian was a misogynist. When he finally managed to compose himself, she said,

“They’re waiting.” “The people are waiting for you. Go out and have the first dance of the banquet.” 

Killian was arrogant and wild, but there was a part of him that obeyed the Empress.

 

Besides, his condition wasn’t irresponsible enough to ruin such an important banquet.

 

Killian shook hands with the woman the Empress had chosen.

 

He didn’t look at the woman’s face.

 

All he was aware of was the eerie sensation he felt when their hands touched, and the sickening smell of her perfume that made his stomach turn.

 

With superhuman patience, he finished the dance without showing his displeasure.

 

Thunderous applause greeted them both. The woman he danced with smiled shyly and said something, but it was inaudible.

 

Turning, Killian left the ballroom with a graceful stride that could not have been more elegant.

 

He walked through the gardens.

 

Until he could no longer hear the noise of the ballroom.

 

Reaching a wooded corner of the garden, Killian grabbed a tree a

nd opened his mouth.

 “Ugh.” 

Sour gastric juices spurted from his empty stomach, which hadn’t eaten all day.

 

Then he heard a rustling in the bushes and a small voice.

 “Are you okay?” “……!” 

Killian and Artia stood in the bushes, unable to see each other’s faces.

 

Still, Killian recognized the voice immediately.

 

Artia von Edenberg.

 

But it was clear that Artia hadn’t recognized him at all.

 

She wouldn’t have spoken to him like that if she’d known it was Killian.

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