The Search for the Duchess’s Husband

Shylock was surprised to see the pink eyes glowing with pride.

 

Few women had ever been so confident in the face of his wrath.

 

He’d never heard a woman do that before.

 “I heard you were a coward, staring at the ground…” 

It was nothing like what he had heard.

 

Her appearance was as slender as the rumors, but the energy she radiated was vibrant.

 

Like a flower blooming after years of being buried.

 

Artia used his fascination to speak.

 “I thought you had some urgent business, but it turns out you’re just trying to be rude, and I don’t want to face the mutiny anymore, so I suggest you leave.” “I don’t want to.” “Go anyway.” 

Shylock’s mouth curled into a pout at the woman’s unyielding response.

 “I said no.” “Then I have no choice but to help you get there.” 

Artia nudged Vivi.

 

Vivi grabbed Shylock’s shoulders.

 “How dare you lay a hand on anyone.” 

Despite Shylock’s angry voice, Vivi kept her face expressionless as she pulled him away.

 

Soon Shylock’s stoic face flushed with embarrassment.

 “What kind of woman is that strong?” 

No matter how hard Shylock tried, Vivi’s grip wouldn’t let go.

 

Finally, Shylock was dragged out of the mansion by Vivi.

 

With Shylock gone, Artia approached Simone.

 

Still pale and trembling, she gently placed her hand on Simone’s shoulder.

 “Are you all right?” 

Simone nodded, finally regaining her composure.

 “It’s okay.” 

Simone looked at Artia like he was going to cry, then leaned back.

 “I’m so sorry. My brother was so upset when I told him I wasn’t going to see you anymore, so he came all the way here.” “I see.” “Brother’s right, I must be the biggest fool in the world, because I couldn’t even stop him myself, and now I’m doing this to you…” 

He looked like a child, not a grown man, crying. The maids around him looked away in embarrassment.

 

But Artia didn’t find it funny at all.

 

She saw a reflection of the old Artia in Simone.

 

The frustrated, sad Artia who couldn’t say what she wanted to say.

 

Artia took Simone’s hand.

 “You told me what was on your mind from beginning to end, honestly and clearly.” 

It wasn’t that she had any special feelings for the man she had only met three times.

 

She just wanted him to come out of his shell, just as she had wanted Artia to do in the past.

 “You are a very confident and wonderful person.” 

It was a heartfelt cheer for a man who had grown up in body but remained a child at heart

.

 “Mrs. Edenberg…” 

Artia hadn’t expected this.

 

That her words would set Simone’s lukewarm heart on fire.

 

 

* * *

 

 

The two Rushan’s left the manor, and peace was restored to Edenberg Manor!

 

For one day only.

 “This is a gift from Simone.” 

Vivi’s handheld a bag and jewelry.

 

Catherine jumped up, her eyes sparkling.

 “Oh, my God! The bag is Louis Vuitton, and this is a set of natural rubies from Oella. They’re all the finest.” 

In contrast to Catherine’s excitement, Artia’s eyes were cold.

 

Since the day after Shylock’s rampage, Simone had sent her gifts every day.

 

“It reminds me of Mrs. Edenberg.”

 

With a shy note that read.

 

The intent was all too clear.

 

A wooing of a woman he liked.

 

All I did that day was chase away the evil Rushan and cheer up the foolish Rushan, so where the hell did she come from?

 

Artia sighed and said to Vivi.

 “Send all this stuff back. And from now on, don’t bring anything Simone sends you to the villa.” 

Catherine, who had been happily stroking the bag and the ruby set, jumped.

 “You’re sending them back?!” “Yes.” “It’s not polite to send gifts back!” “It’s rude to send a bunch of expensive gifts without thinking about the other person, and I don’t want anything from Simone.” “I don’t care if it’s cheap, but why wouldn’t you want a gift that’s all top-of-the-line?” “I don’t want it because it’s top of the line.” “Are you sure…” 

Catherine said, biting her lip.

 “You can’t even dream of such a bag in your situation, so just take it!” “Even if I were a real beggar, I can’t have it.” “Then give it to me and I’ll make good use of it.” 

Artia didn’t react to the absurdity of her words, but looked at Vivi. Understanding Artia’s meaning, Vivi approached Catherine.

 

Catherine clutched her purse and jewelry box as if they would never be taken from her.

 

But there was no way a noblewoman with nothing but a teacup in her hand could resist a maid whose body was built like a bear.

 “Excuse me, Godmother.” 

Vivi snatched the object from Catherine’s tight grip.

 

As easily as snatching an object from the hand of a sleeping baby.

 “You!” 

Catherine’s eyes widened as she was pushed back, her godmother’s majesty showing.

 

But unlike the other maids, who bent at the waist at the mere sight of Catherine, Vivi looked at Artia without a single change of expression.

 “I will have a servant respectfully return this.” 

Artia started to nod, then changed her mind.

 

She had already sent the gift back several times, making it clear that she didn’t want to receive anything in the future. But she was ignored again and again.

 “I’m tired of dragging this out. Let’s make this clear.” 

Artia stood up.

 “I’ll take it to him myself.”  

* * *

  

Artia made her way to Baron Rushan’s mansion.

 

It was raining, and she was careful to keep the water off the hem of her dress as she entered the mansion.

 

The house was opulent, as befitted a family that had been in banking for generations and made a fortune.

 

The columns, ceilings, windows, and hallways all glittered.

 

But it’s all too much, and it feels more like extravagance than beauty.

 

The family that chose money over honor.

 

Artia was stunned when she entered the drawing room.

 

There stood Simone, dressed in gold-embroidered robes, wi

th a fist-sized diamond brooch across her chest, holding a huge bouquet of tulips.

 

Simone spoke, her face flushed.

 “Welcome, Mrs. Edenberg. I was so excited when I heard you were coming to visit.” “I can see that.” 

He looked like a peacock who had been hard at work since early morning.

 

The peacock held out the bouquet to Artia.

 “I heard you were coming, so I thought I’d bring you a gift. I wanted to give you all the flowers in the capital, but I couldn’t, so I chose the ones that are most popular these days.” 

The coveted tulip.

 

They had recently become so

popular with the aristocracy that the price of a single tulip was equivalent to a carat of diamonds.

 

The thought of what a bouquet of over a hundred would cost was staggering.

 

Artia shook her head, not bothering to hide her embarrassment.

 “I’m sorry, Mr. Simone. I can’t take it.” “……!” “I won’t accept anything but flowers, and I came to tell you that.” 

Simone froze, shocked by the polite but firm words.

 

Only after a long moment did he speak.

 “Don’t you, uh, like me?” “No.” “Then you like…” “No, I have no feelings for you, Simone.” “……!” 

Simone looked as if his whole world had fallen apart.

 

But unlike before, he didn’t nod in understanding.

 

He looked at Artia with a soulful determination in his eyes and opened his mouth.

 “I like you Mrs. Edenberg. No, I love you.”Visit my Ko-fi for advance chapter discounts!!