The Search for the Duchess’s Husband

“Are you all right, my lady?”

Vivi asked in surprise.

 “Yes, I don’t know how you…” 

Elma and everyone else in the mansion said that Vivi had run away from the mansion.

 

Artia thought so too.

 

She hadn’t. Vivi had never left Artia’s side.

 “I hid in a secret compartment near the mistress’s room.” “What?!” 

Throughout its long history, Edenberg Manor had secret rooms scattered throughout.

 

Of course, the maids who worked in the mansion would recognize some of them.

 

But most of them were unfit for human habitation. They were poorly maintained, dusty, and lacked any kind of lighting.

 

On top of that, there were dozens of people in the mansion, constantly moving around. It was a miracle to remain undetected in such conditions, even in the most secret of places.

 

Artia looked worriedly at Vivi’s body.

 

Fortunately, nothing had changed.

 

Her skin color still looked good and her body was firm.

 

The tips of her ears were slightly red.

 “Don’t worry, I’m fine.” “Really?” “Yes. I hid it because it’s a useless skill for a maid serving a noblewoman, but hunting is actually my family’s karma. My father taught me many skills, including how to hide…”

Vivi continued, looking at Lloyd on the ground.

“How to render a creature incapable of fighting.” 

Artia followed Vivi’s gaze to Lloyd.

 

Lloyd was as motionless as a dead frog when Vivi’s heel hit him in the back of the head.

 

Artia whispered in a low voice.

“Are you sure he’s not dead?” 

Vivi replied, putting her hand on Lloyd’s neck.

“He just fainted. Do you want me to kill him?” 

Vivi’s eyes were so serious.

 

If Artia nodded, she would twist Lloyd’s neck.

 

Artia lowered her eyebrows and laughed.

 “I hate to tell you this, but no.” 

Because life is precious, and because no matter how much she hated him, she had once loved him.

 

No other reason, of course.

 

Artia was sure she wouldn’t shed a single tear if Lloyd died right now.

 

At least not kill him.

 “Lloyd is still the Duke of Edenberg.” 

It was a great sin to harm a noble.

 

If it was murder, it was immediately punishable by death, no matter the reason.

 “Even if we hide Lloyd’s body, the investigators will be relentless in their pursuit of his whereabouts and whoever harmed him. I do not want my precious maid to become a criminal.” “…….” “Your place is by my side, Vivi.” 

The tips of Vivi’s ears were redder than before. They look

ed like they were on fire.

 

Nodding with determination, Vivi pointed at Lloyd and asked.

 “What about him?” 

Artia looked at Lloyd, who was stunned, and then spoke.

 “This is what we’re going to do.”  

* * *

 

 

Vivi’s kick was exquisite.

 

Lloyd didn’t die. He didn’t lose his memory or go mad.

 

Too bad.

 

The next day, Lloyd woke up and raised an eyebrow at Artia.

 “What happened to you?” “Now you come and pretend you don’t know, you made me look like this.”

Artia replied, rubbing her badly bruised face.

 

Lloyd jumped.

“When did I!” “Last night. Last night, when you barged into my room and tried to force yourself on me…” 

Lloyd’s shoulders slumped at the word

“force”

.

 

Artia continued, disgusted that he was reacting like a normal person to a subject who had done something even an animal wouldn’t do.

 “You hit me when I stubbornly refused to stop, and I was so scared that I pushed you, and you hit your head on the corner of the bedside table, knocking you unconscious.” “What are you talking about, I was knocked out because some asshole punched me in the back of the head…” 

Lloyd said as if he realized something.

 “You saying that shit to cover for the guy who hit me?” 

Artia gave him a look of unspeakable contempt.

 “You’re the one trying to spin your way out of this, so stop it. I’ve already asked the Imperial Court to protect me from my husband who refuses to divorce me and tries to harm me, and I’ve been duly granted.” 

Lloyd shouted in panic.

 “I’ve been unconscious for a day, and you ask for something and get it granted!” “I didn’t need your words to prove to the Imperial Inspector what happened last night, as several servants testified that you entered my room without permission and did something terrible.” “How dare you say that!” “You don’t understand the situation, Lloyd. This is not the time for you to be angry about such things. You should be worried about being punished for the terrible things you’ve done to me.” 

Artia glared at Lloyd.

 

Lloyd’s shoulders hunched under the force of it, then he forced a smile.

 “I think you’re the one who hasn’t come to your senses yet. This is Edenberg Manor, and I’m the one who owns it, and I can make you mine anytime I want.” “Kyaaah!” 

Artia shouted, cutting off Lloyd’s words.

 

With an expressionless face that showed no emotion.

 

Before Lloyd could react, the door burst open and knights in golden armor rushed in and stood before Artia.

 

The most powerful of them spoke.

 “The Duchess of Edenberg has requested the protection of the Imperial Court, and the Court has granted it. From now on, the Duchess of Edenberg will be under the protection of the Knights of Gold.” 

The knight’s tone was polite, but his eyes…

“A vile bastard who not only imprisoned his wife, but assaulted her.”

He cursed.

 

All the knights stared at Lloyd with the same expression.

 

If Lloyd did anything suspicious, they would draw their swords and stab him instantly.

 *Crackle.* 

Finally, Lloyd let go of his tail and lowered his eyes.

 

‘You act like you’re not a threat when I’m staring at you, and then you lower your tail when a man who looks older than you is staring at you.’

 

Artia clenched her fists.

 

Her weakness was suddenly annoying. Especially after last night, when she couldn’t get away from Lloyd.

 “As soon as the divorce is final, I’m going to train and be as strong as Vivi and if anyone tries to do what he did last night, I’ll crush him between these legs.” 

She left the room with the knights, determined, and Elma stood in the doorway.

 

 

* * *

 

As soon as she saw Artia, Elma burst into tears.

 “I really regret that I stayed outside the mansion after what happened yesterday, otherwise I would have given my life to save you. Please punish this ugly maid for failing to protect her master.” 

She looked so sad.

 

Some of the knights behind her seemed touched that she was such a loyal servant.

 

Artia was not one of them.

 “Elma, who rarely goes out, happened to be away yesterday.” 

Artia didn’t think it was just a coincidence.

 

It’s more like this:

 

Elma watched Lloyd bite the servants and realized he was going to do something to Artia.

 

She made an excuse and left the manor.

 

She didn’t want to be a nuisance and cause trouble for Lloyd or Artia.

 

Maybe she was hoping that Lloyd had mortally wounded Artia so that she would no longer be able to exercise her power over her.

 

It was a devious move, but one that ultimately benefited Artia.

 

‘It kept Vivi’s beating of Lloyd a secret.’

 

Artia thought about last night.

 

The method she had chosen to hide what Vivi had done to Lloyd was…

 “I just have to have a worse wound on my body than Lloyd’s. People’s attention will be drawn to the one who’s hurt more.”Visit my Ko-fi for advance chapter discounts!!