The Search for the Duchess’s Husband

The emperor is old and sick.

 

In person, the Emperor’s face was pale.

 

But the gravity that had ruled the Empire for twenty-nine long years had not faded.

 

Artia swallowed hard as she looked into his fierce golden eyes.

 

Once the greetings were over, the Emperor got right to the point.

 “The divorce petition you sent to the Imperial Court only bore the seal of one side. Does that mean that the other side doesn’t want a divorce?” 

The emperor’s gaze shifted to Lloyd.

 

Confident that the emperor had given him the first word, Lloyd replied briskly.

 “Yes, Your Majesty, I do not want a divorce.” 

Lloyd put his hand over his heart and continued.

 “Three years ago, I swore an oath to the noble Emperor, the almighty Goddess, and the people of the world that I would be a husband to Artia von Edenberg, here, for the rest of my life, and I keep that promise.” 

The man in the white robes stood tall and proud as he announced his intentions.

 

Regardless of the rot that radiated from him.

 

The emperor nodded.

 “Yes, promises are important.” “……!” 

Lloyd’s face flushed.

 

Lloyd had been busy being an idiot since he became Duke of Edenberg, but not as much as the emperor.

 

He supported the emperor’s every word and sent far more than his share of taxes to the Imperial Court each time.

 

For every imperial anniversary, he never forgot to pack an enormously expensive gift.

 

Artia knitted her eyebrows.

 

Lloyd may have been denounced as incompetent by others, but he may be well liked by Your Majesty.

 

‘What’s not to like about a man who bends over and obeys like a dog?’

 

Artia’s clasped fingertips grew cold at the thought that the Emperor might side with Lloyd.

 

Then the emperor’s gaze fell on Artia.

 “For a duchess of such distinction, you look terrible.” 

He pointed at Artia’s blue, bruised face.

 “I apologize.” “Why do you want a divorce?” 

His nervous tone showed no sign of compassion for Artia.

 

Artia opened her mouth, trying not to show her nerves.

 “In the document I attached to my divorce petition, I wrote in great detail about what an evil husband Lloyd has been to me all these years. Did you read it?” “I did. But that’s not enough reason to dissolve a marriage that promised eternity, is there any other reason?” 

He wanted me to say something to convince him.

 “I don’t need another reason to stop living with that bastard… no Lloyd!” 

Artia wanted to snap, but she held herself back.

 

If she did, she wouldn’t just get a divorce, she’d get her head cut off.

 

After catching her breath, Artia opened her mouth.

 “Your Majesty, I remember that day, three years ago. Lloyd and I made our vows to your noble and almighty Majesty. To be a husband and wife who loved and respected each other, and to contribute to the glory of the Empire, but Lloyd was…” 

Artia paused for a moment, then continued.

 “He refused to sleep with me from the very first night. He even tricked me into taking birth control pills, saying he had no intention of having a child with me. He said he didn’t want to deprive the Duchy of Edenberg of a child.” 

The emperor’s eyebrows furrowed, even though he was familiar with the subject of heirs, as it was a very sensitive matter.

 

Feeling hopeful at the look, Artia continued.

 “That is not all, Your Majesty. After Lloyd took over the dukedom, the House of Edenberg went downhill. In three years, the family’s fortune was halved and its debts doubled.” 

She wasn’t whining. The dossier she sent to the emperor had the proof.

 “We have not loved, we have not spared, we have not been faithful, we have not trusted, we have followed a path of decline, not growth. We are unworthy of Your Majesty’s congratulations, for we are deficient and foolish.” 

A shuffle. Artia fell to her knees.

 

It was an unorthodox gesture for a daughter of Edenberg to kneel, even before the Emperor.

 

Artia looked up at the Emperor and spoke.

 “Punish these two sinners by withholding such grace as your favor.” 

One of the reasons the Emperor was reluctant to grant the divorce, Artia thought, was that it would undermine his authority.

 

His pride would be wounded if the emperor himself were to congratulate them.

 

So what if it wasn’t the nobleman who requested the divorce, but the emperor himself who took up the sword?

 

What if the emperor granted the divorce as a punishment, not because the nobleman asked for it?

 

This would actually increase the emperor’s authority. It would be a demonstration of the emperor’s power to break the bonds of marriage.

 

‘Please, may the emperor be moved by my words.’

 

Artia prayed fervently in her heart.

 

The emperor looked at her without saying a word. The longer the silence lasted, the harder Artia’s face became, as well as Lloyd’s.

 

After a moment, the emperor spoke.

 “You are so arrogant. Punishment is the choice of the burden, not the sinner.” 

His voice was full of displeasure.

 

Lloyd clenched his tea fist in glee, and Artia bit her lip.

 

‘What if the king does not grant us a divorce? I’ll kill Lloyd so there’ll be no evidence.’

 

Artia was desperate for a divorce, desperate enough to think such a terrible thought. Blood trickled from her bruised lips.

 “By the way, I like this punishment.” “What?!” 

Lloyd exclaimed in surprise. Artia’s eyes widened.

 

The emperor glared at Lloyd.

 “Lloyd of Edenberg!” 

The emperor spoke to Lloyd, who was too overwhelmed by the emperor’s aura to respond.

 “Your treatment of your wife, your use of concubines, and your failure to properly manage the household are reprehensible, but the empire has no problem with that. That’s a personal matter.” 

The Emperor was not an emotional man enough to care about such personal matters, but…

 “I can’t let the things that have been done in the name of the Duke of Edenberg go unnoticed.” 

The Emperor threw a pile of papers at Lloyd.

 

Lloyd looked at the papers on the floor and went pale.

 

It was an accusation written by nobles who wanted the Duke and Duchess of Edenberg divorced.

 

It listed all of Lloyd’s misdeeds.

 

The emperor spoke in an angry voice.

 “The Duke of Edenberg is not a position where you can simply grovel to those above you and order those below you around. You are expected to live up to the name, and what you have done in the past three years is abysmal.” “……!” “You have poisoned the atmosphere of the noble society with your unseemly behavior, made the organization less efficient by taking bribes and placing incompetents in key positions, and caused economic losses by taking over soundly run businesses and driving them out of business.” 

The emperor didn’t care about Artia’s misfortunes, but…

 “I cannot forgive anyone who harms the country of the burden.” 

His golden eyes flashed, and he shouted.

 “The presence of a man like you on the throne of the Duke of Edenberg is a loss to this empire. Descend from your throne at once!” 

Lloyd fell to his knees and looked as if he might cry.

 “Sire, sire, I will do my best; I will try; please give me a chance.” “No, you have amply demonstrated your incompetence over the past three years. I need no more chances for the incompetent.” 

The Emperor raised his staff and slammed it down on the ground.

 “I, Gregory von Orpheus, Lord of the Empire, hereby pronounce that Lloyd von Reiner and Artia von Edenberg are no longer husband and wife.” 

It was the exact opposite of what had been said in this very room three years earlier.

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