The Search for the Duchess’s Husband

After much pleading, one of the servants mentions Lloyd’s name.

 “When the Duke returns, he will not forgive you for throwing us out.”

He said. 

 

Artia laughed a little.

 “Don’t worry, Lloyd won’t even remember your name.” 

She wasn’t being sarcastic, it was true.

 

Lloyd had no interest in anyone below him.

 

She could bet a hundred carrot sticks that the entire staff of this mansion could be replaced and he wouldn’t even notice.

 

But Elma, who had been the meanest to Artia, was not fired.

 “Thank you, my lady. I, Elma, will be loyal to you with my whole body.” 

Elma was happy, as if Artia had opened up to her.

 

It wasn’t like that at all.

 “I can manipulate Elma at will, using her weaknesses to my advantage. There’s no need to get rid of such a useful horse now.” 

The atmosphere in the mansion changed completely when the workers left.

 

Even the maids, who had mocked the change in their mistress, became respectful, and no one in the manor could ignore Artia.

 “So then…”

Artia extended her hand to Elma.

“Give me back the duke’s book.” “My lady, bookkeeping is tedious and difficult. I hope you will continue to trust me with…” “The ledger.”

Artia waved her hand angrily at Elma.

 

Elma, finally forced to hand over the evidence of her own corruption, sobbed.

 “Actually, my parents are very ill. I did it out of necessity to help pay my parents’ medical bills, and I didn’t mean any harm. I swear to God I’ll never do it again.” “Okay, okay.” 

Artia replied grimly and turned to the book.

 

Elma had been writing for Artia for the past three years.

 

It had taken her many long nights and weeks to read it all, but it had been worth it.

 

She found plenty of evidence of Lloyd’s profligate use of the family fortune.

 

But it was no match for her.

 “I’m like a newborn fawn, barely standing.” 

She has the will, but not the strength.

 

She needed an assistant to help her gain strength.

 

Artia searched her memory.

 

Her biological mother had died 13 years before, and her father had died of a heart attack three years before that.

 

She had a stepmother, but after her father’s death, she had left for a vacation home far from the capital.

 “Above all, she doesn’t have much affection for me, so it would be useless to ask her for help.” 

The same was true of other relatives.

 

Benedict’s egotistical nature had put him at odds with everyone in the family, and Artia had borne the brunt of the fallout.

 

No one in the family was interested in the only daughter of a former duke.

 

Enmity, if not outright hostility.

 “Ha… Let’s give up on blood ties and look outside the family for answers.” 

But no matter how hard she searched her memory, she couldn’t think of a single person.

 

A single hot tear rolled down her cheek.

 “What kind of life have you led, Artia…” 

Fortunately, Artia had one weapon left in her arsenal.

 

The name Edenberg.

 

Artia was incompetent, but Edenberg was not.

 

The venerable nobleman’s name held power.

 “Who would be the most expensive person to buy with that name?”

Artia thought, then wrote a letter.

 

—From. Artia von Edenberg…

 

She sent letters with her name to twelve people.

 “Will they read a letter from helpless Artia von Edenberg?” 

Even I wasn’t sure.

 

All she could do was pray that someone would write back.

 

Three days after the letter was sent, Lloyd returned.

 

***

 Thump, thump, thump— “He must be very angry,”

Artia said,

“to walk like that after being made a duke.” 

Then the door burst open with a bang, and an angry voice rang out.

 “Artia, how dare you lock Lyrica in her room?” 

Speechless, Lloyd looked at Artia.

 

Lloyd stared at her.

 

Artia stood by the window, bathed in bright sunlight.

 

Her makeup-free face and simple indoor dress were the same as Lloyd knew, but everything else was different.

 

Her skin, once as pale as a corpse’s, was revitalized, and her cheeks, hollowed from lack of food, were smooth.

 

Most importantly, the pink eyes that had always frightened him were sparkling like jewels.

 

“Who are you?”

Lloyd thought as he looked at Artia, who had a confused expression on her face that said,

“I’m not sure.”

 

‘Well, at least he’s got a running nose.’

 

Artia liked Lloyd not only because he was friendly.

 

It was also because of his looks.

 

Lloyd was handsome, with brown hair and blue eyes.

 

That’s right. Artia had a weakness for men’s faces.

 

But unlike before, when her heart skipped a beat at the sight of Lloyd, Artia felt nothing now.

 

She knows he’s a rotten piece of shit on the inside, no matter how good he looks on the outside.

 

‘There is no such thing as a pervert with a taste for filth.’

 “Right, I locked her in her room.”

Artia said with a grimace. 

 

She cupped her cheek and continued.

“She slapped my cheek. But I didn’t do any other physical punishment out of respect for you.” 

Lloyd’s neatly trimmed eyebrows arched.

 “Even if that’s what happened…” 

She thought he was going to say,

“You’re out of your mind, treating my baby bird like that!”

but then he said the unthinkable.

 “What’s with the tone of your voice?” 

‘Is he scolding me for not showing respect?’

 

Artia replied with a look of disbelief.

“You talk like that too, I’m just responding in kind.” 

Lloyd’s face contorted even more.

“So you fell into the lake, woke up, and then turned around. That’s pretty crazy.” “I’m not crazy.”

Artia spoke up again, this time with a grin.

“If anyone’s crazy, it’s you. You’re the one who brought your lover home to your wife and flirted with her.” 

Artia’s pink eyes held deep contempt.

 

Lloyd’s face flushed red with shame, if there was such a thing, which quickly turned to anger.

“Is this the real…?” 

Lloyd held out his hand to Artia.

 

No!

 

Lloyd’s hand slammed down on Artia’s right cheek.

 

It was the same spot where Lyrica had slapped her a few days ago.

 

They are the same as a pair of cockroaches.

 

With that thought, Artia fell to the ground in a heap.

 

The strength of the men and women was definitely different. The blow hurt much more than when Lyrica had hit her.

 

Looking at Artia, whose cheeks puffed out in an instant, Lloyd said,

“I’m sorry.” 

Lloyd looked at Artia, whose cheeks puffed out in an instant.

 “You seem to have made some great resolutions while I was away, but pull yourself together. You’re a disgrace to Edenberg, and you look better lying flat on the floor.” 

Whenever Lloyd used such merciless violence, Artia was terrified and cried.

 

Artia looked up.

“But I’m not the same Artia anymore.” 

Artia, with his bright pink eyes and glassy face, involuntarily stiffened her shoulders then she spoke.

 “For the past three years, you have ignored me, abused me, taken a concubine into my home, and even drugged me to prevent me from having children.” “Well, how is that…” “I don’t want to stay in this hell of a marriage anymore.” 

She said what she most wanted to say.

“We’re getting a divorce.”Visit my Ko-fi for advance chapter discounts!!