The Search for the Duchess’s Husband

In the end, Killian ate three: beef jerky, chicken jerky, and duck jerky.

 

The salty, chewy meat didn’t taste bad.

 

It just felt dirty.

 

Artia, not knowing what was going through his mind, clapped her hands together and looked pleased.

 “You’re a good meat eater, I’ll make it better next time.” 

‘Stop!’

 

Killian barely held back the words that threatened to spill out of his mouth.

 

Worse, it didn’t stop there.

 

Artia pulled a long stick from the basket.

 

At the end of a string attached to the stick was a fluttering pink feather.

 “You listened to my story, so I thought I’d entertain you.” 

Artia waved the pink feather and giggled.

 “Catch it, Butterfly.” “…….” 

‘Are you out of your mind, Artia von Edenberg, chasing a pink feather around and playing with me?’

 

That’s it. He has no more desire to be a part of her bizarre antics.

 Flick! 

Artia let out an exclamation as the black cat swung her front paws and caught the pink feather.

 “Whoa!” 

The black cat didn’t even look at her, just flicked his front paw and caught the pink feather.

 

It was an almost mystical gesture.

 “It’s amazing how fast you are. I didn’t even see it move.”

Artia said, her voice full of excitement.

 “…….” 

That look.

 

Killian would never have done this if it weren’t for the twinkle in her pink eyes, as if she saw the greatest thing in the world.

 

But now this was really the limit.

 

‘If I do this again, I’m going to really enjoy it.’

 

That was his biggest fear.

 

There was a timely knock at the door and a maid’s voice answered.

 “Master, it’s Vivi.” 

The black cat stood up without hesitation.

 

Artia was disappointed, but her expression was brighter than before.

 

She knew she would see Butterfly again.

 

Artia smiled shyly.

 “I had so much fun today. Next time I’ll have more treats and toys.” 

‘No, there would be no next time.’

 

One humiliating day was enough for him.

 “So I’ll see you again, Butterfly.” 

The setting afternoon sun lit up Artia’s face.

 

Her silver hair and pink eyes sparkled in the light.

 

She looked so…

 

Killian stared at Artia, then opened his mouth.

 “Meow-.” 

And there it was again, that cute little sound.

‘Damn it.’

  

* * *

  

Artia opened her eyes to bright sunlight streaming in.

 

It was a little late to be up, but so much the better.

 

‘Sleeping in is one of the perks of being a lady. I’m going to enjoy it to the fullest.’

 

She stretched out her arms and stretched.

 

When Artia awoke with a start, Vivi brought her face wash.

 

After wiping her face with a warm, soaked towel, she began the simple task of grooming herself.

 

Vivi helped her comb her hair and change her clothes, her gentle touch making her feel like a newborn bear cub.

 

When she’s done, the meal begins.

 

A salad of carrots, beans, celery, tomatoes and blueberries was served next to a golden roasted chicken.

 

Artia used to be a terrible meat eater, but she had recently started eating meat every day.

 

Artia stared at the chicken and said.

“Vivi, eating meat builds muscles, right?” “Yes.”

Vivi nodded and flexed her biceps.

 

Seeing the muscles bulging through her maid’s dress, Artia popped a piece of shredded meat into her mouth and grunted.

 “Tasteless.” “You have an ounce of muscle now.”

Vivi said, looking at Artia’s horrified expression as if she was eating poison.

 

Encouraged by the words, Artia ate another piece of meat.

 

When she finished, she held the stones Vivi had made for her in both hands.

 

With her wafer-thin arms, it was a struggle to lift and lower the stone.

 

But Vivi’s voice cheered her up.

“You gained two grams of muscle.” “Yay!” 

Artia let out a small squeal and lifted the boulder.

 

The exercise was exhausting, but she felt so proud afterwards.

 

Afterwards, she received an update on the manor from her maid, Susan, munched on carrot sticks, and read her favorite book.

 

It was a very peaceful routine.

 

Except for

“that”.

 “A letter for you today.” 

The silver tray in Vivi’s hand was piled high with letters.

 

They were all from noblemen.

 “I used to be treated like air, but now I’m the hottest thing in society.” 

The reason: divorce.

 

The attention of the nobility was focused on the divorced duchess, who had broken a decades-old taboo.

 

While some were simply curious about the story of Artia’s divorce, others had a more blatant agenda.

 “He wants to talk seriously about marrying me?” 

Artia didn’t even recognize the face of the man in the letter.

 

Perhaps neither did he.

 

Nevertheless, the letter spoke at length about the benefits of marrying her.

 “I see, for a nobleman marriage is just business.” 

Artia sighed, fed up.

 

She didn’t want to be the center of attention at a social party and talk about her private life, nor did she want to find a man who would pay top dollar for the vacant Duchy of Edenberg.

 

She simply wanted to enjoy her newfound freedom and peace.

 

She would like to reply,

“Don’t bother people and get lost,”

but that would be a mess.

 

She didn’t want to get into a fight with someone she cared about, so she wrote back as politely as she could.

 

“I’m still hurting from my divorce and need a break. ” 

 

Her eyes widened as she typed out a mechanical reply with an unimpressed expression.

 

The name on the unopened envelope caught her eye.

 

Catherine von Edenberg. Artia’s stepmother.

 

Artia’s biological mother had died when she was ten.

 

Benedict brought a woman into the home less than a year aft

er his wife’s death.

 

Catherine, a young, beautiful woman.

 

Catherine was not the kind of woman who would t

ake great care of a young daughter who was not her own blood, but she was not abusive or bullying like the mean stepmother in fairy tales.

 

Young Artia wanted to be close to Katherine.

 

She was too young to need a mother’s touch.

 

But they never became close.

 

Time passed and Catherine didn’t have a baby, much to Benedict’s disappointment, and their relationship quickly grew cold.

 

In the aftermath, Catherine became estranged from Artia, and after Benedict’s funeral, she left the mansion altogether.

 “I can’t believe someone like that would come here. I have a hunch she’s not coming because she wants to see me.”  

* * *

 

 

A few days later, Catherine arrived at the manor.

 

Only fourteen years older than Artia, she was still young and beautiful enough to be called her mother.

 

Catherine, covered in luxury from head to toe, let out an exasperated cry as soon as she saw Artia.

 “My God, what do you think you’re doing?” 

Under the beating sun, Artia was dressed in the baggy trousers of a male servant, holding a heavy stone in each hand.

 

Catherine clicked her tongue.

 “You’re not a great beauty, and you’re not a sweetheart, and all you have to show for it is porcelain white skin and a body so thin it could break, and you ruin it!” 

That’s what she says after three years.

 “You’re still the same.” 

Smiling bitterly, Artia placed the stone on the ground and bowed gracefully.

 “Welcome, Mother.” 

Catherine’s feline eyes widened.

 “I could never believe you were divorced, but now I do. You’ve changed from looking at the ground with a frightened expression whenever you saw me, haven’t you?” “People change, yes.” “Good. At least you’ll be able to communicate better than when you were mumbling inaudible words without making eye contact.” 

Catherine held out a wad of paper to Artia.

 “What is this?” “I’ve narrowed down the eligible men who want to marry you.” 

Suddenly, Artia realized why Catherine had come all this way.

 “You’re here to remarry me?” “Huh.”Visit my Ko-fi for advance chapter discounts!!