The Search for the Duchess’s Husband

“Oh my goodness, here’s a nice gentleman…” 

The woman blushed at the man in the black mask and couldn’t speak.

 

The white masked woman standing next to him glared at her.

 “What’s with the look in your eyes?” 

The woman turned away, as if she didn’t want to deal with the fool.

 

Watching, Killian spoke in a low voice.

 “You’re unbelievable.” 

‘Was he being sarcastic? Or was he serious?’

 

Artia, who had already fended off the approaching woman several times, decided to take his words as the latter and spoke up.

 “Looks like all that practice in my room paid off.” 

Killian’s golden eyes widened.

 “You practiced?” “Yes. As you can see, I look very fragile.” 

Fragile, to put it mildly.

 

In everyday life that was fine, but in the harsh world it often caused problems.

 

So Vivi started training her in earnest.

 “I will teach you how to subdue wild animals with your eyes.” 

She raises her eyebrows and stares with such force that her eyeballs pop out!

 “Hmph.” 

She stares straight ahead as she’s been taught, and the woman approaching from the other side turns her head in horror.

 

Artia, amused by the stronger-than-expected reaction, turns to Killian.

 “She must think I’m really scary.” “…Yes, you are very scary.” 

Artia blinked harder, feeling a boost of confidence from being recognized by the scariest man in the Empire.

 

But there was one thing she didn’t know.

 

No matter how wide-eyed she was, she was not the kind of woman to scare away all strangers.

 

Still, the reason women and men alike didn’t dare to approach her was because of… Killian, who stood next to Artia.

 

His eyes, barely visible through his black mask, were sinister.

 

She seems to have lost her mind, but he looks even worse.

 

The rest of the frightened people looked down or turned away from them.

 

This allowed Artia to scan the ballroom in peace.

 

They weren’t just out for a night of debauchery.

 

Games of all kinds were being played at tables scattered throughout the room, and the atmosphere was electric,

 

Gold coins piled high on the tables

.

 

The crazed stares of the card players.

 

One man yelled out.

“Damn, I lost again!” 

The man next to him fell to his knees and sobbed.

“If you take this money too, I’m really broke. Just let me off the hook this time, please.” 

The fox-masked man chuckled and grabbed all the money on the table in front of him.

“Uh-huh, have you forgotten, it’s a rule of this banquet that you can play like a madman, but you still have to follow the rules of the game. If you don’t like it, play another game.” 

This is…

 

Killian’s voice was in Artia’s ear as she looked serious.

 “So, the reports of high stakes gambling at the banquet were true.” 

Gambling itself was not illegal in the Empire.

 

But when the stakes were raised, the losses could be catastrophic, and some were ruined overnight.

 

As she thought about it, goosebumps broke out all over her body.

 

‘I can’t believe my mother was going in and out of places like this…’

 

Originally, she had wanted to return to the ballroom to check out the atmosphere, but now that she knew the truth, she couldn’t

.

 

Artia turned her head.

 

Catherine was dressed to the nines again today.

 “She must be here.” 

A moment later she spotted the colorful rose blossom mask she’d seen a few days ago.

 

Catherine was sitting at a round table piled high with hundreds of gold coins, a handful of cards in

her hand.

 

Her heart sank.

 

‘I hope not…’

 

Artia was so shocked that her mind went white, but she quickly regained her composure and walked over to Catherine and grabbed her wrist.

 “What the hell?!” 

Catherine whipped her head around and glared at the person who had grabbed her hand.

 

Artia spoke in a voice that only Catherine could hear.

 “Let’s go home, mother.” 

Catherine’s face immediately paled.

 “Yes, I don’t know how you got here…” 

Instead of answering, Artia tugged at Catherine’s hand.

 “Let’s get out.” “No!” “If you don’t leave now, I’ll rip off your mask.” “……!” 

The news would spread like wildfire.

 

That Mrs. Edenberg has gone to a lewd, greedy banquet.

 

It’s hell for Catherine, who has lost her husband, her power and her dignity.

 

Finally, Catherine rose to her feet.

 

Artia said to Killian.

  “You asked me to join you, Your Majesty, and I apologize, but may I return first?” 

Just when she thought he might be angry for once…

 “Whatever, I’ve finished my business.” 

‘Had he scanned the ballroom already?’

 

Artia wondered, but asked no more, bowing her head in greeting.

 

She forced Catherine, who couldn’t take her eyes off the ballroom, into her carriage.

 

Once in the carriage, Catherine grumbled.

 “Why did you bring me out here, I had a game to win and if I could win it, I could pay off all my debts in one shot…” 

Catherine gasped and covered her mouth, but it was too late.

 

Unmasked, Artia asked, her face contorted.

 “You borrowed money to gamble?” “…….” “You don’t have to tell me if you think you can handle it on your own, but if you do and you can’t, then you’ll have to deal with my wrath.” 

Her glare was fiercer than when she had fended off the women who had approached Killian earlier.

 

It was enough to make even Catherine’s shoulders stiffen.

 

After a few moments, Catherine spoke up, her voice cracking.

 “Actually…” 

 

* * *

 

 

The first day at Baron Crovachon’s banquet.

 

In a game of cards, paid for with gold coins from Shylock, Catherine wins hand after hand.

 

The onlookers clap their hands in amazement.

 “Wow, she’s really good!” 

A man in a leopard-print mask grabs her shoulders and cheers.

 “Great job, Lady Rose!” 

The attention poured in. And money, which doubled in just a few games.

 

Catherine returned home drunk on a dreamlike high.

 

After that, she started going in and out every night.

 

With each winning card game, she accumulated gold coins and her confidence grew.

 “Maybe I had a talent after all.” 

One day, her eyes shining with new confidence, Catherine bet all the gold coins she had.

 “Go!” 

…She lost that game like a liar.

 

She couldn’t stand the fact that what was hers was now someone else’s money.

 

As Catherine bit her lip in frustration, Shylock approached.

 

He whispered.

 “If you ever need money, you can always ask. I’m your host, and I’ll always lend it to you.” 

Sweet and frightening words, like the devil’s whisper.

 

But Catherine didn’t even realize they were dangerous.

 

All she could think about was getting back the money that had been stolen from her.

 “Then just a little…” 

The corners of Shylock’s mouth lifted beneath his golden mask at Catherine’s words.

 

Artia’s face turned icy.

 “So you borrowed money from Baron Rushan?” 

Catherine nodded, not daring to look at Artia.

 “Yes.” “How much?” “About 1.5 billion gold…” “……!” 

At that moment, Artia’s brain froze.

 

A moment later, an unbelievably harsh curse word came out of her mouth.

 “You f*cking snake.” 

Catherine slid off the carriage chair with a thud. Artia’s expression had never been so fierce.

 

Catherine looked up at Artia and said,

“I didn’t mean to borrow so much to begin with, but it turned out that…” “…….” “Don’t worry. I’ll pay it all back.” 

Artia, who had been quiet, spoke up.

 “How?” “…….” “Don’t tell me you’re going to pay him back by winning a gamble, or I’ll lose what little sanity I have left.” Visit my Ko-fi for advance chapter discounts!!