The Search for the Duchess’s Husband

Artia deliberately avoided seeing Penelope after what had happened.

 

She didn’t have time for it, and she thought she’d be embarrassed to see her.

 

But she didn’t…

 

Penelope’s affection for her ran deeper than Artia had realized.

 “If you can’t pay back the money, you’ll get married. How can you take a thug who wants to buy a bride for money as a husband? If things get really bad, you can run away to my house…” 

Artia hugged Penelope tightly.

 “Thank you, Pepe.” 

She thought there was no one else, but there she was again, by her side.

 

Penelope blinked wide eyed, then patted Artia on the back.

 “Friends forever.” 

Artia filled Penelope in on the details of the situation.

 

Penelope, who had only heard the rumor that Artia was marrying the Rushans in exchange for a loan, was furious.

 “Baron Rushan lured your godmother to a gambling house to borrow money from him. What a despicable bastard.” “I agree.” “The same goes for the godmother, no matter how much she gambles, but to use her daughter’s favorite lake as collateral… Ugh, I’m angry.” 

Penelope pounded her fist against her chest in frustration.

 

It made Artia’s stomach turn to see Penelope so angry, like it was her job.

 

Penelope’s face became monstrous.

 “Exactly how much money did she borrow from that thug?” “Three billion gold with interest.” 

Penelope’s mouth fell open. She looked at the bag she had brought and muttered.

 “This won’t be enough…” 

Artia put a hand over Penelope’s frowning one.

 “Don’t worry too much. I have a way to pay you back.” “Really?” “Yes, but I need Pepe’s power to do it. Can you help me?” “Sure. Anything!” 

Artia whispered in a low voice to Penelope, who quickly regained her strength.

 

A few hours later, Artia left the mansion in darkness.

 

 

* * *

 

 

A ballroom in a capital city. A group of richly dressed nobles were gossiping.

 “Mrs. Edenberg has been running from place to place trying to find money, but she’s nowhere to be seen.” 

They were talking about Artia and House Rushan, the biggest topic in social circles these days.

 

A noblewoman laughed quietly.

 “She’s just making a show of it because she’ll be called impertinent for borrowing the money in the first place, and she won’t have to pay it back when she marries Simone.” “She’s quick with the math, leaving an incompetent husband and remarrying Simone. How clever of her.” 

The assembled nobles snickered…

 “You speak so rudely when you don’t even know her!” 

Penelope interrupted in a squeaky voice.

 

Penelope glared at the woman who had mocked Artia earlier

.

 “Artia isn’t marrying into the Rushan family for money, she’s getting mortgaged for it!” 

The woman, recoiling from the fiery outburst, replied quickly.

  “If that’s true, then why don’t you try to get more money?” 

Penelope replied as if she had been waiting.

 “You act like you know so much and you don’t? No matter how hard Artia tried, Baron Rushan made sure she couldn’t get any money, and the heartbroken Artia just collapsed, like a rabbit in a trap set by a despicable hunter!” 

Artia was left a poor, pathetic woman, about to be forced into marriage.

 

* * *

 

The massive doors swung open. Simone called to Shylock, who was pouring gold coins from a pile on his desk.

 “Brother, they say Mrs. Edenberg has fallen!” “Mrs. Edenberg?” “Yes, I heard the news and went to the mansion, but she wouldn’t see me or even open the door. What if she’s very sick?” 

Simone’s eyes filled with tears, but Shylock’s face showed no change in expression.

 “If she were seriously ill, she would have called a doctor, but she has no intention of doing that. I think she’s playing a joke. She’s just upset because she didn’t get the money.” 

Artia has visited many people looking for money.

 

Elders of the Dukes of Edenberg, gambling nobles, merchants of expensive goods, but no one would help her.

 

For Shylock had beaten them to it, offering her gold.

 

The power of money was mighty.

 “Mrs. Edenberg must have realized that, and it must be a shame for a woman of great nobility to be so humiliated.” 

Shylock added, placing another gold coin on the pile.

 “But this will pass; when her anger has passed and her reason has returned, she will see the advantage of my decision and agree to marry you.” 

Shylock looked triumphant, like the winner of a game, but Simone’s face grew even paler.

 

When his proposal to Artia had been rejected, it hurt like hell.

 

So when Shylock told him to trust only himself, that he would somehow get him to marry Artia, he nodded in fascination.

 

But as time passed and reason returned, he realized this was not right.

 

Simone found the courage to speak.

 “Brother, won’t my future wife hate me if I push her like this? I want her to love me, not hate me.” 

Shylock smiled crookedly at the childlike innocence and foolishness of the words.

 “How?” “What?” “Do you think I could win Mrs. Edenberg’s love if I came now and paid all her debts?” “What’s done is done, and as far as she’s concerned, you and I are just evil hunters out to get her. Even if you come in now and wipe out her debts, you’ll lose money and gain nothing.” “……!” 

Simone’s face contorted at the cursed words.

 

Shylock’s voice softened, as if to comfort his distraught brother.

 “But it will be different when you marry her. You’ll have the woman of your dreams as your bride, and you’ll be called Duke of Edenberg.” “…….” “And that’s not all, I’ll pay the Duke of Edenberg an astronomical sum of money for you, and the faltering duchy will regain the stature of great nobility, and Frau Edenberg’s hatred will turn to affection.” 

Shylock smoothed Simone’s collar and continued.

 “And you will have the woman’s heart you’ve always wanted.” 

He wasn’t making this up to convince his brother.

 

Shylock really believed it.

 

Money was more precious than anything in the world, even a man’s life.

 

The young woman who had vowed never to marry was no different.

 

Shylock’s eyes, which to others might have seemed as cunning as a serpent’s, seemed so trusting to Simone.

 

Above all, he was a man of the House of Rushan.

 

A man who believed in the power of money.

 “Can you really do this?” “Of course. So stop sulking like a man whose money has been stolen and start thinking about how to win her heart, whether that means buying her the finest diamond ring or an entire island.” 

Encouraged, Simone nodded.

 

Shylock stroked his brother’s hair lovingly and thought to himself.

 

‘There are only a few days left before the payment is due. On that day, the woman who could do nothing but sob in her blanket will come to me and kneel before me.’

 

The corner of his mouth twitched at the thought.

 

It was the smile of a hunter about to make his kill.

 

 

* * *

 

 

“Ouch.” 

Artia let out a small cry.

 

The older woman in the bed asked in a worried voice.

 “What is it?” “My ears are suddenly tickling. I think someone is listening.” 

But in contrast to Artia’s nonchalant reply, the woman’s face grew pale.

 

She tugged impatiently at the cord. The door opened and an old, gray-haired maid appeared.

 

The woman said to the maid

 “Julie seems to have a cold, so bring her some ginger tea. With plenty of honey.”Visit my Ko-fi for advance chapter discounts!!