Celebrity Lady - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Celebrity Lady
Chapter 101
* * *
Lark knows my secret. No—he knows it for certain.
He didn’t say anything more about which secret or how he found out, but we fell silent together as if we’d made a pact.
‘Did I let something slip the other day when I was drunk?’
I shook my head. However he learned it didn’t matter anymore.
What mattered was that Lark had discovered the enormous secret that I was Wishit’s Contractor, and that despite this, he’d made the decision to keep it hidden.
[So what did you want to say?]
Oh right, I was still on the call with Father.
I brought the small Potted Plant that Lark had made to my lips and spoke listlessly.
“It’s just that my heart feels unsettled. This friend A—he’s someone with an unwavering cause and his own firm principles that he’d never compromise on, you see?”
[Right, the Crown Prince is like that.]
“What? Why are you suddenly bringing up the Crown Prince? I said friend A.”
[Oh, right. Keep going.]
“Anyway, this friend A made the decision to abandon his own cause for friend B. B has a tremendous problem, and it seems A is just going to turn a blind eye to it.”
[Do you have a problem?]
“Why are you suddenly talking about me? I said B.”
[Right, but if A said he’d overlook it, then it’s done. What’s the problem?]
“It’s not a problem—it’s just that my heart feels unsettled. B said he didn’t know he was that important to A.”
[So what you’re saying is that B was moved by A’s decision.]
“Yes, something like that.”
[Rubetria.]
“Yes.”
[Get a hold of yourself. There are plenty of men out there who pretend to be kind while harboring impure intentions.]
“Are you insulting A right now?”
[Yeah. So A really was a man, wasn’t he?]
“…….”
* * *
“So B is right on the edge of falling for A?”
[I didn’t say anything like that!]
“That’s what it amounts to.”
[No! It’s just—B was always planning to tell A about the problem anyway. The worry was just that B didn’t trust A enough—]
“Right, that A might dwell on it instead of just letting it go.”
[Yes, exactly. But when A decided to overlook it without much deliberation at all, well, B was simply surprised.]
“It would’ve been better if he’d just been surprised. Instead, he’s catching feelings.”
[That’s not true!]
Knock, knock.
Just then, there came a knock at the door.
“Father, it’s me.”
It was Biego.
“Rubetria, hold on a moment.”
[Yes.]
“Yes, come in.”
Leonard gave a small start at the sight of Biego shuffling in through the door.
His son had become a shadow of himself in just a month. He’d almost failed to recognize him.
“Father…….”
“Yes, yes.”
“I am ashamed. And yet.”
“…….”
“Still, no matter what, I will find Rubetria.”
Biego’s body trembled as he bit down on his lips hard enough to draw blood. Leonard found himself uncertain in the face of his son’s pitiful state.
“The Imperial House has placed strict controls on who can enter the Island. Rubetria must be somewhere within it.”
“Yes, yes…….”
“I apologize, Father.”
“No, why would you apologize to me? I know you’re trying your hardest.”
“I, I. I…….”
Is he crying?
Leonard faltered in confusion, but Biego clenched his teeth and forced himself under control, turning away.
“I’m sorry for showing you such an unsightly figure. For not being a better brother to Rubetria.”
“No, listen—”
“Please wait just a little longer.”
“Biego!”
Bang.
Leonard had half-risen to his feet toward the closed door, but now he sank back down with a long, heavy sigh.
[What was that? That was Biego, wasn’t it? What was he saying?]
“Sigh…….”
[Father?]
“Rubetria.”
[Yes.]
“Tell that friend A to resolve this quickly, would you? At this rate, our eldest is going to be destroyed.”
[…….]
* * *
The moment Biego finished his report to Leonard and left, he happened to run into the twins.
Or rather, it wasn’t chance—the twins had come looking for him. He’d been dealing with their complaints for a full month now.
“Heeey.”
“Big brotheeeer.”
“Enough.”
Biego spoke coldly to the twins, who clutched at his arms and whined.
“Why are you acting so thoughtlessly? Aren’t you worried about Rubetria at all?”
“Of course we’re worried. But brother, Rubetria is Rubetria, and we need to go make our Contract soon.”
“What? Rubetria is Rubetria?”
Biego’s eyes narrowed dangerously at the remark, and Ricky flinched. Lilia quickly stepped between them.
“Brother, Ricky worries about Rubetria too. It’s just that his heart is impatient and he said something thoughtless. We’ve both been counting the days to make our Contract with a Spirit…….”
Normally, a month ago, the twins should have visited the Altar in the Imperial House to make their Contract with a Spirit.
But with the Diolus Duchy’s only daughter kidnapped and her fate uncertain.
The Emperor had suggested postponing the Contract ceremony—an occasion the nation considered auspicious—as inappropriate for the current circumstances, and Biego had naturally agreed.
“I never said we wouldn’t arrange your Contract. I told you to wait until we find Rubetria safely. Why are you complaining?”
“Ugh, it’s so frustrating. If she’s dead, will we never be able to make a Contract?”
“What?”
Ricky grumbled under his breath with a thoroughly sullen expression, and Biego’s face went cold as ice.
“What did you just say.”
“B-Brother. Ricky’s just frustrated, I think.”
“Then give me a specific date. We can’t wait indefinitely for someone we don’t even know is alive or dead.”
“Ricky!”
Lilia, startled, grabbed Ricky’s arm to restrain him and backed away.
“Brother, I’m sorry. I don’t know why he’s so worked up. Let’s, let’s just go.”
Even as Lilia dragged him away, Ricky continued muttering complaints.
Biego watched the twins’ receding figures in silence, then bit his lip hard as emotion welled up inside him.
‘Rubetria…….’
Though he worried about his only sister more than anyone, Biego found his own worry pitiful and shameful.
‘When Rubetria was safely by my side, I never did anything good for her…….’
How could that not be shameful?
What if something really had happened to her? What if he could never see her again?
No matter how hard he searched his memory, he couldn’t find a single instance of having been a good brother to her. There were only memories of hurting her, of being coldly indifferent.
“Always look after the twins well. As their older sister, you need to be selfless and make concessions for them.”
“Yes, brother. I will.”
Why had he said that…….
Rubetria and the twins were only a year apart. They were all equally young.
“Rubetria! What were you doing! Was looking after your siblings such a difficult request?”
“I, I’m sorry. Ricky, Ricky was…, h, hurt a lot? I was such an idiot sleeping, I, I didn’t notice.”
The memory of waking his clueless younger sister and yelling at her made his breath catch.
“…….”
Slowly, Biego’s hand reached into his pocket and pulled something out.
A Cat-shaped Plush Doll, crudely handmade.
The one Lilia had made for his birthday two years ago. Or rather, precisely…….
The one he’d always believed Lilia had made.
“Ha, Lilia. Are you preparing a handkerchief for the riding tournament? You shouldn’t have the servants do this—it only means something if you do it yourself, right? You’re good at sewing.”
“Oh come on, brother. What are you talking about? I’ve never even picked up a needle in my life. What if I prick myself? That scares me.”
“……Oh?”
“Hehe, and brother wouldn’t want my beautiful hands to bleed, would you?”
Why had he simply assumed Lilia had made it? Like a fool.
And.
What must Rubetria have thought when she watched her stupid brother praise Lilia for the gift she herself had made?
“Hah…….”
Biego pulled the small doll to his chest and held it tight, and a sound broke from his lips despite himself.
“Hah, sob…….”
What should he do. What could he do.
I’m sorry. I’m sorry, little sister.
I was wrong.
“Ahh…….”
Tears spilled freely, and he didn’t care to wipe his twisted, shameful face.
Nineteen years old this year.
Biego had matured early because he’d had to bear so much. How long had it been since he’d wept like a child?
“Ugh…….”
He sobbed there for a very long time, mourning his only sister’s absence, regretting everything too late.
* * *
Rumble, rumble.
“……Cough!”
Startled.
I opened my hazy eyes and jerked my head around sharply.
‘What, what is it? Did I wake up because I heard my own snoring?’
I must have been sleeping very soundly. Usually I’d take light naps for three or four hours at a time, but lately, with nothing to do, the quality and duration of my sleep had improved…….
“Hmm.”
I was about to close my eyes again and drift back to sleep.
Creak.
Someone was very carefully opening the door to my room.
‘Rebecca?’
I thought it might be Rebecca, coming to check on my bedding in the early morning…….
‘Wait. That’s not right.’
The footsteps, quiet and stealthy, drew closer with a distinctly heavier tread. It wasn’t Rebecca.
‘What is it. Who is this.’
Thump, thump, thump.
My heart began pounding instinctively as I sensed the presence of an unknown intruder.
The suspicious presence approached all the way to the small table beside my bed.
Then came the sound of the drawer opening—creak.
“Who is it!”
“……!”
I quickly rose in the darkness and scrambled to the corner of the bed, while the suspicious presence seemed startled by my outburst.
“Don’t be scared. It’s me.”
“……Your Highness?”
“Sorry, sorry. I needed something and heard it was here. I’ll just grab it and go.”
“Wait, hold on. Let me light the lamp.”
“No, no, you can’t.”
For some reason, Lark tried to stop me, fumbling in the darkness.
I readily felt my way across the table and found the Matchbox.
‘Is that blood?’
As I drew near Lark, I caught the sharp, metallic scent of blood. Something felt terribly wrong.
I quickly struck a match, transferred the flame to a candle, and gasped.
“Oh!”
“…….”
There stood Lark, shirtless, looking embarrassed with an awkward smile.
Across his ribs was a wound so terrible it made my eyes squint involuntarily.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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