Celebrity Lady - Chapter 105
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Celebrity Lady
Chapter 105
‘Is he actually helping me right now? How unexpected…….’
I laughed softly and opened my Dance Card. Just as he’d said, a single line with his name was filled in.
“So it is.”
Shane shot Cedric a look of contempt and muttered under his breath.
“I spend all my time in the Magic Tower, so I’m not accustomed to the customs of these gatherings.
“…….”
But even I know it’s common sense that forcing a woman who refuses to dance is rude behavior.”
Cedric froze in place.
The gentlemen around us, who had been whispering among themselves, now spoke openly in loud voices to condemn him, since the Prince himself—and a Magic Tower Master at that—had broken the ice.
“That’s right. He’s lost his mind. Just relying on his family name to push like that.”
“It’s absurd. The House of Diolus is an extraordinarily distinguished family too…….”
“The Diolus lady must be too softhearted to overlook it. I would’ve embarrassed him far more.”
“They weren’t even close, yet he’s already threatening us not to look their way…….”
“Did he really do that?”
“That’s what he said to me earlier.”
Cedric stood dazed, openly hearing the mockery directed at him.
I wanted to laugh at the pathetic sight, but I held myself back and extended a hand toward Shane with elegant grace.
Shane flinched.
“Won’t you ask me to dance?”
I blinked charmingly as if I knew nothing, and his gaze shifted toward the hyenas circling around me.
Shane hesitated briefly, then clicked his tongue and took my hand.
“Thank you. I was in a difficult spot.”
I offered my gratitude quietly, for Shane’s ears alone, then led him into a dance toward the center of the hall.
A waltz was playing—nothing too difficult.
“You’re not a very good dancer, are you? Though I suppose this one is fairly easy.”
“What are you taking me for?”
Shane pulled me close with an irritated grunt, interlacing his left hand with my right in a firm grip.
“Oh, you do know your way around.”
“You’ve become a mummy in the time since I last saw you.”
“A mummy? Won’t you say I’ve built a healthy physique instead?”
“Doesn’t look particularly healthy to me.”
How sharp-tongued he was. It was surprising that he’d helped me at all, but Shane hadn’t changed a bit.
We spun around the hall, bickering the whole way.
“My, you’re wearing my gift?”
Suddenly I noticed the watch on Shane’s wrist—the present I’d sent to the Magic Tower some time ago along with a thank-you letter.
“It’s lovely, isn’t it? It’s expensive too. It’s the best-selling design from Blanc de Ruby.”
“Lovely, my foot. It’s just convenient to wear, so I keep it on. Otherwise I’d have tossed it straight in the trash. Pointless gems packed in everywhere.”
“Hmm…….”
Why is he so twisted?
I grumbled and shot back.
“True enough. Someone with no sense whatsoever wouldn’t know beauty if it bit them.”
“What was that?”
I leaned in close to Shane’s ear and teased him.
“I heard the Magic Tower Master decorated the hall himself. No wonder it looks so gauche. The lighting is so bright it hurts your eyes.”
“Excuse me?”
“And what’s the deal with that display screen? If you’re going to install one, why not do it with a little elegance?”
The massive display screen hanging above the platform read “1520 Deccard Debutante Ball” in garish colors and glaring light—it was nearly impossible to look at twice.
“It’s kind of like a PowerPoint presentation made for children…….”
“What’s that supposed to be?”
“It means it’s needlessly flashy and immature, not at all fitting.”
“…….”
I’d teased him too much. I was suppressing my laughter to say it was just a joke, when Shane suddenly gave a peculiar tilt of his chin.
And then.
“Oh my!”
“What on earth?”
Everyone in the ball hall suddenly widened their eyes and turned to stare at the platform.
What was that? I followed their gaze and gasped in shock.
“No!”
♪♬★☆♡♥
Rubetria★
The Debutante debut
of the Diolus Lady
♥We celebrate♥you
♪♬★☆♡♥
“Did the Magic Tower Master do this?”
“Seems like it. He’s dancing with the Diolus lady right now, after all.”
“The first dance with the Crown Prince, the second with Prince Shane—she must be quite extraordinary to match with such distinguished gentlemen.”
My name was scrolling across the garish, juvenile display screen.
I couldn’t spare a thought to listen to the whispers of those around me.
“You little troublemaker. Got me?”
Shane chuckled with satisfaction and mocked me.
“How underhanded…… to pull a stunt like this…….”
“So how’s my taste now?”
I trembled and surrendered.
“Ah, absolutely exquisite. Please, I beg you, stop. I concede.”
“Hehehehe.”
But the wicked man didn’t lower that enormous display screen even after the waltz ended—not even after the entire ball was over.
Not that massive screen…….
‘Magic Tower Master Shane. Has a strongly reciprocal nature—what you give, you’ll receive in kind. Will be retaliatory in the future. Best not to provoke him.’
I made a mental note and reflected on my actions.
* * *
A yellow moon hung in the night sky.
Behind the Detached Palace where the Ball Hall, Ebian Hall, was located.
Second Prince Nathan found himself witnessing an unexpected turn of events.
“Who did you speak with?”
“I spoke to no one, as you ordered.”
“You’re lying to my face.”
“No, no, I’m not lying…….”
Two figures engaged in a hushed conversation.
Crown Prince Lark and Lady Rubetria Diolus.
“What did you talk about with the Magic Tower Master?”
“We, we just d-danced one piece together-”
“Rubetria Diolus.”
“Ugh.”
Lark seized Rubetria’s shoulders with a terrifying expression he’d never shown before and threatened her.
“Listen well. If the future you saw actually unfolds, I won’t be the only one to die.”
“…….”
“If you want to live, behave yourself.”
“……Yes.”
What was all this talk?
I’d need to piece it together carefully, but one thing was certain.
Nathan had learned something rather important.
‘Those two…… aren’t in the kind of relationship I thought they were.’
I’d assumed that the Contractor of Vista had taken hold of the Crown Prince’s line and made herself his collaborator.
‘So it’s actually Lark who’s intimidating that girl and wielding her like a tool?’
A smile spread across Nathan’s lips with glee.
If that were the case, wouldn’t things actually become easier?
‘Glad I came to see her face.’
Rubetria Diolus had made an appearance at the ball immediately after ending her staged kidnapping.
Nathan, who had been planning to approach her under the pretense of coincidence at the place where her carriage awaited her departure, praised his own quick judgment.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Yes……. Oh!”
Lark grabbed Rubetria’s arm roughly and dragged her away. As if she were a slave.
‘Perhaps I should make my entrance now.’
Nathan stepped forward with excitement.
At the crunch of footsteps on grass, Lark stiffened and turned around to see who was approaching.
“Nathan?”
He was visibly startled, clearly panicked at the thought that Nathan might have overheard their conversation.
Nathan played dumb.
“Brother, what a surprise to see you here.”
“What business do you have at the Detached Palace this evening?”
As Lark shielded Rubetria behind him like a hidden treasure, Nathan felt an inward smirk.
“I couldn’t sleep and came out for a walk. But…… it seems I’ve intruded on something?”
“No.”
In that moment, Nathan caught sight of Rubetria’s expression as she stood behind Lark, looking at him.
Eyes wide open. Trembling lips. Her beautiful face was written with a tangle of emotions.
It was as if…….
Yes, as if she’d just met a savior she’d been waiting for—a look suffused with subtle hope.
It was no illusion. Rubetria suddenly pushed Lark away and rushed toward Nathan.
And with urgency as if her very life hung in the balance, she spoke.
“I greet you, Second Prince Nathan van Rashmah Deccard. I am Rubetria Diolus.”
“Ah.”
Her entire body screamed: Help me.
Her outstretched hand, trembling as she reached toward him, seemed to be casting away everything—as if this were her only chance.
The handshake she suddenly extended, breaking all protocol, was clearly expressing something.
Nathan, sensing the moment, quickly grasped her hand.
“Rubetria!”
Lark, his expression turning fearsome, rushed forward and roughly grabbed the arm of the fleeing girl, spinning her around.
“Ow.”
Rubetria winced at the pain, but Lark, long accustomed to handling her this way, paid it no mind.
“Brother!”
Nathan stepped in with a displeased expression.
“What are you doing? Why treat such a delicate lady so roughly?”
“It’s none of your concern.”
Lark hid Rubetria behind him, his expression tinged with madness, refusing even to let their eyes meet.
Nathan continued to feign offense.
“But the lady is in pain. I’m shocked that you would treat a woman so carelessly—is this really the brother I know?”
“I said it’s none of your concern. She and I share a special bond. This is nothing new to her.”
“Brother!”
“Just go.”
Lark shoved Rubetria toward the carriage, and she was dragged along in his grip like a slave being led away.
Nathan watched their departing figures with a look of sympathy, then quietly turned once the carriage had left.
Then he opened his hand, which held a small piece of folded paper, and trembled with delight.
“Wow, this is insane…….”
Rubetria, who had reached out to him as if greeting a savior, had cleverly passed him a signal.
The small note she had slipped into his hand was folded twice over.
Nathan bit his lip and shook his head in elation.
“This is driving me crazy. What a clever little lady.”
* * *
After far too long away, I was back at the Duke’s residence. My bedroom.
As I was applying toner at the vanity before bed, I saw Wishit in the mirror.
“You.”
He muttered nervously.
“You sure know how to act…….”
I tapped my cheeks gently and tilted my head as if I knew nothing, then burst into laughter.
“Hehehehe.”
Then I turned to Wishit, who was grimacing, and shrugged.
“Why, would you like to learn too?”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————