Celebrity Lady - Chapter 108

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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 108
“Lark?”
“Ah, yes.”
Lark, who had been dazed by the Emperor’s prompting, came to his senses and laughed awkwardly.
“Well, it’s just that Madam is such a busy person, I’m not sure she’ll be able to spare the time…”
“The Imperial Palace is extending an invitation—surely she can spare one meal together, no matter how busy she is?”
As the Empress expressed her puzzlement, Marienne waved her hand.
“There’s no need to trouble a busy person on my account. I’m perfectly content.”
The Emperor spoke: “Lark, reach out to her. Your mother will be staying for some time in any case, so simply coordinate around her schedule as much as possible.”
His tone made clear he would accept no refusal.
This Emperor would not hesitate to pluck stars from the heavens for Marienne, so whether through Lark or by other means, he would find a way to summon Madam Ruby.
Lark nodded, concealing his alarm.
“Yes, then… I’ll go ahead and try reaching out to her.”
* * *
“Pardon? What did you say?”
I could scarcely believe my ears.
“The former Imperial Concubine?”
Lark, watching my jaw drop, nodded while dropping two sugar cubes into his tea and stirring with a spoon.
“Good heavens…”
I gripped both cheeks and stretched them down in despair.
“Why are you looking so shocked?”
“Right—a few days ago, an elderly lady came to our shop. One of my staff was terribly rude to her. I apologized, of course, but she must have been displeased.”
The story Lark had called me aside to tell was nothing short of shocking.
He said that Lady Endleton, the former Imperial Concubine whom the Emperor calls Mother and follows dutifully, had come up from the Northern Region to the capital, and had mentioned me.
She said the proprietor of Blanc de Ruby had given her a gift bag…
In that moment, I recalled the elderly woman who had visited the shop days ago, and I couldn’t help but be taken aback.
“I’m done for.”
A shop that had brushed off the former Imperial Concubine, whom the Emperor treats as though he’d pluck the stars and moon for her!
“Ugh.”
Lark looked uncomfortable watching me pull at my hair.
“She didn’t mention anything untoward, actually. Lady Endleton said she was very grateful and spoke only of you throughout the entire meal.”
“Really? I’m… I’m relieved she wasn’t offended, but…”
“Then you gave her the bag to apologize for being rude?”
“No, it wasn’t quite like that.”
I spoke, recalling Lady Endleton’s face as she talked about her son with a smile.
“I suddenly thought of my mother.”
“Your mother?”
Yes. In that moment, I thought of my mother. My mother from Earth, that is.
In truth, since I’d opened my eyes in Rubetria’s body, I had deliberately tried not to think of her.
Because thinking of her would only make me miss her. And imagining my mother, whose heart must have been driven through with nails by a daughter who departed before her parents, was unbearable.
‘Mother…’
My mother, who had left Korea—the country she’d lived in all her life—and come to LA following me, who debuted at age six.
My mother, who loved plain white rice and kimchi stew but had to grow accustomed to bread and cereal because of Dad and me.
My mother, who lived as busily as a celebrity, running after and caring for her busy daughter.
My mother, who suffered greatly from the gossip and scrutiny that came with the title of being my family…
‘I miss you, Mother.’
Even if I draped a diamond necklace around her neck and put a designer handbag in her hands and set her in a luxury car, there remained a void in my heart that could not be filled.
Pouring one’s life, youth, and affection into someone else is such a difficult and extraordinary thing. No matter who the person is, even if it’s your own child…
The reason she moved to Korea after retirement was truly because she had always longed for her homeland.
“Sob.”
“My lady?”
“Ah, I’m sorry… I just…”
As my vision blurred, I could see Lark’s face, filled with concern for me.
He pulled up a chair beside me and took a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe away my tears.
“Don’t cry.”
“But now I could buy beautiful bags for Mother, eat delicious things together, visit lovely places…”
“…”
“Mother… because Mother isn’t here, my heart just… hurts a little.”
Lark held me quietly, patting my back to comfort me. In his arms, I wept openly.
After a long while, my tears finally subsided, and Lark gently stroked my hair.
“Your mother is watching over how beautifully you’ve grown and thrived.”
“I hope so.”
“Look at you, crying so much. I can’t always be here to comfort you.”
“Then I’ll only cry when you’re here with me.”
Lark paused, then let out a soft laugh and gently touched the tip of my nose.
“Yes. Only then.”
“Yes. Oh, but—”
Using Lark’s handkerchief to dab away the last of my tears, I spoke.
“Was the reason you called me here to ask how I met Lady Endleton?”
“Ah.”
Lark let out a small sound and shook his head, looking troubled.
“No, actually. My father has asked that I invite you to the Imperial Palace, saying he wishes to offer his thanks in person. Which means—Madam Ruby, I mean.”
“The… the Emperor?”
“Yes. I imagine it will be difficult for you?”
Lark laughed awkwardly.
Naturally, I couldn’t meet the Emperor, the Empress, and Lady Endleton while keeping my face hidden as I had been. It would be improper to claim business strategy as an excuse.
Moreover, it was only a matter of time before the fact that “Madam Ruby” was “the Noble Lady Rubetria” became known. If I pretended otherwise and met them, it would be a grave deception…
This was what Lark was worried about.
“For now, I’ll do my best to smooth things over. But there’s a chance my father might summon you directly, so if that happens—”
“I’ll go.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll go. It’s not as though I plan to hide forever, and I’ve wanted to meet the Emperor at least once anyway.”
“Are you certain?”
“Of course. Ah, but this week is opening week for the play, so I’ll be quite busy. Let me know a date next week and I’ll make myself available.”
“Yes, of course.”
Seeing me agree so readily, Lark was taken aback, but soon nodded.
He then glanced at his wristwatch and rose to his feet.
“It’s nearly lunchtime. Don’t you need to go back? I heard you eat with your father daily?”
“Oh, that’s fine. Today I’d like to eat something delicious with you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Father went out today. He’s at the Imperial Palace for the twins’ Spirit Contract.”
Lark exclaimed and sat back down.
“Right, the twins’ contract day was today. He’s probably at the Imperial Palace by now.”
“Probably.”
I shrugged and took a sip of tea.
Lark, watching me carefully, asked.
“Aren’t you worried?”
“About what?”
“The twins. Once they get their contracts with spirits, they’ll be even more full of themselves.”
“Ah, I see.”
I giggled.
“I wonder.”
“…?”
* * *
“May the blessings of the Altar be upon the Noble Lady Lilia Diolus, who has received the protection of the great spirit Worm.”
“Wait, just a moment.”
Rauss, the Altar Master, tilted his head in confusion toward Lilia.
Lilia, staring at the mark on her hand, turned to Leonard who stood beside Rauss.
“Father…”
“What is it?”
“Can’t I draw again?”
Leonard’s eyebrows shot up as he stood with his arms crossed, his expression unmoved.
“That’s not possible.”
“No, it has to be possible!”
“What’s the problem?”
“I can talk to insects—what am I supposed to do with that? Where would I ever use this?”
“What are you talking about? Didn’t you choose this spirit because you liked it?”
Lilia was left speechless, her mouth hanging open in shock.
Just then, Ricky, having finished his own contract, emerged from the Altar chamber. He was extremely excited, showing the mark on his hand to the Altar staff and asking,
“This is the Wish Spirit, right?”
Ricky asked with a decidedly greedy expression. Seeing this, Leonard’s eye twitched.
This was the sort of disaster contractors often caused when seeking to obtain Wishit, the spirit with the deceptively weak ability.
The flustered Altar staff quickly flipped through the documents they were holding, confirmed the mark on Ricky’s hand, and informed him,
“It is a lowest-tier earth-class spirit called Bailaise. It can restore wilted flowers to bloom once per day, one flower at a time. This spirit ranks just below Florinus—”
“Ha! Bailaise already told me all about that, so you don’t need to explain. But that’s a lie, isn’t it? Right?”
The ability to restore dead flowers seemed utterly useless, and on top of that—only once a day, one flower at a time?
To anyone’s eyes, it was such a transparent and shoddy lie that Ricky was certain of it.
This must be Wishit in disguise!
“Young Master, this is indeed Bailaise.”
“…?”
Ricky’s eyes widened, then he looked toward Lilia in the distance.
Lilia’s expression was no different.
Ricky then rushed to Leonard’s side.
“Father! I want to draw again!”
“Good grief.”
Twins really do think alike, don’t they.
Leonard, looking weary, pressed his temples firmly and turned sharply away.
“Father!”
“Just one more time! Just once!”
Ricky and Lilia clung to Leonard’s trouser legs, dragging along the floor. Leonard found the sight utterly absurd.
“Are you out of your minds? Let go.”
“Please, just once, Father! I’m terrified of insects!”
“And I can always hire a gardener with money!”
“Tch.”
Leonard let out an angry sigh and brushed them off coldly before walking away.
“Father!”
“Just one more time, please!”
* * *
“…Why are you laughing so hard?”
Lark tilted his head and asked.
“Heh, heh…”
“My lady?”
This is absolutely hilarious.
I covered my mouth and chuckled as I imagined the twins’ expressions at this very moment.

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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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