Celebrity Lady - Chapter 114

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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 114
Molga’s lips seemed sealed shut; she couldn’t speak a word.
Biego was much the same.
He could have asked what she’d done, what this was—but he didn’t.
After a long silence.
Biego moved toward Molga as if to approach her, then simply passed by as if she were frozen stone.
‘What? Why… not a word…?’
By the time Molga turned around, Biego had already vanished.
* * *
The next day.
Molga, who hadn’t slept a wink, sought out Biego’s office as soon as dawn broke, her face ashen.
She had to explain where that medicine had come from, why it had been there in the dead of night.
“Biego.”
“Yes, Grandmother.”
Biego stood as he always did, neat and composed, reviewing documents.
From his expression and tone alone, it seemed as if the events of dawn had never happened.
“About last night, I—”
“Grandmother.”
Molga faltered. Biego rose from his desk and approached slowly.
Then, in a voice so quiet no one else could hear, he whispered.
“You are like a mother to me. You know that, don’t you?”
“Of… of course.”
“I have always believed myself to be your son in all but name.”
“Of course you are! If you’re not my son, then who is?”
“I am the one in this household who understands your heart better than anyone else. So.”
……
“Please, don’t say another word. I would prefer this matter cause no further commotion.”
Molga drew a sharp breath, clutching her startled chest.
Her heart, which had been sinking to the depths, began to beat again.
Biego was saying it.
That he would ask no questions, that he would simply pretend this never happened.
“Ah… ah…”
Molga exhaled a breath of relief and looked into Biego’s eyes.
Bittersweet, yes—yet his affection for her remained unchanged. As it always had been.
“I heard that Father has been ignoring Grandmother, who has devoted herself to this household all these years, and making unilateral decisions. I also heard that this has caused Grandmother considerable anxiety.”
“Yes, that’s true. I was simply… at such a loss… that’s why I did it.”
“But if Grandmother were to act so directly yourself, it would be troublesome. If someone else discovered this, the matter would only grow worse.”
“I’m sorry. I should have asked for your help from the beginning.”
“Yes. So please trust me and wait a little longer. You and the twins will not be cast out of this household.”
Biego smiled, and only then did Molga feel at ease.
Yes, it was needless worry after all.
Biego had always been consistent since he was young…
* * *
“You and the twins will not be cast out of this household.”
…Not while alive, at any rate.
Biego closed his eyes slowly, rolling the unsaid words around in his mouth.
Then, with a soft thud.
He placed the Medicine Pouch—taken from Molga—on Lark’s desk.
When Lark gestured, Ren standing beside him quickly retrieved it.
“Thank you for the evidence, Duke.”
“I never expected the Duke to provide such decisive assistance in this way.”
Lark gave a small laugh and continued.
“If I hadn’t suspected the Dowager, catching the tail would have been far harder. Seems your eyes have sharpened, hasn’t it?”
……
Lark watched Biego, who remained silent, still reeling from shock, and spoke.
“In any case, thank you for the cooperation. With this, I can certainly catch the Bert Count Family red-handed. I needed evidence that they’re still in contact.”
“…The Bert Count Family?”
Biego looked startled.
The Bert Count Family was Molga’s birth family.
“How would the Dowager have acquired such a medicine on her own? There must have been an accomplice.”
At Lark’s words, Biego’s mind went blank.
Yes—Gale Bert. Molga’s younger brother and…
a man called a genius in pharmaceutical science.
“Your Highness.”
“What?”
“Regarding the medical records of my family elders that you took from me before…”
His voice trembled, and the words came out broken.
“I finished my investigation. There were points so intricate that even a single physician would struggle to spot flaws, so I had no choice but to borrow my court physician’s expertise.”
Lark, who had been watching Biego with unfocused eyes, spoke.
“How about it? Will you hear it? Can you steel yourself against the shock?”
……
“That woman—Molga Diolus—whom you loved so dearly that you’d cast aside your own family. Just how much of a monster was she?”
His sharp tone was clearly reproaching Biego.
“Foolishly blinded for years. How many would have shed tears of blood because of your complacency?”
……
“Can you steel yourself against the shock or not?”
Biego could dimly anticipate what truths would fall from Lark’s lips.
His eyes wet, jaw clenched, Biego answered.
“…Yes.”
* * *
Chilly November, Territory Decarn.
“It’s nice to go out to play with Father after so long.”
……
I spoke while watching the landscape whiz past the carriage window, but Father beside me gave no answer.
When I turned to look, his expression was full of displeasure.
“Why do you look like that?”
“You’re always running around outside, so there’s no time to play with me. What exactly are you up to these days?”
“I’m in the prime of youth. It’s the age to want to go out and enjoy myself.”
I murmured, hastily averting my gaze.
With store management and meetings with business contacts, I’d been swamped lately.
“But Father.”
“What?”
“Well…”
The timing wasn’t ideal, but there was something I needed to say now. I watched Father’s expression carefully as I spoke.
“Before I get married, I’d like to move out and live on my own.”
“What?”
As expected, Father’s brow furrowed immediately.
“No, well… there’s this really nice house just outside Decarn, you see? It’s practically attached to Decarn itself, so the security isn’t bad either…”
In truth, I’d already purchased it. That three-story mansion with forest views that Rubetria had dreamed of so desperately.
It was so beautiful that I’d signed the contract the very day I saw it.
“…Where would you get the money for that?”
Father fell silent for a long moment, then asked as if to say I could try if I wanted.
I’d already bought it, but…
I pretended not to know.
“Our house has plenty of money, doesn’t it?”
“I’m not giving you any.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said I won’t give it to you.”
“Wow, stingy. You were just saying before that I’m at an age where I should use my parents’ money.”
“That was true. But you said before that you’d live without relying on my money.”
“Oh, so if I find a house without stretching out my hand to Father, I can move out and live on my own, right?”
……
Father fell silent, his mouth closing as he sank into thought.
“Sigh.”
Eventually, unable to find a rebuttal, Father sat in silence for a long time before letting out a deep sigh.
“Do you hate living with me?”
“No, it’s not that… but a parent should always send their children off into independence with joy. You can’t keep them in your arms forever, can you?”
Seeing me speak so glibly, Father’s mouth opened slightly.
“You’re still sixteen years old.”
“In two months I’ll be seventeen.”
“There’s no noble lady who lives alone at seventeen.”
……
Sensing that he was contradicting himself at every turn, Father paused, then crossed his arms tightly.
With a long sigh, Father closed his eyes slowly and, keeping his head tilted back, murmured.
“Stay with me a little longer…”
……
“There’s so much I haven’t been able to give you.”
“Oh, okay. I understand. I’m not saying I want to move out right this moment.”
Once I’ve dealt with Molga and the twins, then I’ll move out.
I tried to comfort Father, who looked melancholy, but he had nothing more to say.
“But where are we going now?”
“To buy you clothes.”
“Clothes?”
“I didn’t get you a birthday gift. It was your first birthday after coming of age.”
That was really more because of Father’s nature—handing me the Black Card rather than preparing a separate gift—but…
it still made me happy.
“But where would we—”
Before I could finish, the carriage stopped.
A very familiar sight.
Runten Boutique District, the main atelier of Blanc de Rubis.
“Father? Wait a moment.”
“What? Come on, get out.”
“No, Father? You don’t know this place well, but you can’t just walk in. You have to get a waiting ticket and wait at least half a day—”
Father picked me up as I hesitated anxiously and forced me out of the carriage, then produced a small piece of paper wedged between his fingers.
Blanc de Rubis 127.
A waiting ticket I had no idea when he’d obtained.
“I know how it works. I had Goth get this for me this morning.”
“Wow, look at that preparation! But you still can’t buy clothes. It’s by reservation system. Even if we go—”
“I know that too. There’s a reservation under the name Victor in November. I arranged it at the same time as the accessories shop before, for your birthday gift. The line here was too long to make your birthday.”
Wow! A man who absolutely never keeps a woman waiting—thoroughly prepared!
‘No, that’s not it.’
I had no choice but to be dragged along by Father toward the store.
There was a staff member at the entrance checking waiting tickets.
“Welcome to Blanc de Rubis.”
“Here.”
The staff member, after checking the waiting ticket Father produced, broke into a bright smile.
“You’ve arrived at the perfect time. Our tailor is currently attending to customer number 126, so you may enter. Please wait inside for just a moment.”
“Let’s go.”
“Ugh, Father…”
Rebecca would be a bit flustered, but with my clever business partner’s quick thinking, I wasn’t worried.
The absurd situation of receiving a dress I designed myself as a gift from Father in my own shop…!
A bell chimed as the door opened.
And.
‘Shit.’
I saw Rebecca and familiar faces gathered around a table, and my mouth fell open.
“Oh my, Lady?”
The Empress.
“My goodness! I thought we wouldn’t see you today?”
Endleton Lady.
“Wow, Rubetria!”
Lizbeth, too.
…The identity of customer number 126?
Rebecca, who had been attending to the Imperial guests, turned ashen when she saw Father beside me.
Her pupils trembled as if she’d been caught in an explosion. Mine probably looked no different right now.
“Your Majesty, I am honored to meet you.”
Father immediately recognized the Empress and bowed.
“How lovely to see you, Duke Diolus.”
The Empress, beaming brightly, introduced the Endleton Lady and Lizbeth beside her, then said.
“It’s wonderful to see. You came to manage the store alongside your daughter, I see.”
Oh no!
Father beside me paused, and I found my frozen lips wouldn’t move.
That’s when Lizbeth drove the final nail in.
“It’s been so long, Rubetria. I was so shocked when I found out you’re the owner of Blanc de Rubis!”
“No, well, I…”
“You gave my brother a business card before so I could buy a dress faster—that was you, wasn’t it? I was so moved. Thank you so much.”
It was finished. Reduced to dust, all strength drained from my body.
Father, who had been standing quietly, asked.
“…What does she mean?”

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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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