Celebrity Lady - Chapter 12

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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 12
The Deccard Empire, blessed by Spirits. The chosen bloodlines of this nation branch into two lines.
One is the imperial family, the Deccard House. The other is my family, the Diolus Duchy.
Spirit Mages are produced only from these two houses, chosen by the Spirits themselves. The proof of this is the Golden Eyes.
Naturally, the imperial family and those of Diolus blood are born with Golden Eyes, and by their fifteenth birthday, the bearers of these eyes could form contracts with Spirits. Without exception, all of them.
‘It truly is an awesome power. The very symbol of absolute authority.’
Spirit Mages wielded the kind of absolute power I’d commonly know as Supernatural Powers, and throughout long history they reigned as those in command.
Thus the Deccard Empire’s imperial family considered it a virtue to produce as many royal family members—that is, Spirit Mages—as possible. For that was the only way to solidify imperial power.
In other words.
‘Breed as many offspring as you possibly can!’
What this meant was:
‘The imperial family is, quite frankly, an unprecedented tangled mess of a house.’
The current Emperor, Deccard XI, has seven wives in total.
The surprising thing is that compared to past emperors, Deccard XI with only seven wives is considered quite restrained.
‘Deccard V, I’ve heard, had thirty-two wives…….’
Truly astounding.
In any case, this becomes a problem because while there is only one Throne, there are dozens of imperial children qualified to ascend it.
Throughout the imperial family’s history, there have always been sons and daughters who’d fantasize about eliminating their siblings—’If only my older brother didn’t exist… if only my senior didn’t exist… if only my sister didn’t exist’—and the second prince of the current empire, Nathan Van Rashmach Deccard, was exactly that sort of person.
‘Let’s see—the Crown Prince died around Lubet’s sixteenth birthday…….’
Less than a year remained.
“Time is running rather tight.”
Looking at Wisht’s agreeable face, I steeled my wavering resolve about whether to get involved in the Crown Prince’s life or death.
It was far too handsome a face to simply pretend ignorance…….
“Miss, the seamstress has arrived.”
“Oh yes, let her in.”
Just then, Rebecca’s voice reached me as she brought the seamstress in. I rose from my seat warmly.
The door opened and in came a girl who appeared somewhat awkward.
Her name was Becky.
“You came?”
“Yes, Miss. How have you been?”
“Fine, thanks to you.”
With her thick glasses and worn clothes, she was the nameless seamstress who had sewn new garments for Lubet nearly every day during her growth years, when her body was rapidly changing.
Kind-hearted, loyal, and though her design sense was somewhat lacking, her needlework was impeccable—that was Becky.
“But what did you need me for? It hasn’t been long since you had that new dress made…….”
“Oh, today isn’t about a dress. Have a seat.”
As I gestured to a chair and we sat facing each other, Becky tilted her head, puzzled by this unexpected summons.
“Today I have a lot to discuss with you.”
I smiled meaningfully at the lucky seamstress who would soon become famous for her good fortune.
* * *
One day, two days, three days, four days.
Time passed quickly and I adapted perfectly to being Lubet.
In fact, there was little to adapt to. Having completely absorbed forty-five years of Lubet’s memories and emotions, I could say without exaggeration that I had become Lubet herself.
Yet there were certain changes, unmistakable differences from Lubet before.
“You worked hard today, Miss. The morning air was lovely, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, Rebecca. It was refreshing.”
I had maintained an exercise schedule for four days straight—something the old Lubet, with her weak willpower, couldn’t have kept up for even one day. And,
“You used to lock yourself in your room all day long. What wind blew through you?”
“Haven’t you heard? Four days ago, after nearly drowning in the Pond, she’s been a bit different. They say she even outshone Lord Ricky.”
My living environment had done a complete 180-degree turn from spending twenty-four hours a day shut in my room, gloomily snacking.
And furthermore,
“But were you and the Duke always this close? There were rumors that the butler was fired because Lady Lubet was putting pressure on the Duke…….”
“Surely not?”
“Rumor or not, when the First Mistress returns, all hell will break loose. Can you even imagine the two of them eating together every meal?”
“Hush, hush. Let’s just keep our mouths shut.”
My being able to eat every meal together with Father, distant as he was before—that much was worth noting.
“…….”
“…….”
This place—Father’s room—was a bit more lively than at our first meeting.
I felt eyes on me and looked up to find Father staring directly at me.
“What is it?”
I asked while sketching dress designs during the meal, spooning oatmeal with my other hand.
“What are you doing?”
“Drawing pictures.”
“Yes, but what kind of pictures?”
“Why are you curious about that? You don’t have to take interest in me.”
“…….”
When I spoke bluntly, Father’s lips pressed shut in displeasure.
Two meals a day—breakfast and lunch—and today marked the fourth day we’d shared them together.
It was my emergency measure to put Father’s mad sleep schedule back in order and monitor whether he was touching alcohol and tobacco.
Father crossed his arms and spoke listlessly.
“So why do you keep coming to eat with me after telling me not to take an interest in you?”
“Well, I said your interest isn’t necessary, not that I don’t take an interest in you. Now finish eating.”
After giving a vague reply, I busied my right hand with the sketch.
I felt Father continue to watch me for a moment before he returned to his meal with a sullen expression.
“……?”
Hmm? As I was drawing the dress ribbon, I sensed something amiss and suddenly looked up.
Father’s hand was stealthily reaching toward the wineglass containing White Wine.
“Tap!”
“…….”
Startled, Father froze where he sat.
I tapped the table, and a maid who had been standing by hurried over.
“Yes, Miss.”
“What is that? It wasn’t here yesterday at lunch. Didn’t I tell you absolutely no alcohol?”
“Oh, the kitchen must have made a mistake. I’ll remove it at once.”
After days of meddling in various matters, the maid had become disciplined enough to whisk away the wineglass without even waiting for Father’s permission.
Through days of experience, she had learned quite thoroughly that at mealtimes, the Young Lady’s word was law, not the Duke’s.
As the maid left with the wineglass, Father’s lips twisted in dissatisfaction.
“The physician said there was absolutely nothing wrong with me. Just how much longer do I have to abstain? It’s not even strong liquor—can’t I have just one sip of wine?”
“I know. I thought there was definitely something amiss somewhere, so I was puzzled too.”
Worried that the family physician might have been bought off by Molga, I’d deliberately called in even an expensive imperial physician for two additional diagnoses, but each time I heard only that he was in unusually good health.
‘For over ten years he drank and smoked himself into being a useless shell, and if the original timeline was correct, he died three years from now. If there’s a three-year deadline, there should definitely be something wrong with him by now…….’
After merely four days without alcohol and tobacco, seeing his complexion better than a healthy man’s, even I could gauge Father’s condition without needing a physician.
Right now, Father was truly in excellent health.
‘So he suddenly fell ill within three years from now? Or could it be that alcohol and tobacco weren’t the problem? From what I remember, Father definitely said he died because his body was destroyed by drinking…….’
As I sat lost in thought, Father flicked his finger to draw my attention.
“Just one glass of wine—”
“No, it’s not happening. And you’re not drinking it secretly either. I can trust your conscience on this, right?”
“…….”
Father looked at me with resentful eyes for a moment before surrendering and picking up his utensils again.
I finished my oatmeal, set down my spoon, and while waiting for Father to finish eating, unfolded a magazine I’d brought along to read.
“……Is just that enough?”
Seeing that I’d finished eating, Father spoke to me again.
When our eyes met, Father subtly pushed toward me a plate of meat dripping with savory sauce.
“Eat more. Even a mouse would eat more than that.”
“I’m full. Why are you suddenly doing this? You know I eat only oatmeal in the morning every day.”
“How you manage to survive on that—”
That was when it happened.
A light knock, and a maid’s voice drifted through the door.
“Duke, the First Mistress has just arrived home.”
……!
She’s here. Molga Diolus.
The devil’s return, which I had been bracing for.
I had already run dozens of simulations in my head about how to handle our first meeting.
I had confidence I would not be easily dominated…….
“Hah.”line>
Yet I faced an unexpected problem beyond my anticipation.

Shockingly, the trauma carved into this body was not the kind that could be easily shaken off.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The moment I heard Molga was back, my heart raced uncontrollably.
“Sigh, how stifling.”
“Why are you so lacking in grace and so vulgar?”
“You are not suited to the Diolus name.”
“Even your father and brothers are all ashamed of you.”
“Do you understand? That everyone hates you?”
I had no idea that the aftereffects of psychological trauma could be this terrifying, so I could only fall into panic.
“It’s practically as if you killed your own mother, so how could your father ever love you?”
“Your father said it—you should never have been born.”
“My dear child, please do not bring shame upon our house. Live your whole life as quiet as a dead mouse.”
“Be grateful to our Lilia, who brings honor to the family in your stead.”
As memories of Molga’s verbal abuse and torment, carved bone-deep into this body, came flooding back, my body reacted before my mind could.
“Hah, hah…….”
My trembling hands, deathly pale, came into focus through blurred vision.
‘This is insane. It was this bad?’
A sensation of suffocation.
Barely managing to exhale the breath I’d held, a large shadow suddenly fell over me.
‘……Father?’
I had no strength to look up, but it didn’t matter. Father knelt at once to meet my eye level, gripping my shoulders.
“Why are you like this?”

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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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