Celebrity Lady - Chapter 122

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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 122
Silence.
The quiet was shattered by Nora’s gasp, her mouth falling open in shock.
“In the world…”
Lilia, seated beside Nora, trembled violently, her eyes wide as saucers.
Of course, the one who looked most utterly shaken was Ricky, standing face to face with Rubetria’s unveiled countenance.
“You…”
He’d seen Madame Ruby’s face clearly with his own two eyes after she removed the mask, and still he couldn’t believe it.
More precisely, he couldn’t make sense of the situation at all.
Rubetria turned back with characteristic hauteur, lifting her chin proudly as she addressed the staff.
“It seems these guests have come to visit today, so please take excellent care of them. These people, I…”
Turning to Ricky again, Rubetria let out a soft chuckle before adding,
“…are like a rare pair of lovers.”
“Yes, Representative!”
“Understood, Representative!”
“We shall serve them with utmost sincerity!”
The head shop staff, who knew Rubetria’s true identity, bowed ninety degrees in perfect unison.
It was only then that Ricky understood.
‘Madame Ruby is…’
The proud young nobleman with gorgeous looks who’d never been satisfied with anyone, his standards too high because of his striking appearance.
The ‘perfect’ woman who’d first slipped into his heart—the Madame Ruby he’d deemed entirely worthy as his first romantic interest…
‘…was Rubetria Diolus?’
Crash.
Something shattered somewhere deep in Ricky’s chest.
“Why are you standing there looking dazed?”
Rubetria, openly mocking Ricky, tilted her chin dismissively, gesturing for him to move aside.
“Get out of the way, you fool.”
“Ah.”
Ricky, who’d been frozen with his mouth hanging open, quickly came to his senses.
Shock and anger surged through him, but unfortunately, standing before Rubetria now, he was in no position to utter a word of protest.
Ricky lowered his eyes carefully and stepped aside trembling, making way slowly.
“Heh.”
Rubetria, amused by his obsequiousness, put the mask back on.
“Representative, please mind your step as you leave.”
A staff member quickly approached and opened the door.
“Please do exit carefully, Representative!”
“Have a safe journey home!”
Accompanied by the staff’s sonorous farewells, Rubetria Diolus, representative of Blanc de Ruby, glided gracefully out of the shop.
* * *
At the same moment.
The Imperial Palace, Grand Banquet Hall.
The Annual Friendship Ceremony between the Deccard Empire and the Leubon Kingdom was in full swing.
“Hehe, I’m most grateful for such a warm reception despite my humble standing.”
At the head of the grand, ornate feast table,
Leubon VIII, the king of Leubon, sat shoulder to shoulder with the Empire’s Emperor and Empress, his double chin quivering as he laughed heartily.
“Humble? Leubon is surely our brother nation, is it not?”
The vast island kingdom of Leubon, called the master of the seas, was a country grand enough to stand as an equal to the Empire.
And the current king, Leubon VIII, was a shrewd man with a keen eye for profit, having made Leubon the wealthiest it had ever been since its founding.
“Hahahaha! I am most grateful for such words.”
The finest silk cloak he wore, the jeweled crown upon his head, and the gold adorning every finger all laid bare the wealth of Leubon without reservation.
“I pray things continue as they are—let us remain great, Leubon the sovereign of the seas, and the Empire unrivaled on the continent!”
“Those are most pleasant words indeed. Let us drink.”
“Haha, excellent!”
The Emperor and Leubon VIII filled each other’s cups.
At this, the imperial princes and princesses seated in order to the left and right of the head table raised their glasses in turn.
A full twenty members of the imperial family.
Lark, the Crown Prince seated in the first position to the right of the head table, recalled with tension.
That is to say…
This had happened a month ago.
* * *
A month prior.
The day of Rubetria’s Debutante Ball.
The very day when the two of them, through their act, had completely fooled Nathan.
“If I know Nathan, he’ll definitely try to approach the debutante one way or another today. He’ll at least come to see her face.”
“Hmm, I see.”
Lark assisted Rubetria as she checked her appearance in the empty lounge before her late entrance, adding,
“But don’t worry—enjoy yourself freely. Within the range of my Spirit Power, I can sense Nathan’s location and movements.”
“Yes, well.”
Lark, fastening the necklace, narrowed his brows slightly.
“You seem awfully carefree about this. If anything goes wrong, come straight to me. No—I’ll keep a good eye on the debutante.”
“I’m not particularly worried about the Second Prince doing anything improper to me. Your Highness’s Spirit Power will watch over me just as you said. Rather—”
“Rather?”
“It’s October now, isn’t it? There’s something that’s going to happen soon, and I thought I should mention it before we forget. We don’t want you to be caught off guard like with the First Princess.”
“What’s going to happen?”
“In the winter of 1520, around this time, there’s something we need to do. Let’s save the 8th Imperial Prince.”
“…The 8th Imperial Prince? What happens to him?”
“He gives a rather clever answer at the friendship ceremony with Leubon, you see?”
Lark let out an exclamation as he turned over Rubetria’s words.
“Ah, are you referring to…Leubon’s Riddle?”
“Yes, that one.”
A riddle.
It was an event that never failed to appear at the friendship ceremonies with Leubon.
Leubon’s ancestor was said to have been a cunning merchant who, through extraordinary intellect, rose from commoner to become the hegemon of a nation.
Following their ancestor, the Leubon royal family were known to be clever and shrewd, and they took great pride in this reputation.
The successive Leubon kings, eager to show off their brilliant minds, never failed to pose subtle riddles at ceremonial gatherings with other nations.
“The 8th Imperial Prince’s answer caused quite a stir in the papers at the time.”
[8th Imperial Prince, the hero of the Leubon friendship ceremony.
Leubon VIII impressed by the young royal’s clever response. “I was quite astonished by the brilliance so reminiscent of the late Crown Prince. Truly, the blood of Deccard flows through him……”]
“Because his answer reminded people of His Highness, who was already dead, the banquet that day became a turning point—the 8th Imperial Prince receives considerable attention afterward. Even the Emperor takes notice.”
[8th Imperial Prince, a small star fades.
Attacked by assassins on the road as he departed Jungyang……]
“And exactly six months later, he’s assassinated. When an unexpected younger brother suddenly threatens the Succession Position, naturally the Second Prince would eliminate him cleanly.”
Rubetria offered a simple solution.
“I can tell you what answer the 8th Imperial Prince gave that day. It would be good if Your Highness intercepts it.”
“No. I have an even better idea than that.”
“What might that be?”
Lark proposed laying a trap instead.
“Give that answer to Nathan. Through the debutante’s hand, that is.”
“Pardon?”
“Let’s deceive Nathan, who’s been eyeing the debutante. Make him think the debutante is working for him, not for me.”
“Ah…?”
“Then the debutante can escape Nathan’s threat. If he thinks she’s his person, he won’t need to kidnap her or coerce her.”
“That’s quite a good idea, isn’t it? The timing is perfect too. The Second Prince will probably approach the debutante in some way today—”
“Exactly. So let’s try setting this trap!”
Rubetria clapped her hands and gestured to Lark.
Leaning down to offer her ear, Lark listened as Rubetria whispered something. He flinched and shook his head.
“I can’t do something like that.”
“What’s impossible about it?”
“I can’t…”
“Don’t back out! We’re short on time—let’s practice your acting right now!”
“Wait a moment.”
Rubetria turned around and said, “Go on, treat me like a slave. Grab my shoulder and spin me around—very roughly and violently.”
“Uh…”
Lark hesitated, looking at the turned-around Rubetria.
She looked so small that he feared one careless touch might cause serious harm.
Reluctant, Lark applied gentle pressure to her small shoulders and turned her.
“Huh?”
Seeing Rubetria’s bewildered expression, Lark raised both hands.
“Sorry. That was too rough.”
“What, are you moving a glass? Stop being silly! Again!”
“You want me to do it again?”
“Yes! Again! Harder! Hard enough that the Second Prince would believe it!”
Under the instruction of acting coach Rubetria that day,
“More violent!”
“Treat me like a slave!”
“More! More!”
…Lark managed to improve his acting ability just a little.
That day’s plan was a complete success.
* * *
“…Your Highness?”
“Ah, yes!”
At Leubon VIII’s voice, Lark snapped out of his reverie.
Leubon VIII, who had been staring intently at Lark, spoke with a smile.
“Word of the next sun of the Empire, the Crown Prince, has spread even across the sea to Leubon. Strong, brilliant, virtuous. Truly, a man fitting to lead a great empire.”
“Is that so?”
The Emperor looked pleased.
At the same time, all eyes turned toward Lark.
Among the many imperial siblings, he shone with unparalleled brilliance.
His tall frame was wrapped in a white dress uniform that commanded impressive dignity, and his distinct features commanded attention.
A gentle, affectionate manner of speech. Yet his composed, unwavering gaze held the bearing of both imperial blood and a leader.
“Hiya.”
Leubon VIII, still regarding Lark, shook his head in admiration, and the Emperor and Empress, watching him, laughed with satisfaction.
This was a very familiar sight.
From the moment of his birth until now…
Lark van Rushmach Deccard, the perfect Crown Prince of this Empire, stood at the center of all admiration, discussion, and reverence.
A life never overlooked.
A man born to be the protagonist, whose destiny as protagonist was inevitable.
‘I want to tear him apart.’
Nathan, the Second Imperial Prince watching from across the table, was grinding his teeth in secret.
Everything revolving around Lark—this all-too-familiar sight.
He was sick of it. He was enraged.
‘I wish he were dead.’
Their gazes met briefly, for just a moment, brushing past each other in the air.
Then.
“Hmm, but I’ve had one concern on my mind lately…”
With a playful raise of his eyebrows, Leubon VIII propped his chin on his hand and surveyed the banquet table.
Finally glancing at Lark, he spoke.
“If it’s not too much trouble, might I seek the counsel of such a brilliant Crown Prince?”
“Of course.”
Lark answered readily.
The moment had come at last.
He’d brought up a worry seemingly in jest, but everyone present already knew what this was.
The riddle that never failed to appear at friendship ceremonies with Leubon.
“A few days ago, a man came to me in tears, seeking help. His father had passed away while he was studying abroad, and the contents of the will delivered through a slave seemed strange to him.”
“What were the contents?”
“He’s leaving all his wealth to the slave. To his son, he’s leaving only one thing from his possessions to choose.”
“My.”
Lark’s brow furrowed.
“The son told me the slave was quite greedy by nature, and he suspected the will was forged. But it wasn’t. It truly was the will left by his father.”
“Why would he leave such a will?”
“That’s what puzzles me too. In any case, he must follow the will, so he can choose only one thing from his possessions. I’m at a loss what to advise.”
Leubon VIII chuckled softly and added,
“What would the Crown Prince advise?”
What mattered here was giving an answer that pleased the foreign king.
If Lark failed to answer, Leubon VIII would subtly mock him, and the Emperor would be displeased.
“I see.”
Lark pretended to ponder deeply for a very long time, his expression grave.
“…This is difficult. Shouldn’t he choose the one thing among his possessions that holds the greatest value?”
“Hmm. Is that so…”
At this unremarkable answer, which anyone could have given, Leubon VIII’s expression grew lukewarm. The watching Emperor’s face hardened.
And at that moment, Nathan was—
‘Insane, insane, insane!’
His body trembled with exhilaration.
[There will come a time when the Second Imperial Prince must give this answer.]
The note Rubetria, the Contractor of Vesta, had given him contained the answer to this very question.
[The answer is the slave. The slave is part of the possessions, and to have the slave is to have all the possessions.]
“If I may be so bold, might I offer my own thoughts on this matter?”
Nathan spoke up with a smile.
[That day’s answer will become the Second Imperial Prince’s small wingbeat. It will please the eyes of the Emperor, and it will begin to crack the Succession Position that had leaned toward the Crown Prince.]
“Oh, the Second Prince? Then what advice would you give this man? What should he choose from his possessions—jewels? Gold?”
“No. I would advise him to choose the slave.”
[If this note has been of service, I ask that you repay the debt in some form in the future. I find myself in desperate need of the Second Imperial Prince’s help.]
At Nathan’s answer, Leubon VIII’s eyes widened in surprise.

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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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