Celebrity Lady - Chapter 126

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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 126
* * *
The Imperial Palace, Spirit Altar.
The altar staff scrambled upon the arrival of this unexpected visitor.
Victor Diolus, second son of House of Diolus, had come without warning.
Raus, the altar keeper, came out to greet him personally.
“I am honored to receive you, young lord of House of Diolus. But what brings you here?”
Ever since taking a thorough beating from Leonard, Raus had developed a nervous condition whenever he saw anyone from this family.
Victor spoke hesitantly, noting the tension etched across Raus’s face.
“Ah, it’s nothing major. I was wondering—might I review the contract records of the spirits?”
“I beg your pardon?”
Raus tilted his head at this unexpected request and asked for clarification.
“What contracts, specifically?”
“There are so many imperial princes and princesses to advise that I’ve become a bit confused. Which of them is contracted to which spirit, and so forth…”
“Ah, I see. This way, please.”
Raus nodded and led the way, with Victor following behind.
Along the white marble corridor, dark blue flags were positioned grandly.
And on each flag, mysterious patterns symbolizing each spirit were inscribed.
Victor followed Raus very slowly, committing each symbol carefully to memory.
Halt.
Suddenly his footsteps stopped before a particular flag.
Noticing that Victor was no longer following, Raus turned and looked in the direction of his gaze.
On the grand flag was a pattern depicting a distorted clock face.
“That is Gestein,” Raus offered.
Victor stood beside him as Raus continued.
“The Spirit of Regression.”
“The one that reverses time, correct?”
“Yes.”
“And does this spirit possess any special abilities beyond that?”
Victor asked in a trembling voice.
Rubetria had failed to contract with the spirit. Or rather, that’s what the records showed.
The mark of a Spirit Contractor had not appeared on her hand.
Something so extraordinary must surely be the work of a spirit’s power.
“No, there are no other abilities. Gestein is even rated as having the lowest Ability Tier among the Three Time Spirits that govern ‘time.'”
“The lowest Ability Tier? Despite being able to reverse time?”
“Yes. Poze and Vesta, the other two Time Spirits, are of the highest rank, but Gestein is merely mid-tier. The cost of using its abilities is severe.”
Raus continued.
“It demands the contractor’s remaining lifespan equal to the time reversed. Thus, Gestein’s contractors throughout history have rarely used the ability, if at all. Only in very short bursts.”
“I see.”
That was quite a significant risk.
As for Rubetria…
‘She said she dreamed of dying at forty-five. If Ruby were the Spirit Contractor of Regression and reversed thirty years, she would already be dead.’
…She is not Gestein’s contractor.
Victor had his suspicion confirmed and felt a hollow ache settle in his chest.
From the beginning, he had not actually believed Rubetria was the Spirit Contractor of Regression.
He had his own suspicions.
Still, Victor asked once more.
“Has the Spirit of Regression been contracted?”
“Yes. The current contractor is Gartia, the former Seventeenth Imperial Prince—the son of the late Emperor and the third imperial consort. He holds the rank of Viscount.”
“I see.”
A spirit already with another contractor.
Victor pressed down hard on his racing heart and began walking again.
Then he asked.
“Is it not possible for spirits to use the abilities of other spirits?”
Raus frowned and tilted his head.
“Why would you ask something so obvious?”
“Ah, of course.”
Right. It should be obvious. For ordinary spirits, anyway.
As they reached the end of the altar.
Unlike the other flags positioned on either side of the corridor, two much larger and more grand flags stood as if guarding the entrance to the Spirit Spring.
Victor’s trembling hand began to shake violently as he came to a stop.
The flag inscribed with the pattern of Landian, the spirit that had belonged to Deccard I, the ancestor of the Imperial House itself.
And.
The flag inscribed with the pattern of the spirit that belonged to Diolus I, the ancestor of his own house…
Wishit, the Spirit of Wishes.
“…”
Victor exhaled slowly.
That’s it…
‘If that is the case, wouldn’t every question about my sister be answered?’
“Please wait here while I bring you the records of the imperial spirits’ contracts.”
“No need.”
Victor turned where he stood, his breathing rough.
“I’ve found what I came for. Thank you for your time.”
“…? What? Wait, young lord of House of Diolus!”
He bolted from the altar as if fleeing.
* * *
The main branch of Blanc de Rubis in Leubon.
I was smiling at the contracts spread before me in the empty shop after all the staff had left when Wishit suddenly thrust his face near mine.
“You’re in good spirits?”
“Hehe…”
“What is this now?”
“The contract for Blanc de Rubis’ first overseas branch opening in the capital of the Leubon Kingdom!”
“What?”
“Hahahaha! My shop expanding into the wider world!”
Feeling a sudden surge of pride, I wiped my nose with a finger while Wishit crossed his arms and muttered reproachfully.
“Aren’t you worried about the Second Prince?”
“Worried about what?”
“If your plan works, he’ll want to see you alone soon.”
“Well, he probably will.”
I replied indifferently and began organizing my things to leave.
Wishit followed along, speaking softly.
“Aren’t you frightened?”
“Frightened? With you here?”
Between Lark and Wishit, everyone seemed so eager to worry on my behalf.
“I want to finish this quickly. So I actually hope the Second Prince moves fast. He’ll probably send someone when I’m outside, don’t you think?”
The sun was setting over the late afternoon.
I spoke casually as I stepped out of the shop, trying to put Wishit’s mind at ease.
“Before my neck breaks from waiting, I hope he comes to find me… huh?”
A carriage was indeed waiting for me.
But it wasn’t from the Second Prince—it was a carriage bearing the familiar crest of my family.
‘Who could this be?’
As I stood bewildered, the door opened and a familiar face appeared—Victor.
“Good evening, Madam Ruby.”
“Ha…”
“You’re always so busy that I feared you’d refuse a dinner invitation, so I decided to resort to kidnapping. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“Phew.”
I climbed up beside Victor, removed my mask, and replied.
“I’ll gladly be kidnapped.”
“Is your work done?”
“Yes. But why did you bring so many guards?”
Wasn’t this the Victor who traveled alone even through hellfire?
Five guards were mounted beside us on horseback, which struck me as odd, but when I asked, Victor changed the subject.
“Haven’t you eaten dinner yet?”
“Not yet. Are you hungry?”
“Not particularly.”
“Me neither. Let’s eat later.”
“Alright. Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”
“Anywhere I’d like? Hmm…”
“Shall we go see the sea?”
“The sea?”
Moved by Victor’s thoughtfulness in wanting to give his younger sister a bit of fresh air, I laughed.
“I’d like to, but maybe later. It takes a good five hours of riding to reach the sea.”
“Then where shall we go?”
“Let’s head to Praha, have some tea while looking at Gratia Lake, and then go home in time for a late dinner.”
“I’m not going home. I’ll drop you off and then head to an inn to sleep.”
“What?”
“Why do you think I skipped the afternoon training and drove in circles to meet you at the time you’d be finished?”
Victor frowned.
“The moment I go home, I won’t be able to help you with your request. There’ll be a murder.”
“Ah!”
The favor I had asked of Victor.
Not to touch Molga and her twins for the time being.
“I was actually planning to tell Father and you soon anyway. I would have prepared myself mentally first, but since you found my diary…”
“Just give me a little more time. Until I speak to Father first, alright? If you suddenly cause a scene, Father will get suspicious, won’t he?”
When Victor asked why, I blamed it on Father, and it seemed to work well enough.
“Regardless, leaving the house for an inn is too much. Can’t you control your emotions better?”
“No. I’m a person with another self living inside me.”
Hot-tempered and impulsive—that other self?
It was too dark a joke to laugh at, so I simply coughed awkwardly a few times.
“Ruby.”
Victor called my name in a serious tone as the carriage moved slowly forward.
“Yes?”
“So… the future you saw in your dream… how should I put this? Are you helping the Crown Prince because of that vision?”
“Something like that.”
“I see. That makes sense.”
After that, Victor gazed out the window in silence for a while before turning back to me.
“Can’t you step back?”
“What?”
“Is the Crown Prince forcing you to help him?”
“Of course not. He’s not that kind of person.”
“I know. That’s not the kind of prince he is. So you’re helping him of your own will…”
“That’s right.”
“But why? You know better than anyone how dangerous imperial succession disputes are.”
“I’m not doing anything dangerous. The Crown Prince takes good care of me anyway. I’m not an idiot, you know. Don’t worry, brother.”
“No, you are an idiot. When I heard you deliberately entered the courtroom to help the Fifth Princess and received solitary confinement, I couldn’t understand it.”
Victor glared at me reproachfully, his face growing emotional.
“I want you to live a normal life. I want you to do what you want, to be loved… without danger, without sorrow.”
“Brother…”
I was shocked. Victor’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, his lip pressed so hard that blood was surely drawing.
He forced his eyes wide as if holding back tears, and they reddened quickly.
“I’m sorry. I should have protected you from seeing such ugly things. I promise I will now. Even though you struggled alone…”
Victor roughly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and continued.
“I may not be able to repay all the painful hours you’ve endured alone… but I will try now.”
“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
“So please. Promise me.”
“…”
“Live for yourself this time. Don’t be used by that wretched spirit… by others.”
“…?”
“Don’t let causes and noble ideas sway you.”
“What?”
A spirit? Suddenly, I doubted my own ears.
“Promise me right now! That you won’t do anything dangerous! That you won’t do anything at all!”
“Brother? I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but I’m fine. It’s not dangerous. And a spirit? What do you—”
“Not dangerous? You almost got kidnapped outright when you were in Leubon. Did you forget that already?”
“That was—”
Just then.
The carriage, which had been traveling for some time, came to an abrupt halt.
“Who are these men?!”
Immediately, the guards who had been following on horseback charged forward with a shout.
“What is this?”
Victor, startled, reached toward the window connecting to the carriage driver and pulled it open.
‘Wow.’
There, blocking the path ahead of the carriage, stood dozens of masked figures.
‘What timing is this?’
Of all moments, these “dangerous circumstances” had to arrive before Victor had even finished voicing his concerns about kidnappings.
Victor looked at me, frozen in place, and laughed bitterly.
“… As you say, it’s really not dangerous, is it?”
“Brother, I don’t know what’s happening, but let’s try talking first without losing our composure. The fact that so many of them would deliberately block our path knowing full well it’s our family carriage means they want something.”
“What the hell!!”
Victor’s shout erupted. I gasped and clutched my chest.
“Why?! You?! Is it you they want?! Then should I just hand you over?!”
“No…”
This impulsive outburst…
“What have you done wrong?! Why can’t they all just leave you alone?! Why?! Why are they all obsessed with you?!!”
I was thrown into confusion. I could think of no way to rein in this hothead.
“I’ll kill them all!!”
“Brother!”
Victor leaped from the carriage before I could stop him.
“This is driving me mad. Really.”
I held my throbbing head.
‘Did the Second Prince send them?’
No, I couldn’t be sure.
I had shown favor to the Second Prince, so he would expect me to comply. There’d be no need for him to approach me so threateningly.
Unless he were a fool, he wouldn’t make such a loud, public kidnapping.
‘Could he actually be a fool?’
While I was trying to gauge where these mysterious assailants came from, their leader caught sight of Victor and commanded:
“That one is beyond our reach. Evade him as much as possible. Secure the lady and retreat.”
This damn fool.
Of all things, to speak of me as the target right in front of Victor, whose eyes had already gone wild.
As expected, Victor’s face twisted into something between laughter and tears as he muttered.
“Why? My sister? Why are they like this? Why…”
Then he gritted his teeth, drew his sword, and rushed forward.
“I’ll rip you all apart!!”
Immediately, Victor became locked in combat with the masked figures.
While each individual assailant wasn’t particularly threatening, their numbers were overwhelming. There seemed to be at least thirty of them.
No matter how skilled a fighter, they’d have trouble against such odds, but fortunately, the one facing them was Victor.
‘Brother won’t get hurt.’
Then.
Bang!
“Mother of gods!”
The carriage door was wrenched open violently, and one of the masked figures reached toward me.
I recoiled instinctively, but Victor came like lightning and sliced through the assailant’s chest, knocking him down.
“Stay still!”
Victor shouted.
“Don’t touch her! Don’t you dare! Aaaaah!!!”
The masked figures closed in on Victor again. Watching the commotion from nearby, I gasped.
Victor’s body and face were covered in wounds.
“Ugh…!”
“No! Brother!!!”
Then.
A sharp blade ruthlessly pierced through Victor’s side.
“Gack!”
Blood burst from Victor’s mouth as he stood facing me, shielding me inside the carriage.

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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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