Celebrity Lady - Chapter 134

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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
Episode 134
“It seems Your Highness has also come to view the fashion show.”
“Yes, indeed. I brought some friends I work with, but the shop is so popular that tickets sold out right away.”
“Oh my. But surely Your Highness can still enter? If you’re acquainted with Madam, you would have received an invitation ticket.”
Cade chuckled and pulled out his invitation ticket from his jacket pocket, slipping it onto his finger for display.
Lark’s eyes lingered on the ticket for a moment.
It was a trivial gesture, but for some reason it rankled. As if he were flaunting his familiarity with Rubetria…….
‘Am I being too sensitive?’
Lark tilted his head inwardly.
“Still, it’s a shame I can’t watch it together with the friends who came hoping to see it.”
“That must be disappointing.”
Cade’s brow furrowed sympathetically.
“My lord, where shall we place the gifts?”
Just then, two workers flanked by enormous congratulatory wreaths bustled loudly through the entrance.
“Set them against one side of the lobby.”
Cade gave the order without turning, merely tilting his head slightly to the side.
“Gasp…….”
“What kind of money show is this?”
“Hey, keep it down.”
The astonished guards, rendered speechless, whispered urgently with gaping mouths.
Dozens of brilliant congratulatory wreaths,
ornaments gleaming with gold and jewels,
rare gifts beyond imagination streamed in one after another.
They were arranged neatly against one side of the lobby. Even after several teams had entered, there was no end in sight.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
Cade chuckled and gave Lark a small bow before passing him to enter the hall.
And Lark,
[A beautiful muse to all,
A man who loves your passion, more crimson and precious than rubies.]
found himself unable to look away from the message inscribed on the congratulatory wreath—far too romantic for such an occasion.
* * *
The fashion show was set to begin at seven in the evening.
Yet the moment the hall doors opened, a man had already settled himself squarely in the center of the front-row VVIP seating.
‘That is certainly unusual.’
It was Cade Lüben, the Marquis.
I observed him for some time—sitting alone like a solitary, haughty crane in an otherwise empty theater—before making my way toward him.
Head tilted back, Cade sat with his legs crossed, eyes closed.
“You’ve arrived early, Marquis Lüben.”
At the sound of my voice, he startled and rose.
“Madam, it has been a while.”
“Indeed. Was it last month we saw each other?”
I extended my hand, and Cade leaned down to place a kiss on the back of it, then smiled brightly.
“Yes, it was. I came because of the fashion show, but I’m not the type to enjoy festivals, so I had no place to pass the time. I arrived early, I’m afraid.”
Cade shrugged.
“But it turned out to be a fortunate choice, getting to see Madam’s face like this.”
“Hehe.”
I sat in an empty seat, and Cade settled himself beside me.
“The show seems to have been promoted quite well. I heard the ticket booth sold out the moment it opened.”
I broached the main point directly—was it you?—but he feigned ignorance as expected.
“Is that so? Well, it’s hardly surprising. Your shop’s popularity reaches the heavens, after all.”
“How kind of you to say.”
I was at a loss. If Marquis Lüben refused to cooperate, I had no recourse.
I had no evidence of who had cleared out the tickets, and I couldn’t just interrogate him outright.
Besides, Marquis Lüben had recently become not merely a customer but a business partner through an overseas branch investment.
Which meant I needed to maintain a cordial relationship.
‘Is this man really the culprit who cleared out the tickets? Or—there must be a reason for such extravagance. But why would he monopolize all the seats?’
I couldn’t fathom it.
Of course, Becky had said…….
“Rather than wanting to monopolize the seating, he probably wants to monopolize you, doesn’t he? He’s trying to minimize the eyes watching you at your public debut.”
“Although he’ll release footage of you separately, seeing you in person is altogether different, isn’t it? My instincts tell me he has ulterior motives toward you.”
……That’s what she said.
‘But that makes no sense. There was no sign of such things whatsoever.’
Having lived as Juliet, bombarded relentlessly by suitors, I was sharply attuned to such matters.
‘But really? What if?’
I toyed absently with my mask, studying him carefully.
“In any case, I suppose I should address you as ‘investor’ now rather than ‘customer.’ Thank you so much for trusting and supporting the establishment of our overseas branch.”
“The honor is mine.”
“But you could have postponed the investment decision—waited to meet with the overseas branch staff next month, then given it more thought.”
“Investment timing is everything. I have observed all of your movements thus far, and I have no doubt that Blanc de Rubis will succeed abroad.”
“……That’s very kind of you to say.”
It’s confusing. It seems like excessive self-consciousness to think he invested without hesitation because of me.
“I look forward to our continued partnership, Madam.”
“Likewise, I assure you.”
“Ah, and one more thing.”
Cade added with a gentle smile.
“I may not have time later. Might I give you a small gift now, if you’ll permit me?”
“A gift?”
“Yes, if you’ll allow it.”
“Well, of course.”
Cade chuckled and suddenly leaned forward, reaching his right hand around behind my head.
“……?”
Before I could react, his hand came back around from behind me to the front.
A ring case appeared in it.
“Oh my.”
“Haha. I’ve noticed that ladies are quite fond of magic tricks. I practiced for quite a long time, despite my lack of talent.”
Cade snapped the ring case open with one hand before my eyes.
Beneath the soft lighting, a diamond gleamed with iridescent brilliance.
‘……What is this?’
This is no ordinary diamond.
I recognized it at once, and behind my mask, my jaw dropped in shock.
‘That’s the one. The diamond that the Satur Trading Company imported from Karta Kingdom this time.’
The Satur Trading Company, which deals in rare gems from various nations.
While it regularly brings in jewels whose value is difficult even to assess, this diamond from Karta Kingdom was on an entirely different level from any they had handled before.
I had been tempted to acquire it myself, but when I heard there was a madman at the auction who kept shouting “Absolutely ten million marks above the highest bid,” I clicked my tongue and gave up…….
‘So that madman was Marquis Lüben. And now he’s giving it to me?’
I looked at his straightforward, smiling face with some embarrassment.
* * *
In the Capital, Deccard, the festival was in full swing.
After leaving the palace briefly that morning to handle ticketing, Lark returned to the palace in time for the fashion show to begin.
“Please, you must tell us your impressions, Your Highness!”
“Blanc de Rubis!”
“We’ll be waiting!”
The ten guards who should have watched the show together were huddled outside the Opera House.
“Mm.”
Though he had an invitation ticket, Lark felt too guilty to enter alone. He knew all too well how eagerly they had been awaiting this day.
‘There should be standing room available in the hall…….’
Yet Rubetria had deliberately not sold standing-room tickets. She must have had her reasons.
But.
‘There are only ten of them?’
And.
‘Isn’t she my beloved? Can’t I make at least one request like this?’
Having made his decision, Lark spoke to the ten eager young guards.
“Wait here. I’ll go ask if you can watch from standing room at least.”
The guards’ eyes widened, and they cheered.
“Wow! Your Highness is the best!”
“As expected! Truly, a righteous leader of this age!”
“We love you!!”
Lark then entered the Opera House with determined steps.
Upon entry, mask-wearing was mandatory for all guests.
The mask itself was virtually a symbol of “Madam Ruby,” and it had been chosen as the dress code theme for today’s fashion show.
Wearing the black mask he had received beforehand, Lark made straight for the Waiting Room on the second floor.
Rubetria greeted him with a smile.
“Oh, you came?”
“Yes.”
Seeing Rubetria’s openly delighted expression, Lark allowed himself a small smile.
“So, you know—”
Rubetria suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist.
Lark hesitated for a moment, then laughed and embraced her in return.
“Congratulations on the fashion show.”
“Thank you.”
“But you see—”
Bang, bang.
At that moment, the Waiting Room door was knocked on urgently, and the voice of Becky, the head tailor, came through.
“Director, a VVIP guest is requesting to meet with you.”
“Oh, Your Highness, please wait a moment. VVIP guests need to be greeted personally before they enter.”
“Sure, I understand.”
Lark moved to one corner of the Waiting Room and leaned against the wall at an angle.
Soon the door opened, and five elegantly dressed nobles entered.
Though they wore masks and were unidentifiable, their attire alone marked them as extraordinarily wealthy.
“Congratulations on the opening of the fashion show.”
“Madam Ruby, I have high hopes for today.”
“Thank you.”
The dresses of Blanc de Rubis, which only the truly wealthy could afford to even glance at; expensive handbags and fans.
The finest accessories glimmering from their faces, necks, and hands…….
‘An aristocratic gathering.’
Lark quietly observed the nobles as they conversed in their own world.
As Crown Prince, he had made a point of consciously avoiding aristocratic events.
In other words, this atmosphere felt somewhat uncomfortable to him.
‘She’s remarkable, Madam Ruby.’
Yet watching his beloved, Lark felt genuinely pleased.
“Well then, please enjoy your time.”
After seeing the nobles out, Rubetria hurried back to Lark.
“What was I saying just now?”
“Oh right—I noticed this morning that all the tickets had sold out.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“So I wanted to ask if standing room—”
Bang, bang.
“Director, the next VVIP guest.”
“Ugh.”
Rubetria gave an apologetic smile.
“I’m sorry. Just a moment.”
“It’s fine. Take your time.”
Rubetria began greeting the arriving nobles. Lark waited for her again.
‘She must be exhausted.’
—he thought.
Yet Rubetria seemed perfectly at ease with the nobles, and she appeared to genuinely enjoy interacting with them.
‘If my beloved were to join the Imperial House…….’
As Lark watched the busy Rubetria, concern crept over him.
If Rubetria became a member of the Imperial House, he wanted to support her in focusing on her own work.
But could that truly happen, by his will alone?
He could already foresee the stern faces of aristocratic officials, questioning her with pointed silence—that as Crown Princess, and eventually Empress, how could she abandon her duties to gallivant outside.
“All done, all done!”
While his thoughts deepened, Rubetria approached him again.
“Where were we in our conversation?”
But then,
Bang, bang!
“Ohh…….”
At the tiresome sound of knocking, Rubetria clutched her forehead with a sigh.
Lark laughed at the sight and gently pushed her shoulder.
“Go ahead.”
“Sorry.”
The third VVIP guests to interrupt them were three elderly noblewoman.
Rubetria navigated the conversation with natural ease, regardless of the nobles’ gender or age.
“I would have preferred if it were invitation-only, but when I heard reservations were being taken, I almost didn’t come. I really hate crowding with just anyone gathering about.”
“Hehe, Madam is no ordinary person. She must have had her reasons. Why, it would look suspicious if she invited only the wealthy nobility openly.”
“That’s precisely it. I hadn’t grasped her deeper intentions. But seeing how the seats are filled, they all look like people Madam hired separately.”
Listening absently to their conversation, Lark’s gaze turned toward the window that overlooked the auditorium.
‘Ah.’
Indeed. Those who filled the seats were all dressed in unobtrusive attire, sitting quietly without making a sound or commotion.
Like colorless background filling, positioned not to disturb a gathering meant only for a select few nobles…….
“Oh no, you’re misunderstanding. It’s not like that.”
Rubetria shook her head, but the noblewoman simply smiled knowingly and nodded in acknowledgment.
For a moment, Lark thought of the guards waiting outside.
Yes, of course…….
A famous shop’s fashion show, expected to fill to capacity, not selling standing-room tickets—there must be a reason for that.
Lark smiled bitterly, pushed himself away from the wall, and quietly slipped out through the door on the opposite side of the Waiting Room.
“Then, I look forward to it.”
“Yes. Please enjoy the viewing.”
After seeing the noblewoman out, Rubetria spun around suddenly.
“……Huh?”
But Lark was gone. Only the slightly open door marked his absence.

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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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