Celebrity Lady - Chapter 15

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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 15
Molga spoke with eyes gleaming.
“Well, of course. Who gave birth to you all?”
Spirit Contractors who’d bound themselves to mere low-rank Spirits were a dime a dozen. What she needed was something stronger—a Spirit with more potent power to wield.
‘If only I had that Spirit, the one that grants wishes….’
The indelible stigma of her government background, the constant treading carefully within the Duke’s Residence—all of it would end.
There was no wish that Spirit wouldn’t grant, they said….
With that, Molga’s children would need fear neither the Duke’s house nor the Emperor himself.
“Your mother believes in her babies.”
“Yes!”
“Yes, yes!”
Molga pulled the twins close with a bitter smile, their eager answers ringing in her ears.
Her eyes, as always, flickered with a thick, sordid hunger.
* * *
My eyes snapped open.
I spoke in astonishment to Wisht, who stood watching me with a worried expression.
“What kind of dream was that, anyway?”
“What did you dream?”
“I dreamed I was out on a trip with you to Jedo. You know how I’ve been dieting, but we went to a restaurant and I ordered a whole lamb steak course? And I didn’t leave a crumb—I licked the plate clean. I practically didn’t leave any room at all.”
“That sounds like a good dream.”
“What are you talking about? Just thinking about how much I ate gives me the chills. Thank goodness it was only a dream.”
After sharing a face-to-face meal with Father, laughing and joking, we even went to see the flowers and watched a play together.
I think I threw a tantrum about something, but dream-Father wore such an affectionate expression that reality would never allow, indulging my every whim with a bright, genuine smile the whole time.
It was startling, but….
“I suppose it really was the kind of reality Lubet yearns for. Because strange as it is, I’m feeling so much better now.”
“Then I’m glad.”
“And I’m sorry.”
At my sudden apology, Wisht’s eyes widened.
“For what?”
“For showing you such a weak side when I’d asked you not to worry. I didn’t anticipate it. I didn’t expect my body to react the moment I heard that woman Molga’s name.”
…….
Wisht hesitated, then let out a sigh and rested his hand on my head.
“I foresaw this the moment you absorbed Lubet’s memories entirely. Tend to your own heart. Don’t apologize for something like this.”
“Now that I think about it, I was pretty shameless in front of Father too.”
I’d been quietly rebelling against my indifferent father—telling him not to worry, insisting he pay me no mind.
‘Did I really cling to him asking to be held? I’m mortified.’
I shook my head back and forth.
Bang—!
“G-good grief!”
Without warning, the door flew open and a familiar face appeared.
‘Father?’
For a moment, my father looked younger, as if reverted to his childhood self—
‘Or so I thought.’
No, that wasn’t it.
‘Why is my older brother in my room?’
It was my eldest brother, Biego Diollas—someone I’d never seen since waking as Lubet.
With a face nearly identical to Father’s, Biego stood gasping for breath, his clothes disheveled as though he’d rushed here.
“Brother?”
…….
Biego stood still in the doorway, staring at me intently, then—
“You seem to be well.”
With just those words, he shut the door behind him with a bang and left.
“Wait, I—”
I started to rise awkwardly, only to flop back onto the bed.
“Ugh, what a rude man.”
A sigh escaped me at the end of that brief, ten-second exchange.
“The Duke must have carried you out when you collapsed and called in a physician, causing quite the commotion. He probably came by out of concern.”
“Then why not stay and talk?”
I sprawled back on the bed and clicked my tongue reproachfully.
Biego Diollas.
My eldest brother—neither good nor bad, with no particular memory of us ever being especially close or affectionate.
He feels immense gratitude toward Molga, who raised the three of us so dutifully after our mother passed away in childhood. In one word, he is—
‘A fool.’
Biego had always believed unwaveringly in Molga’s kind face, obeyed her every word, and doted on the twins.
Raising us three siblings, he came to believe that his own children, the twins, received less of Molga’s affection and grew up sharing her love.
It was a kind of debt.
‘A clueless simpleton. A dupe.’
To him, his priorities had never been his own siblings—me or Victor—but always Riki and Lilia.
‘A stupid ally is sometimes more dangerous than a clever enemy.’
I stared at the door Biego had closed behind him and swallowed my sigh.
The fact that Lubet had endured Molga’s cruelty her entire life without breathing a word of abuse owed much to this foolish ally, Biego.
Three years from now, when Biego formally becomes the ninth Duke of House Diollas, he will spend his life earning renown as a powerful man among men, a stalwart shield for Molga….
* * *
Two days had passed since Molga returned.
I’d expected her to come seeking me out immediately to assess the situation, but she remained conspicuously silent.
‘Careful and perceptive. That woman has a talent for cunning calculation that’s downright repulsive.’
Molga had surely noticed the change in me.
Like a fox, she was likely feeling out the atmosphere of the Duke’s Residence from the shadows. With her tool—the head steward—now dismissed, she was probably managing the household staff single-handedly, working herself ragged.
‘For now, this benefits me. With the trauma, I can barely keep my wits about me just being in the same room as Molga.’
Even if it’s the calm before the storm, now is the time to make my move.
If I remain as I am—a mere fifteen-year-old Lubet, unskilled and without standing or connections—no amount of effort to expose Molga’s true nature will matter.
No one will listen to the prattling of an idiot princess whose greatest achievement in life is being ‘the Duke’s daughter.’
‘Time to work. Today, I’ll go straight for the modeling audition without delay.’
I steeled my resolve and bit into half an apple with a satisfying crunch.
“I don’t see why you eat only half an apple every day. Eating a whole one won’t make you gain weight, you know.”
As usual, I was having breakfast with Father. The other half of the apple I’d divided was in his hand.
“I wanted to share with you, Father.”
Sensing he was about to lecture me—saying even a mouse ate more than this—about my diet, I’d preemptively blocked his nagging. Father made an odd expression.
Without another word, he brought the apple to his mouth and took a bite after me.
‘He’s not asking anything. Well, I’m grateful for that.’
Father didn’t pry into my episode the other day—the fit and loss of consciousness brought on by trauma.
If he had asked, I would’ve had to bring up Molga, and that would’ve made things difficult for me instead.
Everyone in this household is on Molga’s side. Any move I make will put me at a disadvantage.
“Father, I’ll have to eat lunch alone today.”
“Why?”
“You absolutely cannot sneak alcohol while I’m gone. I’ll be checking with the kitchen.”
“So why eat separately then?”
“I’m going into the city today. I’ll probably have to eat lunch outside.”
“Where are you going?”
“To see a play.”
“What play?”
…….
I lost my words at his endless questions.
‘Is he a question-mark serial killer?’
I hadn’t expected a simple conversation about eating lunch separately due to going out to stretch on this long.
Father seemed to realize his interest was excessive and quietly averted his eyes from mine.
“Hmm….”
I pondered for a moment, then took up the Entertainment Magazine I’d brought and moved to sit right beside him.
“Would you like to look at this?”
It was an entertainment magazine published in Jedo.
I flipped through several pages and revealed a beautiful woman’s photo.
“She’s called Sera Wigo, and she’s the most popular actress in Jedo right now. I’m a big fan of hers.”
Sera Wigo—the greatest female celebrity in Jedo at this moment.
Looking at her beautiful image, I licked my lips like a greedy merchant eyeing profit.
Father, scanning the magazine with indifferent eyes, asked—
“When are you leaving?”
“Now.”
As I stood abruptly, Father paused, looking up at me.
“Don’t skip lunch. Make sure you eat something.”
“Wait.”
Father stopped me as I was about to leave, hesitating for some reason.
“What is it?”
Father’s gaze was fixed on the brilliant window outside.
…….
Like a vampire afraid of sunlight, Father stared out the window for a long while, then spoke to me.
“Come with me.”
“Yes? You’re going outside?”
I was shocked. After Mother died, Father had lived almost like a mole, confined to his room.
“Why? Do you dislike it?”
“No, that’s not it….”
That Father himself would decide to go out?
Of course, Father’s company wasn’t bad for me. It would help my plans, and it was a good first step for him to live a more human life.
“I’d love to!”
I quickly nodded my head, afraid Father might change his mind.
“But I’m choosing the lunch menu.”
“I was planning to go to a salad specialty restaurant on Devian Street. That works for you, doesn’t it?”
“No rabbit food.”
“Well, I need to lose weight, so other options are a bit….”
As I hesitated, Father, who had been staring intently at me, suddenly rose.
“Oh!”
The next moment, I was startled. Father suddenly lifted me up in his arms.
Cradling me without effort, Father said—
“In just one week, you’ve become half of what you were, and you haven’t noticed? You’re not heavy at all. Stop worrying about weight.”
“That’s not an option!”
…….
At my resolute refusal, Father, who had been frowning in displeasure, took a step back.
“Then at least don’t eat salad today.”
“Hmm….”
Well, I’d endured a harsh diet all week. Why not enjoy a cheat day today?
Still in Father’s arms, I shrugged my shoulders magnanimously and said—
“All right then. Please buy me something delicious.”

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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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