Celebrity Lady - Chapter 182

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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
Side Story — Episode 24
Daniel, not to be outdone by the affectionate pair, popped his share of jelly into Wishit’s mouth as well. Watching the three of them fawn over each other, my mind grew tangled.
‘Ugh, I’ll think about it later.’
Pushing the headache-inducing worry aside, I shepherded the children toward the bathroom.
“Come on, let’s wash up. We need to be clean before we can play with your uncle.”
Two baths on days we’ve been out — that’s the golden rule. Ah, what a life I lead…
Of course, I hadn’t always been the one bathing the children. Even I preferred to have servants attend to my bath when I was tired, so surely the experienced attendants would handle the children’s washing perfectly well.
So I’d entrust them without worry and go about my duties. After all, when I had children, I’d planned to hire people to manage it all.
What made me change that way of thinking?
It was right around when the twins turned two.
I came home one evening as usual, ready to cuddle them, but the children seemed oddly distant. Yet they were perfectly familiar with the servants who fed and bathed them every day.
Thud. It was genuinely shocking.
And I realized then what a grave mistake I’d made during their critical attachment-forming period.
But strangely, their father had no such trouble — he seemed to manage just fine. It turned out that Lark was actually spoon-feeding the children their weaning meals himself, squeezing it in between his busy schedule!
And in the evenings, he’d even play with them in the bath! The traitor…
It was then.
“Has my wife gone out again? I’ll wash the children for you…”
A murmuring voice came from beyond the bathroom door, from the parlor, and soon the door swung open. Lark entered with his shirt sleeves and trouser cuffs rolled up. He stopped short when he saw me.
“Oh?”
“Papa!”
I cast him a sidelong glance.
“Hello, traitor.”
“Ha ha! Traitor, you say?”
Lark approached with a laugh and kissed my cheek.
“Don’t you need to go back out? I’ll wash them.”
“No, let’s do it together.”
Lark, who had devoured dozens of parenting books on his own, never neglected his effort to establish himself as the children’s primary caregiver.
I had once thought it odd that a high-ranking nobleman in this aristocratic society would personally bathe his own children — but that was simply my perspective. The truth was, every parent had their own way of raising children.
In any case, the ignorant version of myself who’d once believed that childcare was merely a matter of throwing money at it had long since reformed. While I couldn’t be at their side every waking hour, I made sure to care for them personally whenever I had a moment free.
I couldn’t bear to imagine it — a mother who only brought in money and paid no mind, children who grew distant and cold from her.
“Oh, Mama’s here too!”
Watching His Imperial Majesty squatting before the tub, skillfully bathing the children, I couldn’t help but smile.
I’d thought it unlikely we could ever be ordinary, yet our daily life had turned out to be small and happy, just like anyone else’s. It was wonderful.
This moment — coming home and personally bathing our children, becoming just an ordinary mother and father — was somehow…
Soft.
I leaned gently against Lark’s shoulder, gazing at our children submerged in the soapy bathwater.
My beloved husband and beautiful children. The home I’d built. Our time, ours alone.
It was good. More than good — it was perfect.
* * *
May, when spring blossoms bloom in full, in the Deccard Empire.
Cross the sea from this great empire to the neighboring continent, then travel far down to the southern reaches. From there, journey even further to the very edge of the world, and you’ll find a small kingdom.
Bellar Kingdom, it is called.
And this year, Airen Fon Bellar, the young king of Bellar at twenty-nine years old, arrived at the empire leading a modest procession.
Many nations yearned to exchange with the Deccard, a global superpower. So in truth, the empire would likely go its entire existence without ever needing to speak to a neighboring kingdom as insignificant as Bellar.
Yet the Deccard’s young emperor, Lark Van Rashmagh Deccard, had replied with extraordinary kindness to the letters Airen sent several times.
The bond between these two young leaders, peers in age, had begun in discussions of international affairs and diplomacy, and now stretched over two years. By now, they’d grown comfortable enough to occasionally exchange small pleasantries.
Though they had never once met face to face…
[It would bring me no small joy to meet a true friend with whom I have built a bond only through correspondence. The empire shall welcome the master of Bellar with open arms. I eagerly anticipate the day we meet.]
This time, the Deccard’s emperor had personally invited the king of Bellar!
‘I must succeed in this!’
The Imperial Court, bustling with spring festival celebrations.
Airen felt overwhelmed by the vast and unfamiliar landscape of the great empire, but soon steadied himself.
Today, he was not here merely for sightseeing. As part of his plan to advance the Bellar Kingdom, he had a request to make — shameless as it might be.
To whom? To the empire’s foremost businesswoman, the representative of the luxury brand Blanc de Rubis, from whom he’d received only curt refusals multiple times!
In other words, precisely to the Empress of this empire!
“My son!”
“Yes!”
Airen looked down at his young son, the six-year-old crown prince, whose small hand he gripped with resolve burning in his eyes.
His innocent eyes gazed up at his father, wide and trusting.
For his son’s sake, Airen would surely—
“I will make this succeed!”
He was determined to advance his kingdom.
* * *
Deep into the night.
When flowers bloom, people are happy. I was happy too. So happy it was almost exhausting.
“Hah, hah…”
“Ha ha ha.”
“…”
“Ha ha ha.”
I caught my breath and glanced sideways. Lark lay with his arm across his forehead, smiling at me, showing no trace of fatigue. I was the complete opposite.
Why was that? Between imperial duties, business affairs, and childcare, twenty-four hours weren’t enough. Physical fitness was essential, so I never neglected my exercise regimen.
Yet why? When we had a stamina contest in bed, why did I always lose?
As I watched Lark’s contented smile, I suddenly thought of my third manager from my Juliet Karerina days.
“Hah… Juliet, your mother Yuri will be able to get home early today…”
“Really? You finished your schedule anyway. Go on, hurry home.”
“Would you… make me a schedule?”
“…?”
I’d wondered what he meant by that.
When married life goes on long enough, the heat of newlyweds inevitably cools. Still, for a marriage to remain strong, physical intimacy is necessary…
So even if one partner is tired, you grit your teeth and fulfill your marital duty for the sake of your beloved spouse, doing your part.
That manager called it a “Duty Defense Battle.”
Lark, who catches fire the moment our eyes meet, will someday find himself in such a battle too, won’t he? Right now he rushes eagerly because we adore each other, but later, would he view it as an obligation and quickly dispense with it — and would that sadden me a little?
— I’d thought that back in our newlywed days.
Eight years into marriage.
And it was I who ended up fighting those Duty Defense Battles!
Honestly, I’d done it the first two times gladly, but the third time, I noticed the longing in Lark’s eyes and felt obligated. I couldn’t deny that.
“Do you think you’ll tire before I do, someday?”
“Who knows?”
Lark raised an eyebrow with a playful grin.
…How handsome he is. Just who is this ridiculously good-looking man!
Who else? My husband, that’s who.
I steadied myself and tried to convince myself that I was a happy woman. After all, if I complained that my handsome, athletic husband was a bit much to handle, someone might slap my cheek for being so spoiled.
“Dear.”
“Hah, yes?”
“You remember tomorrow’s lunch appointment, don’t you? Can we keep to the plan?”
“Yes, I remember. I’ve cleared the time, so I’ll make sure to be there on time.”
Currently staying at the Imperial Palace were the king and delegation from Bellar, the small kingdom Lark had invited.
I’d seen him when he’d just arrived recently, and tomorrow I was scheduled to have lunch together with the Bellar king…
‘Hmm, I’m not in the mood.’
I said yes, but I felt conflicted.
“Why that expression?”
“I’m uncomfortable about it. After all, I’m going to have to refuse a request that I’ve already turned down.”
In fact, I’d already rejected the letter the Bellar king had sent me personally — three times over.
“But we’ll be seeing his face and sharing a meal… isn’t there any room to reconsider?”
Lark asked very carefully, having seen the firmness in my expression.
I knew that my husband had built quite a friendship with the Bellar king. He’d probably not given up after my refusals and made the request again to my husband as well. He’d probably pestered him about the invitation too.
“Heh…”
I found the situation suddenly amusing.
The bed still warm from our embrace. A husband trying to gently probe my true feelings, sympathizing with his friend’s difficult position.
Was this — could this be pillow talk?
I couldn’t help but ask outright.
“Are you asking me to grant that man’s request?”

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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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