Celebrity Lady - Chapter 27

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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 27
“Hmm…….”
Wisht laughed with a bewildered expression, tilting his head.
“Did I offend you by speaking casually? Or should I say, did I offend Your Highness? No, wait, using such extreme formality would violate propriety rules too…….”
“……?”
Wisht, who had been muttering to himself, broke into a bright smile.
“How about we speak comfortably with each other?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Let’s go.”
I tapped his shoulder once and spoke.
“Run faster, Wisht. We need to keep moving while burning off fat.”
“…….”
“Come on, now that we’re here, don’t back out. Join me.”
“Yeah, yeah. Okay…….”
When I pulled the arm of Wisht, who seemed reluctant to run, he stumbled along in bewilderment.
We began running side by side.
“The evening air is nice, isn’t it?”
“It really is. Quite pleasant.”
“How refreshing is this? Let’s come out here every day from now on and exercise together.”
Wisht, who had been matching my pace for a while, chuckled and nodded.
“Sure, I like that.”
“I’m touched that you’re running with me even though you hate exercise. Thank you. You have no idea how bored I’ve been running alone all this time.”
“Hate exercise? I like exercise. Maintaining fitness is essential.”
“Don’t make me laugh.”
“Really, you don’t believe me? Even today I ran twenty laps around the Training Grounds with the Knight Order before heading back to the palace.”
Wisht’s expression looked serious as he met my eyes.
‘What is he talking about?’
My steps, which had been picking up speed, gradually slowed and came to a stop.
“The Knight Order? Twenty laps around the Training Grounds?”
“Just so you know, I’m not exaggerating. Everyone in the Knight Order has good stamina—they all do that much. Of course, mine is the best.”
“…….”
“After returning to the palace, I have plenty of stamina to run with you every day, so don’t worry.”
Wisht said with a grin, his handsome face bright.
‘What is this. What could it be.’
What could it really be. This unease, as if I’d belatedly felt a sense of wrongness I should have noticed ages ago…….
I quickly sent a telepathic message in my mind.
<Wisht, Wisht.>
<What.>
Wisht, who had stopped a couple of paces ahead of me, turned around with a tilted head.
<Where are you right now?>
<At the Spirit Spring, where else.>
<……Really? You’re not messing with me?>
<What are you talking about. Listen, I’m busy right now. I’ve got two spirits I haven’t seen in ages, and they’re tearing into each other. I’m trying to break it up.>
<Oh, please……>
<What? Is something wrong? Anyway, I’m busy right now. Talk later.>
I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry with tension.
‘This is bad.’
Standing before me is not Wisht.
Looking at him again carefully, even the atmosphere felt subtly different, and above all, Wisht wasn’t the kind of person to pull pranks like this.
I should have noticed when he first appeared and mumbled those incomprehensible words…….
‘But how was I supposed to notice that? It was completely unexpected.’
I try to defend myself—it’s not because I’m stupid.
Who could have imagined that at this time, in this place, someone who absolutely shouldn’t be here would appear? And since I spend all day with Wisht wearing this same face, I had no reason to suspect. Even less so.
But all the excuses in the world won’t help spilled milk.
The handsome man standing before me is, in other words…….
Really.
‘Why is the Crown Prince here of all places!’
The real Crown Prince—Lark van Rashmach Dekard.
“…….”
“Why? Aren’t you going to keep running?”
Lark asked with a tilted head.
‘Oh, divine being. Why are you testing me like this?’
How many terrible things have I done to this man I’ve known for less than ten minutes?
“Oh, hey there.”
“Run faster, Wisht.”
My mind went blank.
‘I, I need to apologize first…….’
I slowly took a deep breath, then carefully clasped my hands together and bowed deeply at the waist.
“I beg your pardon, Your Highness.”
“……?”
“I have committed a grave discourtesy…….”
“What are you talking about? Why are you suddenly speaking formally?”
Lark asked with a smile spreading across his face.
‘If I act crazy, he’d probably scold me. How was I supposed to figure out he’s the real Crown Prince when I was exercising together and speaking casually from the first meeting!’
Even blaming him in my mind doesn’t change anything.
The fact that I confused him with Wisht is my problem alone. In any case, I’ve now committed what amounts to lèse-majesté.
“I mistook you for my close friend because Your Highness resembles him so much……”
“Hmm?”
As if that’s a real excuse!
Lark burst out laughing.
“So you’re saying until now you didn’t know who I was? You thought I was your friend?”
“Yes. But looking at you again, you’re completely different. I don’t know what happened to my eyes for a moment.”
“Oh, so in this land there’s someone who resembles me enough to be confused with me like that? That’s surprising in its own way.”
“No, looking again, you’re completely different. I have this, condition where I can’t distinguish faces very well…….”
“Oh my.”
Lark furrowed his brows as if sympathetic, but his playful expression suggested he didn’t believe me.
What kind of lifeline is this—pretending to be a noblewoman with face blindness…….
I covered my face with both hands, my heart sinking.
“I’m truly sorry.”
“Hahahaha!”
Lark laughed so hard at my apology that the surroundings seemed to shake.
I couldn’t bear to meet his eyes and remained frozen, but I felt Lark drawing closer.
“My lady. Look at me.”
I couldn’t bear to meet his eyes and remained frozen, but I felt Lark drawing closer.
I slowly lowered one hand and looked up at him standing before me, asking softly.
“Are you forgiving me?”
“I’m not even angry.”
“Really?”
“Why would I be? Have I been getting fooled my whole life?”
“Hmm.”
His generosity seemed genuine, with no deception in it.
I swallowed my embarrassment and spoke.
“Thank you. Your Highness truly has a heart as vast as the Roben Ocean.”
“Hahaha!”
Why was that so funny? I felt as though I’d just crawled out of hell only to nearly fall back in.
As I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck, Lark asked with barely contained laughter.
“Should we keep running?”
“No. I think that’s enough for today…….”
“Since we’re already talking comfortably, let’s keep it that way?”
I shook my head firmly, rejecting the idea.
“If anyone hears, I’ll be arrested for lèse-majesté. I don’t want to go to prison.”
“But I allowed it. Who would send you to prison?”
“Still. Since I was born a citizen of the Dekard Empire, I must naturally show proper respect to Your Highness.”
Lark gave a small laugh and said.
“Then, do you have some time? If you’re not busy, would you talk with me a bit?”
“…….”
At his suggestion, I hesitated and realized something.
‘Ah. So the Crown Prince appearing out of nowhere means he came here specifically to see me.’
It makes sense now.
I’d already made my refusal clear indirectly through Victor, but from the Crown Prince’s perspective, it must have been frustrating. So he came all this way to meet me another way.
He must have heard from Victor that I exercise here every evening.
‘He’s thorough.’
Outwardly, he seems like a good person, but inwardly, his mind is full of many calculations.
“Alright.”
I hesitantly nodded while remaining cautious, then pointed to a flat rock in the corner of the clearing.
“Oh, wait.”
As I was about to sit, Lark raised his hand to stop me and pulled a Handkerchief from his breast pocket. He unfolded it on the rock and gestured for me to sit.
‘Thoroughly trained manners. Not bad.’
I offered a small thanks and settled down. Then Lark immediately plopped down right beside me.
The distance was quite close, so I scooted my hips back a little to create some space.
“…….”
At my withdrawal, Lark looked down at me intently.
I laughed awkwardly and spoke.
“I sweat a lot. I was worried you might find it unpleasant.”
“……Not at all. It doesn’t bother me. I just came from rolling around all day in the Training Grounds dust with sweaty knights.”
“Still. I’m embarrassed.”
Holding up my palm firmly to maintain distance, Lark’s eyes narrowed.
‘I’m really sorry, but I have no intention of getting involved with you in that kind of way.’
With a face so devastatingly handsome, if I looked too long, real feelings might actually develop.
I opened the Water Canteen I’d been holding and took a drink, avoiding his gaze.
“I’m thirsty too.”
“Oh.”
I, who had been shamefully drinking alone, felt embarrassed and offered him the canteen, then hesitated.
“But I’ve already drunk from it…….”
“I don’t mind. Can I?”
“Sure, why not.”
Lark took the canteen from me and smiled faintly as he tilted it to his lips.
He could have drunk without touching his lips to the opening, but instead he deliberately locked eyes with me and pressed his lips directly to the spout, drinking deeply.
His wet lips and the prominent curve of his firm throat with each swallow caught my eye almost involuntarily.
I scratched the back of my neck again and swallowed a sigh, thinking to myself.
‘……This man is skilled.’
A consummate perfectionist. A Crown Prince who, had he lived longer, would have gone down in history as a sage king.
Lark was, as rumored, a man who could do anything. Even stir the hearts of women.
‘I have no interest in ordinary beauty, yet a single movement of his Adam’s apple gives me a sense of crisis. Impressive!’
I acknowledged it honestly and spoke.
“Your Highness, there is something I must tell you.”
“What is it?”
“If my guess is correct, Your Highness, you’re probably someone who doesn’t like wasting time on meaningless things. So I wanted to tell you in advance.”
“……Tell me what?”
“I.”
After clearing my throat once, I met Lark’s eyes directly.
Then, as if surrendering, I opened my palm and spoke.
“I have not the slightest intention of developing a romantic relationship with Your Highness. If I’ve misunderstood, I apologize. But if there’s something you wish of me, please don’t trouble yourself.”
At my words, Lark hesitated, looking startled.

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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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