Celebrity Lady - Chapter 30

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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 30
Servants bustled about, and the door to the Reception Room across from the first-floor foyer swung wide open.
It was to receive an extraordinary guest who had arrived at the Diolors Estate without so much as a word of warning early that morning.
Molga and her twin children sat side by side on the Reception Room sofa, brimming with excitement.
“Mother, what is this about? The person outside right now — that’s the Crown Prince, isn’t it?”
Lilia asked in startled alarm.
“Yes, I went and saw him myself. It’s definitely the Crown Prince.”
He was an unexpected visitor, yet plainly a personage before whom propriety was essential.
Biego, the acting head of the family and a minor duke, had received him, and the two were currently conversing outside.
“But why did the Crown Prince suddenly come to our house?”
“Fool, do you really need that explained?”
When Ricky posed the question, Lilia dissolved into giggles.
“What’s the biggest topic in High Society these days? Who’s going to fill the vacant Crown Princess seat.”
“Really?”
“They say His Highness has been quite late in choosing a bride, and everyone’s been curious — wondering how carefully he’s been selecting a wife, to take so long.”
Unable to suppress her laughter, Lilia shyly placed her hand on her cheek and squirmed with delight.
“Isn’t that right, Mother?”
“It is. Otherwise, there’d be no real reason for the Crown Prince to visit our estate.”
Molga laughed along with Lilia.
Ricky, sitting beside them, tilted her head.
“So he came to ask for Lilia to be Crown Princess?”
“Yes, you silly thing!”
“But why are you so happy about it? You’re seeing Cedric.”
“What?”
Lilia’s expression soured immediately.
“Who said I’m seeing him? He’s just a close friend.”
“But Cedric confessed to you, and you accepted him. And you said you’d go to the Debutante Ball with him….”
“Can’t you keep your mouth shut?”
“Ricky, hush now.”
When Lilia and Molga rebuked her in turn, Ricky pouted, pressing her lips together.
“The time for a National Marriage has long passed, and I was already thinking about it. I hear he’s been looking things over carefully — seems like the heat’s on. From the Crown Prince’s perspective, there’s no Marriage Prospect more appealing than you.”
Molga smiled and stroked Lilia’s cheek tenderly.
“Don’t misspeak, and always wear a pretty expression.”
“Ugh, Mother. Whose daughter do you think I am? I know that sort of thing without being told.”
“Tee-hee.”
The two, who had been smiling warmly at each other, suddenly composed themselves and rose to their feet as if by agreement when the mansion’s foyer door opened.
Biego was coming in with Crown Prince Larque.
Molga stepped out to the Reception Room doorway to greet them both.
“I have the honor of receiving Your Highness. I am Molga of the Diolors.”
“It is a privilege to meet you, Your Highness. I am Ricky of the Diolors.”
The mother and daughter curtsied together and stepped aside, and soon Lilia emerged.
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I am Lilia of the Diolors.”
Lilia, clad in a radiant Light Yellow Dress, daintily bent her knees in greeting, pinching the fabric of her skirt.
Biego introduced them once more.
“The senior lady of the family and the youngest members of the household.”
“Yes, they’re so well-known — I’m quite familiar with them.”
Larque answered with a smile, then softened his expression apologetically and spoke to Molga.
“I’m honored to meet you, Matriarch. Please forgive my rudeness in calling unannounced and at such an early hour.”
“Oh, not at all. I’m simply worried that we haven’t received you as splendidly as we should.”
Molga smiled warmly and made way. As they moved toward the seating area, Larque gazed about as if searching for someone.
Molga, noticing that he seemed to be looking for a particular person, spoke with a bittersweet expression.
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but I’m afraid our Duke isn’t in a position to receive you personally today. I know it’s terribly rude, but I do hope you’ll understand his circumstances.”
“Oh, please don’t worry about that. The minor duke already mentioned it to me beforehand. It was an unannounced visit — I’m the one who should apologize.”
Larque spoke with a regretful smile.
Meanwhile, Lilia, seeing him up close for the first time after having only glimpsed him from a distance before, found herself overwhelmed by a shock that felt almost like ecstasy.
‘Oh my goodness. He’s so much more handsome up close. Cedric’s face doesn’t even compare, does it?’
Larque’s features were sculpted like a work of art, as if someone had deliberately carved them.
And unlike Cedric, who still retained a boyish air, Larque possessed a notably mature presence, along with a frame that stood a good head taller and broad shoulders to boot!
‘I’m about to receive a proposal of Betrothal from someone like this?’
At fourteen, Lilia still considered marriage a distant prospect, and since she had no real connection to the Crown Prince, in fact just yesterday she’d paid little attention to the vacant Crown Princess seat.
She’d been content enough running about with Cedric, the most popular noble youth, and attending Tea Parties daily with peers who hung on her every word and flattered her shamlessly….
‘I’m going to be Crown Princess! And eventually Empress!’
Larque’s unexpected visit, a possibility she’d never imagined, set young Lilia’s heart ablaze.
‘First, we’ll do a Betrothal, won’t we?’
Perceptive Molga, sensing her daughter’s eagerness, smiled and broached the subject.
“But Your Highness, might I ask what brings you to visit so urgently?”
“Ah, I came to meet the Diolors young lady. I mentioned it to the minor duke just a moment ago.”
When Larque spoke so openly, Lilia bashfully lowered her eyes.
Molga, feigning ignorance, asked again.
“My, for what purpose?”
“Well….”
Larque paused, rubbing his brow thoughtfully, then answered vaguely.
“I didn’t make a promise exactly, but I think she’ll know why I’ve come so hastily.”
“Of course, of course!”
Molga nodded, smiling.
Larque, who had been staring at her intently, then turned his head toward Biego beside him and spoke.
“As I mentioned earlier, I was hoping to speak with the young lady alone. I’d like to take her into the City, treat her to breakfast, and spend some time together — would you permit it, elder brother?”
“There’s no need for my permission, surely.”
Biego nodded with a small laugh, and Lilia immediately sprang to her feet.
“Then would you mind waiting just a moment, Your Highness?”
Molga explained to Larque’s puzzled expression.
“She’ll make her preparations and be right down.”
“Ah, I see.”
Lilia dashed from the Reception Room with several maids hurrying behind her. Larque called after them with obvious pleasure.
“Tell her there’s no rush. I can wait as long as needed.”
“My, Your Highness is truly considerate.”
“Not at all. I arrived without notice — I should certainly be accommodating. Still….”
Larque smiled at Biego.
“I was worried she hardly ever leaves the house. I wondered if you kept her under rather strict protection, elder brother.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Hm-hm….”
While Biego tilted his head in bewilderment, Molga chuckled as if amused.
“The minor duke is certainly fond of our Lilia, that much is true — but he doesn’t restrict her outings so severely. Please, feel free to call on her anytime.”
“Ah?”
“Actually, Your Highness.”
Biego interjected.
“Are you perhaps referring to Rubetria?”
“Oh, yes. That’s exactly it — we’ve been discussing the young lady Rubetria.”
“Wait. So the younger sister you mentioned earlier, the one you said you’d come to meet today….”
“Ah, did I misspeak? Even Victor has this trouble — when I say younger sister, I get confused. As I understand it, when it comes to the minor duke’s younger sister, it’s only the young lady Rubetria.”
At Larque’s words, Biego and Molga both stiffened simultaneously.
Though they referred to Lilia as a younger sister for convenience, strictly speaking she was Biego’s aunt. So Larque hadn’t misspoken at all — they had simply made the natural assumption.
Biego visibly paled.
“Your Highness, how do you know of Rubetria….”
At that moment.
Rubetria was descending the staircase visible through the open Reception Room doorway.
Molga’s eyes widened at the sight of her.
‘What on earth has changed about that girl? It hasn’t been that long….’
Rubetria, dressed in a tastefully tailored Light Purple Dress with subtle makeup applied, was barely recognizable.
The puffiness that had swollen her entire frame just a week ago had diminished proportionally, her shoulders, which had always been hunched, were now squared confidently, and her newly composed, dignified expression was exactly that of a proper noblewoman.
Larque rose with visible delight and approached the bottom of the stairs in a single swift motion. He smiled with astonished eyes.
“Young lady, did you dress up this elaborately for me? Would it be terribly presumptuous of me to think so?”
Rubetria covered her mouth and laughed.
“Why, certainly.”
“Excellent, then let’s go.”
Larque chuckled and extended his arm gallantly.
At that very moment, with a small commotion, Lilia rushed down accompanied by several maids.
“Hey, Rubetria. Would you move aside?”
Lilia gave Rubetria a light shove and took her place in front of Larque.
In those brief moments, Lilia had changed into a fresh dress and added more makeup, and now spoke shyly.
“Shall we go, Your Highness?”
“Er, well….”
Larque smiled awkwardly and turned his gaze toward the Reception Room. Instead of the dumbfounded Molga, Biego gestured to Lilia.
“Lilia, come here. His Highness has made an appointment with Rubetria, it seems….”
“…? What do you mean, elder brother?”
Before Lilia could even process her confusion, her eyes went wide. Rubetria was standing beside Larque, her arm linked through his.
“Lilia, where are you going today? You look lovely in that dress.”
Rubetria tilted her head with perfectly innocent, round eyes, and Lilia’s mouth fell slowly open.
“This… this is….”
Even as she grasped the situation, she couldn’t believe it.
In that instant, Lilia took one more step down the stairs, then stumbled in shock.
“Oh!”
Bang!
“L-Lilia!”
She had caught her long skirt beneath her foot and tumbled down the stairs, shocking everyone present.
“Dear. You should be more careful.”
Larque, who stood before her, merely narrowed his brow and took a step back.
“Are you all right? That must have hurt. Let me help you up.”
It was Rubetria’s hand that reached down to Lilia instead.
With her lips slightly pouted in a show of concern, Rubetria’s face carried the faintest shadow of a concealed smile.

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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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