Celebrity Lady - Chapter 38

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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 38
* * *
It was the twenty-sixth day since I’d opened my eyes in Lubetria Diolus. Four weeks into this hellish diet.
And today was.
“Are you ready, Miss?”
“Yes.”
The day of my mid-term weigh-in.
“Step on.”
“All right.”
Rebecca, who’d brought the Kitchen Scale to my room this morning, was visibly tense.
This large food scale, meant for weighing ingredients, was serving as my makeshift bathroom scale for today’s check-in.
Without hesitation, I climbed onto the empty platform and sat cross-legged.
“……?”
Rebecca stared at the needle moving above my head, then quickly rubbed her eyes and looked again.
“What is it?”
“Well, I… is this right? The scale isn’t broken or anything…….”
“It’s not broken. How many pounds?”
“O-one hundred and forty-nine pounds?”
‘149 pounds—that’s just under 68 kilograms. I started at 180 pounds, so I’ve lost over ten kilos.’
Perhaps because I’d always carried extra weight, the speed at which it was coming off was incomparable to when I’d managed my weight as a slimmer person.
Satisfied, I stepped down, and Rebecca suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace.
“Miss!”
“Oh my.”
She was so moved that tears clung to the corners of her eyes.
“What on earth has happened to you? How could you steel yourself so thoroughly……!”
“We shouldn’t celebrate yet. I’ve only reached a third of my target.”
I still needed to lose another twenty kilograms to reach my goal.
“Still, please don’t push yourself too hard. Miss, you’ve already grown so thin—you’re unrecognizable. Actually, the Duke…….”
“Father?”
“Yes. Just a few days ago, he called me aside and asked if someone had hired me to starve you.”
“What?”
Why is Father always like this?
If there was one thing I could never quite fathom, it was my father’s heart.
The man who’d always been indifferent was now anxious that he couldn’t feed me more at the dinner table, and it was quite tiresome.
‘He should have shown this interest long ago. Tsk.’
I shook my head and spread a mat on the floor.
It was time for Home Training.
“Oh! Home Training?”
“Yes. If Father says anything else, tell him I’m reducing my weight for my health, so he shouldn’t worry.”
“Well, I couldn’t presume to say such a thing, but… I’ll do my best to convey it.”
“Thank you.”
After Rebecca, far more excited than I was, tidied up the scale and left, I stripped off my dress.
Underneath… a Sports Bra and Leggings!
My Home Training outfit, specially made at the request of the seamstress Becky.
‘Ah… modern comfort…….’
Was there any moment as blissful as when I wore this sportswear—so redolent of modern civilization—and did my Home Training?
It was the only instant when I could recall the leisurely life I’d lived as Juliet Karenina.
‘If only I could play some classical music in the background, it would be perfect…….’
I sighed and lay stretched out, legs splayed to either side, swallowing my regret.
That was when.
Knock, knock.
A timid knock sounded at the door.
“Who is it?”
“…… It’s me.”
It was Biego’s voice.
I was startled. Since our last quarrel, I hadn’t seen Biego’s face…….
If he’d come to my room after such a fierce argument, there had to be a reason.
“Yes, come—”
For a moment, I hesitated, aware that my outfit was a century ahead of its time.
“—in.”
But I couldn’t be bothered to get dressed again.
Soon the door opened carefully.
“……!”
Biego’s eyes went wide as he stepped inside hesitantly.
“You, you—!”
Bang!
He quickly shut the door again and turned his head away sharply, his gaze averted from me.
Snap! Then, with a flick of Biego’s finger, the blanket from the bed came floating over and wrapped around me snugly.
‘Oh, so this is Telekinesis.’
Telekinesis—the power to move objects without touching them.
It was the power of the spirits Biego possessed.
“What is the matter?”
“What on earth is that vulgar outfit you’re wearing?”
Biego, finally looking at me again, spoke in anger, his face flushed red.
“It’s a Home Training outfit I wear at home.”
“But no matter how much you’re at home—!”
“Biego? I was exercising, so please just state your business.”
My bluntness caught him off guard. He sighed heavily, then walked over and set two flat boxes on the table.
“Grandmother brought these back from her trip to the Resort. She wanted me to give them to you.”
“You came all this way just to deliver them? There’s nothing else?”
“…….”
“From now on, please have Rebecca deliver such things. Why would you make the trip yourself when you’re so busy?”
“Lubet.”
“Yes?”
Grandmother came to me, worried that you’d become too sensitive. I told her about Ricky—how he teased you and played cruel pranks.”
“And?”
She was furious. She, who’d never once struck the twins, beat Ricky’s legs so hard she nearly broke the rod.”
“Ah, so she did that?”
I bit back a smile.
‘So even the son she doted on wasn’t spared from having his legs whipped—truly a remarkable woman. No wonder Biego was fooled by her his whole life.’
Biego hesitated slightly before continuing.
“She said it pains her that you’re still hurt, and she finds it difficult to face you…….”
I scoffed silently, giving a curt “Yes, yes” in response.
“Lubet, truthfully… you must resent me far more than her. If I’d conducted myself properly from the start, you wouldn’t have come to hate Grandmother and the twins.”
“…….”
“Won’t you let me bear the burden of your resentment? Grandmother did nothing wrong. She wanted so badly to see your face—”
“Yes, I understand. I’ll handle it. Thank you.”
As Biego opened his mouth to say more, I cast aside the blanket wrapped around me.
Immediately, he squeezed his eyes shut and turned away sharply.
“Leave.”
“Ha…….”
“Aren’t you busy?”
“…… All right, I understand.”
Though Biego seemed to want to say more, he was rebuffed by my iron resolve and left without accomplishing anything.
The moment he was gone, I tossed the blanket back onto the bed and headed for the table.
Molga’s gifts were two elegantly wrapped boxes.
One was Chocolate, the other was tea.
“Hmm?”
As I examined them more closely, something struck me as odd, so I turned and went to the small table beside my bed.
I opened the drawer and found another box of tea leaves.
‘This was the gift Molga brought back the last time she went to the Resort.’
I picked it up and returned to the table, laying the two identical tea boxes side by side, and a hollow laugh escaped me.
“Look at this.”
* * *
Molga disappeared from the estate roughly once a month, supposedly for a trip to the Resort.
But it was really just a time of indulgence—trailing around with young men in tow, visiting every famous tourist spot, and spending lavishly.
When she returned, she’d bring back an armload of souvenirs, claiming they were gifts.
For me, she always brought sweets and accompanying tea…….
‘The desserts always changed—they were travel souvenirs, after all—but why was the tea always the same?’
Since becoming Lubet, I rarely enjoyed tea time, and I’d never actually brewed any of Molga’s tea, so I’d forgotten about it until now.
But when I received her gift today, I realized something.
All the tea leaves she’d given me until now were always the same variety.
“Aaron, the aroma is quite pleasant, isn’t it?”
“Yes. This is Malraive Tea.”
Aaron spoke as he took a sip of the tea he’d prepared.
Aaron Müller.
In my previous life, he was the physician in the City of Commerce who’d given me the Terminal Diagnosis.
‘Aaron is truly one of the few genuine healers.’
He’d been so concerned with Lubet’s condition that he’d done everything in his power to find treatments for Obesity Complications.
Aaron, known as a capable physician despite his youth, had refused all the love calls from nobles who wanted to make him their family’s personal doctor, instead running a small clinic in the City of Commerce.
‘A physician who chose a life of service over success, it seemed.’
He’d spent his life treating the poor and common folk for free or at pittance rates.
Trusting him implicitly, I’d once even shown him Father’s condition.
“Mm.”
I brought the teacup to my nose, inhaling deeply, then made as if to take a sip.
Glancing ahead, Aaron was laughing awkwardly, just as I’d expected.
“Why is that?”
“Well…….”
Aaron scratched his cheek hesitantly.
“Miss, do you always enjoy Malraive Tea?”
“Yes. I’ve been drinking only this tea for quite some time.”
“Is that so…….”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“No, no problem at all.”
Aaron gave an awkward cough and continued.
“Malraive Tea is quite expensive. The leaves are also used as a medicinal ingredient.”
“Then it must be good for your health.”
“Indeed. There are patients who, due to poor nutrient absorption, suffer from being underweight, and Malraive Tea serves as an excellent remedy for them.”
“Ah, I see. It aids in nutrient absorption. For healthy…….”
I forced a smile, lifting the corners of my mouth as I asked.
“……weight gain, then?”
“Yes, well… as long as fat isn’t excessive, it’s really a necessary, essential nutrient…….”
Aaron trailed off, watching my expression carefully.

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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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