Celebrity Lady - Chapter 41

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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 41
The moment the carriage lurched forward, Lizbeth was positively seething, chattering away with irritation.
“What is it? What exactly?”
“It’s nothing. His Highness was just playing a prank.”
“Why would he pull a prank like that? That hairband felt off from the start! Tell me straight! Are you two up to something?”
“We’re not, really. There’s nothing at all.”
I replied smoothly while adjusting the hairband Larque had given me and pulling out a hand mirror to examine my face.
‘Hmm, not bad at all.’
The understated style suited me well.
I smiled to myself and asked Lizbeth, who was still huffing indignantly.
“How does it look? Does it suit me?”
“Ugh!”
Lizbeth, who had been studying me intently as I held my cheeks and playfully blinked, pouted her lips.
“Well, it is pretty, I suppose…”
“Thank you.”
* * *
The party venue was our family’s Villa in Prague.
Built on a mountainside with a well-maintained path, the Villa resembled an ornate Western castle.
Whoa!
The carriage stopped, and Lizbeth cried out in excitement.
“It’s Prince Ricky!”
Ricky, impeccably dressed in a black tuxedo, was greeting guests at the entrance as the party’s host.
When the carriage bearing the imperial seal arrived, he visibly stiffened.
“Prince Ricky!”
As Lizbeth descended, Ricky’s eyes went wide.
“Y-Your Highness?”
“Prince Ricky, thank you for the invitation.”
“Ah, well… of course you should have been invited. But surely… did you bring a gift?”
“I heard from Rubert that it would be difficult for me to prepare a gift, so she wrote me another invitation card instead?”
With a flushed face, Lizbeth fidgeted with her fingers and then unfurled her invitation before Ricky.
You are invited to the August Social Gathering.
‘1 Silver’
—Host: Ricky Diolus
Upon examining the invitation, Ricky went rigid.
“Ah… so Rubert.”
“Yes!”
I walked up behind Lizbeth at a leisurely pace, and I felt Ricky’s gaze shift to me—a look fierce enough to devour.
‘Goodness, how terrifying.’
I deliberately avoided his eyes.
“Besides, paying 1 Silver just to enter seemed wasteful, so I prepared a gift I thought would please His Highness instead.”
Lizbeth said shyly. Soon the attendants and servants she’d brought began unloading an enormous stack of gift boxes one by one.
“Th-thank you.”
Ricky clenched his teeth and forced his lips upward into a smile.
“Let’s all have a pleasant evening, shall we?”
“Y-yes, ah… Your Highness, p-please come this way.”
Eventually, Ricky, trembling slightly, assigned an attendant to Lizbeth, and she disappeared into the party in high spirits.
As I attempted to follow, Ricky suddenly blocked my path.
“You, have you lost your mind? Do you have a death wish?”
“What’s wrong? What’s the problem?”
“Unbelievable…”
Ricky thrust his face menacingly toward me as I played innocent.
“Did you get an extra invitation from me just for this?”
“My goodness, what a misunderstanding. When I was cleaning my room later, I found an invitation I thought I’d lost.”
I shrugged casually.
“It would’ve been a waste to let one invitation go unused, wouldn’t it? Besides, His Highness seemed terribly troubled by someone’s impossibly demanding gift request, so I thought I’d help her out.”
“This… you…”
“What’s the matter? Did I do something wrong? You look exhausted at the thought of dealing with Her Highness.”
“You lunatic! How dare you pull the wool over my eyes!”
“Hmm, I’m afraid I don’t follow?”
I calmly took Ricky’s trembling hand.
I then opened my palm, placed a single 1 Silver coin upon it, and gently closed his fingers around it.
“B-but…”
“Well then, I’ll be going.”
I gave Ricky’s shoulder a couple of casual pats and strolled leisurely into the party hall.
* * *
The brilliant light cascading from the grand chandelier illuminated the interior of the hall in all its splendor.
The opening ceremonies of the party were already underway in the hall, where musicians were performing classical pieces.
I swept my gaze across the interior.
The vast space was constructed of the finest marble, and the walls gleamed with gold.
The lavish décor and enormous windows adorned with jewels glimmered so brilliantly they stung the eyes.
“A Latiné, if you would.”
As a server passed by, he offered me a glass of crimson cocktail.
I savored the drink as I walked slowly through the hall.
The atmosphere was consistent throughout.
Young nobles playing poker at tables, young ladies fanning themselves daintily with small fans while chattering away…
Since it was an unofficial gathering of young nobility not yet at Social Debut age, the guests ranged from thirteen to fifteen years old.
‘How promising for the future of this world, when mere children throw such parties every month.’
I positioned myself near the Terrace where I had a clear view outside, silently clicking my tongue in disapproval, when I felt a gaze upon me.
It was Lizbeth, who had been trotting along behind me.
“…?”
She stood with her mouth slightly open, her large eyes blinking, staring at me intently.
“Is something the matter?”
“Oh, um, you… seem somehow different.”
“Have I lost weight?”
“That too, but it’s more like… you seem so comfortable at parties. That’s not like you at all before.”
“I see.”
I stood with my arms folded, gently swirling my cocktail glass, my appearance unremarkable overall.
‘That’s right. Rubert wasn’t like this.’
Every time there was a gathering like this, Rubert would huddle in a corner, radiating a sense of isolation.
If anyone so much as snickered at her from the sidelines, her face would flush red, she’d bury it, and she’d do nothing but pray for the tedious party to end, whether it took an hour or two.
“Parties are meant to be enjoyed. So why don’t you relax a little too, Your Highness, instead of being so rigid?”
“Mm? Well, I suppose…”
Lizbeth pressed close to my side and glanced around nervously.
‘Lizbeth isn’t comfortable with parties like this either, though.’
Being young, Lizbeth had little experience attending formal gatherings, and her personality was similar enough to Rubert’s that she had never actively sought out such parties.
The only real reason Lizbeth had come here was to see Ricky’s face—and that alone.
“Everyone else is already having fun together in groups. I can’t seem to fit in with them, which makes me feel awkward.”
“Does being unable to join their circle mean you can’t enjoy the party at all?”
“W-well, true. How could I have fun sitting alone and embarrassed?”
Lizbeth’s expression grew serious.
‘In other words, she’s saying it’s hard to enjoy herself alone when she feels self-conscious?’
I swallowed a sigh and spoke.
“Enjoying a party isn’t that difficult. There’s no need for a crowd. You simply listen to good music, immerse yourself in the atmosphere, and—”
Just then, a server was passing nearby.
I picked up a pale green Non-alcoholic Cocktail from his tray
‘People here do learn to drink early, but still, for a child…’
and handed it to Lizbeth, continuing.
“A drink certainly helps. And if you really wish to converse with someone, stand a bit taller and project a stronger presence. After all…”
I moved behind Lizbeth and looked out across the party hall, then leaned in to whisper in her ear.
“This party exists for people to display their wealth and power, to fraternize with those who can be of use to them. Everyone here is quietly assessing each other’s station and dividing themselves into ranks.”
“O-oh.”
“By that measure, Your Highness is the highest-ranking lady here by birth alone, so there’s absolutely nothing odd about carrying yourself with more confidence.”
Lizbeth swallowed hard and glanced back at me.
“It wouldn’t do for your dignity to go around seeking out conversation partners. Now then, shoulders back.”
I gently pressed Lizbeth’s back, and her hunched shoulders straightened.
“Keep your chin up and level.”
“L-like this?”
“Yes. Don’t let your eyes bulge either—relax them. And stop looking around nervously.”
In one fluid motion, Lizbeth adjusted her posture, then lifted her cocktail glass and moistened her lips with it delicately.
For a first attempt, it was slightly awkward, but she carried it off rather well.
“Perfect. You truly do have an exceptional aptitude for learning—I suppose you take after your brother.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Pleased, Lizbeth blushed and smiled.
Just then, two young ladies around Lizbeth’s age approached.
“Your Highness, how do you do? I’m Camilla Lebuche of the Count Lebuche Family.”
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Layla Lantin of the Count Lantin Family.”
“Oh…”
Lizbeth’s face brightened at once, and she smiled at me with unmistakable delight.
I gave her a subtle wink and stepped aside.
However.
‘Ugh, the neighborhood troublemaker’s already shown up.’
Before I could even take a few steps away, I saw Ricky walking directly toward Lizbeth and me.
He brushed his neatly combed side-swept hair back with both hands, and his eyes burned with barely contained fury as he approached.
‘Look at this. Again, again. You’re planning to torment me while I’m just trying to keep quiet, aren’t you?’
Ricky came right up to me and grinned wickedly.
“Rubert, what are you doing here? We’ve got a game going at that table over there. Come join us.”
“Prince Ricky!”
Lizbeth, who had been standing behind me, rushed over and pressed herself against my side.
“You’re here too! I was just about to come find you.”
“M-me?”
“Of course. We’re playing this game called ‘Michael’s Choice’ over there right now. Come along.”
“Wow, what kind of choice? Ricky, wait. Your Highness, one moment.”
‘Michael’s Choice,’ no less.
Just hearing the name triggered my trauma, and I instinctively waved my hand in refusal…
“Yes! Come on, let’s go!”
But oblivious Lizbeth, thrilled at the prospect of playing with Ricky, grabbed my arm and dragged me along.
Ricky gave a low chuckle and led the way to the table, and I found myself being pulled along by Lizbeth.

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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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