Celebrity Lady - Chapter 50

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Celebrity Lady
Episode 50
“Hahahaha!”
Larque set down the metronome-like Magical Device he’d been holding with a sharp tap on the table.
Then he spoke.
“I’m thinking of ordering a Video Screen myself.”
“What?”
“Don’t misunderstand. Unlike you, I’m ordering it for the public good.”
“So why do you need it?”
“What if we produce an Imperial Promotional Video and display it throughout the city? Show the Imperial Family members who live off state funds that they’re not neglecting their duties and actually work hard…….”
Larque stroked his chin while speaking, his thoughts flowing out as naturally as breathing.
“Oh, and we should film the park we recently brought into the Empire as well. We’ve invested tax money in maintaining its appearance—might as well advertise the results.”
“…….”
“If there’s any news we need to communicate to the public, we can spread word quickly. Millen’s already installed Video Screens on every street and is running them, isn’t she?”
“Fine. Approved.”
Shane, leaning back deep into his chair with his eyes still closed, nodded without hesitation.
I was taken aback.
‘What? The same man who’s supposed to be so exacting with the Imperial Family? No matter how public the purpose, is it really this easy?’
A vague unease crept over me.
Shane noticed my lips pouting involuntarily and cracked open one eye to look at me.
“Bring me a use case I can understand. Then I’ll gladly have it made.”
“Ah, yes.”
Larque rose to his feet and spoke.
“For now, we’ll install five units as a trial on the main street. If the results look promising, we can place additional orders. I’ll send a detailed report on how we’ll use them to the Mage Tower within two days—read it over.”
“Fine. Now get out.”
Shane stood and waved his hand dismissively as if annoyed, then turned away.
“……Cute, though.”
“What did you say?!”
Shane spun around with a frown at Larque’s muttered words.
“Nothing, nothing. Just expressing gratitude for the Tower Master’s swift review process?”
Larque laughed smoothly—the capable schemer who’d secured the right to produce Video Screens in just one minute, something I’d been unable to extract no matter how hard I’d argued.
* * *
“Are you sulking?”
“No.”
“You’re sulking.”
“I’m not.”
As I left the Mage Tower.
Larque followed at my heels, teasing me as we walked.
He’d filled out the Order Form at the first-floor desk and submitted it, obtaining the right to produce Video Screens instantly—without the usual two-week review period.
Was I sulking? To be honest, yes.
‘He didn’t even come here to buy Video Screens, and now he’s mocking me? Right before my eyes, he’s taken my idea wholesale?’
My idea of displaying promotional videos through Video Screens and advertising to passersby had been completely appropriated by Larque.
To produce an Imperial Promotional Video and broadcast it…….
“Juliet. Look at me.”
“What?”
I turned around with a sullen expression, and Larque chuckled before gesturing with both hands to draw a large rectangle in the air.
“We install Video Screens like this, and we broadcast the Imperial Promotional Video we’ve prepared.”
“Yes, that’s what you’re doing.”
“And then, before moving to the next video, we slip in a short promotional video for your shop to give it a breather.”
I blinked in surprise, and Larque grinned as he watched my eyes widen.
“What do you think?”
“…….”
I stood there vacantly, turning his words over in my mind.
So he was saying he’d insert my advertisement into his Video Screens.
In other words, my ad would appear between video content—the kind that pops up with a caption like “Playing original content in 5 seconds.”
“My goodness! But, but you can do that? You got permission to broadcast the Imperial Promotional Video!”
“If you hadn’t been there, he wouldn’t have listened to me at all.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing, nothing. Look here.”
Larque showed me the copy of the Order Form he was holding and pointed to a specific section.
3) Purpose of use: Imperial Promotional Video as the main content, targeting citizens of the Empire……
“I said the main content, not exclusively Imperial Promotional Videos.”
“Wow.”
“As long as I broadcast content matching the original purpose more than 80 percent of the time, that should be fine. Besides, not all five Video Screens will have yours—you only need to install them on Boutique Street in Ruenten.”
“Your Highness, you, you…….”
“You look moved?”
“Incredibly! Your Highness had it all figured out from the start! You were planning to help poor me from the beginning!”
“Of course I was.”
I covered my mouth with my hand, overwhelmed with emotion.
“You’re the best! Truly the righteous and just leader of this age!”
“Hahahaha!”
Larque’s plan was flawless.
I could promote my shop, and he wasn’t burdening himself by helping me—far from it.
While Larque had clearly concocted the Imperial Promotional Video broadcast plan on the spot, it would genuinely benefit the Empire’s interests either way…….
“I’m really grateful. But is it okay to just accept your help without giving you anything in return?”
“I’m already receiving plenty of help from you.”
“Even so…….”
You’ll need to model for us soon, after all.
I was starting to feel guilty, as if I were sucking Larque dry for the sake of glimpsing the future.
“Can I treat you to a meal today?”
“No, thanks. I need to head back right away.”
“Then something else……. You’ve done me such an enormous favor, and it doesn’t sit right with me to just accept it without giving back.”
“If you insist.”
Larque pursed his lips thoughtfully, then suddenly laughed and bent his waist in an exaggerated bow.
He touched his right cheek lightly with his index finger.
I flinched and pulled away.
“A, a kiss on the cheek?”
“Why are you so reluctant?”
“We’re not even lovers.”
“Did the etiquette of this country change without my knowing? Can you only kiss someone on the cheek if you’re lovers?”
“……Of course not.”
A light peck on the cheek was, needless to say, ordinary courtesy. Even thinking back to my days as Juliet Karerina, when I was accustomed to Western manners, there was no real reason to be flustered…….
“Don’t if you don’t want to.”
“No! I don’t mind.”
I felt awkward, scratched my cheek, and carefully rose onto my tiptoes.
Then, with a flutter.
I waved my hand gently, and Larque lowered himself again, matching his height to mine.
The handsome face, wreathed in playful laughter, came close—right before my eyes.
‘Oh, this is dangerous.’
The problem was that he was far too handsome. Worried that some wayward feeling might arise, I squeezed my eyes shut and kissed his cheek softly.
“Mm.”
I drew back quickly from the brief kiss, and Larque stood motionless for a moment, blinking several times.
Then he turned to me with a peculiar expression on his face and smiled.
“……Not bad.”
* * *
Dekarn, the capital of the Empire.
And here was the National Bank at the heart of the Empire.
After parting ways with Larque, I went to the bank as planned.
‘I’ve earned a tidy sum, so I should keep it safe.’
Facing the teller across the counter, I spoke.
“First, I’m here to repay the 300 million Marks I borrowed under the name Leonard Diolus.”
I raised my hand to signal, and my escort standing by brought a cash bag up to the counter and opened it.
It was packed with bundled notes of one million Marks each.
The teller, momentarily startled by the large sum, quickly recognized me and spoke.
“Thank you. You’ve come to repay the 300 million Marks we processed on July 7th, haven’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Of course. Please wait a moment.”
While the teller began verifying the loan amount and interest by hand, I looked around the bank leisurely.
Every employee in the bank was remarkably courteous to the few customers present.
Even the middle-aged bank manager, who should have been busy, kept glancing at me from behind the teller’s counter, and the staff member guarding the entrance even rode in my car to bring it directly to the counter.
The reason the National Bank, situated prominently at the heart of the Empire, was so empty was simple.
‘The Empire’s people still aren’t accustomed to banking as a financial institution.’
Remarkably, banks had only been established in the Empire—indeed, in this world—two years ago.
Being in the early stages of introduction, they were struggling with activation.
“Trust my money to someone else to manage?”
“I have a safe at home—why would I need this?”
People couldn’t understand why banks existed in the first place.
Unaware that this convenient financial institution was such a monumental product of human advancement!
I tsked inwardly while simultaneously marveling at someone.
‘To introduce the concepts of deposits and loans at merely seventeen years old. To envision developing the nation’s economy through vast flows of capital—what an extraordinary figure……!’
Remarkably, that figure was Larque himself.
‘Unfortunately, with poor activation right now, the institution is treated as a useless fixture taking up space in the Empire.’
More than a decade later, over 90 percent of the Empire’s people use this convenient financial institution.
But sadly, the bank’s activation only occurred after Larque’s death.
Even more shamefully, the Second Prince Naysen—who assassinated him to become Emperor—takes all the credit for establishing the bank.
‘Ugh, how unfair.’
I shook my head and turned to the teller.
“And I’d like to open an account in my name as well. Keeping large sums in a safe is becoming a bit inconvenient.”
“Oh?”
The teller was surprised.
Soon, the bank manager, who had only been stealing glances at me from the back, hurried over to the counter.
“Miss Juliet, if you don’t mind, would you allow me to assist you?”
“Yes, please do.”
“How much would you be looking to deposit?”
I smiled warmly at the bank manager, whose eyes were beginning to shine.
‘This convenient financial institution will only be activated faster if customers with large sums to deposit appear.’
I removed my gloves and made an imperious gesture to the three escorts behind me.
They came forward as if they’d been waiting, setting three bags on the counter.
Then, click, click, click.
As they opened the bags in succession, densely packed bundles of notes and gold ingots gleamed brilliantly.
‘I shall become a VIP customer and contribute to the smooth circulation of finances in this nation.’
Looking at my magnificent display of bags, I smiled faintly at the bank manager, whose mouth had fallen open.
“How about we start with 500 million Marks?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————