Celebrity Lady - Chapter 61

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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 61
“A misunderstanding?”
Leonard’s eyebrows rose sharply.
“You bent Imperial law itself so my daughter could stay in the Tower of Silence.”
……
“And whenever the nobles propose sentences you deem excessive, you reverse them out of hand.”
“Ah, did I really do that?”
Lark glanced away evasively.
Seeing his suspicious manner, Leonard pressed further.
“Some nobles have complained the punishment is too lenient—though I suppose they have a point. If anyone should be angry, it’s me.”
……
“Even during my long seclusion, I’ve heard quite a bit about Your Highness from my eldest. They say you’re the Imperial heir, yet you’re the sort to guard against despotism.”
“Ha, haha…… You’re very kind to say so, little Duke. I appreciate that.”
“Which is why you’re more lenient than most with the noble bureaucrats. You don’t pressure through words. You don’t crush with power.”
Cold sweat beaded on Lark’s brow.
“So why would someone like that quarrel so openly with the bureaucrats and overstep in the trial?”
……
“Because I had ulterior motives toward my daughter. Is there any other reason?”
Hahaha……
Lark laughed nervously and shook his head lightly.
“It truly is a misunderstanding. As the investigation chief, I’m the one person most certain of the lady’s innocence. I simply didn’t want her to bear unfair blame.”
“Kind words indeed, but you needn’t hurt yourself helping me. I don’t like the feeling of owing a debt.”
Leonard’s eyes remained full of suspicion.
“And I don’t care for situations where I’d have to repay it later, however that might happen.”
Lark turned over Leonard’s veiled words in his mind.
‘……Is he saying I shouldn’t even dream of stealing his daughter away with some trifling favor?’
Looking at Leonard’s fearsome expression, that interpretation seemed right.
“I understand, Duke. But surely it’s still a misunderstanding……”
As Lark tried to reassure the displeased Leonard, he suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
He planned to keep helping Rubetria. He owed her a debt, so he would support her—and protect her from any threats. But if Leonard took umbrage and meddled every single time, wouldn’t that be difficult?
The thought made Lark hesitate.
“Misunderstanding……”
……
“……might not be entirely accurate, actually.”
“I’m sorry—what did you just say?”
Leonard’s expression turned ugly at once. Lark grinned shamelessly and shrugged.
“Well, her father would know best, but Rubetria Diolus really is a rather charming person.”
“Now, Your Highness.”
“No, I mean…… no matter how much she’s your daughter, you can’t keep her by your side forever, can you? When the time comes, you’d want to marry her to a fine man and see grandchildren who look just like her.”
Is he serious? Leonard’s jaw slowly dropped at Lark’s reply.
“Haha! Of course, I wouldn’t torment anyone who doesn’t wish for it, so don’t worry about that.”
“What do you mean? So you’re saying you DO have ulterior motives toward my daughter—”
Ahem!
Cutting off Leonard’s words, Lark gave his shoulder a light double-tap and hastily excused himself.
“Let’s talk again later, shall we?”
“Your Highness! Finish what you were saying!”
With his back turned, Lark struggled to keep from laughing at Leonard’s uncharacteristic fury.
‘Ulterior motives, huh……’
He’d planned to let Leonard keep misunderstanding, just so he could be more comfortably by Rubetria’s side.
‘But then again, it’s not exactly a lie.’
Lark chuckled quietly as Rubetria’s face crossed his mind.
* * *
The Duke’s residence, after the trial ended.
Servants bustled back and forth between the mansion and the carriages, moving my belongings. I was busy preparing for immediate departure to Ryubon.
“This is the girl who’ll be assisting you going forward. Her name is Siena.”
Biego, who’d been helping with my preparations from start to finish, introduced someone.
“Siena Tristin, my lady. I’ll serve you with utmost dedication.”
“Oh, nice to meet you, Siena. But……”
Short hair that exposed her ears clearly. A pretty face with an impassive expression. A practical women’s trousered suit for active work.
Though I rarely encountered her, her face was familiar—she was Biego’s capable secretary, Siena Tristin.
“Wasn’t Siena your secretary? Why are you giving her to me?”
“How grueling it must be for you to stay alone in Ryubon. Siena is competent and sharp—she’ll be helpful to you.”
“Anyone listening would think Ryubon is some remote mining town. Siena will be missed without her there—you’ll find it inconvenient. I have Rebecca, so I’m fine.”
“I’ll manage. It’s better that you’re a bit more comfortable.”
“But……”
“I’m counting on you to care for Rubetria, Siena. If anything happens, report to me at once.”
Ignoring my protest, Biego spoke, and Siena nodded in assent.
It was clear he wouldn’t back down, so I simply sighed, shrugged, and let it be.
“We’re leaving now. Father isn’t coming to see us off?”
“I already said goodbye to Father. We can leave right away.”
Even the mere year of house confinement had upset him so much that he’d sulked the entire time I was home—only a stone’s throw away.
“I’ll send word.”
And with just those words, the moment we arrived home, he shut himself away in his room again.
“Rubetria!”
“Ruuuby……”
“Are you leaving now?”
While I was thinking of Father, annoying voices came tumbling down the staircase.
Molga and the twins.
All of them had tears glistening in their eyes—which was hilarious, frankly.
“What on earth is this!”
Molga, looking shocked, pressed her hand to her mouth, and tears finally spilled down her cheeks.
Biego sighed.
“Grandmother, please don’t worry too much.”
“How could I not worry……”
Wow, truly Hollywood-level acting.
I could’ve bet my entire bank account that beneath that hand shielding her face, Molga’s mouth was splitting with barely contained glee.

Wisht, standing beside me, spoke. I nodded in silent agreement.
I’d died and come back mad as a feral dog, so Molga must’ve been worrying herself sick. After all, she couldn’t bully me freely anymore.
Plus I was a live wire she’d have to worry about my telling Father any loose talk. For a whole year.
So how delighted she must be that this ticking bomb was about to disappear for such a long time?

I watched Molga wail and Biego comfort her, shaking my head silently to myself.
“Rubetria…… Do you need to contact anyone?”
“If there’s anything you’d like to eat, just say so. I’ll have the servants send it.”
The little demons Lilia and Ricky chimed in.
“All right, take care.”
I smiled sweetly at the devils brimming with their hollow dreams of taking over the house again.
It was about time for him to arrive……
“The lady is here. The Imperial Investigation Team has come to collect you.”
There he is. As a maid announced the team’s arrival, Molga wailed louder and pulled me into an embrace.
“How can you send our Rubetria away alone to that place!”
“I’ll be fine, Grandmother.”
I smiled and patted Molga’s arm around me.
Moments later, the door opened and the investigation team poured in. At the front was Lark, the team leader.
“Are you ready, lady?”
“Yes.”
I answered with the most dejected expression I could muster.
“Good. Everyone, thank you for your efforts.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“Yes!”
Lark gave orders to the investigation team members who’d come with him, and they scattered throughout the Duke’s residence. There were twenty of them.
“……?”
Molga looked flustered as the members settled in as if they owned the place.
“W-what is this? Why are these people……?”
“The lady of the house wasn’t informed?”
Lark added casually.
“During the lady’s house confinement, twenty of my investigators will be staying at the Duke’s residence.”
“……? What do you mean?”
“Well, it’s only natural, isn’t it? The lady is under suspicion. She could be communicating with the criminal through her family, or evidence of the crime might remain within the residence. This is a precautionary measure.”

Wisht peered at the ashen-faced Molga and snickered, holding his belly.
“Y-you’re stationing the investigation team here? Before guilt is even established?”
“Yes. The Duke and the younger Duke have already agreed to cooperate.”
Lark turned to Biego.
“It’ll be somewhat uncomfortable, I’m sure, but they’re carefully selected personnel who’ll focus solely on the investigation—no other interference. I appreciate your cooperation, younger Duke.”
“Not at all, Your Highness. It’s only right. To confirm Rubetria’s innocence beyond doubt.”
“Good, good.”
Lark smiled and patted Biego’s shoulder.
Not just Molga, but even the twins’ complexions darkened to their deepest shade.
They must’ve been thrilled I was disappearing—that the time bomb would go away. But not now.
How could I let someone like Molga, mad and scheming as she was, run free while I was gone?
I’d already told Lark about my suspicions surrounding the deaths in our family and asked him to protect Father.
“……Can you help me? Once I go to Ryubon, I can’t keep an eye on Grandmother, and Father worries me too.”
“If the lady’s suspicions are true, wouldn’t the lady of the house be the criminal herself? This isn’t a matter of helping or not—it’s what I should do. I’ll conduct covert investigations alongside the surveillance.”
Lark was furious, and he promised to thoroughly monitor Molga while I was away.
So the investigation team now occupying our house wasn’t really there to investigate my charges—but rather to investigate and preemptively stop whatever schemes the dubious Molga might attempt.
“Grandmother must be so uncomfortable……”
I pouted and tugged at Lark’s collar.
“Your Highness, do you really have to do this much?”
“Yes, I do.”
Lark said firmly, and I heaved a long sigh.
Molga cried out desperately.
“Our girl did nothing wrong! And this poor child, what she did unknowingly…… there’s been no guilty verdict yet, and this……!”
“Exactly. If both the Duke and younger Duke weren’t certain of the lady’s innocence, they wouldn’t have agreed so readily to deploying the investigation team, would they? I’m asking for the lady of the house’s generous cooperation.”
Molga lost her words before Lark’s smiling face.
“Grandmother, it’s not your fault because of me……”
I quickly went to her and took both her hands, grinning just enough for her to see.
“I’m sorry?”

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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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