Celebrity Lady - Chapter 74

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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 74
“What on earth did you misunderstand? Did you want to kiss me?”
Oh no. It wasn’t the kiss he meant—he wanted our stories to align instead…….
Flustered, I quickly played dumb.
“That’s not what happened.”
“Well, if the lady wishes it, I’m always willing to oblige.”
“No, no! I just misheard you!”
“Hahahaha!”
I tried to brush it off, but eventually admitted the misunderstanding, and Lark burst into laughter so hard tears streamed down his face.
How embarrassing. Heat flooded my cheeks.
“Ugh.”
“Pfft. Haha, haa…….”
I waited with a sullen expression, mouth firmly shut, until his laughter finally subsided, then asked quietly.
“……So what is it, then? How am I supposed to align with you?”
* * *
After filming wrapped, we aligned our stories as Lark had suggested.
Though not in the way he’d first implied.
“Hmm, I wonder if this will actually work…….”
After Lark had finished laughing about material he’d mine for the next decade and left,
I stared at the announcement we’d jointly composed—our “aligned” version—and let out a hollow laugh.
“Siena.”
“Yes, miss.”
I handed the announcement to Siena, who’d been waiting, and gave my instruction.
“The moment the video drops, I want this plastered all over the shop and the Boutique District.”
* * *
Blanc de Ruby’s debut menswear and accessories collection.
The long-awaited opening day had arrived.
We’d been promoting for days already, and though the shop hadn’t opened yet, the Boutique District was already packed with people.
A few nobles who’d staked out the area since early morning were murmuring as they read the sign posted in front of the shop.
“What’s this? Did the Crown Prince do something to help?”
“I’m not sure…….”
We extend our deepest gratitude to Crown Prince Lark, the Little Sun, for graciously aiding in the revitalization of Imperial commerce.
Madame Ruby, Representative of Blanc de Ruby.
*
We honor the passion of small business owners who contribute to the Empire and wish boundless prosperity for their ventures.
Crown Prince Lark.
Two announcements written in their own hand: one from Madame Ruby, the mysterious representative of Blanc de Ruby, and one from Crown Prince Lark.
Becky, the seamstress watching from the second-floor window as confused customers gathered below, felt her nerves tighten.
“Ten minutes to go.”
Becky tensed as she watched the still-dark video screen in front of the building.
Since its initial installation, the video screen had caused such a sensation that several more had sprung up across the city.
So in ten minutes, the decisive promotional video would be broadcasting everywhere—through every district, every neighborhood.
‘It was chaos when we did Serra, but this time it’s really……!’
Where the boss managed to source these heavyweight promotional models from, Becky had no idea—and it terrified her.
Pop!
The screens ignited all at once.
Blanc de Ruby’s Winter—
The Secret of the Man You’ve Been Waiting For
A grand instrumental swelled.
Text appeared on a black background in white letters, like a caption.
Every eye below the screen snapped to attention in unison.
And then…….
“Oh my goodness!”
“What, what is it?”
The moment the screen filled with a close-up of the man’s face, everyone recognized him and their jaws dropped open.
“Isn’t that the Crown Prince?”
“……? But wasn’t this supposed to be a winter collection promo?”
Bewildered but unable to look away, the crowd watched as the video continued.
Now a full-body shot captured Crown Prince Lark dressed impeccably in a Black Suit from head to toe.
“Oh my…….”
“He really does look amazing…….”
“Goodness.”
Faced with the startling sight of the Crown Prince unexpectedly on the screens, people gasped in admiration as one.
Well, it made sense. Lark’s reputation as the Empire’s most beloved figure wasn’t for nothing—his radiant beauty was no small part of it.
“Oh my!”
“Wow…….”
Lark walked with striking elegance, showing off the new formal wear, before his face was captured in close-up again.
Everyone held their breath at his beautiful smile, and then—
The Secret of That Luxurious Man—
[From Blanc de Ruby’s Winter.]
The moment Lark’s signature husky yet gentle voice laid down a single line of dialogue,
“Gasp……!”
“Oh no, that’s impossible!”
“Wow!”
The Imperial Capital literally erupted.
* * *
Back and forth, back and forth.
As I paced nervously, biting my nails, Wisht caught my shoulder and stopped me.
“You’re making me antsy.”
“I’m so nervous. Will it work out?”
“Are you worried the clothes won’t sell?”
“The clothes will definitely sell. What I’m worried about is the Crown Prince’s image.”
“If you were worried about his image from the start, you should have found a different model…….”
“At first I only cared about my shop doing well, so I didn’t even think about his image, but…….”
“Now you’re worried?”
“Of course I am.”
“The Crown Prince said he’d handle it. Trust him.”
Wisht grabbed my hand as it crept toward my mouth again and shook her head at me firmly.
That’s when the door burst open and Siena shot inside like a bullet.
“Miss!”
“S-Siena!”
Her face was pale. Anxiety crept up my spine.
“H-How did……it go?”
“That is, that…….”
Siena’s mouth, which had been forming a worried line, suddenly curved up. She thrust both thumbs up beside her chin.
“My goodness, really!”
“Hahahaha!”
“You scared me!”
Gone was that prim, formal secretary image from our first meeting—Siena’s true nature was playful and mischievous.
“Sales have skyrocketed just half a day after the broadcast went live.”
“No, no. I knew the clothes would sell well—what I’m curious about is—”
“There’s absolutely no need for concern there, miss.”
“Really? Did everything go exactly as planned?”
“Yes! Every merchant in the Imperial Capital right now!”
Siena beamed, her joy as genuine as if this were her own business.
“They’re singing the Crown Prince’s praises!”
* * *
At that very moment,
In Monat Palace, where the male members of the Imperial family resided,
In the chambers of Nathan, the Second Prince,
Nathan’s attendant Shon, who’d come to report on the chaos unfolding in the Imperial Capital, spoke with trembling lips.
“T-The video’s impact has significantly increased foot traffic and sales in the commercial district. All the merchants are lavishing praise on the Crown Prince, sir.”
“Is that so?”
Nathan answered quietly and tilted the teacup he was holding. His fine ash-grey hair cascaded like silk.
Pale white skin, a lean frame, a face so beautiful it was hard to tell his gender at a glance.
Nathan appeared gentle and fragile at first, but Shon knew his true nature was entirely different.
If his mood twisted, the teacup in his hand might fly at Shon’s head without warning.
Yet Shon had no choice but to deliver news he knew Nathan wouldn’t want to hear.
“Not just the merchants, sir. He’s partnered with high-end boutiques that cater to wealthy nobles…….”
“Ah, I see. Hardly what I’d expect from my brother, the one who’s been tidying up after the poor. The nobles must be pleased.”
“Y-Yes, sir. They’re quite enthusiastic, especially the younger—”
“Ah, that’s enough. You may go.”
Nathan smiled and waved his hand dismissively, and Shon, hesitating only briefly, fled the room.
As Nathan raised his teacup again with an elegant gesture, his eyes suddenly glinted.
Whoosh—
Crash!
In an instant, the teacup flew through the air and shattered against the wall.
“Ugh, this makes my head spin.”
Nathan let out an irritable sigh and pressed his forehead with one hand.
“That bastard…….”
Lark was clearly beginning to solidify his position as heir.
To help with promotion under the guise of encouraging commerce, he’d allied with high-end boutiques that dealt in luxury goods…….
It was obviously a calculated move to draw over the support of the high nobility—Nathan’s own base of support.
“The bastard really does have a sharp mind.”
Nathan was painfully aware that no matter how hard he struggled, the gap between himself and Lark, whose position had been determined from birth, could never be closed.
If he truly wanted Lark’s throne, there was only one way.
“How do I kill him…….”
To eliminate him entirely.
But lately, it felt as though all his schemes were being read by Lark beforehand.
‘It’s strange. Too strange.’
The traps he’d set to drive a wedge between Lark and his aide Ren,
Yet for some reason, Lark hadn’t blinked once—instead, he’d turned the tables and was now strangling Nathan with it.
And that wasn’t all.
He’d tried to bring down Lark’s full sister, Fifth Princess Lizbet, to shake him, but that too had failed.
Somehow Lark had persuaded the daughter of the Diolus Duchy to commit perjury on Lizbet’s behalf and he slipped away cleanly.
“No matter how I think about it, something’s off. He’s airtight, like he was prepared all along. Shouldn’t he at least hesitate?”
A young white-haired boy’s face suddenly intruded into Nathan’s line of sight.
A childish face that looked to be about ten years old. Yet his eyes held a deep wisdom, and his playful expression had a sinister edge.
“Nathan. Why the scary face, hmm?”
“Disappear. You useless bastard.”
“Aw, don’t say that. Would you ever have dared aim for the Emperor’s crown if I wasn’t around?”
The boy floated up into the air and flipped himself upside down, giggling.
His name was Poze. He was Nathan’s Spirit.
“Nathan, curious why all your moves are being read?”
As Poze asked with a sly smile, Nathan’s eyes sharpened.
“Curious? That’ll cost you thirty years—”
“Damn.”
Spirits could communicate with each other. Because of this, they could know each other’s secrets.
But disclosure was strictly forbidden. One could force it, but contractors would bear enormous risk in exchange.
Specifically, their summons would be restricted.
The “thirty years” Poze had mentioned was the restriction period on being summoned. A secret worth thirty years of restriction would have to be enormous.
“How about something shorter? Got any information that might actually help me?”
“Hmm…….”
Poze pursed his lips in thought before speaking.
“Three months? Or four months? If I spell it out directly it’s probably permanent summon denial, but if I hint around it maybe four months? Though honestly, our contractor here is pretty dim, so I’m not sure he’d catch it…….”
“The useful kind of information, right?”
“Of course!”
Poze straightened up and thrust his face close. His playful expression had abruptly flipped to something far more serious.
“The moment you obtain ‘it,’ all this exhausting scheming becomes pointless. You won’t need to play tug-of-war with the Crown Prince, won’t need any of these schemes.”
“What?”
“A very, very important key, you could say. Though unfortunately, the Crown Prince currently has it in his hands.”
Nathan’s eyes wavered.
So there really was something Lark possessed.
“Tell me.”
“Will four months of no summoning be enough?”
“Ugh, I can’t go four months without you. Won’t you miss me?”
“Talk. Now.”
Nathan’s eyes blazed with madness.
As if he’d expected exactly this, Poze giggled and spoke.
“Rubetria Diolus.”
“……?”
The unexpected name made Nathan’s brows furrow sharply.
Poze, grinning wickedly, added,
“She’s actually got a Spirit.”
Then his summons were severed. He vanished without a trace.

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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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