Celebrity Lady

Chapter 128

Chapter 128The translation up to the final chapter (Chapter 158) has been completed; you can purchase them to read in advance. Pledging via Ko-fi for a cheaper bundle is still available. If you're unsure what it is about, please visit our Ko-fi page for details or reach out to us via Discord.

Lark grasped Victor’s fist that was holding his collar tightly. “Sir Victor.”

“...”

“If you truly care for the princess, please choose your words carefully,” Lark requested.

“Oh, yes, Your Highness. Your answer may be obvious, but may I ask a question?” Victor added without waiting. “Was he the one after Ruby this time as well?”

“Yes.”

“If it weren’t for you, Ruby would have been in danger, wouldn’t she?”

“...”

It was an undeniable fact.

Victor smirked as he looked at Lark, who responded with silence.

“Victor Diollus.”

At that moment, Leonard separated Victor and Lark. He wore a puzzled expression. “Don’t get too excited. And don’t just say what you know; speak so I can understand too.”

“I have nothing more to say,” Victor sneered.

“You’ve been living with closed ears and minds all this time. Why listen now?”

“...”

“Get out of my way, and from now on, you won’t see the second son’s face anymore. Just assume he’s gone and live your life.”

“Victor!”

Ignoring Leonard’s shouts, Victor stormed out of the room like the wind.

***

I was getting ready to go to Victor’s room as soon as I woke up when I was surprised.

“B-Brother?”

Victor had come to me first.

He was dressed casually and had tightly wound bandages, with blood seeping from fresh wounds.

“Pack your things.”

“Why are you suddenly saying that? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, so just pack. We’re leaving.”

“Where are we going?”

“Anywhere!”

Victor, with a frustrated expression, probably due to the pain from his wounds, scowled.

“Ugh, let’s talk first. Does it hurt a lot? Sit down here and relax. You must have some questions for me, right?”

“You don’t need to tell me everything since I already know, so let’s just pack.”

“What do you know?”

“Why those attackers suddenly targeted us and the reason behind it. Do you always expect to be targeted, and that’s why you remain calm, both last time and this time?”

...? What’s with the sharp questions?

Victor smirked at me as I blinked in confusion. “You’re helping the crown prince because of some noble cause, and the crown prince pretends to need your help even though he clearly knows you’re in danger. Such a hypocrite.”

“Why are you saying this? Why are you so angry, Brother?”

“Pack your things. I’ve told you four times.”

“But there’s nowhere to go! What’s the point of packing without a plan?”

“Well, we have nowhere to go. We’ll have to figure it out soon, even if it means sneaking out. So be it.”

“Don’t I get a say in this?”

“Sorry, I’d like to respect your opinion, but I can’t concede. If you say you’ll forgive our father or brother, then I can do nothing. That’s why I left you alone. But...” Victor added, gritting his teeth, “It changes my perspective when I realize there’s also someone who sits you down nicely in this place, calls you whenever needed, and fully utilizes your abilities.” He seemed to be referring to Lark.

Victor’s anger, always on the edge, was now spreading in all directions.

The tormenting twins and Molga.

The neglectful father and Viego.

Lark, who was “exploiting”.

And me in the middle of it all...

‘Yeah, I get it. It’s sickening. I understand why he wants to sneak me out of this house.’

I forced a smile as best as I could. “But, Brother, I don’t have abilities. I just kept bothering His Highness about what I saw in my dreams a few times.”

“Yeah, right.”

“I’ve helped with everything I can now. It’s truly over. There won’t be any more danger.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Brother.”

Seeing me remain motionless, Victor became frustrated and opened my closet himself, and began packing my things.

“Please.”

“Even if there’s no more danger, you’ll still be used. Once His Highness ascends safely to the throne, he’ll say he needs your help.”

“What more help can I be after that? Once he’s safely on the throne, it’s all over—”

“As the contractee of Wishit, do you really think he’ll just let you go right at that moment?”

“...!”

“No, I don’t think so.”

Don’t worry about the duke and the young duke. I handled it quite smoothly. Contact me first, depending on the situation. I’ll be missing you.]

***

The brother and sister, Victor Diollus (18), known as the empire’s top noble, and Rubetria Diollus (16), had declared their escape...

“Oh, Brother!”

... About an hour had passed since their impulsive declaration of escape.

Sitting huddled in the middle of the road like a beggar, I couldn’t contain my frustration. “Couldn’t you at least have brought a carriage and some guards for common decency?”

I had already sensed it when Victor casually tossed the money envelope that Viego had provided—it seemed like Victor had no intention of accepting any help from the household.

“Wait. I have something in mind.”

He had dragged me out with him, and we’d hired a carriage driver with the money we had on hand. Next, we went to the mercenary guild and hired two A-rank guards; he had already spent a whopping 6 million marks.

“Ugh.”

And now, he was counting the remaining money, tapping his foot impatiently.

“It’s so cold...”

“Cold?”

Unpacking his luggage, Victor pulled out a military-style coat and buttoned it up tightly for me. Due to its rugged design, I looked like a complete beggar.

“What’s this, seriously? I thought we were trying to look inconspicuous.”

Victor, avoiding my complaining gaze, stood up. “First, let’s stop by the bank and get some money. Then we’ll spend the night at an inn.”

“What’s the point of getting money?”

“I need it to buy a house.”

“Huh. How much money do you think you have, Brother? Do you have any idea how expensive property is in the city?” I scoffed. Sure, he had enough money to spare, but I had no intention of using it. I planned to quell this runaway high schooler’s enthusiasm. “I didn’t want to leave home, but you dragged me out forcefully, so you’ll have to use your money to buy a house and get food. Got it?”

I intended to soften Victor’s determination once he realized that life outside the home could be tough. Then, my mission was to calm Dad, Viego, and Lark, whose anger had accumulated.

“Yeah! Just trust me! I can handle it!”

Victor’s confidence was overflowing because it had only been an hour since we ran away.

***

National Bank of the Capital.

As soon as we entered, the bank employees recognized me, and their eyes widened.

“What are you all doing!?” The bank manager, who had jumped to his feet, dashed toward me like an arrow, and the employees lined up neatly behind him.

“What do you need, Princess?”

“Welcome, Princess!”

“Welcome!”

They all greeted me by bowing deeply at a precise 90-degree angle, leaving Victor agape in astonishment. As I laughed at his dumbfounded expression, I said, “Today, it’s not me but him. My brother needs to withdraw money.”

“Yes, we will assist him.”

“...”

With a tense expression and lips pressed tightly, Victor sat down at the counter. I leaned closer to his ear and whispered tauntingly, “Shall we look at my brother’s account balance?”

“Ugh!”

With the determination of a warrior going into battle, Victor settled in at the counter. And the balance he confirmed was...

‘Well, well. It’s quite impressive, isn’t it? For an eighteen-year-old high schooler, that is?’

It was close to 300 million marks.

The salary of an imperial knight, which I was familiar with, was 50 million marks. Considering Victor’s salary as vice-captain for four consecutive years, he had saved nearly every penny without spending much.

‘With this amount, we should be able to find a decent one-story house in the outskirts, right?’

My plan was in jeopardy. Victor nodded with a satisfied expression. “Tomorrow, we’ll find a house...”

“I can’t sleep in a dingy place.”

“What?”

“And hire a maid. We left Rebecca behind, didn’t we?”

“A maid?”

“Someone has to take care of meals. You’re not asking me to cook, are you?”

“Hey, do you think I’m so clueless? Don’t worry. We don’t need a servant. I’ll take care of everything.”

“Okay, then. But I need bathhouse access, desserts, clothes, and bedding. Is my Brother going to bathe me and dress me?”

Victor’s face contorted with astonishment. “Are you acting like some noble lady?!”

I raised my eyebrows with an innocent look. “But I am a noble lady, aren’t I?”

“...You’re right.”

I suppressed a laugh and shrugged. “As soon as we get out, hire a maid.”

“Haah.” Victor agonized, clutching his head. After contemplating, he turned to me with a hesitant look. “Hey...”

“What?”

“Well, you see...”

“Yes?”

“I’ll definitely pay you back.” Victor rolled his eyes in exasperation, scratched his head, and said, “Could you lend me some money?”

“Ha.”