Celebrity Lady

Chapter 9

“Have you eaten?”

After the cigarette smoke had dissipated, I asked as I approached the empty sofa and sat down.

“…Did you come here to ask me that?”

“That’s not true, but isn’t it a question that a daughter might ask her dad?”

Dad, who was blinking blankly at my words, shook his head avoiding my eyes.

“No, not yet.”

“Oh my god. So you’re saying you drank six bottles of alcohol on an empty stomach?”

Dad made excuses as he was startled, pointing to the six liquor bottles rolling over the table.

“That’s not it. I just didn’t clean it. I only had half a bottle when I woke up a little while ago.”

I sighed as I watched my dad point at the bottle of liquor that was half left with his chin. This is also an excuse…

“Can’t you drink a little less? I can’t tell you to quit right away, but try to reduce it gradually.”

“…”

“I’m not a doctor, but I think I know Father’s shape to a certain extent. There must be a problem somewhere, so call a doctor today and get a diagnosis. If they tell you to stop drinking, do what they tell you to do. Alright?”

“…”

“Alright?”

“…I’ll take care of it.”

Dad frowned and averted his gaze. He seemed to find the care from his daughter, whom he had been ignorant of, awkward.

“I’ll call the doctor tomorrow to see if you’ve been diagnosed.”

“…”

“They should be here soon.”

Dad, who was staring intently at my tenacious face, nodded bitterly.

“…Alright.”

“That’s good.”

“So what’s the matter?”

“Ah, I originally had something else to tell you, but let’s talk about that later…”

I said, remembering Rob, who was trembling at the door.

“It’s about the butler.”

“Rob?”

“Yes. Something unpleasant happened a while ago. I said I wanted to see my father, but he told me to go back and stay in my room. I thought you might have something to do.”

Dad paused and raised his eyebrows.

“By any chance, did you tell Rob that you didn’t want to see my face?”

“No, there is no such thing. I never cared about the butler.”

“As expected…”

I brought it up with a sullen look on my face.

“Actually. A month ago, I was very sick, so I woke Rob up at dawn to call a doctor, and he told me to just sleep. That he’d call me tomorrow.”

“What?”

“I tried to sleep, but it was really painful. Still, Rob seemed annoyed, so I put up with it and slept in the end.”

“…”

“The next day, I didn’t know if Rob forgot, but he didn’t call me. So I asked him again, but he complained that I was a very needy girl… I was a little sad.”

I didn’t make this story up. I didn’t suffer it, but it’s definitely a memory of Rubette.

I licked my lips and added.

“Besides this, there are a lot of things I’m upset about Rob. I feel like I’m being ignored every time, but I’m probably mistaken, right?”

“Yes.”

Dad, who closed his eyes gently, rubbed his forehead nervously.

“He must have been senile from old age. We need to change him. I’ll tell Viego.”

“Employee management is not under Viego’s jurisdiction…”

“What are you talking about?”

Dad paused.

Because he entrusted the authority of the house, my father thought that my first brother, Virgo, was in charge of the entire family.

“I think Brother must have a hard time by himself. So, the employees have been managed by Grandma for a long time.”

“Oh, is that so?”

My father, who was lost in thought for a moment, nodded. It seemed like it wouldn’t matter if the employee was managed.

“Then to Molga…”

“Grandmother had a lot of faith in Rob I don’t think she’ll ever let him go.”

“…”

“Father, as a mistress, I think there is definitely something wrong with Rob’s attitude towards work in general. Do you know what I mean?”

Contrary to the euphemistic words, my expression was firm.

Please fire the butler. Dad, who understood the meaning, slowly nodded his head.

“Yes, I understand. I will deal with it separately.”

“Thank you. I’m sorry to bother you.”

“You don’t have to be sorry about this. So now, what’s the point?

“Oh!”

I smiled sheepishly and put my hands together.

“Can you lend me money?”

“…Money?”

Dad raised an eyebrow and asked.

“Yes, a lot.”

Dad frowned as if it were a minor demand.

“Did you come here just to ask for pocket money?”

“I’m not asking for pocket money, I’m asking you to lend me some money because I’ll pay you back. I’m thinking of doing something, but I need a lot of money.”

“…”

“So, Father will write a letter of credit in your name, then I will get it from the bank and use it.”

I meant that I would take out a loan from the bank even though the house was overflowing with money.

Dad tilted his head with a more puzzled look on his face.

“Why? I don’t know how much you need, but you can just go to Viego and ask for it. I am not in a financial difficulty that I cannot afford even the cost of maintaining your dignity.”

“To do that, I have to report each use to Brother. I don’t intend to spend it on nonsense, but I need about 300 million marks, and I’m still fifteen years old, I’m sure my brother won’t like it.”

That’s 300 million won in Korean money.

It may be much more than my dad’s expectations, but the family’s wealth is enormous. He kept wondering whether he thought it was money he couldn’t afford to giveaway to his daughter.

“It is an amount that can be given to you if you ask for it, and there is no way Viego will be dissatisfied. Are you not comfortable talking to your brother?”

“Yes. You may not know it well, but we’re not very close.”

My dad’s mouth opened slightly as if he was surprised by my immediate reply.

“And even if I get the money from Brother one way or another, Grandmother will surely say something next time.”

“…”

“Aside from those issues, I’m still young, so if I spend a lot of money, you won’t get good words from people around me. So, let me spend the money in Father’s name. It’s not just a rant, I’ll pay you back with interest on the principal.”

Dad stared at me and was silent for a while, then got up and walked towards the bed.

Soon he rummaged through the chest of drawers and found a piece of paper the size of the palm of his hand, he scribbled something with a pen and sealed it with a seal lying on the desk.

“…Here.”

My dad came back to me and handed me a certificate of credit with his cool autograph and seal on it.

As long as I have this one piece of paper with the seal of Duke Diollus on it, it is not difficult to borrow money without limits in the bank. Simply put, it’s a blank check.

“Hehe. Thank you, Dad.”

I gave him a sweet, sincere smile, and Dad stopped and stared at me.

He soon said, rubbing his forehead as if he was tired.

“If you feel guilty about spending a lot of money in your name, I allow you to borrow money in my name as you wish. But you don’t have to repay the money.”

“No, I will pay you back. I don’t want to spend my father’s money. Thank you for lending me your name.”

When I put the certificate in order and tucked it into the hem of the sleeve of the dress, my father was taken aback.

“You don’t want to spend my money?”

“Ah, I’m all grown up since I’m already 15, so I have to be independent. I can’t live forever with Father’s help. If you help me this once, I will earn and live on my own from now on.”

“Ha…”

Where did the expressionless face at the first meeting go? Now, Dad said openly with his mouth open.

“It is absurd to hear that a 15-year-old has grown up from her mouth. You are still young. It’s the age when you have to spend your parents’ money and need parental care.”

“So, did you take care of me?”

As if I had been waiting, I shot at him, and Dad stopped and stiffened.

“I fell into a pond in the garden yesterday and just woke up, did you know?”

“What? What happened?”

“I fell on purpose to die.”

“…!”

As expected, Dad’s eyes opened and shook as if they were about to fall out.

I spread my hands out wide and added with a playful smile.

“I’m kidding. I just stumbled and fell. I’m fine now, don’t worry.”

That’s what I said, but who would play such a prank?

If he were smart, Dad wouldn’t take my words that I jumped into a pond to die as a joke.

After a moment of silence, Dad and I looked at each other.

“I’ll be on my way.”

“Wait a minute—”

Dad, who was trying to hold onto me, stiffened. Because of the look on my face.

“…”

Brilliant acting skills that shined with three awards for Best Actress. It was my specialty to put various emotions on my expression in a moment and show my innermost thoughts.

“You know what?”

Disappointment, anger, contempt…

And the aloofness that shows that I don’t want anything from you anymore.

With that sad, complex, subtle look I said.

“I hated my indifferent dad, but I am still your daughter, so I try to understand how difficult it is for you. I have no memories of my mom, but Dad is different.”

“Rubetria.”

“I wanted to eat, hang out with my dad, and whine like other daughters…”

“…”

“I know you’re having a hard time, so I don’t want you to. It’s so hard for you that you can’t even care for your daughter, who needs care, right?”

Dad was speechless and only his lips trembled.

There was no one who did not feel sorry for the father who lost his beloved wife and was barely breathing.

That’s why no one blamed him for delegating full authority of the duchy and handing over all the work of the house to my eldest brother, Viego Diollus, who was only 14, or for not paying attention to his only daughter.

So he’s bound to be embarrassed by my honest confession.

“Just like you did until now, live your life without paying attention to the point where you don’t even know if I’m alive or dead. I won’t bother you, Dad, and I’ll take care of my work from now on.”

I left the room, hoping my dad was completely shocked.