About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 102

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

Chapter 102. Demolition by the Book
Madame Laber, unaware of my true intentions, reclined comfortably on the sofa and crossed her legs.
“If you’re traveling far, the companion I assign must accompany you.”
“A companion?”
“In case you disappear on me. Just think of those who tag along as servants.”
It was an unexpected condition.
As I deliberated, Madame Laber exhaled cigarette smoke and rolled her eyes before delivering something truly startling.
“About… twenty people? That should do the trick.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“The mansion staff are idle right now, aren’t they? I’ll select ten of them along with some burly swordsmen to attach to you.”
Traveling with people who looked no different from gangsters.
It was truly burdensome to hear.
“With them, no one will be able to harm you. Even if you encounter bandits on the road, you can stand against them—it’s advantageous, isn’t it?”
“…”
Upon reflection, it was actually a favorable arrangement.
‘Wait.’
If I played this right, I could conduct my business far more smoothly.
“Madame, would they obey any order I give them?”
Madame Laber chuckled.
“Of course. If you want to bury someone while traveling, just say the word. I’ll have them handle it without a trace.”
I had no such intention, but it was reassuring nonetheless.
However, revealing my destination remained problematic. The Bilsty Estate was absolutely off-limits to mention to Luderne.
‘How do I manage this?’
At that moment, Madame Laber extinguished her cigarette and unfolded a map before me.
“Dear, could you check if there happens to be a Salon opening planned near the region you wish to visit?”
“Pardon?”
“If there’s a Salon opening site along your route, go inspect it while you’re at it.”
“!”
An idea that seemed divinely inspired—I clapped my hands together.
“My goodness, truly? You’re a genius, Madame!”
At my praise, her eyes widened. But soon she laughed as if unimpressed.
I quickly checked the map to see if there was a Salon opening planned near the Bilsty Estate.
Not particularly close, but one existed—in the Daicer Marquis Territory, a five-hour carriage ride away.
And between that location and the Bilsty Estate lay the Ropel Count Estate.
The primary product of the Ropel Count Estate was wool.
Sheep were raised grazing in meadows beside a great river, and the pastoral landscape was remarkably beautiful, famous for its abundance of butterflies and fireflies, making it a tourist destination.
“Actually, I was hoping to go there for rest. Surely if I say I’m going on business as well, the Grand Duke won’t refuse permission?”
“I suppose… not?”
The response was given, but without conviction.
“Then Madame, please report to the Grand Duke after I depart.”
Madame Laber’s eyes widened in surprise. Then she narrowed them slightly and lifted one corner of her mouth in a smirk.
“Ah, so you’re afraid your affection might prevent her from leaving?”
“Yes… that’s right.”
Though I answered that way, there was another reason entirely.
I planned to leave a letter for Luderne revealing my true identity before I departed.
I couldn’t bear to witness his disappointment or anger, so no matter how I thought about it, that was the only way.
Of course, when he read that letter, he might become very angry.
But time heals all wounds. By the time I returned from the Bilsty Estate after accomplishing my purpose, he would have composed himself somewhat.
Madame Laber, who had returned her gaze to the map, soon nodded.
“Very well.”
* * *
“My goodness, she refused to enter the palace?”
Melissa’s astonished voice echoed through Zerox’s bedroom.
Though it was still afternoon, Zerox lay sprawled across the bed, drowsy with satisfaction, and laughed at Melissa’s continuous kisses along his back.
“Her audacity is quite remarkable.”
“She’s truly foolish. No matter what, a mistress is merely a mistress. If she accepted His Majesty’s favor, she would know true feminine joy. She doesn’t even understand what the wise choice is.”
She was speaking of Priscilla, who had understood the meaning of entering the palace yet still refused.
Throughout their encounter, Zerox had mentioned Priscilla’s attitude with displeasure.
At his peak, he had even cursed her as a wicked woman and said he wished to execute her.
In truth, Melissa wanted to curse Priscilla just as harshly to match his sentiment.
But she restrained herself.
She judged there was nothing to gain by doing so.
Despite his words, Zerox’s tone still carried a palpable sense of disappointment and lingering attachment.
Sure enough, Zerox chuckled softly.
“I wish she were as intelligent as the young lady.”
His voice carried the tone of someone lovesick.
Melissa, who had been kissing his back, silently scoffed in disbelief.
How many times had he seen Priscilla anyway?
It was fortunate that Zerox lay face-down and couldn’t see her expression.
“Do not worry. She will soon understand His Majesty’s charm.”
Melissa rose and twisted her sweat-dampened hair up with her hand.
“Going to bathe?”
At Zerox’s question, Melissa smiled seductively.
“Yes.”
Zerox had summoned Melissa for the first time in quite a while.
She had been thinking that her relationship with Luderne had fallen apart.
Because of Priscilla.
Even Eclite had behaved willfully before returning to the Empire.
If she could continue seeing him, she would make the effort, but honestly, even to Melissa’s eyes, Eclite didn’t seem likely to offer her any meaningful affection.
That left only Zerox.
Regardless of his masculine charm, I needed to seize every opportunity to deepen our relationship now.
“Would you like to join me in the bath?”
As I cast a playful glance his way, Zerox rose from the bed.
We descended from the bed and immersed ourselves in the large bathtub prepared in the adjacent room. The water was lukewarm, but somehow that felt pleasant.
“I’m curious about something, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?”
“Who will pay for the demolition of that woman’s mansion?”
“I was planning to handle it myself.”
Melissa Bilsty clapped her hands as if struck by realization.
“I suspect that’s precisely why that woman keeps pushing you away. You’re far too kind, Your Majesty.”
“I’m too kind?”
“Yes. In matters between men and women, there exists a push and pull, doesn’t there? When pushed away, one yearns to draw closer; when pulled toward, one wishes to distance themselves.”
Zerox paused in thought before nodding.
“I’ve heard such psychology exists. But I confess I don’t fully understand it.”
“That’s because every woman comes running at the mere gesture of Your Majesty’s hand, grateful for your favor. You are who you are, after all.”
Zerox responded with a knowing smile instead of words.
In truth, daughters of distinguished noble houses had long ceased to follow even at his beckoning. Melissa Bilsty, having come from the provinces, knew nothing of his past.
But the current Melissa Bilsty knew his past well enough. She simply pretended otherwise.
“By showing only that Your Majesty is a warm man, doesn’t it create women who fail to appreciate your worth?”
“Hmm, there is merit to that reasoning, it seems. Then what should I do?”
Sensing that Zerox was listening intently to my words, I spoke with confidence.
“Then you must push her away. Once she witnesses the cold face of a state without Your Majesty’s care, won’t she think, ‘Ah, I failed to truly know you’?”
“The cold face of a state, you say…”
I gently poked Zerox’s chest with a wet finger.
“Whose property was that mansion? It belonged to that woman, correct?”
“It did.”
At those words, my eyes gleamed with brilliance.
“Then why not proceed with the demolition according to law?”
“According to law?”
“Yes. Since the fire occurred due to improper safety management, impose fines according to the law as well.”
Zerox, knowing the truth of the fire incident, rolled his eyes briefly.
It was not a matter of servant negligence.
It was arson. Seemingly the work of Eclite.
The reason was easy to surmise.
Eclite enjoys destroying those close to Luderne Sellen.
So the reason Eclite sabotaged Priscilla at the Salon and had someone set fire to the mansion was likely the same.
Because Luderne Sellen seemed to have taken an interest in her.
In truth, it was absurd that an imperial prince would commit such an outrage—setting fire to a civilian’s mansion in the Kingdom’s Capital, no less.
As King, Zerox could easily lodge a formal protest and objection.
“But protesting would only…”
Zerox exhaled quietly.
Even so, there was a high likelihood that his relationship with Eclite would fracture.
That was something that absolutely could not happen.
After all, it was Eclite who was currently lending him legitimacy and power for the throne.
In other words, it also meant that Eclite was the kingmaker of Arde.
Zerox had used Eclite’s scheme to make Avi, the royal secretary, kill Hilda Arde.
After Hilda’s death, he had cut off Avi’s tongue and hands, exiled him alone to a deserted island, and left him to die.
Publicly, he had announced that the royal secretary, who loved his spouse desperately, had withdrawn from the world of his own accord.
But what if his relationship with Eclite, who knew the truth, fractured?
The very legitimacy of his succession to the throne could be called into question.
‘It can never happen. Not when I have the crown in my grasp.’
That was why he had buried the incident.
If Priscilla found evidence and caught the culprit, or even filed a lawsuit, it would only be a headache for Zerox, so he had erected a barrier and forbidden access to the site.
To that extent, Zerox had not only refrained from imposing a fine on Priscilla but had even tried to have the state cover the demolition costs.
But Melissa Bilsty insisted on doing things by the law.
Even if Priscilla earned money well, she would likely have to drain all her savings to pay for the mansion’s demolition costs.
After pondering for a moment, Zerox asked.

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