About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 103

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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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Chapter 103. Have You Arrived, Sister?
“Then won’t she come to hate me?”
Melissa Bilsty countered as if she’d been waiting for this moment.
“Does it seem that way? But rather, it would demonstrate fairness on your part.”
“Still, I think she’ll hate me.”
“That’s precisely why you reduce her to poverty first, then display your wealth and comfort through your resources. No woman dislikes money, after all.”
“But there’s Luderne Sellen to consider.”
At this follow-up question, Melissa Bilsty pressed her hand to her chest. It felt like choking down a steamed sweet potato without water.
Melissa Bilsty knew full well that she was spouting nonsense.
But since her plan to befriend Priscilla had fallen through, she wanted to see her suffer by another’s hand instead.
‘I really did try to become her friend.’
That insufferable commoner designer who had grown stern even when asked to use her name casually.
‘If I can’t grow close to her and can’t sabotage her directly, this is the only way.’
“If the Grand Duke truly intended to pay, wouldn’t he have already taken care of it?”
An answer spoken with reckless abandon.
But Zerox lacked sound judgment. Hearing Melissa Bilsty’s words, he found them plausible once more.
“And if handled by law, she’ll be shocked and come to understand the majesty of His Majesty the King.”
At Melissa Bilsty’s words, Zerox spoke as if enlightened.
“Show her the reality of how far above her I stand, then treat her kindly as she falls into despair over financial worries. Is that it?”
“Exactly!”
Zerox found Melissa Bilsty, who had devised this scheme, so endearing that he couldn’t help but embrace her.
“You are truly wise!”
Water splashed in the bathtub from Zerox’s embrace.
Melissa Bilsty felt delighted. Her words had gotten through properly.
No matter how much money Priscilla earned, covering the mansion demolition costs and fines would surely require substantial expenditure.
Intoxicated with the sense of victory, Melissa Bilsty tenderly embraced Zerox’s neck.
Now she had to guide him down the path of pleasure once more to make her next plan succeed.
“Your Majesty, I have a request….”
“What is it?”
“Will you grant it?”
At Melissa Bilsty’s coquettish words, Zerox laughed without reservation.
“If it’s not difficult, it should be possible.”
“I wish to find someone.”
“Someone?”
“Yes?”
“Who?”
At Zerox’s question, Melissa Bilsty hung her head low. Then she secretly pricked her eyes with her fingertip and lifted her head with a sorrowful expression.
Seeing her reddened eyes, Zerox grew flustered and asked again.
“Who are you searching for that you’re on the verge of tears?”
“I received news that my sister, whom I thought was dead, might still be alive. I love her so dearly and desperately want to find her, but I lack the power to do so.”
Melissa let out a small, trembling sob—as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
“You’ll… help me, won’t you?”
* * *
The next day.
I used the forged identification papers Madame Laber had given me to purchase a boarding ticket for the Quindle, which would set sail in two days.
My new identity was Priscilla, a commoner from the Amitie Territory in the Arde Kingdom.
Upon returning to the Salon after securing the ticket, Margaret handed me a sealed document, saying it was urgent.
When I opened it, the contents were utterly absurd.
‘Mansion Demolition Execution Notice?’
Not only that, but I was also assessed a substantial fine for failing to maintain safety.
My assets were being seized effective immediately to cover the fine collection and demolition costs.
The document stated that if I refused, I could substitute one year of voluntary imprisonment instead, in which case the asset seizure would be lifted.
I was utterly dumbfounded by this bolt from the blue. What kind of law was so nonsensical and contemptible?
No matter how I looked at it, this was no legitimate law. It reeked of retaliation through abuse of power.
Madame Laber, upon seeing the document, cursed outright.
“This is it. Retaliation. Ugh, how petty and despicable. For a King to resort to this simply because someone refused a government proposal.”
So he’d made a show of backing off gracefully, but this was clearly Zerox’s retaliation for my refusal of that proposal back then.
“Do you need money, by any chance? Should I advance your wages?”
I shook my head at Madame Laber’s consideration.
“It’s fine, Madame. I have money.”
“You do? But your bank account has been seized too.”
“It’s fine. I have plenty.”
I had money at the Town House—the gold coins I’d won at the Casino.
All I needed to do was gather an appropriate amount of those coins and take along the check Luderne had given me for emergencies.
* * *
Two more days passed.
It was the day I would board the Quindle.
With an appropriate amount of gold coins, the check, and my key necklace tucked in my bosom, I left the Town House with Walter.
“Sir Walter, would you wait outside for a moment?”
Before heading to the Salon, I stopped by the Post Office and mailed two carefully written letters.
They would arrive at Luderne’s Townhouse after the Quindle set sail.
One to Luderne, revealing the truth and apologizing; another to Walter, expressing my regret for leaving alone without informing him of my journey.
Shortly after arriving at the Salon, I sent Walter on an errand, then collected the travel bag the Salon had prepared for me in advance.
A moment later, Madame Laber arrived and informed me that departure preparations were complete.
“We’ll meet on the aft deck once the ship departs. There are twenty in total, and seven of them you’ll already know. The rest have a serpent tattoo on their left hand. I’ve assembled only trustworthy people, so go with peace of mind. They’ll do whatever you ask.”
“Thank you, Madame Laber.”
I headed toward the Harbor.
By the time I completed the boarding procedures, the Quindle pulled into dock, and the passengers already aboard began disembarking.
‘By now, Walter should have returned to the Salon.’
To avoid being discovered at the Harbor, it was better to be aboard already.
As I made my way toward the Quindle, I spotted a familiar face and stopped in my tracks.
‘Good heavens!’
The unexpected encounter truly startled me. Yet at the same time, I felt a surge of warmth.
No matter how many times I looked, it was unmistakably Sir Jester.
Perhaps he had business in the Capital.
I wanted to rush over and ask how he’d been, but I held myself back. Right now, I wasn’t Priscilla—I was Priscilla.
Setting aside my joy, I had to board the ship.
As I shifted my steps, my eyes met Sir Jester’s for a moment as he approached from the opposite direction, but I turned my gaze away and ignored him.
Sir Jester passed by my side without any particular reaction.
In that moment, all the kindness he had shown me came flooding back.
How could I ever repay such generosity?
My heart was half gratitude, half apology.
In the end, before boarding the ship, I turned to look back—hoping to catch one more glimpse of his retreating figure, even if distance made it difficult to see clearly.
And then I doubted my own eyes.
Sir Jester had stopped in his tracks. Right where we had passed each other.
Moreover, he was looking in my direction.
A wave of unease washed over me.
‘Surely he didn’t recognize me?’
But that couldn’t be. Only Walter had recognized me immediately—and that was only because he’d encountered me right as I left the house.
Upon further reflection, it seemed like mere self-consciousness, so I simply pretended not to notice and boarded the ship. Once on deck, I checked Sir Jester’s location again.
Sir Jester was heading toward the Harbor Office.
‘It must have been my imagination after all.’
Soon, the ship’s horn sounded, announcing our departure.
As the Quindle began to move slowly, I spotted someone riding a horse frantically from the far side of the harbor.
It was Walter.
He must have searched everywhere before coming to the harbor.
I felt a fresh pang of guilt toward him, but there was nothing I could do about it.
Walter had come to escort me on Luderne’s orders.
Because I was “Priscilla,” Walter—who escorted me—was not someone “Priscilla” could trust completely.
When I went to the stern of the deck, I found groups of passengers gathered in clusters.
Among them, a particularly rough-looking group of men caught my eye.
Soon after, a middle-aged woman who had been among them spotted me and waved in greeting.
“Over here, ma’am.”
She was a servant who had worked at my mansion.
As I approached, the rough-looking men bowed deeply at the waist. These were the ones Madame Laber had mentioned—the ones with snake tattoos on the backs of their hands.
“Welcome, Sister!”
Sister, no less.
The unexpected form of address drew a wry smile from me.
Their cabins were distributed evenly across first-class, second-class, and third-class accommodations.
Just as sailors maintain watch aboard the ship for passenger safety, these men would also stand guard duty.
For my protection.
Aboard the ship, rather than staying glued to my side, they would maintain a proper distance and take turns on watch. It was their way of easing my burden.
The prospect of a comfortable and safe journey brought an unbidden smile to my face.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
At my words, the men scratched the back of their heads sheepishly and laughed with embarrassment.
Soon they dispersed to their respective positions.
Watching them recede into the distance, I too began to move. I intended to retire to my cabin for some rest.
‘I should check whether any new novels have arrived during the voyage.’
As I walked with that thought, I came to an abrupt halt. An unexpected figure had entered my line of sight.
Moreover, he was looking directly at me.

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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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