About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 113

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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 113. Please Raise Our Children Too
I recalled an important matter I had forgotten to tell Matilda Bilsty.
I hesitated whether to go back inside and mention it.
Wood merely pressed his ear against the door.
Soft giggling emanated from within. A small moan as well.
Wood paused in thought, then shook his head inwardly. If he went back in now, it was painfully obvious that both of them would only feel uncomfortable.
‘The dead don’t stand in doorways. The world has many who share similar faces, after all….’
If he went back and spoke, only to discover that what he had seen was not Priscilla, he could not predict what unpleasant words might follow.
‘It’s better to speak of it later, after all.’
Wood turned his footsteps toward the mansion’s exit. Toward the burly man and woman waiting for him.
* * *
During his journey to the Bilsty Estate, Ail had continuously sent swift reports to Luderne Sellen through the Communication Bureau regarding Priscilla’s whereabouts and movements.
At first, even as he sent the reports, he felt anxious.
He had abandoned his post and deserted without Luderne Sellen’s orders.
Moreover, he had done so while en route to report on weapon-related matters that Luderne Sellen was deeply interested in.
Should a recall order arrive at any point, he would have to return by any means necessary. Even swimming across the Sea.
Beyond that, he had to brace himself for disciplinary action.
His heart was heavy. He felt as though he had betrayed his lord for a woman.
Yet he harbored no regrets. He now knew Priscilla’s past.
That Luderne Sellen had been Priscilla’s husband.
On Heril Island, Ail had not perceived the relationship between Luderne Sellen and Priscilla at all, but upon learning this truth, he resolved his lingering questions.
The reason Luderne Sellen had smiled faintly even amid warfare was because of Priscilla.
And there must have been reason enough for Luderne Sellen to conceal his relationship with Priscilla from him.
Knowing this only made his heart heavier.
Here he was—a subordinate chasing after an ex-wife his lord had reason to keep hidden.
He had no words to defend himself if Luderne Sellen misunderstood him.
If anything, it was true that he harbored feelings that would warrant such misunderstanding.
Of course, legally there was no issue. The two had separated.
But if Luderne Sellen perceived this as infidelity, he could face not mere discipline, but death.
Though he had not shown it to Priscilla, his heart had grown lighter beginning from the Daicer Marquis Territory.
Upon disembarking from the Ship, after sending a report letter, he found thirty gold coins deposited into his Bank account by Luderne Sellen when he went to withdraw his travel funds.
The stated purpose was travel expenses.
He would certainly face reproach upon his return, but the atmosphere suggested he would escape discipline. Travel expenses amounted to official recognition of his actions as legitimate business.
Now he need only ensure Priscilla’s affairs concluded safely and smoothly, then return.
Yet today, upon entering the Lodging with Priscilla, Ail received a letter in secret from the manager.
It was while Priscilla was examining another area.
The letter bore no markings whatsoever.
Though bewildered by the situation, he first bid Priscilla a good night at her Cabin on the Second Floor and parted ways.
Seeing the two burly men guarding her door put his mind at ease.
He entered his own room beside theirs and, upon opening the letter, was so startled that he immediately climbed to the Third Floor.
I knocked, and the door opened.
Ail witnessed an unbelievable reality and his eyes widened in astonishment.
Luderne Sellen, by contrast, narrowed his eyes and opened the door wider.
“You should have received my letter. Why that expression?”
At Luderne Sellen’s typical composed reaction, Ail quickly stepped into the room.
“Well….”
Ail stammered and first bowed respectfully to Luderne Sellen, mentally calculating the expected arrival time of my correspondence.
He certainly recognized that Luderne Sellen had used a spatial transfer scroll.
But no matter how he calculated it, the timing didn’t align—when my report letter should have arrived and when Luderne Sellen was here simply didn’t match.
Luderne Sellen poured a glass of wine and placed it before Ail, then slowly swirled his own glass while observing his face.
“You have the face of someone with many questions.”
Ail took a seat as well.
He brought the wine glass Luderne Sellen offered to his lips. The light alcohol made it easy to drink.
“The correspondence I sent from the Daicer Marquis Territory hasn’t even arrived yet. I sent a letter from here this afternoon too…. How did you know to come here?”
Luderne Sellen crossed his legs nonchalantly and leaned back against the sofa.
“I noticed when I heard from Madame Laber that Priscilla was going to the Daicer Marquis Territory. I didn’t expect such sudden movement, so it was troublesome from a security standpoint.”
Luderne Sellen took a sip of wine and nodded.
“Well, with that level of escort and you accompanying her, it wasn’t bad.”
Ail nodded as well.
Now that he thought about it, there was no way he wouldn’t know the region of his former wife’s family home.
“I did write it in my report letter, but a direct report would be faster.”
“Quite right. Tell me what happened.”
Jester methodically reported everything that had occurred, including the progress of today’s lawsuit.
Then, suddenly remembering something, he asked back.
“The wealthy patron who visited the Government Office today—could that have been you, Your Highness?”
Luderne Sellen gave a small shake of his head.
“I would prefer that no one knows who that is until Priscilla fully receives her title.”
“I understand for now. But Your Highness, I have many unanswered questions. May I ask for an explanation now?”
Luderne Sellen drained his wine glass in one gulp.
“Now that my resolve is set, you should know as well. This will be a long story.”
* * *
The next day, before lunch even ended, Sir Jester and I met Gillian again at the lodging’s restaurant.
He looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes.
“The grounds for the annulment suit have been judged valid. An exceptionally swift ruling. First, my congratulations. Your marriage is now suspended.”
“Thank you.”
“The pace felt unusual, so my assistant and I pulled an all-nighter preparing for the first trial. I think that was the right call, but I’m famished.”
At my greeting, he looked around and licked his lips.
“The food at this restaurant looks quite appetizing, though I suspect it’s expensive. If I eat here, who pays? If it’s too dear, I thought I’d eat outside and come back.”
The lodging where I was staying was the cleanest, quietest, and most pleasant in the Bilsty Estate.
But since it wasn’t like a luxury hotel in the Capital, the accommodation and meals weren’t particularly expensive.
I’m glad I’d heard beforehand that he was a penny-pincher.
Otherwise, I would have been utterly bewildered by what he was saying.
“While the trial is ongoing, I’ll cover all your meals here, so please eat as much as you’d like.”
Gillian’s eyes lit up brilliantly.
“Ah, now that’s inspiring! Can my assistant eat as well?”
He was referring to the woman in the office. She was apparently busy preparing for this lawsuit alongside him.
“Speaking of which, what does she have for lunch?”
“The office provides lunch, but… well, today it’s just two slices of bread and milk.”
“Really?”
“Since we pulled an all-nighter, I gave her ham and two boiled eggs as a special treat today.”
The employee benefits were truly abysmal compared to his retainer fees.
“But you seem to be doing quite well…”
“What can I do? I have so many children to raise. And to preempt any misunderstanding, my assistant has no complaints.”
“Are you… married?”
“Not married, but… I have quite a few children. Do you have any?”
“No.”
“Then you won’t really understand the burden.”
He then began muttering and grumbling about how raising children cost an enormous amount—food expenses, clothing, education, and so on—that it bent his back.
Yet something still seemed odd.
No matter how many children he raised, with that level of income he should be able to support them without difficulty.
Unless he had significant debts to repay?
“Those rascals don’t even listen to me. They’re full of youthful energy and cause trouble, and I have to clean up after them—it’s such a headache.”
He then glanced sideways at me.
“Ah, that’s right—you’re a young lord, aren’t you? Since your marital status is currently suspended, you’ll soon reclaim your title.”
“That’s correct.”
“It seems you have some money as well, so could you perhaps look after my children too? Or better yet, help me raise them.”
He was asking me to raise his children. It was rather absurd.
But somehow it felt like he was testing me.
Rather than answer immediately, I examined Gillian’s attire. It was appropriate for legal work, but quite worn.
The information about him being a penny-pincher made it less strange, but the mention of children made me doubtful.
I glanced at Sir Jester.
He immediately nodded. His expression suggested he’d grasped something from our conversation.
“…Very well. I’ll consider it positively. For now, please put your assistant’s and your meal expenses on my account. Since we have many places to visit today, let’s eat together first.”
Gillian’s mouth fell open in astonishment.
He quickly called over a restaurant staff member.
After having us order first, Gillian asked the restaurant staff member a question.
“What’s the dish with the largest portion here?”
“The largest portion?”
“I’d like to eat quite a lot. I’m a big eater, you see.”
It was unexpected. Since I’d told him to eat freely, I thought he would order the most expensive dish at the restaurant.
Soon, the staff’s recommended dishes were laid out on the table.
The portions looked far too generous for a single diner.
Yet the moment the food arrived, Gillian’s brow furrowed in displeasure.

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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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