About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 120

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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 120. The Verdict Has Been Delivered
At Matilda’s softened tone, Wood averted his gaze awkwardly downward and scratched the back of his head.
“It’s just cold water.”
Matilda felt the blood vessels bulging near her temples. Her grip on the cup tightened involuntarily.
“Did you just… give me water to drink?”
But absorbed in staring at the floor, Wood failed to notice Matilda’s expression and shifted his body slightly.
“It looked like fire was burning inside you.”
Matilda pressed her lips together as if to bite them and glared at Wood.
Just then, the grandfather clock chimed.
Dong!
“Oh my, we’ll be late. Let’s hurry.”
At Wood’s oblivious behavior, Matilda set the cup down on the table with a sharp clack.
“Fine. Just a moment.”
Matilda called for the Mute Maid who had taken her side and the bodyguard hired on the same day. Then she spoke to Wood.
“I’m going out, so you stay right here and don’t move an inch.”
“What? Aren’t I coming too?”
Bringing Wood to the trial was absolutely out of the question.
Of course, I could always deny any suspicions if they arose.
But there was no guarantee such rumors wouldn’t reach Priscilla’s ears.
No matter how foolish she might be, would I really present someone resembling Melissa before a woman sharpening her blade to drive me out?
I would waste considerable energy merely denying that Wood wasn’t Melissa’s biological father.
‘At least magic has disappeared, so paternity verification isn’t easy. That’s a small mercy.’
The scrolls used for paternity confirmation likely existed only in the Imperial Palace at best.
“You stay in your room until Melissa arrives. And you two—make sure he and anyone else never cross paths.”
At this thunderbolt of a statement, Wood’s eyes widened in shock.
“What? You’re telling me to stay in my room?”
“Yes. People have begun suspecting Melissa’s biological father.”
“…”
“Going outside won’t help our case in the trial. You understand, don’t you?”
Wood’s mouth flapped open before he reluctantly shook his head.
“Just be patient a little longer. Once our Melissa becomes queen, I’ll make sure you live in luxury.”
After patting Wood’s shoulder, Matilda dismissed the Mute Maid and the bodyguard.
“You two haven’t been employed long, but you have integrity and do your work well, so I’m telling you this.”
Matilda explained to the two what kind of daughter Melissa was.
Both their eyes widened in astonishment.
“If we get through this situation smoothly, wealth and glory await you.”
The Muscleman bowed at a ninety-degree angle to Matilda.
“I will not leave this lady’s side! Please entrust me with this, madam!”
At the Muscleman’s action, the Mute Maid quickly bowed her head as well.
“M-me too!”
Reassured by their reactions, Matilda Bilsty peered out the window.
Outside the mansion, the Estate Lawyer was waiting with a small open carriage.
“I’ll be back soon.”
Matilda Bilsty hurried out of the mansion and climbed into the carriage.
Wood watched her recede through the window and sighed.
Then he grinned at the Muscleman and the Mute Maid standing beside him.
“Well, caring for horses isn’t exactly easy either. I suppose I can think of this as a temporary vacation, right?”
Wood stretched languidly and pulled a deck of playing cards from the drawer.
“It’ll be boring just sitting around. What do you say? A card game with some drinks?”
The Mute Maid’s eyes darted toward the Muscleman.
What followed was a meaningful glance.
“Well, I’m not really into card games. A truth game sounds more fun.”
“Ah, what’s that? How about you enjoy a card game with me instead?”
The Muscleman stepped closer to Wood.
“I’d find a truth game more entertaining too.”
“Huh?”
Wood’s ears doubted what they heard, and his eyes soon followed suit.
Why was that massive shadow looming over him? Why were those hammer-like fists suspended in the air?
As if about to strike him down that very instant.
* * *
The annulment trial with Count Veloda Genoma.
Gillian and I sat at the plaintiff’s table, while Matilda Bilsty and the Estate Lawyer she had hired sat at the defendant’s table.
The moment Matilda Bilsty saw Gillian, she looked as though her soul might flee her body. She rubbed her eyes several times, unable to believe that Gillian was standing beside me.
I understood well why Matilda Bilsty was so unsettled.
Gillian should have been beaten so severely that he couldn’t appear in court, yet here he stood, perfectly sound and whole.
She must be anxious about whether she could trust the Muscleman she had hired.
As the trial time drew near, Matilda Bilsty began glaring at me as though she wanted me dead—a familiar tactic meant to pressure my mind.
Was it because I now doubted her innocence? The possibility that Melissa Bilsty might not be the Count’s daughter?
Perhaps because of that, the way I regarded Matilda Bilsty felt entirely different from before.
The Press Director and several newspaper journalists sat in the gallery, along with Sir Jester. Several residents of the fiefdom had also entered to fill the gallery.
Count Veloda Genoma and Melissa Bilsty were nowhere to be seen. Neither was the Coachman who resembled Melissa Bilsty.
Soon the Judge took his seat, and the first trial began.
Following procedure, Gillian presented my position with compelling clarity.
The plaintiff had not wished to marry.
She had fled to avoid marriage but was robbed of her seal and identification badge, and a false marriage was registered in her name.
The defendant had feigned the plaintiff’s death to claim the former husband’s inheritance.
What she sought was wealth.
Therefore, we sought the annulment of the marriage and the return of all property illegally obtained by the defendant.
Matilda Bilsty, the proxy who conspired in this false registration, was also an accomplice, and since she had effectively obstructed the succession of the title, we sought her punishment.
That was our position.
Of course, the fact that Melissa had tried to kill me was omitted.
The Chief Administrator and the lawyer both knew this story, but they feared an unfavorable verdict if the King intervened.
To that extent, there were gaps if Matilda tried to rebut.
But the trial proceeded remarkably smoothly. The principal defendant simply didn’t appear.
“Whether heaven itself aids us… In any case, do check tomorrow’s newspaper.”
Staring at the empty defendant’s seat, the Press Director’s words came back to me unbidden.
I thought I understood why they couldn’t come.
True to the Press Director’s word, the next day’s newspaper carried an article I could scarcely believe.
Pirates had attacked Bilsty Harbor, Dyser Harbor, and Roban Harbor.
Fortunately, there were no serious injuries or major property losses, but the aged harbor facilities were damaged, making it difficult to dock.
Yet the pirates didn’t stop there.
They lingered near Bilsty Harbor and blockaded the shipping lanes, extorting everything from vessels attempting to enter port.
As a result, no ships had been able to enter through the harbor until now.
No one had arrived by sea either.
After reading the newspaper article, I immediately consulted with the Chief Administrator. The security of Bilsty Harbor naturally fell to the Bilsty Estate to manage.
The Chief Administrator deliberated, then shook his head.
“The fiefdom lacks sufficient budget. We have no military force to contend with pirates. We never had pirates to begin with.”
For now, I too lacked the necessary funds.
Naturally, a second option emerged.
“Then what if we request support from the Royal Palace?”
The Chief Administrator immediately shook his head.
“Whenever bandits ran rampant, we requested aid from the Royal Palace. But the new King has never once answered.”
For the time being, it seemed unavoidable.
Then the Chief Administrator’s eyes lit up as if he’d remembered something.
“What if we appealed to the one who said he’d invest in the fiefdom? I believe he’d be more than capable.”
If that were the case, receiving the title safely and securing his investment at the Hunting Festival seemed realistic.
Once I reached that conclusion, the Chief Administrator rolled up his sleeves even more eagerly.
“You can curse me as a Chief Administrator steeped in corruption if you wish. By the time the first trial ends, the administrative procedures for title succession will also be complete. You need only win at the first trial. If you lose, appeal immediately.”
To the Chief Administrator, who was earnestly reiterating what I already knew, I nodded in agreement.
And then the next day, the newspaper reported news of the Quindel.
The ship that had set sail had docked at Heril Island with a massive hole in its hull, entering emergency repairs.
The passengers aboard were completely stranded.
The mail was in the same predicament.
Seeing that, I was certain of victory in the first trial.
Count Veloda Genoma’s absence was as good as confirmed by then.
He couldn’t even receive the answer brief.
It was tantamount to accepting defeat.
Moreover, Matilda currently lacked even a competent lawyer.
According to information from the servant I’d planted, that lawyer knew very little. He was hired merely to handle necessary paperwork before the trial.
Throughout the trial, Matilda’s lawyer struggled to cope with Gillian’s statements, eventually breaking down in tears.
The defendant’s defense was so weak that the arguments concluded swiftly.
The verdict was delivered shortly after.
The Judge read the judgment in a clear voice, then raised his gavel.
“Therefore, this court confirms the marriage between the plaintiff and defendant to be null and void. All litigation costs shall be borne entirely by the defendant.”
Tap, tap, tap.
The gavel struck the wooden block with a satisfying sound.
My victory in the first trial was clean and decisive.
Applause erupted from the gallery. Camera flashes from the journalists began to go off.
The newspaper journalists quickly approached Matilda Bilsty and me, attempting interviews.
Matilda spoke loudly, as if making sure everyone heard.
“Lies cannot obscure the truth! Though pirates suddenly swarmed the harbor and prevented Count Veloda Genoma from arriving, we have assembled a professional legal team. We will appeal, and we will prevail.”
With that, she frowned and fled the courthouse as if escaping.
At that very moment, the Chief Administrator entered, a folder tucked under his arm.
He glanced at Matilda Bilsty as she passed by him, but quickly spotted me and approached with long strides, calling out loudly.
“The procedures have been completed, Count Bilsty!”

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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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