About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 121

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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 121. Bankruptcy Was a Foretold Future
In that moment, cheers and applause erupted throughout the courthouse.
“Hurrah!”
“Congratulations, Count Bilsty.”
“We’ve been waiting so long for your return.”
“Please take good care of the territory.”
Those who had come to observe lined up to greet me before departing.
While their genuine welcome warmed my heart, it also weighed heavily upon me.
It meant that Matilda Bilsty’s stewardship of the territory had been poor.
Once the courthouse emptied, the Chief Administrator invited me, Sir Jester, Gillian, his assistant, the Judge, the Press Director, and the Journalist to his home.
He wished to explain tomorrow’s Hunting Festival to me and host a celebratory dinner with everyone.
* * *
Melissa Bilsty awoke in good spirits as morning broke.
She stretched languidly, then opened the window.
A brilliant blue sky, radiant morning sunlight cascading down, a warm breeze rustling gently.
Rainbows shimmered between the water jets of grand fountains scattered throughout the vast botanical gardens—five times the size of the Royal Palace.
“Wow, no matter how many times I see it, the Imperial Palace of the Doorban Empire is truly magnificent.”
Drawing a deep breath to fill her lungs with the crisp air, Melissa recalled the past few days.
Her initial awe upon first glimpsing the Imperial Palace of the Doorban Empire had quickly given way to excitement as she dressed in an elaborate gown and attended the party with Luderne Sellen.
The memory brought a smile to her lips.
‘How dashing the Grand Duke looked in formal attire.’
As she entered the party venue, Melissa had thought they might dance a waltz together, and she harbored hopes of deepening their connection.
But the moment she stepped inside, a familiar middle-aged man approached her with a greeting.
“Your Highness, have you been well?”
“Yes, Brissel Mohr. Has all been quiet at the Imperial Palace?”
It was Brissel Mohr, one of Luderne Sellen’s closest associates.
When his eyes met Melissa’s, he lowered his voice to Luderne Sellen.
“I have urgent matters to discuss.”
Then he whispered something in Luderne Sellen’s ear.
Luderne Sellen’s expression changed, and he sought Melissa’s understanding.
“An urgent and important matter has arisen. You should enjoy the party, though…”
Luderne Sellen glanced around and called over a servant carrying food.
“She is an honored guest I invited from the Arde Kingdom. Please attend to her well during her stay.”
The servant immediately bowed respectfully to Melissa.
From the introduction, she learned the servant was a Mute Maid dispatched from the House of Grand Duke Wintem for the party.
Ultimately, Melissa spent the entire party alone without a partner, and Luderne Sellen had not shown his face since.
Yet it remained undeniable that Luderne Sellen had invited her to the Imperial Palace party, provided her with an elaborate gown, and personally assigned a servant from the Grand Duke’s household to attend her.
‘This is no ordinary gesture. I should demonstrate my worth here.’
With that thought, Melissa decided to remain at the Imperial Palace with composure.
She believed that once his urgent and important matters were resolved, Luderne Sellen would come to see her.
* * *
“You’re utterly incompetent! You’re fired! Get out of my sight!”
The moment Matilda Bilsty stepped out of the courthouse, she vented her fury on her lawyer before climbing into a hired carriage with bitter muttering.
As the carriage carried her toward the Count’s Residence, she found herself replaying Priscilla’s expression from the plaintiff’s stand.
‘Something’s off.’
In the past, whenever she’d glared like that, Priscilla would fidget nervously and beg, “Mother, I’m sorry.” But now her face remained composed, utterly different from before.
Her expression was calm and unwavering.
I couldn’t fathom what had transformed Priscilla so completely.
Was it because she’d hired the most capable lawyer in the territory? Or because Count Veloda Genoma hadn’t appeared?
Or had that male doctor somehow rewired her mind?
‘She couldn’t possibly know about the vast inheritance that remains.’
As Matilda turned these questions over in her mind, her eyes narrowed sharply.
She suddenly grasped the reality: a considerable number of the territory’s residents sided with Priscilla—simply because she held the succession rights.
Even the mansion’s servants who had defied her fell into this category, with the exception of two newly hired servants from outside who knew nothing of the situation.
‘Ungrateful wretches.’
Recalling their insolence made her teeth clench with indignation.
But soon, a confident smile played across Matilda’s lips.
This trial was simply a matter of bad luck.
Once she filed an appeal, the second trial would proceed in a higher court.
And that higher court was the Capital Court.
‘The annulment suit is destined to be won by our side.’
There was no way she could lose from the second trial onward.
And Priscilla wouldn’t even attempt an appeal. If she did, it would go to the Supreme Court, which was the Royal Palace Court.
Melissa’s influence would reach even further there.
Any appeal by Priscilla would only waste her assets on litigation fees.
The Bilsty Barony had little money to spare.
Bankruptcy was an inevitable future.
If she fell out of the King’s favor during the trial, she could even lose her title.
Contemplating this, Matilda calculated what would remain for Priscilla and let out a derisive laugh.
‘The foolish girl, blinded by her title. If she loses the suit, she’ll be left with nothing—and whatever lands remain will become her husband’s property.’
Once that happened, I wouldn’t show mercy. Not to Priscilla, nor to that mysterious male doctor.
She’d done it once; doing it again would be simple. Killing Priscilla, that is.
As for the doctor, he’s a commoner—I could frame him with some charge, torture him, and have him executed. The same goes for Gillian.
It was at that moment Matilda’s thoughts returned to her lawyer.
“Wait.”
She’d been so furious about losing that she’d momentarily forgotten: how had Gillian appeared in court looking perfectly fine after being beaten so severely by the Muscleman?
‘I distinctly heard him screaming for mercy back then… Is the Muscleman actually a coward who’s all bluster?’
Matilda found herself unconsciously biting her nails.
‘But he said he’d beaten him to a pulp… Could that have been a lie?’
A chill ran through her.
‘Can I trust Muscleman?’
Just then, the Coachman called out to Matilda.
“We’ve arrived.”
We were already standing before Count’s Residence.
After paying the fare, I hurried inside.
As I entered, Wood’s horse and carriage remained parked to one side, still waiting after being prepared for the trip to the Courthouse.
I stepped into the Mansion, but the Servants paid me no mind.
I wanted to curse them out, but this wasn’t the time for that.
I quickened my pace and threw open the door with such force that it made a loud noise.
But Wood, who should have been in the room, was nowhere to be found.
Muscleman and the Mute Maid were also absent.
“….”
I asked a Servant who was busily cleaning about Wood’s whereabouts.
But none of the Servants had seen Wood. They claimed they hadn’t even seen Muscleman or the Mute Maid.
‘If he’d left the Mansion, someone would have seen him.’
After a moment of thought, I decided to pack my belongings first. Priscilla would likely return to the Mansion by tomorrow at the earliest.
‘I need to take everything important before then.’
Documents regarding land deeds and loans, for instance.
Especially the loan-related documents—if I didn’t handle them in time, the Territory could be seized due to debt, making its management even more difficult.
If she came asking for the documents back, I’d simply deny knowing anything about them. That would trouble her greatly.
While she did nothing but cry, the house might be auctioned off.
‘Hmph. She’ll soon realize she can’t do without me.’
As I was stuffing the documents into my travel bag, a note Wood had left on the desk caught my eye.
[The mare is about to foal, so I’ll be in the Stable.]
Upon reading it, I ground my teeth in frustration.
“Those wretches. If Wood went to the Stable, they’d all know it, yet they lied and said they hadn’t seen him? So this is how it is? Fine. Let them taste some trouble.”
I tossed the Servant employment documents—those containing names, wages, and work conditions—into the fireplace.
Once those disappeared, chaos would soon erupt.
Of course, if the Servants found out, they wouldn’t leave me alone. I had to take Wood to the Capital before they discovered it.
I also planned to bring the Mute Maid, whom I’d paid extra to follow me.
Though I couldn’t trust her now, Muscleman too.
The reason was simple.
Since the sea route from Bilsty Estate to Daicer Territory was blocked, I’d have to travel by land. On the land route, if luck was poor, one might encounter wild dogs.
‘When that happens, I’ll use Muscleman and the Mute Maid as bait and escape. If we pass safely, all the better.’
With that resolve, I headed toward the Stable.
“Wood!”
I strode into the Stable and called out loudly.
But Wood didn’t answer.
“This isn’t the time to be delivering a foal! Where are you?”
The moment I took a step deeper inside, I heard the wooden door creak behind me.
When I turned around, the Muscleman and the Mute Maid were there.
The stable door that had been wide open was now closed.
“Why did you shut the door? It’s so dark.”
“There’s no point in having a commotion.”
The Mute Maid, having said so, brought her index finger to her lips as if to tell me to be quiet.
But Matilda paid no attention whatsoever.
“Why are only you two here? Where is Wood?”
The Muscleman let out a snort of amusement.
“He’s inside. I’ll show you the way.”
Matilda followed the Muscleman.

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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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