About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 143

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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 143. Kicked Twice Over
Just then, the Butler knocked urgently and entered.
“Master, a letter has arrived.”
The Butler hurried to me and extended the letter.
“It’s addressed to Matilda.”
The letter was from Melissa Bilsty.
I glanced at the Butler’s expression. He seemed visibly tense.
Though I now called Matilda by her name rather than “Mistress,” receiving contact from Melissa still made me nervous.
The Butler, meeting my gaze, took a deep breath and then uttered something unexpected.
“A messenger from the Royal Palace has also arrived. They’re looking for the Count.”
“What?”
“He came bearing a letter from His Majesty the King, so I showed him to the Reception Room for now.”
A messenger from the Royal Palace, suddenly appearing like this.
It was unprecedented in the Bilsty Estate, which left me flustered.
I set down Melissa’s letter and immediately left the Study.
“It wouldn’t be wise for Prince Wintem’s people to be noticed by the Royal Palace. Would Walter wait here?”
I left Walter, who had tried to follow, in the Study and headed to the Reception Room.
A messenger from the Royal Palace was indeed present.
Upon seeing me, the messenger completed a formal introduction and held out a scroll with both hands.
“The Count of the Bilsty Estate shall pay proper respects before the words of His Majesty Zerox Arde, the glory of the Arde Kingdom.”
I lowered my body slightly and raised both hands with palms facing upward.
“Priscilla Bilsty of the Bilsty Estate receives the words of His Majesty Zerox Arde, the glory of Arde.”
The letter from Zerox descended onto my hands.
The messenger bowed respectfully and departed from the Mansion.
I returned to the Study with the Butler and sat before my desk. Then I unfolded Zerox’s letter.
The moment I read it, a sigh escaped me.
“What is it?”
At Walter’s question, I couldn’t suppress another sigh.
“He’s planning a visit.”
At my words, the Butler’s face went pale with shock, and Walter’s eyes widened.
“Eeeek? Y-y-you mean that’s really true? Master!”
“Why would His Majesty come here…?”
“He’ll arrive in a week through Bilsty Harbor.”
I gave instructions to the Butler.
“Prepare the proper protocol and hospitality arrangements in time.”
“Ah, yes, understood.”
The Butler wiped the sweat streaming down his face with a handkerchief and left the Study.
I looked again at Melissa’s letter I had set aside earlier.
It wasn’t addressed to me, but given the circumstances, I had no choice but to open it.
The letter was quite lengthy.
I saw the newspaper article.
That woman really caused a scandal.
No one paid much attention to the news about her reclaiming her title and winning the first trial of her divorce suit, but someone spread a conspiracy theory.
They’re saying Count Veloda Genoma tried to kill Priscilla to inherit her fortune.
Because of that, Count Veloda Genoma ended up in a difficult position.
And naturally, my reputation suffered as well.
Ah, I should have gone to the territory earlier and kept that woman in check.
Following complaints about why things had been going so poorly lately, came gossip about me.
There was also gossip about Priscilla from the Raber Salon. It included harsh profanities.
Reading it, I found myself muttering under my breath.
“How careless.”
She hadn’t considered that this letter wouldn’t reach Matilda’s hands.
As I continued reading, I fell silent at the next passage.
Living in the same mansion and seeing that woman every day will be unpleasant, but please bear with it for now while accommodating her somewhat.
Everything will soon unfold according to our wishes.
My eyes narrowed involuntarily.
Thanks to Prince Wintem’s favor, I’ve even gained footing in the Doerban Empire’s high society.
Do you understand what this means?
This wasn’t something I could judge alone.
No, even if I could judge it myself, there were parts that required verification of the facts.
I quickly gathered both letters and rose from my seat.
“Looking at this now, I don’t have time. It seems I shouldn’t see Matilda first.”
I decided to seek out Luderne Sellen.
It was the first time seeing him since I’d returned in tears before, but the matter was too serious to avoid it.
Walter followed behind me.
Luderne Sellen wasn’t at his lodging.
So I went to the Government Office, and the Chief Administrator told me:
“The Prince is likely at the Harbor.”
I immediately mounted a horse and headed to the Harbor.
The Harbor, unlike before, bustled with all manner of cargo transport ships. On one side, temporary tents had been erected in rows.
“Welcome, my lady.”
An employee from the Harbor Office greeted me respectfully upon seeing me.
“The Prince went toward the Newly Established Commercial District.”
The Newly Established Commercial District referred to the temporary tents I’d seen on my way here.
Laughter and shouting echoed from the tents, creating a lively atmosphere. It appeared to be various entertainment establishments, including taverns and gambling houses for sailors and mercenaries. Despite the early hour, the mood was quite vibrant.
“Ah, a bit more to the right there. Yes. Secure it firmly there.”
As I walked, I found Madame Raber overseeing the construction of a tent that was being erected larger than the surrounding ones.
“Oh? Is that you? What brings you here?”
When I mentioned I was looking for Luderne Sellen, she pointed toward the sea.
“He had a fishing rod with him, so he probably went to the Small Beach. The fishing’s been good there lately.”
Following those directions, I passed between the rows of tents and arrived at a small beach.
The rocky shore, covered only in jagged stones and cramped in space, saw few visitors due to its inconvenient terrain.
Luderne was immediately visible in the distance.
Dressed in black trousers, a white shirt without a cravat, and a black vest, he stood firmly among the rocks with a fishing rod extended into the relatively deep water.
As I stepped toward him, the sand fleas scattered rapidly across the stones.
‘Ugh…’
I gathered my dress hem and carefully picked my way forward. The uneven rocks made my body sway involuntarily.
“It’s dangerous. Please wait here.”
Walter, who had tried to stop me, called out to Luderne.
“Your Highness! We’ve arrived!”
Luderne soon turned his head toward us. He looked somewhat dazed.
When Walter raised his hand high above his head and waved it broadly, Luderne turned his gaze back to the fishing rod.
He remained still for quite some time, so I stepped forward onto the rocks again.
“I’ll just go directly. It seems rude to keep summoning His Highness.”
At that, Walter called out loudly again.
“Your Highness! Would it be acceptable if we came toward you?”
Luderne turned his head toward us.
He looked between us and the sea, then set the fishing rod on the ground. He raised both hands and made an X shape with them.
His response made me uneasy.
Though we had exchanged one polite letter, I wondered if he still found it uncomfortable to meet me in person because of what had happened before.
Then Luderne headed toward me.
Unlike me, he crossed the rocky terrain without any hesitation, moving with impressive strides.
Standing before me, Luderne immediately instructed Walter.
“The fishing line wasn’t fully wound. Go retrieve it all.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Now I understood—he had been slow to respond because he was rewinding the fishing line.
Walter headed toward where Luderne had been. He too navigated the jagged rocks with ease.
After watching Walter’s retreating figure for a moment, Luderne finally looked at me.
“It’s been a while. What brings Count Bilsty all the way here?”
It was the same distant form of address as when we had exchanged letters, but facing him, I was startled.
His eyes shone like those of a teenage boy infatuated with his first love.
His lips, always held firmly closed, curved into a gentle arc, and his cheeks and ears were faintly flushed.
My heart began to race in response.
‘Even after I was so harsh…’
First, I composed myself as I always had.
“I greet you, Prince Wintem. I hope you have been well.”
It was a conventional greeting.
It seemed better to act as though nothing had happened, regardless of what had occurred.
“Is that the greeting you offer after kicking me away twice?”
An unexpected response came back.
When I lifted my head, Luderne turned his gaze toward the harbor and let out a soft laugh.
“You make it difficult to get along, then ask how I’m doing. Are you retaliating for all the resentment that’s built up between us?”
No matter how I looked at it, his expression didn’t suggest he disliked me, yet his words revealed displeasure. Whether he was glad I came or annoyed—the man was utterly confusing.
Heat crept into my cheeks.
“My apologies. An urgent matter arose, and I thought it would be faster to speak with Your Highness directly. But perhaps I should have simply sent a letter instead.”
As I hesitated over my words, Luderne extended one hand toward me.
Somewhere along the way, his eyes had fixed on me.
“?”
I handed him the two letters I’d brought. Luderne accepted them and immediately tucked them behind his waist, then extended his hand again.
“Not that.”
“?”
Bewildered, I simply watched him, trying to read his intent. Luderne grew impatient.
“Hurry.”
What on earth was he asking for?
Unable to discern his meaning, I continued to hesitate. Luderne exhaled through his nose and gestured with his eyes.
His gaze fell upon my hand.
After a moment’s hesitation, I extended my right hand.
“Oh!”
The instant our hands touched, Luderne pulled me forcefully toward him.
His arm wrapped around my waist, and his lips met mine without restraint.
“Wait, Your—!”
My attempt to address him was swallowed by his fervent breath, emerging as nothing but a muffled sound.
I lifted my hands.
My heart tingled beneath the consuming intensity of his kiss, yet I wavered.
Should I push him away, or pull him closer?

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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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