About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 146

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 146. The Lie of Not Loving
Though I had clearly suggested he go into hiding, his answer was the same as what he’d said on the beach.
“Your Highness, you admitted earlier that it would be troublesome if the military purpose were discovered.”
“Still, my conclusion remains the same.”
“It’s dangerous. It’s a foolish conclusion too.”
At my added words, one corner of Luderne’s eyebrow twitched upward.
“How presumptuous.”
Yet unlike his words, there was no displeasure in his expression, so I pressed forward with greater conviction.
“You could be suspected of treason.”
“That’s true, but….”
His trailing words stretched out leisurely.
It was I who grew frustrated at his utterly unbothered expression.
“You understand, so why are you being stubborn?”
“Well….”
His wandering eyes fixed upon me.
He let out a hollow laugh.
“I’ve become the kind of man who could give you everything and be happy just knowing you care for my body alone.”
“….”
I was at a loss for words.
‘What did I just hear?’
Luderne appeared perfectly composed.
“Perhaps my eyes were blinded because you held me so warmly today…. I’ve lost all fear.”
Luderne’s gaze turned briefly toward the large window.
I too found myself gazing at the night sky, endless with stars.
Our gazes, both directed outward, met as Luderne opened his mouth.
“I can simply create a pretext.”
With a remarkably calm expression, he held up two fingers.
“I have two conditions for managing this territory: posthumous inheritance and a mistress.”
“That’s true. But does that serve as a pretext?”
“The reason I happen to be here—I’ll say it’s because I’m infatuated with my mistress.”
A natural objection escaped me.
“But the known mistress is Priscilla, not just Priscilla.”
“Priscilla, who came to see the Salon entering the Daicer Territory, came to know the Bilsty Estate. Since it’s known as the mistress whom the King himself cherishes enough to accompany, and Melissa’s hometown.”
In that moment, my mind flashed with clarity.
“Of course! Since it’s the territory of the noble young lady of the Count, Madame Laber and Priscilla came to open a branch here too!”
A smile bloomed in his eyes as he took a satisfied sip of wine.
“You catch on quickly.”
But one thing immediately concerned me.
“There are territorial residents who saw Your Highness together with Priscilla, not just anyone.”
“It’s fine. The reason I came to this house was a joke, but it’s true that the staff at the lodging cast sharp glances. Besides, you wept on your way into the Count’s Residence.”
My face burned as though it were on fire.
“You… followed me?”
“I was concerned about your journey home, so I considered it—but Sir Jester went in my stead.”
He confessed that he had been so upset that day that he drank heavily.
And when dawn broke, after greeting me, he immediately sent Sir Jester—who said he would search for information related to magic—off to the Doerban Empire.
“Ah, so that’s why Sir Jester suddenly disappeared.”
The question arose naturally.
“But why send him away at such a late hour? It would have been nice to at least wish him a safe journey.”
“With our relationship in ruins, was I supposed to stand by and watch another kind man appear before you?”
“…”
His counter-question made me understand immediately.
‘Luderne already knew that Sir Jester had feelings for me.’
“He told me not to cry.”
“…”
“He spoke as though he would strike me if I gave the wrong answer.”
Luderne slowly swirled his wine glass as he continued.
“I thought it was because the wounds I caused you were so deep. But thinking about it again, it interprets differently.”
The crimson eyes meeting mine grew deeper.
“Your claim that you don’t love me is a lie. The reason you lied was for my power.”
“…”
“Even after opening my eyes the next day and reconsidering, my conclusion remained the same. So…”
He said he waited for me to calm down and come to him first. Since territorial matters were entangled, we would inevitably meet anyway.
“If you were willing to leave like that, it means you care for more than just my body.”
His certainty drained all resistance from me.
Luderne’s smile was like the brilliant light of the morning sun.
“Eat quickly. It tastes better while it’s still warm.”
At his suggestion, I pierced a piece of meat with my fork.
“I should have held it in and cried at home.”
“You did well. That day was a mess, but now I have a reason not to hide anymore because of it.”
“Count Bilsty can claim he separated from Prince Wintem because of Priscilla, a mistress who appeared belatedly in his territory.”
Luderne nodded.
“I was thinking we could use that as a basis to develop contingency plans for various scenarios.”
It was a good proposal.
But my feelings were hopelessly complicated.
“I know what you calculated and why you pushed me away. I’m willing to accept that conditionally.”
He wiped his mouth with a napkin and continued in a low, measured tone.
“If, even after both you and I become safe from external threats, you decide to remain my mistress and die without breaking the curse, that is.”
“…”
“So until then, how about we join forces? Since we don’t have much time left, let’s stay up all night tonight and discuss this.”
His firm declaration of intent and proposal made me realize: now that my feelings were exposed, I couldn’t push him away regardless of my will.
“Very well.”
As he said, it seemed wisest to join forces and navigate through this predicament together.
“Then let’s continue our conversation somewhere we can concentrate better.”
I should have agreed.
But when I noticed where his gaze lingered as he licked his lips, only a small laugh tinged with a sigh and a brief word escaped me.
“Beast.”
Because his eyes were fixed on the bed.
* * *
Early in the morning, Melissa Bilsty stepped out through the door, stretched luxuriously, and surveyed her surroundings.
Guard knights stood at their posts aboard the King’s massive vessel, sailing across the glistening deep blue sea that shimmered in the morning light.
She lifted her head to gaze upward.
Several large white sails billowed fully in the sea breeze, and the coat of arms of the Arde Royal Family emblazoned upon each sail was equally vivid.
This time, she surveyed the front, sides, and rear. Escort vessels surrounded the ship on all sides.
“One, two, three….”
Melissa Bilsty already knew how many ships there were. Yet she deliberately counted the surrounding vessels aloud.
Including the massive vessel she herself occupied.
“…seven.”
Having finished counting, Melissa Bilsty broke into a broad smile and raised her voice cheerfully.
“Zerox! Wake up and come out! The weather is absolutely beautiful today!”
Calling out the King’s name without hesitation, regardless of whether the knights heard her, Melissa Bilsty turned back toward the door she had just exited.
Zerox inside must have certainly heard her voice, yet there was no response.
But Melissa Bilsty laughed carelessly and raised her voice even louder.
“Zerox!”
Moments later, Zerox emerged, unable to stifle a yawn, shuffling along with a drowsy expression.
Melissa Bilsty bounded toward him and linked her arm through his.
“You overexerted yourself last night… You must be quite exhausted, aren’t you?”
Zerox smiled gently.
“It’s simply because you are so endearing.”
Yet despite his words, Zerox’s gaze upon Melissa Bilsty had grown more distant than before.
Nevertheless, Melissa Bilsty’s face remained confident, her eyes curving into crescents.
She recalled the day she had received the party invitation from Luderne Sellen.
Melissa Bilsty had been delighted to attend the party in the Doerban Empire at Luderne Sellen’s invitation. The maidservant he had assigned to her was also courteous.
It was acceptable, save for Luderne Sellen’s absence and the way the Empire’s nobility ignored her.
She had been able to tour the Imperial Palace with Luderne Sellen’s maidservant as her guide.
Though she disliked having to follow only the maidservant’s guidance, the Imperial Palace was far more magnificent and splendid than the Royal Palace, so she accepted it.
There was so much to see that Melissa Bilsty spent days touring every corner of the Imperial Palace in a daze.
Then an incident occurred by chance.
It happened while she was strolling through a quiet, secluded corridor lined with rare artworks on both sides.
The maidservant claimed her stomach ached and asked her to wait a moment, then left.
As the maidservant disappeared from view, Melissa Bilsty frowned and clicked her tongue. Then, seizing the opportunity in the maidservant’s absence, she ventured in a direction she had previously been forbidden to explore.
After walking roughly a hundred meters, a harsh cough echoed from nearby.
“Is anyone there?”
The voice of an Elderly Man, gravelly and strained.
“Bring me some water. My throat is parched.”
The voice drifted from a room close by.
Melissa glanced around. Though the Elderly Man continued coughing and calling for water, she sensed no other presence in the vicinity.
Tilting her head in curiosity, Melissa gently pushed open the door to the room from which the voice emanated.
Upon an ornate bed lay an Elderly Man, motionless as a corpse.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————