About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 157

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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 157. His Grave Lies Right Here
“That’s….”
Brissel Mohr explained the situation.
After completely resolving the territorial tax issues while holed up in Bilsty Count’s Mansion, he had left that very day and come here.
Fortunately the work was finished before departing, but suddenly finding himself with nothing to do, he sat dazed for a while—and that’s when the children noticed him.
At first, he was startled.
Filthy, unkempt children gathered around him, and they even brought him a frog to show off.
What the children said next startled him even more.
“If you’re hungry, we’ll roast it for you.”
Flustered, he examined the village’s condition.
There were two adults who called the children for meals, but they couldn’t care for the children rolling about in the mountains and fields every day with proper attention and cleanliness.
“I once met separately with Gillian to receive trial records. I vaguely remembered hearing at that time that you were raising some children together with the Count….”
Brissel Mohr’s gaze turned toward me.
“Upon investigation, these turned out to be the children Gillian mentioned. If they’re children you’re raising, then in my opinion….”
His gaze shifted to Luderne.
Luderne nodded with understanding and received Brissel Mohr’s words.
“Then they become children I’m raising as well. That would naturally make you their grandfather.”
Luderne gently stroked the head of a child clinging to Brissel Mohr.
At that tender gesture, the child’s tense expression softened into a smile.
A smile graced Luderne’s lips.
“So, Brissel Mohr, how does it feel to be a grandfather?”
“Getting them into presentable shape took all day—I had to haul them down to the stream below and wash them, with sewage running everywhere, and they were still catching frogs the whole time.”
Brissel Mohr shook his head as if he couldn’t help it, and soon a smile appeared on his face as well.
“But after just these few short days, they’re so endearing. When I retire, I think I’d like to contribute more effort to raising these children.”
Luderne nodded and stroked the child’s head again, asking tenderly.
“Our little princess, if you go to bed early tonight, I think Grandfather might be able to bring you some candy tomorrow. What do you think?”
I was genuinely startled. I had no idea Luderne could speak in such a tender voice with such a tone.
Sure enough, the child’s eyes widened greatly at Luderne’s coaxing, and her mouth fell open.
“…Candy?”
“You should be able to receive it around tomorrow’s lunch time.”
The child, with drool pooling at the corner of her mouth, soon nodded. Then she grasped Brissel Mohr’s face with her small fern-like hands and kissed his cheek.
“Grandfather, I’m going to sleep now.”
Brissel Mohr’s lips twitched upward.
“Sweet dreams.”
The child, setting her feet on the ground, called out loudly to the other children.
“Good night!”
The children, who had been stretching their necks to look over here, opened their eyes wide.
“If we go to bed early, he’ll give us candy tomorrow!”
Numerous eyes fixed on Luderne.
Luderne clapped once sharply and spoke to the children.
“This gentleman has quite a surplus of confections. I thought I’d distribute some cookies, chocolates, and cakes to the children heading to bed.”
At his words, the children quickly lined up to bow to Brissel Mohr.
“Grandfather, sleep well!”
“Thank you. Rest well, now.”
“Have sweet dreams.”
“You too, child.”
“Grandfather, sleep well. And please tell Katie to sleep soundly too.”
“Of course. Katie, off to bed with you.”
The “Katie” whom Brissel Mohr greeted at the child’s request was a cloth doll.
Once all the children had gone inside, the surroundings grew quiet.
Brissel Mohr, standing across from Luderne, gave a slight shrug of his shoulders.
“I was planning to head toward the Capital tomorrow afternoon anyway, so this would make a fine parting gift.”
Luderne settled onto a log before the campfire, then glanced at me and gently patted the space beside him with his hand.
As I sat down next to him, he gestured with his chin toward the spot opposite us for Brissel Mohr.
Brissel Mohr took the seat across from us, and after studying us both for a moment, his expression softened into a contented smile.
“You appear truly happy, Your Majesty.”
“Ironically, this is the happiest I’ve ever been. And I must say, seeing you bid farewell to a cloth doll is something I never thought I’d witness in all my days.”
At Luderne’s words, Brissel Mohr’s eyes narrowed into crescents.
“I never imagined I could find such joy in these small moments.”
In his gaze, I could read both his unwavering loyalty and affection toward Luderne.
The small happiness brought by the children was one thing, but I could now understand why the usually stern Brissel Mohr appeared so radiant.
It was because Luderne was happy.
And the reason for his happiness was likely…
How long had he been watching me? When I turned my head, our eyes met.
Those eyes that once seemed as deep and dark as blood now sparkled like jewels, holding me within their beautiful depths.
My heart swelled with emotion.
Suppressing the urge to press my lips to his, I carefully extended my hand.
I gently grasped his pinky finger, which rested upon his thigh.
Luderne’s gaze followed downward, and he smiled softly before interlacing his fingers with mine. Then he looked toward Brissel Mohr.
“Yes. Let us cherish this happiness we’ve finally found.”
“Understood. Please wait a moment.”
Brissel Mohr departed toward somewhere.
When he returned shortly with provisions, Walter was with him.
Walter bowed respectfully and took a seat to one side.
Brissel Mohr promptly picked up a branch and sketched a simple map on the bare ground beside the campfire.
He began his explanation while placing small stones upon it.
“From the day Your Majesty decided to use this territory as a strategic stronghold until now, I have executed your orders precisely.”
Luderne’s Mercenary Forces within the territory now numbered around two hundred. Most of them were the ones currently appearing to idle away their time at the Harbor.
The number of the Elite Knight Order that Zerox had brought was smaller than theirs.
“Should we face the Royal Knights directly, Walter will intervene, but the mercenaries would still be at a disadvantage. Therefore, please exercise caution in executing the operation.”
Luderne nodded with a composed expression.
Brissel Mohr then drew another line in the dirt with a twig.
“All our current forces remain on standby. While you execute your plan, we will move covertly and strike the moment you signal us.”
The destination Brissel Mohr left unspoken was the Arde Royal Palace.
If we succeeded in subduing Zerox here, the forces under Brissel Mohr’s command would seize the palace.
Though I understood the plan well enough, as it drew near, fresh tension seized me and sweat beaded along my spine.
“Actually, the destination has changed. Where you’re headed tomorrow is Doerban.”
Luderne, holding a different twig, pointed to the capital of the Doerban Empire that Brissel Mohr had drawn.
“When I give the signal, you move into the Imperial Palace.”
“Sir?”
Luderne informed him that the Emperor had designated him as conditional Crown Prince. That Melissa Bilsty possessed an important copy as well.
“If a copy exists, the original must too. Send word as soon as you gather information, and secure the original for me.”
“Understood. But if matters have already progressed this far, isn’t there a risk that Prince Eclite might forcibly seize the Imperial Palace?”
Luderne shook his head.
“According to intelligence that just arrived, Eclite is here.”
Luderne tensed his jaw briefly, then spoke with grave weight.
“No matter how I consider it, now is our opportunity. If he knows what the Former King left behind, he’ll surely try to kill me. Should he attempt it, his grave will be right here.”
* * *
At that same moment.
Zerox sat silently on the luxurious cabin’s sofa, nursing a drink with considerable irritation.
Meanwhile, on the spacious bed positioned to one side, a half-intoxicated Melissa Bilsty hummed softly to herself.
“I’m drawn in. Breath stolen, drawn in deep. When I opened my eyes, I understood. That I could not find the name. That I must not find it.”
It was a song Olivia used to sing.
As Zerox naturally recalled Olivia left behind at the Royal Palace and pondered the lyrics, he suddenly remembered a rumor he’d heard before departing the capital.
That Count Veloda Genoma had attempted to kill Priscilla for her inheritance.
That Priscilla had been hiding somewhere and only now reclaimed her title and name.
Once he recognized this, the song Melissa sang took on a different meaning.
‘Am I overthinking this?’

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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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