About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 160

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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 160. A Cruel Twist of Fate
Jeanne placed her hand upon the stone tablet extended before me. A faint luminescence emanated from its surface.
What erupted next was a fleeting cry of pain.
“Ow!”
Startled, Jeanne examined my hand. Blood streamed freely from my palm, as though slashed by something razor-sharp.
It was shocking. A smooth stone tablet, yet it had wounded me.
But before tears could fall, the gash sealed itself completely.
Without even a trace of pain, I doubted whether I had truly witnessed it at all.
Intrigued, Jeanne studied the tablet. I watched as my blood seeped into its surface and vanished.
Once Jeanne’s blood had been entirely absorbed, Baron Ugly placed his own hand upon the stone.
Again, a faint glow emanated from the tablet. Soon, a sharp, cutting sensation pierced his palm.
He grimaced, withdrew his hand, and examined the wound. It too healed rapidly, and the tablet absorbed every drop of his blood.
He checked the time, then observed the tablet’s response.
‘About a minute should suffice, if I recall correctly.’
The magical artifact Baron Ugly had employed was designed to authenticate bloodlines—fortunately, several had remained in the fleet’s weapons vault.
Beyond revealing a child’s true parentage, it also served to identify the bloodline of traitors masquerading as servants attempting to escape.
A crimson hue indicated kinship; a yellow glow signified complete strangers.
Soon, light bloomed from the stone.
It was unmistakably crimson.
Proof that Jeanne was Baron Ugly’s sole blood relative—a miracle made manifest from what I had long since abandoned hope of ever achieving.
‘Ha!’
Baron Ugly forcibly suppressed the exclamation threatening to burst forth.
Blood surged rapidly through my veins. My heart felt as though it might rupture.
‘What manner of cruel jest is this fate playing upon me?’
Baron Ugly set the tablet upon the desk and drew a measured breath. Then I stood before Jeanne once more.
“Your name is Jeanne, then?”
“Y-yes, that’s correct.”
Baron Ugly studied Jeanne in silence for a moment, noting how she dared not even meet my gaze.
I had all but renounced my succession because of my hideous visage—yet I possessed a daughter. One who had grown to adulthood without my knowledge.
‘Had I known, I would have claimed her at once.’
Regret washed over me anew.
‘If only I had revealed myself to that woman that night.’
The Baron suddenly felt the urge to stroke his daughter’s hair and raised my hand.
I longed to speak the truth plainly.
That I am your father.
It was then.
Trembling with fear, Jeanne squeezed her eyes shut and shielded her chest with both arms, clutching her garments tightly and hunching her shoulders.
As though bracing for a blow or expecting her clothes to be torn away.
That reaction filled Baron Ugly with dread.
“Why… are you reacting that way?”
Jeanne, tense and ashen-faced, trembled even at her lips.
“I, I’m terribly sorry, my lord. I… I don’t want that anymore.”
“?”
“No matter if I come from the Slums or if I’m ugly… my body belongs to me alone. I won’t sell myself for gold coins anymore. Even if you are my lord, you cannot touch me without permission. And you cannot strike me for refusing.”
Baron Ugly’s eyes widened in confusion at what she was saying.
But it didn’t take long for him to piece together his own understanding based on Jeanne’s words.
Because he knew whose daughter she had become.
It felt like he’d been struck hard on the back of the head. Guilt washed over him, and his heart grew heavy as if weighted down by a thousand-pound stone.
“No, I’ve been misunderstood. That wasn’t my intention.”
Baron Ugly gave up trying to pat her head.
Instead, a different thought occurred to him—a way to atone for his karma.
From now on, no matter what price he paid, he would provide everything his daughter and the woman who bore her needed.
With that resolve, he clenched his fists tightly.
“I must meet your mother at once.”
* * *
I finished breakfast as soon as the sun rose and boarded the carriage with Luderne Sellen.
Sir Walter was our coachman.
We traveled through the City Center buying cookies, cakes, fruit, and various other treats, along with plenty of new clothes, and sent them all to the Village where the children lived.
We also arranged for food and necessities to be regularly supplied to the children and took care of all the expenses.
After that, we rented the suite room at the Lodging where Luderne Sellen had stayed before.
We entered arm in arm affectionately, but for some reason I felt a prickling sensation at the back of my head.
When I turned around, the staff member who had been looking our way quickly averted their gaze.
I understood what Luderne Sellen had said about receiving sharp looks during his stay, and I let out a small laugh.
“Don’t let anyone in unless I say otherwise.”
After instructing the front desk staff, Luderne Sellen entered the suite with me and locked the door behind us.
What followed was lips as sweet as honey.
After sharing warmth with me for a moment, he used a spatial transfer scroll.
We arrived instantly at the Village where the children lived.
We entered the wooden building at the Village entrance and sat together sipping tea while looking out the window.
We could see the items we had sent arriving at the Village one after another.
“Wooooow!”
“Kyaaah!”
“Are you really giving us all of this?”
Joyful commotion erupted from the children who came rushing out.
Brissel Mohr, who appeared shortly after, gathered the snacks that Luderne Sellen had promised from the delivered items and distributed them directly to the children.
Though I couldn’t hear what he was saying as he gave them out, judging by the children bursting into tears and kissing Brissel Mohr’s cheeks first, it seemed like he was saying goodbye.
Soon Walter entered the building where we were, accompanied by Menglow Breeze.
“Hehehehe. Have you been well?”
Menglow Breeze limped badly, but his voice carried a lively quality mixed with a small laugh.
It seemed that during his stay at the Count’s Residence, he had eaten and rested well, and even in this somewhat barren place, he had adapted healthily.
The moment Menglow Breeze laid eyes on Sir Jester, she couldn’t contain herself and asked eagerly.
“Well? What happened? Tell me.”
Sir Jester recounted his meetings with the mages and his visit to the Temple.
“There was definitely a prolonged regression. However, I still cannot determine why it occurred. The person who remembers everything has been in seclusion from the beginning, so they know nothing of the external situation.”
Menglow Breeze listened to Sir Jester’s account to the end, smacking her lips thoughtfully, then tilted her head with a dissatisfied expression.
“The progress is rather unsatisfying. By the way….”
Menglow Breeze glanced at Luderne Sellen.
“Any news?”
“What news are you referring to?”
At Luderne Sellen’s counter-question, one corner of Menglow Breeze’s eye twitched.
Then Sir Jester spoke in a stern voice.
“Mage Menglow Breeze, show proper courtesy to His Highness the Grand Duke.”
“Eh? This fellow? Usually so respectful, yet completely shameless before his own lord. Tsk.”
Menglow Breeze, who had scrunched up her face at Sir Jester, let out a deep sigh and slowly moved her body, leaning on her staff, to stand before Luderne Sellen.
She bowed her head first.
“From my calculations, it seems the sun of Doorban is about to set.”
Luderne Sellen answered by keeping his mouth shut.
“Then no conclusion has been reached about who will succeed to the throne either?”
“…Are you curious about who the crown prince is?”
“Yes. And I have another request for Your Highness. Could you open the Magic Vault of the Imperial Palace for me?”
“The Magic Vault? Why?”
“Because I have scrolls I created stored there. I wish to see them myself and take a few before my time runs out. I want to exact a measure of revenge before I die.”
Instead of answering, Luderne Sellen looked out the window at Brissel Mohr and Walter in turn.
At the silent question, Walter immediately stood and answered.
“The matter being so grave, we have remained silent until Your Highness grants permission to make it public.”
Luderne Sellen, nodding, explained the current situation to Menglow Breeze.
The wrinkles on Menglow Breeze’s face narrowed once more.
“Eh? So you’re saying if this woman called Melissa Bilsty doesn’t produce the copy, we won’t know what happens?”
“We’ll have to try persuading her.”
“And if she refuses?”
Luderne Sellen fell silent.
The Old Woman, observing his reaction, soon smiled knowingly.
“Indeed. If persuasion fails, we must resort to force. That being said, Your Highness, hear this old woman’s request. It will be of help.”
What she was asking for was precisely what she had mentioned before—opening the Magic Vault of the Imperial Palace.
Luderne Sellen accepted her request.
Menglow Breeze pulled her hood deep over her head to conceal her appearance.
We all moved together to the Imperial Palace.
We arrived at the entrance of the storage shed containing the magical scrolls.
The Knight guarding the shed immediately stepped aside upon seeing Luderne Sellen.
As the door opened, a storage shed with the atmosphere of a library revealed itself.
The display case at about shoulder height held small scrolls arranged neatly in place of books.
“Whoa…”
Menglow’s eyes widened as she wandered back and forth, examining the scrolls.
I followed her slowly, surveying the scrolls on display.
Each display case had name tags attached—some marked with magical effects, while others were left blank.
“Why is this one blank?”

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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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