About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 165

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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 165. They Say She’s the Coachman’s Daughter
But the moment I heard Zerox’s next words, the tension evaporated and my heart began to race.
“Well, the Doorban Empire territory that connects here is Eurasia.”
‘Good heavens!’
Just hours ago when I received my title from the Emperor, I had focused only on the meaning of the words, and upon returning, I had rushed straight to the tea party without even bothering to examine the name and location of my fiefdom.
Why hadn’t I noticed immediately?
Eurasia was the first fiefdom one encountered when entering the Doorban Empire from the Bilsty Estate.
Goosebumps erupted across my entire body.
The Emperor had essentially opened a path for me.
I began to wonder if he had even foreseen the possibility of military access into the Doorban Empire through the Bilsty Estate.
Zerox, unable to imagine who currently owned Eurasia, nodded peacefully.
“It’s faster to go this way than by land, and besides, it’s fertile territory—quite prosperous. With proper expansion, the name of the Raber Salon will soon reach the heavens.”
“There’s no doubt about that.”
“Since the Prince invested in it, expectations must be quite high.”
At that moment, Melissa lifted the corners of her mouth toward Zerox.
“Oh, Zerox.”
Melissa whispered something in his ear, as though she had never been embarrassed at all.
When I saw Zerox’s gaze flicker briefly toward me, it was clear they were talking about me.
“Ah yes, that’s right. That’s right. There was something I needed to instruct Priscilla about.”
“Something you need to instruct me about?”
Melissa’s smile widened further.
“Melissa apparently wishes to receive a styling from you. She says there hasn’t been an opportunity until now.”
This was the first I’d heard of it.
Melissa had never even made a reservation at the salon where I worked, let alone actually appeared there.
“I beg your pardon?”
“The salon’s rule is that status takes priority, or so I’m told.”
Instead of answering, I looked toward Madame Raber.
“Our staff follows the house rules, so I’m not entirely certain of the details, but the situation is rather self-evident.”
Madame Raber answered politely, yet matter-of-factly.
“Our Priscilla is simply so popular, you see. The high nobility compete to make reservations with her, and so….”
Madame Raber trailed off, but the implication was clear enough.
You lacked the status to be accommodated.
I suppressed the urge to laugh and quickly raised my teacup to my lips.
I had thought she didn’t come because she was a regular at the Eleonora Salon, but it turned out she couldn’t come.
While status does take priority, one can attend if invited by another lady. Yet even that hadn’t been possible for her.
Had it been since the Countess Dora’s house party?
Even as the King’s mistress, she had been consistently ignored—and that thought brought me immense satisfaction.
“So while she’s here, I’d like you to serve as her personal stylist.”
“….”
For a moment, I felt as though I’d swallowed a hundred steamed sweet potatoes all at once.
Meanwhile, Melissa was practically bouncing with joy.
“Oh! I’m so happy, Zerox.”
Then she turned to me, her lips curling into a sly smile.
“I’ve been curious about what the head designer of the Raber Salon is like. So, will you do your best?”
I truly despised it. I wanted to refuse as sharply as a blade.
But Zerox, the King, still weighed heavily on me.
As I deliberated on how to deflect, Luderne spoke in a gentle voice.
“Do as you wish. I support your decision.”
I turned to look at Luderne. His gaze was deep and solemn.
Perhaps that was why courage bloomed within me.
I smiled brightly at Melissa.
“I must decline.”
“Pfft!”
Someone else sputtered their tea.
Turning around, this time it was Madame Raber hastily dabbing her mouth with a handkerchief.
“My apologies.”
Madame Raber immediately objected to Zerox’s directive.
“Priscilla is not working as a designer here—she is focused on expanding the salon. That is why.”
Then Melissa pouted and dropped a bombshell.
“Even though I’m the prospective Queen?”
Madame Raber pressed her lips firmly shut.
When our eyes met, she shook her head slightly. She seemed to have tried to salvage the situation but lacked the strength to do so.
“You’re to become Queen?”
My question brought silence to the table.
Zerox looked around at us and laughed awkwardly.
“Yes, it’s come to that. That’s why I brought it up.”
“….”
This was truly troublesome. It seemed I would end up attending to Melissa.
Then Luderne’s expression turned stern and resolute.
“Congratulations, but that is still impossible, Your Majesty.”
He then looked directly at Melissa.
“Even if you are to become Queen, it is unreasonable to entrust the head designer position to Priscilla.”
“!”
Melissa’s face flushed crimson. Unlike when I had refused, her lips trembled as if she might cry. Her pride had been deeply wounded.
Melissa grasped Zerox’s sleeve with one hand.
Zerox’s expression hardened at the sight.
“Yet it is a matter I myself raised, and Prince Wintem’s refusal is excessively firm.”
I felt stifled by Zerox asserting his position first.
But Luderne spoke without so much as a blink.
“It is a matter of status.”
“Your status?”
Zerox narrowed his brow and squinted his eyes.
“Surely you’re not suggesting the future queen consort lacks sufficient standing?”
“Priscilla is to become the Grand Duchess.”
I sidestepped Zerox’s question, but my response confirmed that Melissa’s status was indeed insufficient.
Luderne simultaneously took my hand gently and smiled like spun sugar.
“I’m delighted you can now speak as you wish.”
He had said he supported my position, but I never expected him to be so openly vocal about it.
He felt remarkably dependable.
Though I was concerned about how to manage the situation that had grown unnecessarily complicated when Zerox, greatly flustered, suddenly stood up and struck the table.
“A Grand Duchess? What does that even—?”
“As you heard.”
“Priscilla becoming a Grand Duchess is rather… problematic, is it not?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Well, ahem!”
Zerox glanced at me once before clearing his throat.
“Your Highness, I apologize for speaking so frankly in front of Priscilla, but she is, frankly, an exiled commoner. It’s customary for mistresses of common birth to be seen by nobility only as temporary affairs—date and break up repeatedly.”
Zerox sat back down and continued with a sigh.
“Even my affection for Olivia doesn’t extend to marriage, precisely because she’s little better than a high-class courtesan.”
Zerox’s crude slip of the tongue caused Luderne’s eyes to narrow dangerously.
But Zerox proceeded to list off reasons why commoners—particularly salon designers—should not marry royalty.
The primary reason he cited was that marriage to an influential house was necessary to establish political footing.
Meanwhile, Melissa’s expression transformed entirely.
Her tears dried instantly, and she was now beaming with delight, her eyes crinkling with joy.
“Do you understand my point?”
As Zerox posed the question to Luderne, Melissa chimed in eagerly.
“Of course. I understand perfectly what Your Majesty is saying. Commoners have their limits, no matter what.”
“A most reasonable observation.”
At Luderne’s agreement, both Zerox and Melissa’s expressions relaxed.
Then Luderne turned his gaze to Melissa.
“But by that logic, isn’t Your Majesty’s own companion in an even worse position?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Zerox’s eyes rolled before he forced his lips upward as if he understood.
“Ah, because she’s not of high status? That’s fine.”
Zerox straightened his shoulders confidently.
“I have already established myself as King. Besides, a count’s daughter is better off than a commoner.”
Luderne chuckled softly.
“Except she’s not a count’s daughter.”
It was Melissa who gasped in shock at his confident statement, her mouth falling open.
And I realized that Luderne was far more furious at Zerox’s crude remark than I had anticipated.
I was prepared to smash both Melissa’s false honor and Zerox’s pride to the ground right then and there.
I had steeled myself for it. After all, quite a significant upheaval could ensue.
Melissa, who had been stammering incoherently, finally managed to produce a sound.
“…Yes? Prince Wintem? W-what do you mean by that?”
Luderne shrugged and lifted his teacup.
“My, hasn’t your mother told you yet? Or are you pretending not to know?”
“What are you talking about?”
She looked genuinely bewildered, and I found myself drawn to studying Melissa’s expression despite myself.
“I heard about it when I encountered Priscilla after arriving at this estate. From the atmosphere, it seems the news hasn’t reached you yet, but….”
As Luderne fell silent for a moment, Zerox swallowed hard.
“News meant for me? What are you trying to say?”
“By now, I imagine word has reached the Capital as well. So you’ll find out eventually anyway….”
Luderne continued speaking calmly as he sipped his tea.
“She is the daughter of a coachman, I hear.”
“What?”
“I was told she is the illegitimate daughter born of an affair with Countess Bilsty.”
Zerox looked genuinely flabbergasted.
Then, as if a realization struck him, he barely managed to squeeze out his words.
“…Ah, I suppose my slip of the tongue calling her a courtesan was offensive, but still, that’s quite a harsh jest, Prince Wintem.”
Luderne continued speaking with the same composed demeanor.
“I’m already aware it was a slip of the tongue. Regardless, I am speaking in earnest. Though I’m uncertain whether the person in question knows of it.”
Melissa’s expression became truly worth watching.
“Melissa, what is the meaning of this?”
All eyes, including Zerox’s as he sought the truth, turned toward Melissa.

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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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