About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 169

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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 169. An Unexpectedly Dramatic Reversal
“Since it was the workplace, we pretended not to see the affair between the two of them. Everyone turned a blind eye. From long ago until recently, there are countless servants who witnessed the Countess and the Coachman together.”
The Mute Maid clasped her hands respectfully and spoke.
“Everyone at the Count’s Residence knew about it, but we all kept quiet.”
“My goodness.”
I covered my mouth with both hands in feigned shock.
The backup witnesses I’d kept in reserve were performing brilliantly beyond my expectations.
‘I never imagined my contingencies would align so perfectly.’
Matilda cried out in panic.
“Why, why are you saying this? Why would you testify to such things!”
“Because it’s the truth?”
The Mute Maid’s counterquestion prompted the Servant to continue with a sigh.
“I don’t know where all the people who worked at the Count’s Residence are now, but they would likely all testify to the same thing.”
“Weren’t the two of you brought here to testify that the Countess had no relationship with the Coachman?”
The Mute Maid answered Zerox with considerable difficulty.
“We were summoned without understanding anything. And how could we dare to lie?”
“That’s true enough.”
Zerox exhaled deeply, closing his eyes. The unexpected reversal had left him completely blindsided.
Melissa grabbed Matilda’s arm and shook it desperately.
“Mother! Is it true? That lowly Coachman is really my father?”
At Melissa’s interrogation, Matilda released a heavy sigh.
“You are Count Bilsty’s true daughter. There’s no way I would ever… the Coachman…”
Matilda’s words trailed off.
“Your shamelessness knows no bounds!”
The enraged Knight Commander leveled his sword at Matilda.
“The truth has been revealed to all the world since we used the paternity verification magical tool, yet you dare continue to obscure the truth, ignoring the King’s gracious offer of leniency in exchange for confession!”
The Knight Commander, his voice booming, appealed to Zerox.
“Your Highness! We cannot tolerate these wicked individuals any longer! Please issue the order to punish them according to our agreement!”
“What are you saying!”
Melissa leaped to her feet and shoved the Knight Commander with all her strength.
“Get away! Step back!”
As the Knight Commander staggered backward, Melissa grabbed the Coachman by the hair and thrust him forward toward the Knight Commander.
“Oof!”
The Coachman tumbled disgracefully across the deck.
Melissa kicked the Coachman viciously, then shrieked at Zerox in exasperation.
“Zerox! No matter how I look at it, this Coachman is the problem! Obviously, this Coachman acted in a way that caused misunderstandings!”
Melissa screamed hysterically at the top of her lungs.
“I love you! You’re going to accept me as your queen! So Your Highness, that magical tool must be fake! It’s a conspiracy against me! Stop this!”
Then she kicked the Coachman again as he lay on the deck, sending him sprawling.
“It’s all because of this Coachman!”
The Coachman’s agonized scream pierced the air as Melissa brought her heel down hard upon his bandaged hand, crushing it beneath her shoe.
Melissa continued to pummel the Coachman relentlessly, her fury unrestrained.
The commotion drew an increasing crowd—Knights, Sailors, and laborers gathered from all directions.
Among them were Count Veloda Genoma, Eclite masquerading as a Knight, and Jeanne along with Jeanne’s Mother.
I also spotted the Mute Maid Anne briefly appearing from a corner before catching sight of Luderne and hastily concealing herself in alarm.
All eyes converged upon Melissa.
Yet Melissa, indifferent to the surrounding gazes, continued trampling the Coachman beneath her heel before clinging once more to Zerox’s arm.
“Cut out this Coachman’s tongue at once and hang him in the Capital Square! Yes? Your Highness.”
Zerox glanced around the gathering, then drew a quiet breath and furrowed his brow.
“Wait, wait. Now that I think about it, something seems off.”
Meanwhile, Matilda, trembling violently, shot a piercing glare at the Servant and the Mute Maid.
“At that time, I had already lost my authority as the Count’s Residence representative, hadn’t I? That meant you couldn’t have been under my employ in the first place, could you?”
I felt an inward smirk rising. How quickly they had caught on.
“So from the beginning, you conspired with Priscilla and treated me kindly on purpose? Deliberately? To report my movements to that woman?”
Matilda’s finger trembled as she pointed at the Servant and the Mute Maid.
“You… you’ve betrayed me just now?”
Matilda sprang to her feet and hurled accusations at the Servant and the Mute Maid in an agitated voice.
“You lunatics! How dare you stab me in the back?”
At her words, the Mute Maid’s startled eyes widened sharply.
“W-what are you saying? We gave up our interests and helped you.”
The Mute Maid sank to the ground, covering her face with both hands.
“Heavens! We endured your cruelty and remained loyal, yet you accuse us of lying before The King!”
The Servant’s face twisted grimly at the Mute Maid’s tearful voice. He rolled up his sleeves and raised his voice toward Matilda.
“We tolerated everything, and now you call us traitors? Ha!”
The Servant then prostrated himself before Zerox in supplication.
“Your Highness! Did you see? That vicious woman accuses us of lying to you!”
I genuinely admired the two of them for their efforts and their acting prowess. I was also deeply grateful that they executed precisely the contingency responses I had prepared for various scenarios beforehand.
I plugged one ear with my little finger.
Now it was my turn to step in.
“Grand Duke, the atmosphere here has become far too chaotic. It seems the tea party is falling apart.”
I spoke to Luderne, but it was Zerox who grimaced at my words as if dismayed.
He first detached Melissa from his arm.
“Melissa, I was thinking just now.”
“What is there to think about? Your Highness is the sun of the Arde Kingdom. You’re the highest authority in this nation, so you can do whatever you wish, can’t you?”
Luderne, observing Melissa’s obstinate behavior, added a weighty remark.
“The King’s word may be worth more than gold, but a contract is beyond question.”
“Still, even so. How can you impose such a severe punishment upon a person?”
I immediately countered Melissa’s objection.
“Now that you mention it, something seems strange. Wasn’t that punishment something you yourself proposed?”
“Priscilla isn’t a person, so that’s different!”
Melissa’s rebuttal came immediately.
“That woman deserves to be beaten like a dog on the ground and die rolling in the dirt.”
I shook my head slightly, utterly exasperated.
“In any case, I wish to see this commotion end. I trust that His Majesty will honor the contract as agreed.”
Zerox nodded.
“Indeed. A contract is a contract. You’ll be able to see it carried out in the Capital Square by tomorrow.”
Melissa’s complexion transformed like a wax doll.
Zerox rose from his seat and issued orders to the Knight Commander.
“Take those two to the Court in the Capital. Execute the sentence immediately.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
The Knight Commander summoned nearby knights and had them bind Matilda and the Coachman.
“Let go! Release me!”
“P-please! Spare us!”
Matilda and the Coachman struggled, but they could not overcome the knights’ strength.
With eyes bulging, Matilda reached out toward Melissa.
“What are you doing, Melissa! Save your mother!”
It was truly a pathetic sight.
At the same time, I felt some concern. I worried that Zerox, having leverage over Melissa, might reconsider his words despite the burden it placed on him.
But Zerox remained silent, and Melissa merely hesitated, biting her lip.
Then Matilda, glancing frantically around, reached out toward two knights standing at a distance observing the situation.
“P-please save me! Your Highness, Prince of Doorban! Count Veloda Genoma, stop them at once!”
When Luderne looked in the direction Matilda had called out, he let out a hollow laugh as if he could never have imagined this.
“My, why would the esteemed Prince of the Doerban Empire be serving as a knight of the Arde Kingdom? And Count Veloda Genoma is here as well.”
Determining it unavoidable, Eclite stepped forward. Count Veloda Genoma, following behind, stood beside Eclite.
From the twisted expression on his face, it was clear he was thoroughly displeased at having his identity exposed.
Yet he looked down upon Luderne and me with an arrogance beyond measure as he spoke.
“We are on a secret mission.”
Then he asked Zerox.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Zerox, finding it bothersome, gestured with his chin for Baron Ugly to explain instead.
Baron Ugly began calmly recounting what had transpired.
‘Living this long, there are times I’m grateful for Eclite.’
Thanks to his intervention, I gained the opportunity for Baron Ugly to lay out the truth clearly.
Simultaneously, the King lost any pretext to break the contract. Many people were now listening to Baron Ugly’s account.
If the King were to break the contract before so many witnesses?
His credibility would naturally plummet to the depths. Naturally, this shifted the advantage of public opinion to our side.
At that moment, Luderne stood close beside me. His lips brushed faintly against my ear.
Startled, I opened my eyes wide, and soon his whisper reached me.
“Did you happen to bring the scroll you received from Menglow?”

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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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