About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 176

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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 176. Anne’s Expected Punishment
Lesha entered carrying several newspapers on a silver tray.
Lesha, who appeared to be in particularly high spirits today, bowed respectfully at the waist before handing the newspaper to Luderne Wintem.
Luderne Wintem unfolded the newspaper, let out a soft chuckle, and passed it to me.
The main headline of the newspaper immediately caught my eye.
Luderne Wintem, deceived by his mistress….
The true identity of Priscilla from Raber Salon is Priscilla Bilsty!
My heart lurched for a moment. I couldn’t fathom how this had made it into the papers.
But the instant my eyes met Luderne Wintem’s amused gaze, I realized it was hardly a matter of concern.
At that moment, Sir Jester, who had been craning his neck to peer over the newspaper beside me, laughed as though bewildered.
“Oh, who on earth leaked this?”
I passed the newspaper to Sir Jester.
Madame Laber, standing beside me, also examined the newspaper and pouted her lips.
“Hmm, an inside job? Which fool did this?”
I lifted my teacup and took a sip of tea.
“It did come to light faster than expected, but honestly, it hardly matters now.”
That was truly the case.
I had already planned to reveal my true identity to Melissa Bilsty and Count Veloda Genoma at tomorrow’s Ship Party anyway.
Luderne Wintem nodded in agreement.
“Since it’s come to this, we might as well attend the Ship Party in our true forms.”
That was also a sound idea.
“Mm-hmm.”
At that moment, Lesha made a sound as if trying to say something.
As our attention turned toward her, Lesha gestured toward the door and then made a beckoning motion with both hands for us to follow.
“Is something the matter?”
In response to Luderne Wintem’s question, Lesha nodded and opened the door. It seemed she wanted us to follow, so I rose from my seat.
As I attempted to follow Lesha, Luderne Wintem also rose from his seat.
Lesha led us to the room of Egardt, the Butler.
Egardt had lost consciousness previously and had not awakened since. He was currently receiving care from the other servants and Lesha.
As Lesha opened the door, Egardt, who was leaning against the headboard of the bed, looked toward us.
“I thought Lesha had gone to fetch the Doctor, but it seems she went to bring Your Highness instead.”
“Egardt!”
Luderne Wintem, startled, strode forward and grasped his hand firmly.
“How are you feeling?”
Egardt’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I seem to be doing well now.”
He appeared somewhat bewildered.
“This is the first time I’ve witnessed such an intense reaction from Your Highness.”
Luderne Wintem released a sigh of relief.
“Well, I was worried I might never see you again.”
“Pardon?”
Egardt’s eyes widened further.
“Your Highness, you’ve changed.”
“…Me?”
“Yes. I never expected you to express your emotions so openly.”
At the same time, tears glistened at the corners of Egardt’s eyes, and a gentle smile played at his lips.
“Now I can die without regret.”
At his words, a faint blush crept across Luderne’s cheeks. His expression turned sheepish.
“You worried I might die, and now you say you’d have no regrets in death? What kind of logic is that?”
That remark drew soft laughter from those nearby.
Soon after, the Doctor who was summoned examined Egardt.
He said that as long as Egardt ate well and rested properly, recovery would proceed without issue.
That was good news.
After a light meal had restored Egardt’s strength, he recounted the day he had collapsed.
Anne, who had somehow entered Luderne’s Office, had thrown herself at him with all her might and pushed Egardt out of the way.
“After that, I remember nothing.”
After hearing his account, Luderne patted Egardt’s shoulder reassuringly.
“You’ve done well. I’ll see that all those involved are punished soon, so focus on your recovery.”
When I left his room, Luderne looked at me and smiled.
“Now we can prepare for tomorrow.”
* * *
The next day.
“Eek! Teacher!”
“We’re here!”
Misha and Irina, each carrying large makeup cases, arrived at the Town House with radiant smiles.
They had come to help with my and Madame Raber’s preparations.
“We’ve been following the news and understand what happened.”
“Thinking of all the hardship you endured made us so angry.”
As we exchanged pleasantries, the two of them said as much. So I informed them that today would be a special day related to that very matter.
Immediately, Irina’s eyes gleamed like those of a predator, and she rolled up her sleeves.
“Perfect. You’ll be the most beautiful person there today. Let me show you how much our skills have improved.”
“Me too!”
Misha rolled up her sleeves as well.
Madame Raber and I sat side by side, receiving our preparations from Irina and Misha.
Irina worked on Madame Raber’s face, while Misha began removing the black dye from my hair.
It was naturally a time-consuming process.
As we worked, the characteristic atmosphere of a beauty salon soon took hold, and the women’s chatter began.
The first topic that came up was that Lesha had discovered she had been abused by Anne.
“Now that I communicate well with my sister, I wish I’d known sooner—I would have plucked out every hair on Anne’s head.”
“Right, I know about that.”
When I heard that Anne had disappeared, I relayed her current situation to Misha.
Upon hearing that Anne had been beaten by Eclite and was bedridden, Misha snickered, saying it served her right.
“That’s the thing. I decided after seeing how you utilized the Court, sir. When she comes back, I’m going to sue her. She really tormented my sister for so long.”
“Oh, come off it.”
Irina chided Misha.
“There may be witnesses, but there’s no evidence. Even if it’s a terrible thing to do, it doesn’t quite reach the level of a crime, so winning would be difficult, wouldn’t it? Besides, a single lawsuit costs an astronomical amount. All the money you’ve saved would vanish in an instant, wouldn’t it?”
Misha pouted.
“But it’s still infuriating. What do I do?”
“What kind of punishment do you want?”
“The harsher the better.”
“How harsh?”
“Death?”
“Would that even be possible? Say something that makes sense.”
Irina snorted with her characteristic refreshingly blunt expression.
“Don’t waste money on a lawsuit. Just hire some thugs instead. Intimidate her and beat her senseless. If you spend a bit more, they’ll even do a contract killing.”
It was a statement that left Misha utterly shocked.
“Are you insane? That’s illegal.”
“So what? As long as you don’t get caught.”
“You’d do anything as long as you don’t get caught?”
“What else would you do? Spend all your money on a trial you’ll probably lose?”
When Irina shot back with her characteristic tone, Misha’s spirits deflated.
At this point, I thought it best to offer a word to lift Misha’s mood.
“Anne will likely face significant punishment.”
“Really?”
At Misha’s question, Madame Raber’s lips curved upward.
“If today’s affairs conclude without incident? That woman will probably go to prison. Her crimes are far too grave.”
Madame Raber then slowly waved an unlit long cigarette holder and enumerated Anne’s crimes one by one.
“She betrayed her employer, became Melissa’s spy, associated with Count Veloda Genoma, and violated the dignity a high noble’s maid must maintain. And?”
Madame Raber’s cigarette holder flicked toward me—a gesture for me to continue.
I counted on my fingers as well.
“She stole important documents from her employer’s office, attacked the head butler and left him unconscious, and then fled to attach herself entirely to Melissa….”
“My goodness, is that all?”
Irina raised one eyebrow sharply.
“It doesn’t seem like mere imprisonment then?”
Misha’s eyes brightened.
“Even I’ve heard that at least ten lashes would be added on top of that, wouldn’t they?”
Even I, counting on my fingers, thought the same.
‘Wait.’
Now that I thought about it, Luderne Sellen’s position had completely transformed in the meantime.
I found myself curious about how this would all turn out.
“Well, Madame Laber, I haven’t looked into this myself, but what kind of punishment does a servant usually receive for tampering with their employer’s documents without permission?”
Madame Laber answered as though it were obvious.
“It depends on the importance of the documents, but typically imprisonment or whipping.”
“And if the employer is royalty?”
“….”
In that instant, Madame Laber’s expression shifted entirely, and she fell silent.
As her narrowed gaze persisted in silence, Misha leaned forward with unbridled curiosity written across her face.
“Madame, what changes in that case?”
What emerged was a long sigh.
“Sigh… now that I think about it, it’s not just a serious crime. What on earth did that maid do?”
Madame Laber smacked her lips and clicked her tongue.
“Don’t you know? Tampering with royal documents without permission is a capital offense. There’s no reprieve for that.”
“Gasp!”
Misha’s mouth fell open in shock.
Judging by her expression, she had hoped Anne would be punished, but not to this extent.
Then Madame Laber continued.
“But if we lose today, we’ll die instead of that maid, won’t we?”
Misha’s demeanor shifted instantly.
She clenched both fists and cheered me on.
“Teacher, you must win. They say revenge should be repaid a hundredfold, after all.”
Soon the black dye had completely washed out.
My original honey-colored hair was arranged beautifully by Misha’s skillful hands. Several long hairpins, delicately positioned, gleamed softly.
I added the finishing touches myself.
“It’s perfect, Teacher.”
Misha, thoroughly satisfied with her handiwork, beamed. Then she pointed to one part of a hairpin, sharp as a needle.
“Teacher, you know how to use this in an emergency, right?”
“Yes, thank you.”
With my hair complete, I put on the dress that had been specially procured from the Raber Salon.
The dress, layered like dragonfly wings, was a pale sky blue with pearl accents that shimmered, and its hem ended just below my knees.
This was to ensure I could move freely if needed.
As I adjusted the skirt, Irina pointed to the waist ribbon.
“There’s a small hidden pocket inside this.”
“Thank you.”
I carefully placed the specially prepared curse magic scroll inside.
Just then, Luderne and Sir Jester entered.
It was time to leave for Zerox and Melissa’s ship party.

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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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