About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 181

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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 181. I Cannot Die Alone
“Melissa.”
Count Veloda Genoma rolled his eyes about, then swallowed hard.
“Something seems… off about the situation. I think you should look in a mirror.”
* * *
Bernard, Olivia’s father and proprietor of the Heser Trading Company, had been traveling back and forth between the Bilsty Estate and the Eurasia Territory by small vessel.
He needed to understand the geography, sea routes, and military disposition—anything that would make an invasion easier when the time came.
Officially, of course, his business was trade.
But the Bilsty Estate had little worth exporting. So Bernard, driven by necessity, had taken to transporting wool produced in nearby fiefdoms.
Since Eurasia produced far more wool, he would need drastically lower costs to remain competitive.
To lose money on trade—it was unbearable.
For Bernard, a man who had padded his own coffers through deception, the sting was particularly acute.
With each successive voyage, it only grew worse.
But recently, his spirits had lifted somewhat.
It seemed the gods favored Luderne and Priscilla completely—Priscilla had become the ruler of Eurasia.
Which meant his days of knowingly taking losses were numbered.
Moreover, fresh orders had arrived recently.
He was to monitor the atmosphere at Eurasia Harbor, and should anything unexpected occur, he was to deliver a letter to the person in charge.
Bernard sensed that day had come.
He could see fireworks being prepared in abundance.
And there were unarmed men in dark clothing gathered in one section of the harbor.
Bernard made his way toward the Harbor Office, counting the assembled figures by eye.
He wasn’t certain if they’d all arrived, but there appeared to be roughly thirty of them.
“The harbor seems unusually stirred up today. Is something happening? With all these fireworks, I wondered if there was a festival.”
The Eurasia Harbor Office employee collecting the regular docking fees responded as though it were nothing remarkable.
“It appears they’re planning fireworks tonight for a ship that will be docking briefly.”
“I see. And those people in black clothing standing outside—who are they?”
“Ah, they’re knights. Though I must say, I’ve never seen uniforms like that before. There’s been talk that a new lord is arriving, so perhaps they’re conducting some sort of training.”
“I see.”
Having finished the conversation, Bernard left the Harbor Office and approached the knights.
Since they appeared to have no weapons, it seemed safe enough to simply locate their commander.
But the moment Bernard drew near, the knights’ eyes sharpened with vigilance.
‘Is it because this is a border region?’
He was accustomed to wary glances. But the killing intent and oppressive force were far greater than he’d anticipated.
Merely meeting their gaze made his knees tremble, and Bernard felt a chill of panic.
“P-please, don’t look at me like that. I serve under the new Margrave of Eurasia.”
“What? That’s impossible.”
With his denial, suspicion deepened in the knights’ eyes as they surrounded Bernard in unison, all with hands resting at their waists.
“The Margrave’s name hasn’t even been announced yet, and you claim to serve him—a complete stranger?”
“Are you prepared to die, flapping your mouth like that?”
Only then did Bernard realize they were not unarmed.
Even the small dagger at their waist was dark enough to escape notice.
Looking again, it seemed they were on standby for operations like assassination rather than training.
Bernard grew even more flustered and quickly lowered his hands.
“Ah, I assure you, the new lord arriving is Priscilla, the Marquess of Eurasia Territory, is he not? She is also scheduled to become the consort of Prince Wintem.”
Only then did the knights’ eyes soften slightly.
Bernard withdrew a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from his brow.
“I have a letter bearing the seal of the Marquess. I was instructed to deliver it to the person in charge. Who is the commander?”
* * *
When I returned to my original seat after finishing my business with Melissa, Zerox was nowhere to be found.
Luderne, Brissel Mohr, and Sir Jester sat around a round table in conversation, while Madame Laber was engaged in pleasant discourse with another guest at a slight distance.
“Oh! You’re back?”
Sir Jester, who spotted me first from his seated position, quickly rose and pulled out the chair between Luderne and Brissel Mohr, asking his question.
“How did it go?”
“Thank you.”
I continued speaking as I settled into the chair he had provided.
“I’ve done everything needed. And Walter lent me considerable assistance.”
A satisfied gleam appeared in Luderne’s eyes as he listened to my account.
“Well done. Walter, you’ve worked hard as well.”
Walter, seated in the vacant chair, smiled broadly.
“This is the first time I’ve seen Priscilla speak so freely without hesitation, and I must say it was deeply satisfying. My fists felt well-used.”
Brissel Mohr, listening from beside us, laughed with evident satisfaction.
“I would dearly like to hear more about the tale of thrashing the Count.”
“So would I.”
With Sir Jester’s agreement, Walter’s story began.
The ship party proceeded peacefully in a warm and convivial atmosphere until the vessel arrived at Eurasia Harbor in the Doerban Empire.
Not long after, the ship docked at Eurasia Harbor, and as if on cue, magnificent fireworks erupted into the sky.
In brilliant colors, a spectacular display of light painted the heavens, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
Meanwhile, the party venue was tidied, and fresh drinks and food were brought out.
* * *
In the luxury cabin, the sharp sound of metal rang out.
Eclite, his expression brimming with irritation, was sharpening his blade to a keen edge.
“Even if I die from this curse, I won’t die alone.”
Priscilla was certainly present at tonight’s ship party, disguised as a designer from the Raber Salon alongside Luderne.
Of course, Luderne’s escort knights as well.
Then, someone knocked from outside.
Eclite took up his blade and positioned himself at the door. He opened it just slightly, allowing only his voice to escape.
“Who is it.”
“It is Zerox, Your Highness.”
“How stands the situation outside?”
“While the ship was docked at the harbor and fireworks lit up the sky, knights from the Eurasia Territory, acting under His Majesty’s orders, secretly boarded the vessel.”
At those words, Eclite’s mood improved considerably.
“So when should I make my exit?”
“The knights are dressed in black. You simply need to leave when they open the doors. Even if the hallucinations are difficult, you must endure them this time.”
Zerox, having given his instructions, proceeded to explain his plan.
He was about to go and recommend party food laced with sedatives to the guests.
“Luderne’s party may or may not eat, but by then most will have fallen asleep, and our armed knights will be in position.”
At his words, Eclite’s lips curved upward.
“Then we join in and simply kill everyone who’s still awake.”
“Exactly.”
“If necessary, we could always sink the ship and call it an accident, couldn’t we?”
“That’s possible as well. Then I’ll leave the rest to you.”
* * *
As the party venue was being tidied up, the prolonged fireworks display finally ended.
When the ship began moving again, Zerox emerged.
He offered everyone his blessings to enjoy the drinks and festivities, then turned to leave.
Behind him, Baron Ugly, who had been standing with his hands clasped behind his back, also turned to follow Zerox.
That’s when something strange was noticed.
Baron Ugly had crossed the index fingers of both hands behind his back into an X shape.
“Did you see that? A hand signal.”
At my question, Luderne glanced at the newly arranged party food.
“He’s left a warning. It probably means don’t eat.”
That made me anxious.
People were already enjoying the food following Zerox’s blessings.
“Will it be alright? What if it’s extremely toxic?”
“Since it’s for an unspecified number of people, it’s unlikely to be poison. Besides, poison failed before.”
At his answer, Sir Jester also nodded in agreement.
“At best, it’s probably just a sedative?”
Just then, Zerox reappeared, holding a wine glass.
He offered drinks to those who were conversing and eating nothing.
Baron Ugly, standing behind him, shook his head at us in warning.
At his gesture, Brissel Mohr spoke in a low voice.
“It seems he’s determined to get us to eat something.”
“Then we’ll have to distract as much as possible. If we refuse to eat anything at all, he’ll look for another opening.”
Luderne, surveying the surroundings, soon extended his hand to me with a calm smile.
“That one looks good. If our luck runs out today, we might not have another chance.”

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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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