About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 188

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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 188. Secluding Ourselves in a Bedroom for Two
I had my doubts, but it seemed plausible enough.
“Then it might be best to resolve this matter to some degree.”
I whispered my thoughts to him in a voice so low the mages couldn’t hear.
Soon after, Luderne Sellen nodded.
“A sound solution indeed.”
Luderne Sellen laced his fingers loosely together and rested his hands upon his knees.
“Sir Jester is a mage under my command, and since the regression occurred because of me, he is absolved. It is only right that I take responsibility and provide compensation for the damages.”
At his declaration, the mages fell silent.
“However, it is problematic to compensate blindly when only one side has presented their claims. Therefore, I shall issue a notice again in the near future, and once more a year from now.”
Luderne Sellen told them to spend the next year thinking carefully about how they wished to be compensated for their losses from the regression.
When he issued the notice a year hence, they were to come to the Imperial Palace with compensation proposals—either monetary or titles—that they deemed appropriate.
“Once magic returns, I will be able to discern the truth of the matter and provide compensation accordingly. However, those who speak falsehoods shall face punishment.”
Luderne Sellen’s eyes grew sharp.
“Any who seek out Sir Jester before the notice is issued, who blame him, or who return to Heril Island shall be excluded from compensation.”
No one dared to object.
All that remained for them was to bow respectfully and depart from the Mage Tower.
“Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you so much!”
The Soldier standing at the entrance bowed repeatedly to Luderne Sellen and me.
It seemed he had endured quite a bit of harassment from the mages. The atmosphere had been on the verge of actual violence.
In any case, the chaos had been resolved. Now it was time to return to the Mansion.
But somewhere along the way, our minds changed.
We decided to seclude ourselves in a bedroom for two.
At the Small Seaside House where I had been staying.
The house had been left clean when we departed, but having stood empty for several years, dust had accumulated.
Luderne Sellen and I, without needing to discuss it, rolled up our sleeves.
On the first day, we cleaned and inspected the facilities, then stopped by the Mansion to gather bedding, clothing, and other basic necessities.
A few Servants who maintained the Mansion remained, but we chose to fetch things ourselves rather than send them.
We didn’t wish to let anyone else into our sweet home for two, and we didn’t want our time together disturbed by anyone.
The next day, we tidied the Yard.
Luderne Sellen repaired the fence that stood on one side with a hammer, axe, and saw, drove in stakes, and strung up a clothesline.
A campfire pit soon appeared, with felled logs serving as seats.
While he labored with his strength, I ventured into the City Center to shop for provisions.
I wanted to prepare my own special dishes for Luderne Sellen.
I was on my way out of the shop, carrying several ingredients.
“Ha, you don’t know your place. Only someone of my caliber can go there. You can’t.”
The words and tone felt oddly familiar.
Irina, Misha, and a younger Bridget came to mind, and I turned my head.
On one side of the street stood two girls who appeared to be in their teens.
One had brown hair and the other red, and both had combs tucked into their hair.
And beside her stood a young girl, no more than four or five years old, her long black hair tied back in a tight knot.
The one with her arms crossed in an arrogant expression was the Red-haired Girl.
“Do you really think someone like you can go?”
“Hmph.”
The sullen snort came from the young girl.
“I want to go too.”
“You’re too small, so not yet.”
The Red-haired Girl spoke firmly, linking arms with the Brown-haired Girl beside her.
“We’ll go first, so you come back when you’re bigger.”
Just as I stopped walking without realizing it, the girl’s expression crumpled.
The child grew increasingly frustrated, running both hands through her hair in disarray.
Then, with a whimper, tears finally burst forth.
“Waaaaaahhh! I want to go with my big sisters too!”
The Red-haired Girl plugged her ears with her fingers.
“Ugh, you’re so loud. Go to your mom.”
At those words, the child cried even louder, her voice pitiful.
“I hate you, big sister! I’m telling Harmony! Harmony!”
The child was crying so earnestly that it was utterly adorable.
Intending to comfort her and be on my way, I set down my shopping basket to one side and approached the three of them.
“Hello.”
At the appearance of a stranger, the Red-haired Girl’s eyes widened in surprise, and the child stopped crying at once.
“Oh? It’s the Princess.”
It was remarkable how the pattern remained the same despite different people.
“Oh!”
The Brown-haired Girl’s mouth fell open.
Looking more closely, the Brown-haired Girl’s face seemed familiar.
“Hello.”
I greeted her warmly, thinking I knew who she was.
“Bridget.”
“Is it… really you, P-Priscilla?”
“You’ve grown so much. I didn’t recognize you at first.”
Soon tears welled up in Bridget’s eyes.
“I missed you so much!”
I embraced Bridget as she rushed into my arms.
After Bridget rubbed her face against mine several times, she introduced the other children to me.
“You know who this is, right? The Princess big sister I’m always talking about.”
The Red-haired Girl was apparently a close friend who had moved here recently as the population of Heril Island grew.
“You know! We heard that the big sisters on the island learned from a teacher and got jobs at the Capital’s finest salon!”
The girl, whose face was as red as her hair, shone with bright eyes.
“Bridget and I are also working to develop our skills so we can become salon designers like those big sisters.”
“I see. Perhaps….”
I rolled my eyes and asked carefully.
“At the Eleonora Salon?”
In truth, I wanted to ask about the Raber Salon. Thanks to Luderne’s investments, the Raber Salon had been gaining prominence everywhere.
But I felt shy for some reason.
The young girl immediately wiped away her tears and snot, then stomped her feet.
“No! If you’re a princess! You should know about Raber Salon no matter what!”
I couldn’t believe my ears.
I never expected the name of the Raber Salon to come from such a small child.
As I stayed quiet, the child crossed her arms very confidently.
“Everyone says so. The Raber Salon’s Priscilla is the most beautiful in the entire Capital!”
I nodded and led the child’s hand to a small log placed beside the road, sitting her down.
“Thank you. What’s your name?”
“Benisida.”
Bridget corrected the child’s pronunciation.
“It’s Benisilla. She’s Auntie Maji’s granddaughter. She was born when Priscilla disappeared, you see? Auntie Maji named her after Priscilla.”
She was named after me, it seemed. Because the Priscilla of Heril Island was kind, elegant, and skilled with her hands.
The moment I learned about the child’s name, memories of those weary days spent on the island came flooding back.
When I had no choice but to settle on the island.
If it hadn’t been for the islanders’ kindness, I don’t know how I would have endured those lonely hours.
My heart swelled with gratitude.
“It’s nice to meet you, Benisilla. First, let me tidy up that messy hair of yours. Bridget, could you lend me your comb?”
At my words, Bridget quickly removed the comb from her own hair and handed it to me.
It didn’t take long to comb Benisilla’s small head and braid it into two pigtails tied up like little bells.
“I wanna see in a mirror!”
Benisilla touched her bell-like braids with her tiny fern-like hands and said that, then jumped up and ran off in that direction.
“Auntie Maji!”
It seemed Auntie Maji was nearby.
The red-haired girl clapped her hands with great emotion.
“Wow, I’ve never seen anything this amazing. Benisilla’s hair is really pretty!”
“Exactly! And I just had a brilliant idea!”
Bridget agreed enthusiastically, her eyes gleaming with ambition.
“Why don’t we enter the Royal Elegance Contest and compete against Priscilla from the Raber Salon?”
“…What?”
“I think we could win!”
“….”
Bridget seemed sincere. She clearly had no idea that Priscilla from the Raber Salon was me.
‘Wouldn’t it be hard not to know?’
As I thought for a moment, I soon found my own reason.
The children of Heril Island would naturally have few opportunities to read newspapers.
Recalling that, I found myself in a sudden dilemma.
‘Should I just say I’m fighting myself? Or reveal that I’m Priscilla from Raber Salon?’
But if I misspoke, those bright-eyed children seemed likely to be shocked or disappointed.
Then I heard the voices of others.
“Oh! Is this really Priscilla?”
“My goodness! We suspected something when we saw Benisilla’s hair change!”
Turning around, I saw Maji and Bridget’s mother, along with the village aunties.
Benisilla held Maji’s hand firmly with one hand while pointing at me with the other.
Seeing those familiar faces after so long brought a bright smile to my face.
“How have you been?”
At my greeting, Maji suddenly approached and clasped both my hands.
“I missed you. Or rather, I should speak more formally now. I missed you so much, truly.”
“We saw a newspaper at the tavern earlier. It said the designer Priscilla from Raber Salon is actually Priscilla?”
“And that you’re married to Prince Wintem? Goodness, you should have told us sooner. We had no idea and treated you far too casually.”
“What?!”
Before the aunties could finish speaking, Bridget let out a shriek.
“Priscilla from Raber Salon is actually Priscilla? And with Prince Wintem? Then the Viscount, the Count, the Saint…?”

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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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