About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 21

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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 21. What Kind of Relationship Are We?
“Pardon?”
Confusion colored Walter’s voice.
“I could leave the island soon, but right now I’m uncertain how long I’ll be staying. It seems I should work in the meantime.”
Rather than simply waiting to depart, it made more sense to earn a bit more money during that time.
I had no idea how much the curse removal would cost in the Capital, or what I’d need to spend on housing.
“Besides, you mentioned needing extra hands anyway.”
“….”
Walter fell silent this time.
Only his pupils trembled visibly.
Wondering if I’d misunderstood, my voice naturally grew quieter.
“I, I think I’ve got it wrong. I’ll just work today. Forget my proposal….”
“No! I’ll hire you!”
I startled.
Walter cut me off with a loud voice.
“I’m very pleased! So you’ll… work for me?”
This time I was the one caught off guard.
“Yes? Yes.”
Walter’s cheeks flushed crimson as he clenched both fists tightly.
“Then, please, I look forward to working with you!”
It seemed Walter hadn’t misunderstood after all—he’d simply doubted his own ears and fallen silent.
I couldn’t help but smile.
“Then I look forward to working with you for a while, boss.”
Just as I was greeting him, four construction workers entered.
“Hey there, proprietor. Four meals for us. Bring some beer.”
“Of course. Please sit anywhere that’s free.”
After answering the customers, Walter glanced at me and grinned sheepishly.
“Boss sounds awkward, so, please just call me by my name.”
Then he hurried into the kitchen.
Once the tavern quieted down, Walter handed me five copper coins as my day’s wages.
“Thank you for today, Priscilla. This is your pay.”
Then he asked me a question.
“You’re staying at the Inn right now, aren’t you?”
I was about to ask how he knew, but simply shrugged and answered.
“Yes.”
It was obvious—there was nowhere else for outsiders to stay.
“If you’re going to be on the island for a while, wouldn’t you need proper lodging?”
Walter gestured toward the upper floor of the tavern.
“I live alone, so I have some spare rooms. You’re welcome to stay.”
It was an offer to reduce my lodging expenses.
But I shook my head.
“I appreciate the offer, Walter, but I’m fine.”
“Is that so… I see.”
It was only natural.
I couldn’t accept his proposal.
Beyond the fact that he showed interest in me, the curse of lust was the real problem.
I could manage for now, but I’d already experienced a serious episode before. If I lost my composure even once, I might throw myself at Walter. That was something I couldn’t allow.
“I can’t impose on you like that.”
Before I could finish, Walter waved both hands.
“It’s absolutely no trouble.”
I forced a smile.
“Besides, I might leave the island sooner than expected. And if it looks like I’ll be staying longer, I should find my own place anyway.”
I offered my reasons and waved goodbye to Walter.
“See you tomorrow then.”
After parting with Walter, I headed to the Library. I was hoping to find some information about curse magic.
But the public library’s interior was barely fifty square feet.
Bookshelves lined the walls, and in the center sat a round table that could seat about four people.
On the table lay a single notebook that appeared to be hastily bound from scrap paper.
That was all.
No matter how much I browsed the shelves, the books seemed to contain only information related to island life—cooking, flower arranging, sheep herding, and the like.
‘If only there were a librarian on duty, I could ask.’
Just as I was turning to leave, disappointed, I collided with a tall young woman with red hair braided into two plaits.
Her low bridge of the nose and exceptionally faint eyebrows were striking.
The red-haired young woman’s eyes widened when she saw me.
Was it because I was a stranger?
Yet she didn’t feel entirely unfamiliar to me.
Even though I was seeing her for the first time.
‘Where have I seen her before?’
I studied her intently, seized by a sense of déjà vu.
Then I noticed she was carrying several books in her hands.
On the chance she might be helpful, I spoke to her.
“Hello. I’m Priscilla. Are you perhaps the librarian?”
“Hello. I’m Misha.”
Her voice was youthful. She sounded like a teenager.
“I’d like to become a librarian someday, but I’m not old enough yet. I’m only sixteen.”
The girl shook her head.
“This library is unmanned. The residents of Heril Island have simply gathered their books here.”
“Ah, I see.”
In that case, magical texts seemed even less likely to exist.
“Did you perhaps just move here?”
“Not moving here permanently. I just happened to stay on the island for a while.”
“Oh, could it be…?”
Misha’s eyes rolled thoughtfully for a moment before she asked me carefully.
“I heard that a new employee came to Walter’s shop today. Could that be you?”
“I’m just helping out for a bit.”
Misha stretched her neck forward like a turtle.
“What’s your relationship with Walter?”
“…Pardon?”
Startled by the unexpected question, I asked her to repeat herself, and wariness flickered across Misha’s eyes.
“Are you his girlfriend? Are you two dating?”
“What? Of course not.”
Flustered, my voice pitch rose involuntarily.
Misha’s cheeks flushed red as she looked me up and down.
“Oh, never mind… I guess I said something silly.”
“…”
This young lady clearly had an interest in Walter, despite what appeared to be more than a ten-year age gap between them.
“So you’re definitely not Walter’s girlfriend, right?”
She asked boldly while pretending to gauge my reaction, and I nodded.
Only then did Misha break into a wide smile.
“I see. It’s nice to meet you. Please call me Misha. While you’re staying on the island, would it be alright if I called you sister?”
I nodded.
“If you need a guide around the island, just let me know anytime. I’ll do it for three copper coins—I have the cheapest guide rates in this neighborhood. I have something to do this afternoon, but I’m free any other time, so feel free to call on me whenever. I live in the red-roofed house at East Hill Base.”
As Misha shelved the books one by one, she chattered on at length about things I hadn’t even asked.
She explained that the teenagers on the island earned spending money by guiding visitors or running errands.
“There are seven children on this island, ranging from four to seventeen years old, but only Irina doesn’t earn spending money. Her family is better off financially. Her father is Matthew, and he works as a Government Administration official. I wish my father was a civil servant instead of a drunkard.”
Misha continued talking as she pulled out several more books.
The titles caught my eye.
How to Create Noble Hairstyles, Various Skincare Beauty Methods.
Misha seemed interested in beauty and cosmetics.
Since I had been a makeup artist before my regression, I found myself naturally drawn to Misha’s books.
“You seem to like beauty work.”
My question delighted her, and Misha’s voice rose a pitch.
“Yes! I’m studying beauty and cosmetics. Next year I’ll be seventeen, so I’m planning to go to the Capital and get a job at Eleonora Salon.”
“Eleonora Salon?”
“You don’t know about it? It’s the most famous salon in the Capital, and lots of upper-class people go there. You can see beautiful dresses, and I heard that junior staff members are even allowed to eat leftover desserts after tea time. Isn’t that exciting?”
Misha chattered away with great enthusiasm.
“Irina’s dream is to become a salon designer too. She’s so arrogant though—she keeps saying that working at that salon is above her station.”
She then wrote her name, the titles of the books she’d taken out, and today’s date in a notebook on the table.
“If you’re going to borrow books, just write your name in this notebook. If you’re looking for something specific, you can ask me too.”
Just then, the wall clock chimed five times.
Misha gathered the book she had just taken out, looking reluctant to leave.
“Oh, is it already this late? I should be going. Let’s see each other again next time.”
I waved goodbye to Misha with a polite farewell.
Then I sat in the chair for a moment.
I had come hoping to find some information, but the fruitless search left me feeling adrift.
‘What should I do?’
As I sat still, a subtle sensation rose from deep within me. My body seemed to grow even warmer than before.
Thinking the sea breeze might help calm it, I stepped outside the Library.
The ocean wind blew across me, but the heat persisted. It felt as though my condition would not improve at all.
To resolve this, I would need to be held by Luderne Sellen.
‘…No. Wouldn’t it be better to ask him for an identification badge voucher instead?’
The moment I thought this, I bit my lips hard against the burning thirst that surged through me.

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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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