About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 31

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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 31. That’s Not Allowed
“You can… rewind time?”
“I managed about a minute back then. But I predicted that with continued practice, I could eventually reverse much longer stretches of time….”
Sir Jester brushed his finger beneath his nose.
“Even a short minute can change so many things sometimes.”
It was truly difficult to believe.
“But my magic has nearly vanished, so now I can barely manage a second? Drawing the spell circle takes at least ten seconds no matter how fast I am, so it’s become meaningless. Still, if I keep researching, it should increase again.”
“….”
My expression must have answered for me, because Sir Jester added with an aggrieved tone.
“I’m serious. I properly awakened my magical power on the battlefield and saved the Grand Duke that way.”
“What?”
“Mages are the highest priority targets on a battlefield. I was isolated and nearly died back then, but His Highness the Grand Duke protected me and took a poisoned arrow for it. Right through the heart, no less.”
It was truly an astonishing story.
At the same time, I wondered if there might be some connection between my regression and Sir Jester.
“The arrow lodged straight into his heart and he coughed up blood profusely. What could a commoner like me possibly do.”
Sir Jester clutched his brow with an expression of such emotion that tears seemed imminent even in recollection.
“That’s when I rewound time by a full minute. By the narrowest margin, I erased that misfortune and we avoided that place. So we both survived, and our lives changed.”
“Such a… thing….”
“If you don’t believe me, ask him. His Highness the Grand Duke remembers it too.”
I nodded.
“I believe you.”
Luderne had distinctly told me he’d never been to the battlefield, yet I’d just heard unintentional testimony from Sir Jester.
Of course, I already knew Luderne had lied, but that very fact only confirmed his resolve to abandon me, which left me feeling utterly dejected.
“In any case, I intend to continue my magical research here on this island. It’s quiet, which makes it ideal for study.”
Sir Jester rose from his seat and opened the window of the Reception Room.
A gentle sea breeze drifted in.
“I’ve hired a great many skilled workers. With all the fishing vessels mobilized as well, construction materials will arrive very quickly, and the Mage Tower will be built in no time.”
Sir Jester took a deep breath facing the window, then looked at me and smiled—a bright, radiant smile quite unlike the pressing tone he’d used at dinner.
“I’m thinking of researching magic that might help lift your curse. Once the Mage Tower is complete, why not visit periodically? I’ll be busy, so perhaps once a day around teatime?”
It was an exceedingly generous proposal.
“Thank you so much for offering to help.”
Yet I felt equally suspicious. Nothing in this world was free.
Perhaps the real reason he wanted me to visit was that he needed an experimental subject.
Like a bioavailability study conducted to confirm whether a generic drug produces the same effects as the original.
If that were the case, I couldn’t simply agree without examining the details first.
But I couldn’t afford to be uncooperative while my curse still needed breaking….
After a moment’s hesitation, I decided to ask for sufficient advance notice so I could mentally prepare myself.
“There’s something I’d like to ask.”
I fidgeted with my fingers and asked carefully.
“So… what should I prepare?”
“Prepare? For what?”
“Well, um… I was wondering if the experiment might be painful or something.”
At my words, Sir Jester’s eyes widened in surprise.
“That won’t happen.”
What a relief.
“Then could you tell me in advance about any expected side effects from the experiment?”
“Side effects?”
“Doesn’t magical research sometimes produce side effects?”
“Sure, sometimes. If you’re careless, the lab can even explode.”
Sir Jester tilted his head quizzically.
“But why are you asking about that?”
“I wanted to mentally prepare myself.”
Sir Jester’s eyes rolled around.
“Why would you need to mentally prepare?”
He truly seemed bewildered—whether genuinely or feigning ignorance, I couldn’t tell.
Wondering if I’d been unclear, I took a deep breath.
“You’re researching magic to help break the curse, aren’t you? That would make me the test subject, wouldn’t it?”
Sir Jester’s eyes grew even wider.
After holding his gaze for a long moment, I barely managed to speak in a grinding voice.
“You said to visit regularly, after all…”
Sir Jester’s mouth snapped shut.
The silence lasted only briefly before he clutched his stomach and burst into laughter.
“Hahahaha! Pffft! Bwahahaha!”
His laughter made it clear—I had made a terrible misunderstanding.
My face burned with heat.
He returned to his seat and savored his tea.
“I have no intention of using Priscilla as a test subject.”
“Then the regular visits were…”
“Because I wanted to see you.”
“Pardon?”
“To see you while drinking tea.”
It sounded almost like a confession.
Wondering if that made sense, I stared at him intently. After all, we hadn’t known each other very long.
“That’s a bit confusing to hear.”
Sir Jester’s gaze drifted toward the window. His expression seemed pleased, judging by the gentle curve of his lips.
“The curse, I mean. The aura it gives off now is different from when I first saw it.”
I felt embarrassed.
“Ah, so you were checking my condition. I wish you’d explained it that way from the start.”
“Is that so? You weren’t hoping for something else?”
I laughed at the absurdity, and Sir Jester laughed as well before taking another sip of his tea.
“So, Priscilla, what’s your answer? Will you come or not?”
“I don’t have a choice in the matter. I need to demonstrate my condition.”
Sir Jester nodded at my response.
“Good. And there’s one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“I’d prefer you stop cohabiting with the tavern owner.”
“…Pardon?”
“You’re living with the tavern owner, aren’t you?”
This was the story Walter had tried to help me with.
My eyes widened in surprise, and Sir Jester’s face flushed red.
“I despise the smell of beer and tobacco. If you live in a tavern, people coming and going will be drinking beer and smoking, so naturally the smell will cling to you.”
“Did I smell like beer and tobacco?”
“No, I mean if you keep living there, you eventually will.”
Perhaps his nose was particularly sensitive? He seemed to be worrying prematurely.
It was certainly an odd reason.
Watching him scratch the back of his neck, it seemed he was aware of how strange it sounded himself.
I was about to say I wasn’t living with Walter, but then I recalled Luderne’s reaction and stopped myself.
“Then that man dared to lie to me?”
Back then, I’d glossed over it by saying it wasn’t something I’d told Luderne, but if Sir Jester took issue with it, the situation would be different.
‘If the Mage Tower master becomes angry, punishing a commoner would be nothing.’
It wouldn’t be good for Walter to face trouble over something as trivial as the smell of tobacco.
“If you have nowhere to stay immediately, I can arrange something for you.”
At Sir Jester’s following words, I shook my head without hesitation.
“I won’t stay at the tavern. But I’ll find my own place to live.”
“You’ll find it yourself?”
“Yes. If I’m going to stay on this island for long, I need to find a house anyway, whether by purchase or lease.”
Sir Jester’s brow furrowed.
“Wouldn’t it be better if I looked into it for you?”
“I appreciate the offer, but I can’t owe you that much of a debt.”
“Fine. When will you move out of the tavern?”
“When would you like me to?”
“The sooner the better. My nose is sensitive, after all.”
I shrugged. I had no discretion over entering a closed tavern anyway.
“Then today? I can tell Walter when he returns.”
At my answer, Sir Jester sprang to his feet.
“Good. Let’s go find one.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re moving out today. We need to find a house.”
“N-now? I said I’d handle it myself…”
Sir Jester cut off my words.
“The more information about the house, the better. I’ll have Egardt brought in—wait here for a moment.”
He was being quite forceful about it.
Soon Sir Jester returned with his butler, Egardt.
“All the buildings on the island are owned by His Grace. There are many vacant properties to choose from. You may purchase one if you wish to reside there, or you can rent.”
Egardt unfolded an island map he had been carrying at his side onto the table.
“First, please tell us what sort of house you desire.”
After a moment’s thought, I stated conditions I felt I could reasonably manage.
“First, I’d prefer affordable rent. Since I’ll be living alone, a smaller house would be easier to maintain. Even one bedroom is fine. Still, I’d like good natural light, and I’d hope for an open view when stepping outside. And if the building doesn’t require extensive repairs, that would be ideal.”
“Must the house meet all of these conditions?”
“It would be nice if a house matched all of them, but it doesn’t necessarily have to fulfill every requirement. My hopes and reality may differ, after all. Oh, and above all, I’d like it to be safe.”
Egardt nodded.
“Of course, since it will be a residence for a woman living alone. This is His Grace’s island, and given its small size, it’s well-maintained, so you can rest assured about security.”
Egardt began examining the map.
In the meantime, Sir Jester asked a question.
“You don’t need a clean, beautiful house? For instance, a mansion with a view of the blue sea, surrounded by blooming flowers and such…?”
I shrugged.
“I’m not in a position to desire a picture-perfect house right now. Besides, such a place would likely have expensive rent.”
Then Egardt pointed to a house on a hillside, somewhat removed from the mansion.
“This house is in good condition first of all. About ten meters away, in the neighboring house, lives the family of Lesha, a maid who works at the mansion. If anything happens, Lesha will inform the mansion.”
“What are those people like? Are they good folk?”
At Sir Jester’s question, Egardt fell silent for a moment, then pointed to a different house.
“There is also a vacant property in the Town Center. The Security Force is nearby there, and while the house is small, its condition should be acceptable. However, it’s on the first floor, so an open view won’t be possible. There may be some noise from neighboring houses.”
From my perspective, the location seemed reasonable. The noise from neighbors was something I could certainly understand in a town center.
But Sir Jester shook his head first.
“That won’t do.”

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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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