About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 36

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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 36. Make Me Pretty
Misha’s body stiffened at my words.
She didn’t seem particularly pleased to see me. Her gaze was openly hostile.
‘Perhaps she resents me for intruding on an unpleasant situation.’
But I was an adult, and Misha was a minor. I couldn’t simply turn a blind eye to a scene of violence.
Deciding to defuse the situation appropriately, I lowered myself and met the young girl’s eyes.
“You called me princess, and now I don’t know what to do with myself. What’s your name, little princess?”
When I smiled warmly, the young girl squirmed with delight.
“Brijit.”
“…It’s Bridget.”
Misha corrected the girl’s name in a reluctant tone.
I gently stroked Bridget’s chestnut hair.
“That’s right, Bridget. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Priscilla.”
“Hehe. Nice to meet you, Prisida.”
“Were you having fun mimicking what your sister said?”
Bridget giggled while fiddling with her own hair.
“Yes! She said she’d make my hair pretty too!”
“Your hair?”
The short-haired girl beside me answered my question.
“I’m rather good at styling hair.”
When I straightened up and met her eyes, the short-haired girl shrugged one shoulder and asked.
“Did you hear what I said?”
“I did hear it.”
As I nodded calmly, the short-haired girl introduced herself.
“I’m Irina.”
As expected.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
At my composed response, Irina pointed toward Misha.
“Since you haven’t been on this island long, you might not know, but I wouldn’t recommend befriending this red-haired girl. What I said just now is the truth.”
“Filthy, poor, and reeking of alcohol?”
When I repeated what I’d heard, Irina’s lips curled upward.
“Her father’s a drunk. And her older sister is a mute.”
It seemed Misha’s older sister was Lesha, the maid who worked at Wintem Estate.
“And yet this girl from such a family has the audacity to apply for a position at Eleonora Salon?”
Irina glared at Misha as if she found the situation absurd.
“I submitted my application to Eleonora Salon today. When she heard about it, she went to the Capital and asked if I could write her a letter of recommendation if she passes the interview next year. Can you believe it?”
“Ah.”
I looked at Misha.
Her brow was furrowed as though she might burst into tears at any moment, her lips pouting.
I turned my gaze back to Irina.
“First, Misha isn’t dirty at all. She doesn’t look poor, and there’s no smell of alcohol on her. And your sister—there’s absolutely nothing wrong with her. A disability isn’t a sin.”
Misha’s eyes widened in surprise.
After finishing my defensive remarks, I added something more to the stammering Irina.
“As for the Eleonora Salon, I wouldn’t know about that.”
Irina stomped her foot hard.
“No, fine, I’ll grant you everything else! But how can you not know about the Eleonora Salon?”
Just then, Bridget tugged at the hem of Irina’s skirt and whined.
“Sister, will you make my hair pretty?”
She’d grown bored rather quickly.
But Irina pushed Bridget’s hand away.
“Are you stupid? You said you’d take my side. But you just sided with someone else, didn’t you?”
“Huh?”
“And now you expect me to do your hair?”
Tears welled up in Bridget’s eyes at the harsh words.
Seeing her face on the verge of breaking into sobs, I quickly took Bridget’s hand.
“Come here. I’ll fix your hair for you, so don’t cry.”
I pulled out the comb and ribbon I’d bought at the General Store from the cart and looked around.
A wooden log lay a couple of steps away. It wasn’t a chair, but it looked suitable for sitting on.
I sat Bridget on top of it.
“How would you like it done?”
Bridget touched her own hair with her small, delicate fingers.
“Sister, make it pretty for me.”
“Pretty is enough?”
“Yes!”
I began combing skillfully. Even when tangled, arranging a small child’s hair came very naturally to me.
Soon her long, chestnut-brown curls fell in lustrous waves.
Now it was time for styling.
I braided Bridget’s side hair together with a long mint-green ribbon, creating a romantic half-up style, and finished by plucking a wildflower blooming at the roadside to adorn the right side of her head.
“There, finished.”
When I showed her the mirror, Bridget’s eyes grew wide.
“Wow! I look like a princess!”
“Do you like it?”
Bridget was so delighted that she cupped her cheeks and broke into a bright smile.
“Thank you, sister! I want to show Mom!”
“Go ahead.”
The delighted Bridget ran off somewhere.
Watching her, I felt a warm satisfaction bloom in my chest. I had a feeling important news would reach me soon.
“What… what kind of person are you?”
I heard Irina’s trembling voice.
When I turned around, both Irina’s and Misha’s pupils were quivering wildly, their mouths hanging open in shock.
“Huh?”
Irina’s expression hardened as she stepped closer to me.
“How did you just do that?”
“I just braided your hair, that’s all.”
Irina stomped her foot again, just as she had before.
“Ugh, this is so frustrating! How can you not understand what I’m asking?”
That was when Walter’s voice suddenly cut in.
“Is something the matter?”
Walter approached, holding the reins of a horse-drawn cart laden with barrels of liquor.
“Oh, Walter, you’ve arrived?”
Walter glanced at me, then Misha, then Irina in turn. His eyes also fell upon my hand cart.
“What’s that hand cart?”
“Ah, I decided to move since it seems I’ll be staying on the Island for a while longer.”
“So you’ve left the Inn?”
“Yes.”
“I see. Which house did you move to?”
I pointed in one direction with my hand.
“It’s on the hill beyond the Magic Tower Construction Site, toward the Wintem Estate.”
Walter tilted his head.
“Hm? The location is good, but… it should be small and abandoned, isn’t it?”
“I fixed it up.”
“You did?”
“I fixed it up, yes.”
Walter began counting on his fingers as if calculating dates.
“But when?”
“Sir Jester helped me, so it was done quickly.”
“Ah, the Mage Tower Master…”
Walter’s eyes darted back and forth for a moment before he scratched the back of his head several times with an expression of regret.
“I see. If I had been here, I could have helped with something at least. It’s unfortunate I happened to be away at the time.”
“Your kind intentions are enough. Oh, and by the way.”
I told Walter the date of my housewarming.
Walter was delighted by my invitation.
“Wonderful! I’ll definitely come! I’ll bring liquor as a congratulatory gift, so please don’t prepare anything special, alright?”
“Thank you, Walter.”
The horse whinnied softly.
Walter stroked the horse’s muzzle once and waved to me.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Walter led the horse toward the Tavern.
I turned my attention to the two remaining people.
Irina had lost her fighting spirit and stood with her mouth hanging open in a daze.
Misha’s eyes went wide as saucers.
“I’d like to invite both of you too. Would you come to my housewarming party if you’re free?”
Only then did life return to Irina’s gaze.
“Well, I’ll have to see when the time comes, but given your thoughtfulness in inviting us…”
Irina’s cheeks flushed crimson as she thrust the book she’d taken back into Misha’s hands.
“Hmph, then I’ll be going.”
Irina hurried away.
Only Misha remained.
When our eyes met, her face reddened as well.
“Um, um! I, I have something to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“I just heard that you moved out of the inn. Is that true?”
“Yes.”
At my answer, Misha clasped her hands together and asked urgently again.
“S-so you weren’t originally living with Walter at the tavern?”
“Oh, that? Sir Jester suddenly pressed the matter, so Walter stepped in to protect his employees.”
Misha clamped her mouth shut, then released a heavy sigh.
“Ugh! I had no idea.”
Misha staggered and sat down on a wooden log.
“I’m sorry. So I misunderstood.”
With her head bowed, Misha watched my expression carefully, her face downcast.
“Of course, it does seem like Walter likes you. You’re an adult and beautiful, after all. I understood that much. I thought it was possible.”
Misha spoke honestly.
She’d thought I liked Walter while lying to her.
Only then did I understand the meaning behind the hostile look Misha had given me.
“I do like Walter, but not in that way.”
Misha’s flushed face nodded.
“That’s what it seemed like to me too.”
After taking several deep breaths, Misha stood up and brushed herself off.
“By the way, when you were styling Bridget’s hair earlier, your skill was really impressive. Did you work at a famous salon before?”
If I said “in another world,” wouldn’t that be strange?
“I just knew how to do it originally.”
Misha clasped her hands together again.
“Um, could I possibly learn from you?”
“What?”
“No one on this island can teach such skills.”
As I merely rolled my eyes at the sudden proposal, Misha spoke with passion.
“I have two female sheep. I’ll squeeze fresh milk every day as tuition—please teach me how to style hair beautifully! Even just a little is fine.”
After thinking for a moment, I nodded readily.
“Alright. Then twice a week, for an hour after I finish the lunch shift at the tavern. But it’s one bottle of milk per lesson, not daily. Come to my place.”
Then suddenly, I remembered the day I would have to meet with Luderne Sellen.
“Of course, if something comes up, we can reschedule, but I’ll let you know in advance on those days.”
I needed to increase my workload for the sake of my livelihood anyway, and Misha had earnestly promised fair compensation in return. There was no reason to refuse.
Misha’s face brightened considerably.
“Thank you so much! Can I start coming tomorrow? From now on, I’ll call you Teacher!”

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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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