About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 44

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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 44. Goodbye, Grand Duke
Walter’s eyes bulged wide with astonishment.
What on earth was he doing standing at my doorstep?
Walter, his eyes enormous as he stared at me, soon stammered out a greeting.
“P-Priscilla? You are Priscilla, aren’t you?”
“….”
Though my appearance had changed, I couldn’t deny it. After all, I’d just stepped out of my own home.
Unable to help myself, I nodded, and Walter’s face flushed crimson.
“I knew your skills were exceptional, but seeing you like this is truly remarkable.”
Walter, who had overheard my conversation with Madame Laber at the beachside four days ago, wore an expression of regret.
But he had promised to keep my departure a secret.
I thought he would simply let it pass.
Yet it seemed he couldn’t bear it and had come to see me off.
“Fortunately, I overheard your conversation with Madame Laber that evening. Had we crossed paths on the road without that knowledge, we would have parted ways without recognition.”
Walter stepped forward and took the bag from my hands.
“Misha asked me to come to the Capital. I was considering it, but…. It’s not because of you, understand. It just so happens you’re going too… so let’s travel together.”
“…What? Travel together?”
Not a farewell?
“Though Madame Laber is renowned, I confess I’m worried. She’s the royal theater troupe director, yet there’s something unsettling about her presence…. I may be mistaken, but the Capital has dangerous places. In the worst cases, people fall victim to human trafficking.”
Walter, who had fallen silent at my quiet response, soon infused his voice with determination.
“I’ll simply verify that the place where you stay is safe.”
“From the moment I leave here, I intend to live as an entirely different person. I hope no one ever discovers that I am Priscilla.”
Walter nodded readily.
“I understand. I’ll keep it as my secret alone.”
“….”
“I’ll stake my life on keeping this secret.”
After a moment’s thought, I nodded.
Walter was someone I could trust. At the very least, he wasn’t someone who would hinder me.
Besides, if he was leaving today as well, we would have to board the same ship anyway.
“Thank you. Shall we go then? Oh, there’s one place I need to stop by on the way.”
I headed toward the mailbox in the plaza.
These were letters for Luderne, his butler Egardt, Sir Jester and Maji, and the other islanders.
I placed the letters I had carefully written into the mailbox and made my way toward the harbor.
The Quindle was already docked at the harbor.
At last, I was leaving Heril Island.
Feeling oddly nostalgic as I gazed around, my heart suddenly lurched. A man was climbing into a four-wheeled carriage.
It was Luderne.
He must have left the island days ago and returned today.
As Luderne settled into his seat, Brissel Mohr, who had been standing outside, surveyed the surroundings.
When Brissel Mohr’s gaze fell upon me, I tensed, knowing we were acquainted.
Yet Brissel Mohr would never recognize me in my current state. He boarded the carriage without any particular expression and closed the door.
The carriage headed toward the mansion.
This was our farewell.
I watched the carriage disappear into the distance and sent a silent goodbye to Luderne Sellen in my heart.
‘Thank you for all your help.’
As I did, I recalled the contents of the letter I had sent him.
In that letter, I had written my gratitude for everything he’d done, along with the method to break the curse that I had never managed to tell him about.
That if I failed to break the curse, I would die in three years—and that I was leaving out of necessity to try loving someone else.
I hadn’t written my destination.
Since he had suggested we reconsider our relationship first, he wouldn’t search for me anyway.
After all, ours had been a secret arrangement born solely from mutual need.
The thought made my chest ache, but I steeled my resolve. There was nothing I could do about the pain.
‘I need to harden my heart from this moment on.’
My path forward was clear.
‘With Madame Laber’s help, I’ll establish myself in the Capital and find a new love. I’ll break the curse while narrowing Melissa Bilsty’s position. That way, both Luderne and I can survive.’
Yet I had no confidence that I could love any man besides Luderne Sellen.
I deliberately clenched my fists tighter.
‘Even if I fail to break the curse and die, I’ll save Luderne.’
I made this vow to myself again and again.
It was then that Walter spoke.
“She’s here.”
Madame Laber was looking around uncertainly.
When her gaze turned toward me, I waved the handkerchief as we had agreed beforehand.
As Madame Laber drew closer and saw me, her eyes widened in astonishment.
“…Priscilla?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
“Good heavens, I was told you’d change your appearance, but…”
Embarrassed by her reaction, I tucked my hair behind my ear.
“Is it strange?”
Madame Laber, who had been unable to close her mouth, soon composed herself.
“No. You’re quite striking. Your makeup artistry is exceptional—truly remarkable and natural.”
Following her words, she held out an identification badge to me.
“Take it. Seeing such flawless skill makes me even more excited about your future prospects.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
I accepted the identification badge. On this badge, which guaranteed my new freedom, was written “Pree,” a native of Necari Territory.
“Where is Necari Territory?”
“It’s a territory owned by the Crown Prince of the Doerban Empire. It’s very far from here and a major city with such a large population that a few forged badges wouldn’t even be noticed.”
“I see. Thank you.”
I gripped the identification badge tightly in both hands.
A horn sounded in the distance.
Just then, the ship’s horn sounded, announcing departure.
“Let’s board.”
As she took a stride forward, her gaze fell upon Walter following behind her.
“Wait. Why is he coming with us?”
“I happen to have business in the Capital as well, so I thought I’d travel together.”
At Walter’s response, Madame Laber nodded.
“Fine. But if you stay too close, people might suspect you’re part of our group. Keep your distance on the ship.”
We made our way to the vessel.
The Harbor Office clerk checking boarding passes and identification badges looked at me.
Though I felt somewhat nervous—he was someone who knew my name and face—he didn’t recognize me. He simply smiled warmly and proceeded to check the next passenger’s boarding pass.
“Walter? Heading to the Capital?”
“Yeah, just need some fresh air.”
Behind me, I heard the Harbor Office clerk and Walter exchanging pleasantries.
Whoooosh.
The ship’s horn sounded once more.
Shortly after, the vessel began to move, cutting through the water.
* * *
Upon returning to the mansion, Luderne Wintem, who had been immersed in work alongside Brissel Mohr, rose from his desk as the night deepened.
“That’s enough for now. Rest.”
As Luderne Wintem donned his black robe, Brissel Mohr nodded with a familiar expression.
“I’ll continue a bit longer before resting. Have a good trip.”
Luderne Wintem nodded once, took up a small lamp, and mounted the horse tethered at the mansion’s entrance.
Without any particular instruction, the horse headed toward Priscilla’s House.
“How peculiar.”
He murmured to himself without realizing it.
Though it was a path he traveled often, tonight felt unusually quiet, and there was an inexplicable sense of wrongness.
As he pondered what it could be, he arrived at Priscilla’s House and finally understood the reason.
It was a house that always cast a gentle glow of light, even from a distance. But tonight, not even a flicker of light could be seen.
Standing before the house, he sighed softly and knocked on the door twice.
“….”
By now, she should have answered, yet the interior remained silent.
Luderne Wintem knocked again. Still, the house remained quiet.
He hesitated, grasping the door handle for a moment.
But then he reconsidered and mounted his horse once more.
When Brissel Mohr saw Luderne Wintem return to the study, his eyes widened.
“You’re back early.”
He had been organizing a pile of correspondence.
“Haven’t gone in yet?”
“I was about to, but Egardt brought quite a lot of mail. I was planning to check where it came from, organize it, and then rest. You can open them in order of importance tomorrow morning.”
Brissel Mohr turned his attention back to the correspondence he had been organizing.
“Are you bringing up the child again?”
Luderne Wintem removed his robe and hung it on the coat rack.
“No, the lights were off. I knocked, but there was no answer, so I simply returned.”
Brissel Mohr sighed without restraint.
“Well, as long as you meet with His Highness every ten days, there shouldn’t be any problem… but after four years of staying here, it seems you’ve developed quite a few desires.”
“He must feel disappointed and angry. Besides, I refused to help with breaking the curse, so it’s only natural.”
Brissel Mohr rubbed his temples as if troubled.
“Still, that’s something we absolutely cannot grant. We promised not to make such demands.”
Luderne Wintem let out a short laugh and returned to his desk. He intended to finish his work.
“This is troublesome. What we’re doing right now as well…”
Just then, Brissel Mohr’s words trailed off abruptly.
At the sudden silence, Luderne Wintem looked up from the documents he was examining. In Brissel Mohr’s hands was a pale yellow letter envelope, which he was turning over to inspect from all angles.
He examined the front and back of the envelope several times before uttering something incomprehensible.
“Your Highness, I’ve never seen this before… Did you perhaps exchange letters as well?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Brissel Mohr brought the letter in his hand and placed it on Luderne Wintem’s desk.
“It was among the mail. This is her letter.”
Luderne Wintem examined the letter before him.
The handwriting on the envelope was familiar.
To the esteemed Luderne Wintem Grand Duke.
From Priscilla.

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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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