About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 46

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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 46. Luderne’s Truth
Brissel Mohr observed Luderne’s subtle shift in demeanor and carefully opened his mouth.
“Based on the letter’s contents, I suspect His Majesty may have had a change of heart due to exhaustion.”
Luderne tapped the armrest with his fingertip, though he said nothing in response.
Ail felt an inexplicable ache watching Luderne in that state.
At the same time, a headache began to throb.
That symptom again—similar to when I’d collapsed trying to recall something.
As I rubbed my aching head, Priscilla’s words suddenly surfaced in my mind.
“Perhaps it was Sir Jester from the future who cast such magic?”
‘Did I really cast magic in the future, and is there a curse related to it?’
If I had cast it myself, it would be a regression. But it was merely speculation, and when I visited the Empire’s Magic Association, there were no significant results.
Finding clues about the premise of ‘something my future self might have done’ was inherently difficult.
The more I thought about it, the worse my headache became. In such cases, rest was best.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty. My headache is severe, and I wish to rest.”
Luderne granted Ail’s request with a single nod.
After sending Ail away, Luderne recalled the past.
The fact that his biological father was Fleit Doorban, the Emperor of the Doerban Empire, was not surprising to Luderne.
He already knew who his true parents were.
The Emperor of the Doerban Empire and the King of the Arde Kingdom spared no expense in providing the resources necessary for Luderne’s upbringing through Baron Sellen and his wife—both of whom had also concealed their identities as spies for both nations.
They ensured he received all necessary education without lack, collected portraits of him each year, and issued various instructions to Baron Sellen and his wife.
But they never once came to see Luderne.
As if there were no connection at all.
Growing up this way, Luderne naturally never entertained the thought of ascending to either throne.
What he had to do himself was accumulate wealth. With more money, he could ensure his household and territory’s people lived well.
So he earned considerable wealth through inter-territory trade.
Meanwhile, Queen Hilda Arde and Emperor Fleit Doorban had not decided on a successor despite their other children reaching adulthood.
Though Luderne himself had little desire for power, it nonetheless meant he might eventually inherit either throne.
Then, around the time he turned twenty-two, cautious rumors began circulating quietly among the high nobility.
There had once been whispers of a hidden bloodline between the Emperor and the King, and now it seemed those whispers were true.
“Multiple people are suspected, and three of them have already died in accidents.”
Baron Sellen and his wife—Brissel Mohr and Susanna Walter, who had been living with altered appearances through magic at the time—informed him that Luderne was also on the list of suspects.
The combination of the Emperor’s black hair and the King’s red eyes was the basis for suspicion.
“They even questioned whether the reason he remained unmarried was connected to this.”
So Baron Sellen and his wife hastily arranged his marriage.
It was a marriage of convenience—to avoid suspicion and prevent accidents.
The bride’s family needed to be as unremarkable as possible. Marriage to such a family would make him appear to be nothing more than an ordinary baron.
“When the time is right, we can claim the lack of children is an issue, provide compensation, and proceed with divorce. It’s a family so powerless that it won’t cause any problems for Your Majesty.”
Brissel then transferred his barony to Luderne and decided to more actively monitor the situation in both the Kingdom and the Empire alongside Susanna.
“You need only share a bed according to schedule. But you must never impregnate her. Of course, we’ll take precautions beforehand.”
At that point, Luderne had resolved never to develop any affection for his future wife.
Until I saw her at the wedding ceremony.
By the time I came to my senses, I had already spent an intoxicating first night with her.
I hadn’t deliberately been kind to her, yet somehow Priscilla had fallen in love with me without knowing anything.
In a situation where I didn’t know when the divorce would come, I couldn’t afford to grow any closer to her. I shouldn’t have.
I had to endure and restrain myself—in my words and actions, and even in my expressions and gaze. I couldn’t let my ever-growing feelings for Priscilla show.
It was fortunate that I could at least share a bed with her under the pretense of needing to produce an heir.
Though the Mute Maid had been secretly slipping contraceptives into Priscilla’s tea.
Then one day, during our newlywed period, a brief notice of death arrived from Susanna Walter.
“The King of Arde has passed away.”
Soon after, the royal court held a state funeral.
Luderne Sellen paid his respects and attended the funeral quietly.
I’d heard that my mother loved me, but since I’d never actually seen her face, I wasn’t particularly grieved.
Following that, I also heard news of Zerox’s succession to the throne.
It was then that Luderne Sellen began to harbor a wish.
‘Perhaps I could simply live as a baron in Sellen Territory just like this?’
A life where I tended only to a small estate and spent my years in affection with Priscilla, living without ambition.
Even in imagination, it wasn’t so bad.
No—it was good.
But circumstances flowed against Luderne Sellen’s wishes.
A secret letter from Brissel Mohr arrived.
It contained news that Susanna Walter, the spy of Hilda Arde who had raised Luderne Sellen, and her true husband might be executed.
The charge was espionage.
My own life is also under threat. For now, I will flee Arde Kingdom and take refuge in the Doerban Empire. Please take care of yourself until we meet again.
Luderne Sellen immediately had Junior Walter, Susanna Walter’s son who had been living quietly in a remote part of the estate, and those around her declared dead, then provided them with forged identification papers and funds to escape.
To leave no evidence, he disguised the place where they had lived as a fire accident and had it completely burned down.
As expected, shortly after, an official document arrived ordering Susanna Walter’s family to be escorted to the Capital.
Luderne Sellen processed the paperwork stating that only bone fragments remained from the fire and had been buried.
Not long after that, war broke out.
Under national law, Luderne Sellen was also subject to conscription.
Having arranged for all his assets to become his wife’s property in case of emergency, he headed to the battlefield.
It was then that he met Ail, a genius mage of commoner birth.
Luderne Sellen joined the Arde Kingdom’s army alongside him and advanced to the front lines.
Through several critical moments in fierce combat, he saved Ail multiple times, as the mage was prioritized as a target for that very reason.
Ail was moved by how Luderne Sellen, despite being a commoner, risked danger for the sake of their comradeship.
“Thanks to you, I’ve lived another day. This life you’ve saved is yours, and I wish to serve you loyally for the rest of my life, Baron.”
During one such battle, Luderne Sellen fell into a trap and came under simultaneous sniper fire from both nations.
It was then that I understood.
Someone of significant standing in one or both nations—or perhaps both sides entirely—clearly had a thorough grasp of my existence.
“It could be Zerox, the new King of Arde, or Eclite, the Prince of the Doerban Empire, or perhaps someone I hadn’t anticipated.”
One thing was certain: someone had naturally woven my death into the purpose of this war.
An arrow had actually pierced my heart once. But Ail’s miraculous regression magic had undone it all.
After regressing with Ail, Luderne Sellen avoided the traps that had repeated before.
And afterward, he was captured as a prisoner by the Emperor himself and his personal knights when they appeared on the battlefield.
“As you know, I am your father.”
The Emperor revealed the truth of his birth to Luderne Sellen there, then brought him to the Doerban Empire.
He then granted him the fertile lands beside the Capital of the Empire, the Wintem Territory, and acknowledged him as his son.
It was only later that it became widely known he was the son born between the Emperor and Hilda Arde, the previous queen of Arde.
When the rumors became fact, some criticized it as infidelity, but that was short-lived.
Soon after, the war ended.
The year-and-a-half-long war had no victor.
Luderne Sellen received a new surname, Wintem, for various political reasons.
And Ail received the surname Jester and a knighthood, while Brissel Mohr officially became Luderne Sellen’s aide.
When the surname Wintem was bestowed upon him, Luderne Sellen harbored hope that he wouldn’t have to compete with Prince Eclite for the throne.
It seemed he could finally bring Priscilla, who had been left alone in the Sellen Territory, to his side.
But…
“Wasn’t Baron Sellen already processed as dead half a year ago, with his funeral already held? Prince Wintem must take a consort befitting the imperial household. Do not forget that the Crown Prince has not yet been decided.”
When Luderne Sellen spoke of bringing Priscilla, the Emperor said this to him.
“It would seem strange to the King of Arde if an imperial prince made contact with the Baroness of Sellen, whom he has never met. If you wish to avoid suspicion that the Sellen Territory is involved in treason, you must conduct yourself wisely.”
It was a warning that held the lives of both Priscilla and all the people of the Sellen Territory as hostages.
Separation from Priscilla was inevitable in some form. But when that situation actually arrived, it was unbearable.
After spending several days drowning in alcohol, Luderne Sellen disguised himself and secretly visited the Sellen Territory.
Even if he couldn’t meet her directly, he wanted to see her from a distance.
If he moved in secret, no one would know.
But Priscilla was not at the mansion.
Except for one mansion steward, all the servants he had employed were gone as well.
Apparently, her family had arbitrarily dismissed the mansion servants and taken Priscilla back to the Bilsty Estate.
My heart felt hollow.
Having come up empty, Luderne Sellen returned to the Wintem Territory.
What awaited him there was the Emperor.
“Pathetic fool.”
There had been surveillance.
The Emperor sternly rebuked Luderne Sellen for visiting the Sellen Territory.
He warned that if he visited even one more time, or if even a hint of longing showed, his former wife’s life would be forfeit.
“You lack the strength.”
With that, the Emperor said he would select a noblewoman of appropriate standing more quickly and send her as Luderne Sellen’s wife.
Luderne Sellen disliked this, so he moved busily under the pretext of controlling commerce. Since he had lost his wife to superior force, he needed equal power to reclaim her.
He resolved to build vast wealth and establish secret funds.
He even purchased Heril Island in the Oselia Archipelago at that time.
Because it was far removed from the Empire, he could rest there without any interference.
Moreover, Junior Walter and those around him, whom he had helped escape, were living on Heril Island. At that time, Luderne Sellen granted Junior Walter a new knighthood.
However, I maintained the appearance of normalcy in public.
Walter’s role was to blend naturally among the masses and move as Luderne’s instrument when necessity demanded.
Understanding his mother Susanna Walter’s greater purpose, Walter pledged his loyalty at the investiture ceremony.
Yet having lost his family, the atmosphere surrounding him inevitably differed from those around him.
Then one day, an extraordinary event occurred.
A curse descended upon the Emperor, rendering him immobile from the neck downward.
Given the emergency, Prince Eclite, already versed in state affairs, took the throne in his stead.
All while maintaining the pretense that the Emperor still governed.
And they claimed Menglow Breeze was the culprit who had cursed his father, immediately launching a pursuit.
With circumstances shifting thus, Luderne Sellen found himself yearning to seek out Priscilla once more.
For the Emperor could no longer stand in his way.
It was Prince Eclite Doorban who spoke first, his tone dripping with mockery.
“By the way, that woman. I hear she’s remarrying?”

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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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