About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 53

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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 53. After the King, Even the Grand Duke
She had been born the daughter of a small merchant, not a noblewoman, and had learned singing and dancing at Troupe Laverre since childhood.
“My father recommended me….”
Olivia’s voice grew quieter as she explained how she had come to join the troupe. A shadow flickered across her expression.
It seemed she hadn’t joined Troupe Laverre for particularly pleasant reasons.
“I see. I’d love to hear you sing.”
“Of course!”
As I swiftly changed the subject, relief washed over Olivia’s face.
Olivia possessed remarkable talent for singing. I praised her with complete sincerity.
Delighted by my compliments, she mentioned she had a new song coming soon.
“The composer asked me to write the lyrics for it.”
When I asked if I could hear the melody without lyrics, Olivia readily agreed.
The melody was so simple and catchy that one could hum it after hearing it just once or twice. Olivia’s voice layered over that melody was brimming with emotional appeal.
Hearing that the song still lacked lyrics, an excellent idea occurred to me.
“Miss Olivia, is there something you particularly wish to gain from competing in the Royal Elegance Contest?”
Olivia’s face flushed shyly.
“I wish His Majesty the King would know that a woman like me exists. Even if he only remembers my name, that would be enough. That’s why I want to be selected so badly.”
Her ambition was evident.
It seemed we could strike a bargain.
“Would it be acceptable if I had Olivia compete as a contestant, and I wrote the lyrics for the new song she’ll sing?”
It must have been quite an unexpected proposal. Olivia’s eyes widened, so I continued.
“It’s difficult to call it compensation, but I’ll prepare you so beautifully that His Majesty the King will want to hold you in his embrace.”
Olivia’s pupils trembled noticeably.
Sensing her mind was racing with possibilities, I spoke with conviction.
“On that day alone, sing the new song with the lyrics I’ve given you. And if His Majesty the King embraces you even if you don’t win first place, then you can perform it with the complete lyrics confirmed.”
Olivia, who had been rolling her eyes in thought, soon nodded.
“I like it. If that’s how it goes, I could even sing ten songs for you.”
Thus the bargain was struck.
Now I only had to persuade Countess Dora and Baroness Meldear.
Baroness Meldear had the nickname “Speaker,” so I wasn’t particularly worried. Even if you sealed her lips, she’d talk just as much if she felt like it.
But Countess Dora was someone I was meeting through introduction, so I couldn’t quite gauge her. They said she had a strong position, so if she became my ally, it would be ideal.
I gazed at my own hands and clenched them into fists.
‘Trust in my skills. There’s no noblewoman who dislikes becoming more beautiful.’
* * *
A bell rang from outside.
Anne, the head maid who happened to be nearby, opened the door and her eyes widened considerably.
There stood Melissa Bilsty in a pink dress that descended to her calves, red high heels, and holding a small pure gold flowerpot.
Melissa Bilsty, the King’s mistress.
Anne, faced with the most popular person in the Central Society, became displeased. It was an unannounced visit, after all.
Moreover, Anne also knew.
That photographs of Luderne and Melissa together frequently appeared in the newspapers.
That Melissa took considerable interest in Luderne.
But I was a maid.
Unable to betray my feelings, I folded my hands respectfully before me and lowered my head.
“Welcome, Miss Melissa Bilsty.”
“I’ve come to see the Grand Duke. Announce my arrival.”
Before Anne could even respond, Melissa swept directly into the mansion’s lobby and gestured sharply toward her.
“What are you doing? Go at once and inform him of my visit.”
Acting as though she were the mistress of the house despite being an uninvited guest, Melissa’s arrogance kindled irritation in Anne.
Yet protocol dictated that any visitor, however unexpected, must first be shown to the Reception Room. That was the custom.
Anne hesitated briefly before rationalizing her actions.
She had attempted to escort Melissa to the Reception Room first, but Melissa had refused. Anne had merely obeyed her wishes.
Anne spoke with measured courtesy.
“Then I shall announce your visit first.”
Going to Luderne’s Study, Anne relayed everything that had transpired in the lobby moments before, and observed the expressions of Brissel and the butler Egardt, who stood nearby.
Though they quickly composed themselves, their faces had betrayed unmistakable disapproval—a sight that brought Anne some small comfort.
But Luderne’s cold reaction to the report was shocking.
Luderne flicked his fingers at Egardt.
Luderne whispered something to Egardt, who leaned in close, then nodded calmly.
“Show her to the Reception Room. I shall attend shortly.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Egardt bowed respectfully and departed the Study.
This left Anne utterly bewildered.
Could it be that Luderne’s feelings were mutual with Melissa?
‘Then have I left a distinguished guest standing in the lobby?’
The realization drained the color from Anne’s face.
Since arriving in the Capital, Luderne had changed considerably.
On Heril Island, he had overlooked most of the servants’ mistakes, but here there was no forgiveness.
Dismissal came instantly upon any error.
Depending on the severity, he even confined servants to the cellar.
‘Heavens! I must be mad!’
Anne bowed hastily to Luderne.
“I should have shown her to the Reception Room first. I shall prepare the finest tea at once.”
Just as Anne turned to hurry from the Study, Luderne’s voice reached her from behind.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Pardon?”
“Egardt will see to it.”
Luderne rose from his seat and left the Study.
Brissel followed in Luderne’s wake and gestured for Anne to come along.
Anne remained confused.
What on earth is going on?
Anne, who had followed Luderne out of the Study, stared blankly at his retreating figure before suddenly understanding.
Could it be that he didn’t need me to serve tea because he intended to cast me out as I am? Not even the head maid would escape such dismissal?
If that were the case, then Luderne and Melissa Bilsty were already far more than mere acquaintances.
A chill ran down Anne’s spine.
It seemed I had made a truly grave mistake.
Now I understood why Melissa Bilsty had conducted herself like the lady of the house.
Anne gripped her apron tightly as a plan began to form in her mind.
There’s still a way out of this, isn’t there? I’ll do my best when I leave.
I’ll attend to her with utmost devotion, give her everything I have, and win her favor.
I was only following Miss Bilsty’s orders, after all.
Anne hurried toward the servants’ entrance at the back of the building, intending to wait outside and win over Melissa Bilsty’s heart.
The moment she yanked the back door open, someone collided with her and tumbled backward.
A basket fell, and potatoes and onions scattered across the ground.
After a moment of shock at the unexpected accident, Anne’s eyes gleamed with interest as she recognized the figure before her—the Mute Maid Lesha—and her lips curled into a cruel smile.
“What? You’re mute, aren’t you?”
Already irritated, here was a perfect target for her frustration.
“What are you doing there?”
At Anne’s sharp voice, Lesha scrambled to her feet, brushing herself off.
“How could you spill the potatoes and onions like this? They’re all ruined now, aren’t they?”
Startled, Lesha began hastily gathering the potatoes and onions back into the basket.
But then, suddenly, blood began to drip.
It was a nosebleed from the collision with the door.
Lesha crouched down, covering her nose with her apron, and continued picking up the potatoes and onions.
“Ugh, how disgusting.”
Watching this, Anne clicked her tongue, glanced around, and then kicked Lesha’s back as if shoving her aside with her heel.
“Get out of the way and stop blocking the path, you useless thing.”
Defenseless as she was crouched down, Lesha tumbled forward from the kick.
It looked as though Lesha’s forehead had struck the ground, but Anne didn’t even blink.
“What are you doing? Clean this up quickly. You can’t speak and can’t read—what’s the difference between you and worthless garbage?”
After venting her abuse, Anne felt somewhat better.
Relatively speaking, how wonderful it was to hold a position of power.
Anne passed by Lesha, whose spirit had been crushed and whose head hung low.
* * *
Melissa Bilsty remained standing, surveying the lobby.
Even for a Town House, the interior design rivals that of the Royal Palace.
It was clearly different in caliber, befitting a residence where a Grand Prince stayed.
Her thoughts turned to Luderne Sellen.
Melissa Bilsty had learned of him through rumors first.
A hidden prince among the nobility—whispered about discreetly, though never spoken of openly.
A bastard born between the Emperor of Doerban and the late king of Arde.
Truly, it was an extraordinary combination.
The moment Melissa heard that rumor, she began to weave her own fantasy.
I am the only woman who has tamed Zerox’s wandering heart. What if I were to receive not only the king’s affection, but also the grand duke’s love?
If I could lure him into my bed, everything else would fall into place effortlessly. No man could resist my seductive arts.
Count Veloda Genoma and King Zerox had both succumbed to them.
‘Prince Wintem is a man too—what could be different?’
Melissa immediately imagined a night with him.
The moment he, overwhelmed by my exquisite nocturnal skills, would breathe heavily and swear his love to 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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