About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 59

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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 59. Honestly, This Much at Least
When Zerox came to visit, Melissa’s spirits lifted considerably.
Though her current rank made the position of queen difficult to dream of, I was still the king’s mistress, after all.
As long as Zerox continued to support me as he did now.
I had failed to secure Luderne’s backing, but there were plenty of nobles who would cast their votes for me regardless.
Moreover, the styling techniques of the Eleonora Salon were unparalleled.
This year, I remained the model for the Eleonora Salon’s Royal Elegance Contest, and Count Veloda Genoma had taken the role of my male partner.
If I adorned myself beautifully as I had last year and performed an elegant waltz with Count Veloda Genoma, Zerox would become even more ardent.
Those who watched the king’s mood would have no choice but to vote for me.
If I won the competition that way, a flood of applause and bouquets from countless noble male admirers would surely pour down.
It had been the same last year.
Through that, Zerox became increasingly obsessed with Melissa.
That’s right. If I keep winning like this, eventually Zerox will develop the ambition to make me his queen. Then he’ll grant me a separate title. Naturally, my wealth will grow as well.
Having calculated that far, Melissa resolved to seize this victory as well.
So she made her requests to Zerox with even more coquetry.
“Your Majesty, you will support this Melissa in the elegance contest this time as well, won’t you? Along with your retainers?”
At Melissa’s honeyed voice, Zerox, who had been exerting himself in his thrusts, laughed while exhaling hot breath.
“By definition, the most elegant and beautiful woman wins the elegance contest. Who else would win in such a competition?”
The phrasing was somewhat ambiguous, but it was certainly a tone that said not to worry.
Melissa embraced Zerox’s neck and laughed brightly.
“I love you. Your Majesty is truly the best. Love me even more.”
“Hah, that’s why I came. You should prepare yourself for tonight.”
Zerox’s movements, exhaling hot breath, accelerated further.
In rhythm with him, Melissa’s moans grew louder.
“Ah, Your Majesty, oh, yes, ah, mmm.”
She feigned approaching climax with her cries, but in truth, Melissa felt little excitement from what Zerox was doing.
The way Zerox thrust domineeringly was merely satisfying his own desires, utterly lacking in consideration.
Most of all, it was far too small.
Is something even going in? It’s attached, but is anything actually entering?
It was all the more inexplicable given his robust physique at first glance.
Honestly, Count Veloda Genoma was a hundred times better at this.
Could Prince Wintem be the same way? According to rumors, the two are brothers, after all.
Then Zerox spoke, his breathing growing rougher and more ragged.
“How is it? Hah, hah, am I not the best?”
A response rose unbidden to Melissa’s throat.
What exactly are you doing? All I feel in my hands is solid muscle. Below is so empty it makes me question if you’re in your right mind.
But since her partner was the king, she could not speak the truth aloud.
Even if Zerox were impotent, Melissa had to remain in his favor.
I must become queen and seize wealth and power, regardless of his masculine capabilities.
I can satisfy my needs elsewhere with other men.
As she thought this, Melissa recalled Count Veloda Genoma.
Once Zerox left, she decided she would wake Count Veloda Genoma sleeping in another room and satisfy her desires with him.
Melissa twisted her body, feigning greater pleasure at Zerox’s thrusts.
“Your Highness, oh, oh my! Mmm.”
She moaned continuously in a coquettish voice, pretending to be lost in ecstasy.
“You’re amazing. I feel like I’m dying.”
I’m dying of boredom and tedium….
* * *
The day the Royal Elegance Contest was held.
Every nobleman of consequence had gathered on the second floor of the Moonlight Palace, where the Royal Palace Banquet Hall stood.
Melissa appeared in a sky-blue satin dress embroidered with golden thread floral patterns, adorned with multiple strands of pearl necklaces.
A lily-shaped jeweled fascinator tilted gracefully upon her head, and her lustrous hair was permed into thick croissant curls, voluminously styled.
As the signature model of the Eleonora Salon, every detail of her appearance had been meticulously crafted.
Following Melissa, Count Veloda Genoma, her partner, who wore a large diamond brooch on his left shoulder, and her mother Matilda Bilsty entered the banquet hall.
“Welcome, Miss Melissa Bilsty, Count Veloda Genoma, and Countess Matilda Bilsty.”
A bald master of ceremonies standing at the entrance with the guards gave Melissa’s party a respectful greeting, then handed each of them a golden ticket.
It was a ballot for recording which contestant they would support.
“Please proceed inside.”
Once inside, Matilda handed her golden ticket to Melissa and patted her shoulder.
“You’ll naturally claim the championship, so enjoy yourself at ease. I must enjoy a little party with someone I promised to meet beforehand.”
Where Matilda’s sticky gaze fell stood a young servant with a rather impressive physique.
Matilda approached him and flashed a broad smile.
“I lost something when I arrived at the Royal Palace. Would you mind guiding me to the Lost and Found Office?”
The servant bowed respectfully.
“I shall assist you, madam.”
Matilda and the servant slipped away down a side corridor.
Melissa, stifling a laugh, moved deeper into the banquet hall.
Gasps erupted from those who noticed Melissa’s arrival.
“Goodness, who is this?”
“You’re so beautiful, Miss Bilsty.”
The nobles crowded around Melissa eagerly.
“The styling techniques of the Eleonora Salon are always dazzling to behold.”
“It seems Miss will win the championship again this year.”
“Then this year the trend will be sky-blue satin dresses embroidered with golden floral patterns and pearl necklaces, I presume. Haha.”
Melissa smiled brightly at the nobles offering their praise.
“Oh, thank you for your kind words. I look forward to your support again this year.”
Moments later, the hall stirred once more.
Even those conversing with Melissa paused and turned their attention away.
‘Who on earth could that be.’
Upon confirming, Melissa’s mood sank.
Luderne Wintem had issued an invitation so rudely blunt that one might question his sanity.
Melissa bit her lip slightly, recalling Anne, whom she had made her spy.
Since that incident, Anne had been sending Melissa brief reports on Luderne’s schedule and movements.
There was nothing significant yet, but someday she would seize upon his weakness.
‘Just wait. I’ll make you regret what you did to me.’
Shortly after, King Zerox appeared alongside the Palace Minister and Princess Cherni.
He offered blessings to the nobles bowing before him to enjoy themselves, then smiled warmly before Melissa.
“You are as beautiful as ever this year. The young lady appears to be a strong contender for the championship.”
At his openly supportive remarks for all to hear, Melissa grew even more confident in her victory.
“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”
“Then I look forward to good results.”
After reassuring Melissa, Zerox began conversing with his close attendants.
Melissa, too, made her rounds through the banquet hall with Count Veloda Genoma, making an impression on the party guests.
As she did, she noticed couples wearing different jeweled brooches on their left shoulders.
Sapphires, rubies, emeralds, amethysts, and more.
The jeweled brooch on the shoulder signified participation in the Royal Elegance Contest.
They, like Melissa, were making their rounds greeting the nobility.
‘They’re all nothing special.’
As Melissa observed her competitors, she felt assured of victory in her heart.
Just then, the Royal Orchestra entered one corner of the banquet hall and took their positions, and soft music began to play.
It was a piece I had never heard before.
At that moment, someone stepped forward from the front of the orchestra.
It was Olivia.
* * *
While the banquet proceeded, the salon designers who had entered the Royal Elegance Contest had to wait in a place invisible to the nobility.
However, that did not mean we could not observe the contestants’ situations.
Before the banquet began, I positioned myself with Irina and Misha near the railing in a corner of the third floor.
I planned to observe the situation through an opera glass until the contest results were announced.
Numerous nobles entered the banquet hall, glittering under the light of ornate chandeliers.
“My goodness, look at that duchess’s dress.”
Unable to contain her admiration while watching the procession, Misha asked Irina.
“Wow, that red satin dress—the ribbon decorations are so elaborate and beautiful. Do you know which shop it’s from?”
Just as Misha said, the duchess’s dress was particularly abundant and ornate with ribbon decorations.
Irina, with her arms crossed, smiled confidently.
“Since we’re a team now, I’ll tell you. Memorize this: the shop that decorates ribbons so elaborately is Helena Shop, the one that adds points with jewels is Millied Shop, and the one focused on small, delicate decorations is Neirous Shop.”
Misha’s head, which had been nodding, tilted to one side.
“Then what about ours? Did we get our dress from Neirous Shop? The style seems different for that…”
Irina’s gaze turned toward me.
“Teacher, which shop is our contest dress from? No matter how I look at it, I can’t tell.”
I answered without taking my eyes off the second-floor banquet hall.
“It’s still a secret. You’ll find out later.”
“Yes.”
Irina answered obediently, but then her gaze caught on something across the room. Her expression twisted in disdain as she lowered her voice conspiratorially.
“Wow, that middle-aged nobleman by the entrance is really hideous. How does he have the audacity to walk around with a face like that?”
At Irina’s rare burst of candor, I followed her gaze.
The man with the inverted-triangle face was Baron Ugly.
There was something vaguely familiar about him, though I couldn’t quite place it. But yes, his appearance was genuinely unfortunate.
Still, I couldn’t bring myself to agree with Irina’s assessment.
“Irina, we may work in the beauty industry, but we can’t go around disparaging strangers’ appearances.”
Chastened, Irina nodded meekly.
“I’m sorry.”
At that moment, the banquet hall erupted in commotion.
Misha spoke up.
“She’s finally here. Last year’s champion and our rival.”
Melissa Bilsty and Count Veloda Genoma entered, drawing every eye in the room.
‘!’
My breath caught in my throat, and my body began to tremble uncontrollably.
「There’s only one way to die, you idiot.」
Even after years had passed, that malicious voice echoed vividly in my ears, and the sensation of cold seawater engulfing my entire body surged back as if it were happening now.
Gripped by a terror so profound I thought I might die, I held my breath and clutched the railing with white knuckles.
I wanted to hide.
If they noticed me, I was certain I’d be dragged away and cast into oblivion once more.
Just as my mind began to drift into a haze of panic—

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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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