About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 60

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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 60. The First Strike
“…Are you alright, Teacher? Your complexion looks rather pale.”
It was Irina who had asked me this.
Before I could answer, the Banquet Hall erupted in a small chorus of excitement.
“Oh, Prince Wintem!”
Misha’s bright voice rang out.
In that instant, my senses snapped into focus. My gaze instinctively turned toward the entrance of the Banquet Hall.
The moment I saw Luderne Sellen, my heart lurched and began to race.
A handsome face, broad shoulders, a wide chest, a lean waist, and long legs.
Luderne Sellen, drawing every eye in the room, looked absolutely resplendent in his black formal attire. He seemed to radiate light from his entire being.
The male nobles immediately swarmed around Luderne Sellen.
Luderne Sellen slowly made his way to one side with those who followed him, exchanging what appeared to be casual conversation.
The anxiety and fear that had been suffocating me vanished as if they had never existed, and I could breathe freely once more.
At the same time, I felt a response stirring within my body.
Like Pavlov’s dog.
I wanted to rush to him immediately, taste his sweet saliva, touch him, and be held in his embrace.
I wanted to hear his passionate, heated breathing.
I bit my lower lip gently.
‘I must be losing my mind.’
Yet unlike before, this impulse was far more rational and docile. It felt fundamentally different from the compulsive sensation that had arisen from the curse’s unique coercive power.
I felt both relieved and disappointed by this state.
I took a small, deep breath.
“Phew…”
Then I smiled at Irina, who was watching me with concern.
“I’m fine. Let’s focus on the situation on the Second Floor.”
Soon, King Zerox also appeared in the Banquet Hall.
He encountered Melissa Bilsty.
The encouraging atmosphere only sharpened my focus further.
‘Now is the time for vengeance, not for surrendering to anxiety and fear.’
I clenched my fists tightly and tracked Melissa Bilsty and Count Veloda Genoma with my eyes. And I recalled Luderne Sellen’s future and what I would become if the curse remained unbroken.
If things continued as they were, we would both die.
If that happened, only they would be laughing in the end.
‘Absolutely not.’
At that moment, Misha and Irina, brimming with anticipation, spoke in turn.
“We’re up next, Teacher.”
“It’s finally beginning.”
The orchestra began to play.
It was the moment when Olivia, the contestant from the Raber Salon, made her appearance.
* * *
The nobles paid little attention to the orchestra. To them, the orchestra was merely a backdrop that set the atmosphere for the gathering.
That was true until Olivia’s captivating voice resonated powerfully through the Banquet Hall.
“Ahhh, dark Sea, frozen abyss―”
The murmuring crowd fell silent in an instant.
“Cast adrift. Cursed terribly and cast adrift.”
Every eye in the room turned toward Olivia.
‘What… what is that?’
Drawn by the voice, Melissa Bilsty found her gaze shifting without conscious thought, and she was struck by the sensation of her vision brightening.
The singer before her wore a beige gown that appeared to be constructed from layers of dragonfly wings sewn together.
Above it, tiny jeweled flowers reflected the light from the Banquet Hall’s chandeliers.
Particularly striking was the citrine brooch fastened to her left shoulder.
‘A contestant in the Royal Elegance Contest?’
Next, her alluring lips and jawline captivated attention, as did her gracefully defined neck, delicate collarbones, and the gentle curve of her exposed shoulders.
Olivia finished the first half of her song and closed her lips briefly.
As she steadied her breathing and relaxed her expression, her face finally came into proper view.
Eyes that stretched elegantly as if to enchant, eyelids dusted as though with silver stardust.
Not only did her gaze shine, but her pale skin radiated an elegance that transcended mere beauty—it possessed an ethereal luminescence.
When she gently lifted her thick, alluring lashes, her large, glistening eyes captured everyone’s attention.
Melissa Bilsty found herself dissecting every aspect of Olivia’s appearance.
Her luxuriant dark brown hair gleamed with lustre, swept in waves past her ears at the front, while the back was gathered cleanly into a single knot.
She wore a platinum hair ornament woven in the pattern of laurel leaves—not a tiara, yet it appeared as one.
It was both pure and elegant.
She appeared as though the goddess of music herself had descended.
Shocked, Melissa quickly searched for Zerox with her eyes.
When had he moved?
It was not difficult to spot him near the Third Floor railing, holding a wine glass.
Zerox stood motionless in conversation with his attendants, his gaze fixed unwavering upon the singer.
The intensity of Zerox’s demeanor—unable to tear his eyes away from her—filled Melissa with an ominous feeling.
Then she heard the soft exclamations of the noblewomen.
“Oh my.”
“Goodness.”
Melissa turned her attention back to the stage.
Olivia began the second half of her song, slowly raising both hands. Each movement was extraordinarily graceful.
“Entranced. Breath stolen away, entranced so deeply. When I opened my eyes, I understood. That I could not find the name. That I must not seek it.”
The moment she extended her hands, which she had brought together before her chest, opening them to reveal her palms, Melissa felt a chill race down her spine. Her blood seemed to drain away, and goosebumps erupted across her skin.
Was it the magnitude of the visual impact?
Unable to find an explanation for her own reaction in the lyrics she heard, Melissa was deeply bewildered.
Questions arose.
Why did she feel this way?
Then the noblewomen, who had been holding their breath as they listened, began to stir softly.
“Oh my, did you see?”
“Could it be… she painted her nails and attached jewels to them?”
“My goodness, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“I couldn’t have imagined it. Now that I see it, I wonder why such a thing didn’t exist before.”
“How was it even done?”
From that conversation, Melissa Bilsty reached her own conclusion.
‘That’s it! That eerie feeling comes from those insane nail decorations!’
Melissa Bilsty quickly examined her own nails.
They were beautifully and neatly trimmed, but they were just nails.
Unlike hers, there were no colorful jeweled ornaments attached, nor did they shimmer with that subtle peachy glow.
Once Olivia finished her song, she was escorted by a man equally impeccably groomed to the center of the Banquet Hall.
The nobles standing along her path applauded, saying they had heard a truly beautiful song.
“Oh my, she’s like a butterfly. How lovely.”
The noblewomen who had been marveling began to fidget anxiously once Olivia had completely passed.
“Goodness, which salon does she represent?”
“What if she’s not from the one I attend?”
“It’s certainly not the Eleonora Salon. The Eleonora Salon’s contestant is…”
Their gaze fell upon Melissa Bilsty.
The noblewomen opened their fans and lowered their voices.
“Has anyone heard anything? I think we should make reservations before the results are announced today.”
Melissa Bilsty gripped the hem of her dress tightly.
Though voting had not yet begun, the noblewomen’s reactions spoke volumes about who would receive the better evaluation.
At that moment, one noblewoman’s mouth fell open.
“Oh, I think I know!”
When all the noblewomen’s gazes turned toward her at once, she laughed, momentarily flustered.
“Why, when we gathered yesterday, Baroness Meldear mentioned something, didn’t she?”
At her words, the noblewomen’s eyes widened.
“Baroness Meldear?”
“Ah! Baroness Meldear’s hair had turned into perfect blonde!”
“Oh! Countess Dora seemed to mention something similar!”
The noblewomen’s mouths fell open in succession.
“Heavens! Then isn’t that the salon? The one that said they’d prioritize reservations only for those who vote for them today?”
“Oh my, oh my, then I think I know where it is.”
The noblewomen each pulled out golden tickets.
“We shouldn’t waste time—we need to find the relevant people, promise our votes, and secure salon reservations right away.”
“Where were the salon reservation staff located?”
“I know. Follow me.”
“I’ll come too.”
The noblewomen, who had been looking around as if searching for someone, hurried away.
Melissa Bilsty watched the direction they went, biting her lip hard.
‘How did this happen? Why is that unknown singer drawing all the attention? The victory should be mine!’
My heart pounded wildly, and my hands trembled.
But as the orchestra shifted to a new piece, there was no time for deep contemplation.
Simultaneously, ceremonial officials appeared carrying ballot boxes, colorful bouquets, cork score boards, quill pens, and various other items.
The officials climbed the staircase leading from the Banquet Hall to the Third Floor.
Midway up, there was a small circular hall, and from that point, a split spiral staircase continued upward to the Third Floor.
The officials halted in the intermediate hall.
Soon, large cork score boards bearing the names of each Salon were installed on the walls, with a long table displaying quill pens beneath them and bouquets of various colors arranged alongside.
A large ballot box was carefully positioned in the center of the table, and once all installations were complete, the officials divided themselves on either side of the table.
The voting had begun.
The nobles retrieved the golden paper tickets they had received upon entry.
Shortly, when the waltz commenced, they would write down which contestant they supported and place their votes into the ballot box.
Melissa carefully observed who approached the ballot box first.
The first to approach the ballot box were King Zerox and the Minister of the Royal Household.
Zerox, conscious of the gazes fixed upon him, smiled toward the nobles in the Banquet Hall and raised his hand in acknowledgment.
When his eyes met mine, he grinned slightly before turning his gaze elsewhere.
‘That singer from before?’

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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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