About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 65

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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 65. For the Sake of Revenge
Jeanne, having devoured the second slice of cake with equal fervor, relayed the conversation between Melissa Bilsty and Count Veloda Genoma that she had overheard the previous day.
In truth, even as Jeanne recounted it, she did not fully comprehend what the exchange had meant.
Yet she understood well enough that they had seemingly killed someone, and harbored malicious intent to harm another.
For this reason, she had taken great care to convey every detail faithfully to Priscilla.
After listening to the entire account, Priscilla nodded with an unreadable expression, then offered Jeanne money as thanks.
“Thank you so much.”
Jeanne’s eyes widened in astonishment.
In my hand lay a single gold coin—a substantial sum.
I had never expected to receive payment. She had aided me without hesitation, and I had done the same for her.
“I… is it truly acceptable for me to accept such a considerable amount?”
Jeanne’s mind raced with countless calculations.
Having become a live-in maid at the Count’s Mansion, my circumstances had changed considerably.
And according to Madame Laber’s recent words, there was now no one who would harm or threaten me.
Yet my mother still remained in the Slums.
Now that I had secured proper employment, we need not worry about mere survival, but paradoxically, this made us more vulnerable to the malice of our neighbors.
In the Slums, it was not uncommon for the desperate to raid neighboring homes and commit murder out of starvation.
When there were no choices, one lived in ignorance, but looking back now, it was truly a place I despised and never wished to return to.
‘Yes. I must move my mother away from there.’
With the money I had received thus far, I could afford modest monthly rent for a time.
‘If I continue to save my wages, and earn money like this each time I provide information to my teacher?’
For now, it would be a small single room somewhere beyond the Slums, but as my earnings grew, I might secure lodgings closer to the Town House, and eventually nearer to a hospital.
It was then that Priscilla spoke.
“I am truly grateful for this. However, your methods seem perilous, so I would prefer you not to seek out such information deliberately. I will compensate you for intelligence regardless.”
Jeanne quickly raised both hands in protest.
“It is not dangerous. There are only two guard soldiers there, and they merely watch the entrance. Inside, only the butler and a handful of servants and maids move about. The master is rarely home except when sleeping. And the lady of the house frequently stays out overnight.”
“Still, if you are caught even once, the danger could be severe. I do not wish to see you harmed.”
Seeing the genuine concern in her expression, Jeanne nodded obediently.
“I understand.”
Though inwardly, I resolved to act with discretion as circumstances allowed.
* * *
After Jeanne’s departure, alone in Madame Laber’s Study, I reflected upon all that had transpired.
Following my victory in the Royal Elegance Contest, Madame Laber had fulfilled every promise she had made to me without reservation.
My lodgings were immediately relocated to a luxurious two-story residence in the bustling City Center.
The house rivaled the Town House in both amenities and size. Opening the windows on the second floor revealed an expansive view of the Sea.
The title by which she addressed me had also been augmented with “my angel.”
It was hardly unreasonable, given what I had accomplished.
The Royal Elegance Contest was open to any Salon within the Kingdom.
Yet the cost of participation was prohibitive, allowing only some twenty Salons to compete each year.
Last year, twenty establishments had participated, and among them, the Laverre Salon’s support rate had been a mere one percent.
Given the scale of the event, it was a deeply disappointing result, and the losses were inevitably substantial.
Of course, Madame Laber was renowned and wielded considerable influence.
That was why the nobility had spoken of supporting the Raber Salon before the Royal Elegance Contest even began.
Only when they needed her.
Only when they required her hand to handle their sordid affairs in the shadows.
Yet in reality, they had cast their votes for the models they fancied or those with greater influence.
Unless one produced the ballot itself, there was no way to verify who had voted as promised—no grounds for complaint.
It was a telling measure of how thoroughly Madame Laber’s pride had been wounded.
But this time, she had secured nearly universal support. Despite the number of participating establishments remaining the same as last year.
Particularly striking was that the Raber Salon received record-breaking support, even as the favored Eleonora Salon appeared more beautiful.
It was the highest tally in the contest’s history.
Moreover, the Raber Salon’s reservations were completely booked for a month on the very day of the competition, and thereafter they overflowed.
While one person could secure multiple appointments, the maximum booking period was two months. Yet the accumulated reservations had already exceeded a full year.
Many who had successfully booked found themselves displaced by nobles of greater power, their fortunes shifting dramatically.
It was precisely the same method by which Baroness Meldear had pushed aside the Mute Maid’s reservation.
Though it was difficult to comprehend, it was apparently a common sight in the Central Social Circle.
Still, those who had voted based on the words of Countess Dora and Baroness Meldear had their reservation times honored as previously promised.
However, the roster of clients whose bookings were confirmed afterward had largely changed.
“The reservations are now filled entirely with high-ranking nobles and those of considerable influence.”
Madame Laber, speaking thus, laughed with unbridled delight.
“And it turns out His Majesty the King voted for Olivia as well. Oh, ho ho ho! Well, that settles it then. My dear, we’re sitting on a fortune!”
The Raber Salon’s standing had been utterly transformed.
“How amusing it was to see Eleonora’s arrogance completely deflated. And it’s all thanks to my angel.”
Thanks to that, I was now able to make additional demands of her for my revenge.
I simply told her that I had nearly died from deception. I kept hidden both the curse and who had inflicted it.
“Just to be certain—the target isn’t the royal family, is it?”
“Of course not.”
“Good. That’s all that matters.”
Madame Laber nodded readily.
“Well, if someone nearly had you killed, it’s only just to strike them down in return. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. I understand perfectly. And my angel’s enemy is my enemy too.”
Madame Laber told me to do whatever I wished. She would cooperate fully.
And I recalled the astonishingly vast amount of information that Jeanne had brought me in mere days.
I had merely asked her to share what she naturally overheard while working.
No matter how I looked at it, Jeanne’s methods seemed dangerous.
I stopped her from continuing and asked her to bring her mother to the house. I would need extra hands for the new residence anyway.
Given Jeanne’s temperament, she would soon grow anxious about her mother’s whereabouts, so I intended to have her move in and give her work to occupy her time.
Deeply moved by my words, she thanked me repeatedly before departing to fetch her mother.
‘So Melissa and Count Veloda Genoma had grown uneasy because of the lyrics in the song Olivia performed.’
Even without certainty, they feared I might have somehow survived, that I might expose the crimes they had committed.
‘But this is only the beginning.’
I’m planning to gradually plunge the two of them into anxiety.
And then, someday, I’ll make them realize I’m alive. So consumed by worry they won’t be able to sleep soundly at night.
With Madame Laber’s cooperation, the board I can move on has shifted somewhat, so it didn’t seem particularly difficult.
And then there was Jeanne’s report regarding Olivia, who sang the lyrics I had written.
I had anticipated that Melissa and Count Veloda Genoma would investigate Olivia to ease their anxiety and would try to harm her in any way possible, but….
‘Could they actually be plotting a sexual crime?’
My brow furrowed involuntarily at the anticipated method. The night I fled came to mind.
‘Still the same trash.’
But that was merely their plan, nothing more.
It was impossible for Melissa alone to harm Olivia. Madame Laber’s backing was too strong.
From what I had observed, whether it was background investigations, back alleys, the pleasure districts, or underworld dealings, Madame Laber was unparalleled.
There was no way such a Madame Laber would simply overlook the danger posed by Olivia, who had even caught the King’s eye.
Then suddenly, the King Zerox’s gaze from that day came to mind.
‘In the novel, the relationship between Zerox and Melissa seemed unbreakable… but perhaps it might be easier than expected?’
If Melissa lost the King’s interest, it would be all the simpler.
Madame Laber might even be able to harm Melissa instead.
Everything up to this point was well organized.
But an unexpected detail from what Jeanne had conveyed wouldn’t leave my mind.

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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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