About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 71

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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 71. Preemptive Strike
I tilted my head to one side and spoke carefully to Countess Dora.
“Well, I’m not entirely certain I saw correctly, but…”
“Hmm?”
“It seems a guest has arrived at the party, but they appear uncomfortable—they’re lingering outside rather than coming in.”
Countess Dora was startled by my words.
“My goodness, really?”
“Someone accompanying them seems to be trying to persuade them. They must be quite shy.”
“That won’t do at all. Where are they?”
As she glanced around, I subtly raised a finger to point in one direction. Countess Dora then cast a quick look that way.
“You’re right. There really is someone there?”
Countess Dora nodded vigorously and added,
“I’ll go fetch them right away with the butler.”
* * *
“My goodness, I wondered who that could be!”
Melissa Bilsty was utterly bewildered.
She had been observing the situation from a considerable distance, yet somehow Countess Dora had discovered her and arrived with her butler.
“So it was the Young Lady of Count Bilsty and Count Veloda Genoma.”
Countess Dora clapped her hands in greeting, and Melissa forced a smile in return.
“Ah, yes.”
“If you’ve arrived, why are you lingering out here?”
Melissa panicked. She couldn’t very well admit she’d been spying and grinding her teeth in frustration.
Since she’d been caught, there was nothing to do but follow the explanation Countess Dora had provided.
Melissa’s eyes darted for a moment before she gazed downward, her long lashes appearing sorrowful.
“Well, I… I was just feeling a bit shy about it.”
Count Veloda Genoma stood awkwardly beside her, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
“I was in the middle of persuading her to come inside.”
“Oh my, was that so?”
Countess Dora barely suppressed a laugh that threatened to burst forth.
Her chest felt wonderfully relieved, as if a blockage had suddenly cleared.
Countess Dora knew all too well that Melissa Bilsty was hosting a party at the same time as hers today.
Moreover, the fact that Melissa’s schedule had been decided somewhat later had deeply displeased her, wounded her pride, and made her resent Melissa.
The number of attendees at a party is proportional to one’s influence in high society.
Yet she was hosting a party at the same time as me?
It was as if she’d declared war without even drawing a blade.
It was a direct challenge to her influence, a gauntlet thrown down. When party times overlap, nobles attend the gatherings of those they support.
When such conflicts arose regarding parties, Melissa had almost always emerged victorious.
At least it was fortunate that the house parties she had hosted until last year hadn’t coincided with Melissa’s schedule.
Still, Countess Dora had been anxious in her heart. What if Melissa’s party schedule happened to overlap with hers?
What if people attended Melissa’s party in droves and left her own house party sparsely attended?
But I couldn’t let it show.
To treat a woman favored by The King that way would be to go against his feelings.
Besides, I was a countess in name, so what good would it do to let people know I was concerned with the daughter of a mere count’s mansion?
That’s why when the schedule conflicted this time, Countess Dora had suffered in silence without being able to say a word to anyone.
And now that arrogant party host had come all the way here?
At this rate, Melissa Bilsty’s house party wasn’t just sparse—it appeared to have no one at all.
It was a complete victory for Countess Dora.
Melissa Bilsty had clearly come here out of desperation to spy on my party.
‘How did it come to this?’
Thinking back, I recalled the banquet from four days ago.
At that time, Countess Dora had boasted that the champions from Raber Salon would be attending her party.
The envy I’d seen in the noblewomen’s eyes then had felt particularly intense, and it seemed the rumor had spread.
I felt newly grateful to Priscilla for coming to my house party.
‘My dear is truly a blessing. Stunning beauty, excellent skills, wonderful at networking, and such a pleasant personality.’
My chest filled with contentment.
‘Come to think of it, the salon is where rumors of high society gather… I wonder if she received an invitation from Count Bilsty’s daughter as well?’
If so, Priscilla couldn’t have been unaware that the parties overlapped.
‘Could it be…?’
Countess Dora began to suspect another reason Priscilla had decided to attend.
‘Is my dear’s perception really that sharp? Did she intentionally place Count Bilsty’s daughter right in the palm of my hand?’
With that thought, Countess Dora found herself liking Priscilla even more.
Even if she had done it completely unknowingly, it was fine.
The result was the same either way.
The thought that I could manipulate Melissa Bilsty as I pleased from now on felt exhilarating.
‘Acting so high and mighty without even a title. It must have felt good to strut about all this time.’
Intoxicated by the sense of victory, Countess Dora decided to wear a leisurely smile and graciously accept this loser.
“Still, seeing you here breaks my heart. Please don’t worry—come in and have a cocktail with us.”
Countess Dora gently pulled Melissa Bilsty’s hand and deliberately offered an even more angelic smile.
* * *
The moment Countess Dora went to fetch Melissa Bilsty, the noble daughters gathered around me again.
As I listened to their chatter and offered appropriate responses, I spoke with a gentle smile.
“It seems we have a new guest.”
The daughters’ gazes all turned toward the entrance at once.
Just then, Countess Dora was bringing Melissa Bilsty in my direction.
The prey I’d handed her seemed to be very much to her liking.
“My goodness.”
The expressions on the daughters’ faces became quite amusing.
One of the daughters who spotted Melissa Bilsty lowered her voice.
“Didn’t Count Bilsty’s daughter have a house party today?”
“What about her own party?”
At that moment, another young lady could no longer contain herself and laughed.
“It’s obviously a disaster, isn’t it?”
“She scheduled it without knowing her place, overlapping with Countess Dora’s party. How fitting.”
“I never knew there existed a party where even the host didn’t attend.”
Laughter rang out like jade beads rolling across a silver platter.
Then two of them covered their faces with their fans.
“We’ll just step away for a moment.”
“We can’t risk indigestion after such a rare meal. Today’s party food was truly delicious.”
The young ladies hurried away from their seats.
Watching them go, another young lady laughed as if amused.
“Look at their false modesty. Hehe.”
The young ladies who had just left had originally planned to attend Melissa Bilsty’s party but changed their minds and came here instead.
One could tell from the atmosphere.
They had merely pretended to support Melissa Bilsty, thinking they should align themselves carefully since Zerox showed her particular favor and she was close to Princess Cherni.
In truth, they had never cared for a young lady of such low standing.
I nodded and glanced around the party venue for a moment.
Among those who had seen Melissa Bilsty and Count Veloda Genoma, some gradually shifted to other areas. They seemed reluctant to face them just yet.
In fact, the moment Zerox noticed Melissa Bilsty’s arrival, he took Olivia and retreated entirely into the mansion.
Melissa Bilsty’s gaze remained fixed on the backs of those two as they left.
Under Countess Dora’s guidance, Count Veloda Genoma had just joined a conversation with other men.
Countess Dora, who had brought Melissa Bilsty out alone to stand before the young ladies, spoke in a kind tone.
“Say hello. Miss Melissa Bilsty has arrived.”
At Countess Dora’s words, the young ladies each offered a greeting to Melissa Bilsty, their amusement concealed behind their fans.
“My, welcome, Miss Bilsty.”
(What nerve does she have to show her face here?)
“How unexpected to see you here.”
(Did you abandon your own party to come here? How surprising.)
“Countess Dora’s party is truly magnificent. You understand, don’t you, Miss?”
(That’s why we couldn’t possibly attend your inferior party. You know your place, don’t you?)
“Is it true that His Majesty and Prince Wintem attended?”
(The King has no interest in you anymore. What can you do about it? As for the Prince, there’s no need to mention him.)
Was it merely my imagination that their words carried such interpretations?
“Of course.”
Melissa Bilsty lifted the corners of her mouth and spoke in a sweet voice.
“I only learned yesterday that Countess Dora was hosting a party. I was so startled that I deliberated and decided to cancel mine.”
The young ladies merely exchanged glances at her words, then nodded with small laughs.
It was truly an obvious lie, and a ridiculous excuse.
I quietly observed Melissa Bilsty’s movements.
Her face flushed, Melissa Bilsty clenched her fists while the young ladies looked elsewhere.
But the moment they turned their gaze back to her, she quickly unclenched them as if nothing had happened.
She feigned composure, yet the turmoil consuming her from within was painfully transparent.
It was fascinating to witness.
When I first encountered Melissa Bilsty at the Royal Elegance Contest, I had struggled, however briefly.
Perhaps it was because the noble ladies had already launched their preemptive strikes and thoroughly humiliated her? Now, watching Melissa Bilsty’s plight was genuinely amusing.
And yet, I found my former self contemptible.
I had never imagined that merely choosing which party to attend would render Melissa Bilsty’s position so laughably insignificant.
Of course, I had achieved considerable results to warrant it.
But upon reflection, I wondered if the matter wouldn’t have already been settled the moment I stood before King Zerox in proper attire.
After all, Zerox’s eyes had gleamed even when he beheld me without any special preparation.
Not that I harbored any intention of becoming his mistress.
‘To think I was once helpless before someone so utterly insignificant.’
The championship of the Royal Elegance Contest—a position wielding influence potent enough to redirect the King’s attention in an instant—suddenly felt profoundly remarkable.
Then, my eyes met Melissa Bilsty’s.
It was time for a direct confrontation.
Yet I felt no burden whatsoever. I need not even lift a finger.
The noble ladies seasoned in High Society were specialists in sophisticated mockery; they would undoubtedly handle her without my involvement.
So I simply offered a courteous, professional smile.
“You’re such a renowned figure that I wanted to pay my respects. How delightful to meet you like this, Miss Bilsty.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
Melissa Bilsty’s lips trembled as she forced out her response and smile.

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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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