About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 77
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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 77. It Has to Be You
Madame Laber spoke.
“Prince Wintem never showed any reaction to anyone I brought before him. But the moment he saw you, something changed. That’s not like him at all.”
Irina ventured carefully into the conversation.
“Perhaps it’s because you’re so beautiful, ma’am?”
Madame Laber let out a scoff immediately.
“You’re certainly blessed with striking beauty yourself, but in this Kingdom, there are truly many beautiful women.”
“Couldn’t you be his ideal type?”
At Misha’s question, Madame Laber scoffed once more.
“Who do you think I am? Haven’t I shown you every type like yours?”
Irina and Misha exchanged awkward glances, their eyes darting about.
Speaking with absolute conviction, Madame Laber thrust her clutch into my hands and forcibly embraced me.
“I don’t know why. But my instincts, honed through decades in the Entertainment Industry, are telling me this: that man must have you.”
It must be me.
Those words thrilled me even as they troubled me, drawing only a bitter smile.
The same person, yet showing such different reactions simply because my appearance had changed?
Madame Laber emphasized with full force.
“Then you must seize this opportunity while he’s showing interest!”
“But…”
“No more excuses. Listen to me. You’ll thank me profusely later.”
A sigh escaped me.
I could sense a kind of madness in Madame Laber that no words would penetrate.
“Stop being foolish and let’s go.”
The moment Madame Laber seized my hand and pulled me forward, Irina suddenly stepped in front of us.
“W-wait, Madame! You can’t go like this!”
“Huh?”
Misha quickly joined in as well.
“That’s right. You absolutely cannot go like this.”
Fortunately, it seemed Irina and Misha were trying to stop Madame Laber on my behalf.
“What? Are you two being foolish as well?”
Just as Madame Laber’s expression was turning harsh, Irina’s face flushed crimson as she clenched both fists tightly.
“It’s not that… ma’am has handprints on her back! You should have struck somewhere less visible.”
Madame Laber’s eyes widened in surprise at this unexpected rebuke, and she checked my back.
Misha also clenched both fists firmly.
“Ma’am! I may not understand much, but this time I think Madame Laber is right! He’s a Grand Duke, after all. So please be brave! I’m rooting for you!”
‘Good heavens…’
I covered my eyes with my hand. There wasn’t a single person here with any sense.
Shortly after, once I had finished my preparations, I stood before Luderne Sellen alongside Madame Laber.
Wearing a shawl newly draped across my shoulders and back, made from the luxuriant tail fur of a black fox.
It was meant to conceal the handprints, but the soft and abundant fox fur covered the exposed areas, which put my mind somewhat at ease.
Madame Laber smiled warmly as Luderne Sellen enjoyed his tea in peaceful silence.
“Everything is ready. Does it meet your satisfaction?”
Luderne Sellen nodded once, checked his pocket watch, and rose from his seat.
“Then let’s go.”
I followed behind Luderne Sellen, then glanced back. Madame Laber had raised one hand and was gently wiggling her fingers back and forth.
As if to say, do your best.
A bitter smile escaped my lips.
‘If she knew my situation, she couldn’t possibly encourage me like that.’
As I passed through the Salon lobby on my way outside, I caught sight of our reflections in a full-length mirror.
The Luderne Sellen in the mirror was the most striking version of him I had ever seen. Even more so than on our wedding day.
But I felt my spirits sink.
The beautiful woman standing beside him wasn’t ‘Priscilla’—she was ‘Priscilla’ that I had created.
‘Did Luderne Sellen always prefer this type?’
I swallowed the sigh that threatened to escape at the thought of what I had lost.
If I had known his tastes were like this, I would have made an effort back when we were on Heril Island. But it’s too late to change things now.
As Luderne Sellen and I exited the Salon, people who had been heading into the Casino spotted us and began to stir.
Everyone looked utterly astonished.
I even noticed a photographer in the distance hastily raising his camera.
We pretended not to notice the various reactions around us and entered the Casino.
The moment we stepped through the first-floor entrance, several women’s gazes snapped toward us.
Rigid postures, wide eyes, gaping mouths.
One woman seemed to have lost her senses entirely, dropping the glass she was holding with a clink before looking flustered.
Fortunately, the floor was covered with thick carpet; otherwise, the sharp sound of breaking glass would have drawn everyone’s attention.
Soon Brissel Mohr approached and bowed to Luderne Sellen.
“A private table has been prepared on the second floor. Allow me to show you the way.”
Luderne Sellen and I followed Brissel Mohr toward the second floor.
The second-floor Casino, with its red curtains drawn to block out all natural light, was remarkably spacious, and an enormous chandelier gleamed brilliantly.
When I glanced to the side, I could see a beautifully decorated cafeteria adorned with potted plants of various sizes.
Serving staff moved between the four gaming tables with trays laden with liquor, beverages, and various forms of tobacco.
As I listened to Brissel Mohr’s guidance, I surveyed the nearby table situations.
At a table piled high with chips of various colors, the dealer shook dice inside a cup.
After watching the dealer and game participants for a moment, I suddenly doubted my eyes. Among the game participants was Egardt, the butler I had seen at the Wintem Estate on Heril Island.
The dealer at that table spoke.
“Please make your decision.”
The dealer had three overturned cups arranged before him.
The people participating in the game had each arranged three dice in front of themselves. The dice showed the same numbers on their upper faces, or different ones.
After examining the dice placed by the game participants, the dealer spoke respectfully.
“If everyone has finished placing their bets, I will open them.”
As the dealer lifted the cups from left to right in sequence, the numbers on the dice inside were revealed.
“From left to right, they are 4, 3, and 6.”
It appeared to be a game where victory was achieved if all the dice numbers in the cup matched the numbers placed by the participant in sequence.
I checked the dice numbers in front of the participant.
“Egardt has won.”
All the chips in the center of the table moved toward Egardt.
“Wow, he got it right again.”
“How on earth did he get all of those?”
The people seated at the table applauded with small exclamations of admiration.
Egardt wore a confident smile—quite different from the demeanor I’d witnessed on Heril Island.
‘I never knew the butler had this side to him.’
Finding it both surprising and oddly impressive, I smiled involuntarily.
Then, the moment my gaze shifted to the adjacent table, I was startled once more.
‘Why is he here…?’
The man sitting with cards in hand was unmistakably Walter.
Though dressed in formal attire closer to a uniform than his usual style, and his demeanor appeared heavier than normal, there was no mistaking him.
Matilda sat directly beside Walter.
She was absorbed in scrutinizing the cards in her hand.
“Fold.”
The moment Walter checked his cards, he folded them. His hand must have been poor.
Then Brissel Mohr pointed to a table beneath one of the artworks.
Directly in front of the large artwork inside was a semicircular six-person table where four men and women were seated.
Only the two end seats on the left remained empty.
The three other tables positioned at different angles were full except for one seat each.
“Those two remaining seats at that table are reserved for you both. I shall guide you.”
“We’ll find our own way to our seats—enjoy your game, Brissel Mohr. That remaining seat at that table is yours, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
Walter, hearing the voices of Brissel Mohr and Luderne, turned around.
He rose from his seat for a moment and approached quietly, then bowed respectfully.
“I apologize for my late arrival, Your Highness.”
As Walter straightened and lifted his head, I saw his pupils dilate momentarily. He was clearly flustered, though he was attempting to maintain composure.
It was evident he wanted to ask me why I was here.
Though truthfully, I wanted to ask him the same thing.
Brissel Mohr let out a soft laugh at Walter’s expression.
“It must seem strange to your eyes as well, seeing His Highness with a partner. Still, it won’t do to let it show so plainly on your face.”
Madame Laber had told me the same thing—that Luderne had never brought a partner before.
So Brissel Mohr seemed to understand Walter’s surprise in that light.
Walter immediately straightened and bowed respectfully.
“My apologies.”
Luderne nodded.
“Finish enjoying yourself. It would be even better if you win.”
“I shall do my best.”
Walter sat back down.
The card game at Walter’s table ended with victory for a newcomer.
Once the game concluded, Matilda Bilsty finally glanced our way, though her expression suggested disappointment at losing rather than any genuine interest in us.
As the dealer shuffled the cards with a flourish, Walter and Matilda Bilsty refocused on their game, while Brissel Mohr took the empty seat as Luderne Sellen had instructed.
Count Veloda Genoma was seated at the table where Brissel Mohr had joined.
Luderne Sellen and I made our way to the table directly in front of the artwork.
At that moment, the dealer at the table spoke.
“The King’s victory.”
Zerox sat across from us.
The dealer and game participants applauded him.
The dealer then bowed respectfully toward us.
“Welcome, Prince Wintem.”
At the dealer’s courteous greeting, all eyes at the table turned toward us, and I could finally make out the faces of the other participants.
Olivia was seated at the far right end of the table, with Zerox beside her.
Yet Zerox’s gaze, alternating between me and Luderne Sellen, did not seem welcoming.
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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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