About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 87
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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 87. I Could Not Hesitate
The horses galloped swiftly until they reached the street where the Raber Salon stood.
Two carriages had completely blocked the road.
It was a severe collision—wheels had come loose and parts of the carriages were shattered.
Luderne Sellen brought his carriage to an abrupt halt and handed the reins to Walter.
“I’ll leave the rear to you.”
Before Walter could even respond, Luderne Sellen leaped from the coachman’s seat and ran toward the Raber Salon like a madman.
She would be in that place with the sturdy parasol wood door.
But the moment I set foot on the fourth floor, Luderne Sellen realized Priscilla was in a different service room.
“Let go! You insane bastard!”
Priscilla’s desperate voice reached him immediately.
The ominous premonition had become reality.
Several people had gathered in the direction of the sound—Madame Laber and staff from the front desk among them.
The moment Luderne Sellen saw Eclite pinning Priscilla down and raising his hand, his eyes nearly rolled back in his head.
He wanted to beat him to death instantly.
But he had to restrain himself.
Whether he beat him or killed him, it would only make matters worse.
Luderne Sellen could not eliminate Eclite. Protecting his own was the best he could do.
Barely suppressing the breath that threatened to burst from his lungs and the murderous intent rising within him as though nothing were amiss, he managed to prevent the assault by only seizing Eclite’s wrist.
As if by coincidence.
Now he needed to create a justification for his sudden arrival.
There was only one option.
Informing Eclite of the Emperor’s condition.
To separate Eclite and Priscilla immediately.
Even if the opportunity to become Crown Prince disappeared, I could not hesitate.
What use were the imperial throne, power, gold, and jewels in a world without Priscilla?
Meanwhile, doubt crept in.
A strange sense of déjà vu suddenly struck him.
Though I had never experienced it before, I seemed to know all too well what a world without Priscilla would be like for me.
Thus Luderne Sellen sent Eclite away.
And the only message he left for Priscilla was to meet Walter.
* * *
Walter waited at the salon entrance.
Unlike when he was a tavern owner, he was dressed neatly.
Upon meeting me, Walter hesitated and let out a small sigh.
“Get in the carriage. You must have many questions, but His Highness has given me instructions. Let’s handle those matters first, then we’ll talk.”
I boarded the carriage without hesitation.
Walter’s first destination was my mansion.
Walter glanced around cautiously, then lowered his voice.
“Your mansion has an emergency exit, doesn’t it?”
I nodded.
“Where will I exit if I use the emergency passage?”
“If you turn the corner of the alley ahead, there’s a one-story vacant house with a blue roof and red brick walls. It’s shabby and very small.”
Walter nodded.
“Good. Then I’ll change my clothes and carriage, and wait in front of that house.”
It was a cryptic statement.
But Walter, contrary to what I knew of him, continued with a grave expression.
“Gather all important items and valuables from the house and bring them out there.”
“…What?”
“It’s a precaution just in case. Have the servants exit through the emergency passage one by one and stay at another residence. I’ll load the valuables onto the carriage I brought once the servants carry them out.”
He then assured me he would protect my assets and secure a separate mansion for the servants to stay in, adding that Luderne Sellen would cover all the lodging expenses for the temporary residence.
He checked his pocket watch.
“Everything must be finished before dark. Move as if nothing is amiss.”
I nodded.
Honestly, I had no idea what was happening. But since Luderne Sellen had urged me to meet with him, there had to be a reason.
Walter chuckled and waved his hand at me.
“Then go on inside.”
As if on cue, he bid farewell loudly, so I raised my voice in response.
“Thank you so much for the ride.”
“Don’t mention it. Rest well.”
Walter departed with the carriage.
I watched it disappear into the distance for a moment, then entered the mansion.
“Oh, Teacher! You’re back?”
“You’re early, Teacher. Welcome.”
Jeanne and her mother, who had been scrubbing the floor, greeted me warmly.
“Jeanne, do you have the day off?”
“Yes. I also have something to tell you.”
I nodded and locked the front door firmly. The two of them looked bewildered at this unusual action.
“Why are you doing that?”
“I have something to tell everyone. Are all the servants in the mansion right now?”
“Yes, they are.”
“Good. First, draw all the curtains in the Reception Room. Then call all the servants to the Reception Room.”
Though puzzled by the sudden summons, the servants soon gathered in the Reception Room.
Apart from Jeanne and her mother, whom I had hired directly, they were all Madame Laber’s people.
“Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”
I relayed Walter’s instructions to the servants as they were. Suspicion flickered across their faces.
One of the servants asked cautiously.
“Teacher, who exactly did you meet?”
Jeanne too looked anxious.
“Could it be that you met a con artist trying to embezzle your assets and flee?”
“I don’t think she’s that kind of person.”
Another male servant then asked.
“What should I do after that?”
“Nothing until further orders. Rest comfortably in your quarters.”
The servants exchanged glances, and their movements became bustling—they didn’t understand the situation, but they followed my instructions without question.
As I headed toward my room, Jeanne quickly followed at my heels.
What Jeanne reported to me concerned Melissa Bilsty, and it was absolutely absurd.
“She said she wants to become close with you, ma’am.”
“…What?”
“She said if she can’t make you an enemy, she should make you an ally instead. And the name of the head maid from the House of Grand Duke Wintem—the one she used before—came up this time.”
I stopped in my tracks.
Jeanne then let out a snort of laughter.
“Her name is Anne. Since she belongs to the House of Grand Duke Wintem, Melissa plans to use her well to gain your favor. Oh, and she said she’d use Olivia too.”
“Hah.”
“If she succeeds in building a deep friendship with you, the ladies of the Central Social Circle will like her even more, she said.”
“…”
“She told Count Veloda Genoma to seduce you.”
Melissa Bilsty’s plan was absolutely ridiculous.
“Oh! And one more thing. This is really delicate.”
Jeanne pressed close to me and whispered near my ear.
At information I could never have imagined, my eyes widened.
“That… is that really true? Did I mishear?”
I studied Jeanne’s expression, unable to believe it. She nodded with absolute certainty.
“That point came up multiple times. She said she’s so inadequate that she’s dying of boredom.”
I grasped both of Jeanne’s hands tightly.
“Jeanne, our conversations are fundamentally confidential, but you absolutely cannot tell anyone about that. It doesn’t seem like the kind of matter that ends with just one person’s death.”
Jeanne suppressed her laughter and nodded.
“Yes.”
“I’m always grateful to you.”
“This is nothing to thank me for.”
After finishing her report, Jeanne hummed a cheerful tune as she returned to her mother’s side.
Watching Jeanne’s retreating figure, I recalled what I had just heard.
“She’s planning to connect you with The King. She thinks once you meet His Majesty and then meet Count Veloda Genoma afterward, your heart will shift completely. Apparently, The King is so inadequate in that regard that you might not even notice it’s there.”
The more I turned it over in my mind, the more appalled I became.
Now I understood why Melissa Bilsty had remained so composed even when Zerox and Olivia were standing right beside her.
“Olivia is apparently struggling with the same concern. So Melissa decided to give her some advice.”
It seemed the two had arranged to meet separately yesterday in the Powder Room.
Tomorrow at five in the afternoon, at an outdoor café in front of the Town Square Clock Tower.
Olivia had apparently accepted readily.
“I need to go out tomorrow.”
I didn’t need to concern myself with every detail of their conversation or how long it would last, but it seemed wise to at least gauge the atmosphere.
Upon entering my room, I gathered the essentials.
Exactly three items.
A key pendant, the check Luderne Sellen had left for me, and gold coins.
As I emerged through the emergency exit with the servants who had prepared to abandon the mansion, Walter—dressed as a coachman—stood waiting.
Walter had loaded the servants’ belongings into a separate carriage, and as he helped me inside, he instructed them to maintain absolute secrecy.
“You must not enter the mansion under any circumstances until you receive a separate signal that it is safe.”
Though the servants appeared anxious, they dispersed toward the lodgings I had arranged upon my instruction.
* * *
Deep within the resplendent golden Imperial Palace, a place guarded so meticulously that twelve knights stood before its entrance.
The Emperor’s Bedchamber.
The knights caught sight of Luderne Sellen and Eclite approaching and simultaneously raised their right fists to their left chests.
A silent gesture of respect, lest they disturb the Emperor’s rest.
Luderne Sellen and Eclite merely nodded once before entering quietly.
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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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