About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 90

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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 90. My Makeup Will Wash Away
“….”
Luderne Sellen had entertained such thoughts as well.
No—anyone who knew of this situation would have harbored suspicion at least once.
But voicing it was tantamount to treason, and should Eclite become Emperor, it would become a sensitive matter that could later be construed as false accusation of treason.
Besides, without concrete evidence, no one dared speak of it.
The Emperor’s voice fell low.
“That wretch plays the dutiful son before me, yet behind closed doors he seethes with ambition. Because of it, I feel my loyal men within this Imperial Palace dwindling day by day.”
When Luderne Sellen’s eyes widened in shock, the Emperor’s lips curved upward in a thin smile.
“Do you think I, who once commanded the world, would fail to grasp such nuances?”
The Emperor’s gaze grew grave.
“My son, listen carefully to what I say from this moment forward.”
* * *
The carriage carrying me arrived at Luderne’s Townhouse.
Following Walter inside, I found roughly a dozen servants lined up in greeting, their heads bowed.
Among them were Butler Egardt, head maid Anne, and Lesha.
“Welcome, Priscilla, chief designer of the Raber Salon. We hope you find your stay most comfortable.”
Egardt, speaking on behalf of the servants, dismissed everyone else back to their original duties, keeping only Anne and Lesha.
“Anne and Lesha will attend to your needs. Lesha will primarily serve you, though she cannot speak, so please conduct any important conversations with Anne.”
He then led me to the quarters I would occupy.
Upon opening the door, a Reception Room came into view, with a Bedroom, dressing room, and Bathroom each adjoining the space.
“You may use this area. Should you require a private Study, the room on the right is available. We prepared it hastily, so it remains sparse, but I shall bring whatever you might need.”
The moment Egardt, Anne, and Lesha departed, I turned to Walter with a question.
“Walter, why…?”
Though I had been shown to these quarters, I could not fathom why I was to stay here.
“It’s the safest place. And the room on the left is where I’ll be staying.”
“What?”
Walter scratched his head.
“It’s difficult to know where to begin, but first—I haven’t told Prince Luderne anything about you. And he hasn’t asked me anything either.”
His first words addressed my greatest concern.
Whether Walter had revealed my identity to Luderne Sellen.
“Let’s sit and talk properly.”
Following his suggestion, I seated myself across from Walter at the table between us.
“In truth, I am a covert knight of Prince Wintem. While operating the tavern and exchanging information with various guilds is my usual work, I also serve when Prince Luderne has need of me.”
This was why Walter had concealed his identity.
He explained that he performs his knightly duties whenever Luderne issues separate orders.
“I’ve been commanded to bring you here and protect you until further instructions arrive.”
That had troubled me from the start.
I had complied, thinking it a precaution, but Walter’s words now carried a distinctly different weight.
“I have a home. Why must I stay here?”
“It seems His Highness the Grand Duke had foreseen something.”
Soon Egardt, Anne, and Lesha returned to the room, carrying fresh bedding, clean clothes, and dinner.
Walter watched Anne and Lesha move about busily for a moment, then rose from his seat and bowed respectfully to me.
“You must be exhausted, so please rest for today. I shall be in the adjoining room, and should you need anything, simply pull the bell cord beside your bed. I will attend to you again when we depart tomorrow morning.”
* * *
The next morning, I rode in a carriage with Walter to the Raber Salon.
Yet the atmosphere of the salon felt strangely unsettled.
Though it was not yet time for the morning assembly, staff members and Madame Laber stood about the lobby with grave expressions.
Madame Laber’s mascara had even begun to run.
Had she been crying?
Concerned by her unusual appearance, I approached her.
“What has happened?”
The moment I spoke, all eyes snapped toward me.
The staff members rushed toward me the instant they saw me.
“Priscilla has arrived!”
“Heavens! Priscilla!”
Madame Laber hurried over as well.
“Dear! You’re safe!”
“Safe? What do you mean?”
Bewildered by her words, I asked, only for Madame Laber to widen her eyes in surprise.
“What? Someone saw you entering your home yesterday. How can you not know anything?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“There was chaos last night.”
As I stood there in confusion, Madame Laber tapped my shoulder and delivered shocking news.
“Your house caught fire!”
At those words, I was truly startled.
“What are you saying? My house caught fire?”
“You really didn’t know? Then this is no time to stand about. Go at once! They say it burned completely!”
I hurried toward the mansion and could see the exterior walls were entirely blackened with soot.
White smoke still seeped weakly from inside the shattered windows, suggesting embers remained.
Firefighters appeared to be clearing away the debris.
I stood dumbfounded. Though I witnessed it with my own eyes, I could not believe it.
How could such a grand mansion burn so completely?
The important thing was that I had removed valuables beforehand, and everyone had survived without injury—a blessing beyond measure.
Yet seeing the wealth I had painstakingly accumulated over the years vanish in an instant drained all strength from me.
Not far away, several knights were questioning passersby, so I approached them quickly.
“Knights, how did my house come to this state?”
The knight looked at me.
“You live in this house?”
“Yes.”
Only then did the knight face me directly.
He said that flames had erupted from the mansion at dawn today.
“The most severely burned area was the fireplace in the drawing room. That means it was the point of ignition. We’re currently investigating whether it was a fire caused by negligent maintenance of the fireplace by a servant, or perhaps arson by someone.”
“A-arson?”
“Yes. There are traces of oil poured in various places, and burn marks stronger than what should have occurred in areas that shouldn’t have ignited so intensely. So arson is becoming the more likely theory. Does anyone come to mind as a suspect?”
I grew troubled thinking of the carrier pigeon Eclite had sent after his rampage yesterday.
「Be grateful this ends here.」
Recalling it now, it appeared to have been a threat of crime.
With my suspicions hardened, I looked at Walter.
Walter simply nodded slowly. His expression showed he had already anticipated this.
I remembered how Luderne Sellen had seized Eclite’s wrist yesterday and prevented the assault.
Luderne Sellen had said he came because he needed to fetch Eclite urgently, and he had indeed left with him.
But now I wondered if that had been an excuse, and if he had come to rescue me from the beginning.
‘Did he anticipate the situation even after he left?’
I recalled Eclite’s actions toward me again. The actions before Luderne Sellen arrived.
‘If Luderne Sellen hadn’t come, by now I would have….’
Chills ran down my spine. He had harmed me even after I left Arde.
And doubt arose within me.
‘I survived this time, but will that madman really just leave me alone?’
I didn’t know.
Thinking that far, I also understood why Luderne Sellen had me stay at his Townhouse.
Since I couldn’t possibly handle Eclite’s madness, he had arranged a place deemed safe for me.
I felt genuinely grateful for his consideration.
But that thought was fleeting—Madame Laber’s words about him flooded back, and anger surged within me.
‘What on earth did I do wrong to Eclite? He was the one who started the rampage!’
From the very beginning until now, he had leveraged Zerox’s backing and unfairly wielded the power of the privileged against me.
But I couldn’t even protest. Even if I found evidence, it would be I who suffered.
‘He was confident enough to do it. Madame Laber knew that too, which is why she was so angry with me.’
I felt wronged and furious. What on earth had I done wrong to deserve all this?
My fists clenched involuntarily, and my eyes burned with heat. I lamented my station and abilities that left me powerless against Eclite.
Then the knight asked again.
“Even a suspicion would help. If anyone comes to mind, please tell me. The Knight Order will conduct a fair investigation.”
I pressed my hand to my forehead.
“The arson seems certain. But I have no one in mind. What kind of stroke of misfortune is this….”
I was about to cry outright, but I clenched my teeth instead and quickly pulled out a handkerchief to dab my tears.
My makeup would smudge. No matter what, I couldn’t let my identity be exposed.
I clasped my hands together toward the knight.
“Sir Knight, if you catch the culprit, will you execute them?”
Of course, I knew there were procedures, and the knight didn’t have that authority.
Yet I deliberately mentioned such a specific punishment because it was the strongest expression I could muster for my pitiful fate of being unable to even name the perpetrator.
The knight offered me comfort with a deeply sympathetic expression.
“I understand your distress must be considerable, but please do not lose heart. I shall make every effort to apprehend the culprit. Given the magnitude of the property damage, execution is certainly within the realm of possibility once they are caught.”
Execution is possible, they say. If only they knew who it truly was, they wouldn’t dare utter a word.
Yet his words brought me a measure of comfort. I genuinely hoped it could come to pass.
The knight guided me forward with a gentle voice.
“The Government Administration does provide some disaster relief for victims of crime. You should be able to receive temporary shelter and essential supplies. It will pale in comparison to what was lost, but I hope it provides at least some assistance.”
“Thank you so much, kind knight.”
The knight smiled warmly.
“I am merely fulfilling my duty.”
At that moment, the surroundings grew turbulent.
The knight speaking with me suddenly straightened his posture.

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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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