About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 91

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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 91. A Suggestion to Become Prime Minister
When I turned around, I saw King Zerox dismounting from his horse, dressed in plain clothes.
After receiving salutes from Walter and the knights, he nodded and stood before me.
When I offered a respectful greeting in return, Zerox spoke.
“I heard there was a terrible fire at your mansion last night, so I came to check on things. Is anyone injured?”
After Zerox kindly expressed concern for my safety and that of my household staff, he turned to the knight beside me.
“Summon the Incident Officer.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The tense knight hurried toward the mansion and soon returned with a middle-aged knight in tow.
The Incident Officer from the mansion bowed respectfully to Zerox and reported the circumstances and conclusions of the fire.
“It appears the flames spread from the fireplace due to negligence by a household staff member.”
He spoke with absolute certainty.
This contradicted what I had heard from the knight who had guided me earlier.
“What? That can’t be right. I extinguished all the fires before leaving.”
Upon hearing my objection, the Incident Officer’s eyes darted toward Zerox.
I turned in bewilderment to the knight who had first informed me of the situation.
His pupils were trembling visibly as well. Throughout his alternating glances between the Incident Officer and Zerox, he appeared deeply flustered.
At that moment, Zerox spoke to the Incident Officer.
“So it’s a matter of negligent management, then.”
“?”
Something felt off.
‘Didn’t I just clearly say that I extinguished all the fires before leaving?’
Zerox’s demeanor suggested he hadn’t heard my assertion at all.
The Incident Officer then spoke again, his voice firmer.
“I will investigate the staff member responsible for the fireplace and administer punishment according to the law of the realm.”
“It would be better to hear the homeowner’s opinion on that matter.”
Zerox stroked his chin with his hand while looking at me.
‘Should I mention what the other knight told me—that it looked like arson?’
As I hesitated briefly, I suddenly recognized two troubling points.
First, that Zerox knew the burned house was mine. Second, whether this fire was truly significant enough to warrant the King’s personal inspection.
The Zerox and Eclite I had seen at the casino seemed to work well together.
‘Could Zerox truly be unaware of this fire?’
Suspicion took root.
“….”
For now, it seemed best to omit what the knight who had kindly guided me had said, and instead argue for arson from my perspective while gauging the atmosphere.
The innocent knight might face blame for being honest with me.
“Your Majesty, this fire cannot have been an accident. I did not light any fireplace whatsoever. I checked before leaving.”
“You didn’t empty the entire house at once, did you?”
The question momentarily left me speechless. But a plausible excuse quickly came to mind.
“As it happened, I had given them leave.”
“A vacation?”
“Yes, I’ll be away from home for a few days, so I thought I’d check everything beforehand. That’s why I inspected it all before leaving.”
Zerox fell into thought, stroking his chin briefly before asking me again.
“So you’re saying it was arson?”
“In those circumstances, there’s no way someone didn’t deliberately set the fire…”
“Deliberately? To harm you?”
“…”
Something felt off, so I closed my mouth. I hadn’t said anything beyond that it seemed like arson, yet he brought up the motive first.
Zerox, who had questioned me, turned his gaze back to the Incident Officer.
The officer straightened his posture further.
“W-well, while arson is certainly a possibility, we’re currently treating it as an accident. The ignition point is the fireplace. This can be confirmed with the fire department as well.”
“Would it be alright if I went in to verify it myself?”
According to what the officer had explained to me, there should be traces left behind.
“Fire scenes are off-limits to civilians, even the property owner.”
The officer, speaking with proper decorum, turned his gaze back to Zerox.
Zerox nodded as if it were only natural.
“It’s protocol, so I hope you won’t feel too disappointed. Especially since the burned area is dangerous.”
His voice was very gentle.
“Even if it doesn’t sit well with you, I hope you’ll trust us.”
“But it does seem like arson. Moreover, it’s a matter where the servants could be punished.”
“Whether it’s arson or an accident.”
Zerox laughed broadly.
“That’s precisely why I made a special exception—to hear your thoughts on the matter.”
“…”
His demeanor suggested he was asking what I could do about it if it truly was arson.
‘…Ah, so the truth doesn’t actually matter. Perhaps he already knows who the culprit is.’
There’s a world of difference between investigating because you don’t know who the culprit is and deliberately not apprehending someone when you already know their identity.
In the latter case, there was nothing I could do except plead that innocent people not be harmed.
“The servants are innocent. I don’t want them investigated or punished, Your Majesty.”
Zerox gave an instruction to the officer.
“Finish what you’re doing, and proceed with this matter as the property owner wishes.”
“Understood.”
The officer, bowing to Zerox, returned to the scene.
“It’s heartbreaking that a designer who won the Royal Elegance Contest lost such a magnificent house overnight.”
I lowered my head slightly.
“It’s unavoidable. Still, I’m grateful no one was hurt.”
“Look at me?”
I lifted my head.
As Zerox met my gaze, his voice became viscous.
“I’ll arrange a place for you to rest, to comfort your wounded heart.”
“…What?”
“How about entering the Royal Palace?”
There was nothing to consider.
“I beg your pardon. I am grateful for the kindness, but….”
“Are you saying you don’t understand when I speak plainly? I’m asking you to become my consort.”
For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
I knew his intentions, but I never expected him to be so direct about it.
When I looked at him in surprise, Zerox shrugged one shoulder.
“Don’t misunderstand. It seems you firmly believe someone tried to harm you. If your claims are true, the Royal Palace would be safer, and if you became the King’s consort, no one would dare trouble you—wouldn’t that be more comfortable?”
“….”
“This evening, I’d also like to share a conversation about the beauty of High Society over some light wine. Your skills are second to none in the Kingdom, after all.”
Instead of answering further, I glanced at Walter beside me. Naturally, Zerox’s gaze followed to Walter.
“Now that I think about it, aren’t you an associate of Luderne Wintem Grand Duke?”
It seemed Zerox had only just recognized Walter.
Walter bowed once more, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“But why are you here?”
“Since yesterday, I have been assigned to protect Priscilla.”
At those words, one of Zerox’s eyebrows rose sharply. He looked displeased.
“So why exactly are you——”
Just as Walter straightened his posture and was about to speak.
“Newspapers, get your newspapers! The coldest yet most magnificent Luderne Wintem Grand Duke of the Central Social Circle has new gossip!”
Without hesitation, all our gazes turned in that direction.
A boy who appeared to be around fifteen years old shouted while tucking newspapers under one arm.
“And the content is none other than…!”
The boy paused and waved a newspaper high in the air instead.
“See for yourself in the article!”
Soon three people purchased copies of the newspaper.
The moment a woman unfolded her paper, she raised her voice.
“Oh my goodness, what do I do!”
“Unbelievable! Is this really true?”
They were practically bouncing with excitement—clearly the article had captured the women’s interest.
The boy sold a newspaper to a man standing nearby, then approached us.
“Newspapers, get your newspapers!”
After calling out, the boy was about to pass by when he suddenly saw me and stopped in his tracks.
“Huh?”
The boy’s eyes widened as he tilted his head, then unfolded his newspaper.
A gasp escaped from the boy’s lips.
“Ah! You’re the one, aren’t you?”
“Yes?”
The Newspaper Boy held up the newspaper he’d unfolded and showed it to me.
“The woman featured in this newspaper, sir.”
The Century’s Bastard, Luderne Wintem! Has he finally found true love?
I narrowed my eyes at the photograph and headline that greeted me immediately—utterly taken aback.
A single black-and-white photograph was printed in the newspaper: Luderne and I entering the Casino together.
I remembered the moment when the journalist had raised his camera as Luderne insisted we enter the Casino together. This was the image captured that night.
It was Zerox who looked flabbergasted upon seeing the photograph.
“Didn’t you say you went together on Madame Raber’s recommendation? Then it makes sense a photograph would be taken. But the Grand Duke having a lover? That’s hardly possible.”
Though he didn’t believe the article, he appeared quite displeased.
In that moment, I realized a way to escape from Zerox’s proposal. I quickly gave the Newspaper Boy money and took the newspaper from him.
“Thank you. I’ll treasure this as a keepsake.”
The Newspaper Boy stared at my face, laughed with a “heh,” took a few steps backward, then held the newspaper up high again.
“Get your newspaper, newspaper! The coldest yet most magnificent Luderne Wintem Grand Duke of the Central Social Circle has new developments to share!”
The Newspaper Boy’s figure as he ran away looked remarkably spirited.
I looked at Zerox.
“It’s true we went to the Casino together on Madame Raber’s recommendation, Your Highness. But that night, I….”
Zerox cut off my words.
“Nothing would have happened.”
“Pardon?”
“You were about to say the Grand Duke took all three women into his embrace, weren’t you.”
….
“Nothing would have happened regardless. The Grand Duke is abstemious, after all.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
Luderne abstemious?
I was utterly dumbfounded.
The man I’d experienced was a man of vigorous passion. At times, he felt almost bestial.
“That’s precisely why I could let my mistresses go so easily.”
Zerox spoke with conviction.
“I assure you, the Grand Duke has never embraced any woman. Based on everything I’ve observed thus far, that’s the truth.”
He chuckled softly.
“Perhaps he finds the burden of becoming a mistress and living in the Royal Palace daunting? But you needn’t carry such a burden. I never lay a hand on anyone without their consent.”
I found that somewhat reassuring.
Then Zerox’s voice dropped even lower.
“But… who do you think stands before your eyes right now.”

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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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