About Becoming My Ex-Husband's Mistress - Chapter 97

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 97. Every Night, You
“For hurling insults at one I cherish and have placed under my protection—calling her a woman of the Red Light District.”
Luderne Sellen struck Count Veloda Genoma’s face once more with his leather glove.
“And what you did to my knight is the same as doing it to me.”
Blood dripped steadily onto the floor.
Count Veloda Genoma’s lips had split and his nose was bleeding from the force of Luderne’s blow.
The people around us stared in shock. I even spotted a Journalist with a camera, though I wasn’t sure when he’d arrived.
But Luderne didn’t so much as blink as he glared down at Count Veloda Genoma and Melissa Bilsty.
“Both of you will kneel and kiss the tips of my shoes while begging my forgiveness.”
His voice was so chillingly cold it sent shivers down my spine.
“A provincial nobleman of such little standing—do you have any idea who I am?”
Count Veloda Genoma hastily covered his nose and mouth with a handkerchief, his eyes barely open as he gauged Luderne’s reaction.
Luderne then threw his leather glove directly at Count Veloda Genoma’s face.
“If you believe this is justified, kneel and apologize. If you believe it unjust, pick up the glove. I shall personally accept your challenge and stake my life on it.”
At those final words, Count Veloda Genoma and Melissa Bilsty’s faces drained of all color.
Unable to resist Luderne’s overwhelming presence, Count Veloda Genoma hesitated before dropping to his knees.
“I-I did not realize the Salon’s designer was one of Your Highness’s people.”
Melissa Bilsty, equally terrified, knelt before Luderne as well.
Then Luderne let out a cold laugh.
“You’ve got the wrong direction.”
At those words, Count Veloda Genoma and Melissa Bilsty lifted their heads.
Luderne gestured toward me with a tilt of his chin.
The moment they saw me, their pupils trembled wildly. Their faces contorted with such profound shame they could barely maintain composure.
After a brief hesitation, Count Veloda Genoma gritted his teeth and knelt before me. Then, pressing his lips to the tip of my shoe, he barely managed to speak.
“I-I apologize for my rudeness and humbly beg your forgiveness….”
Seeing this, Melissa Bilsty knelt before me in the same manner and offered her apology.
Watching them prostrate themselves before me, I felt laughter rising in my chest.
To think they would display such a ridiculous sight.
But I forced myself to suppress my expression and remained silent.
I offered neither forgiveness nor refusal.
The Journalist still held his camera trained on us.
Without blinking, Luderne watched the two of them prostrate themselves, then extended his hand to me.
“It’s time we departed. The Carriage awaits us over there.”
I bowed respectfully to Luderne Sellen and took his hand.
“Thank you for your protection, Your Highness.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Luderne Sellen brought my fingertips to his lips.
The surroundings stirred at the gesture, but he paid it no mind and met my gaze.
“I simply could not restrain myself upon witnessing the scene.”
“Pardon?”
“From now on, if anyone is disrespectful to you, instruct Walter to cut them down.”
“….”
Something was wrong.
I didn’t know why, but he had changed.
The way he made dangerous statements without hesitation—his crimson eyes betrayed a deep, visceral obsession.
The moment I realized it, a chill raced down my spine. My heart seemed to plummet.
What on earth had happened in the time I hadn’t seen him?
But I couldn’t ask Luderne. All I could do was nod once and follow where he led.
Luderne took a step, then stopped, casting a sharp warning toward the pathetic figures of Count Veloda Genoma and Melissa Bilsty.
“If you value your lives, don’t approach Priscilla and Olivia ever again.”
We boarded the carriage.
He seated me on the forward-facing bench, while Luderne took the backward-facing one.
Walter sat with the coachman.
As the carriage began to move, something I needed to tell Luderne came to mind.
Half of what I’d told Zerox had been a lie.
When Zerox told me to enter the Royal Palace, I’d arbitrarily claimed I’d become Luderne’s mistress.
To escape the crisis. Without Luderne’s consent.
If Luderne learned of it through another source and grew angry that it contradicted the truth….
I’d have nothing to say.
Yet I found the courage to speak and felt somewhat reassured because Luderne had clearly referred to me as his “mistress” just moments ago.
Though his claim about cherishing me and assigning me a guard lacked credibility.
‘That was probably to prevent and anticipate Eclite’s misconduct.’
In any case, if what I’d told Zerox reached Luderne through someone else’s mouth, it would certainly be awkward.
I needed to inform him of this fact first and seek his understanding.
“It was dangerous, but thank you again for helping me, Your Majesty.”
Luderne nodded once.
“And there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Go ahead.”
With his permission, I took a deep breath.
“…It’s true that Your Majesty and I spent a night together, but I’m aware it was nothing more than a single night’s indulgence.”
One of Luderne’s eyebrows rose slightly. His expression seemed to ask what I was talking about.
I recounted what had happened in front of my burned house. Then I bowed my head to him.
“I apologize. I said such a thing without Your Majesty’s permission. I couldn’t be dragged into the Imperial Palace as things were.”
Upon hearing my words, Luderne suddenly drew the carriage curtains closed. Then he gestured to me.
“Come here.”
“?”
I stared with wide eyes in bewilderment. Then Luderne grasped my hand and pulled me toward him.
In an instant, I was drawn into his embrace.
Luderne wrapped his strong arms around my waist and pulled my back close with his other hand, then buried his face in my chest.
“Your Majesty? Ah….”
I called out to him, but a sudden surge of sensation made me gasp and swallow the sound.
This time, his scorching lips found my nape. Drawing a deep breath, he licked slowly upward along my neck.
As his warm breath touched my jaw and the space beneath my ear, the dizzying sensation made me grip his shoulders.
“Your… Your Majesty, we’re… we’re inside the carriage…”
But Luderne paid no heed. As though my words didn’t exist, he moved his hand from my back upward, brushing against my nape.
Soon our lips met, and then something soft and hot pressed inside, tracing along my teeth.
Our breaths mingled together.
“Mmm, ah…”
Flustered, I tapped his shoulder and pushed him away. Then Luderne pulled back slightly and whispered.
“I declared you my mistress before everyone’s eyes. And you yourself said it before the King, didn’t you? Then now, for all to see, you are my mistress.”
He slowly caressed my cheek with one hand before bringing his lips close again.
“Every night, I will treat you as my mistress… Do you have any objections?”
In that moment, I was truly astounded.
It wasn’t because of what he said.
I was exasperated with myself for how I responded to those words.
For feeling thrilled at the promise to treat me as his mistress.
Where had my pride gone? At words spoken as though he would hold me every night, my lower belly tingled and my heart soared.
Everything else ceased to matter.
Even my ambitions faded away.
Whether I remained a mistress rather than a wife, whether the curse couldn’t be broken and I wouldn’t live long, I would ask him for nothing more.
Simply being together, breathing in his scent for even a moment, seemed like it would be enough.
But I could never voice such feelings.
I could only pretend to comply.
“To survive, I can have no objections, Your Majesty.”
I slowly caressed his cheek, my fingertips tracing the sharp line of his jaw.
“Whether you desire me for lust or use me for power, this lowly servant will obey your will.”
“…”
Luderne’s eyes deepened with emotion.
Looking into his gaze, my heart ached.
Why did I sense such complex feelings in his eyes?
At the same time, I was seized by longing. All I felt was the urge to hold Luderne close in my arms.
I wanted to fill myself completely with him.
That much was certain.
Then Luderne closed his eyes.
He kissed me again, and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
As dusk fell, we arrived at the Town House, and ignoring the butler and servants who greeted us formally, we headed straight to the bedroom.
The lights in Luderne’s bedroom were still off, and with the curtains drawn, it felt even darker.
Once inside, Luderne locked the door and immediately kissed me.
He stripped away my clothes with urgency. He seemed desperately eager.
I felt the same way, so I hastily untied his cravat.
Tup!
Without looking properly, my hands moved wherever they touched, and I heard the sound of his shirt buttons tearing away.
But neither of us cared.
Luderne simply tore off his shirt in haste.
Our bare chests pressed together.
Firm, soft, and intoxicating—his scent flooded my lungs, and that alone left me breathless as I pressed my lips to his chest.
Then my body was lifted effortlessly.
As Luderne carried me toward the bed, he kissed my ears and the nape of my neck.
The soft bedding touched my back.
Soon his desire, straining against its confines, pressed against my thighs.
Now it was time to receive his passion.
It was time for me to love him.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————