An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#14

I was suddenly at a loss for words at Gert’s statement.

‘…He was looking forward to my heroic poem?’

Honestly, I had never once thought that Gert would take interest in my work.

That made sense, considering he had been indifferent to my work for the past three years.

‘But what if he was simply waiting for me to complete the heroic poem?’

Some people enjoy watching the process of a work being created, but others only look at the finished product. There were even those who avoided any prior knowledge about creative works, saying it would be a hindrance.

If I thought of Gert as the latter type, his indifference up until now made sense.

‘Hmm…’

I tried to calm down, but it was hard to suppress the corners of my mouth from twitching upward.

‘That’ Gert had been looking forward to my work that much!

Near the end of the expedition, Gert had acknowledged my skills, but this was completely different.

Back then, he had simply acknowledged my usefulness, but now it meant my work had touched his heart.

An incredible sense of elation rose within me, as if I had conquered a demanding critic.

Even when Mnemiir acknowledged me, it wasn’t to this extent.

That was natural.

It was only right for the god of arts to recognize excellent art, but wasn’t Gert practically illiterate when it came to art!

‘Come to think of it, he was unusually concerned about improving my working environment.’

When I thought Gert had no interest in my work, I assumed he was taking ‘responsibility’ for me as his wife.

But if he had come to appreciate my art, that was a different story.

It was natural for an artist to have a ‘patron’ attached!

‘Hehe. So Gert likes my music?’

The sense of betrayal I had briefly felt upon realizing that Gert liked another woman seemed to fade a little.

Suddenly elated, I traced back to when Gert might have started liking my music.

‘How could he never show any sign of it until now? Even yesterday at the Banquet Hall when I performed, he actually liked my song…’

Suddenly, I recalled Gert’s expression while listening to my performance yesterday. It was as if he had been chewing bitter chicory root.

‘…That doesn’t seem to be the case.’

Well, patrons don’t necessarily sponsor artists because they like all of their art.

Perhaps Gert was only interested in songs about himself.

Realizing that he didn’t like ‘my songs’ but only ‘songs I wrote about him’ made my elated mood deflate a little.

But I also thought, where else would I find someone who would appreciate even one of my performances when he seemed like he’d be indifferent even if Mnemiir himself performed?

While my mood was fluctuating like this, Gert continued speaking.

“You write the heroic poem. I help you. We’re just divorced, but the relationship between you and me remains unchanged. So from now on, if anything happens, you must come to me first. Whether you need something or face difficulties. Understand?”

At first I thought it was sophistry, but as I listened carefully to Gert’s words, each thing he said seemed to make perfect sense.

Who knew Gert could be so eloquent. Just listening to him speak, it seemed like Gert was the one who made a living with words, not me.

‘Even though he’s someone who has no need to persuade people with words.’

I felt somewhat wronged for some reason, but the sweet compensation that followed made that feeling disappear completely.

“And ‘your’ heroic poem is ‘my’ heroic poem. It’s like our child. As parents, I think we need to check from time to time whether our child is growing up safely.”

“That’s true.”

“Besides, you haven’t heard all of my heroic tales yet. Since the heroic poem isn’t complete yet, I still have the obligation to convey the rest to you. So don’t be surprised when I come to visit.”

“Surprised? I’d be happy if you came to visit!”

If Gert would personally tell me heroic tales even after our divorce, I wouldn’t have to go around high society begging for stories about Gert!

Each of Gert’s words appropriately addressed my concerns. So I just kept nodding at Gert’s words.

And so, before lunch time, we finished exchanging all our opinions.

Gert also looked satisfied, and I was completely satisfied too.

“Well then Gert, thank you for the past three years! Please take care of me in the future too!”

Gert nodded as if he understood.

Having reached a smooth agreement, I left Gert’s study with a smile across my face. I felt like I had been somehow deceived, but since everything was beneficial to me, it didn’t matter.

Anyway, the important thing was to divorce safely and escape from Lübenhartz!

Now I’m truly free!

***

Chapter 02. My Ex-Husband’s Destined Partner

Now I’m truly free…

“The house title transfer is already complete?”

…But they’re kicking me out this quickly?

I brought up divorce with Gert this morning. And I asked Hilias to prepare documents and transfer the Manor title this afternoon.

Who would have thought that after just a few hours, I’d be told that preparations were complete and it was time to leave!

But Hilias shamelessly nodded his head.

“The faster these things are done, the better. There’s no need to stay long in a place you don’t like.”

I agreed with that statement, but the lightning-fast pace made it hard to grasp the reality.

But Hilias urgently pushed me as if he were being chased by something.

“I’ll drive the carriage, so let’s leave now. If we leave now, we can arrive around sunset.”

“We could leave tomorrow. The paperwork is done, but I haven’t even organized the house yet…”

“Each Manor has a separate caretaker to manage it so you can move in anytime. Just in case, I sent someone ahead to tidy up the house, so you won’t need to worry about the bed not being ready when you arrive in the evening.”

“You really work fast, Hilias.”

Even though he was only nineteen years old, I was amazed by Hilias’s arrangements that left nothing to chance. Indeed, it was worthy of Gert entrusting most of his work to him.

Though it was bewildering, since Hilias had made such thorough arrangements, there was no reason to delay further.

I didn’t need to pack, and there was no one to say goodbye to.

Pushed along by Hilias like that, I boarded a carriage leaving Rübenherts Castle before sunset. Since there wasn’t much to take with me, my luggage was simple.

‘…Somehow I feel like I’m being kicked out.’

I didn’t expect to leave with a warm send-off, but leaving without anyone seeing me off made me feel unsettled.

Of course, it wasn’t anyone else’s concern. Still, I had vaguely thought I’d be seen off by Gert or Berta.

Coincidentally, both of them had gone out, apparently having schedules that came up in the meantime.

‘Gert aside, it’s a bit disappointing not to see Berta before leaving.’

I had talked with her briefly yesterday evening and this morning, but I was still bothered by not being able to say goodbye.

But thinking about it, parting like this wasn’t bad either. It would be troublesome if I developed any lingering attachment. I couldn’t ask her to come with me anyway.

‘I can’t take the Archduke’s head maid and make her my personal servant as a commoner.’

Consoling myself like that, I trudged into the carriage that Hilias was driving.

To others, it might look like I was being kicked out, but anyway, as Hilias said, the faster the better, and I felt relieved inside.

***

Clatter, clatter…

When we arrived at the Capital City, it was already late with the gates closed. But the crest of the Duchy of Lübenherts could open even closed gates.

Perhaps because it was late, there weren’t many people on the streets. Thanks to that, we could cross the wide roads without hesitation, and before long the carriage gradually stopped.

“We’ve arrived.”

Hilias opened the door and escorted me.

As if it were true that there was someone managing it so the house would be ready to move into anytime, the Manor beyond the main gate was brightly lit.

Since it was nighttime, I couldn’t see it as clearly as in broad daylight, but just from the lights alone, I could roughly estimate the scale of the Manor.

“Wow.”

I stared blankly at the manor where I would be living from now on. It wasn’t comparable to Rübenherts Castle, but it was enormous compared to the house I had lived in before marrying Gert.

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