An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 20

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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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#20

Linos blinked his eyes as if he couldn’t understand. Looking at that stupid and vacant expression on his face, I couldn’t understand what part of him was supposed to resemble me.

“You didn’t cheat? Really? Why? I really thought you would have cheated.”

“Why on earth? Do I look like the kind of person who would be so blinded by love that I’d do something so tiresome?”

“Of course I know you’re not that passionate about love. I just thought that living with someone as eccentric as Gerhardt might naturally make your gaze wander to other people.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

That was all he had as grounds for thinking I would have cheated.

Thinking about it differently, it meant Linos would cheat for just that much reason.

Indeed, he was someone who competed for first and second place in debauchery in high society. The last time I remembered, he had more lovers than fingers on his hands, no exaggeration.

‘Come to think of it, wasn’t there even a sword fight at this manor back then?’

Feeling dizzy, I pressed my forehead. It was a mistake to try having a serious conversation with Linos.

“What’s so eccentric about Gert? At least he’s better than being frivolous like you, brother.”

“Gert is too heavy, even if he’s heavy. Have you ever slept with him?”

“I have…”

Because Linos kept teasing and getting on my nerves, the words “I have” almost slipped out to my throat without me realizing it. I hastily shut my mouth.

Fortunately, as if he hadn’t heard my words, Linos let out a shocked exclamation.

“What? You’ve been married for three years and never slept together even once?”

“…You don’t get married just to sleep together.”

“What are you talking about? Of course you don’t get married just to sleep together, but you should sleep together once you’re married! Not having intimate relations is one of the grounds for divorce!”

Linos jumped up and down. From his attitude, it looked like he might rush out and point fingers at Gert’s face right away.

‘He’s all talk anyway.’

What about making a peep in front of Gert? He doesn’t even dare to stand before him.

While I was clicking my tongue like that, Linos’s face gradually became more serious, as if he was thinking about something.

“Wait, Orphea, you’re the one who asked for divorce? Don’t tell me…”

Linos grabbed both my shoulders and asked in a serious tone.

“That bastard Gert, is he impotent despite having such a good body? Can’t he get it up?”

‘So that’s what he was thinking…’

Pathetic feelings showed in my eyes as I looked at Linos, who was being utterly serious.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Gert is perfectly fine.”

“Right, right. You’d have to say that.”

“…”

Linos seemed to have absolutely no intention of believing whatever I said. Instead, he pushed a fruit plate and alcohol toward me while whispering cunningly.

“Anyway, you did well to divorce. You becoming a Grand Duchess was unrealistic from the start.”

“What was unrealistic about it?”

I was going to just brush off Linos’s words, but his comment subtly scratched my pride, making me snap back without realizing it.

Linos tilted his head as if it was strange that I was questioning him, and answered disgustingly.

“If you become a Grand Duchess, you have to manage the household’s internal affairs, manage high society, host banquets… There’s a lot to do. But with your personality, would you have taken care of all that? You obviously just lazed around for three whole years.”

“…”

I was frustrated, but I really had nothing to say about that.

Because I really hadn’t done a single thing I should have done as a Grand Duchess for the past three years.

Of course, I had an excuse.

Gert and my marriage had a set time limit anyway.

Wouldn’t it be troublesome if I, who was just temporarily holding the Grand Duchess position, meddled with this and that only to displease my successor?

‘If I heard that the previous Grand Duchess was a very good person, even I would feel bad, right? It’s better if the predecessor was a mess so that whatever the newcomer does is welcomed.’

Making such excuses, I spent three years idling around, writing heroic poems and just plucking the lyre…

It was a choice without regrets, and I would make the same choice if I went back three years, but that didn’t mean I wanted to be criticized for it by Linos.

As soon as my expression contorted, Linos hastily changed the subject.

“By the way, where have you been staying since the divorce? If you were in the capital, you should have come to see me earlier. As soon as I heard the news, I cleaned up the room you used to use. You can move in and live here right away.”

“Why would I live with you?”

Still not having gotten over my resentment, I replied sullenly. Linos seemed to think I was being stubborn, and kept trying to persuade me in a gentle voice.

“Why? My house would still be better than an inn. Don’t be so prideful about something like this…”

“I have a manor. I received it as alimony.”

“…Don’t be like that. Wait, what? You received a manor? In the capital?”

Linos just blinked as if he’d been hit.

“So the house is taken care of, help me with something else.”

“No, you received a manor in the capital for being married for three years and then divorcing?”

“That’s what I said. I was still a Grand Duchess, so couldn’t I receive a manor as alimony?”

I was surprised when I first heard about the compensation Gert mentioned, but seeing Linos not believe it to this extent hurt my feelings. Did he think I couldn’t receive a single manor?

What I didn’t expect and what others didn’t expect were completely different matters.

“I wouldn’t say anything if it was just a decent manor or a small village! But you said it’s a manor in the capital. That bastard Gert wouldn’t have given you something tiny out of pride. Do you know how much a capital manor costs? No, you can’t get one even if you have money! Even I had such a hard time getting this manor!”

What followed was condemnation of the capital’s overcrowding along with laments about how much he suffered to obtain this manor.

It seemed he felt deflated because while he went through all sorts of hardships in high society to barely get his hands on a manor, I obtained one in just three years.

“It’s not like you two have children and you had to give up custody. And it’s not like you helped Lübenhartz in any way. What on earth is Gert thinking?”

Linos soon leaned back deeply against the sofa and sighed.

“As expected, alimony and gifts are on different levels. I should have gotten married instead of just making lovers…”

Since I was in the position of asking for a favor, I had no choice but to continue listening to Linos’s rambling.

Only after Linos had said everything he wanted to say did he return to the main topic.

“Anyway, I’m glad you didn’t divorce empty-handed. So, what do you need me to help you with?”

“I want to participate in all the banquets that Gert participates in. I need your help for that.”

“…You’re really the one who asked for the divorce, right?”

Linos’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. At Linos’s attitude of continuing to doubt even in this situation, I raised my eyebrows.

Only then did Linos hastily wave his hands and make excuses for his suspicion.

“It’s not that I don’t believe you. It’s just that your proposal is so…”

“Like someone who can’t let go of their attachment even after being divorced and wants to get back together? Absolutely not, so don’t even say such things.”

I firmly denied it. But Linos still looked dubious.

Like how I honestly revealed the situation to Tamar, it would have been easier to tell Linos everything too.

But the other party was Linos.

At first glance, he might seem like a good brother who actively helps with his sister’s affairs, but I know Linos’s true nature.

‘If he finds it interesting, he’ll probably use it in his own work later!’

I couldn’t let that happen.

If any story related to this appeared in a work, it had to be my work!

Regardless of my relationship with Linos not being bad, competing for the position of the greatest minstrel to inherit Vogelbaide remained unchanged.

Therefore, it was better for my mental health to absolutely not reveal and tightly hide things I might use as material for my works later.

“I’m glad it’s not that. But if you follow Gert around to every banquet and social gathering he attends, other people won’t believe you as easily as I do. Especially since they already know that Gert divorced you.”

Just look at him now. Linos’s lips were slightly twitching as he pretended otherwise while subtly getting on my nerves.

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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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