An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 31

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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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#31

I wasn’t sure if we really needed to be that careful about our words in our own house, but I obediently played along and leaned forward.

Linos whispered in my ear.

“There’s a rumor that His Majesty originally wanted to marry the current queen. His marriage to the former queen was supposedly only due to pressure from the previous Duke Lüvenhertz, who was the former queen’s brother. That’s why he despises both the former queen and Prince Dietrich, who was born from her—this is the most credible theory.”

“…Is the Rubenherts family that powerful? Enough to ignore the king’s will and control who becomes queen?”

“The Rubenherts family isn’t that powerful. But Alkides is.”

“Ah…”

Having some idea from the expedition, I let out a quiet sigh.

The expedition had been perilous, and we often found ourselves in desperate need of Gert’s help.

Whenever Dietrich spoke even slightly like giving an order, Gert would become extremely displeased and usually pretend not to hear.

‘In the end, Dietrich had to beg and cling to Gert’s trouser legs.’

Seeing that, I thought Dietrich didn’t seem like a prince at all, but I figured it only went that far because Dietrich and Gert were close friends.

If the king had much higher pride than Dietrich, and if Gert’s father had been much more ill-tempered…

It would have been almost a predetermined catastrophe.

“After the former queen passed away, he married the current queen, but the timing was delicate. It was shortly after the previous Duke Lüvenhertz died. So everyone whispered behind his back that the king might have killed the former queen.”

“…Wait. Duke Lüvenhertz died 15 years ago.”

I didn’t know when the king remarried, but I roughly knew when Gert had killed his father. After all, I needed it as reference for writing the heroic poem. Sensing something odd about the timing, I frowned and asked.

“Then Princess Lairinne is…”

“Technically, she was an illegitimate child. It’s just that His Majesty dotes on Princess Lairinne so much that no one dares mention it.”

“I don’t know how much the king loves the current queen, but it’s certain he’s obsessed with her.”

“That’s right. If he truly loved her, he wouldn’t have had an illegitimate child.”

Linos nodded in agreement with my opinion.

“Anyway, there wasn’t much interaction between Princess Lairinne and Gert. It seems the king did his best to prevent any contact between them.”

“Why? Because Gert is close to Dietrich?”

“Even if he wasn’t close to Prince Dietrich, the king would have disapproved of Gert. Do you think the king would like Gert?”

I rolled my eyes. Of course, it seemed likely the king wouldn’t have liked Gert’s father, but still, since Gert killing his father had enabled the king’s connection to the current queen, I thought it might be too subtle to hate him outright.

“…If someone killed a person you hated, you wouldn’t… hate them that much.”

“If he were that generous, he wouldn’t hate the innocent Prince Dietrich either.”

Linos snorted. His words made sense. Certainly, someone who takes out unresolved resentment toward parents on their children wouldn’t let go of grudges because of help received.

“I can say with certainty that the king hates Gert. He would never want to match him with his precious daughter. So you don’t need to worry unnecessarily.”

Linos said this while comforting me. But hearing those words made me even more anxious.

Despite the environment being so unfavorable that the king would interfere, the two had connected emotionally before my regression.

Linos soon gave me a sideways glance.

“By the way, if you’re worried about Gert remarrying another woman, why did you divorce him in the first place?”

“…I had my circumstances too.”

Who could have known Gert was going to commit suicide because of someone he loved? I pouted and grumbled. Linos, thinking I was being unreasonable, spoke as if lecturing me.

“Anyway, you can’t interfere with other women approaching Gert forever.”

“I know. Just one year will do.”

“Are you worried that if Gert remarries during that time, it’ll interfere with writing the heroic poem? Surely whoever Gert remarries won’t force you not to write his heroic poem? No matter how I look at it, you seem to be wasting time on the wrong things.”

Linos continued nagging after that.

“Since there’s no time to waste as you said, go if you’re done with your business!”

“So you got everything you wanted from me? How heartless!”

When I pushed his back, Linos grumbled and got up from his seat. It was so like Linos to add unnecessary comments and lose points just when I was feeling grateful for his help.

***

Even while being pushed out like that, Linos handed me a list of social gatherings Lairinne frequently attended and the organizers she was acquainted with.

Looking over the list, they were all about art or discussing heroic tales of other heroes. The interesting names of the gatherings made me feel restless.

‘Social gatherings these days have quite interesting themes.’

While I was examining the list written on parchment, another visitor came.

It was Hilias.

I roughly tossed the list I was reading among the sheet music and welcomed Hilias.

“Hilias! How have you been? What brings you here?”

“I heard that Lord Gert would be attending social gatherings with Lady Orphea. This is a list of banquets and social gatherings held in Petalien. I’ve separately marked social gatherings that I think would be suitable for both of you to attend together, so please take a look.”

“Wow…”

I looked at the thick list Hilias handed me with slightly overwhelmed eyes.

I had no idea there were so many banquets and social gatherings being held in Petalien.

I flipped through the papers and skimmed them with my eyes. But the more I looked, the more my brow furrowed.

‘What exactly do these gatherings do?’

Things like ‘Baron’s 60th Anniversary Banquet’ or ‘Count’s Wedding,’ ‘Social Gathering to Observe the Divine World Through Celestial Movements’ were at least understandable.

But ‘Discussion on Noble Family Inheritance Law Reform’ or ‘Social Gathering to Explore Hydraulic Principles of Canal Construction’…

‘At this point, these aren’t social gatherings but academic conferences.’

When I only saw the list of social gatherings the princess frequently attended earlier, I was interested, but seeing this list made my interest drop again.

I turned my attention to the list Hilias had specially marked.

‘Hmm. This side is pretty good.’

How long had I been examining the list? I felt a strong sense of déjà vu.

‘Wait, this overlaps with Princess Lairinne’s appearance list that Linos gave me earlier!’

Hilias probably didn’t deliberately choose gatherings the princess attended. He just picked gatherings he thought I’d like, and they all happened to overlap with gatherings the princess attended.

At this point, I had to admit that the princess and I had very similar tastes.

As I stared at the list with narrowed brows, Hilias calmly added.

“If there are no banquets or social gatherings to your liking, please feel free to tell me. We could arrange to host one tailored to Lady Orphea’s preferences.”

“No, no! It’s not that serious.”

I hurriedly waved my hands. I couldn’t cause that much trouble.

When Gert suggested going to social gatherings together, I naturally nodded immediately since it would be advantageous to stay as close to Gert as possible.

But my purpose wasn’t wanting to go to social gatherings—it was simply to interfere with Gert and the princess meeting.

‘Wouldn’t this just increase opportunities for Gert to encounter the princess by making him attend social gatherings more often than usual?’

It would be suspicious to say I’d lost interest in social circles now. I tried to cancel the social gatherings by subtly using Gert as an excuse.

“I like everything you’ve chosen. But wouldn’t Gert be uninterested in these kinds of gatherings?”

“Lord Gert said it was fine as long as Lady Orphea enjoyed herself.”

With Hilias saying that much, I had nothing to say. With my excuse becoming weak, I just kept flipping the papers back and forth for a while.

‘I need to choose gatherings the princess is unlikely to attend…’

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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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