An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 37

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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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#37

Even so, I couldn’t let Hilias feel completely at ease. Having something I was aiming for, I subtly created some anxiety.

“Anyway, even though he looks quite fine on the surface right now, I don’t know when his condition might worsen. Gert always tries to hide everything anyway.”

“That’s exactly right.”

Hilias let out a deep sigh. Seeing the shadows under the pure-looking young man’s eyes, it seemed he had quite a lot built up.

I watched Hilias’s expression and slyly threw out bait for my purpose.

“So shouldn’t we join forces? We’re the only two who can worry about and take care of Gert.”

“But I cannot be so rude to Lady Orphea, who has already divorced him.”

“Rude, what rude! Besides, I divorced Gert, I didn’t cut ties with him completely.”

I carefully persuaded Hilias.

That’s right. I was planning to win over Hilias using this opportunity!

Hilias, who had been saved by Gert in childhood and practically raised by him, was absolutely incorruptible and unwavering in his loyalty to Gert.

But precisely because of that, if I used the reason of being for Gert’s sake, the chances of success were high.

Of course, ordinary excuses wouldn’t have worked, but facing the unprecedented situation of Gert having a fever, the story was different.

‘This is practically being spoon-fed by Gert himself. Hmph. If he felt wronged about me reaching out to his aide, he shouldn’t have gotten a fever.’

If only Gert hadn’t been sick, would Hilias have needed my help? He would have just answered coldly with that pretty face, ‘I appreciate your words, but they’re unnecessary.’

But now…

“As expected, Lady Orphea usually requires too much attention, but still, sometimes you’re incredibly reliable…”

“Is that an insult or a compliment?”

“Please just take it as a compliment. By the way, how can we join forces? Do you have any plans in mind?”

Hilias leaned toward me with sparkling eyes. Perhaps because he was usually so stoic, Hilias’s face filled with expectation had enough destructive power to make even me, who was used to beauties, flinch.

‘Gert really manages to boss Hilias around with just his fingertips. I feel like I’d just nod mindlessly if Hilias even slightly lowered the tip of his eyebrow.’

Clearing my throat to compose myself, I calmly laid out lies to hook Hilias.

“Gert’s worsening physical condition is ultimately connected to his madness. I know Gert has endured well so far, but while his physical condition is unstable, it would be better to cancel his external schedule. I feel like the situation became serious because I called Gert unnecessarily and made him overexert himself.”

“Lord Gert was truly happy when he was going around with Lady Orphea. Then I’ll try to reduce Lord Gert’s external schedule as much as possible.”

If Hilias reduced Gert’s external schedule, the parts I needed to worry about would certainly decrease significantly.

‘I’ve been having too much time taken up by recent banquets and gatherings. That Gert fellow should just stay home and rest!’

Restricting Gert’s outings alone would be a great help, but that wasn’t the end. I didn’t forget to add safety measures, considering even the worst-case scenarios.

“Anyway, for a while, we absolutely cannot leave Gert alone. If Gert ever tries to go somewhere by himself, make sure to call me so I can go with him.”

“Lady Orphea?”

“Yes, it would be better if I were there too rather than just you alone.”

“That’s true, it would be good if we could get Lady Orphea’s help when needed. But don’t you need to focus on your heroic poetry work for a while? Is it okay to have your time taken up like this?”

“Of course. Are we strangers? We should help each other.”

“Lady Orphea…!”

Seemingly quite moved, Hilias’s bright gaze pierced my cheek.

The fact that I was investing work time in Gert must have been quite shocking.

‘Honestly, even going to those strange astronomy meetings recently was all for Gert’s sake…’

But looking at the circumstances alone, it appeared as if Gert was getting dragged into gatherings I wanted to attend, so it was inevitable that my sacrifice wasn’t properly recognized.

‘It’s not like I wanted my sacrifice to be acknowledged anyway.’

In any case, as long as the results were good, that was enough.

Just the results…!

“Very well. I’ve clearly remembered everything Lady Orphea has told me. Please trust only in me.”

Hilias nodded vigorously with a determined expression, clenching his fist tightly. With Hilias saying that much, I felt reassured.

“Good. Then I’ll also tell Gert to take a break from gatherings for a while when he comes to his senses.”

This completed the iron-clad defense.

No matter how much Princess Lairinne flew and crawled, she wouldn’t be able to break through my defense coordinated with Hilias to meet Gert alone…!

I smiled with satisfaction.

***

Hilias stood up, saying he should return before it got any later.

“Why don’t you just sleep here tonight?”

“No, I have remaining paperwork to do.”

Since Hilias said that, I couldn’t detain him further. I went out with him to the manor’s main gate to see him off.

“Don’t worry about Gert.”

“I’m always grateful. Then tomorrow morning, I’ll come to escort Lord Gert.”

Hilias said this as he got into the carriage. Soon the carriage moved away with a clip-clop, clip-clop along with the coachman’s whip.

“Ugh… Then let me check on Gert’s condition once and get some sleep myself…”

Just as I turned around to return to the manor.

“Huh?”

I felt someone’s gaze. As soon as I felt the gaze, I turned my head toward that direction.

But there was nothing there.

“Was I being too sensitive…?”

I tilted my head in confusion.

I thought it might have been a passing cat. Since I had asked birds and mice to stalk Gert, having a guilty conscience made me react sensitively to trivial things.

I chuckled and entered through the gate.

***

“Damn… She’s just quick to notice things.”

Eurich, who had barely managed to hide, clicked his tongue. With his hood pulled down to cover his face, it was hard to find any trace of his past noble appearance.

A few months ago, after being expelled from Lübenhartz, Eurich’s life had plummeted instantly.

His family members, fearing Gert, didn’t want to get involved with Eurich. At least his father Stello had extended a helping hand.

“This amount of money should be enough for you to settle down. Flee to somewhere as far from Gert’s sight as possible.”

‘That hypocritical old man! Telling me to hide from Gert’s eyes. Does he want me to live groveling in some backwater for the rest of my life?’

If there was anything that comforted Eurich, who was grinding his teeth with humiliation and anger, it was the rumor that Orphea had been divorced by Gert for having an affair.

‘…If I fan these flames, I might be able to drag Orphea down into the mud too. Ha, I can’t be the only one whose life is ruined.’

Eurich began to subtly connect his expulsion with Orphea.

‘Let’s say Orphea seduced me, and Gert, finding out about it, got enraged and drove me out too.’

Romantic scandals were always the hottest topic in social circles. Especially when the person involved was someone like Gert. People perked up their ears.

But it didn’t last long.

“Orphea had an affair and incurred Gert’s wrath? For that to be true, they seem quite intimate, don’t they?”

When Gert and Orphea appeared together in social circles, Eurich’s lies were exposed. Eurich was dumbfounded.

‘As soon as I was driven out, the two of them stuck together and showed themselves? When they never did that once during their actual marriage!’

They were definitely making a big fuss over accidentally running into each other at a gathering.

Eurich couldn’t believe it unless he saw the two of them together with his own eyes.

Eurich risked danger to spy on them.

Lurking around Gert’s vicinity wasn’t easy. So what Eurich targeted was Orphea.

Not long after lying in wait near Orphea’s mansion, Eurich came face to face with the evidence he had wanted, but also the truth he hadn’t wanted.

A familiar carriage stopped in front of Orphea’s mansion. Soon a giant doll-like figure stepped down from the carriage.

It was Gert, whom he was seeing for the first time since being expelled. Gert, dressed in formal attire, soon entered Orphea’s mansion.

‘Is it really true…?’

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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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