An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 38

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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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#38

 

Just from seeing this much, he could clearly understand the true meaning behind the rumors circulating in the social circle.

 

But Eurich couldn’t bring himself to leave.

 

Even though he knew full well that waiting here would only result in witnessing the final blow, he couldn’t bear it without directly seeing Gert emerge holding Orphea’s hands.

 

How long had he waited like that?

 

The scene that unfolded before Eurich’s eyes was completely different from what he had expected. Gert was nowhere to be seen, and Orphea suddenly appeared, seeing Hilias off. He couldn’t hear exactly what they were talking about, but from the fragments he caught, he could make some educated guesses.

 

‘Gert is staying the night at Orphea’s house…? Then this isn’t just at the level of being partners at a banquet, is it?’

 

Whatever their past, they were strangers now. But staying the night at her house? No matter how you looked at it, wasn’t this an improper relationship?

 

‘This doesn’t make sense. Would Gert, with his pride so high, continue sleeping with a woman who asked him for a divorce?’

 

This was incomparably more shocking than the two of them attending social gatherings together.

 

‘Is he that obsessed with Orphea? Maybe he granted the divorce, but to prove that she’s still his, he deliberately dragged Orphea along to show themselves in the social circle…’

 

He thought that the relationship between the two might be more complicated and messier than he had imagined.

 

While he was standing there dazed, perhaps his presence leaked out, as Orphea suddenly turned to stare in his direction.

 

Though he hid his body, his mind was still complicated by what he had just witnessed. How exactly should he use this information he had obtained to torment Gert even more?

 

Under his hood, Eurich’s lips twisted strangely. It was a smile mixed with malice and ecstasy.

 

***

 

Sure enough, after sleeping for a day, Gert’s face had become smooth and refreshed. As soon as Gert opened his eyes, he asked me.

 

“Is there anything you want?”

 

“Why all of a sudden?”

 

“I think I was quite rude yesterday.”

 

I tried to recall what aspect of Gert’s behavior yesterday had been rude, but nothing readily came to mind.

 

‘Ah, maybe he’s still bothered about taking over my bedroom.’

 

If that’s what it was, it really wasn’t a big deal.

 

During the expedition, how many times had I stolen Gert’s blanket? I waved my hands dismissively in denial.

 

“Making such a fuss over something like that. It’s nothing at all.”

 

“For me, it wasn’t nothing at all.”

 

Gert’s answer was heavy. His guilt over taking my bedroom seemed considerable.

 

As it happened, I had something to ask Gert about. I gauged his mood and made a suggestion.

 

“Hmm… Then shall we take a break from the gatherings for a while?”

 

“That’s not really something worth wanting.”

 

Gert’s brow furrowed deeply. He looked completely unconvinced.

 

Really now, he told me to say what I wanted, so I said it…

 

Having nothing more to desire at the moment, I tried to persuade Gert.

 

“Why not? I can focus on my work a bit, and you can focus on managing your condition. How wonderful.”

 

“My condition is fine.”

 

“Fine. Then let me be more specific. I’d like Gert, whose condition is fine, to take a break from banquets for a while for my sake. This is what I want. Understand?”

 

Gert still looked displeased, but since I had put it this way, he seemed to have no choice but to nod his head.

 

After getting a definite answer from Gert like that, I truly felt at ease.

 

“Then I’ll see you later!”

 

“….”

 

After seeing Gert off and being left alone, I smiled brightly. It felt like lights were being lit one by one in a future that had been dark as if covered by fog.

 

“Maybe I should focus on my work for the first time in a while…”

 

I headed to my workshop humming a tune. At this rate, I wouldn’t need to tear apart my work and redo it—I’d just need to finish it well!

 

Had I been holed up like that for several days?

 

“A letter came from Princess Lairinne?”

 

“Yes. It’s an invitation to visit the royal palace for conversation.”

 

‘Should I go…?’

 

She had been desperate to get her hands on me even when other people were around, so meeting alone, especially in the royal palace which was the princess’s home turf, couldn’t be good. I immediately declined.

 

“I’ll have to make an excuse that I’m sick. Hmm… It would be good to say I caught a cold. I can’t pass such an illness to the princess, so unfortunately I have no choice but to decline.”

 

“I’ll add appropriate details and send the letter.”

 

“Thank you, Berta!”

 

Not long after sending that reply to the princess, this time a letter came from Hilias.

 

“Gert suddenly has to attend a royal charity auction?”

 

Something smelled fishy.

 

It smelled like Princess Lairinne’s involvement…!

 

‘As soon as I said I was sick, she went after Gert!’

 

I knew Princess Lairinne was a woman of action, but this was definitely beyond my imagination.

 

‘But a cold can be cured in just a day or two, can’t it?’

 

Thinking that, I continued reading the letter.

 

“…Wait. What? Gert is trying not to take me to the auction house? What does this mean?”

 

The letter stated that even though Hilias had suggested I accompany them, Gert had refused several times. His reason was that he couldn’t disturb me when I was concentrating on my work.

 

“Damn it!”

 

Who would have thought that the excuse I had added to make Gert rest would come back to bite me like this!

 

I hurriedly sent a reply to Hilias. No matter what Gert said, I would definitely participate!

 

***

 

Hilias and I knew Gert well.

 

What that meant was, rather than trying to persuade Gert, we appeared on the day itself saying “We decided to go together today!”

 

“Hello.”

 

As soon as I opened the carriage door, Gert, who was sitting in the carriage and made eye contact with me, had a disgruntled expression.

 

Since I had dressed up and come all this way, given Gert’s personality, he wouldn’t tell me to go back.

 

Sure enough, I ended up heading to the royal palace with Gert while staying in the carriage.

 

Clatter, clatter.

 

Silence fell inside the carriage. Gert still looked bewildered. Once he came to his senses, he would immediately interrogate me about why I had followed him, so I needed to throw him off guard right now.

 

I threw the first punch.

 

“Are you unhappy that I came to find you?”

 

Throwing the first punch against the great Gert—my heart was already shrinking petty.

 

But outwardly, I pretended to be as calm as possible.

 

Fortunately, it seemed to be effective, as Gert was swept up by my question and unconsciously shook his head.

 

“No.”

 

“Then why didn’t you invite me? You said to call you when you go to banquets.”

 

I actually interrogated Gert instead. When I came out so shamelessly, Gert looked confused as if he was wondering whether he, the one whose carriage had been invaded, had done something wrong. After keeping his mouth firmly shut for a long time, Gert soon opened his mouth with a sigh.

 

“I was worried about wasting your time. Today’s auction probably won’t be that interesting anyway.”

 

“Why would being with you be a waste of time? Do you usually think it’s a waste of time when you’re with me too?”

 

“Of course not.”

 

“It’s the same for me.”

 

Honestly, it wasn’t that I didn’t mind the time, but still, if I let Gert go alone and he encountered the princess and some fateful event occurred and he fell in love and eventually went to his death… Having to rewrite the entire heroic poem from beginning to end because of that would be much more of a waste of time.

 

“Besides, no matter how boring today’s auction might be, could it be worse than the ‘Society for Observing the Divine Realm through Celestial Movements’?”

 

At least there would be many curious and precious items on display, and I wouldn’t have to just sit there for hours.

 

As soon as I said that, Gert’s eyes widened and he jumped up. When someone of Gert’s size jumped, the carriage really swayed.

 

“…You, weren’t you enjoying that gathering?”

 

“I kept telling you. I was bored too, didn’t I? I wasn’t nodding because I understood the lecture—I was repeatedly dozing off and waking up.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Really.”

 

“….”

 

Gert fell silent. As if silence alone wasn’t enough, he soon buried his head between his clasped hands and let out a deep sigh.

 

It seemed he was recalling his actions over the past few weeks, when he had forcibly dragged me along despite my repeated suggestions not to go to those gatherings.

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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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