An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 41

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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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#41

‘By the way, why is the princess here?’

I had thought the princess was looking for an opportunity to meet with Gert alone. So I assumed she would naturally go to Gert since I had separated from him.

While I was trying to understand the situation, the maids who had been helping me dress glanced at the princess and hurriedly left the waiting room.

Before I knew it, only the princess and I remained in the waiting room.

Click.

The waiting room door closed behind the princess.

The princess’s tightly shut mouth, which had only been glaring at me until now, finally opened.

“You said you had a cold, but you look quite healthy now.”

“Isn’t that how colds usually are? They come suddenly and disappear suddenly.”

I quickly brought my fist to my mouth.

“Cough, cough. Actually, I think I still have some cold symptoms left…”

“I have no intention of playing along with your act, so stop lying.”

My excuse was completely seen through. I smiled sheepishly, trying to lighten the mood even a little.

But contrary to my intention, this seemed to irritate the princess even more, as her gaze became sharper.

“Did you act weak like this to Brother Gert too? So you could soften his anger and use him to fulfill your petty desires?”

“Anger? Desires?”

It wasn’t just once or twice that Gert had gotten angry because of me, and it was true that I used Gert to fulfill my desires.

But precisely because there were so many instances, it was difficult to pinpoint what Lairinne was talking about. I rolled my eyes blankly and asked awkwardly with a smile.

“Could… could you be a little more specific?”

“Why? Have you used Brother so much that you can’t even guess?”

Lairinne’s expression became even more menacing. Unable to contain her temper, the princess huffed as if she might stamp her feet at any moment.

It might be rude to the beautiful princess, but that appearance was very… like a small fluffy puppy.

Unaware that I was looking at her that way, the princess continued to reproach me.

“Just look at how you recently participated in that ridiculous gathering. Brother detests such time-wasting activities, yet you forced him to come along!”

I felt a bit wronged. I had only intended to follow wherever Gert went, not to drag Gert around with me!

While it was true that I had chosen that astronomy gathering, if we traced the cause of us going, Gert and Lairinne were equally responsible.

‘If you hadn’t been following Gert around in the first place, I wouldn’t have had to interfere with him either!’

…I had many things I wanted to say like that, but I swallowed all those complaints.

After all, I was the one interfering with the original ‘fate.’

Since I felt somewhat sorry toward the princess, I tried to appease her with the most humble attitude possible.

“I’m not planning to attend those gatherings anymore either. Gert doesn’t seem to like them much…”

“Don’t carelessly mention Brother Gert’s name! You’re divorced, so ultimately you have no relationship with Brother whatsoever!”

“Gert didn’t seem to mind…”

I pouted and grumbled. By that logic, shouldn’t the princess also not call Gert ‘Brother Gert’? Gert had even told her not to call him that!

Even for someone like me, continuously hearing such words was hurtful.

Appease her? Before I knew it, sarcastic words slipped out.

“Then since I’ve said I won’t attend gatherings with the ‘Duke of Lübenhartz’ anymore, may I take my leave now, Your Highness?”

“No, you must also swear not to meet Brother Gert privately anymore. I’m being generous by not asking you to avoid even official meetings.”

I looked at the princess blocking my way. She seemed determined not to let me leave unless I gave her a definite answer that I would stay away from Gert’s side.

While I had intended to accommodate the princess to some extent, I couldn’t agree to such an unreasonable demand. I shook my head with a troubled expression.

“That would be difficult.”

“Why?”

“It would be difficult to tell you that as well.”

How could I persuade the princess?

What I was doing was ultimately to save Gert, so it wouldn’t be bad for the princess who cared deeply for Gert either.

The only problem was that my logic for persuading the princess was weak.

Just as I was pondering this, the thoroughly enraged princess pushed my chest and shouted.

“If you’re divorced, you should act accordingly and stay away! If you just want to step into social circles, find someone other than Brother. A hero like Brother has many other things to do besides this!”

‘…Wait.’

Suddenly, the princess’s words enlightened me.

Right, do I really need to monitor Gert? I’m just earning the princess’s hatred for nothing.

My goal is simply to prevent Gert and Lairinne from meeting, so ultimately it doesn’t matter which one I monitor, right?

Having gained this realization, I smiled brightly and suggested.

“Then would Your Highness like to attend social gatherings with me?”

“What?”

The princess blinked her large, round eyes as if she had never even considered my proposal.

Since in the princess’s prejudiced view, I seemed to be quite obsessed with social circles, I used that as my reasoning.

“Think about it. Your Highness would benefit because I wouldn’t be taking up Gert’s time, and I would benefit because I could frequent social circles as I desired…”

“Are you in your right mind?”

Horror appeared on the princess’s face as she realized the intent behind my words.

“Your Highness also dislikes Gert having his time taken away. So…”

I argued more actively to persuade the princess. But the longer my words went on, the more the princess stepped back hesitantly, trying to distance herself from me.

After stepping back for some time, the princess’s shoe heel twisted and her body swayed.

“Be careful!”

I hurriedly reached out and caught Lairinne. Perhaps because she was about a head shorter than me, I was fortunately able to catch her easily. I let out a sigh of relief and checked on the princess in my arms.

“Phew…”

The princess with her eyes wide open seemed dumbfounded.

I could feel the princess’s heart beating rapidly in my arms. It felt like holding a small rodent. Though it might be rude to say such a pretty princess resembled a mouse.

‘She’s really small and cute.’

Did Gert also like this aspect of the princess?

Thinking that suddenly made my mood plummet again.

At that moment, the princess who had come to her senses suddenly pushed me away forcefully. Since I was aware that I might have been holding her too long, I obediently let myself be pushed back.

Even after separating from me, the princess couldn’t easily continue speaking and just opened and closed her mouth. The princess with a reddened face spoke in a trembling voice.

“I knew you were a dissolute person, but…! In the end, you don’t care who it is as long as they help you achieve your goals! Since I seem to have higher status than Brother Gert, you’re thinking of switching to me?”

The princess denounced me with her flushed face. Listening to the princess’s torrent of words, I felt as if I had become some shameless person who had harassed the princess…

‘…I just caught her from falling?’

“Brother Gert doesn’t even know what kind of woman you are…! This, this…! You snake-like woman!”

While I was too flustered to find words, the princess finished her last words, pushed past me, and hurriedly fled the waiting room. She was in such a rush that I could see her nearly tripping over her own feet.

Watching that entire sequence of events was absurd.

‘What on earth is wrong with her? What did I even do?’

I knew there were rumors about me in social circles regarding affairs and such. The fact that Princess Lairinne was being overly wary of me probably wasn’t just because I was Gert’s ex-wife, but also somewhat influenced by such rumors.

But to be treated like a femme fatale who would try to seduce any powerful person regardless of gender!

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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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