An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 58

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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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#58

Twisting hard-to-obtain silk thread into precise thickness with consistent tension is no easy task. It was even a luxury item that wore out faster than gut strings and needed more frequent replacement.

Nevertheless, there was an overwhelming reason why people preferred silk strings. It was because of their unique and clear tone.

Only very occasionally would limited quantities come in, and this was exactly one of those times.

Wealthy minstrels who belonged to the royal court or received noble patronage would all be interested in silk strings.

Since it was first come, first served, I had to get my hands on them as soon as they arrived.

I anxiously counted down the days waiting for that moment, and in doing so, Gert’s absence gradually faded from my mind.

Time passed like this, and finally the day when the silk strings would arrive came. I rushed to the instrument shop like an arrow as soon as the sun rose.

Having arrived even before the shop opened, I was waiting in front of the instrument merchant’s store. Before long, I heard clattering sounds from inside.

And the moment the shop owner, having finished his preparations, opened the door to flip the sign.

“Silk strings! Did they come in!”

“Oh my!”

The instrument merchant jumped in surprise at my sudden appearance, then patted his chest. Recognizing me, the merchant chuckled and answered.

“Haha, of course they came in.”

“Are there any left!”

In my anxiety, I shouted desperately.

“Of course. You’re first in line, customer.”

Only then did I feel relieved at the merchant’s confirmation and patted my chest. I followed the instrument merchant into the shop. Among the fresh wood scents, there was a faint mixture of linseed oil, glue, and rosin.

The instrument merchant, entering behind the counter, bent down as if looking for the silk strings and struck up a conversation.

“I didn’t see you for several years, but recently you’ve been coming quite often.”

This instrument merchant was a place I used to frequent when I stayed at Linos’ house before leaving on the expedition.

After divorcing Gert, I thought about finding a new instrument shop to replace my strings, but when I weighed various conditions, this merchant seemed best, so I directed my steps here again.

Honestly, I didn’t think he would remember me. But the instrument merchant even remembered what strings I had last replaced when I came.

“After you suddenly switched to metal strings that time and then disappeared, I thought you might be going on a long journey. Did you go on some kind of pilgrimage?”

It was common for minstrels to go on pilgrimages for inspiration. When traveling to such distant places, they naturally preferred metal strings over gut strings, which were less durable and sensitive to environmental conditions. I too had replaced my strings for that reason when joining the expedition.

I shrugged my shoulders and held up my lyre.

“I did travel here and there. I even went out to sea with this one.”

“Oh my, that must have been quite a rough journey.”

“That’s right. You can’t imagine how bad its condition became from the sea breeze back then.”

Even now, thinking about that time made me shudder. No matter how much my lyre was made of durable walnut wood, it couldn’t withstand a year-long voyage.

During the long sea voyage, how anxiously I worried about keeping my lyre from being exposed to the ocean winds…

After performing for the expedition members when they requested it, I would immediately wrap it in oiled cloth and store it in the cabin.

Even that wasn’t enough – I constantly wiped away salt and moisture with dry cloth, and never forgot to oil it each time.

Every time I did this, the expedition members looked at me as if I was being overly fussy, but that was because it wasn’t their lyre.

Thanks to all my hard work, I was able to safely protect my lyre!

‘…Come to think of it, back then, I thought Gert found me quite pathetic.’

While I was diligently cleaning my lyre, I would feel eyes on me, and when I looked in that direction, Gert would quickly turn his head away. So I never knew how Gert was actually looking at me.

At the time, I thought Gert didn’t approve of me, so I naturally assumed he found me disagreeable.

But thinking about it again now, things I hadn’t noticed at the time came to mind.

Since I was always cleaning my lyre with oil, I often ran short of oil. Just when I would be fretting about it, strangely enough, Gert would hunt bears or seals, providing oil.

Now that I knew Gert actually liked my songs, I suddenly wondered if those actions back then might have been for my sake.

Reminiscing about the expedition with Gert made my fingertips tingle for no reason.

While I was lost in thought like this, the instrument merchant, thinking his chatter had gone on too long, slapped his forehead and said.

“Haha, but all those experiences must melt into your songs, right? Oh dear, I got carried away talking again. I should show you the silk strings.”

The instrument merchant unlocked the box he had brought out and opened the lid. With a creaking sound of hinges, the silk strings laid on velvet were revealed.

In front of the silk strings, even Linos’ story took a backseat. I gazed at the softly gleaming silk strings with enchanted eyes and carefully picked them up. Honestly, my heart was pounding harder now than when I first saw the sea silk dress.

“By the way, you must have made a lot of money during your travels. Buying such expensive strings without hesitation. Perhaps if you told me your name, you’re a famous minstrel I might know?”

“Haha, I only recently started social circle activities… Even if I told you my name, you might not know me.”

I deflected the instrument merchant’s expectant expression appropriately while replacing the strings. Having done this many times, I was practiced at it. Replacing all seven strings and tuning them took no time at all.

“That’s always such an unusual tuning method. Is it possible to play with that tuning?”

The instrument merchant who had watched me tune tilted his head curiously.

My tuning method had wider intervals between notes unlike ordinary tuning. Thanks to this, the range was wide, but since notes were missing here and there, sequential note progressions might seem impossible at first glance.

But that had nothing to do with me.

“Of course.”

I plucked the silk string I had finished tuning once.

Ding—

A clean sound with few overtones. The sustained note was short, so the resonance might feel brief, but it allowed for delicate touch.

But it wasn’t all advantages. For example, volume. Silk strings had limitations in volume. So they weren’t suitable for grand expressions.

‘But they’re perfect for the gentle, emotional songs Gert likes.’

Honestly, my reason for switching to silk strings was to use these silk strings as an excuse to persuade Gert… to coax him into listening to my songs a little more and giving me motivation and creative inspiration.

‘With the tone of silk strings, Gert will surely like it too.’

Just as I was feeling good thinking about playing for Gert with silk strings when he returned.

Jingle jingle.

The shop door opened and clear bell sounds rang out. There was no reason to show off my skills in front of a stranger. My excitement dampened, I put down my lyre again and turned my body sideways to make room in front of the counter.

And what I faced was…

‘…Why are you two here?’

It was Helena and Princess Lairinne hiding behind Helena.

***

“Wh-wh-wh-what do you mean! Y-you lent Eurich wh-what?”

Helena’s heart dropped. This was more shocking than hearing that Orphea’s dress she had spilled wine on was made of sea silk.

Princess Lairinne had lent royal treasures to Eurich to spite Orphea!

‘I’d rather not have known! I shouldn’t have asked!’

Helena grabbed the back of her neck.

She had found something strange about Princess Lairinne’s complexion being dark lately and kept asking, only to face this terrible reality.

But now that she knew the truth, she couldn’t just leave this situation alone.

Helena gripped Princess Lairinne’s shoulders firmly and earnestly urged her with a serious face.

“Let’s tell her.”

“Tell wh-what?”

When Helena, who usually stammered, spoke clearly, there was an undeniable force to it. Instead, Princess Lairinne was intimidated by that spirit and stammered.

Helena blinked rapidly and urged again.

“Let’s tell Orphea. Then we can at least avoid the worst outcome.”

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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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