An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 59

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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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#59

“…Tell Orphea that I tried to play a trick on her? I can’t do that. I’d rather go to Eurich and ask him to return the net….”

Lairinne shook her head stubbornly. Helena, frustrated by this, grabbed Lairinne’s shoulders and shook her vigorously while shouting.

“It’s, it’s been quite a while since you lent it to him! Who knows what that bastard has done with that net. He might have already finished whatever he needed to do with it. You, you, you need to tell Orphea the truth!”

“Eurich definitely said it was just a harmless prank. There won’t be anything as serious as you’re worried about….”

“For, for that level of prank, you don’t need a treasure imbued with divine power! He must have some hidden agenda he hasn’t told you about!”

Helena was so agitated that veins bulged on her forehead and neck. Her reaction was so extreme, with bloodshot eyes from excitement, that a small seed of doubt toward Eurich sprouted in Lairinne’s heart.

But it was hard to believe that Eurich had truly deceived her. Moreover, she still felt reluctant about going to Orphea and confessing the truth.

If she swallowed her shame and confessed to Orphea, only to find out that Eurich’s scheme was nothing serious, wouldn’t she be too embarrassed to face Eurich?

Lairinne pouted her lips.

“Even if it’s a divine artifact, Aliphas’s net just has some concealing ability. His Majesty also lends it to his subordinates several times when they request it. He wouldn’t say much even if I lent it to Eurich.”

“That’s because His, His Majesty wouldn’t care whether Orphea lives or dies!”

Helena’s shout left Lairinne’s mind blank as if struck by a hammer. Helena continued trying to persuade Lairinne.

“His, His Majesty doesn’t revere Aliphas, so he might not think the net is that important. But, but that doesn’t mean the net isn’t extraordinary!”

“But….”

Helena thought it would be faster for her to act rather than persuade Lairinne, so she jumped up from her seat and shouted.

“If, if you won’t go, then I’ll go myself!”

Since Helena was going that far, Lairinne had no choice. Though reluctant, she had to slowly get up and follow Helena.

So they went to find Orphea with heavy steps, but….

“What, what? She went out?”

“Yes.”

What timing—Orphea, who was usually reported to stay home all the time, happened to be out right now. Helena’s face turned pale.

“…It’s because we came without sending advance notice. We didn’t need to come in such a rush. Let’s just come back next time.”

Lairinne seemed embarrassed about coming to find Orphea directly without a messenger, her ears turning red as she tugged at Helena’s skirt.

But Helena wasn’t the type to be bound by such trivial etiquette. Helena listened to Lairinne’s words with one ear and let them out the other, then requested of Berta.

“…If, if it’s not too much trouble, could you tell us where she went? I have something urgent to tell Lady Orphea!”

“Hmm…. Normally, it would be proper not to reveal my master’s whereabouts, but….”

Berta’s gaze behind her glasses examined Helena and Lairinne. When she was with the Lübenhartz family, she would never have revealed Orphea’s destination.

But now Orphea was a commoner, and in any case, Helena and Lairinne held higher status. If such people came directly and lowered themselves this much, she couldn’t refuse to tell them. After weighing various threats in her mind, Berta made her decision.

“Since Princess Lairinne and Count Tindal’s daughter request it so earnestly, I’ll tell you.”

“I never requested anything!”

“La, Lairinne!”

As soon as Lairinne protested indignantly, Helena’s eyes became triangular with anger. Lairinne, who had shouted so boldly, quickly deflated like a lie and just pouted her lips.

Having learned that Orphea had gone to the musical instrument shop, the two headed to the location Berta had given them and encountered Orphea.

Helena, who had been anxiously worried they might miss Orphea again, could finally breathe a sigh of relief after seeing Orphea’s flustered face upon meeting them.

“What a coincidence to meet you here. Princess Lairinne, and Count Tindal’s daughter.”

“It, it’s not a coincidence. We came looking for you, Lady Orphea.”

“…For me?”

A faint wariness crossed Orphea’s face. Though barely noticeable at first glance, Helena keenly noticed it.

Given what she and Lairinne had done, Orphea’s wariness was natural. Considering what she had to tell Orphea now, this reaction would be the mildest of what she’d face going forward.

Helena nudged Lairinne as if telling her to reveal the truth. Lairinne, who had been concerned about the instrument merchant, hesitated and pitifully drooped the corners of her eyebrows.

The instrument merchant, who was already nervous about dealing with a princess, became eager to help when he saw Lairinne looking as pitiful as a rain-soaked cat.

“I, I’ll step away. Please speak comfortably!”

While Lairinne had been concerned about the merchant, she hadn’t wanted the owner to leave so quickly, and her face crumpled.

With the owner gone, she now truly had to talk to Orphea. After moving only her lips for a long while, Lairinne finally couldn’t bear Helena’s urging and Orphea’s puzzlement, and opened her mouth with a sigh.

“I came to find you because I have something to tell you, to warn you to be careful….”

Just then, a commotion could be heard from outside. People’s screams, and the sound of something collapsing….

“Kyaaah!”

“Run!”

Sensing that something was seriously wrong outside, they all looked out the window as if on cue.

“Door! Open the door!”

“Mom! Mom…!”

People who had been strolling on the street hurriedly entered buildings and closed doors as if avoiding something. Some who couldn’t get inside fell and rolled on the ground.

The faces of people fleeing from something were all filled with fear.

But Lairinne and Helena couldn’t figure out what was causing people to panic.

Meanwhile, Orphea, who had been continuously staring out the window, seemed to realize something and murmured quietly.

“…The golden-horned doe.”

Both Lairinne and Helena knew about the golden-horned doe’s existence. But why was a doe that should be in Keryneian rampaging in the middle of the capital?

As soon as they had this question, the golden-horned doe came into their view as well.

The massive golden antlers of the house-sized giant deer, branching like tree limbs, glinted in the sunlight.

Though it looked sacred at first glance, it was a different story if that being was rampaging through the capital with crazed eyes.

Even from a distance, the size difference with humans was chilling. Looking at the deer’s face, it seemed like it could swallow a person whole.

Orphea spoke without taking her eyes off the window.

“The golden-horned doe seems to have come looking for her calf. Seeing her rampage like that, the calf must be nearby. She absolutely won’t stop until she finds her calf.”

Unlike them, who were removed from the outside chaos, the street outside had become a pandemonium due to the golden-horned doe’s rampage. At this rate, there might be casualties….

While Lairinne and Helena were blankly staring out the window, Orphea suddenly turned around. Then she grabbed her lyre and headed toward the door.

Realizing belatedly that Orphea was trying to leave the instrument shop, Lairinne jumped up and instinctively grabbed Orphea.

“Are you crazy? It’s dangerous to go out now!”

“What? I know.”

Orphea replied as if it were obvious and tilted her head slightly. Orphea’s long, stamen-like eyelashes fluttered as her golden eyes quietly gazed at Lairinne.

“So Princess and Count’s daughter, please stay here quietly.”

Lairinne couldn’t understand.

She acknowledged that Orphea was an excellent minstrel. Having joined the expedition and experienced all sorts of incidents, she would be familiar with situations like this too.

‘But in the end, she’s just an ordinary human.’

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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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