An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 6

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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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#6

Just then.

-Knock knock.

“Lord Gert, it’s me, Hilias.”

From beyond the drawing room door, Hilias called for Gert.

Not wanting to take his anger out on innocent Hilias, Gert repeatedly took deep breaths, trying his best to calm his rage.

Having barely managed to suppress his fury, Gert answered in a cold voice.

“Come in.”

The drawing room door opened, and a slender, handsome man entered. Hilias glanced at Gert’s expression and spoke cautiously.

“It’s about time you should leave for the hunt.”

He looked troubled, as they were already much later than the scheduled time.

“This hunt is canceled.”

Both Hilias and I widened our eyes at Gert’s words.

I thought he would postpone the hunt by a day at most, but I never expected him to cancel it entirely.

Hilias asked worriedly.

“…Will you be alright?”

“Of course I won’t be alright.”

Gert pressed his forehead as if it was throbbing. He seemed to be suppressing his rising madness.

“But when divorce has been brought up, do you think I’m in the right state of mind to go hunting?”

Is divorce really bothering him that much?

I heard that enduring the madness feels like dozens of heated needles piercing through one’s brain.

Even so, I never thought he’d endure the madness because of divorce.

‘…I feel somewhat sorry.’

Knowing how sensitive Gert becomes when he doesn’t go hunting, I felt guilty.

“You could just say you’ll divorce me and go hunting anyway.”

“That’s right. If necessary, I can handle the divorce proceedings by myself. When you two drafted the contract, the divorce terms were clearly specified as well.”

Hilias nodded repeatedly. He was one of the few people who knew we had a loveless contract marriage.

As such, he seemed to think it was only natural that I would suddenly bring up divorce.

‘He was probably more shocked to hear that Gert couldn’t go hunting than about our divorce.’

Whether Gert was present or not, Hilias would handle the paperwork anyway. So if Gert just gave his approval, there was no need for him to stay here.

Watching Hilias and me work together so seamlessly, one corner of Gert’s mouth curled up wickedly.

“What makes you think I’ll grant you a divorce?”

Panicked, I turned pale and grabbed onto Gert.

“Y-you won’t do it? Even after I explained in detail how uncomfortable I am?”

“…It’s not that I won’t do it.”

“Then you will do it?”

“It’s not that I will do it either.”

Then what is it, exactly!

Will you divorce me or not?

Just as I was about to raise my eyebrows in disbelief, Gert uncharacteristically averted his gaze and said quietly.

“Let’s finish talking after the banquet ends. Anyway, today is your birthday, and your enjoyment comes first.”

‘Isn’t he just trying to avoid the issue?’

I thought I’d be able to enjoy my birthday more if he just gave me a definitive answer now, but Gert turned his back and left the drawing room without listening to me.

I stared blankly at Hilias. He too looked clearly flustered, as if this was his first time seeing Gert act this way.

Well, until now, Gert had always been someone who was clear about yes or no.

But at the same time, he was also someone who always kept his word once he said it.

From Gert’s attitude, it seemed like no matter how much I pleaded, he wouldn’t give me an answer until the banquet was over.

‘He wouldn’t stubbornly refuse to divorce me even then, would he?’

If that happened, I’d have no choice but to cause a scene that would make my bombshell declaration at the banquet hall look like nothing.

I glared sharply at Gert’s back. Maybe because his back was broad and he had a large build, there was plenty to glare at.

“What are you doing? Are you going to stay in the drawing room?”

‘That startled me!’

As soon as I started glaring, Gert whipped around. My heart sank, and I hastily looked down.

Anyway, until I get a definitive answer about the divorce, I must not get on Gert’s bad side!

I hurried toward Gert as if nothing had happened and called out.

“I-I was coming!”

***

Though I was flustered that the divorce wasn’t immediately accepted, there was still time before Gert’s death.

We had agreed to talk again after the banquet ended, after all.

But that didn’t mean I could just sit idle until the banquet was over.

‘When will those enemies gather in one place again?’

This would be even more true if Gert granted me the divorce.

Once I returned to being a commoner minstrel, I wouldn’t have any opportunity to meet the people of Lübenhartz separately.

If I didn’t give them a taste of their own medicine now, I felt like my anger wouldn’t be satisfied.

Then, a good idea came to mind.

I stopped walking toward the banquet hall and said to Gert.

“Hey, Gert. Can I stop by my room for a moment?”

“Your room?”

Gert isn’t the type to interrogate me about where I’m going. I thought he’d give permission without any problem, so I nodded enthusiastically.

Sure enough, Gert frowned briefly but then nodded.

“Go ahead.”

“Then I’ll be right back! Go to the banquet hall first!”

Just as I was about to turn toward my room.

Gert’s large hand grabbed me in an instant.

“Why?”

“…If you don’t want to return to the banquet hall, you don’t have to come back. I’ll smooth things over appropriately.”

“Huh?”

Not understanding, I blinked my eyes.

Only belatedly did I realize that Gert had misunderstood, thinking I was making an excuse to go to my room because I didn’t want to return to the banquet hall.

“Of course the banquet hall atmosphere does bother me a bit… But it’s okay! I’ll return to the banquet hall.”

Having thrown out the divorce topic and been dragged away, the banquet hall would probably be as noisy as a marketplace by now.

But since I had business with the people in the banquet hall, I absolutely had to return to that marketplace!

Not knowing my true intentions, Gert thought I was putting on a brave front and added worriedly.

“Still, if it bothers you…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay!”

I pushed Gert’s back. Just in case, I didn’t forget to add.

“You can’t end the banquet on your own until I return. Got it?”

“…”

Gert didn’t answer, but I read acceptance in his silence. Since time was short, as soon as I finished pleading with Gert, I hurriedly headed to my room.

***

“Huff, huff…”

Though I told Gert I’d be right back, there was one fact I had momentarily forgotten.

Namely, that my room was at the top of the tower, the highest place.

I had usually forgotten since I rarely left my room, but after sprinting at full speed from the banquet hall to my room, I could really feel it.

‘Well, it did take quite a while when I fell from the tower too.’

What made it even more cumbersome was that everything was decorated even more lavishly since this was a birthday banquet. The flowers adorning my hair, the long trailing hem of my dress getting tangled between my legs….

This dress, which had been expensively procured from across the sea, would be troublesome if it got dirty from being stepped on. So as I climbed the stairs while holding up the hem, I found myself gasping for breath from the unexpectedly heavy weight.

As I entered my room while catching my breath, my personal maid Berta greeted me.

“You’re back already?”

“I have to go back to the banquet hall. I just came to get my lyre.”

“You’re going to perform?”

Berta’s sharp eyes behind her round glasses widened in surprise.

Performing in front of many people was certainly an unusual choice for me.

I had never once performed at a banquet before.

There was neither value nor reason to bestow my performance upon those who thought they were something special just because they played around in high society.

When I was busy writing and revising songs for the ‘Day of Gazing,’ where would I find time to sing for mere humans?

But this time, it seemed like it would be quite enjoyable to sing.

Seeing me so cheerful, Berta added with concern.

“But the other people at the banquet hall… they won’t think well of it. There will be gossip.”

“That’s none of my concern.”

Nobles also learned to play instruments as part of their education.

However, they only showed their skills when with close acquaintances at home or in salons, never displaying their abilities at banquet halls.

Nobles were patrons of artists, not subjects to be evaluated on stage.

‘What does it matter? I’ll be stepping down from the position of Grand Duchess soon anyway.’

Whether there’s gossip or not, what would it matter to me when I’m about to get divorced?

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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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