An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 72

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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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#72

Chapter 05. An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth, a Scheme for a Scheme

Gert brought not only flowers but also a mountain of bulbs that could be planted in the garden. The gardener, who suddenly had a lot of work to do, looked rather pleased.

“To be able to create a Kara Flower Garden, I’m excited too!”

And so, Kara flower bulbs were planted in one corner of the estate’s garden. I looked at the dug-up corner of the garden and smiled brightly.

“I’m looking forward to next spring.”

“Hmm.”

Gert also nodded while crossing his arms beside me. Gert’s mood didn’t seem too bad either. No, it seemed somewhat good…

Thinking this was my chance, I prepared to bring up something I had been holding back.

“Ahem. By the way, Gert.”

Instead of answering, Gert only raised one eyebrow. When Gert first reacted like that, I thought it meant not to speak and just watched his mood, but now I knew it meant he was listening.

Recalling the saying that you can’t get angry at a smiling face, I smiled brightly and quickly continued.

“Well, we made a promise, you know. That I would sing for you until you go hunting.”

“Mm, we did.”

“Well… I couldn’t perform while you went to get the flowers, right? So couldn’t you listen for that much longer even after you come back from hunting?”

“…”

Gert remained silent without readily answering. The longer his silence stretched, the more anxious I became.

Asking for one day’s compensation for missing one day seemed a bit shameless, but singing for Gert was definitely efficient…

As evidence, during the few weeks Gert was gone, my work on the heroic poem slowed down like a ghost was interfering.

‘If only I could get inspiration just by looking at Gert’s face, it would be convenient. But something only clicks when Gert listens to my performance.’

As my thoughts grew longer, Gert’s mouth, which had been shut tight like a clam, finally opened with difficulty.

“…If you want it, I will come to listen to your songs anytime.”

“Really?”

Finding it hard to believe Gert’s words, I asked again. When Gert nodded, only then did my anxious heart wash away completely.

I couldn’t hide my joy and bounced around. As if he hadn’t expected me to be that happy, Gert looked bewildered.

“Of course. It’s not that I’m doing you a favor by listening to your songs, but that you’re bestowing a performance upon me.”

“I’ve been thinking it was the former all this time.”

No sooner had I said that than Gert’s eyebrows shot up.

‘Ah, that’s the eyebrow angle when he’s displeased about something.’

As I was guessing Gert’s intentions by looking at his eyebrow angle, Gert grasped both my hands and spoke as if admonishing me.

“Remember this, Orphea. I don’t have the talent to distinguish between good and bad songs. Only your songs are special. I can only enjoy the beauty of music through your songs.”

“…Isn’t it just because you haven’t particularly needed songs until now?”

Would someone who’s indifferent to any food they eat really fall into gastronomy just because they had one supreme meal?

I don’t think so.

These are people who don’t feel much satisfaction from taste to begin with. They’d think they had a decent experience and move on with that.

“So after listening to my songs, you learned that music is good… but that’s just as far as it goes, right. In the end, you’re just humoring me with a hobby you’re not interested in.”

Hearing my argument, Gert looked at me with an unreadable gaze, then let out a deep sigh. It was somehow an irritating sigh.

“You don’t know the value of your songs.”

“No, I do know.”

“No, you don’t.”

“I really know objectively.”

“…That’s not for you to judge.”

The retort that if I don’t judge my own skills then who would rose to my throat, but thinking about it, aren’t artists always evaluated by others? Thinking Gert’s words also made sense, I closed my mouth again.

Gert continued speaking carefully, like an adult teaching a child the difference between grasshoppers and crickets.

“The standards for interest might differ from person to person. Like becoming curious about other musicians’ songs, or wanting to know more about music… I’m not at that level, of course, but I at least have enough interest and passion to gladly make time whenever it’s to listen to your songs.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. As I said before, listening to your songs is something I should be asking for. You can always feel free to tell me whenever you want to perform.”

Honestly, when Gert first said those words, even if I understood with my head, I couldn’t accept it with my heart. Maybe I still can’t.

I learned many things in the expedition. How to blend in among many people, or that values important to me might not be important to others.

And it was none other than Gert who taught me the latter.

‘Back then, I really couldn’t even imagine there would be people who disliked songs.’

So now that Gert was satisfied with my songs, I felt bewildered and couldn’t easily believe it. Until then, I hadn’t even expected Gert to like my songs.

The fact that I only get inspiration and make progress when I perform for Gert might be part of that.

‘I’ve always thought my heroic poem only needed to be recognized by Mnemiir, but actually, I wanted recognition from the hero’s owner, Gert, too.’

As I hesitated and only fidgeted with my hands, Gert’s questioning fell from above my head.

“Or do you see me as someone who would easily say sweet words about such things?”

“…That’s not it, but you might keep pushing forward with words you’ve said once because of pride.”

“I’ve been thinking this since last time, but the me in your head seems like quite a pathetic person.”

“That’s not what I meant…!”

The moment I hurriedly raised my head to deny it as soon as Gert’s words fell.

I met eyes with Gert, who was smiling with his eyes curved. Gert’s deep blue eyes, like the depths of the ocean, held me completely.

“If you think it’s not true, try believing a little.”

I was the type who couldn’t readily open my heart. Just look at how I doubted Gert’s words again and again.

But when Gert said it like that, I suddenly thought maybe it really was true.

Right. What am I that Gert would continue doing something he didn’t want to do out of consideration for me and keeping up appearances?

“Then, you’ll listen to my songs even after your next hunt ends?”

“Of course.”

After hearing Gert’s answer, I could finally smile brightly as if I had put down a burden from my heart. I grasped Gert’s hands that were holding mine in return.

“I received flower gifts today and I’m in a good mood, so I’ll sing for you.”

“Good.”

Gert followed me with a smile spread across his entire face. Certainly, compared to the beginning, Gert had become much more relaxed.

Like clothes getting wet in a drizzle, something was changing. But the change was so gradual that if asked what had changed from before, it would be hard to answer easily.

What was certain was that I didn’t dislike this changed relationship.

I pulled Gert along while chattering.

“I got new strings this time. They’re really precious. The sound is amazing too…”

***

I hadn’t particularly told anyone about calming the Golden-Horned Doe, but since it happened in the middle of the capital city, rumors seemed to have spread widely.

How did I know the rumors had spread?

“Orphea! You! Again! Without saying anything! What’s this about a deer story?”

Because Tamar, who heard the news, came fuming to the manor. Her voice was so booming that it could be heard even from my room on the second floor, making my shoulders shrink involuntarily.

Before long, Tamar burst through my room door and entered.

“You always do this…”

“…”

Tamar’s gaze, who had shouted with great momentum, turned toward Gert, who was lying half-sprawled in one corner of my room.

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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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