An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 73

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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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#73

Tamar’s brow furrowed as her eyes narrowed.

“…Didn’t that human say he went hunting? Why is he back so soon?”

“He said he didn’t go hunting. And calling him ‘that human’ in front of people is a bit much.”

I watched Gert slowly getting up and tried to dissuade Tamar. Even at a glance, Gert’s current mood was clearly unpleasant.

But Tamar snorted and jerked her chin toward Gert.

“What do I care? He calls me ‘that woman’ to my face too.”

“Orphea, does that woman always show up like this without making appointments?”

“See that.”

Tamar shrugged as if she’d expected this.

I knew that Gert and Tamar didn’t show courtesy to each other. More precisely, it was like two people who had never needed to show courtesy to anyone meeting each other.

In Tamar’s case, as a priestess favored by the gods, she had lived with absolute power in Okrolandi, just like the demigod Gert who was born with divine blessing.

Still, since they’d been indifferent to each other like strangers until now, there hadn’t been any reason to clash, but today Tamar was particularly on edge.

Before the regression, she must have been quite displeased when Gert held me while thinking of another woman and showing regret.

‘Last time I thought she’d let it pass quietly….’

Back then, Zyla, who knew nothing, was there with them, so she seemed to have restrained herself. Of course, Gert didn’t know anything either, but from Tamar’s perspective, that wasn’t her concern.

So from Gert’s standpoint, Tamar was doing nothing more or less than suddenly picking a fight. Displeasure clouded Gert’s face.

But Tamar didn’t care at all. Striding up to Gert, she crossed her arms and looked down at him, speaking like she was giving orders.

“Anyway, move aside. I have something to discuss with Orphea.”

“I had an appointment with Orphea first. Last time, since it seemed like your first visit to Orphea’s mansion, I graciously stepped aside considering Orphea’s position, but now you’re really getting comfortable.”

A scorpion and a lion…. Or maybe a snake and a shark….

Caught between two predators facing off, I could only roll my eyes around, unable to do anything.

‘Though looking at this, they seem to match each other quite well in a way.’

If those two knew what I was thinking, they’d probably team up against me, making their previous fight meaningless. Of course, that coordination would also show how well-matched they were.

However, if I just sat and listened to them fight while dragging up expedition matters, they’d probably fight all day.

Since the cause of their fight was ultimately me, I had to resolve it. I carefully stepped between them and said:

“I promised to perform for Gert, but Tamar, would you like to listen too after so long? We can talk after the song ends.”

I couldn’t avoid the conversation with Tamar anyway. If so, I had to somehow soothe Tamar’s anger with my music.

‘After listening to a song, she won’t nag as much as she would initially, right…?’

I desperately hoped Tamar would take my bait. But if I showed such feelings, it might backfire instead, so I tried my best to appear nonchalant, as if it wouldn’t matter if she refused.

“Fine. There’s no rush.”

‘Yes!’

Tamar accepted my proposal!

Tamar sat in the spot farthest from Gert, grumbling.

“Orphea writes songs for you and calls you to perform like this every time…. You should know how blessed you are.”

“I know that well enough without being told.”

Watching the two continue bickering even after sitting down, I lightly plucked a lyre string with my thumb.

Ding—

With the lyre’s sound, both stopped talking. Thinking I shouldn’t give them any time to speak, I immediately opened my mouth to begin performing.

“Now, let me play the song I sang when calming the Golden-Horned Doe.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Tamar jumped up as if hearing this for the first time.

“…What? You calmed a divine beast with a song?”

“Huh? Oh. You didn’t hear that far?”

“I heard you got involved with the Golden-Horned Doe and immediately rushed out.”

“You’re really quite impatient, you know….”

I clicked my tongue. I wasn’t exactly leisurely myself, but Tamar tended to be even more so. How many times Zyla must have sighed watching us….

“Well, it was more like buying time rather than truly calming the divine beast. It would have been meaningless if the fawn hadn’t appeared, right?”

I shrugged and plucked the strings with my fingers. I continued speaking while repeating arpeggios.

“Of course, it’s not exactly the same as back then…. I arranged it a bit. Since I improvised then, there were parts I wasn’t satisfied with. This version sounds much better.”

For example, the rhythm.

Even then I tried to maintain the flow, but due to the live situation, I couldn’t help the rhythm being somewhat fluid. It also fluctuated to match the deer’s breathing.

But now everything was organized and clean.

Anyway, since they didn’t know the music from that time, explaining the differences would be meaningless. I stopped explaining and put full effort into the performance.

O you of Artume

Why do you rage so?

***

“How was it?”

Stopping my fingers that had been slowly plucking the strings, I smiled proudly and asked Gert and Tamar.

‘Hmm. Indeed a perfect arrangement.’

Usually I didn’t give high scores just because it was my own song, but this piece was quite impressive and good!

“Indeed, it’s understandable that Karneia’s doe would have calmed to this song.”

Gert was the first to speak. Nodding with a faint smile, Gert’s expression was the same as any recent time after listening to my songs.

Like someone who had barely escaped from decades of tormenting pain and finally found peace—that comfortable yet desperate expression.

However, today no particular inspiration struck me. Well, performing for Gert had a high probability of inspiring ideas, but it wasn’t 100%, so I figured that was just how it was.

Still, since Gert, my most demanding audience, seemed to enjoy it, I could breathe a sigh of relief.

‘Good, good. Gert seems satisfied…. But Tamar is quiet?’

Unlike Gert, Tamar had been constantly praising my songs from the moment we first met. How else would she have joined the expedition returning to Petalien as an envoy just to hear my songs?

Normally, Tamar would have jumped up from her seat as soon as I finished singing, clapping and showering me with an overwhelming amount of praise.

Since that Tamar remained quiet for a long while after the song ended, an inexplicable anxiety began creeping in.

Just as I was about to glance at Tamar, Gert suddenly stood up and said:

“Well, I’ve heard a song, and you have a guest. I’ll take my leave for today.”

“Huh? Already?”

“Anyway, I get to see you more often, so I should ‘be considerate.'”

It seemed like certain words were strangely emphasized, but I figured it was my imagination. I hooked my finger around Gert’s pinky and promised:

“Tomorrow, no matter what happens, let’s definitely! spend time together just the two of us! I’ll definitely! play all the songs I couldn’t play today tomorrow.”

“Mm.”

Having been momentarily distracted by seeing Gert off, I turned to look at Tamar belatedly.

“….”

And what I faced was Tamar wearing an extremely serious expression.

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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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