An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 75

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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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#75

After slapping me around for a while like that, Tamar’s anger seemed to have cooled down somewhat. I glanced at Tamar’s expression and cautiously opened my mouth.

“…Anyway, before telling Gert, I want to talk with Princess Lairinne a bit more first.”

“What kind of talk? That your life was threatened because of your stupidly naive nature?”

“Princess Lairinne might think that way. She is young, after all…”

“You make excuses for everything just because she’s young. When I was that age, I was using curses to…”

Tamar snorted and began recounting her heroic tales. Not wanting to rile up Tamar who had just barely calmed down, I obediently listened to her stories.

But my desire to meet with Lairinne wasn’t just out of consideration for the young princess. It was because there was information I could get from Lairinne.

“What I’m concerned about is His Majesty.”

“His Majesty?”

“Yes. The princess said she happened to run into Eurich at the Royal Palace and lent him the net… That story means Eurich hasn’t been stripped of his right to enter the Royal Palace. Even though he’s been kicked out of his household and is no longer a noble.”

“Ah.”

Tamar also nodded as if she understood. I continued laying out my speculation.

“I also wonder if His Majesty really didn’t know that Princess Lairinne lent him the net. Anyway, I want to meet Princess Lairinne and subtly probe about the relationship between His Majesty and Eurich. If it turns out the Royal Family really has nothing to do with Eurich… Then I’ll tell Gert.”

“What if Eurich makes a move in the meantime, or if he really is connected to His Majesty?”

“Eurich also caused a big incident recently, so he won’t move immediately. There’s no rush.”

More precisely, since Gert had returned to the Capital City, I thought things would be fine for a while since Eurich would have to watch out for Gert.

No matter how I thought about it, it couldn’t be a coincidence that the Golden-Horned Doe went on a rampage when Gert was away from the capital.

I murmured quietly.

“And as you said, if His Majesty and Eurich really are connected… I have something planned for that too.”

His Majesty had no particular reason to want to eliminate me, a mere bard. Without much thought, he probably just got swayed by Eurich’s words and decided to casually help with his revenge.

In such a situation, what if something more troublesome than expected were to happen…

Eventually, His Majesty would have no choice but to cast Eurich aside. Perhaps His Majesty might even take the initiative to deal with Eurich himself.

Setting up that kind of scenario wouldn’t even require Gert’s help. I smiled wickedly at Tamar.

“I’m not such a good person that I’d spare someone who’s tried to kill me multiple times.”

Previously, I had planned to settle my grudge from before the regression by simply having him expelled from his household, but he was the one who ultimately pointed a blade at me. So what could I do? I had no choice but to start moving myself.

This was all Eurich’s own doing. Who told him to mess with a bard living peacefully! I glinted with fighting spirit and hostility as I thought about how to screw over Eurich.

***

“Next time something happens, you absolutely must contact me. When I hear news about you from other people, my heart drops five times more.”

“I know, I know.”

Tamar only got up from her seat after repeatedly urging Orphea several times.

“You don’t need to see me out.”

“Okay, then see you later!”

Just as Tamar was about to leave Orphea’s Mansion.

“Tamar Bagrationi.”

“Haah…”

Tamar sighed and turned around. There stood a statue-like man, looking down at Tamar intently.

“Were you waiting for me? You must have time to spare.”

Though Tamar spoke sarcastically, Gert let her words go in one ear and out the other as he calmly gestured toward his carriage.

“I have something to discuss. Come.”

If he had any intention of backing down quietly even if Tamar refused, he wouldn’t have been waiting here like this. Realizing that being stubborn would be pointless, Tamar clicked her tongue in displeasure and got into Gert’s carriage.

Gert’s faithful dog Hilias urged the coachman from the driver’s seat, and the carriage began to move.

The carriage was spacious, but somehow felt suffocating. It wasn’t just because of his large frame, but because the weight of a soul born as a demigod cast an overwhelming presence.

Especially when he was suppressing his madness, violent energy emanated from him. People without sensitivity would naturally shrink under that intimidating aura, but to Tamar, it came across as hostility instead.

‘How does Orphea manage to stick around with a guy like this.’

Even if not to Tamar’s extent, Orphea was somewhat sensitive too, yet it was amazing how she seemed unbothered by Gert’s side.

At least his madness was somewhat suppressed right now, otherwise she would have gotten out of the carriage immediately.

Of course, that didn’t mean she wanted to stay with him for long.

“If you have something you want to say, just say it quickly. We’re not the type to sit face-to-face and have long conversations.”

“That’s true.”

Gert nodded in agreement. He also had no intention of dragging out this conversation, so he got straight to the point.

“About the Keryneian deer incident, did you hear anything from Orphea?”

“Hmm. I was wondering what you wanted to talk about, and you’re also curious about that deer story?”

She had just come out after telling Orphea about how Gert was grilling Zyla, and now it was her turn.

“If you’re that curious, why don’t you just ask Orphea directly?”

“That guy acts like he chatters about everything, but sometimes… his lips are too sealed.”

Gert shook his head with a troubled expression. Seeing this, Tamar snorted. No matter how tight-lipped Orphea was, could he be worse than Gert?

‘How much Orphea suffered because of that.’

If only Gert hadn’t left for the Underworld without any explanation, half of the hardships Orphea was experiencing now wouldn’t have existed.

At the very least, if he had given even a hint about the existence of the woman he liked, Orphea wouldn’t have suffered emotionally, if nothing else.

Knowing the ordeals Orphea had endured, Tamar had no intention of satisfying Gert’s curiosity, even if Orphea hadn’t specifically begged her to keep it secret.

“Well. There must be a reason why Orphea won’t tell you. You’re not exactly forthcoming with Orphea about one or two things either.”

“…I’m not sure what you mean.”

Gert shrugged as if he found Tamar’s words difficult to understand and turned his gaze away. But that reaction was exactly what someone with something to hide would do. Confident that she had hit Gert’s weak spot, Tamar’s red lips curved up crookedly.

“You can’t not know. Your madness subsides when you hear Orphea’s performance.”

As soon as Tamar’s words fell, cracks appeared for the first time on Gert’s hard, smooth face. His sharply honed blade-like gaze pierced Tamar fiercely.

An ordinary person would have trembled speechlessly, crushed by the intangible aura.

But his opponent was Tamar, who like Gert was called a demigod.

Tamar paid no heed and retraced the moment when she had first suspected Gert.

The beginning of her suspicion was the moment she heard that Orphea had calmed the divine beast.

Only then did Tamar realize that she too had experienced her restless heart being calmed by Orphea’s songs more than once or twice.

At the time, she had dismissed those instances as coincidence, thinking her heart felt at ease because she heard a song she liked, but what if there really had been an effect?

If one could interfere with the mind of someone blessed by the gods, couldn’t they also interfere with the mind of someone cursed by the gods?

And when she felt Gert’s madness dissipate the moment he heard Orphea’s song. Her suspicion became certainty.

Did Gert before the regression know this fact? Tamar’s eyes narrowed.

“Orphea doesn’t seem to know that her performance suppresses your madness… Why aren’t you telling her? Are you afraid she might blackmail you into performing for you?”

“Ha, blackmail!”

Unable to suppress his anger at Tamar’s continued interrogation, Gert’s voice rose. He clenched his fists so tightly that something seemed to be crushed in his grip resting on his knees, making a crunching sound.

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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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