An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 77

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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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#77

“Ah.”

Only then did Gert realize the source of this churning unpleasantness he was feeling.

Gert deceiving her wasn’t just about the value of the song, but was tantamount to deceiving her very motivation.

Orphea firmly believed that Gert had been moved by her performance. But the truth was, Gert had become comfortable because his madness had subsided, not because he was moved by the music.

‘Of course I still think Orphea’s performance is good. But…’

Was that expression he couldn’t help but reveal really shown because he was moved by Orphea’s performance?

The misunderstanding that built up this way inspired her, and that inspiration kept making her play for him.

For Gert, though he claimed it was for her sake, in the end it was still deception and trickery all the same.

That’s why Tamar’s words might have pierced Gert’s heart even more deeply.

Sunset light streamed in through the carriage window. While the spreading sunset made the inside of the carriage brighter, the shadows cast on Gert’s face only grew deeper.

***

The capital of Petalien wasn’t a small place, but it was crowded with people. After Gert escorted Tamar to her front door, rumors swept through the social circles about whether there might be some kind of subtle relationship between the two.

If the social circles had been stirred up about Orphea because of the strong stimulus of her being his divorced ex-wife, then Tamar’s very existence was nothing short of a stimulus itself.

A princess of Okrolandi, with whom diplomatic relations had been severed for a hundred years, and a priestess favored by the goddess Hecate!

Everyone in the social circles wanted to somehow establish a connection with Tamar, but unfortunately Tamar wasn’t the type to frequently show herself in social circles.

People craned their necks and peered around, wondering how they could get involved with Tamar, and this was still the case even three years later.

Since it was none other than Gert who had escorted such a Tamar to her front door, rumors were bound to spread.

It didn’t take long for those rumors to reach the Royal Palace.

Dietrich, prince of Petalien, leader of the expedition, and Gert’s friend, headed straight to Gert’s estate as soon as he heard the rumors.

“Gert! I heard some ridiculous rumor! I think you need to clarify this!”

“…This feels like déjà vu somehow.”

Gert recalled experiencing a situation exactly similar to this not long ago when he was at Orphea’s mansion.

Dietrich, who had started declaring his purpose while shouting loudly even before entering Gert’s room, grabbed Gert’s door-sized shoulders with both hands as soon as he saw Gert’s face and cried out desperately.

“You’re not dating Tamar, are you? Right?”

“…What kind of horrible thing is that to say?”

***

“Haha! I misunderstood!”

“Me and Tamar in the first place? It’s obviously just a false rumor.”

Contempt flickered in Gert’s eyes as he listened to Dietrich’s explanation. Seeing that disgusted expression, Dietrich could clearly feel Gert’s sincerity.

Dietrich acknowledged that he had been too hasty and waved his hands dismissively.

“I know, I know. There’s absolutely no way you’d have feelings for Tamar. Besides, you have Orphea too…”

“Why is Orphea being brought up here?”

Gert frowned and asked back.

But it wasn’t unusual for Gert to act embarrassed and pretend otherwise like this.

Dietrich let Gert’s question go in one ear and out the other, waving his hand dismissively as he continued with what he wanted to say.

“Anyway, I couldn’t help but be shocked, you see. If you heard a rumor that Orphea was dating me, you would have come looking for me immediately too, wouldn’t you?”

“That’s why I’m saying I don’t understand why Orphea is being brought up here.”

“So, am I right or wrong?”

“…I probably would have come looking.”

“No, that’s not the end of it. You would have definitely grabbed me by the collar as soon as you saw me. Compared to that, how refined and polite my attitude was!”

“…”

Dietrich’s appearance, wagging his index finger left and right, was insufferably smug. Gert could only let out a hollow laugh at the absurdity.

Despite his princely origins being hard to believe, Dietrich was quite good at accommodating others. There were more than a few times when Gert felt that he, coming from the slums, might actually be the more stubborn one.

Being so smooth and cheeky, he was probably able to remain friends with the difficult Gert for such a long time.

‘Though sometimes he gets on people’s nerves like now.’

It was precisely because of that personality that he had the audacity to lead 50 heroes, each living for their own glory, on a long sea voyage.

Though Dietrich was usually this cheeky and always made sure to leave himself an escape route, when it came to matters involving Tamar, he always charged ahead recklessly like today.

From the moment he first met Tamar, he was so entranced that he stumbled and fell, and since then he had made foolish mistakes several times, causing Tamar to think of Dietrich as something of an idiot.

And yet he wouldn’t confess and just fidgeted around like a dog that needed to relieve itself.

Wondering if he really liked Tamar that much, Gert asked bluntly.

“Instead of being anxious behind the scenes like this, why don’t you just confess?”

“In this situation? I should confess after I’ve properly paved my way forward. Confessing now while the royal family is in discord would seem too politically motivated.”

Dietrich shook his head as if it was absurd. As a foreign princess, Tamar was a politically powerful card. Even if Dietrich had no intention of using Tamar, it would inevitably appear that way. Dietrich hated that very fact.

Others might call it a foolish choice, but Gert also understood Dietrich’s pure heart.

He himself felt repulsion toward any situation that seemed like he was using Orphea even a little. He absolutely couldn’t stand the unpleasant feeling that his pure goodwill and affection were being contaminated and corrupted.

“Anyway, that old man, even at his age he’s still so persistent…”

Dietrich’s blonde hair fell across his forehead as he frowned and muttered.

Blonde hair and purple eyes, exactly like His Majesty.

If not for that appearance, His Majesty would have surely pinned adultery charges on the Previous Queen. While Dietrich detested his appearance that resembled his father, he acknowledged that this appearance had saved his life.

Dietrich lifted one corner of his mouth in a smirk.

“No matter how much that old man wants to cut me off, as long as I have the legitimacy he gave me and the reputation I’ve built, it won’t be easy.”

Dietrich had always been a popular prince, but after leading the expedition and forming an agreement with Okrolandi through perilous adventures, his reputation soared to the heavens.

It was ironic that the very reason Dietrich went on the expedition was none other than His Majesty’s scheme to kill Dietrich.

The expedition to Okrolandi was a perilous mission that was bound to fail. Not only did he return safely from that mission, but he even gained popularity, so it was natural that His Majesty would be furious.

In the end, His Majesty had built the foundation of Dietrich’s popularity with his own hands. Because of this, no matter how much His Majesty wanted to keep Dietrich in check, he had no justification as long as Dietrich didn’t make mistakes.

Moreover, there was no suitable successor to replace Dietrich.

Gert clicked his tongue as if he couldn’t understand.

“Anyway, His Majesty’s thinking is incomprehensible. Getting rid of you isn’t the end of it. He needs to put forward another suitable heir. And it doesn’t seem like His Majesty intends to pass the throne to Princess Lairinne either…”

“That’s right. If the old man had any intention of supporting Lairinne, he would have started heir education long ago, whether she’s illegitimate or whatever. Since he hasn’t… he just wants to make my life miserable.”

Whether the nation’s future flickered like a candle in the wind because of this, His Majesty had no interest whatsoever.

Even toward his daughter Lairinne, whom he seemed to love so much.

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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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