An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 81

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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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#81

As I hesitated and trailed off my words, overwhelmed by her momentum, Princess Lairinne immediately waved her hand to stop me.

“Never mind! It’s fine. You probably didn’t want to reveal it either. I shouldn’t have pried.”

Princess Lairinne let out a regretful sigh and murmured.

“I had no idea you were going through that all this time…”

Tears began to shimmer in Princess Lairinne’s eyes. She had suddenly lashed out at me, and now she was starting to cry. Bewildered by this entire situation, I wondered what I should do.

‘Should I correct the princess’s misunderstanding? I feel somewhat guilty…’

While I wasn’t someone obsessively opposed to lying, I also wasn’t shameless enough to act nonchalantly when a girl six years younger than me was crying like this.

But my contemplation was brief.

“I’ll support you. If there’s anything I can do to help, please feel free to tell me. I’ll do my absolute best.”

“…? Thank you.”

At Princess Lairinne’s following words, I changed my attitude as quickly as flipping my palm and decided to readily accept the princess’s misunderstanding.

Hmm. If Gert ends up being saved through Princess Lairinne’s cooperation, she would be happy about it too, so it shouldn’t matter, right?

After all, guilt could be temporarily set aside in the face of a greater cause, and strictly speaking, it was the princess who misunderstood—I hadn’t actually lied!

That’s how I rationalized it to myself.

***

Having achieved my purpose, I was about to leave Count Tindal’s estate to return.

“Leaving already? Are you done with your business?”

Just then, the twins approached and spoke to me.

While Helena had also agreed that Eurich needed to be removed from Princess Lairinne’s side, she hadn’t intended to help me from the beginning.

I was only able to persuade Helena, who was reluctant because it felt like deceiving Princess Lairinne, thanks to the twins.

Since it would have been quite troublesome without the twins, I expressed my gratitude to them with genuine appreciation.

“Yes, thanks to you. It went smoothly because Helena provided appropriate support.”

“That’s a relief. Honestly, you have no idea how happy we were that you came to us instead of Gert.”

“You absolutely must not reveal what happened this time to Gert. Got it?”

“That’s not as pleasant to hear.”

The twins pouted their lips exaggeratedly. No matter how I looked at it, they seemed to have let my earnest request go in one ear and out the other.

But I wasn’t too worried. While the twins were flighty, their lips were actually quite tight when it mattered.

Besides, it would be ridiculous for the twins, who were at odds with Gert, to go running to him with information.

“Well, it might not be so bad if we think of it as a secret between Orphea and us.”

“But Princess Lairinne and Helena know about it too.”

“Really, Orphea, you have a talent for pouring cold water on fluffy, excited feelings.”

The twins looked at each other and sighed.

Since it felt awkward to keep talking while standing in the lobby, we decided to stroll through the garden.

Perhaps because the weather had gotten a bit chilly, white anemone flowers were in full bloom in the garden. Pollux, who had been looking at the anemone flowers, suddenly asked as if something had occurred to him.

“Come to think of it, I heard Gert was going to give you flowers as a gift. Did you receive them well?”

“I received them well. How did you know Gert gave me a gift?”

‘Are the twins and Gert closer than I thought…?’

The Gert I knew wasn’t the type to share such details with the twins, so I was a bit perplexed.

‘Maybe I should be more thorough about keeping the twins’ mouths shut…’

While I was briefly pondering this, Castor opened his mouth as if tattling.

“That guy suddenly came to our garden and…”

The twins began grumbling and badmouthing Gert.

Their complaint was essentially that they had worked so hard to choose flowers for Gert, who didn’t even know flower names, yet Gert had the audacity to act as if he’d never received their help.

‘Hmm. It seems he used them appropriately and then left. That’s fortunate.’

I felt slightly relieved to realize that the relationship between Gert and the twins wasn’t much different from what I had originally known.

Rather, the fact that Gert had sought out the twins—whom he not only wasn’t close to but actually disliked—to find flowers that would suit me was even touching.

“He didn’t even mention to you that he got our help, did he? That Gert guy has some cunning sides to him. Trying to score points all by himself.”

Castor, completely unaware that his words had the opposite effect, clung to my arm somewhat petulantly. It was rather uncomfortable having a sturdy man who was half a hand taller than me acting this clingy.

‘…This is strange. When Gert, who’s a full head taller than me, did this, I think it felt kind of ticklish.’

Now it just felt tiring… I wished he would walk on his own two feet… Honestly, it was annoying.

Still, Pollux, who was slightly more perceptive of the two, seemed to sense that I was bothered and quickly pulled Castor away while saying:

“So, what’s your favorite flower? Just say the word and we’ll give it to you as a gift.”

“It’s fine. I’ve already received plenty of my favorite flowers from Gert. I’ll just accept the thought.”

I shook my head. Since Gert had literally transplanted an entire flower bed, the flowers already at our house were sufficient for the time being.

“Don’t just accept the thought—it would be nice if you’d accept my body too.”

“And mine as well.”

As soon as I declined, the twins immediately grinned cheekily and slightly lifted the collars of their shirts. Though somewhat lacking compared to Gert, their well-maintained chest muscles—solid compared to ordinary men—briefly appeared and disappeared.

Whenever the twins acted like this, I couldn’t help but think of Linos, and it was unbearable. I looked at them with a pitying gaze and clicked my tongue.

“Again, again, again. I told you I don’t find those jokes funny.”

“It’s not a joke…”

Castor tried to protest as if wronged, but couldn’t finish his words as Pollux covered his mouth. Pollux curved his fox-like narrow eyes into a smile and quickly changed the subject.

“Well, that’s part of why we like your personality. Anyway, even if you don’t need flowers and don’t need our bodies, you might still need our help. If there’s anything we can do, just say the word anytime.”

“Right. We still haven’t repaid our debt from when you saved us.”

Castor, having escaped from Pollux’s grip, grumbled as he added this. But I couldn’t think of what I could have possibly done to save the twins, who had been outstanding heroes even in the expedition.

“Did I ever save you two?”

“You did! When we passed Siren’s Island! Don’t you remember?”

“Ah…”

At Castor’s indignant cry, memories from several years ago hazily came back to me.

***

During our voyage to Okrolandi.

We found ourselves in a situation where we had no choice but to pass by an island inhabited by Sirens, who lured people with beautiful songs, made them fall into the sea, and then fed on them.

We didn’t have enough provisions to go around the island. When breaking through was our only option, Dietrich came up with a good plan.

“Everyone, let’s make earplugs with beeswax and block our ears. If we physically block the Sirens’ singing, we won’t be enchanted. What do you think, Orphea?”

“Certainly, if we can’t hear the song, even the most enchanting melody would be useless.”

“Great!”

We blocked our ears with beeswax earplugs and passed through the Sirens’ habitat. As soon as the Sirens spotted us from afar, they began singing, but the beeswax earplugs perfectly blocked their songs.

Just when it seemed the Argo was about to safely pass near the rocky island where the Sirens lived, trouble struck.

Song wasn’t the only method Sirens used to seduce humans. Realizing their songs weren’t working, the Sirens tried to enchant the humans on deck using their beautiful appearances as weapons.

The ones who fell for this were the twins, who had a weakness for women.

“Such beautiful women singing songs of seduction…”

“It must be so sweet…”

Enchanted by the Sirens, they unconsciously removed their earplugs.

And once exposed to the Sirens’ song, they jumped into the sea without hesitation.

The other crew members who realized the situation belatedly threw ropes and attempted rescue, but the twins, already under the Sirens’ spell, actually swam toward the Sirens instead.

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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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