An Ode to Divorce - Chapter 82

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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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#82

Dietrich frantically gestured with his hands as he shouted.

“We can’t get any closer! If we go closer, the earplugs will lose their effectiveness!”

While the earplugs were effective from a distance, the closer they got to the Sirens, the less perfectly they could block out the song.

As the other expedition members could only stamp their feet helplessly, I couldn’t bear to watch and stepped forward.

Beneath the waves, beneath the currents

Deceived by the Sirens’ sweet lies

You who have sunk into the sea

Now listen to my song

The Sirens also raised their voices as if they wouldn’t lose to me.

Come to me

Come to me

The magical harmony of several Sirens chirping simultaneously in different notes approached with a tingling sensation across my skin.

But I had the lyre. The lyre’s melody supported my song so it wouldn’t fall behind the Sirens.

Led by false songs, step by step

After falling into the water

What awaits you

Is only cold death

Thus my song finally overpowered the Sirens’ song. As the Sirens’ song gradually lost its strength, their grip that had been consuming the twins also weakened.

“What? Why are we here…?”

“Let’s hurry back to the ship!”

As soon as the twins came to their senses, they swam toward where the ship was. Thanks to this, they barely made it back to the ship and were able to climb aboard using the rope the expedition members lowered.

I didn’t stop plucking the lyre until we left the Sirens’ island, and thanks to that, no other victims occurred.

When we had moved far enough that the Sirens’ song could no longer reach us, the frustrated Sirens smashed their heads against the rocks.

Even though they were monsters, for such excellent musicians to lose their lives so futilely like that. Even knowing it couldn’t be helped, I somehow felt bitter about it.

***

After that, the twins started pestering me. Of course, even before that they had been annoying, saying I was the only woman in the expedition they could flirt with, but after that incident, it became much worse.

Not only that, but even after the expedition ended and we returned to Petalien, that day’s memory must have been quite impressive, as the twins would bring up that incident every time they went to social gatherings. Since I had no interest in social circles at the time, I wouldn’t have known at all if Tamar hadn’t told me.

Because of that, I was dumbfounded to hear that a sinister notoriety had spread among the people in social circles that I had made the Sirens submit through song and driven them to suicide.

Fortunately, no one believed it so it was quickly forgotten.

Since that memory wasn’t particularly pleasant for me either, I had buried it in the back of my mind, but the twins’ remarks brought it back to the surface. Recalling that time, my gaze toward the twins was tinged with disdain.

‘Right, these were the kind of kids they were…’

Even though the twins were among the most outstanding heroes in the expedition, my desire to ask for their help if needed instantly cooled.

‘They might actually be a hindrance…’

Wanting to just play along and send them away, I answered reluctantly.

“Sure, I’ll call you if I need help. If I need it…”

“Promise!”

“Promise…”

I tried to trail off and move on, but the twins leaned their heads forward and pressured me uncomfortably, so I could only escape after making what was practically a forced promise.

Clearly just a moment ago my steps had been light because I had accomplished everything I aimed for today, but why? Suddenly both my heart and feet feel heavy…

***

‘Even after I’ve laid out the groundwork this much, all he does is nitpick this and that!’

After his audience with the king, Eurich gritted his teeth and pulled his hood down low.

Though it was a sparsely populated corridor, you never knew who you might encounter. It would be troublesome if someone saw him acting emotional and it reached the king’s ears.

Still, the king had ultimately agreed to provide people, so his objective was achieved. Eurich, who had calmed himself with this thought, quickened his pace. Thinking that the day to execute ‘that plan’ wasn’t far off made his heart race with excitement.

Just then, someone suddenly appeared in the corridor and blocked Eurich’s path.

“Brother.”

“…Princess Lairinne.”

Eurich raised his eyebrows at the unexpected character. Since their relationship had been completely severed after their fight over the Golden-Horned Doe incident last time, he never thought Lairinne would come looking for him.

“You still call me brother. I thought you wouldn’t even acknowledge me anymore.”

“I was excited back then too.”

Despite Eurich’s sarcasm, Lairinne answered calmly with her eyes downcast. Beneath her seemingly composed voice, a taut tension could be felt.

“Because I thought brother had deceived me… I got angry without realizing it.”

When Lairinne raised her head to look at Eurich, her blue eyes were moist with tears.

“Can you forgive me?”

Lairinne asked, gazing at him with glistening eyes while her cheeks flushed red.

Though Lairinne had always been affectionate toward Eurich and treated him intimately, she was still a princess.

Lairinne had never once shown signs of apologizing or being considerate to anyone except Gert and the king, and that included Eurich.

Eurich felt dizzy as if he had been slapped by Lairinne’s apology. As if he had been placed in the same position as Gert or the king…

Eurich quickly composed his bewilderment and answered calmly.

“…How could I forgive Your Highness? I’ve forgotten all about that incident. I too was somewhat excited and acted sensitively at the time.”

“Really?”

Color returned to Lairinne’s face. But as if she couldn’t just let that incident slide as if it never happened, Lairinne firmly shook her head and added.

“Brother says there’s no need for forgiveness between us, but… please accept this. It’s an apology gift I prepared.”

Lairinne took out something about the size of a forearm wrapped in cloth from her bosom.

Eurich, who received the object, glanced at Lairinne and carefully unwrapped the cloth. What was revealed beneath the soft texture of silk was a dagger that looked precious at first glance.

“Of course I know brother prefers longswords and spears, but this was about all I could prepare… I hope you won’t find it disagreeable.”

Eurich turned the dagger in his hands this way and that.

Though the decoration was plain, just looking at the wave-like steel grain flowing along the blade and the perfect joints, you could immediately tell it came from the hands of a renowned craftsman.

On the other hand, the scabbard was decorated with lily patterns, giving off a somewhat soft and elegant feeling.

‘It must be something the king gave her for self-defense.’

Since the king only wanted to give the princess the best, this dagger was surely a masterpiece too precious to waste time sleeping in the princess’s hands.

All heroes covet good weapons. Desire flickered momentarily in Eurich’s eyes.

“From the looks of it, this seems like something His Majesty gifted to Your Highness… Is it alright to give such a precious thing to me?”

“Of course.”

Lairinne smiled brightly and nodded. But beneath her smiling face, her heart was beating frighteningly wildly.

The reason Lairinne suddenly changed her attitude like flipping her palm and was being coquettish toward Eurich.

It was because this was exactly what Orphea had asked her to do.

‘Damn it, Orphea…! How dare she make me do something like this!’

Lairinne gritted her teeth. Orphea’s voice as she passionately tried to persuade Lairinne was still vivid in her ears.

“What I want to ask of Your Highness is to give Eurich a gift, using an apology or whatever as an excuse.”

“I… had a big fight with Eurich and we split up? I have something called pride too…”

“If you smile at the end, that’s the end of it! Maintaining pride for a moment is meaningless.”

“But I’ve never apologized before.”

“What lie are you telling? Then what you did to me last time wasn’t an apology but stating facts?”

“Th-that was sincere! It’s impossible for me to apologize when I don’t really feel sorry!”

When Lairinne couldn’t even grasp how to bring up the topic, Orphea even taught her everything from one to ten.

‘Seriously, this is ridiculous. Apologizing to Eurich!’

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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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