DH 06

#6

Chapter 06.

Just then.

–Knock, knock.

“Lord Gert, it’s Hylas.”

Hylas’s voice called for Gert from beyond the drawing room door.

As if not wanting to take his anger out on the innocent Hylas, Gert repeatedly tried to calm himself, steadying his breath several times.

Having barely suppressed his rage, Gert answered in a cold voice.

“Come in.”

The drawing room door opened, and a slender, handsome man entered. Hylas glanced at Gert and spoke cautiously.

“I believe it’s about time to depart for the hunt.”

He looked troubled, having been delayed far beyond the scheduled time.

“Cancel this hunt.”

At Gert’s words, both Hylas and I widened our eyes.

I thought he might postpone the hunt for a day at most, but I never imagined he would cancel it entirely.

Hylas asked worriedly.

“…Will you be alright?”
“Of course I won’t be alright.”

Gert pressed his forehead as if it were throbbing. It seemed he was suppressing a rising surge of madness.

“But now that divorce has been brought up, how can I have the mind to go hunting?”

Is the divorce that bothersome?
I’ve heard resisting the madness feels like dozens of red-hot needles piercing the brain.

But still, to endure the madness over a divorce…

‘…I feel kind of sorry.’

Knowing how irritable Gert becomes if he doesn’t hunt, a sense of guilt washed over me.

“You could just say you’ll grant the divorce and then go hunting.”
“That’s right. If necessary, I can handle the divorce procedures alone. The divorce terms were clearly stipulated when you both drafted the contract.”

Hylas nodded repeatedly. Hylas was one of the few people aware that our marriage was a loveless contract.

As such, he seemed to think my sudden mention of divorce was understandable.

‘He’s probably more shocked by Gert saying he can’t go hunting than by our divorce.’

Whether Gert is present or not, the paperwork is handled by Hylas anyway. So if Gert just gives his approval, there’s no need for him to stay here.

Seeing Hylas and I getting along so smoothly, one corner of Gert’s mouth twisted into a displeased smirk.

“Why do you assume I will grant the divorce?”

Flustered, I grabbed Gert, my face paling.

“Ah, you won’t? After I explained in detail how uncomfortable I am?”
“…It’s not that I won’t.”
“Then you will?”
“It’s not that I will either.”

Then what on earth!

Are you granting it or not?

As I, finding it absurd, raised the tip of my eyebrow, Gert averted his gaze uncharacteristically and spoke.

“For now, let’s continue the conversation after the banquet ends. Anyway, today is your birthday, and your enjoyment comes first.”
‘Aren’t you just evading?’

I thought getting a definite answer now would actually allow me to enjoy my birthday more, but Gert didn’t listen and turned his back first, striding out of the drawing room.

I stared blankly at Hylas. Hylas also looked visibly flustered, as if seeing this side of Gert for the first time.

Well, until now, Gert had been the type of person who was clear-cut—yes means yes, no means no.

But at the same time, he was also a man who kept his word once given.

Judging by Gert’s attitude, it seemed he had no intention of giving an answer until the banquet ended, no matter how much I insisted.

‘Surely he won’t turn stubborn then and refuse the divorce?’

If he does, I’ll have no choice but to cause an even bigger scene than the bomb I dropped in the banquet hall.

I shot a sharp glare at Gert’s retreating back. Perhaps because his back was broad and his frame large, there was plenty of area to glare at.

“What are you doing? Will you stay in the drawing room?”
‘He startled me!’

The moment I glared, Gert turned around sharply. My heart lurched, and I hastily lowered my gaze.

Anyway, until I get a definite answer on the divorce, I mustn’t provoke Gert’s temper!

As if nothing happened, I hurried my steps toward Gert and called out.

“I—I was coming!”

Although I was flustered that the divorce wasn’t immediately accepted, there was still time before Gert’s death.

We had agreed to talk again after the banquet ended.

But I couldn’t just sit idle with folded hands until then.

‘When will those enemies ever gather in one place again?’

It would be even more so if Gert granted the divorce.

Once I returned to being a commoner minstrel, I would have no opportunity to meet the people of Lubenhertz separately.

If I didn’t strike a blow now, my resentment wouldn’t subside.

Just then, a good idea came to mind.

I stopped walking toward the banquet hall and said to Gert.

“Hey, Gert. Can I stop by my room for a moment?”
“Your room?”

Gert isn’t the type to interrogate where I’m going. Thinking I’d get permission without issue, I nodded fervently.

Sure enough, Gert furrowed his brow for a moment before nodding.

“Go ahead.”
“I’ll be right back! You go to the banquet hall first!”

As I turned my body toward my room.

Gert’s large hand seized me in an instant.

“Why?”
“…If you don’t want to return to the banquet hall, you don’t have to. I’ll smooth things over.”
“Huh?”

Baffled, I blinked.

Belatedly, I realized Gert had misunderstood, thinking I was making an excuse to go to my room because I didn’t want to return to the banquet hall.

“Of course, the banquet hall atmosphere isn’t something I can ignore… but it’s fine! I’ll return to the banquet hall.”

After dropping the divorce bombshell and being dragged out, the banquet hall must be in an uproar by now.

But since I still had business with the people there, I absolutely had to return to that uproar!

Not knowing my true intentions, Gert seemed to think I was putting on a brave face and added with concern.

“Even so, if it bothers you…”
“It’s fine, really!”

I pushed Gert’s back. Not forgetting to add, just in case.

“Don’t you dare end the banquet before I return. Understood?”
“……”

Gert didn’t answer, but I read acceptance in his silence. With no time to spare, I hastily headed toward my room after my warning.

“Huff… huff….”

I told Gert I’d be right back, but I had momentarily forgotten a fact.

That my room is at the very top, at the spire’s peak.

I usually didn’t leave my room often, so I forgot, but sprinting at full speed from the banquet hall to my room made me feel it acutely.

‘Well, it took a while to fall from the spire too.’

Moreover, since it was a birthday banquet, everything was decorated even more lavishly, making things cumbersome. The flowers adorning my hair, the long train of the dress tangling between my legs…

If this dress, bought at great expense from across the sea, got stepped on and soiled, it would be a problem. So, holding up the train while climbing the stairs, the unexpected weight left me breathless.

As I entered my room panting, my personal maid, Berta, greeted me.

“You’re back already?”
“I have to return to the banquet hall. I just came to get my lyre.”
“You’ll be performing?”

Berta’s sharp eyes behind her round glasses widened.

Performing in front of a crowd was certainly an uncharacteristic choice for me.

I had never performed at a banquet before.

I had neither the worth nor the reason to offer my performance to those in social circles who thought they were something just by playing around.

Busy writing and revising songs for the ‘Day of Gaze’, where would I find time to sing for mere humans?

But this time, it seemed worth singing for.

Seeing my cheerful demeanor, Berta added with worry.

“But the other guests at the banquet… They won’t think well of it. There will be talk.”
“That’s none of my concern.”

Nobles often learned to play instruments as part of their cultivation.

But they only performed in front of close acquaintances, at home or in salons—never showcasing their skills at banquets.

Nobles were patrons of artists, not subjects to be evaluated on stage.

‘What does it matter? I’ll be stepping down from the position of Grand Duchess soon.’

Whether there’s talk or not, what concern is it of mine, who will soon be divorced?