The Duchess of the Attic

Eight days after Opal moved into the attic.

The awakened opal stretched his back wide and relaxed the stiffness of his body.

In the beginning, this solid wood bed was hard to sleep in, but now I'm used to it a lot.

Outside the room there are signs that the servants have begun to move.

At this hour, he thinks he's never going to see Stella, or even Hubert, and he's making it Opal's activity time.

The servants still treat Opal as if they can't see it, but if they speak up, they answer quite a bit.

When I went down to the ground floor on the first day I slept in the attic and spoke to one of my servants, it was pretty much a bit.

The dress I was trying to take to where it would be my home before I got married was bringing a few in the attic because I could wear it alone without help, and Opal went downstairs dressed again today.

And the first purpose I spoke to - now that I know where the library was, Opal had gone through every day and taken a few books back to the attic.

I spend the whole day in the attic, except for this little walk in the morning and going back to the room I was originally given for a bath or wash.

When I read the book, I do gymnastics on the spot, move my body, and if I am tired of embroidering, I do gymnastics again, and sleep with a meal that is brought in three meals.

Life is like a privileged prisoner, but for Opal this marriage was something similar.

(But I'm not a prisoner, and being mean sounds stupid to me...)

The Opal Preferred book in the library had been read through in advance.

Opal thinks while walking slowly between the bookshelves as appropriate.

Hubert said if you don't show yourself in front of Stella, you just have to like it.

Then all you have to do is get out of this mansion.

Let's go back to the Count's territory, which we were planning to return to when the season was over.

There should be no father, no brother coming home anyway, and no face to face with Opal.

If you say it's a little homecoming after marriage, everyone in the territory will be happy to welcome you.

It's enough that I don't have a husband because I'm busy.

In fact, I used to watch Stella's opponent seem busy through a small window in the attic.

Tell Hubert even this morning and we'll leave tomorrow morning.

That way, we'll arrive at the consulate by evening, and if you let your lord stay the night and go home, Hubert will just put up with a life without a carriage for two days.

Worst case scenario, you can use Tsuji carriage.

Opal, who came up with the name proposal, was slipping between the bookshelves at the crossing of his nose, but at that time there was a book on his eyes.

It's a history book of this Duke's house.

So when I looked around, there were a few books about the territory, etc.

Speaking of which, I didn't think you knew exactly where this Duke family territory was. Opal took them.

Because I'm married, I take it back to my room that it wouldn't hurt to know if I were to get separated in about a year.

From there I spent time reading biographies and such until Beth brought me breakfast.

"Hey, Beth."

"What should we do?

"I want to talk to my husband, so please ask him to make time as soon as possible. Of course, if you specify a time and a place, you'll be sure to let me know."

"... Yes, sir."

In order not to be like the last time Mrs. Northam, I asked Beth to be clear.

Beth leaves the room when she agrees without a look on her face.

Then Beth didn't quite come home.

You shouldn't just be skipped lunch, so read the book carefully that you took out of the library without the opal causing you any trouble.

Next in the biography was a record book written about the Duke's territory, and I was looking through it as I widened the map in my head, but the newer the record, the more Opal was filling up with doubt.

(This looks like you should get a little tempered...)

When Opal thought that, the door was knocked and lunch was carried.

Beth glanced at Opal slightly and faintly pointed her lips at him for not liking reading the book loosely.

Apparently I had to be angry when the reply to the earlier message was slow.

Opal closed the book, laughing wildly inside.

"Good luck, Beth. Today's lunch looks delicious."

To be honest, it was like the Count's servant was eating, which was the kind of menu that I wonder about as a Duke's meal, but probably because he's stuffing his food bill on this.

I was just wondering what the servants here were eating for this menu at Opal's, but I couldn't take the job of my mistress, Mrs. Northam, so I kept quiet.

So far, the servants don't look undernourished either.

So it occurred to Opal that Mrs. Northam's experience, rather than the issue of food costs, might also be relevant.

I've never heard of a night club or tea party at the Duke of McCloud's house before.

Rumor was that it was because the Duke didn't like people very much, and he thought it was because he avoided inviting people because of Stella.

But if Lady Northam didn't know how to behave as the Duchess' mistress, I'm convinced she didn't even hold a little.

Of course, the problem in terms of funding will be enormous in the last few years.

Still, it's not the same as inviting guests to the mansion.

It is only by being able to do both that I am recognized as a fine mistress.

With Opal and Hubert married this time, there must be a lot of people who expect it to be next year.

(Oh, it stinks... Because if you don't hold anything, you'll make fun of my qualities as a mistress...)

Of course I'm a duke, so no one stands out and criticizes me.

It's just that it's in the shadows and rumours again.

At the end of the season marriage, this was all fortunate.

(Well, just let whoever you want me to say it. 'Cause when you're twenty, you're gonna get separated)

Opal, who arrived at the table for a solo meal and began his meal, stabbed him with a fork to hit the boiled potatoes with various frustrations.

Then put it in your mouth and chew slowly.

Salt reduction is not good, but not so bad.

"Um, ma'am..."

"... what is it?

"I asked for Mr. Hubert's convenience..."

"Oh, you did. So?"

"Huh?"

"Yeah, what's your response?

Beth seemed puzzled by Opal's response, which was completely distracted by other things.

I wish I hadn't had a lot from the beginning then, Opal urges Beth to chill out.

"After this meal, I asked you to come to the South Tea Party Room."

"Yes. So where is the tea party room to the south of it?

"I'll show you"

"Okay. Nice to meet you."

Lightly answered, Opal continued his meal again.

When I think I'm leaving this mansion tomorrow, I don't care anymore.

As long as I have the money I got by marrying Opal, like the people in this mansion don't care about Opal or anything.

And Opal, having finished his meal, moved himself into a cloudy mirror without dressing or retightening his hair, only to make sure his face was not dirty, leaving the attic about after Beth.