The Duchess of the Attic

"Well! Claude, long time no see!

"Right. I was wondering if I would see you again this year...... I didn't think you were in Countess territory, Duchess."

Returning to the consulate of the Count's house, the next day, Claude, a childhood acquaintance, visited me.

Opal was happy to let go for his first reunion in a year, but Claude is laughing somewhere.

Surely if childhood familiarity were suddenly a wife, there would be no choice but to be confused.

Especially since this marriage had no period of engagement and the ceremony was simple.

"Stop it, Claude. Call me by name, as you've always done."

"... so, where is the Duke?

"Oh... My husband is in the King's Capital. This time it's a little... because it's for personal use. More than that, Claude was able to successfully graduate from college, wasn't he? Congratulations."

"- I don't know. Well, thanks."

When asked about Hubert, Opal missed the point of awkwardness.

Then Claude answered with a bitter laugh, then told me about the college funny as usual.

Still, it's a different air than before, I guess, because we've clearly changed each other's positions.

The Duchess and the three barons who just graduated from college.

Opal has now become more aware of his true feelings.

(I... I liked Claude...)

At first he was Claude, who had come to play as a friend of his brother's, but he let me in because Opal persisted in following him around the back.

I missed Claude so much when she entered boarding school that I spent days crying.

Still, I guess he understood Opal's loneliness when he came to see me every time he took a long vacation.

When my mother died, she attended the funeral until she left school to comfort Opal, who desperately cried.

I was just unconsciously liding my love heart that I'm sure my father wouldn't forgive me in Claude's shoes.

Also, because Claude's mother seemed to miss Claude herself because she pushed off the opposite of her family and got married, so she couldn't go home and seemed lonely.

(Well, as a previous issue to be objected to, I guess I'm like my sister to Claude...... But if...)

I always notice Opal after he can't take it back.

No matter how much I regret it, time moves on without going back, so Opal must also move on.

Opal renewed his determination to do what he decided to do, trying to get through to the end, so he had to do it even if he was abandoned by this dear friend.

"Well, it's time for me to leave."

"Thank you, Claude"

"... what?

"Come all the way to see me"

"It's not like you're thanking me. Besides, we might never see each other again."

"Can't I see you? But if the social season starts..."

"I'm not going to be in such a tough spot. I don't even think you'd welcome the three boys from the poor Baron's in the first place."

"I don't..."

Claude shook his head and silenced Opal, who denied it.

We both know very well that that is true.

"Be happy, Opal"

"... thanks. Claude, be happy."

"I'll try. - Bye!

Leaving the same parting words as usual, Claude popped out the front door.

It's something I know on my own, and I wave to Opal to drop him off and run to the stables.

Claude's mansion doesn't take a moment with a horse from here.

Opal wanted to ask Claude what he was going to do, but in the end he remained speechless.

Sighing deeply, as Opal returned to his living room, Trevor came in after Knock.

"How was Master Claude?

"Yeah. But I knew it wouldn't work out the way it used to. I don't think so."

"I guess that's no choice. By the way, it's about the Duke's administrator..."

"Did you find anyone good?

"That's pretty tough. The Duke hasn't forgiven you for firing Omer in the first place, so you can't recruit him in large measure."

"Right...... Now, as Omer's deputy, I owe you one of your men, but it's a problem when things go wrong."

"So, what about putting Mr. Omer back? So you just have to check with Mr. Trevor on a regular basis."

As Opal and Trevor were discussing it, Naja, who had been holding back in the corner, pinched her mouth in a bare manner.

It's not supposed to be forgiven, but Opal doesn't care.

However, its content was unfortunately not achievable.

"Naja's plan is very good, but I can't actually do it."

"Why not?

"Now, as a first aid, Trevor was originally hired by his father - the Earl of Holloway - although I, the Duchess' mistress, am in the shape of having Trevors help me. Yet it would be a breach of contract with your father to have you supervise even the Duke's territory, and your father would be considered an act of transgression into another territory."

"You're right, Naja. But thanks to you, I came up with a good idea."

Explaining at the rate Opal gave up, Trevor agrees.

But soon I smiled at my burnt face in the sun and said something reliable.

"What kind of plan is that?

"You're right, Naja, you're bringing Omer back to Duke territory. I looked at the books of the past, but when the previous Duke was alive, Omer seemed to have managed the territory well. You have the ability, so you won't have the hands to not use it. And we just need the lady to oversee Omer."

"Me?

"Yes, the Duke doesn't seem to be interested in your territory, and there should be no problem. Ladies don't really like Wang Du either, do they? The place is different, but why not just relax on the Duke's territory?

"So is that..."

Upon hearing Trevor's suggestion, Opal conceived.

It's very different in size, but it was originally planned to live on land inherited from my grandmother.

To this end, I have also learned from Trevor how to manage territory.

Suddenly it's difficult if one opal manages it, but maybe he can supervise Omer.

Besides, if Opal goes according to his plan, Opal will inevitably live in Duke territory.

"I'm a little unsure, but it's worth a try.... By the way, how's that Omer? Do you work properly?

"Yes, I guess, but I don't try to escape, I help with farming. And then if you can stop gambling about bad habits like this, you'll be a good administrator."

"Now consider positively returning Omer to Duke territory. Precisely how to stop the escape."

Opal seemed to see a bright future in the Duke's territory, joking and finishing the story.

Later, I have to get through my uncle's visit tomorrow.

Even if my uncle doesn't disagree, he still hasn't agreed with me.

The following day, the consulates were pleased to welcome their uncle, who had come to visit us as promised.

The visit of my uncle, my late mother's brother, was not since my mother's funeral, but because I used to come and visit her often.

The troubled smile of his greatly welcomed uncle reminded Opal of his happiness when his mother was alive.

(If your mother is still here...)

Opal notices himself feeling weak, squeezing his hand all the way through to temper him.

Then we moved the place to the study, and the discussions between Trevor and the three of us that were advanced were held along the way with Omer as well, and we managed to wrap it up.

It was a long time since my uncle and I had dinner that night and listened to various foreign stories.

In the kingdom of Tysey, a short while before crossing the sea, the plague spread and even the king died, apparently.

He said that the confusion was multiplied by a successor dispute between the bastards of the previous king and his brother, who was developing into a civil war.

Despite his rightful successor being King's brother, several of the leading aristocrats are said to be in charge of the prince, the common son.

"Where the plague has finally converged, there shouldn't be time for a successor fight or anything."

"Was your uncle okay?

"Oh, by the time the plague started spreading, I was already in another country. I'm just wondering if the prince is real. I met His Royal Highness Brother Wang once, but he was a very fine man. I guess that's why it's in the way for the nobles with one thing in their bellies. The problem is that the sad love between the previous king and the general woman was most likely spread as a rumor, with the sick and exhausted people on their side. As it is, the reign of His Royal Highness the King will be in jeopardy."

"That's why I can't believe it could develop into a war..."

"The Kingdom of Tysey is well resourced and technologically advanced, so its rights are great. There is no choice but for the greedy to make a leap, but if it were to be a battle, it would also greatly affect the development of our country. I hope we can at least avoid the battle..."

"Is there any way? I wish I knew that prince was a fake."

"Here, Opal. It's not clear yet, and you can't put it in your mouth like that anywhere else."

"I know. Even I grew up, so I wouldn't act stupid like I used to."

My uncle laughed bitterly as Opal said so and deliberately raised his jaw.

Stupid behavior like old times - you must have realized you were talking about that fateful night club.

"I don't think impulsive is the same as it used to be. But from now on, I'm going to sit back in this country too, so you can always count on me if you need anything."

"Thank you, uncle. It's very comforting."

Opal had a hard time sleeping in bed this night.

Finally, the race was thrown.

Yet Opal scoffed at Hubert's response even so far when he realized he was putting a glimmer of hope on it.

The results will be out in a few days.

Later, Opal could only wait.