The Duchess of the Attic

Opal watched Hubert go out in a carriage without a front with Omar, through his own window.

Opal, who spent the whole night thinking about what was to come without sleeping, was finally able to sleep at dawn.

And now I woke up with the sound of the two of them going out.

Speaking of which, last night, you said Hubert was going around the territory, blurry reminds me.

Over the past three years, the territory had regained its original richness thanks to Omer's proper management and Opal sparing no investment.

I was able to recover most of the funds I invested these days.

It's just that for Opal, regardless of the revenue, he was already attached to the land.

The inhabitants are also full of good people, not resenting the times of misadventure, but rejoicing in a much easier life and respecting Opal.

Yet I may have to let go of this land.

Of course, in the future, I knew it would all belong to Hubert.

But I didn't even think I might have to let go to pay off my debts.

He was always going to think the worst, but Opal was still sweet, too.

Still, you can't give up.

In case the next landowner is outrageous, it's the people who struggle.

When Opal regained his temper, he began to move to get the best results.

At the dinner table that night, I told him I was going back to the king's capital.

Hubert frowns as soon as possible.

"What does it look like to everyone when you go to the King's Capital when I finally return to my territory..."

"Even if you don't worry, rumors are circulating that our people have already broken. More than that, all the people and the inhabitants of this consulate are very pleased that their husbands were back. Please, sir, look around this land as much as you can. I will ask my father once again to invest in man-tested land."

"- Right. Well, I'm sorry. But I..."

Hubert answered casually and apologized to Opal.

With a surprising opal in his eyes, Hubert almost said something, but in the end he shuts his mouth.

"... sir?

"No... I said too much yesterday. Having me now, thanks to you, seems to have restored my previous arrogance. I'm so sorry."

"... no, because I have a busy mouth too. Sorry, sir."

"You don't have to apologize. Just... well, go with care."

"- Thank you."

In fact, it was Opal who took the land, and there's no mistake in what Hubert said.

If you took the land as collateral and invested that money in new land, Opal has one thing to do.

It's about doing everything we can to successfully develop man-tested land.

He would never have apologized before, so it seems slightly that the last three years have not been in vain.

After that, when the two had a soothing meal, Opal returned to his room and rushed to get ready to go to the King's Capital.

And the next morning, he left for Wang Du in a carriage dedicated to Opal.

Fortunately, the journey to the Wang capital went well and five days later we were able to reach the Count's residence, our parents' home.

It's just unfortunate, it seems my father won't be home until the day after tomorrow for work.

He sent out a letter before he left, but he didn't make it, and Opal, while disappointed, slowly spent two days at the Count's residence, receiving a welcome from the butlers.

Eventually, when my father returns, I apply to see him through the butler.

I couldn't be strong because I had to do a favor, and my father had no idea what kind of reaction I would get back.

I've spent another twenty-two years as a daughter, but Opal still can't read at all what my father is thinking.

And it was the following afternoon that the butler had told me as visiting time.

Opal went into bed thinking about this and the persuasive ingredients, and spent another sleepless night.

(Why can't I sleep when I have to...)

Strong opponents - I have to work my head tight because I'm relative to my father, but I'm not talking about lack of sleep.

In the end, although I was relaxed, I couldn't sleep well, and I couldn't even say how I was doing when I got out of bed before lunch.

Still, Opal said all I could to wake up and get a bath ready, soaked in water and refreshed his head and body to get a good lunch.

(All right, let's go!

It was time, and Opal, who got into my father's study in a temper, was to be beaten down early.

I asked my father to invest, but he kicked me in the ass.

"Opal, I do have money. But I'm not going to dump the money on Dob."

"Treasures sleep on man-tested land. It's not dob or anything like that."

"No matter how much treasure you dig up, if you can't carry it out, it can only be a storeroom. Opal, you know it's you, right?

"If a technician... can build a bridge where a truck loaded with ore can cross that valley, it will come true."

"But the technician is not in this country. It would be one of the few engineers in the kingdom of Tysey. In short, it's premature to develop that land. But McCloud seems to have ignored my advice. I don't know why I need to rush that far. You don't have to hurry, but while you're alive, the Duke will never be anyone else."

Opal noticed even more now in his father's words.

Sure, I wonder why Hubert went on a bet when he might end up throwing away what had been going well so far.

Investments are bets in the first place, but there are more things you can win if you carefully identify them.

And Hubert must have had the talent to identify it.

(Speaking of which, I was distracted by the fundraising and hadn't heard anything about it...)

I can hear my father in Opal's ear thinking about it.

Returning to me all the time, my father watched as if he were even trying to read Opal's mind.

"Oh, um... so if the time comes, that land can be developed, right? For if we continue to repay them exactly until then, we will maintain our territory -"

"Stop it, Opal. Where are you going to screw that repayment out of? I'm guessing you're not gonna get your hands on your property, are you?

"But I've always used it for territory"

"I didn't object to that because the return was solid - an investment that could be recovered in the short term. Indeed, I also thought about purchasing land for mantest. The difficulty of developing it made it quite cheap. Besides, I have as much money as I can buy without getting a loan. But with our country's technological capabilities today, it would take at least five years just to start developing. Five years early to pull the railroad from there. It'll only take ten years for that land to turn from bad to good. From there, the recovery of investment funds finally begins. Of course I can't read everything that lies ahead. Still, at this stage, it's twenty years to make a profit, even if it goes well."

"Twenty years..."

"In short, even if everything went well and I was able to recover my investment, I'm even suspicious if I'm alive at that time. Nothing. I'm not reluctant to leave you guys money. I simply want to see success with my own eyes. In fact, it would be like that with investors. And you mean you're just old enough to have enough money to buy and develop that land.... Opal, I won't say anything bad. Quite a loss, but we should encourage McCloud to let go of the man-tested land early"

When he saw his daughter, who was completely silent, the Count exhaled heavily.

Even if the Count disagreed, he didn't ask, so Hubert wouldn't listen if Opal disagreed.

The Earl, who had always regretted that the two marriages had been a mistake, decided to lend a little hand to the Duke, who was also making reckless plans for his daughter.

But there's something I should check before I do.

"No matter how much McCloud makes his fortune, now he has no children to inherit it. If you're not going to do your greatest duty as Duchess, should you be separated? What the hell is McCloud going to do?

"Come on, I don't know that. Until now, if you want to marry someone else, if you want to be separated, you are saying that the land will continue to sell, but that doesn't look like it... If you have a problem with your status, you may have a child with that person as my child. I'm sorry, but I was wondering if you should be a nanny."

"... well. Whatever McCloud is, I know exactly what you're thinking."

With that said, the Count stared straight at Opal.

There was a strong will in that gaze, and Opal was desperate to be frightened.

"Anyway, whether McCloud goes bankrupt or not, he deserves it. The only thing you lose is the Duke's Land, which you've got with a single document, so you won't get any more hands on it. Wait till you get results."

"Well...... then, just one last favor"

"What?"

"If income from the Duke's Territory is not enough to repay the loan - if the Duke's Territory is put up for sale, your father should buy it"

"... it's a stupid story, but it would be an extra smart choice than investing in man-tested land. - Okay."

"Thank you!

I couldn't get any assistance, but somehow I avoided the worst, and Opal left the study behind with relief.

Surely my father is right, Hubert deserves it no matter what happens next, and Opal doesn't have to worry about it.

I don't even have to worry about the inhabitants anymore.

(I'm kind of tired...)

Nearly four years after his previous marriage and nearly seven years after that commotion, Opal has lived in a vanity.

The fatigue seemed to come out more and more, and Opal fluttered back to his room.

Then, as soon as I entered the room, I felt a severe dizziness and panicked and sat in the chair.

But I never felt better, and Opal was supposed to spend nearly twenty days in bed.