The Duchess of the Attic

"Opal, are you okay to stay awake?

"... Sir, I am already perfectly well. Just in case, I'm just staying here, so I was going back to the consulate soon. So we apologize for your efforts in this way"

"No..."

Opal got a terrible flu, and the fever didn't go down for about ten days and he suffered.

It was bad that he was tired, and because his resistance was completely down, he couldn't quite recover.

Even when I was able to get out of bed, I was worried about the people at the mansion and ended up staying at the Count's mansion for over a month.

In the meantime, Hubert had been informed by a letter from his father, and a letter of sympathy and flowers were sent to him when he was asleep.

He refused to see me in person because I might get infected.

"The Count told me you were perfectly well, and I came to see you. Besides, I've got some great news."

"- Thank you. So, what's the great news?

Hubert grinned and offered Opal the bouquet of flowers he had.

I haven't been able to smile like this since I was thanked for Stella.

For that reason, Opal asked what had happened when he received a bouquet of flowers in confusion and thanked them.

"Oh my God, the investor showed up!

"... of mantest land development?

"It is. In fact, I've been visiting the kingdom of Tysey for less than a month."

"My husband is in the kingdom of Tysey?

"Oh. Even I wasn't thinking about anything. I was going to negotiate directly across the kingdom if you could come to this country with a technician. So I'd like to introduce you to someone with an Earl, who - you said Marquis Roussel - has done a lot for me. Thanks to this, I was able to see it with His Majesty the King. Besides, the Marquis has persuaded His Majesty to send a kingdom engineer! Plus the Marquis will be investing!

"That's... amazing"

"Right? Opal, I'm sorry to worry. Now your father promised me he'd invest in it, and from now on, everything's gonna be fine."

To unexpected news, Opal's mind was also finally lightening.

At the same time, I was curious as to why Hubert would move so aggressively - he was in such a hurry to cross to another country.

But I don't speak of that question, I listen seriously to Hubert sitting across the street.

Hubert was in a very good mood and was motivated to talk about his future prospects.

Of course, profits cannot be raised immediately, but with the technical skills of the kingdom of Tysey, we will be able to collect them much faster than my father calculated.

Mines aren't the only ones that can make a profit.

People and money can move and cities can do for railway construction.

If the railways are further completed, many people will be gathered, not only those working in the mines, but also the land will develop.

Mantest is also in an easy position to trade with the Kingdom of Tysey, and the Marquis of Roussel seems to have laid eyes on it.

Having restored calm to the domestic situation, the Kingdom next needed to re-establish relations with foreign countries.

Apparently, the Marquis supported the new king in the inheritance struggle three years ago, both financially and materially, and contributed significantly to the victory.

He was marquised from Count to Marquis in that manner, but it is rumored that he will still devote a great deal of his efforts to reconstruction, in time for the Duke as well.

I was fortunate that the Marquis Roussel was an acquaintance of my father.

Hubert had been looking for investors in this country for the past month, but he was still estranged by his father-in-law, Count Holloway, not getting his hands on him.

But the Marquis, who saw a reference from his father, apparently decided not to miss a pile of man-test treasures and bet on their potential.

It seems my father has also decided to invest a lot because of this, and the investors will push ahead, Hubert said.

"...... but do we still need other investors for that Marquis Roussel and my father to fund that much?

"To be precise, the Marquis was to finance the purchase of the land at a fairly low interest rate. We need to repay the interest only for the moment. Besides, I can manage to cover that interest rate just by earnings in my territory. Most of the development money is invested by the Count, but it can't be all."

"It sounds like a lot of delicious talk, but is the Marquis someone you can trust?

"Oh, you certainly would think so. But the Count also confirmed the contract earlier, and he undertook that it would be fine. All I have to do is sign it."

"Really...... Okay, I'll fund the rest. That was a promise, wasn't it?

The story was too good, and Hubert worried that he would be fooled again, but if my father confirmed it, I guess it would be okay.

Exhaled relieved, Hubert shook his neck sideways at first sight as Opal gave his name to investors.

"That's... will you forget that? What was wrong with me then? The cheaper land for man-testing made me anxious for others to get ahead of me, and I took the liberty of collateralizing your land and throwing terrible words at you. Immediately, of course, there will be a contract cancellation process for the loan secured by the land -"

"Apart from that time, sir, this is a pure investment for me. Of course, it's my husband who chooses investors, so if you say no, I'll give up."

"Choose or nothing, you're welcome to invest. But as strange as I say, please don't be impotent. No matter how much the man-test is a mountain of treasure, there is no guarantee that it will succeed."

"... thanks for the advice. But it's okay. As you know, I have quite a fortune."

Hubert finally calmed down, so appeased Opal smiled and answered.

The challenge is still ahead, but I'm sure it will work.

Now Opal could believe that too, dropping off Hubert as he left the Count's mansion in a calm mood.

- Four years later.

The railroad safely opened from the mine to the urban area and to the newly formed port, and Opal was present at the ceremony.

Although the recovery of funds is still to come, it can be said that it has been fortunate that development has so far proceeded without any major problems on its face.

Along the way, I had a hard time stopping Hubert, who was about to storm off several times, but even if I didn't listen to Opal, I had managed to get something because I honestly accepted the words of my father and Marquis Roussel.

(I wonder why most men think that women don't know anything about work. I'm getting good results, so at least you should be able to admit me as much as your husband...)

Once I blurred about it, my father replied with a bitter smile, "I guess it's because it's you".

Again, as a husband, my pride is hurt when my wife points me out to be wrong.

While I don't think it's crap, I guess the world still has no choice because women are supposed to rely on men.

In fact, many women use that weakness to live strong.

Opal glanced at Hubert surrounded by the women and sighed.

The land price of the man-test has gone up a lot more than expected, and the Count of Holloway, as well as Hubert, has now joined a huge bourgeoisie, which makes them quite popular with the women just because they don't mind getting married.

Naturally, attention to Opal also reappears, trying to get closer for whatever reason, young and old.

It was depressing and intolerable, especially when a young man came as if he had remembered an old rumor.

Opal, who was fed up with the status quo, intends to pull back into the countryside when this ceremony is over.

I also attended this ceremony, which I was not willing to ride in the first place, because I wanted to thank the Marquis Roussel, who unfortunately seems to be absent.

Opal offered his father or Hubert to contact the Marquis several times before, but in the end he could only go through the conversation via either of them.

(I wonder if Marquis Roussel thinks women can't work...)

It was also thanks to the Marquis that the plan succeeded, and Opal thought it was only today that we could meet and talk in person, but it did not come true either.

Apparently the Marquis didn't really want to go out in public and his father laughed and told Opal that he was happy with this luck that he had been able to run errands again this time.

(I wonder if it's destiny not to see anyone who wants to see me...)

Four years later, Claude's whereabouts remained unknown.

I also saw the Baroness the other day on her return to Count's territory, but she didn't seem to want me to touch on Claude, and Opal quickly changed the subject.

Opal, who remembered the blur and the time, returned to me all the time with the loud sound of the band.

(Almost... It's almost over...)

Staring at Hubert in his glorious figure, Opal waited for the ceremony to end.

The truth is, I don't like busy places.

Ten years ago Opal had just debuted to the social world and was floating in its glamour.

But it was too late when I realized that living quietly in the country was much happier.

Losery Opal pretended to be willing and enjoying himself in the social world, but I think that was foolish now too.

Marriage life was completely different from what I had dreamed of again, but it was still rewarding.

It was really fun to rebuild the territory while living in the countryside and see the delightful faces of the inhabitants, even if it wasn't where we planned to be.

(But this isn't the end of my country life)

Whatever it was, Opal wasn't going to go any further than he needed to be in a social setting.

For the record, it might be a good idea to have a dog.

With that in mind, Opal, who was attending a party after the ceremony, slipped out of anticipation of the fit.

The venue was a new hotel made with land development and Opal was staying in the finest room of the hotel.

Naturally, Hubert is in the same room.

Opal honestly accepted that he had no choice but to care that much because he was a couple, but there were two bedrooms in the room.

And when he walks into the room, he calls the maid, loosens his hair and takes off his dress.

The tightened head and body were released, and Opal exhaled with relief.

I hear a knock there, and Hubert's voice.

"Opal, are you okay?

"Yeah, yeah. Of course. Why is that?

"No... you'd have gotten out of the venue early, wouldn't you? I was wondering if I was feeling any worse..."

"I'm sorry for your concern. But I'm really okay, so please, sir, please go back to the venue."

"... I'm not going back now. More than that, Opal, I need to talk to you, so can you come out?

The conversation over the door was all about surprise, and the maid and opal who were following me looked at each other unexpectedly.

But you can't leave as you are now, and for one second speak to Hubert.

"I'll be right there, can you just wait a minute?

"Okay."

Apparently he returned to his living room. Opal hastily changed into a dress for normal use so as not to keep Hubert waiting.

Instruct the maid to keep her hair down and comb her own hair while she is wearing the dress.

Then, somehow, he made up his mind and Opal went into the living room.

"Sorry to keep you waiting"

"No... this is me, I'm suddenly sorry"

Opal lowered his hips on the couch, surprised by Hubert's unusual twitchy attitude.

When asked for a drink, but refused, Hubert poured a brandy for himself and sat across the street.

"Well... this time I was finally able to get enough money to buy all the land back from you"

"That's... Congratulations. But we're still going to need the money, right? And I'm..."

"No, it's not like we're going to lose our assets. So I want to buy back everything in the former Duke's territory."

"- Okay. I do not think, then, that we need to exchange contracts of sale in particular this time. I'll give you the paperwork from that time soon, so please dispose of it."

That Opal had made up his mind since he took Hubert's land with that fraudulent paperwork.

The truth is, once Hubert bought back half of the Duke's assets in the Territory, he was going to return them all.

The price paid for previous repurchases - everything, including what we are turning to invest and increasing.

At that time, if Hubert hadn't bought man-tested land, it would have been a problem cleaned up earlier.

I could say I wasted four years, but it doesn't matter to Opal, who just has a husband in the name and could have lived in the country as originally planned.

I guess this was good for Hubert because he was also one of the leading bourgeoisies in the country.

Opal had already begun in his mind about the process of transferring, calculating the assets now increasing.

I hear a nervous Hubert voice there, regaining consciousness to reality.

Then, at some point, Hubert lay one knee at Opal's feet and looked up with a bright red face.

"... excuse me. What did you say?

"So the... Opal, will you marry me officially?

Amazing words go into my ear and the bell rings loudly in Opal's head.

So much for a headache.

And Opal was thinking that this was the Blue Sky Thunder and that it was off target.