The Duchess of the Attic

"Your Majesty, your words are too much"

But you don't deny it.

"I just want you to refrain from speaking out against Opal."

It was Claude who protested Alessandro's sudden words.

Only a few of us should know about Hubert's property at the time, but I guess Alessandro managed to find out.

Perhaps you don't know the exact exchange, but there's nothing you can guess from Hubert's property situation at the time, Opal's uncle and colleague legal officer entering and leaving the Duke's house, and later Opal's actions from them.

Opal admired Alessandro's acuteness of insight because he couldn't even think that Claude had spoken.

I'm sure you're even looking into Omer's debt, the Duke's land manager.

"May I express my opinion on what His Majesty has said now?

"Come on."

Even if the current words were true, they should be disproved.

Opal himself didn't care what he thought, but he didn't want to bother Claude.

"I do not know how His Majesty became acquainted with the property of the Duke of McCloud, but that became mine after due process. So you have no shame on me. It's just that when the world finds out, it's a lot of inconvenience, and it's not purposeful to brag, so everyone was just silent."

"I see. It's a boring response, but it must be easy."

In this word, Opal realized that it had been tried.

I was smiling, but I regret my bluntness.

Seeing such an opal, Claude turned his grim eyes to Alessandro.

"Your Majesty, come on."

"Don't be so angry, Claude. Let's admit it was mean. I just didn't think your wife would be able to serve if she was just as frightened as this. I'm sorry, Opal."

"- No, no need to apologize"

"Look, Claude. Opal will forgive you. So don't play games with me."

Previously on Forgiveness, it's an issue in Opal's mind.

Opal changed his mind and made Claude smile that he was okay.

Then Alessandro continues to have fun.

"There are still many enemies in this country for you and me. In that regard, Opal wouldn't have to worry. You got a great woman, Claude."

"I proposed because I like Opal, not for this country nor for His Majesty. Therefore, your Majesty is not willing to use Opal at all, so please do so with his intention"

"But Opal seems to intend to?

Even though Claude ran out of words, Alessandro flatly turned his grin to Opal.

That's how they concluded after watching Opal keep smiling.

"... I'm not going to stop Opal from acting. No, you can't stop it. I wish Opal were the kind of woman who would honestly hide behind me, because she isn't. And there's nothing I can do about it that I like because it's such an opal. Instead, I might hide behind Opal."

"Do that and I'll pull you out."

Claude, who had included giving up and answering, was also laughing at the end of the day.

In short, this glimpse was not meant to allow marriage or judge Opal's character, but to tell Opal to behave as he pleases.

To be clear, don't hide. Just come out in public.

Alessandro's niece - the story of her marriage to the princess, the oblivion of the previous king, is probably the voice of opposition forces.

Simply put, the marriage between Claude and the princess, the current king's right arm, can also strengthen Claude's ties to the royal family and silence the rebel forces.

But if a boy is born between them, it could be a new spark again.

And before that, Claude and his son could stand against the king.

Even if Claude doesn't have that will, that suspicion can arise and persevere in Alessandro and around him.

(Surely the princess can turn twenty-two this year... It could also be used to make other royalty wives, which is a difficult problem...)

I guess the princess's marriage was shelved because the country was rough due to the plague and civil unrest.

And now, I'm in a delicate position.

Alessandro has two sons, but since he's only in his early teens, he can't hit them poorly until they're firmer themselves, even with a back shield.

Since Alessandro's wife, who should have been queen, had died of the earlier plague, I heard that Alessandro himself had many connections.

I don't know just from the outside, but this country is still unstable.

"Now let's ask Opal directly. A ball will be held the day after tomorrow - will you attend a ball celebrating the opening of a new railway line?

If you've been challenged, take it and stand.

Alessandro seems to be obsessed with the character of such an opal.

"- I want to follow Claude. Escorts can't be anything but Claude."

"That's right. What do we do, Claude?

"If Opal says so, I will attend. I don't want them to think I ran away."

"Well, that's settled. I think I figured out how to handle you."

"Don't get too well. I don't think I made an earlier promise. Now, if you'll excuse us."

Claude answered with a sigh of uncertainty several times in a day today, saying hello to his resignation.

And he gets up at the same time as Alessandro, who seems satisfied, and gives Opal his hand.

"It was fun, Opal. I look forward to seeing you the day after tomorrow."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Now if you'll excuse me."

Standing up with a hand to Claude, Opal also said hello to Alessandro and quit the spot.

Escort straight to Claude and return to the holding room once.

As always, I felt an interesting glance from around me, but now I could see room from relief.

After all, I went to the royal castle and met and talked directly to Alessandro, and I also found out a little about the current situation in this country, which I could not read just through the downward examination of books and such.

As Erik also said, I guess many women were approaching Claude.

Because that's not the case with single men in as good a condition as Claude, and most importantly, Claude himself is attractive.

(Well, that might be a bit dazzling...)

I don't think all those women would honestly back off because Claude got married.

Women as well as men of ambition and hostility should be trying to get closer to Claude.

For those who seek to exploit Opal will also appear.

(It's understandable that His Majesty made me investigate, but it's not something you can do in the last few months, though...)

Opal wondered when the hell Alessandro had been eyeing himself.

If you casually turn your gaze to Claude, your eyes will blink.

"Tired?

"No, it's okay. I was just wondering how long has Your Majesty known me..."

"Oh, is that about eight years ago?

"Eight years?

"I guess that's about it. I haven't had much time to talk about Opal since I first met His Majesty. And then, occasionally, it came up on the subject."

"... don't ask me about the content."

"Really?"

I also feel like knowing, but Opal silenced that I shouldn't touch this anymore.

Claude doesn't seem offended, he's grinning.

I'm sure he talked about it as childhood taming, but when Claude sent me an investment and a technician to Mantest land five years ago, Alessandro met with Hubert and looked into it in particular.

In those days, it was still a bet to send technicians to other countries.

I even worried if I really deserved Claude, but now Opal was already determined.

There is no back shield in this country, and children may not want it, but there are connections, wealth and territorial management in the Kingdom of Société.

We also got permission from Alessandro, the king, so we can fight as well in the social circles of this country as Opal thinks.

The rebel forces or not, Claude's enemies are Opal's enemies.

(But we need to be careful not to turn Claude's friends - against our enemies...)

Opal, who remembered Erik, sighed and looked up at Claude walking next door.

Until just a year ago, I never thought such happiness would await me.

"Opal...... if you can stare at me so much, can you stop because I can't keep my urge down?

"Huh?"

"Or can I kiss you here and now?

"Bullshit, don't be silly!

"I mean it."

I rush forward to Claude's words, and I hear a pleasant laugh in Opal's ear with faster legs.

Opal glanced lightly at Claude before finally entering Naja's waiting room.