The Duchess of the Attic

The day Hubert finally comes.

The consulate was bulky in the morning, even though it had been prepared in advance.

Omar and Lind are the only ones who know most of the Duke's territory now belongs to Opal, and for the first time in seventeen years everyone floats to the arrival of their lord.

One of them, Opal, closed himself in his room and looked out blurry.

(I don't know what kind of mood change it is... Did you get enough to buy this consulate?

Opal's view of Hubert had changed considerably when he heard that the boy, only twelve years old, had been trapped in his parents' bodies and carriages for two days.

I can also nod that the people around me were more overprotective than they needed against Hubert.

If you started living with Northam and his wife and Stella after their parents died, I guess you can't help but treat Hubert with special care for Sick Stella.

It's hard and sad to lose someone you care about.

Opal was also terribly saddened when he lost his mother.

Now I can remember with serenity, but that was also because there were people who supported me.

But Claude, one of them, is not here right now.

Some time after moving to the consulate, Opal wrote to Claude.

Remember you took the land from Hubert.

Opal later repented for what was like penance.

I wanted someone to talk to and write, but I was just wondering if Claude had gotten spooked too.

And it was a letter from the Baroness, Claude's mother, that arrived at Opal, who waited for her as she unraveled until she received a reply.

Apparently Claude hasn't known where he's been since he left home after college.

Even though the Baroness was terribly worried, she had promised to forward it as soon as she knew where it was.

But after three years, there is still no tone out.

I wondered if something had happened, even if I wrote to the Count's consulate a few times, there was just an equally worrying reply from the butler Orton that Claude still didn't seem to know where he was going.

If this is the case then - I wish I had talked more about it the last time I saw Claude.

I should have asked him what he was going to do after graduation.

And yet I was all distracted by myself - realizing that I liked Claude, and I was so full of my head about my marriage to Hubert that I put it behind me.

I remember Claude over and over again, but all I can think of is a giggle.

(Please, I hope you are well...)

You don't have to see me again.

You can hate me.

If you just stay healthy and happy, that's all you need.

I'm not sure if I still like it, but it doesn't make a difference that it's important.

(My husband, maybe this is how he feels about Stella...)

I'm sure you do, because it's as good as buying a new house for Stella before investing well and buying back Wang Du's mansion.

Even if you can't convey your thoughts, maybe by making Stella happy at all, Hubert is happy, too.

Because it's got to be a little bit more.

Opal exhaled loudly as he watched a splendid carriage with the family crest of the Duke's house arrive and headed to the front door to welcome him.

"Long time no see, sir. How was your trip so far?

"Ah, oh. Long time no see, Opal. Fortunately, we're glad to have weather."

"Thank you for that."

Opal greeted Hubert, who had entered the consulate, with a gentle smile and warm welcome.

We all decided in advance that we could forget as many bad memories as we could.

But more than Opal, there are many who rejoice in the longtime reunion with Hubert.

As a result, Opal immediately took a step back and gave way to deacon Lind and housekeeper Debbie.

Then, for the first time in seventeen years, the consulate boiled down.

Lind and Hubert are shaking hands disappointingly.

Everyone was smiling and watching the sight overflowing, feeling happy all the way to Opal.

It's been so long since I've wanted to return to the consulate of the Count's house.

Hubert can also apparently forget abominable memories of the past now.

The cook sifted his arms at the table that night, and for the first time, Opal and Hubert enjoyed the meal in a soothing atmosphere.

But the next day.

Opal was stunned by the story revealed by Hubert in the study.

I open my mouth if I don't listen to you in detail anyway, even though it creaks in front of me.

"... Sir, would you say it again?

"That's why I bought man-tested land. It's wrong not to get over there."

"That... how was the funding raised? Not so much time has passed since the last time they bought back the territory..."

"You don't have to worry. That is certainly a barren area now, but it is certain that there is a mine. Even the railroads are pulled halfway. And then if we can pull the railroad all the way to the city, we can make good money."

"So it's funding the purchase of that land! That should have been a huge selling price over there! How did they procure that!?

Hubert's explanation was something anyone interested in investing in knew.

Opal asks Hubert exasperatingly to postpone the answer.

"Of course, I borrowed all the money I had and the mansion and territory of Wang Du as collateral."

"Sir...... You know why that land -- that land is left in the middle of development, don't you? Indeed, there are mines sleeping on that land. However, it is because of the enormous cost and skill required to carry the mined ore. Previous owners went bankrupt for that reason. Because deep valleys lie in the wilderness that stretches between that mine and the city. It's still not possible with our country's technology, such as passing railroads through that valley. How much would it cost if it were possible...... How do you get rid of that cost? Even then, it will take quite some years to recover the funds invested"

If a dispute over the throne had not broken out in the kingdom of Tysey, the land development of the Mantest might have worked as well.

Technicians and technologists in that country would have been able to get railroads through even the valley.

But in the end, the plan to connect the city to the mine by rail was frustrating.

The land, which had been abandoned for three years as it was, was too risky to be an object of investment and no one could get their hands on it.

While saying even Opal's father is spared, it is now the property that he decides will not get that much in return.

"Development funding is going to recruit investors. Please, I need your help, too."

"... what did my father say?

To Opal's inquiry, Hubert blushed slightly.

That's all I know the answer to.

"The Count... if the technician can secure it... Of course, he said he needed to recruit other investors because he couldn't make the full contribution. But if the Count would fund it, everyone would be happy to fund it. So it's okay."

Opal wanted to pack Hubert to see what was okay.

Even though securing that pivotal technician is now nearly impossible.

Technicians became so precious in the first place, also because of the plague that spread in the Kingdom of Tysey and the civil war that followed, which cost many lives.

And now it's hard to get out of the country protected by the new king.

So Fu Opal realized that the price of the man-tested land - the untouched treasure mountain - was not too commensurate with Hubert's property.

"... Sir, did your husband's estate really just suffice to buy man-tested land? Or didn't they buy the whole man-test thing?

"It... encumbered all the Duke's territory"

"All Duke territory......?

Opal took a while to figure out Hubert's answer.

To be honest, I didn't want to understand.

"No way...... is this consulate and all the land in my name?

"Those are all things you took from me. Besides, if this development works, you'll get something to be satisfied with. Isn't that okay?"

"But that's a crime! collateralising things in my name on my own, etc!

"Didn't you do something criminal?

"That's not like this!

"But if you keep your mouth shut, it won't be a problem"

"Oh no..."

Opal was again stunned by Hubert's resolute words.

I thought Hubert had changed in the last three years.

It must have overcome my heart's wounds to be able to come to the consulate in this way as well.

But Hubert seemed to have blossomed his investment talent under his father's guidance, but his arrogance seemed the same.

Any genius can fail.

Even if Opal only knew, my father had failed to invest several times.

Still, I've been on the road to success until now because I always assumed the worst.

Opal has also learned from the painful failures that have discredited him, and has always lived assuming the worst since.

In time, we will strive for the best.

"Sir, what if... what if this investment ends in failure?

"I'm not going to let you fail. But... in case things don't work out, you can live with Stella and the others in the suburban farmlands. Then we'll have to start investing again and increase it with the property we keep for Stella."

"Really..."

That said, Hubert stared at Opal.

Indeed, the Duke's territory was deceived by Opal and naturally assumed by the public to belong to Hubert, so it could be used as collateral without the need for nominal documents.

But I didn't care about that anymore.

The important thing is how to protect the territory - the people.

Once he exhaled loudly, Opal slowly rose up and left the study.