The Duchess of the Attic

The third day we arrived at Claude's mansion in the king's capital of the kingdom of Tysey.

Opal and Claude's family had finally settled down, and Opal was enjoying Claude and his afternoon tea.

Sometimes I refrain from a wedding in a few days, and I am also allowed to spend time alone in the mansion.

If it was Claude, Opal would never run out of talk, but somehow the hush dropped, and then Claude called quietly.

"... Opal"

I don't know, Claude.

Claude knew it was important to tell a story at a time like this, so Opal put the cup he had in his hand back on the table.

Then Claude goes on like it's hard to say.

"It may be cowardly for you to take the proposal and bring me to this country and say it now..."

"- From now on, are you a lover of the past or could you possibly meet your mistress?

"No way! You've decided not to do such dishonesty!

"Then what's the problem?

Opal smiled and inquired, but was relieved in his heart.

While I was married until about a year ago, I still didn't want to face Claude's past women.

Compared to that, I don't care what happens. - No, I'd probably be desperate if they said, "I still can't marry you," though.

"Actually... how can I be a lover or mistress of the past... You don't think it's in its current progression?

"Claude would never propose to me if it was currently in progress. 'Cause, by the way, I'm not even worried about cheating."

"... I'm glad you trusted me"

"Yeah. Because if you're Claude, you're not serious about cheating, are you? If you do, you'll tell me what's right. She said she had someone she liked."

"When you say that with a laugh, you don't know if you should be happy or sad"

"Alas, I just didn't say it because I didn't want to burden you, and if you're serious, then you'll be desperate. That's why we keep trying not to be abandoned by Claude. But maybe these strong things aren't cute."

I think the strength of my chi is an advantage for Opal, but sometimes I admire something called a weak woman.

At the end of the day, Claude stared at Opal, who had become like a sighing stupidity.

"... did I say something that weird?

"No...... I can't believe Opal thinks so much about himself - because I never thought he wasn't cute."

"Yeah? You don't usually think you're cute about yourself, do you?

"I'm not. I think there are quite a few women."

"Then there are a lot of men. But it's a narcissistic person, and I wouldn't call that normal."

"Still tough."

Opal, who answered with clarity, reflected on the fact that it had become another unattractive way of saying it.

But this is also because I found out that Claude has dated quite a few women.

Come to think of it, Opal doesn't really know Claude since he got into boarding school.

And even in the eight years I didn't see him - I realized that I knew almost exclusively by rumor what I had done in this country.

"... no way, you can't get married because you've got some kind of situation?

"No, I'm not! Even if that were the case, I would marry Opal. Don't let something you don't understand swing at you."

"Yes...... So, what is it?

Claude told me so far, and I guess I should even say a word if it's true that I'm happy, but I couldn't say it to Opal anymore because it's lit up.

I shouldn't have cared before, but I'm not used to Opal for myself wanting Claude to think I'm cute.

Just looking at Claude, I also wonder if that's all foreseeable.

It is a vicious circle, because it will be regrettable and mean again.

"Actually, it's about me, it's not really accepted in the social world of this kingdom of Tysey,"

"Oh, what an odd encounter. I do too in the Société kingdom of my country."

"It's not funny."

"But Claude is laughing."

Claude's confession wasn't as big a deal to Opal as clapping it out.

Return your feelings as they are, Claude complains with a laugh.

"You have no choice. Opal makes me laugh. I knew Opal was Opal."

"Of course I do. So, it's a funny story that Claude is a marquis, but also unacceptable to be duke soon. Surely, three generations ago, Count Roussell was married to a lady from the Duke of Botzelli's house, wasn't she? I don't think it's strange that Claude would give the former Duke of Botzelli territory, either, in blood?

"Well, the Roussels are the right family, and the Duke of Botzelli and I are related. Some people just make fun of my origins. A foreigner. Well, there's no one to say it face to face, and everyone treats you politely on the spot, but in the shadows they say things."

"Well, it's an odd encounter. I'm told a lot in the shadows, too."

When Opal answered just like earlier, Claude laughed out loud this time.

Opal glanced at Claude like that deliberately, but soon he got stuck and started laughing.

When the two of us laughed and settled down on the street, Claude opened her mouth happily.

"I knew I only had Opal."

"Hey, what... you don't get anything for saying that."

"But you'll marry me, won't you?

"Naturally. Promise."

"Even though you might struggle in the social world?

"I'm not going to have a hard time. Claude has nothing to be ashamed of. On the contrary, I'm not a hero. Be proud."

"... thanks, Opal"

Claude smiling softly and thanking him was cool and Opal missed his face again.

Still, words pop out of my mouth in the blindfold.

"Though this country has a developed rail network and various technologies are state-of-the-art, you think very old-fashioned. That's unexpected."

"The old-fashioned idea is that of the social world - the so-called upper-class people. I don't like the fact that people from civilians with new ideas are getting richer and richer. In the first place, civil unrest eight years ago was also planned by conservative nobles headed by the Duke of Botzelli, who couldn't agree with His Majesty's idea of making it a livable country for everyone. The reformers like me have now been entrusted with a high office, but they were deciding on opportunism - many of the so-called moderates are in fact conservatives. What they say about me being a hero is just the popularity of the people. It would be easier to fan the people if there were an understandable symbol of justice, wouldn't it?

"... the way you put it, it's like it's being used, but is that okay with Claude?

"I thought that would do it. But if you don't like Opal, I'll pull you into the territory and focus on territorial management."

I'm joking, but Opal also figured out Claude meant it.

I guess it doesn't matter if you're not going to abandon the people, the power struggle in the royal castle.

If we're just going for a real ideal, we need power.

Claude will know enough about that, too, to draw Opal's feelings.

Then even Opal wants to live up to that feeling.

"Claude, the thing I hate the most is running away. Even if I have no choice but to withdraw strategically, I don't like to escape without a fight. So I'll fight. With Claude."

……

"... Claude?

I was hoping it smelled a bit, but still I was going to tell you how honest I felt, but Claude stayed silent.

Shamefully speaking, Claude seemed to panic as a haunt.

"Huh? Oh, oh, sorry. Opal was so cool and in love."

"... are you kidding me?

"I mean it. Just a little... no, I'm so relieved"

The relieved look on Claude's face really seems to be a heartfelt relief.

I fear Opal will discredit Claude because of himself with a history of divorce, but Claude only worries about Opal.

So if it was for Claude, I would have been ready to fight, but I was frightened by what Claude told me the next time.

"Well, I'm sorry, but will you fight with me tomorrow?

Tomorrow?

"Actually, I'm going up to the royal castle tomorrow to report on my marriage. So let me report to Your Majesty with you."

"Oh, tomorrow, to Your Majesty... how could you not say that first!?

"You tell me first, Opal will always go with you, won't you? But I didn't want you to have to. His Majesty is not the one who pays attention to the details, so he doesn't care if Opal doesn't show up on the table. You don't have to socialize annoyingly."

Again, Claude cares about me for Opal.

Sure, the social world was troublesome and I hated Opal, but I can work as hard as I want for Claude.

But I didn't even want that feeling to be a burden on Claude, and Opal made it clear again with a clear face.

"I'll take that as a challenge to me. When I marry Claude, I make annoying socializing fun. And let the social world in the kingdom of Tysey bullshit."

"That's Opal. You're reliable."

Claude immediately laughed and replied, although he rounded his eyes for a moment to an opal-like and forceful declaration.

Thus opened the curtain for Opal's new battle.