The Duchess of the Attic

"If you wonder what kind of woman she is, the demonic woman of the Société kingdom, clearly, she's out of her mind."

"It must have been a witch's mistake. You can use magic or something to confuse your lords."

That's what the women who surrounded Opal say and laugh mean.

Apart from hurting, however, Opal was having fun with the first call he heard.

I looked around and there is one Marquis, the Countess and the Lady, the other Countess and the Viscount just to find out Opal.

Opal smiled reluctantly, not disputing for the first time, wondering that the women, who should know little about Opal, whether it was in the interest of numbers or in the interest of the land, could come out so strongly.

A man's voice interrupts there.

"I'm sorry I'm talking to you, but I wanted you to dance with Miss Holloway, and I came to sign up"

"Well! Baron Prado...... did you know this guy?

"Yes. The Marquis of Roussel introduced me the other day. Isn't that right?

"- Yeah."

"So, can you dance?

"Happy. - Now, ladies and gentlemen, excuse me."

Opal took the hand offered by Erik and greeted the ladies gently and proceeded to the floor.

The women are whispering something with a hiccup.

Apparently they say he just dropped Baron Prado, etc.

After all, all social circles are the same.

Tired of bad talk and rushing, Opal turned his consciousness to the man in front of him.

"You're a lot quieter, aren't you?

"Yes?"

"I can't believe you said that and didn't even argue with me"

"... I don't even know the power relationship yet, so I can't say anything bad"

"I see. Do you change your attitude when you see the power of your opponent"

I thought you helped me, but he didn't.

Opal almost laughed unexpectedly at Erik's unique interpretation and somehow endured it.

For that reason, Erik seems to have mistaken the leaning opal, and calls it even more.

"It's no use pretending to be hurt that way and trying to draw sympathy. I know your nature. And so do the others. I'm not even going to ask you out for a dance. And yet I can't believe that only Claude is deceived. Even though he's usually the owner of a surprisingly clear brain."

Opal is not invited to the dance by another man because Claude was saying no.

And since Claude left, he was immediately surrounded by women, so there was only Erik, a man who would come and invite him until he had overcome that obstacle.

Erik hears bad rumors about Opal first, and then he only sees it the way he wants to.

Opal casually glimpsed Alessandro while thinking he really looked just like old Hubert.

As soon as I get there, my eyes start to look at each other.

Alessandro sits and looks at the venue without dancing with anyone but the princess, but as usual, no one cares.

It just made me think that the grin on that face made me enjoy all sorts of things.

Especially now. They're enjoying the Opal situation.

(I knew you were a mean person. It's like everyone is dancing on His Majesty's board......)

The status quo as it was analogous was strange, and as soon as I searched for Claude to distract him, I found him.

When Claude meets her eyes, she makes her dance exaggerated as if she had read Opal's thoughts.

"- Claude looks like a lot of fun. It's better than when I danced with you earlier."

"Really?

"Maybe you don't want to admit..."

"It was such a good time. Thank you."

Just after the song, Opal greeted Erik by blocking his words.

Erik seems to have noticed this dislike, making his face red.

He remembered it was a pre-dance tech issue, such as making his partner feel uncomfortable.

"I'll get you a drink, if you like, but what would you like?

"Then why don't you show us where we can eat lightly? Some of them may be rare, so I want to make my own choices."

"... then, go ahead"

"Thanks"

He asked Claude to stay away for a while, so he wouldn't be back for the time being.

Seeing how that went, Erik also seemed to want to treat Opal as a gentleman for once.

He asked me for a drink, although it seemed a little great, so Opal decided to head to a separate room where snacks and such were prepared together.

Walk with your hands on the offered arm and grab everyone's attention.

"Am I growing a horn or something?

"What?

"Because no one is going to try to talk to me. Or do they hate the baron or something?

If you're a talkative person like Opal, it's usually something a lot of people come to for you to be introduced to, but unlike earlier, everyone was just looking away.

That's why I made a joke, but it didn't seem to get through to Eric.

Erik frowned in surprise but didn't say anything and arrived in the room of interest.

So Opal ordered light alcohol and several types of canapés.

The meal was different in the way it was served, but not unlike that of the Kingdom of Société.

"You eat that much?

"... so much?

Opal looked down at his plate following Erik's gaze as he sat in the chair.

A table and chairs are provided in the room so that you can sit down and eat.

But because of the fact that the time was still too early, there were only a few suppliers, and there were just new men coming in alone.

And only a few canapés on the plate.

"- Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach can make you more drunk."

"It's usually something to eat before you attend the ball, isn't it? Anyway, dinner party."

"Normal?"

"Oh. So there are no women here but you. You can't manage yourself around there, so you've been drunk and exposed to ugliness?

"... drunk and ugly? For example, what is it?

Opal suppressed the anger he had been engulfing and gracefully carried the canape into his mouth to await Erik's answer.

Eight years ago, I was never more angry when Hubert, who became my husband, called me "mundane."

Opal, who did not deny the rumors at the time, also had no objection, and above all Hubert was her husband, so she had the right to just blame him. - I didn't even try to talk to Hubert.

Opal then disappeared from the social world and remained quiet, even if he was ever out in public during man-test land development.

Says you can't easily regain the credibility you've lost, but it's not that problem now.

I wonder why I just took a few canapés and have to be told so far.

Out of that anger, Opal, as Claude put it, was grinning deeper.

"It's... it's because I was drunk that I felt safe with a man..."

"What are you comfortable with?

"In the first place, don't you find it embarrassing, such as making me say this!?

"No, not at all. I don't know what the Baron is trying to say, so I'm asking you a question. I've never been drunk with alcohol before. And only once is it like being called a scandal in the world. Only once when a man looking to bring money attacked me and called for help out loud for foolishly going out into the garden alone on the way to the night club. I didn't know what that would turn out to be for a sixteen-year-old who had just debuted to the social world. But even if I knew, I would have resisted."

"But rumor has it..."

"Yes, it's all rumors. No one has actually seen the scandal since, but only the rumors have left me walking alone. I didn't want to lose just one scandal. Just that. So it was always grand. I guess that's what got us all distracted. Because pu (...) tong (...) is (...), women are supposed to be sheltered by men and live without claiming their rights. I'm sure women should refrain from eating a few canapés in the ballroom, too. Because that's the pu (...) tong (...)"

"No, but..."

When Opal said angrily but pale, Erik clogged his words and retreated from Opal one step and two.

The look is full of amazement.

Still seems to have regained his mind somehow.

I glanced at Opal and opened my mouth again.

"Then why did the Duke of McCloud leave you?

"Come on, why not?

"Of course, because you don't even play and fall in love and produce a heir. Besides, we have to share even property -!?"

It was too late when you returned it to me.

Opal was showering Erik with the contents of the glass he had.

But it's not something I particularly regret when I calm down - I rather thought I should praise myself.

And when he put the glass down slowly, Opal smiled.