The Duchess of the Attic

"Hey, what..."

"I've seen so many stupid men before, but you're an irredeemable fool"

When he said so to Erik, Opal stood up to get out of the room.

I get my arm around me as soon as I can.

"What a woman!

"What a man."

Apparently he forgot me in anger. Erik stared at Opal.

But when Opal drops his gaze on his arm and repeats the same words, Erik hurries to release his arm.

They still had that much reason left.

"What are you gonna do with these wet clothes?

"Oh, don't worry, if you say poo (...) women would have about a handkerchief, so what if I borrowed it? Unfortunately, I don't have a handkerchief to lend to people like you."

"Is this the kind of thing you can get out in front of everyone!

"Is it? The woman you said Pu (...) Tong (...) - a chaste woman who feels at risk but doesn't make a scene, doesn't eat hungry or can't carry the burden of being handed down all by herself, accepts silently even if she is separated and thrown out without a single sentence, would take a big look at some conditions, wouldn't you? No, you can't worry about the Baron, you can't have an opinion."

"What a fool..."

Speaking, Erik shut his mouth.

Then blush.

I guess I finally understood that every word of Opal was my thrown word.

"That's different -"

"Erik, don't say anything more. She's right, it's like exposing stupidity."

It was Opal's unknown man who blocked Erik from trying to excuse himself.

But we soon found out who it was.

"Brother, why are you doing that..."

"Because you and she are different."

"That's not true."

"Shut up, Eric. - Ho (...) b (...) w (...) e (...) i (...) miss (...), my brother was very rude"

"... I think it's you who's rude. Viscount Amadi?"

I called my name to ask because it hasn't been introduced yet.

Then the man, supposedly Viscount Amadi, grinned and bowed back.

"You're absolutely right. My name is Tulli Bapot, Viscount Amadi. I beg your pardon, my brothers."

"... it's Opal Holloway. But I'm not saying this because I wasn't introduced. Against the words of the Viscount."

"Mine?

Listening to Opal's remarks, Tulli's expression, which was gloomy, turns into something surprising.

But Opal nodded with a smile.

What do you mean, "what did you say"? What if I was inferior to your brother? Left behind despite your brother saying rude things? Or did you come in to help? Either way, that's a shitty behavior. While your brother was blaming me, he turned his back and swallowed alcohol. Whatever my personality is, I'm pretty sure neither of us has an attitude toward women.

Opal was aware that Tulli had entered the room immediately about his seat.

But Erik was apparently driven by anger and couldn't afford to look around.

And it seems Erik is still angry about Opal's attitude toward Terri again.

Though I opened my mouth to say something, Teuri controls me by hand.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you, but I think I made you feel uncomfortable."

Opal's heart cooled off when he heard Tuli's words, which were not even an apology.

Contrary to that heart, Opal's grin deepens again.

"No offense? In those words, in your actions, have you ever thought about how much they hurt? No offense rumors, no offense, no offense, you think you'll be forgiven for everything if you don't? 'I didn't mean to offend you' doesn't make words any absolution marks. But if you can't take responsibility just because you didn't mean anything by what you said or did, why don't you return your status and honor? Don't just apologize to him for being sorry."

I was angry at Erik's stupidity and Opal couldn't stand Theuri's arrogance.

Nearly a decade ago, Opal was hurt many times when he was made the object of malevolent play and betting by men called gentlemen.

The price of just one scandal was huge.

And the wounds still follow me then.

Erik and Tulli had never been told anything like this before, and even the rare beast looked at Opal with the kind of eyes he saw.

Tulli, raised as a heir to the Marquis, and his brother, Erik, must have been taught whether he was ruler or not.

Perhaps in the plague and the battle for the throne eight years ago, that arrogance turned into strength, powerful enough to be given the title regardless of the house.

That may have made us both confident, but the arrogance characteristic of the nobility will stand in the way in the time to come.

I don't want to break Claude's friendship with Tulli or Erik if possible, but I don't even want to bend my beliefs.

Opal slowly turned off his grin from his face and told him chilly.

"Please continue your friendship with Claude. But don't show up before me as much as you can. I will avoid you as much as I can."

When Opal looked back to the exit, Claude was just about to come in.

But did you hear the voice, and when you quickly stand next to Opal, you turn a hard eye to Erik and Tulli.

"I support Opal. So I'm sorry to invite you, but don't come to the wedding."

Claude, clearly proclaimed, turned back his heels urging an appalling opal before Erik and Tulli said anything.

Opal obeys honestly without even saying hello to both of them.

"... sorry"

"The bad thing about Opal is that you try to take responsibility even if you don't have to, right? So I even apologize for what I don't have to apologize for."

"Claude......"

Claude looks tired somewhere to say sighing.

I don't think my claim earlier was wrong, but I thought there might have been a different way - Opal regretted selling a fight to Claude's side.

"You've set up an unwanted wave with your friends.... I'm sorry, Claude"

"So it's not about apologizing, is it? If a friendship is broken by someone joining us, that's all we have to do. They can work. That's why it's no excuse for insensitivity. If we don't both abandon the arrogant idea of being imprisoned by our identities, we won't be able to keep up with the changes of the times ahead."

"But..."

"You don't have to worry, even they're not stupid. I realize what the problem is. I'm saying great things, but I have to change myself. Some things we have been able to accomplish over the past few years because we have been uninhibited, but I think we have lost sight of ourselves at some point. If we don't wind up in this closed society, we're gonna rot and collapse. Or they'll break it from the outside."

"... So I just have to drill a hole?

"No, Opal just has to do whatever he wants. Your majesty would have wanted that, too, wouldn't he?

Of course, Claude was aware of Alessandro's thoughts at the sight yesterday.

Regretting doesn't suit Opal's sexuality.

If we had time like that, we should take advantage of our failures to connect next.

Opal nodded forcefully, rethinking so.

"You can count on me for that."

So we panicked when we realized where we were headed now.

"Claude, aren't you going back to the venue?

"Oh, I've done my duty already, fine."

But I didn't even say hello to His Majesty.

"It's okay. Because Your Majesty understands."

"What about your parents?

"Mom said she fulfilled her brother-in-law, and she's back in the carriage with her father."

"Well, I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long..."

"You don't have to worry. They're together, so they might rather not interrupt me."

Claude looked deliberately fed up, and Opal laughed.

And when we arrived at the carriage, the barons were still already waiting on board.

"Oh, I'm glad you took it slower"

In the Baroness's words, Claude said, "You see?," Opal glanced, chewing his lips and laughing.

I can be part of this warm family soon.

Opal shook off his unpleasant mood and decided to wait for the wedding he had refrained from the day after tomorrow.