The Duchess of the Attic

- What is it?

"So you can't use them"

"Why?"

Duncan unequivocally opposed Opal's proposal to use sickles and grain shedding machines in order to reduce the burden of farming in the future.

I told her that there was no problem with the purchase and it wouldn't take that long to get used to it.

When Opal uttered the question as to what else was the problem, the answer returned was astonishing.

"Of course, because it's a tool of the devil"

"The Devil's Tool? The sickle?"

"And the grain remover."

The flashing opal lost his word and stared seriously at Duncan's face.

But there's no sign of a joke anywhere.

When Opal regained his mind, he began explaining again.

"The shape of the sickle is indeed... a tool of the devil, though it sounds like a tool of the reaper, but if you look closely, it's also different in shape? Besides, it's more convenient. I was going to introduce a mower in the future, but should I introduce you first?

"No, it's cool. I'm not going to be confused by the phrase" convenience, etc. "

"But then you're going to force the people here to work hard for as long as you want? In areas such as the South that have been incorporated early on, not only will they become more productive, but they will also be able to enjoy their leisure time."

"That's why, eight years ago, the plague became so endemic in the South."

"The plague won't matter!?

I was trying to calm down and persuade him somehow, but he got angry when many lives were brought out of the lost plague.

Opal hastily shut his mouth as he had made his voice absurd.

You can't convince them to be emotional.

But if you look at Duncan's face, it seems that judgment has already been made, and Opal decided to pull it off once rather than force it.

"Let's talk about this again. I'd like you to show me the nearby farmland this afternoon, if you don't mind?

"... is your wife on farmland?

"That's right."

"There's a better place for a picnic, though?

"- I'm going on an inspection. Okay, I'll be ready after lunch, so speak up."

Now that it was useless to say anything, Opal followed the study.

And to Duncan - rather than to King Alessandro, I offended him in my heart.

The king should have known this state of affairs.

I was angry about why you didn't tell me in advance, and by the time I walked into the room, I realized that knowing didn't change anything.

Sure, I might have thought about it, but I don't think I could have taken measures.

It would have been hard to understand if I hadn't actually come to this land.

But if you don't know, it's a big difference.

I'm still angry with Alessandro.

If Claude had known, he would have told me, so it was Alessandro's decision alone.

But even if I'm focused, I won't solve anything.

Opal told Naja of his plans for the afternoon when he changed his mind.

"Hey, Naja. It's still a day, but how are the people here? Looks like we can do this right?

"Right. Hey, guys, it's still approximate, but it's kind. It just seems sympathetic."

"Sympathy?"

"Your wife seems to have a hard time serving me because she's my best, whimsical and runaway."

"Oh, that's it?" Weren't there any flurries?

"Because the servant has nothing to do with that. It was just rumored that my husband, the Marquis Roussel, was already abandoned by the new Duke of Botzelli."

"Are we talking about being abandoned?

"Yes."

"Yes..."

Opal was surprised to ask Naja what her assessment here was like.

I wrote that in the letter I sent to Claude before I left Wang Capital, but it means its contents are leaking.

Moreover, if it has already been passed on to this consulate, it will still mean that the information has been manipulated or that there is a person in this consulate who has been able to grasp the contents of the letter.

"If it seems to be out of Naja's hands, would you talk to me? Until then, you can leave the rumors alone. Will you tell the rest of us to do whatever we want?

"Yes, I did!

The samurai, maids and servants who accompanied me from Wang Du have favored Opal.

Care should be taken not to make them feel bad, but I wanted to see how they were doing as much as possible.

(The problem is Duncan's faith...)

I have never heard that the faith of the people of this region is serious.

Duncan, one prejudice wouldn't be that hard.

But if many of the inhabitants are biased against new farming equipment, they could have expected to struggle considerably.

(When I get back from the afternoon inspection, I have to think about measures...)

We have solved the problem many times before, but that was because we had many collaborators.

The reform of the territory of the Duke of McCloud was also because Omer, the land administrator, had an understanding of the new farming equipment.

Omer was initially defiant due to the backwardness of debt and embezzlement, but gave Opal a lot of advice when it comes to agriculture.

(That's right. I have experience with agrarian reform. Absolutely fine!

He also taught Trevor, a land administrator for the Count Holloway family, a lot from an early age.

I've been using it for the last eight years.

Opal sat at his desk and wrote three letters when he modified his plans for the future in his head.

One of them would be waiting at the port of Mantest. The one that wrote instructions for transporting farm equipment to the port of Pasma, north of the Duke of Botzeri territory.

The other one arrived safely at the consulate and sent to Claude what had communicated the status quo.

And finally, to Omer. Write funny and strange about the situation here.

I was just finishing writing and Connally told me I was ready for lunch.

"Thanks, I'll be right there"

I tell her that I will take breakfast and lunch every day in the family breakfast room.

I tell him dinner is in the smallest supper room, but even tomorrow I'll have to look around the consulate and think about it a lot.

(I can't believe we're going to be looking around the territory first...)

As a mistress, it may be unusual, but she needs reform more quickly in the territory than in the consulate.

Connally remained faceless even when she told her plans for the afternoon and didn't know what she thought inside.

But I have more allies than I did when I was isolated at the Duke McCloud house eight years ago.

(It's okay. We haven't decided we're enemies yet)

The previous Duke of Botzelli may have been the enemy of King Alessandro of Claude, but the remaining servants must have their own ideas.

In a hurry about agrarian reform, but still determined to try as hard as possible not to hurt their feelings, Opal left the room for lunch.