Chapter 2

Opal had thought that her second season after her debut would surely be a joyful one, but she returned to her estate in disappointment.

The rumors did not die down; instead, Opal had become known as a thoroughly unrestrained woman.

She had gone on morning walks with men she thought might be suitable, and even ventured onto balconies alone to share kisses.

However, just like with the second son of that viscount, she found them repulsive and rejected any further advances. The men whose pride was wounded spread false rumors.

When a man realized he was the only one not chosen, he would go around saying that his time with her was different.

Before she knew it, Opal was labeled as an immoral woman, unsuitable for an unmarried lady, and the third season had ended in a blink.

（It seems I should give up on marriage. I'd rather live freely than marry someone I don't love and have my inheritance squandered.）

At the end of her eighteenth season, Opal gave up on the dream of building a warm home.

Opal was set to inherit a small estate and a substantial fortune from her maternal grandmother, Olga Kenzitt, when she turned twenty.

The condition was that the inheritance would remain hers even if she married, and Opal could sense the grandmother's intentions.

Her maternal grandfather was very strict, a man who always carried a whip, as her mother had told her.

When Opal returned to the manor, she focused more on studying than on socializing.

She sought guidance from the estate manager Trevor, the butler Alton, and the housekeeper Marcia, following them around to learn in detail about estate management and household affairs.

Claude returned from university midway through, and upon seeing Opal, he opened his mouth in obvious dissatisfaction.

“Hey, Opal. What’s the point of studying so much? Isn’t that a man’s job? Besides, you could just hire a manager and a butler, so there’s no need for you to study, right?”

“Oh, so you also think women should just stay quiet and take care of the house. I’m disappointed. I don’t plan to marry anyway, and when I turn twenty, I intend to live on the land my grandmother left me. That’s why I want to know the basics.”

“Why don’t you plan to marry?”

“Haven’t you heard the rumors about me? But the fact that you’re still my friend means you don’t know.”

“You fool. Of course I’ve heard. Information doesn’t stop just because it’s a men-only dormitory. But as a friend, I know that Opal isn’t the kind of woman those rumors suggest. Everyone around here knows you from when you were little.”

“…Thank you, Claude.”

Opal was so happy to hear Claude’s words that she almost cried, but she managed to hold back.

Opal rarely cried, even when she broke her arm falling from a tree or when her beloved pony died.

Her mother had said on her deathbed:

“Don’t cry, my dear. Please smile.”

So, Opal had tried hard to hold back her tears, and with a face smeared with snot, she had managed to smile.

Her mother, who was already emaciated, had slowly lifted her cheek and smiled back.

She had no strength left, but she had managed to do it.

So, Opal had decided not to cry after that day when she was ten.

If she could smile and face forward, everyone would eventually smile back.

Indeed, the people in the estate did smile back.

What the people in society said didn’t matter.

After the next season ended, Opal planned to move to the house her grandmother had left her.

There were still nearly two years until she turned twenty, but after spending three seasons and failing to find a suitable marriage partner, it couldn’t be helped.

The estate trustee was a very kind person and, knowing about Opal’s reputation, had agreed to this proposal.

Of course, the condition was that she would continue to manage the land through a manager of her choice for a few years.

Thanks to this, Opal’s heart was light as she entered her fourth season.

Even surrounded by pretentious men called libertines, men after her fortune, and so-called ladies who only gossiped, she could smile.

She danced once, and when she caught the eye of a duke she was attracted to, she was glared at, but it didn’t bother her.

Since the incident, the duke had ignored her, not even acknowledging her presence, as if she wasn’t worth speaking to.

It was rude, but the duke was in a position where he could get away with it.

By the time the season was almost over, Opal had already packed her bags.

She would return to the manor and then move to the small house her grandmother had left her.

The people at the manor were sad when she told them her plans before leaving for the capital, but she assured them that she could return in a day by carriage.

The only thing left was to attend a small concert hosted by a viscount’s family, and then Opal’s season would be over.

She chose a dress for the evening and looked at the other dresses in her closet.

These would be unnecessary after the season, and she planned to leave them behind in the house.

She had already packed a few modest designs that she would need.

—Finally, it’s over.

Just as Opal thought this, the butler came to her room.

“Your father is waiting for you in the study.”

“My father?”

“Yes, he asked you to come immediately.”

“…I understand.”

Opal hadn’t been called to her father’s study since the morning after the incident.

She had thought he truly didn’t care, but being called again gave her a bad feeling.

Still, she couldn’t run away, and she didn’t intend to. Opal stood confidently in front of the study and knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Without asking who it was, Opal was allowed to enter. She gently opened the door and stepped into the study.

As always, her father’s desk was cluttered with papers, indicating his busy schedule.

Despite summoning her, he didn’t even look up and continued writing on some documents.

“Father, is there something you need?”

Unable to wait, Opal asked, and her father looked up with a displeased expression.

He sighed heavily and put down his fountain pen.

“A lady should not speak until her husband has said something. I must admit, I failed to properly discipline you. I’ve let you be too free, Opal.”

“I’m sorry, Father. But I was preparing for tonight—”

“Be quiet.”

Her father didn’t shout, but he didn’t listen to the family’s opinions.

Opal hated this about him.

She thought her brother didn’t return from university because he didn’t want to see this father.

Feeling exasperated, Opal humbly apologized.

Suddenly, her father’s mood seemed to improve, and he smiled.

This smile confirmed Opal’s bad feeling.

“Opal, be happy. Your marriage has finally been arranged.”

“…What?”

“It’s a very good match. It was worth waiting three years. If not for that incident, we could have arranged it three years ago. Even though you’re damaged goods, I never intended to give you to that boy or those worthless men after your fortune.”

“Father, I—”

“The contract has already been signed with the other party. I just received word that the marriage license has been obtained. You will be married the day after tomorrow.”

Opal couldn’t object to what had already been decided.

She tried to think quickly, but realized there was nothing she could do to escape this marriage before turning twenty.

Her father had let her be free because he was targeting this good match.

For three years, her father had waited until he could exploit the other party’s weakness.

What kind of terrible person could this be?

Feeling hurt by being called damaged goods again, she wondered if she could divorce when she turned twenty.

She suddenly thought about having to share those repulsive kisses.

“Father, who is the groom?”

“Finally, you ask. When you hear his name, you might thank me. Your fiancé is Hubert MacLaud, the Duke of MacLaud.”

“…Duke of MacLaud?”

Hearing the name, Opal felt dizzy and almost fell.

The Duke of MacLaud was the man she had danced with once three years ago, the only one she had been attracted to, who had ignored her after the incident and glared at her recently.

“Why… would a duke like him…?”

“The Duke of MacLaud lost his parents at a young age and inherited the dukedom. He was inexperienced and too soft. Three years ago, it might have been manageable, but his pride prevented him from seeking help. Now, he is in debt and can’t pay it off. Instead of selling the ancestral land, he decided to sell himself.”

“…So, the duke agreed to marry me because of his debt?”

“Yes, it was hard to watch him fall so far without doing anything. But in investments, patience is key.”

“Investment…”

“Think about it. A duke! As his father-in-law and the grandfather of the future duke, my influence will grow. Understand, Opal. You’ve been free until now, but from now on, you must be more careful. Work with the duke to solve his problems. It will be interesting.”

Opal wasn’t sure if she had responded to her father’s words.

She left the study in a daze and returned to her room, where she remained in a stupor until her maid spoke to her.