Chapter 26

It had been a long time since Opal returned to the earl's estate. She climbed the tree she had been familiar with since childhood and gazed into the distance. However, while the scenery before her eyes was peaceful, her mind was preoccupied with other matters.

The day before yesterday, she had been summoned to her father's mansion in the capital and heard a story that deeply disturbed her. It disturbed her even more than when she was ordered to marry Hubert.

It had been over ten years ago, when Opal had just made her debut in society, and a scandal had struck her. Her father revealed that Claude had come to propose at that time. Her father, however, had dismissed the mere university student and sent him away.

Yet, three years later, Claude returned to ask for Opal's hand in marriage again.

Moreover, despite being from a baron's family, Claude had earned wages through labor and increased his wealth through investments. Although the amount was small, barely a third of Opal's dowry, her father was slightly moved by Claude's determination. However, by then, her father had already made a contract with Hubert, and Opal's future was decided.

Even if Claude had increased his wealth and could live without touching Opal's dowry, the difference between a duchess and a mere gentleman's wife was too great. Besides, Opal didn't need help. When her father told her that her marriage was already decided, Claude had left with a small word of congratulations.

"---I thought that even if you married your childhood friend who suddenly started acting chivalrous, a good relationship alone would soon become boring and lead to regret. I believed it would be more suitable for you to face adversity in a ducal family."

"…Why are you telling me this now?"

"I knew you intended to live in the countryside without getting married once you turned twenty. I thought that if I forced you to marry, you would try hard to make it work out of defiance against me. But I was wrong. You took a different path from what I expected and wasted seven years. In the end, you ended up living in retirement in the countryside. Even though you still have other options."

"This is… This is the life I wanted."

Opal answered firmly, though she was surprised by her father's confession, which he had remained silent about even when she divorced Hubert. In truth, her heart felt as if it were being crushed.

On the day they last met, Claude had congratulated Opal on her marriage. If she hadn't been stubborn and had confided in him about her situation and sought his help, would Claude have helped her? She thought about this many times and was often frustrated by her own foolishness.

The prince on the white horse had been right beside her since childhood, but she hadn't noticed it was him. Yet, it seemed too presumptuous to seek help in her time of need. If she had asked, Claude would have helped her, but that would have burdened him with heavy sins and responsibilities.

So, this was for the best. During the seven years of her marriage to Hubert, though there were many hardships, the people of the duchy were able to escape poverty, and Hubert grew as a duke. Opal's once unreliable younger brother had finally become independent, giving her a sense of accomplishment.

Of course, their divorce was still a topic of conversation in society, even a year later. Divorces were rare among couples who were known to have a poor relationship. Most people concluded that the duke had given up on Opal, who hadn't conceived in seven years. However, it was Hubert who denied this.

He said that Opal was not the kind of woman rumored before their marriage. This marriage was a contract to save the impoverished Hubert, and after the marriage, Opal had always supported and helped him. Furthermore, Hubert's current status was due to Opal, and although he wanted to continue the marriage, he was the one who was rejected. He ended with a wry smile.

Everyone was surprised but believed the story. Of course, there were many questions, but no one dared to contradict the duke, and no one had seen Opal act flamboyantly after the marriage. In fact, she had been secluded in the duchy all along. Thus, Opal's reputation was restored, but it didn't matter to her. She just hoped Hubert would remarry soon and find happiness this time.

But that shouldn't be too difficult. The current Hubert was a wealthy man and considered the best marriage prospect in society, causing unmarried women and their mothers to be in a frenzy. Since Hubert needed an heir, he would likely remarry soon. It seemed he was recently close to a particular woman, who, though young, was known for being steady. However, according to her father, the more accurate description was that she was strong-willed.

"Moreover, that girl has an even more powerful and fierce mother. If he marries her, the MacLaud ducal family will be taken over by that mother and daughter."

Recalling her father's laughing words, Opal sighed. The problem was Stella. Hubert seemed to only see Stella as a sister, but Stella clearly felt differently. How the new wife would perceive Stella and how Hubert would handle it were concerns, but Opal reminded herself it was no longer her business.

Now, she lived modestly in a small house on the land her grandmother had left her. She didn't know what had happened to the documents for the name change she returned to Hubert, but all the money from the repurchase of the estate and mansion was paid to her. Even the remaining land.

Despite her uncle's mediation, Hubert insisted on paying, and in the end, Opal had to give in. Perhaps the letters Hubert sent a few times after the divorce mentioned this, but Opal, though feeling cold, had returned them unopened, asking for communication through an agent. The letters stopped coming once the financial matters were settled, so that was probably the case.

Opal invested the money Hubert paid her back into Mantes, intending to use the profits to improve the working conditions of those who worked there. Good working conditions would lead to better work and, in turn, more profits. She had seen this firsthand in the duchy. Opal also planned to use the wealth from her investments to support organizations that helped women become independent.

"It's unfair that women can't get loans for their businesses or find jobs just because they are women."

With new goals, Opal was full of enthusiasm. She was just a bit sentimental from the story her father had told her. When she had firmly resolved again, she heard familiar footsteps behind her and turned, surprised.

"It's been a while, Opal. But I don't need to ask if you're well."

"…Yes. As you can see, I'm well enough to climb a tree. But it's been a long time, Claude."

From the tree, she couldn't see Claude's face clearly. The footsteps were the same, but his voice seemed a bit lower. Or maybe it was just his way of speaking. Opal pressed her nose, which was about to run.

"Come down, Opal. It's been a long time, so show me your face properly."

"Why should I come down just because I climbed up? You can climb up here."

"Don't be unreasonable. If I climb up, the tree might not hold both of us. We're not kids anymore."

"…Maybe."

She knew it wasn't a cute thing to say, but she didn't want Claude to see her face, which was about to cry, so she was being stubborn. Claude chuckled, a response that seemed to reflect their current situation, and Opal couldn't think of a clever reply.

They used to climb this tree together and look into the distance side by side, but they couldn't do that anymore. The girl who used to hug and welcome Claude back from boarding school was long gone. Now, after hearing that story from her father, she felt embarrassed and guilty, unable to face him.

"Just come down. If you don't, I'll drag you down."

"Hey, hey! I get it! I get it, so stop it, Claude!"

Ignoring Opal's feelings, Claude came to the base of the tree and tried to pull her down by her feet, just like in the old days. She dodged, but this time he grabbed her skirt. When Opal surrendered, Claude's attack finally stopped. Looking down, she saw Claude's smiling face, and her sentimentality and tears vanished.

She could have climbed higher to a place Claude's hands couldn't reach, but her pride wouldn't allow it. Knowing Opal's character well, Claude waited with a mischievous smile.

"…If you're a gentleman, could you turn around for a moment?"

"Why? You never said that before."

"Because I could easily climb down before. But now it's a bit tricky."

"Then I should watch even more. I'll help if it gets dangerous."

"…Thank you."

Unlike her usual stubborn self, Opal accepted it sincerely, which made Claude raise an eyebrow but say nothing. She bent her knees inside her skirt, grabbed a thick branch with practiced hands, and hugged the trunk. Wishing no one could see inside her skirt, she climbed down boldly as she used to. However, her body didn't move as it used to, and she slipped. Claude's arms immediately reached out to catch her, and she was gently placed on the ground.

"…Thank you, Claude."

"I didn't expect to actually have to help. Your skills have declined, Opal."

"It's not that my skills have declined, but my stamina has. I'm almost twenty-seven, you know?"

Laughing, Opal casually moved away from Claude. The Claude she hadn't seen in a long time had lost his boyishness and become a fully grown man. He was very attractive, and she wondered how she looked in comparison, so she looked down. But this felt like running away and not like her. Raising her face, she looked straight at Claude and smiled.

"I don't need to ask if you're well, Claude. I was really helped. Thank you very much."

"Yes, I'm well. But it's not something to be so grateful for. Is something wrong?"

"Of course, something is wrong. You didn't contact me for nearly eight years, and I was so worried… And you were in touch with Father all this time."

Opal clenched her right hand and lightly tapped Claude's chest. Claude didn't avoid it, frowning as he looked down at her. After a moment's hesitation, he spoke.

"…You heard?"

"Yes, I heard. That you are the Marquis of Lucel in the Kingdom of Taisei."