Chapter 29

"Is that... with Claude's family?"

Opal was so surprised by Claude's words that she burst out of his arms.

Then she stared at Claude intently and asked.

Claude, however, smiled wryly and shook his head.

"I meant something a bit different. I want you to marry me."

Opal involuntarily touched her ears, thinking she must have misheard.

Of course, that didn't change anything.

While Claude watched her, clearly flustered, he continued.

"I like you, Opal. I have for a long time. But it was so inappropriate that I never intended to confess. Still, I've asked the Earl twice to let me marry you."

"That's..."

"You heard from the Earl, right?"

"Yes... recently..."

"Recently, huh... That's embarrassing..."

Opal's heart was full from Claude's confession, and she couldn't come up with a proper response.

When she heard from her father, she was of course happy, but she couldn't be genuinely happy because of her own foolishness and the thought that it might have been out of pity.

But now, Claude was telling her he liked her.

That made her happy. It was enough.

"At the time, I thought I was following the proper procedure. But I realized I just lacked the courage to confess to you. So this time, I'll tell you directly. As many times as it takes. Opal, will you marry me?"

"... That's... impossible."

"Is it too forward of me to ask now?"

"It's not that. But..."

"But what? Is it impossible because we're just friends?"

Claude's proposal was unbelievably joyful for Opal.

She felt so energized that she could have jumped off the large rock.

Still, Opal lowered her eyes and used all her rationality to refuse, but Claude wouldn't back down.

"Do you dislike me?"

"Of course not!"

"Then, do you like me?"

"... Claude, we shouldn't be having such a childish conversation—!?"

Opal's attempt to persuade him was cut off when Claude suddenly kissed her.

Their first kiss was very pleasant, and Opal wondered if this was what a real kiss felt like, then came back to her senses.

"Claude!"

"Did you dislike it?"

"—Well, this place has a great view!"

"I know. It's a good landmark from anywhere."

"But what if someone saw us?"

"What, are you worried about your reputation?"

"I don't care about my reputation. But Claude, you need to get married soon, don't you...?"

Claude didn't seem to care about Opal's protests.

Feeling both angry and sad, Opal gradually lost her momentum, and Claude embraced her again.

"I'm going to marry you, so everyone will be lenient with this."

"... Hey, did you listen to me?"

"I listened enough. Opal has always hated lying, and when she has to, she looks away and changes the subject. So, Opal likes me and wants to marry me, right?"

When Claude hit the nail on the head, Opal pushed him away and hurriedly tried to escape.

But the rock was unstable, and she was caught by Claude as she jumped down to a slightly larger rock.

"Don't be reckless, Opal. We're both not as strong as we used to be, remember?"

"That's true. So... it's impossible."

"What's impossible?"

They were both slightly out of breath, but Opal's heart was pounding more because Claude was holding her tightly.

She wanted to be free from this torment, but Claude didn't seem willing to let her go.

"Claude, you're the Marquis now... you need an heir, don't you? But I'm almost twenty-seven, and I can't have children—"

"What I need is you, not an heir. What I want is you, not an heir. Got it?"

"That's not the issue."

"That is the issue. You're as stubborn as ever. Just say you'll marry me."

"I won't."

What didn't bother her with Hubert bothered her with Claude.

She wanted to have Claude's children.

But she was afraid because of her age.

Yet, Claude wouldn't back down.

"Fine. Then I'll give up my Marquisate."

"No way! If you do that, what will your aunt—your family—think? Besides, you'll be a great lord, and your people will suffer!"

"But if Opal won't marry me, I'll suffer."

Claude's outrageous statement didn't faze Opal.

Claude was also very stubborn, but he didn't seem to realize it.

"Listen, I have a small estate to manage. I even have a dog, and there are many other things I need to do—"

"Then I'll move here and live with Opal, and visit there occasionally."

"Then I should visit there occasionally, right?"

"Sure, let's do that. It's decided."

Opal couldn't convince Claude.

Instead, when she tried to point out a casual solution, it became a decision.

"Hey, Claude. I haven't said I'll marry you yet."

"But you will, right? Look at me, Opal."

This time, Opal couldn't escape even if she wanted to, as Claude was still holding her tightly.

Cornered, Opal finally gave in and raised her face.

Claude was smiling happily, with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes that she hadn't seen before.

Feeling a bit resentful, Opal revealed her secret.

"The dog I started raising is named Claude."

"... Can we change the name?"

"No. He's a mischievous pup, but he's learned his name. It's true that the worst ones are the cutest."

"... I'll accept it."

Seeing Claude sigh in resignation, Opal laughed.

Claude then made a deliberately sour face, hugged Opal tightly, and kissed her again.

Opal realized this was a real kiss.

Claude seemed to be holding back in that place with such a good view.

* * *

Opal was excited about her first sea voyage with Najya and was overwhelmed by the prosperity of the foreign land—Taisei Kingdom.

They would travel from the port to the capital by passenger train.

The kingdom had always been a powerful country, but it was hard to believe it had been ravaged by disease and civil war eight years ago.

The kingdom's technological capabilities were known through Mantes, but it seemed she had underestimated them.

No wonder the social world was in an uproar when Opal's engagement to the Marquis of Lucel was announced.

Opal, who had finally settled into a quiet life, began receiving many invitations again after the engagement was announced.

However, these invitations were clearly motivated by a desire to get close to the Marquis of Lucel, and she and Claude laughed and declined them all.

It seemed no one had yet realized that Claude, the third son of a baron, was the Marquis of Lucel, as no invitations had been sent to him.

Hubert was the same, and Opal had asked her father several times when the two had become so close.

But her father refused to answer, advising her to focus on her future family since her personal matters were no longer his concern.

Hubert had been devastated ever since, and some in the social world were making baseless speculations, but Opal and Claude ignored them.

(I don't want to, but I'll have to start showing up in that country's social world and will likely meet the Duke again. The Marquis of Lucel's true identity will be known eventually...)

Opal was still an investor in Mantes, and her connection with Hubert hadn't been severed.

Moreover, she had just started a women's organization, so she would need to attend social events to raise funds.

When the time came, she would have the necessary conversations. The train arrived at the station, and Opal and her party boarded the three carriages Claude had prepared, separating from the baron and his wife.

Claude, Opal, Najya, and the dog Claude rode together to the Marquis of Lucel's residence in the capital.

As the carriage started moving, Opal and Najya marveled at the cityscape outside the window.

The dog Claude, who had been in a cage on the ship and train, was sprawled on the seat with his chin on Claude's knee.

Claude, who had been silent for a while, suddenly remembered something he needed to discuss before their marriage and spoke up.

"By the way, I forgot to mention, when I decided to return, I told His Majesty that I wouldn't return to this country until my childhood friend agreed to marry me."

Opal was surprised by Claude's sudden confession and refocused her attention on the carriage.

Najya, either out of consideration or disinterest, continued to look out the window.

"... What did you plan to do about your aunt and the others?"

"They're all adults, so as long as the arrangements are made, they can take care of themselves. More importantly, this time, I planned to court Opal persistently without holding back. I thought a lot about how to move beyond just being childhood friends. If it didn't work out, I planned to kidnap her and bring her back to this country to court her again."

"Claude... kidnapping is a serious crime."

"Don't worry. His Majesty said, 'If that's the case, bring back your childhood friend, even if you have to kidnap her.'"

"... I heard the King of Taisei was a great man."

"He is. But the main point is..."

"Is there more?"

"It's not a big deal. His Majesty said that if I left the country, I would be granted a dukedom upon my return. I tried to decline, but there are too many vacant titles due to the previous turmoil."

"Too many vacant titles... So, Claude will become a Duke?"

"In this country. So, Opal will become a Duchess again. The territory will increase, but it would help if you could manage it with me."

"That... I'll try, of course, but I'm worried."

"Don't worry. We can do it together, right? Besides, Opal is good at managing estates, and I'm a lucky person."

"... Becoming a Duke and having more territory... That's a big deal..."

While Opal was still processing what she had just heard, the carriage arrived at the Marquis of Lucel's residence.

Opal got out of the carriage with Claude's help, and the baroness, who had arrived earlier, was having an emotional reunion with the familiar butler and staff.

Judging that the family was in good hands with the mother, Claude began explaining to Opal, who was looking up at the Marquis's residence.

The dog Claude was running up and down the stairs, playing.

"This is the Lucel family's townhouse from the time we were earls, and half of the staff hasn't changed. But I felt a bit uncomfortable, so I modernized it."

"... It's very beautiful."

"I'm glad you think so. But if you find anything unsatisfactory after living here, just let me know. We can fix it."

While Opal was looking up at the Marquis of Lucel's residence, the image of the MacLaud Duke's residence, which she had looked up on the day of their parting, came to mind.

Opal answered absentmindedly, but Claude's next words brought her back to the present.

"I'm sure there won't be any complaints. Besides... the attic seems quite comfortable."

"Right. Even if it's an attic, a larger window would make it more pleasant, wouldn't it?"

"Yes, that's true."

Opal, confident in her answer, turned to Claude with a full smile.

Seeing her smile, Claude raised an eyebrow inquisitively, realizing there was some meaning behind it.

"I thought it might be fun to retreat to the attic sometimes."

"Then I'll join you."

Claude answered without surprise, with a sly smile.

Opal laughed out loud at his typical response.

Indeed, with Claude, she was sure they could enjoy whatever the future held.

The memory of stubbornly living in the attic could be shared later.

Claude would surely laugh it off and listen.

So, for now, she could look forward.

Opal, still smiling, took one step at a time up the stairs to the house where they would live together.

Thank you for reading.

This concludes "The Duchess in the Attic" for now.

However, I plan to update side stories about Opal's new life and the others.

I would be delighted if you would continue to follow along.

Thank you very much.

Morri