Chapter 41

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After the servants had been up and about for some time, Opal awoke as usual but felt an indescribable sense of unease. Before her mind was fully awake, she saw a scene that almost made her scream, but she managed to suppress it. Opal was startled by Claude’s sleeping face so close to her and then writhed in embarrassment. Fortunately, Claude showed no signs of waking up.

(What a shock...)

She pressed down on her heart, which was beating violently as if it might leap out, and held her breath as she stared at Claude’s face. Though they had known each other for a long time, this was the first time she had observed him so closely.

(...Oh? There’s a faint scar on his cheek. When did that happen?)

Opal furrowed her brow at the mark that looked like it had been made by a sharp blade. She should have known about any injuries from his student days. Then she realized that this scar must have been from the rebellion. Claude had said it wasn’t serious, but of course, she hadn’t believed him. Even if she couldn’t ask him about it now, she wanted to hear the story soon. Opal reached out to touch the scar but stopped herself.

Since he was finally relaxing and sleeping, she wanted him to rest longer. Opal stared at Claude’s sleeping face for a while, savoring her happiness, before quietly slipping out of bed.

* * *

“—Opal”

After getting ready for the morning and sipping tea while going through some documents, Opal turned at the sound of her name. Claude was peeking out from the bedroom door. Opal quickly stood up and smiled to hide her embarrassment.

“Good morning, Claude.”

“...Good morning.”

Though she greeted him cheerfully, Claude’s response was awkward. Opal tried to hide her worry that she might have done something wrong and decided to act like a proper wife.

“Would you like breakfast brought to your room, or in the dining room?”

“...In the dining room.”

Claude answered brusquely and closed the door, but Opal quickly followed. If there was a problem, she wanted to know so she could try to fix it.

“Claude.”

“Opal, what is it?”

“What is it...”

When Opal called out, Claude, who was about to return to his room, stopped and turned to her with his usual smile. Opal’s spirits sank. Perhaps Claude’s discomfort was just her imagination. But she believed in her intuition and didn’t want any misunderstandings or to make him uncomfortable.

“If I... did something wrong, I want to know.”

“Wrong? You, Opal?”

“Yes. Last night... did I do something wrong as a bride?”

“As a bride...”

Claude repeated Opal’s words as if swallowing them, then paused and seemed to realize something.

“No way! No, no. It’s not your fault at all! It’s my problem!”

“Your problem?”

“I’m not a morning person.”

“Is that so?”

Though surprised to learn this after so long, Opal didn’t think it was a big issue. Many nobles were not morning people. If anything, Opal was too early. She waited for Claude to explain further, but he didn’t.

“Um... I don’t understand what the problem is.”

“Ah, yeah. So, it’s my problem... I felt bad that you were there and I was sleeping. It felt like a waste, and I looked uncool...”

“You always look cool, Claude. Even now.”

“...Thank you. I’ll try to look even cooler by changing my clothes.”

“Sure, I’ll wait for you in the dining room.”

Opal smiled and watched Claude leave, then returned to the living room and crouched down. She took a deep breath and pressed her chest to calm her racing heart.

(I was nervous... I did everything normally, right? There was nothing wrong, right?)

Relieved to know she hadn’t done anything wrong, Opal couldn’t help but smile. She tried to maintain her composure, but her face was hot. She fanned her face with one hand, rang the bell, and then stood in front of the mirror to tidy her appearance.

“Madam, is there anything you need?”

“—I’ll be having breakfast with my husband in the dining room. Could you tell them to prepare it?”

“Certainly.”

She suppressed the ticklish feeling of being called “Madam” by the maid who responded to the bell and the embarrassment of referring to Claude as “my husband,” which made her sound a bit harsh. She smiled to make up for it, and the maid retreated with relief. It had only been two days since they moved into the house, and the servants were still observing the new mistress. As an employer, she needed to set a good example, but she also wanted to build a good relationship with the staff. She didn’t want to repeat the problems she had at the MacLaud mansion.

(By the way, I need to do something about the MacLaud situation...)

Opal sighed as she headed to the dining room, remembering the letter. She could ignore Hubert, but that would leave things unresolved and nagging. However, she intended to consult Claude before deciding whether to fulfill Hubert’s request. When she sat down for breakfast, she chose the right moment to bring it up.

“—MacLaud is coming to visit?”

“Yes. I should have declined earlier or returned the letter unopened, but I forgot... I think he’s probably on the ship by now. But we can choose not to meet him...”

When she told Claude about the letter from Hubert, he furrowed his brow in confusion. Opal found herself making excuses. Claude, perhaps noticing her tension, relaxed his expression.

“What do you want to do, Opal?”

“Me? Honestly, I’m curious about his intentions.”

“Indeed.”

Opal felt the tension leave her shoulders at Claude’s gentle question. She answered honestly, and Claude smiled encouragingly in agreement.

“If we don’t meet him, it will always be a mystery. I think we should meet him, but after we return to the capital in two days, and I want to be there too.”

“Of course. Thank you, Claude. It’s reassuring to have you with me.”

Opal smiled in relief, and Claude’s expression turned playful.

“To be honest, I’m curious too. I’m a complete busybody. If not, I’d be so jealous that I’d lock you in the attic and never let you see MacLaud.”

“...But I’d find a way out. No matter what.”

“I know. That’s why I love you. You’re stubborn, competitive, and hate anything unfair.”

“Ugh, I’m not happy! You’re not complimenting me!”

Caught off guard by his unexpected declaration, Opal’s cheeks turned red, and she turned away. Claude burst out laughing, and eventually, Opal couldn’t help but join in.

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Thank you as always.

My novel, "The Duchess in the Attic," is now available from Kadokawa BOOKS! For more details, check my activity report.

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