Chapter 5

Opal, as instructed, had her dinner in her room, got into bed early, and tried to sleep. However, she couldn't fall asleep, and it wasn't until the sun rose that she finally dozed off, sleeping until noon. When she rang for Beth, Beth reluctantly prepared her things. It felt as if she were being scolded for leading a lazy life. Normally, Opal, despite being a noble, was an early riser, but explaining this was too much trouble.

There was something she needed to do. She had to speak with Mrs. Northam. Thinking this, Opal told Beth about it. Beth left the room with a reluctant look. Although her attitude wasn't appropriate for a servant, Opal decided to address it later as she waited for Mrs. Northam's response. After a while, when she answered a knock, an unfamiliar woman entered. From her appearance, this woman seemed to be Mrs. Northam.

"Did you call for me?"

"Are you Mrs. Northam?"

"Yes. I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Talia Northam. I am the cousin of the late Duke Joseph, and after his passing, my husband and I have been raising Hubert as his guardian."

"I see. My name is Opal. Please call me Opal. I just wanted to speak with you, not to summon you. But since you're here, would now be convenient?"

"Of course."

As she said this, Mrs. Northam was about to sit on the sofa but stopped, perhaps remembering her position. Seeing this, Opal smiled wryly and invited her to sit. Once seated, Opal asked Beth to bring tea and then got straight to the point.

"I understand that you have been managing this household as the lady of the house for a long time. Thank you."

"No, it's not something to thank me for. So, are you here to ask me to step down as the lady of the house?"

Opal felt discouraged by this rather aggressive statement, but she had dealt with such remarks from older women many times before. She wanted to say that it was true, but remembering Hubert's words in the carriage yesterday, she held back.

"I don't mean to force you. I'm still unfamiliar with many things, and I would like to learn from you if possible. But since you're here, would you mind if we talk now?"

"Of course not."

As Mrs. Northam, who seemed to be about to sit down, remembered her position and stopped, Opal, seeing this, smiled wryly and encouraged her to sit. Once seated, Opal asked Beth for tea and then got straight to the point.

"I understand that you have been managing this household as the lady of the house for a long time. Thank you."

"No, it's not something to thank me for. So, are you here to ask me to step down as the lady of the house?"

Opal felt discouraged by this rather aggressive statement, but she had dealt with such remarks from older women many times before. She wanted to say that it was true, but remembering Hubert's words in the carriage yesterday, she held back.

"I don't mean to force you. I'm still unfamiliar with many things, and I would like to learn from you if possible. But since you're here, would you mind if we talk now?"

"Of course not."

Mrs. Northam, who seemed to be about to sit down, remembered her position and stopped. Seeing this, Opal smiled wryly and encouraged her to sit. Once seated, Opal asked Beth for tea and then got straight to the point.

"I understand that you have been managing this household as the lady of the house for a long time. Thank you."

"No, it's not something to thank me for. So, are you here to ask me to step down as the lady of the house?"

Opal felt discouraged by this rather aggressive statement, but she had dealt with such remarks from older women many times before. She wanted to say that it was true, but remembering Hubert's words in the carriage yesterday, she held back.

"I don't mean to force you. I'm still unfamiliar with many things, and I would like to learn from you if possible. But since you're here, would you mind if we talk now?"

"Of course not."

Mrs. Northam, who seemed to be about to sit down, remembered her position and stopped. Seeing this, Opal smiled wryly and encouraged her to sit. Once seated, Opal asked Beth for tea and then got straight to the point.

"I understand that you have been managing this household as the lady of the house for a long time. Thank you."

"No, it's not something to thank me for. So, are you here to ask me to step down as the lady of the house?"

Opal felt discouraged by this rather aggressive statement, but she had dealt with such remarks from older women many times before. She wanted to say that it was true, but remembering Hubert's words in the carriage yesterday, she held back.

"I don't mean to force you. I'm still unfamiliar with many things, and I would like to learn from you if possible. But since you're here, would you mind if we talk now?"

"Of course not."

Mrs. Northam, who seemed to be about to sit down, remembered her position and stopped. Seeing this, Opal smiled wryly and encouraged her to sit. Once seated, Opal asked Beth for tea and then got straight to the point.

"There is one thing that concerns me, and it's about the master bedroom."

As Opal said this, Mrs. Northam's face turned sour. But Opal, determined not to back down, continued to look straight at her. She no longer had any feelings for Hubert, and the hope she had yesterday was shattered. However, as the new lady of the house, she couldn't accept another woman using the master bedroom.

"I don't know what has been happening until now, but I am the Duke's wife, and I have come to this house as his wife. I don't think it's appropriate for your daughter, Stella, to use the master bedroom, which is connected to the Duke's room. What would people think?"

"That child... That child has been living in that room for years. But no one in this house would leak such vulgar information to the outside!"

"But I might talk about it, you know?"

This was said out of anger, but she didn't really mean it. She wouldn't spread such a shameful secret. However, Beth gasped behind her, and Mrs. Northam began to tremble and cry.

"That child has been supporting Hubert all these years! And now, Hubert is supporting her! If she is separated from Hubert, she will die!"

Opal was exasperated by this dramatic statement. Mrs. Northam, unaware of Opal's feelings, wiped her tears with a handkerchief and continued.

"That child has a serious illness! She was told she wouldn't live past twenty, but thanks to Hubert's devoted support, she has managed to survive until now..."

At this, Mrs. Northam began to sob loudly. Opal could only watch in shock. She hadn't known that Stella was so seriously ill. No one had told her, only showing her hostility.

"I'm sorry. I knew from the Duke that Stella was frail, but I didn't know it was that bad. If you had told me from the beginning, I wouldn't have said such things."

It seemed that Opal's apology didn't reach Mrs. Northam, who was too busy crying. Opal, not being a monster, wouldn't have said such things if she had known from the start. Still, she thought it was strange for someone else to use the master bedroom. She wondered if Hubert hadn't married because of Stella's illness.

"But being by someone's side isn't the only way to support or protect them."

As she watched Beth, who was comforting the crying Mrs. Northam and leading her out of the room, Opal's thoughts grew cold. Then, after a while, heavy footsteps approached.

"Oh, here we go again."

As she thought this, the door opened without a knock, and Hubert, his face red with anger, entered the room.

"How can you be such a terrible woman! Have you already forgotten what I said yesterday!?"

"Good morning, my lord."

"What's good about it! You immediately asked Mrs. Northam to step down as the lady of the house and then demanded that Stella be removed from the master bedroom! You really are a heartless woman!"

"There is a misunderstanding here."

"Where's the misunderstanding! Not only Mrs. Northam, but Beth, who was listening, can testify to it!"

"Is that so?"

The more Hubert raged, the calmer Opal became, both in mind and body. This only made Hubert angrier.

"Why did I ever agree to marry you!? You're not only promiscuous but also so cold!"

"Then, why don't you annul the marriage immediately? That way, peace will return to this house. However, please return my dowry and the gift money from my father."

"What!?"

"Regarding your question earlier, you married me for the dowry, didn't you? And you got the money you wanted. You were able to pay off your debts and maintain the Duke's reputation. So why am I being treated like this? The servants don't show me any respect, and it's natural to be surprised that another woman is in the master bedroom. But I haven't been told the reason, and when I ask, I'm blamed. Why? I haven't committed any crime against you or the Duke's family. I didn't even want this marriage. I was forced to come here by my father."

"Reluctantly..."

"Yes, reluctantly. Do you really think I begged my father to marry you because I was in love with you?"

Hubert blushed at this joke, apparently having thought so. The absurdity made Opal want to laugh.

"I'm not needed in this house. All you need is money. Then why don't you just kill me?"

Hubert gasped and his red face turned pale. Whether this reaction was due to surprise or because he had considered it, Opal couldn't tell.

"I'm sure it would work out. I've only been here for a day, and the servants already hate me. They would all cover for you, wouldn't they?"

"Stop saying such ridiculous things!"

"Yes, it is ridiculous. I had some hope for this marriage. I thought you might respect me a little, not just for the money. But now I understand. I'm just in the way here, so you can consider me as if I don't exist."

"What are you..."

"As you said yesterday, I will live quietly in my room and avoid meeting the important Stella. Of course, I will inform Beth before going out. Is that satisfactory?"

Honestly, she hadn't intended to say so much. But the anger that had been building since yesterday—no, since her father had ordered her to marry—had finally exploded. If she was wronged, she would retaliate. This was Opal's character, and she was often told by the people at the embassy and her childhood friend Claude that she was more than just a tomboy, but also stubborn and headstrong.

Hubert, apparently not expecting such a response, could only listen without interrupting. But once Opal finished speaking, he seemed to come to his senses, pursed his lips, and said:

"If you don't cause us any trouble, do as you please!"

Leaving these words, which sounded like sour grapes, Hubert turned and left, slamming the door behind him. Opal sighed, thinking the noise must have reached the master bedroom.

She was probably disturbing the important Stella. As she moved to the window, she saw that her worry was unnecessary. In the garden below, a delicate woman in a wheelchair was admiring the flowers, accompanied by Mrs. Northam.

Thinking she might be seen and anger Hubert again, Opal was about to move away from the window when the woman suddenly looked up and their eyes met. The woman smiled, and it seemed very malicious to Opal, who blinked. Maybe it was just the light or the angle. Opal moved away from the window and rang for Beth. What she was about to do was also a matter of pride.