Chapter 60

"Opal, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Yes, of course."

Opal, who was writing a letter in her room, put down her pen in response to Claude, who had entered the room. Claude's tone indicated that this was a serious matter. Opal stood up and sat down next to Claude on the bench.

"I was summoned by His Majesty just now."

"Did something happen?"

"Probably. I hope it's not too serious, but I think I'll be late. So I won't be able to escort you to tonight's reception."

"I understand. I'll attend on my own tonight."

"I'm sorry."

"There's no need to apologize. I've gotten used to the social scene here, and I can manage on my own."

The events in the Kingdom of Sosie had certainly spread to the social circles of this country, and the content of the invitation, which was only a formality before her return, had changed, and it was clear from the wording that she was being welcomed warmly. Still, she felt a bit disappointed about attending alone. Hiding her feelings, Opal smiled and replied, and Claude sighed.

"Opal, you're so strong, and sometimes I feel a bit lonely."

"I'm just pretending to be strong and hiding my loneliness. I know which one to prioritize."

"I'm sorry. That was selfish of me."

Hearing Opal's joking reply, Claude immediately apologized. It would be nice if she could pout or be clingy, but that was quite a challenge for Opal. As she was thinking about how to respond, Claude suddenly kissed her and stood up.

"…Huh?"

"Forget what I said just now. You're still Opal, after all."

"What, what's that supposed to mean?!"

Because they had been childhood friends for so long, it was hard for them to create a romantic atmosphere like a couple. That's why it took her a while to process being kissed suddenly. Claude headed for the door and turned back before leaving.

"See you later."

"Y-Yes, see you."

Opal hurriedly stood up and replied, and Claude smiled happily as he left. She realized she should have seen him off to the front door, but it would be awkward to chase after him now. Staring at the closed door, Opal sat back down on the bench and sighed deeply.

"I still can't get used to this…"

It had been a little over a month since they got married. They spent much more time together, but there was no sweet atmosphere between them most of the time, so she was often confused when it came unexpectedly. However, Claude seemed to enjoy it, and it was a bit frustrating.

(Does Claude not feel lonely about tonight…? No, that can't be it.)

The selfishness she showed earlier was probably a reflection of Claude's feelings. But even if they both felt lonely, there were many things they had to do separately. Opal had stumbled in social situations at first, and Claude had a job that she didn't quite understand.

Still, even if Claude didn't tell her about his work, she could guess what it was. The Kingdom of Taisei had overcome the crisis of an epidemic and civil war and was now more prosperous than the Kingdom of Sosie, but there were still anti-royalists—former prince supporters.

In the past few days, Opal had attended as many tea parties and receptions as she could. She smiled as if she was just interested, and the women were happy to tell her various things. Among the rumors, there were many unsettling ones that she wouldn't have noticed just by listening casually.

(Still, where does the funding for the anti-royalists come from…?)

Any activity requires funds. Even if there were nobles secretly supporting them, where were they getting the money from? King Alessandro had investigated to ensure that no hidden wealth could be accumulated in the four years since he ascended the throne.

(Maybe Claude was investigating the thieves in the Kingdom of Sosie?)

The gold and jewels said to have been stolen by the thieves amounted to a considerable sum. They might have managed to smuggle some of it into the Kingdom of Taisei and lost the rest while gambling in the city of Nobori in the Seamus Marquessate. It was also possible that the loot stolen by Kymont and others, which had not been discovered for a while, was being used as a funding source for the anti-royalists, and Claude had started investigating.

(While it's just a guess, it does make sense.)

Opal was satisfied with her thoughts on the way back in the carriage. Claude probably wouldn't answer if she asked, but he would tell her once it was resolved. Looking forward to the answer, Opal returned to the mansion and was disappointed. She had received an urgent letter from Claude saying he wouldn't be back for a while.

"How long is 'a while'…?"

Even though she wouldn't have been able to check her answers tonight, Opal was quite disappointed. They had also planned to discuss how to proceed with the reforms in the newly granted Botselli Duchy. The duchy had a lot of land suitable for growing crops, but it was behind in modernization, and the people were exhausted from heavy taxes imposed during the civil war.

(I remember there were a few mines too…)

The lead mine in the far north was still being mined on a small scale, but considering the health effects of dust and other factors, it would be better to close it. She had decided to inspect everything soon. Opal could handle everything from planning to execution on her own. She just wanted to accomplish it with someone—Claude.

But since she didn't know how long Claude's "a while" would be, she had to proceed on her own.

"Fine. I'll do it on my own. After all, it's my specialty!"

With her resolve firm, Opal declared loudly in the empty room.