Chapter 64

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"What did you say?"

"I said, you cannot use them."

"Why?"

Duncan clearly opposed Opal's suggestion to use the large sickles and threshing machines to reduce the burden of farm work.

She had explained that there were no issues with the purchase and that it wouldn't take much time to get used to them.

When Opal asked what the problem was, the answer she received was shocking.

"Of course, it's because they are tools of the devil."

"Tools of the devil? The sickles?"

"The threshing machines too."

Stunned, Opal was at a loss for words and stared at Duncan's face.

But there was no sign of a joke.

Regaining her composure, Opal began to explain again.

"The shape of the sickle does indeed resemble... a tool of the devil or a tool of the Grim Reaper, but if you look closely, the shape is different. Besides, they are very convenient. I had planned to introduce reapers in the future, but should we start with these instead?"

"No, thank you. I have no intention of being swayed by the word 'convenient.'"

"But if we don't, the people here will continue to be burdened with heavy labor. In the southern regions, where these tools have been adopted early, not only has productivity increased, but people also have more leisure time to enjoy."

"That's why a plague spread so severely in the southern regions eight years ago."

"The plague has nothing to do with it!?"

Opal tried to remain calm and persuade him, but mentioning the plague that claimed many lives made her lose her temper.

Realizing she had raised her voice, she quickly fell silent.

Getting emotional wouldn't help persuade him.

But it seemed Duncan had already made up his mind, so Opal decided to back down for now.

"Let's discuss this later. If you don't mind, I would like you to show me some nearby farmland this afternoon. Is that alright?"

"...Will the lady be visiting the farmland?"

"Yes."

"There are more suitable places for a picnic, you know?"

"---I'm going to inspect the land. I'll get ready after lunch, so please let me know."

Knowing that any further argument would be futile, Opal left the study.

In her heart, she cursed Duncan—more accurately, King Alessandro.

The king must have known about this situation.

She was angry that he hadn't told her beforehand, but by the time she entered her room, she realized that even if he had told her, it wouldn't have changed anything.

She might have been mentally prepared, but she didn't think it would have made a difference.

She wouldn't have understood until she actually came to this land.

(But knowing and not knowing are worlds apart.)

She was still angry with Alessandro.

If Claude had known, he would have told her, so it was Alessandro's decision alone.

However, dwelling on it wouldn't solve anything.

Opal changed her mindset and informed Najja about her afternoon plans.

"Hey, Najja. It's only been one day, but how are the people here? Can we get along?"

"Well, everyone is a bit distant, but they are kind. There's also some sympathy."

"Sympathy?"

"The lady is seen as capricious and whimsical, and it's said to be difficult to serve her."

"Oh, is that all? 'Promiscuous' wasn't mentioned?"

"That's not relevant to the servants. But there are rumors that the lady has been abandoned by her husband, the Marquis of Lucel—now the new Duke of Bottselli."

"Rumors about being abandoned?"

"Yes."

"I see..."

Opal was surprised to hear her reputation from Najja.

She had written something similar in the letter to Claude before leaving the capital, but it seemed the content had leaked.

Moreover, if the information had already reached this manor, it meant either the information was being manipulated or someone in the manor had access to the letter's content.

"If you find it difficult, please let me know. For now, ignore the rumors. Tell the others to do as they please."

"Understood!"

The maids, maidservants, and footmen who accompanied her from the capital were friendly towards Opal.

She needed to be careful so they wouldn't be uncomfortable, but she wanted to observe the situation as much as possible.

(The problem is Duncan's faith...)

She had never heard that the people in this region were particularly devout.

If it was just Duncan's bias, it wouldn't be too difficult.

However, if many of the residents had a bias against new farming tools, she expected a tough battle.

(I need to think of a strategy after the inspection this afternoon...)

She had solved many problems before, but that was because she had many supporters.

The reform in the MacLeod Duke's territory was possible because Omar, the land steward, understood the new farming tools.

Omar was initially resistant due to his guilt over debt and embezzlement, but he gave Opal many valuable suggestions about agriculture.

(That's right. I have experience with land reform. I can definitely do this!)

Trevor, the land steward of the Holloway Earl's estate, had taught her many things from a young age.

She had been putting that knowledge to use for the past eight years.

Opal revised her plans in her head and sat down at her desk to write three letters.

One instructed the farm equipment waiting at the port of Mantes to be transported to the port of Passa in the north of the Bottselli Duke's territory.

Another informed Claude of her safe arrival at the manor and the current situation.

The last one humorously described the situation here to Omar.

Just as she finished writing, Conally informed her that lunch was ready.

"Thank you, I'll be right there."

She had told them that she would have breakfast and lunch in the family breakfast room every day.

She had also mentioned that she would have dinner in the smallest dining room, but she needed to tour the manor and think about various things tomorrow.

(I never thought I'd be inspecting the land first...)

It might be unusual for a lady of the house, but the land needed urgent reform more than the manor.

When she informed Conally of her afternoon plans, he remained expressionless, and she couldn't tell what he was thinking.

But she had more allies than when she was isolated in the MacLeod Duke's household eight years ago.

(It's okay. They're not necessarily enemies yet.)

The late Duke of Bottselli might have been an enemy of Claude—King Alessandro—but the remaining servants must have their own thoughts.

While she would push for the land reform, she resolved to make an effort not to hurt their feelings and left her room for lunch.

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Thank you as always.

Thanks to your support, the second volume of this series, "The Duchess in the Attic 2," will be released on December 10th (Monday).

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