Chapter 69

"It seems to have gone well."

"Thank you, Julian. So, why are you still here?"

Opal, after overseeing the unloading of the agricultural machinery that had arrived, was also able to meet with the two personal subordinates sent by Omar. Then, she set out for the lead mine, but for some reason, Julian was also accompanying her.

When she voiced her question, Julian smiled.

"Mr. Connelly was worried about you. He probably thought you would feel safer with me, as I have visited Port Passma several times."

"Yes, that is very considerate. But now we are heading to the mine. Shouldn't you return to Connelly?"

"But the miners are rough, and the mine is dangerous. Mr. Connelly is worried about that."

"Connelly? Even so, I doubt you can handle it."

"Do you think so poorly of me, madam?"

"Yes. I have no idea what you've been doing all this time."

While serving dinner at an inn during the journey, Julian pressed his hand to his chest and sighed.

His pretense of being hurt by Opal's words was too obvious.

Throughout the trip, Opal and Julian had been constantly interacting like this, leading Najja to mistakenly believe they were close.

As a result, Najja, who had been persuaded by Julian, was now preparing the dress Opal would wear the next day in the adjacent room.

"I should have brought another person...”

Opal had not brought any other female servants for this inspection, placing the burden solely on Najja.

Although there had been no reports of bandits, the journey to the mine was considered dangerous, so she had increased the number of guards and decided to bring as few women as possible to avoid hindering the trip.

Opal's luggage was surprisingly minimal for a noblewoman, and she had brought only a few dresses.

Opal thought it would be fine to wear the same dress every day, but Najja would not allow it.

She ingeniously changed Opal's outfit every day.

"She is a very good maid..."

"She is my pride. I won't allow anyone to lay a hand on her."

Julian, who had been drawn to look at the adjacent room by Opal, muttered as if he couldn't help it.

Opal, hearing this, responded as if it were obvious but quickly warned him sternly.

During this trip, Najja and Julian had become quite close.

"Please rest assured. I am fully aware of my position."

"---That's good."

Opal did not miss the mocking smile on Julian's face as he bowed deeply.

Julian often showed this smile, even before.

But Opal continued her meal without saying anything.

They would arrive at the town at the foot of the mine the next day.

There, it seemed, was a mansion owned by the Botselli family, where there should be more proper servants.

Opal told herself to endure until then.

The next day.

When Opal entered the town, she was taken aback by the difference from Mantes.

Of course, she understood that Mantes was a much more comfortable place to work.

She had worked hard as a manager to make it so.

"It's kind of scary..."

Najja, who was looking out the carriage window with Opal, muttered.

The men were probably out working.

In the town, only women, children, and the elderly remained, and they looked at the carriage Opal was in with resentment.

They all looked emaciated.

"This is going to be tough."

Opal said this jokingly, but she was actually a little scared.

However, she remembered how she felt when she first stepped into the McLaud family.

At that time, she really wanted to run away.

But her stubborn and obstinate nature had prevented her from doing so.

Now, she had to fight, not out of stubbornness but out of necessity.

Determined not to lose, Opal felt dizzy when she saw the mansion that seemed to belong to the ducal family.

"Wow..."

She could understand why Najja, who had let out a voice of exhaustion, felt that way.

The mansion, standing on a small hill overlooking the poor town, looked like a nobleman's residence in the capital.

The man who greeted Opal upon her arrival was a plump man named Cole.

"Welcome, Duchess Botselli. I am in charge of managing this town, including the Reed mine. My name is Cole."

"Cole, I will be staying for a while, so please take care of me."

Cole, dressed in fine clothing, bowed respectfully.

The servants standing behind him also looked well-fed and well-groomed, unlike the people in the town.

Seeing such a stark contrast up close, it was no wonder the people of the ducal family were resented.

Cole began to talk to Opal as she entered the mansion.

His talk was all about how well he managed the land, how he managed to run the mine without a deficit despite the low production—essentially, boasting about himself.

"---The people who work in this mansion don't seem to be from this area. It seems they moved here when the mansion was built about ten years ago."

"Of course, that's what I expected."

Najja, who had been sitting with Cole during dinner and had been listening to his boasting, told Opal the information she had gathered.

Sighing at the expected content, Opal thought that even if the people in the town eventually had a better life, it would be impossible for them to get along with the people in the mansion who had been living comfortably.

She thought she needed to solve this problem but was too tired and fell asleep as soon as she got into bed.

The next morning.

When she asked for a guide to the mine, Cole, who had been so friendly, refused.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot take you to the mountain."

"Why not?"

"Of course, it's dangerous."

"Oh, don't worry. I have been in the mines many times before and am used to it. I will go for an inspection. If not today, then tomorrow. If you can't, send someone else."

She smiled confidently and left no room for argument.

She continued,

"Also, I would like to see the records of the mine's production and export destinations. Can you prepare them for me? I will go to the study later."

"R-records?"

"Yes. If they are properly managed, there should be records. You are busy, so you don't have to sit with me. I might have questions later, though."

"---Understood."

Cole reluctantly agreed, and Opal, satisfied, stood up.

She returned to her room to tidy up and then went to the study.

When she entered, Cole had already stacked several documents on the desk.

"These are the records from the past five years. I will arrange for your inspection of the mine and be away for a while. If you have any questions, please ask later."

"Thank you, Cole. I appreciate it."

As Opal smiled in gratitude, Cole bowed and left the study.

Opal then immersed herself in reading the documents.

As Cole had boasted, the documents were well-organized.

However, Opal felt something was off.

If she had to put it into words, the numbers were too clean.

As she stood up to look for other documents in the bookshelf, a knock sounded.

"I have brought tea."

"Thank you. Can you put it there?"

Without looking up from the documents she was reading, Opal answered. After a while, she suddenly felt someone behind her.

Just as she turned in surprise, she received a strong blow to her shoulder.

Opal couldn't even scream and lost consciousness.