Chapter 75

“Hello, hello. It’s a relief to see you looking well, Duchess.”

“I’m glad if I look well.”

“Oh, it seems your mood isn’t so good.”

“Can I be in a good mood when I’m locked up in a place like this?”

“Indeed, such a place must be too cramped for a duchess, but please bear with it for a while.”

Opal, who was standing in the attic, answered Cole’s greeting with a look of extreme discomfort. Cole, having received her response, was in high spirits, and Julian, standing behind him, was also smiling. It had been over ten days since Opal was locked up, and they had been expecting some kind of movement.

“It’s good news, or perhaps bad news for the duchess.”

Cole was so delighted that his large body seemed ready to dance. Opal, however, did not smile and waited, but Cole did not seem to mind.

“The capricious duchess, unable to endure the rustic Bozzelli duchy, fled with a man in search of excitement, so they say. But it seems no one is particularly surprised.”

“That rumor is nothing new. Claude... the duke wouldn’t believe it.”

Opal lifted her chin defiantly. Both Cole and Julian smirked at her show of defiance, while Najja looked worriedly at Opal.

“As for the duke, he has disappeared under mysterious circumstances.”

“No way!”

Unlike her previous attitude, Opal was shocked, stood up, and strongly denied Cole’s words. Her face was pale, and her hands were trembling. Cole, with a seemingly sympathetic expression, shook his head.

“No, unfortunately, it’s true. Some say he couldn’t bear the duchess’s infidelity and went missing, others that he went to the Kingdom of Sosie to search for her, but according to reliable sources, he was attacked by bandits on his way back to the capital and lost his life.”

He paused and glanced at Opal, who covered her mouth with both hands, as if trying to suppress a scream.

“Of course, this information is being kept secret. For Alessandro, losing Luciel would be a significant blow. If the nobles found out, Alessandro would lose even the neutral factions.”

“What... What are you talking about? The neutral factions shouldn’t matter anymore.”

“Was the duchess deceived by Luciel to come to this country? After all, the duchess’s wealth is immense. For Alessandro, more funds are better to oppose us.”

Opal shook her head repeatedly, as if she didn’t want to believe it, and sat down on the bed, looking exhausted. Najja knelt at Opal’s feet and held her hand, as if to comfort her.

“Thank you, Najja.”

“Oh, oh, this must be hard for the duchess. Spending time in such a place must be very stressful. Depending on the conditions, I could let you out of this room.”

“... Conditions?”

“It’s nothing much. I just need you to write a letter.”

“Again? To whom this time?”

“Of course, not to Luciel. It’s pointless to write to heaven. I want you to write to your father, the Earl of Holloway, and your ex-husband, the Duke of MacLaud.”

“Claude—Duke Bozzelli is alive. If you need funds, just contact my trustee. There’s no need to write to those two, who are just business partners.”

Opal tried to regain her composure and act strong, but to Cole, it probably looked like she was putting on a brave face. In fact, if Claude hadn’t appeared in the attic about ten days ago, she might have really lost her composure out of worry. That’s why Claude had risked showing himself.

“Indeed, funds are needed, but more importantly, we need to prevent the Kingdom of Sosie from interfering. The Duke of MacLaud’s influence in the Sosie royal court has grown recently. And you know the influence of the Earl of Holloway, don’t you?”

“... So, what do you want me to write?”

“The two of them—especially the Duke of MacLaud—owe Alessandro a favor. If the issue of the Mantes development four years ago is brought up, the Duke of MacLaud will act in Alessandro’s favor within the Kingdom of Sosie. Therefore, I want you to write that they should ignore Alessandro’s requests.”

“Will the Duke of MacLaud listen to my request? We are business partners, but we are now strangers.”

Opal shrugged, as if the idea was absurd. Julian, who had been silent, spoke up.

“You should beg for your life. There are rumors that the Duke of MacLaud still has feelings for you. That’s why the marriage talks with the daughter of the Earl of Ruffon fell through. He will surely be happy to provide money.”

“... What a ridiculous idea. I’m supposed to have run away with you, right? And you think the Duke of MacLaud will act on that? Besides, my father—the Earl of Holloway—wouldn’t move just for his daughter if there’s no profit in it.”

Opal glared at Julian as she asked. Julian, undeterred by her gaze, shrugged like Opal.

“Unfortunately, our elopement failed. Let’s say we were captured by the anti-king faction around Passma Port.”

“So, if you can stop the Kingdom of Sosie’s actions, I’ll be of no use to you?”

“You’re as cunning as ever. But don’t worry, we still need to extract money from you. Don’t worry about your life.”

“Life...”

Cole seemed unable to interject in the argument between Opal and Julian, but he interrupted with a loud laugh.

“Indeed, Julian, you are as capable as Lord Conary expected. You have both courage and intelligence. —Well, can you prepare the letters I mentioned by this evening?”

“Do I have to write them?”

“We have more than just your life in our hands.”

With a lecherous smile, Cole glanced at Najja, who glared back.

“Indeed, a strong-willed mistress makes her maids similar.”

Muttering to himself, Cole laughed loudly and left the attic. As he followed, Julian paused with his hand on the door.

“Hurry. The anti-king faction will rise up in the capital tomorrow. We need to get your petition to MacLaud and the others before that news reaches them.”

Najja let out a small scream at Julian’s words, but Opal stared at him and smiled faintly.