Chapter 81

"Well, shall we go for a night walk after a long time?"

"How many years has it been? It's been over ten years since we snuck out of the mansion at night, right?"

"Don't think too seriously about it."

"It's just that I'm worried if my body can still move like it used to."

"Princess, I think it's better not to mention our ages, don't you think?"

"You're right."

Opal giggled and took Claude's hand.

This time, we can go together.

Thinking about it, Opal's spirits soared, forgetting the situation.

She remembered how, when they were still children, they had sneaked out of the earl's manor many times at night.

Back then, they thought it was their secret, but Trevor had clearly known about it.

But now, she was confident that Conally wouldn't find out.

Because Claude had done the necessary preparations.

He had come to pick her up at the same time as before, even though it was in enemy territory.

Claude, straddling the window frame, held Opal's hand and pointed the way with his other hand.

"Follow this path, move to that tree, and climb down. Can you do it?"

"Of course. I've been thinking that tree looks easy to climb down for a while now."

"Then, please go ahead."

Normally, a man might lead the way, but Claude knew that Opal wanted to go first.

Opal smiled happily and boldly climbed over the window frame.

"Your skirt will ride up."

"I'm wearing pants underneath, so it's fine."

When she replied in a whisper to Claude's whisper, she heard a choking sound.

Glancing back, she saw Claude trying to suppress his laughter.

Opal skillfully maintained her balance, holding up one finger to signal silence.

It seemed she was remembering their childhood.

Thinking about it, it had been nearly twenty years, and they were now a duke and duchess, yet here they were.

Still, she managed to suppress her laughter and somehow made her way down the wall to a large tree that was easy to climb down, and she slid down easily.

Claude seemed to be ready to help if needed, but it wasn't necessary, and they both landed safely on the ground.

"This way."

Opal took the hand Claude offered and followed silently.

However, after they had walked a short distance from the mansion, she turned back.

"Is something wrong?"

"There's no one following us."

"Oops! Maybe I didn't put on a good enough act? —Ouch!"

Opal kicked Claude's foot, pretending to have failed.

She was done with the role of a princess who only needed to be rescued.

While thinking about how many of the duke's people were pretending to be anti-royalists, Opal walked alongside Claude, who was complaining.

"Milady! Lady Opal!"

"Najya!"

After leaving the mansion grounds and entering the hunting forest, they reached a guardhouse where Najya rushed to embrace Opal.

Opal happily returned the embrace.

"Najya... I'm glad you're safe."

"I'm glad too. When I was separated from you, I was so worried... I tried to go back a few times, but the soldier holding me said, 'If I don't behave, you'll be in trouble.' I thought it was a threat, so I kicked him as hard as I could."

Najya checked Opal's body as if to confirm she was safe, then glanced at a man in rebel uniform.

The man, who had been the soldier who had restrained Najya at the inn, smiled wryly.

Opal couldn't help but laugh, knowing Najya's strong personality, but Najya puffed out her cheeks.

"This isn't something to laugh about!"

"I'm sorry, Najya. But in the rebel camp, only Julian knew how much I cared for you. That's why he separated us. He thought it would be easier for me to escape if the attention was on me alone."

"Then, when Julian finds out we escaped, he'll be in trouble with Conally!"

"Yes, that's right. It serves him right."

Opal said this with a mischievous tone, and Claude chuckled.

Then, Claude pulled Opal away from Najya as if claiming her.

"Well, can I have my wife back now? It's been a long time since we've seen each other."

"Of course!"

Najya nodded with a bright smile at Claude's words.

But Opal looked up at Claude with a glare.

"There are a few things I need you to explain."

"Is tomorrow too late?"

"It should be done by tomorrow, right? We have plenty of time until morning. So, before then, please."

"Alright, I understand."

Claude agreed with a resigned tone, and Opal smiled.

Then, she turned to Najya.

"Najya, we don't have much time until morning, so please get some rest."

"O-Okay..."

Seeing the contradiction in Opal's words and Claude's desperate expression, Najya left the room, trying to suppress her laughter.

The guardhouse seemed to have several rooms, as if it were built for a family.

"Claude, we're this way."

"Isn't it nice?"

"Indeed."

They nodded to the soldiers who were likely to sleep on the floor, then Claude and Opal headed to a different door from Najya.

It seemed to be a storage room, but there was a ladder leading to the attic.

Clearly, it led to a space that couldn't really be called a room.

Opal giggled and climbed the ladder first, and indeed, it was an attic used as storage.

However, it was clean, and there were several comfortable feather quilts and cushions.

"It's like a secret hideout."

"Exactly. So, let's start the... what number is it? Anyway, let's start the strategy meeting."

"Understood!"

Opal mimicked a salute, just like in their childhood, and Claude's words continued as if it were a natural progression.

Then, they laughed together, trying to keep their voices down.