Chapter 16 - The Count's Fief
"Well! Claude, it's been a while!"
"It has. I was thinking I might not see you again this year... I never thought I'd find you at the Count's fief, Duchess."
The day after returning to the estate, her childhood friend, Claude, came to visit. Opal was overjoyed at their reunion after a year, but Claude's smile was somewhat stiff. It was probably only natural to be bewildered when one's childhood friend suddenly became a married woman. Especially since this marriage had no engagement period and the ceremony had been a simple one.
"Stop it, Claude. Call me by my name, just like you always have."
"...So, where is His Grace the Duke?"
"Ah... my husband is in the Royal Capital. This time is... for personal reasons. More importantly, you graduated from university, didn't you, Claude? Congratulations."
"--Somehow. Well, thanks."
Asked about Hubert, Opal awkwardly changed the subject. Claude replied with a wry smile, then began to talk about university life with his usual amusing flair. Still, the atmosphere was different from before, likely because their respective positions had clearly changed. The wife of a Duke, and the third son of a Baron's Family who had just graduated from university. Opal finally realized her true feelings, now of all times.
(I... I was in love with Claude...)
At first, Claude had come to visit as her brother's friend, but Opal had followed him around so persistently that he eventually let her join their group. When Claude went away to boarding school, she had been so lonely she spent days crying. The fact that he came to see her every long holiday was probably because he understood her loneliness. When her mother died, he even missed school to attend the funeral and comforted Opal as she desperately tried not to cry.
She had unconsciously sealed away her own romantic feelings, certain that her father would never permit a match, given Claude's position. And also because Claude himself had once said with a sad look that his own mother, who had married against her family's wishes, was unable to return to her hometown and seemed lonely.
(Well, before it even became a matter of being opposed, to Claude I was probably like a little sister... But if...)
Opal always realized things after it was too late. No matter how much she regretted it, time would not turn back but would continue to move forward, so she too had to move forward. She renewed her resolve to see through what she had decided to do, to persevere to the end even if it meant being abandoned by this precious friend.
"Well, I should be heading back now."
"Thank you, Claude."
"...For what?"
"For coming all this way to see me."
"It's nothing to thank me for. Besides, we might not be able to see each other very often from now on."
"We can't? But once the social season starts--"
"I have no intention of attending such stuffy events. Besides, I doubt they'd welcome the third son of a poor Baron's Family."
"That's not..."
Claude silenced the protesting Opal with a shake of his head. They both knew very well that it was the truth.
"Be happy, Opal."
"...Thank you. You be happy too, Claude."
"I'll try. --See you!"
Leaving behind the same parting words as always, Claude bolted out of the entrance. As if he knew the place by heart, he waved to the watching Opal as he ran toward the stables. Claude's home was less than an hour away by horse. Opal had wanted to ask Claude what he planned to do now, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to say the words. Letting out a deep sigh, Opal returned to the living room, and Trevor entered after a knock.
"Was Lord Claude well?"
"Yes. But it's not the same as it used to be. He seems to be holding back."
"That's to be expected, I suppose. By the way, about the administrator for the duchy..."
"Have you found anyone suitable?"
"It's quite difficult. Since His Grace the Duke hasn't approved Omar's dismissal in the first place, we can't exactly advertise the position widely."
"You're right... For now, I'm borrowing one of your subordinates as Omar's replacement, but the real problem will be when an issue arises."
"In that case, why not just send Omar-san back? Then Trevor-san can just check in on him periodically."
As Opal and Trevor were discussing, Nadia, who had been standing quietly in a corner, interjected with a nonchalant air. While normally not permissible, Opal didn't mind. However, the content of her suggestion was unfortunately not feasible.
"Nadia's idea is a very good one, but it would be impossible to actually implement."
"Why is that?"
"For now, as a temporary measure, I, as the Duchess, am receiving help from Trevor and the others. But Trevor is originally employed by my father, Count Holloway. To have him supervise the affairs of the duchy as well would be a breach of his contract with my father, and my father could be seen as overstepping his authority into another's territory."
"Her Ladyship is correct, Nadia. But thanks to you, I've thought of a good idea."
As Opal explained in a resigned tone, Trevor agreed. However, a smile soon spread across his sun-tanned face as he said something reassuring.
"What kind of idea?"
"Just as Nadia said, let's send Omar back to the duchy. I have reviewed the past ledgers, and it seems that when the previous Duke was alive, Omar managed the fief very well. He has the ability, so it would be a waste not to use him. And then, you should be the one to supervise Omar, my lady."
"Me?"
"Yes. His Grace the Duke seems to have no interest in his fief, so there shouldn't be a problem. You are not overly fond of the Royal Capital either, are you, my lady? The location is different, but how about spending your time relaxing in the duchy?"
"That's true..."
Listening to Trevor's proposal, Opal fell into thought. The scale was vastly different, but she had originally planned to live on the land she would inherit from her grandmother. For that purpose, she had learned how to manage a fief from Trevor. It would be difficult for her to manage it all on her own from the start, but supervising Omar might be possible. Besides, if her plan went as intended, she would inevitably end up living in the duchy.
"I'm not very confident, but it's worth a try... By the way, how is Omar? Is he working properly?"
"Yes. Reluctantly, but he is helping with the farm work without attempting to escape. If he can just quit his bad habit of gambling, he would make a good administrator."
"Then let's positively consider sending Omar back to the duchy. More precisely, a way to prevent his escape."
Opal felt as though she could see a bright future for the duchy, and she ended the conversation with a joke. Now, she just had to get through her uncle's visit tomorrow. While her uncle wasn't opposed, he had yet to give his approval.
The next day, her uncle visited as promised, and the staff of the estate welcomed him joyfully. It was his first visit since her mother's funeral, but since he was her late mother's younger brother, he had often come to play in the old days. His troubled smile as he received the grand welcome reminded Opal of the happiness of the time when her mother was alive.
(If only Mother were still here...)
Noticing her own weakness, Opal clenched her fists tightly and steeled herself. They then moved to the study, and the three-way discussion with Trevor, which was later joined by Omar, was somehow brought to a conclusion.
That evening, she had dinner with her uncle, just the two of them, for the first time in a while, and he told her various stories about foreign countries. In the Taisey Kingdom across the sea, an epidemic had spread a while ago, and even the king had perished. Seizing upon the confusion, a succession dispute had arisen between the late king's illegitimate son and the king's younger brother, and it was developing into a civil war. Although the legitimate heir was the king's younger brother, several influential nobles were backing the illegitimate prince.
"Just as the epidemic has finally subsided, they should have no time for succession disputes."
"Were you alright, Uncle?"
"Ah, by the time the epidemic began to spread, I had already moved on to another country. However, I can't shake the feeling that something is suspicious about whether that prince is the real thing. I have met His Highness the king's younger brother once, and he was a very fine man. That is precisely why he is an obstacle to nobles with their own agendas. The problem is that they have spread a plausible rumor about a tragic love story between the late king and a common woman, and have won over the support of the people, who are exhausted by the disease. At this rate, His Highness's accession to the throne will be in jeopardy."
"But for it to escalate to the point of war..."
"The Taisey Kingdom is rich in resources and is also a technologically advanced nation, so the stakes are high. It's no wonder that greedy men are so desperate, but if it comes to war, it will have a major impact on our country's development as well. If only they could avoid war, at the very least..."
"Is there no way? If only we could find out that the prince is an imposter."
"Now, now, Opal. Nothing is certain yet, and you must not speak like that in public."
"I know. I have grown up, you know. I won't behave as foolishly as I used to."
When Opal said this and deliberately lifted her chin in a pout, her uncle gave a wry smile. He must have realized she was talking about the foolish behavior of the past, the night of that fateful ball.
"You seem just as impulsive as ever, though. But from now on, I intend to settle down in this country, so if anything happens, you can always rely on me."
"Thank you, Uncle. That is very reassuring."
That night, Opal could not fall asleep for a long time after getting into bed. The die was finally cast. And yet, she laughed at herself for realizing that even now, she was holding on to a sliver of hope regarding Hubert's response. The result would be known in a few days. After that, all Opal could do was wait.