Chapter 30 - The Engagement Period
Three days after their arrival at Claude’s residence in the Royal Capital of Taisey Kingdom, life had finally settled down for Opal and Claude's family. Opal was enjoying afternoon tea with Claude. With their wedding just a few days away, they were permitted to spend time alone together in the residence. With Claude, Opal never ran out of things to say, but for some reason, a sudden silence fell between them. Then, Claude spoke her name quietly.
"...Opal."
"What is it, Claude?"
She knew that when Claude spoke like this, it was about something important, so Opal placed the cup she was holding back on the table. Claude then continued, looking as though it was difficult to say.
"You’ve accepted my proposal and I’ve brought you to this country. It might be cowardly of me to say this now, but..."
"—Are you about to tell me there’s a chance we’ll run into a past lover or mistress of yours?"
"Of course not! I would never do something so dishonest!"
"Then what’s the problem?"
Opal asked with a smile, though inwardly she was relieved. She herself had been married until about a year ago, but she really didn't want to come face to face with any of Claude's past women. Compared to that, she could handle anything else. Well, if he told her "I can’t marry you after all," she would probably fall into despair.
"Actually... wait, why do you jump to past lovers and mistresses... You don’t think I have a current one?"
"If you had a current one, you absolutely would not have proposed to me. For the record, I’m not worried about you cheating, either."
"...I’m glad you trust me."
"I do. Because with you, it wouldn't be cheating, it would be real, wouldn’t it? If that happened, you would tell me honestly. That you’d found someone else."
"When you say things like that with a smile, I don’t know whether to be happy or sad."
"Oh, I just didn’t say it because I didn’t want to burden you, but honestly, if that were to happen, I would be devastated. That’s why I’ll keep trying my best not to be abandoned by you. But maybe this stubborn side of me isn’t very cute."
Opal considered her strong will to be a virtue, but there were times she yearned to be a more delicate woman. Her final words came out as a sigh-filled grumble. Claude stared at her in surprise.
"...Did I say something that strange?"
"No... It’s just, I never imagined you thought about yourself that way, that you worried about not being cute."
"Eh? People don’t normally think of themselves as cute, do they?"
"That’s not entirely true. I think it's quite common among women."
"Well, it’s common among men, too. But those are conceited people, and I wouldn’t call them normal."
"You’re as harsh as ever."
Opal replied with a prim little sniff, then regretted that her words had once again come out sounding uncharming. But this, too, was because she had realized Claude must have had a fair amount of experience with women. Come to think of it, Opal didn't know much about the Claude who had gone away to boarding school. She was suddenly aware that for the eight years they hadn't seen each other, she knew almost nothing of what he had been doing in this country beyond rumors.
"...Don’t tell me some circumstance has come up and you can’t get married?"
"That’s not it! Even if such a circumstance arose, I would marry you, Opal. I’m done being pushed around by things I don't understand."
"I see... In that case, what is it?"
After Claude had gone that far for her, she really should have said a word or two about how happy she was, but now she was too shy to say it. It had never bothered her before, but she found herself unaccustomed to this part of herself that wanted Claude to think she was cute. But looking at Claude, she suspected he could see right through it all. That thought made her vexed all over again, causing her to put up her guard. It was a vicious cycle.
"The truth is, it’s about me. I’m not very well accepted in the social circles of Taisey Kingdom."
"Oh, what a coincidence. The same is true for me in my home country of Sosylle Kingdom."
"This isn’t a laughing matter."
"But you’re laughing, Claude."
Claude's confession was so anticlimactic that it was hardly a big deal to Opal. When she replied in kind, Claude laughed and complained.
"I can’t help it. You make me laugh. You really are you, Opal."
"Of course I am. So, you’re a Marquis, and you're about to be elevated to a Dukedom, yet you’re not accepted? That’s strange. If I recall, the Rousel Earl three generations ago married a daughter of the Boccelli Ducal family, didn't he? From a bloodline perspective, I don't think it’s strange for you to be granted the former Boccelli Duchy."
"Well, the Rousel family is of distinguished lineage, and we are related to the Boccelli Ducal family by blood. But some look down on my origins. As a foreigner. Of course, no one says it to my face, and everyone is polite in person, but they say all sorts of things behind my back."
"Well, what a coincidence. They say all sorts of things about me behind my back, too."
When Opal replied just as she had before, this time Claude laughed out loud. Opal shot him a theatrical glare, but soon she was laughing along with him. Once they had both laughed their fill and settled down, Claude spoke with a happy expression.
"I knew it. You’re the only one for me."
"Wh, what... Saying things like that won’t get you anywhere."
"But you’ll still marry me, right?"
"Of course. It's a promise."
"Even though you might have a hard time in high society?"
"I won’t have a hard time. You have nothing to be ashamed of, Claude. On the contrary, you’re a hero. It’s something to be proud of."
"...Thank you, Opal."
Claude’s gentle smile and words of thanks were so handsome that Opal reflexively looked away again. Still, words of self-consciousness tumbled from her lips.
"This country has a developed railway network and all sorts of cutting-edge technology, yet its way of thinking is so old-fashioned. It’s unexpected."
"The ones with the old-fashioned ideas are the people in society, the so-called upper class. They don't like that commoners with new ideas are getting richer and richer. The civil war eight years ago was instigated by conservative nobles, led by the Boccelli Ducal family, who couldn't agree with His Majesty’s vision of a country where everyone could live comfortably. Right now, reformers like me are entrusted with important positions, but among those who chose to sit on the fence, the so-called moderates, many are actually conservatives. The fact that I’m called a hero is just for popular appeal. It’s easier to sway the public when there's an easy-to-understand symbol of justice, don’t you think?"
"...The way you put it, it sounds like you’re being used. Are you okay with that, Claude?"
"I thought I was fine with it. But if you don't like it, Opal, I’ll withdraw to our fief and focus on its administration."
He said it jokingly, but Opal could tell he was serious. He had no intention of abandoning the people, but he probably didn’t care about the power struggles in the royal palace. But to achieve his true ideals, power was necessary. Claude surely understood that well enough, yet he was taking her feelings into account. In that case, Opal wanted to respond in kind.
"Claude, the thing I hate most is running away. A strategic retreat is one thing, but I refuse to flee without a fight. So, I will fight. With you."
"..."
"...Claude?"
She thought it might have been a bit cheesy, but she meant to convey her honest feelings. Yet Claude remained silent. Feeling embarrassed, she called his name, and Claude seemed to snap out of it in a hurry.
"Eh? Oh, ah, sorry. You were just so cool, I was mesmerized."
"...Are you teasing me?"
"I’m serious. It’s just that... I’m a little, no, I’m very relieved."
The look on Claude’s face as he exhaled was one of genuine, heartfelt relief. Opal was worried that her status as a divorced woman would damage Claude's reputation, but Claude was solely concerned for her. Because of that, she had been prepared to fight for his sake, but the next thing Claude told her made her flinch.
"Well then, I’m sorry to ask, but would you fight alongside me tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?"
"Actually, I’m scheduled to go to the royal palace tomorrow to report our marriage. So let’s report to His Majesty together."
"T, tomorrow? To His Majesty? ...Why didn't you tell me that sooner!?"
"If I told you sooner, I knew you would say you’d go with me, right? But I didn't want to force you. His Majesty isn’t one to fuss over details, so he wouldn’t mind if you didn’t make a public appearance. You don’t have to engage in tiresome socializing if you don’t want to."
Claude was still being considerate of her. It was true that Opal found society tedious and hated it, but for Claude’s sake, she could endure anything. But not wanting even that feeling to become a burden to him, Opal put on a prim expression again and declared clearly.
"I’ll take that as a challenge to me. Once I marry you, Claude, I’ll turn tiresome socializing into something fun. And I will rule over the high society of Taisey Kingdom."
"Spoken like the Opal I know. I’m counting on you."
At Opal’s characteristically bold declaration, Claude’s eyes widened for a moment before he quickly replied with a smile. And so, the curtain rose on Opal's new battle.