Chapter 31 - The Royal Castle
The next day. The journey from Marquis Rousel's residence to the royal castle by carriage did not take very long. Of course, Opal had noticed the castle's proximity soon after arriving at the house, but what surprised her was that they proceeded to the carriage porch at the front of the castle without stopping even once. This alone offered a glimpse into Claude's standing within the castle walls.
"...You know, it's a bit late to ask, but what is your position at the castle, Claude?"
"Ah, that's right. I haven't explained it yet. I'm a secretary."
"That doesn't happen to be the King's Private Secretary, does it?"
"I offered my resignation, since I'll be leaving His Majesty's side for a time... but it's been put on hold, so I imagine I'll be reinstated."
"Are the people in this country's high society all fools? To not accept the King's Private Secretary..."
"On the surface, they're very amicable. In fact, they practically fawn over me. But it seems they say whatever they please behind my back. So, Opal... if someone tells you something you don't recognize as a custom of this country, just ignore it. It's a new custom created solely to exclude foreigners."
"If that's the case, leave it to me."
When Opal answered with her chest puffed out, Claude laughed with amusement. His smile gave her courage.
(That's right. There are plenty of women who are frail, or who appear frail, but Claude chose me.)
Opal's strong will hadn't changed since she was a child. Since he had told her he loved that part of her and proposed, all she had to do was trust him. With that thought, Opal's anxiety melted away.
"Well then, before I go into battle, could you tell me who you wouldn't want to make an enemy of?"
"Oh, that's easy. The only person I wouldn't want to make an enemy of is you, Opal."
"Claude... I'm being serious."
"Yes. And I'm answering you seriously."
Opal glared at the joking Claude. But he just kept smiling. In the end, Opal suppressed the laughter that was welling up more than her anger and pressed on in a serious tone.
"But surely you can't make an enemy of His Majesty, can you?"
"It's the other way around, Opal. His Majesty wouldn't want to make an enemy of me."
"...That's quite a bold statement. If anyone heard you, you could be charged with treason."
"His Majesty would just laugh and say it's the truth."
Opal stared at Claude's face, still smiling as ever, and let out a deep sigh. He might be brushing it off with a joke, but there was surely something more to it. In the last eight years, Opal felt she had grown through her own struggles, but Claude must have grown even more. He probably just wasn't saying it, but he may have even had some life or death encounters. Thinking about it made Opal anxious again. She wondered if this marriage was truly the right decision. If there might be a woman in this country who could be a better source of support for Claude.
Her thoughts came to a halt, and Opal caught her breath. She had just found her confidence, so why was she being so timid now? If Claude needed support, she just had to become it. Opal might be a newcomer in this country, but she had knowledge, experience, and wealth. She was no longer the little girl who sulked about her circumstances and shut herself away in the attic. Her emotional instability was due to nervousness. Anyone would be unsettled at the prospect of an audience with the king of this country.
"...Claude."
"Yes, are you all right?"
"I'm nervous, but I'm fine. It's just that you might regret choosing me."
"I won't."
"Then I'll make you regret it. You'll wonder why you ever took such a strong, willful woman for a wife."
"I'm looking forward to that."
This time, Claude laughed out loud, and people passing by turned in surprise. They had already been attracting attention, but now they were being stared at without reservation. Yet Opal, despite having been secluded in the countryside for a while, was used to being the object of people's gazes, so it didn't bother her. She didn't even mind if those gazes were malicious. Claude, too, seemed unconcerned, standing tall and dignified. What's more, her accompanying maid, Nadia, showed no fear, walking a little behind them while looking around with curiosity.
"Thank you for coming with me, Nadia."
"It is I who should be thanking you, my lady! To think you would bring me to such a wonderful place!"
As always, Nadia maintained her own pace, and Opal smiled in reply before turning forward again. For the past few years, Nadia had apparently been working as a lady's maid apprentice for a certain marquis family, through a connection of Opal's father, Count Holloway. She had done so because she was determined to become a fine maid and stand by Opal's side, knowing Opal had no allies in her former husband's household, the Duke McLeod's. When Opal heard this from Marcia, the housekeeper at the Holloway estate, she was deeply moved and asked Nadia to accompany her for her new marriage.
Opal might have many enemies in this country as well. Still, she had two powerful allies right beside her. Her confidence fully restored, Opal smiled at the people who were staring at her as if she were some rare curiosity.
"Opal, please don't spread your charm around so much. I feel like I'm going to go mad with jealousy."
"Don't you trust me?"
"This isn't an Opal problem, it's my problem. I trust you, but I can't interfere with the hearts of the men who will fall for you, can I? But I can't forgive the thought of you existing in another man's heart."
"I feel the same way. I would be jealous just knowing you existed in the heart of another woman."
"And I'm jealous of the both of you!"
Nadia unabashedly cut in to stop the couple's exchange, which was frankly nothing more than flirtatious banter. It was impertinent for a servant, but neither Opal nor Claude minded and just laughed. Just then, they seemed to have arrived at their destination. Claude stopped, knocked, and then opened the door without waiting for a response.
"I'm sure word of our arrival has reached His Majesty, so we'll be summoned shortly. Let's relax and wait here until then."
After a quick check of the room, Claude gestured for Opal to enter first. Nadia followed her hesitantly, and Claude closed the door behind them as he spoke. Then, he rang a small bell. A young woman in what appeared to be the uniform of a royal castle maid appeared instantly, and Claude asked her to prepare some tea. His polite request, rather than a command, was so like him that it made Opal happy. No matter his position, Claude was still the same.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, it's nothing."
"Oh?"
Claude must have found Opal's smile strange, because he asked her what was on her mind. Opal didn't think she could properly explain this warm feeling, so she gave a noncommittal reply, and Claude didn't press her further. A knock echoed through the room. When Claude responded, a man's voice answered. He seemed to be a friend. Claude quickly opened the door and invited him into the room.
"Opal, I'm sorry for the short notice, but I'd like to introduce a friend of mine. This is Eric Baphot. He's Baron Prado. Eric, this is my fiancée and soon to be wife, Opal. Though, I've talked about her so much that an introduction is hardly necessary."
"Yes, that's true. I've heard more than enough, to the point of being sick of it."
As Opal stood to greet the man, Claude made the introduction. The man, Eric, seemed very friendly with Claude, but Opal sensed it immediately. He held animosity toward her.