Chapter 35 - The Ball
"Claude, not now. You have to be patient."
"That's right, you should learn some patience. You're far too spoiled."
"Claude isn't spoiled at all. He's just… a little needy, that's all."
"I really should have had them change his name."
Opal laughed as the human Claude clutched his head and lamented with theatrical flair. Dog Claude had darted out of the room the moment he sensed Opal, and was now being held back by Joseph, the butler. Thanks to Joseph, both Opal and the human Claude, dressed in their finest for the ball, were saved from being pounced on. A footman, the dog’s handler, rushed over in a flurry, but the human Claude simply gave him a brief warning before leading Opal outside. As they left, Opal noticed Joseph's uniform was ruffled and covered in dog hair. She offered him an apology before climbing into the carriage.
Since returning from the royal castle the day before yesterday, Opal had been so busy she hadn't had time to play with Dog Claude. She had been drilling herself on the intricate relationships of high society, questioning Claude and Joseph to commit everything to memory. The factions among the men were one thing, but the women had their own separate cliques. The social world, for all its surface glamour, was a place of constant backstabbing beneath the surface. One wrong step could lead to a swift and disastrous fall.
Opal glanced from Claude, who sat opposite her, to his mother, the Baroness, who sat beside her. The Baroness had apparently lived a brilliant social life as the daughter of Count Rousel, but after eloping with the Baron, she was disowned by the previous Count and lost contact with her friends. Only recently had she begun to exchange letters with them again. And yet, despite not having seen them in person for decades, the Baroness showed no signs of nervousness. She and the Baron, seated across from her, gazed at each other with serene affection.
They truly are as close as ever, Opal thought. They must have been through so much hardship.
The Baron’s fief, adjacent to Count Holloway’s, was small and not particularly wealthy, yet they had lived modestly without overburdening their people. Opal knew for a fact that they had overcome at least two major famines.
They have always been my ideal of a married couple.
Opal knew that her late mother had loved her father, but he had never paid much attention to his family. She couldn't say he had no love for them, of course, but what good was love if it was never expressed? Just as that proposal from Hubert had been a complete shock to Opal, who had never felt a shred of affection in his words or actions.
"Ah…"
"What is it, Opal?"
"Hm? Oh, it’s… it’s nothing."
Startled by her sudden outburst, Opal found not only Claude but the Baron and Baroness looking at her as well. She blushed and gave her reply. Her in laws seemed satisfied and returned to their private world, but Claude continued to watch her with a skeptical gaze. Still, when Opal offered him a bright smile, he gave up and turned his eyes to the window outside. They must be nearing the royal castle.
It wasn't as if she had done anything wrong, but Opal’s heart was pounding. Doki doki. She had completely forgotten about the letter from Hubert. It seemed her mind had been a bit sluggish lately.
I wonder if this is what it feels like to be swept off one's feet.
For Opal, who had always fought her battles alone, having someone to rely on was incredibly reassuring. And since that person was the man she loved, it was difficult not to feel giddy. But it wasn't in her nature to simply be coddled. She wanted to be a source of strength for Claude.
"We've arrived. Opal, Father, Mother, are you ready?"
"Yes, I’m fine."
"It’s been so long, I’m a bit nervous…"
"Oh, you'll be fine."
Just as they answered Claude’s question, the carriage came to a halt. A signal from outside was followed by the door swinging open. Claude hopped down first and offered Opal his hand. As the Baron disembarked next, followed by his wife, Opal felt the weight of many eyes upon her, but she kept her back straight and her bearing proud.
"Shall we?"
"Yes, thank you."
Opal placed her hand on the arm Claude offered her once more. She kept a smile on her face as she walked into the ballroom. Everything after that was a blur. The moment they entered, they were surrounded, introduced, and scrutinized. But Opal was also discreetly observing everyone around her.
Tonight, she should keep her own personality in check and focus on grasping the social dynamics of this kingdom. Of course, she couldn't learn everything in one night, but this was a perfect opportunity to understand Claude's precise standing and her own current situation. To that end, Opal let Claude do most of the talking, content to simply stand by his side, smile, and remain silent. And while pretending to listen, she strained her ears to catch snippets of conversation from a short distance away.
"I was expecting some legendary beauty to appear, but she’s nothing special, is she."
"But look, just look. All the gentlemen are practically drooling over her, aren't they?"
"Perhaps she has some secret art of seduction that we are unaware of."
"If so, I’d love for her to teach me. She managed to capture Marquis Rousel, after all."
"And Duke McLeod of the Sosylle Kingdom, too."
"Oh, but wasn't she cast aside by the Duke?"
"But I heard she received a considerable fortune in alimony, a very valuable piece of land. Was it Mantest?"
"Yes, that's it! Not just a money tree, but a whole land of money, apparently. They say she's now one of the wealthiest women in the world."
"It’s enough to make one green with envy. I suppose with that much money, one can afford to overlook her other flaws."
Even Opal was surprised by this. It wasn't widely known that the investment in Mantest had been made with her own funds. The rumor must have spread because Hubert had transferred assets to her as payment for his fief at the time of their divorce. Besides, it was unheard of for a woman to invest on her own. It seemed that female independence was not readily accepted in this country either. Opal swallowed a sigh. Just then, the brief spell of giggling ceased, and one woman's cheerful voice cut through the air.
"Well, that almost makes it sound like Marquis Rousel is after her money."
"You might not be entirely wrong. The Marquis was originally the third son of a Baron's Family in the Sosylle Kingdom. He skillfully used the chaos in our country to ingratiate himself with His Majesty and climb to his current position. I hear he’s next in line to be promoted to Duke…"
The topic shifted from Opal to Claude. Just as Opal’s irritation began to mount, the King’s entrance was announced. Everyone curtsied or bowed their heads to welcome King Alessandro. Alessandro then delivered a speech celebrating the opening of a new railway and the engagement of Marquis Rousel, officially declaring the ball open.
First, Alessandro led a young woman, likely his niece the princess, onto the floor to dance. Midway through, Opal and Claude joined them. Opal’s heart danced along with her feet as she was led by Claude in her first dance in a long time. It was also the first time she had ever danced with him at a formal event.
"You look like you're having fun."
"Yes, very much so."
"You seemed angry just a moment ago, though."
"You noticed?"
"Of course. Your smile deepens when you’re angry. So, what were you angry about?"
"…The ladies' gossip. The things they were saying about you were awful."
"Ah, that. You shouldn’t let it bother you."
"Perhaps not, but…"
Opal replied, wondering what he meant by her smile deepening. Claude just laughed and gave a small shake of his head. She wished she could be like him, able to laugh off even the most infuriating things, but she already knew that was impossible for her. Seeing Opal mutter with displeasure, Claude laughed again. With Claude, who knew her personality so well, she could entrust her future without worry. That was why she was able to watch calmly as he left her side to dance the second song with the princess. And now, even as she was subtly separated from the Baroness and surrounded by a circle of ladies, Opal could maintain her smile.