Chapter 55 - The Interview
"Oh! You're Cayve's son! I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you right away."
"N, no... I look like my mother, so it can't be helped. Though she passed away ten years ago, so I only know that from what people tell me. My father often said that if she were alive, she would have made your stay at the ducal estate much more comfortable."
"Is that so... But Cayve was very kind to me even on his own. It's a shame I couldn't thank him properly in the end, but did my letter of thanks reach him safely?"
"Yes. My father was so moved he cried. But he was disappointed he couldn't write a reply. He can read, you see, but he can't write..."
At the mention of Cayve, Duke McLeod's coachman, Opal stepped out from behind Claude in delight and took Alan's hands. Cayve had been the only servant who had treated her with kindness when she had been all alone in the ducal household. She remembered him once saying, 'I'm thinking of sending my son out to work soon,' and that had prompted her to arrange for the servants to receive an education. As Opal delighted in the fond memory, Claude's chilly voice cut in.
"Opal, reminiscing is fine, but what about our purpose for coming here?"
"Oh, that's right."
"W, w, wait a moment, please!"
Opal, who had completely forgotten her objective, was about to ask for a correction to the article at Claude's prompting. This time, however, it was the editor-in-chief who cried out in a fluster.
"By Opal-sama, do you mean that Opal-sama?! The, the Opal Holloway, the former Duchess of McLeod from last night's incident?!"
"That is correct. Or so I would like to say, but there are a few errors, so I came here today to request a correction."
"The, the real one... the real Opal Holloway, former Duchess of McLeod..."
"No, as I was saying..."
"She's the real deal! It's a scoop!"
Ignoring Opal's words, the editor-in-chief's shout sent the department into an uproar. Everyone stood up and started to rush toward Opal, but Claude's stern voice rang out.
"Quiet!"
His voice was not particularly loud, but everyone froze in place. Once the room was quiet again, he continued slowly.
"I appreciate the welcome, but if everyone moves at once in this cramped room, someone will get hurt. Would you please calm down?"
"M, my apologies, Lord Fred. I got a little carried away... Hey, all of you, back to your seats."
Claude's calm words, which carried no hint of anger, seemed to have a sobering effect on everyone. When the editor-in-chief shooed them away, they obediently returned to their seats. But they were still curious, stealing glances at Opal while pretending to resume their work.
"I'm sorry for the commotion. I read this morning's paper with great interest. I'm especially grateful for the favorable way you wrote about my disturbance last night."
"Favorable? It was just the facts!"
"...I won't ask where you got your information about last night. I just want you to issue a correction, because that article is not accurate."
"What did you say?!"
When Opal thanked him for the article, Alan's face lit up as he replied. However, when she mentioned a correction, it was the editor-in-chief who was surprised, while Alan wore a guilty expression. He had likely known about her remarriage.
"What I want corrected is my name. I have remarried the Marquis Rousel of Taisey Kingdom, which makes me Marchioness Rousel, Opal Fred."
"Huh... Marquis Rousel?"
Once again, it was the editor-in-chief who reacted. He knew of Claude Fred, but not of Marquis Rousel. And while Alan knew of Marquis Rousel, he apparently did not know his true identity.
"What? This man is Marquis Rousel? But I thought Marquis Rousel was a decrepit old..."
"You thought he was an old man?"
Claude finished Alan's faltering words. Alan's expression grew even more awkward, and Claude burst out laughing.
"Did you perhaps omit the fact of her remarriage so as not to damage Opal's reputation?"
"Well, that is... yes."
Alan nodded at Claude's correction. Opal tilted her head, not quite understanding.
"If it got out that she remarried a rich, decrepit old man right after receiving alimony from her divorce with Duke McLeod, the public might not take it well."
"Ah, I see."
Opal did not care about her reputation, but if it affected donations and support for her charitable organization, then a good reputation was better. Realizing this, Opal gave Alan a grateful smile.
"Thank you, Alan. You were thinking of the charity."
"Huh? No, well..."
"But I am not doing anything shameful, in fact, I am quite proud. So would you please issue a correction?"
"...Yes."
"No, no, no, wait just a moment!"
Just as Opal and Alan came to an agreement, the editor-in-chief's voice cut in. He physically inserted himself between the two of them as well.
"Is there some problem?"
"No, not a problem, a question! You mean to say Lord Fred is Marquis Rousel?! From Taisey Kingdom?!"
"I was graciously granted the title of Marquis recently."
"The rank of nobility doesn't matter right now. What is the connection between Lord Fred and the Rousel family?!"
As he fired off questions, the editor-in-chief grabbed a random piece of paper and a pen from a nearby desk. The other staff members thought to themselves, 'The rank of nobility certainly does matter,' but held their tongues, waiting for Claude's reply. Claude glanced at Opal and grinned before turning his gaze back to the editor-in-chief.
"I'll tell you. But I'll be charging an interview fee."
"Y, yes. Of course, we will pay the standard rate."
"In that case, I'll take ten times that amount."
"That's outrageous!"
"Oh, I think it's worth that much. My husband, Marquis Rousel, is shrouded in mystery here in Sosylle Kingdom. So much so that rumors of him being a decrepit old man have been circulating. And though he finally showed himself last night, most people still don't know his true identity. So I'm sure it will be a huge scoop."
"A huge scoop..."
When Opal, understanding Claude's intention, added her part, the editor-in-chief seemed captivated. Claude then pressed his advantage.
"Donate my entire interview fee to the charitable organization Opal founded. In this newspaper's name."
"...And we can publicize that?"
"Of course. I'll speak to the owner myself."
"Please do! In that case, let's move to a separate room. You too, Alan."
"Y, yes!"
The editor-in-chief headed for a small room, his steps so light he looked as if he might start dancing at any moment. Opal and Claude followed him, and Alan hurried back to his desk to grab his writing tools. The interview did not take long. But the next morning's newspaper featured the dramatic romance of Opal and Claude, capturing the hearts of the people, especially the women.