Chapter 59 - The Welcome
By the time the ship arrived at the port in Taisey Kingdom, the sun was beginning to set behind the mountains. Despite this, the port was bustling with a great number of people.
"Is there a festival at the port today? For there to be so many people when it's almost night."
"No, this isn't a festival. It's a welcome party."
"A welcome party?"
Claude answered the question Nadia murmured as she looked down at the port from the deck. Hearing this, Opal tilted her head in confusion. She hadn't noticed, but perhaps there was a celebrity on board. She glanced around restlessly.
"Opal, they're here to welcome us."
"Pardon?"
"Word must have gotten out in Taisey Kingdom about what a wonderful couple you are!"
The last time she had landed in Taisey Kingdom for her marriage to Claude, she had attracted no particular attention. For that reason, Opal did not think for a moment that the reception was for her, and it took some time for her to grasp its meaning. Nadia, however, nodded as if it were only natural and puffed out her chest with pride. Opal smiled at her and began to descend the gangway.
"That's right, Claude. I'd forgotten you were so popular."
"That doesn't mean people would gather just to see my face. They're likely all here for you, Opal."
"Me? You mean they came to see the bride of Marquis Rousel?"
"They're welcoming Opal, the businesswoman who cornered an enemy of women and now supports those in unfortunate circumstances."
The faces of the people gradually coming into view were mostly filled with curiosity, but they seemed friendly enough. Even after Opal and her party set foot on land, the crowd was held back by port security and guards hired by Claude, unable to get too close. Still, Opal waved to everyone with her now familiar public smile.
"So this is how they knew we were arriving?"
"I believe so."
When Opal arrived at the station and saw the private train, the mystery of the reception at the port was solved. A train was the fastest way to return to the Royal Capital, but there were no public trains running at this hour.
"I understand why everyone came to welcome us. What I don't understand is the speed of the information. Until just the other day, in Taisey Kingdom's high society, I was ‘the indecent Opal Holloway.’ Isn't it strange that even the general public knows about me now?"
After saying it aloud, Opal realized. And seeing Claude’s smile, she was certain.
"You were manipulating the information, weren't you?"
"It wasn't so much manipulation. Until very recently, news from high society hardly reached the common people, right? That newspaper has only grown its circulation so much in the last year or so. And that was after it started printing stories about society. I suppose everyone is just that interested."
"So what did you do?"
Seeing Opal's firm intention not to let the matter drop, Claude gave up. It was not as if he had anything to hide.
"I made sure that stories about you, Opal, were not printed in the newspapers in this country or in Sosylle Kingdom. But I had no involvement in this recent affair, so the story must have gotten out. Well, it would have been impossible to hide that commotion anyway."
"Then did you know about Alan?"
"No, that was a coincidence."
"I see."
There was still much more she wanted to ask, but Opal gave up as well. She herself couldn't organize her thoughts and didn't know what she wanted to ask. Yet, some things now made sense. The information about her in Taisey Kingdom's high society had been outdated because it was being controlled. The power to silence the wagging tongues of so many was immense, and Opal once again stared intently at Claude sitting beside her.
"Any other questions?"
"You skillfully suppressed information about Claude, the Marquis Rousel, as well, didn't you?"
"I just took advantage of everyone's assumptions."
"That's still manipulation!"
"Ouch!"
Annoyed, Opal slapped Claude's knee. A surprised Claude cried out.
"That's not nearly enough for a liar."
When Opal turned her face away with a huff, she could hear Claude trying to stifle his laughter. In the end, just like always, Opal laughed too, and the topic was closed.
The next morning. Opal, who had woken up later than usual due to travel fatigue, sighed at the sight of numerous calling cards and invitations. Claude was still asleep. She briefly wondered if she should handle them herself and ultimately decided to decline all visits.
‘May I call upon you at your home just after you’ve returned from a long journey?’ I wish they would consider our side of things a little more.
Perhaps because she had been surrounded by so many people recently, she was quite tired. In her single days, she had gone out to tea parties, concerts, and balls every day. She couldn't believe she once had that kind of energy. But since older women also managed that schedule during the season, it was probably just a matter of her own stamina.
Well, I suppose I'm mentally exhausted too. Oh, I want to spend some quiet time in the countryside.
Opal had spent nearly seven years in the Duke McLeod's fief. Back then, she had struggled daily, thinking about how to make the lives of the people easier and how to enrich the land. For Opal, socializing was an important part of her work, but she missed her life in the country.
Marquis Rousel's fief seems to be doing well, but the Boccelli Duchy we'll soon be granted is apparently behind on modernization, so I'm sure it will be a rewarding challenge.
Opal mused as she sorted the invitations into piles of 'decline' and 'consider.' Ever since she heard about the Boccelli Duchy from Claude, she had been doing her own research. If her information was correct, reforms were urgently needed.
I haven't built a network in society here yet. I don't have any friends either, but while those things can wait, the fief needs attention as soon as possible. You never know when a storm or a drought might hit.
She had returned to her home country unexpectedly, but she no longer needed to worry about Beth. News of the birth should arrive soon. Of course, anything could happen during childbirth, but everyone at the sanctuary would surely help her. After giving birth, she could rest for a while and think about what to do next.
She had heard that the other two women who bore Keimont's children had decided to live as widows in regional cities. The children would inherit a substantial fortune upon reaching adulthood, but until then, the steward of the estate would provide them with enough living expenses to get by.
Opal gathered the invitations and stood up. She was so tired of writing replies that she considered hiring a secretary.
"I should look into that as well."
Opal murmured to herself and walked to the writing desk. Before writing her replies, she would make a plan for the future, a plan to inspect the Boccelli Duchy. She would discuss it with Claude when he woke up. The mere thought of going to the duchy made her fatigue vanish. On the contrary, filled with motivation, Opal opened her planner and began writing down the necessary details.