Chapter 67 - In Practice
From the following day, Opal struggled to persuade Duncan. She showed him several scythes she had brought along and explained them, but while Duncan listened silently, he would not nod in agreement. So she decided to try a practical demonstration, having one of her escort knights cut down a thicket she had found during her walk, but that didn't work either. Firing Duncan was an option, but it was a last resort.
Duncan is strict, steadfast, and stubborn, but he seems to have the deep respect of the common people, she thought. Opal gazed out at the beautifully manicured garden from her room and let out a deep sigh. How could she make Duncan understand the benefits of using a scythe? She could order the fief's people to use them directly, without going through Duncan. But then she would not gain Duncan's trust. As she wrestled with the problem of Duncan, Connally always watched her with a look of satisfaction.
According to Nadia's information, the manor's servants were obedient to Connally, but Duncan alone seemed to keep his distance. She had come to understand over the past few days that the servants' polite yet cold attitude was not because they disliked her, but because they feared Connally. Connally was also a problem for the new duchy, but he was another person she could not dismiss immediately. Having reached an impasse, Opal sighed again and turned her attention back to the window. Then she spotted a certain person and stood up.
"I'm going for a short walk."
"Your Ladyship?"
"It's fine. I'm just in the garden, I don't need an escort."
"Then please wait just a moment."
Nadia said this, disappeared into the dressing room for a moment, and returned at once. She carried a parasol in her arm and offered Opal a pair of gloves.
"The sun is a bit strong today. Would you have preferred a hat?"
"No, the parasol is fine. Thank you, Nadia."
With Nadia's help, Opal put on the gloves, accepted the parasol, and left the room. As she descended the stairs, Connally approached, but she simply told him she was taking a walk in the garden and went outside. Fortunately, the person she was looking for was still in the garden. She approached him, parasol in hand, and called out.
"What are you doing, Julian?"
"I am deadheading the flowers, Your Ladyship."
"You are? But that's the gardener's job."
"I don't have any particular tasks at the moment, so I offered to help."
"You offered?"
"Yes."
Opal was surprised by his unexpected words, but she said nothing more. Julian gave a slight bow and returned to his work. Opal watched him in silence for a while before speaking to him again.
"Julian, how did you get accepted by everyone?"
"...Respect others, never forget to smile and show gratitude, and take the initiative yourself. Everyone is afraid of new things, so it can't be helped that they become exclusive."
"It's the same everywhere…"
Opal replied as if to herself, tilting her parasol to look up at the sky. Autumn came early to this duchy in the northern lands. There was no time to be idle.
"Thank you, Julian. I'm sorry for interrupting your work."
"Not at all. It is my pleasure to be of service to you, Your Ladyship."
As Julian gave an exaggerated bow, Opal raised an eyebrow but said nothing and returned to the manor. She went straight into her dressing room.
"Are you looking for something, Your Ladyship?"
"Nadia, do you have any clothes that are easy to move in for farm work?"
"Farm work? You, Your Ladyship?"
"Yes. I've only been giving orders until now, haven't I? But if I make the first move myself, perhaps Duncan will be convinced."
"...Wouldn't it be faster to just relieve Duncan-san of his duties?"
"Well, that is one option, but I want to see how this plays out a little longer."
"I understand. In that case, please wear my clothes."
"Oh, I couldn't. They might get dirty or torn."
The situation was different from when she had visited Beth in disguise. When Opal refused, Nadia laughed.
"Compared to your dresses, it's nothing at all. But if you were to buy clothes from a peasant woman and wear them, you might actually provoke resentment. My clothes are just right."
"Just right…"
It was true that if Opal suddenly appeared in a peasant woman's attire, not only would she stand out, but some might take a cynical view and think she was mocking them. She was not like Julian, who had been hired as a footman. And no matter how easy to move in, clothes tailored from fine silk would hardly convey her seriousness.
"I understand. Then, let's trade one of my dresses for one of yours."
"Thank you!"
She had given Nadia and the others clothes she no longer wore before, but this time, Nadia would get to choose one herself. That way, they could both feel like they'd gotten a nice little bargain. Opal tried on the clothes Nadia brought, informed the knights of her plans for the next day, and began her preparations.
...The next day. Having heard that a place that had long been fallow land was being prepared for the coming year, Opal set out with her knights, scythes in hand. The knights were quite surprised at first to see Opal in the straw hat Nadia had prepared, but not as much as Duncan was now. Duncan stared at Opal intently, then sighed.
"What do you intend to do now?"
"I thought I'd help."
Opal replied with a bright smile, but Duncan merely raised his eyebrows. The farmers, however, buzzed with astonishment. She continued.
"We'd probably get in the way if we worked alongside you, but if we take charge of that section over there, there shouldn't be a problem, right? I think the more hands, the better."
"...Then we will be in your care."
Duncan reluctantly accepted, and Opal nodded in response. She was respecting the other person, Duncan. She had not forgotten to smile and show gratitude. But Opal was the employer, and Duncan was the employee. She would not force him to use the scythe, but she had no intention of making any further concessions.
By the time Opal and her group had finished clearing their section of grass, the farmers were still only about halfway done. Though Opal herself had been mostly useless. Seeing the clear difference, Duncan's face tightened.
"Shall I have them cut the grass in that section next?"
"...Yes."
"Alright, I'll get started right away. Oh, but…"
Opal had started towards the next section, but she turned back. Duncan was standing stock-still, and the farmers were also watching.
"I brought spare scythes in case the blades get dull. But these still seem to be in good shape, so if you'd like, you can use them. There should be enough for all of you."
The choice was Duncan's. To accept the scythes, and by extension, Opal, or to refuse. If he refused, he would be dismissed, but having clearly demonstrated the scythes' utility in front of the farmers, his dismissal for refusing them would not provoke much opposition. Excuses like them being the devil's tools would no longer hold water. The farmers were gazing longingly at the scythes lined up on the ridge. Duncan glanced at the scythes, then his eyes returned to Opal, and he raised his hands in a small gesture of surrender.
"May we take you up on your generous offer? In that case, you will have to teach everyone how to use them."
"Yes, of course. It's simple, so you'll all be better at it than me in no time."
Opal wanted to shout with joy, but she replied with a composed expression, and Duncan laughed out loud. After that, just as expected, the farmers learned how to use the scythes in no time at all, and Opal was rendered completely useless.