Chapter 70 - The Attic
(I'm so thirsty...)
The thought surfaced in her mind, and Opal woke with a start. She tried to sit up, opening her eyes wide, but a sharp pain ran from her shoulder down her back, and she groaned, unable to rise. Then, she heard a low laugh from the foot of the bed.
"Good morning, Your Grace."
"...Julian, where is this?"
"Where do you think?"
"The attic, I see."
"Impressive. You know it well."
There was the sound of something scraping the floor, as if he had been sitting in a chair, and Opal sensed Julian stand up. Slow footsteps approached, and he came into her view. The same faintly mocking smile was on his face.
"Who ordered you to do something so foolish? Connally? Cole? It will come to light soon, either way. When it does, you won't get away unscathed. What do you plan to do?"
"Nothing in particular."
"You're a fool for getting involved in this."
"Better than thinking I'm clever."
"I don't think that."
"Then it must be subconscious."
"What!?"
Opal had tried to speak calmly at first, but she couldn't tolerate Julian's words. As if to threaten her for raising her voice, Julian leaned over and placed his hands on the bed, looming above her.
"Quiet. Don't shout. Or I'll have to gag you."
"Are you going to kill me?"
"...There was a suggestion to make it look like an accidental death at the mine. But that would just bring more people here. Cole-san is in a hurry to drive the King's faction from this land."
"In that case, isn't confining me a poor move? If I don't return soon, Nadia will worry and tell the knights to search for me. A full search of the estate will begin immediately."
"She would, if she could move."
"I told you not to lay a hand on Nadia!"
At the mention of Nadia, Opal shoved Julian away in a fit of rage. She managed to sit up, but as she did, Julian, standing beside the bed, still looked down on her.
"No need to get so angry. I only tied her up a bit. But if you don't do as you're told, I can't guarantee her safety."
"...What do you want me to do?"
"I'm glad you're so compliant. Just write a little letter for me. How about something like, ‘I have fallen in love with Julian. We are going to live a quiet life together. Please do not look for me.’ We're eloping, you see."
"If Claude reads that letter, he'll laugh so hard his sides will split."
A smile graced Opal's face as she imagined Claude's reaction to the news. Julian shrugged as if it were nothing.
"It doesn't matter if he doesn't believe it, as long as everyone else does. Connally-san will surely testify. ‘Her Grace showed Julian special favor.’ The staff here and the knights who accompanied you on this trip should all be convinced."
"So Connally went to the trouble of introducing you for that very purpose? To have you seduce me?"
"He said, ‘Her Grace is lonely, neglected by her husband.’"
"How kind of him. But Nadia will never believe it."
"I know. That's why I restrained her too. Write in the letter that you're taking her with you. Once the knights leave to follow you, I'll let you see her again."
Opal breathed a sigh of relief, understanding that Nadia's safety was, for the moment, guaranteed. Julian surely wouldn't treat Nadia poorly. He knew that if anything happened to her, Opal would no longer obey.
"So, what's the plan? Pretending I eloped with you might buy some time. But as soon as Claude finds out, he'll come looking for me."
"Such touching marital devotion. But that's only if Claude is still alive, right?"
"What do you mean?"
At his ominous words, Opal glared at Julian. He simply smirked back at her.
"It's been four years since Alessandro took the throne. Don't you think that's long enough? The former prince's supporters never lost. They were just silent, gathering their strength again."
"You can't be planning a rebellion now, can you? If you do that, the people will be the ones to suffer."
"Connally-san and the others couldn't care less about the people."
"Then we absolutely must protect His Majesty Alessandro. Claude must feel the same way. So I will do what I must."
"...Talk is cheap. But what you must do right now is write that letter, isn't it?"
With a sigh, Julian offered her a sheet of stationery. It was the kind Opal always used. The thought that he had rummaged through her belongings was unpleasant, but Opal did as she was told and wrote a plausible farewell note. Julian read it and nodded, satisfied.
"Your cooperation is appreciated. Of course, the estate is heavily guarded, so don't even think about escaping."
"And Nadia?"
"Once the knights have safely left the estate, I'll let you see Nadia."
With that, Julian took the letter and left the attic. The loud sound of a key turning in the lock echoed immediately after. Opal exhaled the breath she had been holding and lay back down on the hard bed. It was best to remain quiet, at least until she could confirm Nadia was safe. She would think about what to do next, and how to manage until then.
Once before, she had locked herself away in an attic. But this was different. Now, with her freedom gone, how could she stop the Anti-Royalist Faction's reckless scheme?
(No, I don't have to stop them. I'm sure Claude and the others have already gathered intelligence.)
Still, it bothered her that Claude had allowed her to go to Boccelli Duchy alone. She couldn't help but suspect the worst, even as she tried to deny it.
(No, that's impossible. He would never use me as bait...)
But even if Claude had no such intention, Alessandro was capable of it. Perhaps that was why Claude had been assigned some sudden business.
(If that's the case... Either way, once this is all resolved safely, I'm going to give His Majesty a piece of my mind!)
Opal clenched her delicate right hand into a tight fist and thrust it high toward the ceiling.