Chapter 71 - The Attic
"Your Grace, Opal-sama!"
"Nadia! You're safe! Thank goodness..."
The day after Opal was confined to the attic, Nadia rushed into the room. She looked healthy and unharmed, and Opal hugged her in relief. Nadia returned the embrace without hesitation, checking Opal all over to make sure she wasn't injured.
"Thank heavens. You're unharmed as well, Your Grace? If even a single hair on your head was hurt, I would never have forgiven Julian!"
"Quite the brave lady's maid. Perhaps you had no need to worry after all?"
"How dare you address Her Grace that way!? That is disrespectful!"
"It's alright, Nadia. It's no use worrying about Julian."
"But..."
Nadia rounded on Julian, who was leaning against the wall by the entrance. Opal grabbed her arm to stop her, then smiled at Julian.
"We have things to discuss between us ladies. Would you be so kind as to make us some tea?"
"...Very well. But don't think you can escape."
With a defiant smile, Julian closed the attic door. The sound of the key turning in the lock followed immediately. It didn't seem like a very strong lock, but trying to break it down would make a loud noise and alert the household.
Opal looked at the anxious Nadia and patted her hand gently.
"Don't worry, it's alright. Julian won't harm us."
"You mustn't trust a man like that!"
Nadia strongly objected to Opal's words, but her expression quickly turned tearful.
"I'm sorry, Your Grace. I should have been the one on guard... You never trusted Julian from the start, did you..."
"Don't worry about it, Nadia. I came into enemy territory, so I was prepared for this much. I didn't think they'd kill me, but I never expected to be locked up..."
"It's alright, Your Grace. I will get you out of here somehow!"
"Oh, no reckless plans. Don't worry, Claude will definitely come to rescue us. Let's just do our best not to get in his way when he does."
Opal replied jokingly, but she held both of Nadia's hands and looked her straight in the eye to impress her point. Nadia nodded obediently. Just then, Julian returned, skillfully carrying a tray with tea.
"My, you're surprisingly strong."
"I'm not like you nobles who just sit back and give orders."
"Her Grace does not just sit back! She always takes action herself!"
"Thank you, Nadia. You see, Julian must have had a twisted upbringing. The poor thing."
"Shut up."
Julian snorted and placed the tray on a small table. Nadia immediately poured the tea into a cup and took a sip.
"It's not poisoned."
"Even if it were, you don't need to be the one to test it, Nadia."
"No, on this I will not yield."
As she spoke, Nadia poured tea into a fresh cup. Apparently, she had determined it was safe. Opal's life was a bargaining chip, so there was little fear of being killed for now. Still, if it satisfied Nadia, Opal saw no harm in it and accepted the tea.
"Thank you."
"Of course. It's quite well-brewed."
Opal took a sip and nodded slightly. As expected of a footman in a ducal household. It was a shame there were no sweets to go with it. But there was something she needed more. Opal placed her cup back on the table and smiled at the ironically watchful Julian.
"If I must spend my time in this attic, I'd like you to bring me some books to relieve the boredom."
"What a demanding attitude. Do you understand your position?"
"Yes. I'm your trump card, aren't I? With me as a shield, Claude will undoubtedly be unable to act, and if you're short on funds, you have my assets."
"You really are an impudent one."
"Oh, is that news to you? I've been told that often enough."
"Fine. But don't push your luck. You're the trump card, but that maid of yours is expendable."
"Why you..."
Nadia started to retort, but Opal quickly raised a hand to stop her. Julian smirked and left the attic. Of course, the sound of the lock turning echoed after him.
"Your Grace, why didn't you let me speak!?"
"Because you are precious to me, Nadia. But unfortunately, to them, you are just as Julian said. That's why I don't want to take any risks."
"But I don't want to be a burden..."
Opal laughed aloud to encourage the thoroughly disheartened Nadia, whose expression turned to one of surprise.
"Having you here is what keeps me from being reckless. Claude will surely be grateful to you as well."
"Oh... Is his lordship alright!?"
It seemed Nadia had also realized the Anti-Royalist Faction was making its move in earnest. Opal, still smiling, nodded emphatically.
"Claude is fine. I'm sure he'll come to our rescue very soon. He's used to it, after all."
"Used to it?"
"Yes. When we were little, we often played a game where I was the captured princess and Claude was the knight who came to rescue me. But I wouldn't just stay captured, I'd always try to escape on my own, so Claude would often complain that I was making it harder for him. So with you here, I won't do anything reckless, and he can rescue us without any worries."
"Marcia-san often told me you were a tomboy, Your Grace, but it seems it was true."
Opal winked playfully, and Nadia began to giggle. It seemed the tension had finally left her shoulders. At last, Opal could relax as well, and the two of them laughed together.