Chapter 73 - Reunion
"Claude, do you have any idea where you are?"
"Of course. I'm right beside you, Opal."
Opal could sense the playful smile in his voice. She sighed in exasperation.
"How do you plan on getting back?"
"We've only just been reunited, and you're already telling me to leave?"
"Claude, don't joke around. We're in the middle of enemy territory."
"Though technically, this is our fief..."
Claude's grumbling was so amusing that Opal had to suppress a laugh. Her eyes, now adjusted to the dark, could make out his form in the starlight alone. Seeing his familiar figure made her want to be coddled, but Nadia stirred in her sleep, and she steeled herself. It would be a shame to wake her when she was so tired.
"How long have you been here?"
"About five days? When I heard you were heading to the duchy, I rushed over. I knew you'd definitely inspect the mines in this area. They seem to be perpetually short-staffed here, so I was hired right away."
Claude answered Opal's whispered question with a grin. In his current state, he looked every bit a miner. He had grown so accustomed to his role as a duke recently, but his ability to blend in so well was likely due to similar experiences in his past. Claude didn't speak much about those times, but he must have truly endured a lot. And now, here he was again, putting himself in danger.
"...Just how many people have you sent in over these past few years, I wonder."
"Who knows?"
"I hope I'm proving to be a useful diversion."
Claude took Opal's hand as she murmured, and he gently kissed it as if in apology. His hand was rough and calloused.
"Claude, are you really okay?"
"I'm fine. Besides, you knew I was coming, didn't you? That's why you left the window open."
Deliberately misunderstanding her question, Claude turned his back to her. Opal sat down on the bed and patted the spot next to her, urging him to sit.
"I was just preparing for any eventuality. This window is rickety. I never actually thought you would come."
She had thought the chances were slim, but Claude had always loved to surprise her. That was why she had left the window open just a crack, making sure it didn't make a sound, just in case.
"Here, these are letters for you. Sorry, but I read them first."
"Thank you, Claude. It's not a problem. I told you to do so in case I was in a situation where I couldn't read them myself."
"...Thank you, Opal."
Claude handed her two letters, then embraced her before standing up. He moved silently toward the window.
"Be careful, Claude."
"Don't worry. I was trained by a princess since I was a boy. It's a bit pathetic that I can't manage a more dashing rescue, though."
"Oh, don't worry. I'll be fully prepared and waiting for you next time."
As Opal joked back, Claude, straddling the windowsill, pulled her close and kissed her. Surprised, Opal blushed, and Claude looked at her with a serious gaze.
"I will save you. I promise."
With those words, Claude put his foot on the sill, stood up, and leaped away. When Opal peered outside, he was disappearing over the roof.
"I never thought he'd arrive via the roof."
"Nadia, you were awake?"
"That would wake anyone up. But I kept my back turned, you know. I didn't see a thing."
Nadia covered her eyes with both hands to prove her point. Her gesture was so cute and funny that Opal burst out laughing. She was worried about whether Claude had made it down from the roof safely, but she had no choice but to believe he was fine.
"I'm sorry for being so loud."
"There's no need to apologize! I was so thrilled that his lordship was here! It was just as you said, Your Grace!"
"Yes. Honestly, he's so reckless."
"I'm sure his lordship is thinking the same thing about you."
Nadia's reply to Opal's slightly irritated grumble was swift and perfectly on point. Opal almost burst out laughing again and quickly covered her mouth. Making loud laughing noises at this hour would arouse suspicion. The effort made her eyes well up with tears, but she could blame it on holding back her laughter.
She had been putting on a brave face, but she had been truly anxious. More than for herself, she worried about Claude's safety. Neither of them was in a particularly safe situation, but he was close. And he trusted her enough to let her fight alongside him.
"Are you alright? Think you can get back to sleep?"
"Yes. I'm very good at sleeping."
Opal got back into bed for the sake of the next day and asked Nadia the question. A cheerful reply came back. After saying goodnight again, Opal lay with her eyes open, staring into the darkness.
(They got information that the Anti-Royalist Faction was finally about to make its move, and His Majesty plans to act before they do. And I conveniently appeared, so they used me as a decoy.)
She had been overthinking it, but in the end, it was a simple matter. Although they were short-staffed, the reason Claude was hired so easily must have been because several spies had already infiltrated the area. That was why she hadn't been discouraged from coming to Boccelli Duchy, to this place. However, from his attitude earlier, it was clear that using her had been a difficult choice for Claude. His pained expression, visible even in the dark. Forcing that look onto his face was yet another reason she had to give Alessandro a piece of her mind. After that, she might even make him bow his head and offer words of thanks.
(That's right. If he thinks I'll just act as a pawn, he's sorely mistaken.)
She didn't need to check the senders of the letters Claude had given her; she knew who both were from. She was eager to read them, but she would have to wait until morning. Taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart, Opal closed her eyes to sleep.