Chapter 75 - Lies
"Well, well. It's good to see you in high spirits, Your Grace."
"I'm pleased if I appear so."
"Oh my, you don't seem to be in the best of moods."
"Could anyone be in a good mood when locked up in a place like this?"
"Indeed, a place like this must be rather cramped for a duchess, but please bear with it for just a little longer."
Opal replied to Cole, who had peeked into the attic, with a look of utter disgust. Her response seemed to put Cole in a very good mood, and Julian, standing behind him, was also smiling. It had been over ten days since Opal was confined, and she had been expecting some kind of development.
"I have good news for you. Or perhaps, for you, Your Grace, it is sad news."
Cole's large body shook with a joy so great he looked as if he might start dancing. Opal watched him, her face a mask of stone. But Cole didn't seem to mind.
"The willful Duchess could not stand the rustic Boccelli Duchy and ran off with a man in search of excitement. That is the rumor spreading throughout the country. It seems, however, that no one is particularly surprised."
"That's an old rumor. Claude... the Duke would never believe such a thing."
Opal answered with her chin held high. Seeing her feigned strength, not only Cole but Julian too grinned slyly. Nadia looked at Opal with concern.
"About that Duke of yours, he has, I'm afraid, gone missing."
"Lies!"
In a stark change from her previous demeanor, Opal shot to her feet, vehemently denying Cole's words. Her face was pale, her hands trembling. Cole's expression turned somber as if in sympathy, and he shook his head.
"No, unfortunately, it is true. Some say he could not bear the Duchess's infidelity and disappeared, others that he went to Sosylle Kingdom in search of you. But according to a reliable source, he was attacked by bandits on his way back to the capital and lost his life..."
He paused, glancing at Opal. She had both hands over her mouth, as if suppressing a scream.
"Of course, this information is being kept secret. For Alessandro, losing Rousel is a significant blow. If the other nobles were to learn of this, Alessandro would make enemies of the neutral faction as well."
"What... what are you talking about? The neutral faction, that shouldn't matter anymore."
"Was the Duchess persuaded by Rousel to marry into this country with such stories? After all, your assets are enormous. For Alessandro, the more funds he has to oppose us, the better."
Opal shook her head repeatedly, as if refusing to believe it, and sank onto the bed as if her strength had given out. Nadia knelt at her feet and took her hand comfortingly.
"Thank you, Nadia."
"Oh dear, was this news too harsh for the Duchess? Staying in a place like this must be a great strain on your heart. Depending on the conditions, I may be willing to let you out of this room."
"...Conditions?"
"It's nothing significant. I just want you to write a letter."
"Again? To whom this time?"
"Not to Rousel, of course. There is no point in writing to heaven. I want you to write to your father, Count Holloway, and your former husband, Duke McLeod."
"Claude, the Duke of Boccelli, is alive. And if you need funds, you can just contact the steward of my estate. There is no need to write to two men who are merely my business partners."
Opal seemed to have regained some of her composure and tried to appear strong. To Cole, it must have looked like a brave front. In truth, if Claude hadn't appeared in the attic ten days ago, she might have genuinely lost her composure, not just acted the part. That was why Claude had gone to such reckless lengths to show himself.
"We do need funds, certainly, but more importantly right now, we need to prevent any interference from Sosylle Kingdom. It seems Duke McLeod's influence in the Sosylle royal court has been growing recently. And you are well aware of Count Holloway's influence, I'm sure."
"...So, what do you want me to write?"
"Those two, especially Duke McLeod, are indebted to Alessandro. If the matter of the Mantest development from four years ago is brought up, Duke McLeod will likely move within Sosylle Kingdom in a way that benefits Alessandro. Therefore, I want you to write and ask them to ignore Alessandro's requests."
"Do you think Duke McLeod will listen to my request? We may be business partners, but we are strangers now."
Opal shrugged, as if the idea were absurd. At that, Julian, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
"You just have to beg for your life. The rumor was that McLeod still had feelings for you. That's why his remarriage talks with the Count Lefond family's daughter fell through. He'll probably be happy to provide money as well."
"...What kind of foolish story is that? I supposedly eloped with you, did I not? And you think Duke McLeod will act because of that? More importantly, do you think my father, Count Holloway, would lift a finger for a mere daughter if there's no profit in it for him?"
Opal glared at Julian as she questioned him. Unfazed by her stare, Julian shrugged, mimicking her.
"Unfortunately, my elopement with you ended in failure. We can say you were captured by the Anti-Royalist Faction somewhere around Pasma Port."
"And if you manage to stop Sosylle Kingdom's movements, not just get a ransom, then I'll be of no more use to you."
"Still a clever little thing, aren't you? But don't worry, we still have to extract money from you. You don't need to worry about your life."
"My life, you say..."
Cole seemed unable to get a word in during Opal and Julian's argument-like exchange. But he cut them off with a loud laugh.
"Well now, Julian certainly lives up to Lord Connally's high opinion of him. He has both courage and a sharp mind. Now then, could you have the letters we discussed ready by this evening?"
"And if I don't write them?"
"It is not only your life we hold in our hands."
With a vile smile, Cole glanced at Nadia. Nadia glared back fiercely.
"It seems a strong-willed mistress breeds a similar maid."
Muttering to himself, Cole laughed loudly again and left the attic. Following behind him, Julian paused with his hand on the door.
"Hurry up. The Anti-Royalist Faction's troops will rise up in the capital tomorrow. We need to get your plea to McLeod and the others before that news breaks."
Nadia let out a small cry at Julian's words. But Opal simply stared at Julian and let a faint smile touch her lips.