Chapter 81 - Strategy Meeting
"Well then, shall we go for a night walk? It’s been a while."
"I wonder how many years it’s been? It’s been over a decade since we last snuck out of the estate at night, hasn’t it?"
"Don’t think too hard about it."
"But I’m worried if my body can move like it used to."
"Princess, I believe it would be best if we did not mention each other’s age."
"You have a point."
Opal giggled and squeezed Claude’s hand. This time, they could go together. The thought alone was enough to lift her spirits, making her forget the situation they were in.
She remembered all the times they had snuck out of the Count’s estate at night when they were still children. Back then, they thought it was their little secret, but it seemed Trevor had known all along. This time, however, she was confident Connally would not find out. After all, Claude must have made the proper preparations. And so, here he was, having come to get her at the same time as he used to, right in the heart of enemy territory, though perhaps not as boldly as before. Claude, straddling the windowsill, held Opal’s hand while pointing out the way with his other.
"Go along here, move to that tree, and climb down. You can do it, right?"
"Of course. I’d been thinking for a while that tree looked easy to climb down."
"Then, after you."
Normally, a gentleman might be expected to lead the way, but Claude knew that Opal would want to go first. She smiled happily and boldly climbed over the windowsill.
"Your skirt will fly up."
"It’s fine, I’m wearing trousers underneath."
When she replied to Claude’s whisper with one of her own, she heard a choked sound. Glancing back, she saw Claude trying to hold back a laugh. Opal, skillfully keeping her balance, raised an index finger to her lips to signal for quiet. It seemed he was also remembering their childhood. Come to think of it, nearly twenty years had passed, and here they were, a duke and duchess, acting like this. The absurdity of it all began to make Opal want to laugh as well. Still, she suppressed her laughter, somehow made her way along the wall, and moved to the large tree that looked easy to climb, or rather, easy to descend. She slid down smoothly. Claude had apparently been ready to help at any moment, but it was not necessary. They both landed safely on the ground.
"This way."
Taking the hand Claude offered, Opal followed him in silence. After they had walked some distance from the manor, however, she turned to look back.
"What is it?"
"There are no pursuers."
"Darn it! I suppose the performance was lacking. Ouch!"
Opal kicked the leg of a theatrically lamenting Claude. She was long past the days of being a princess who just needed to be rescued. Wondering just how many people in the duchy had only been pretending to be with the Anti-Royalist Faction, she walked alongside the grumbling Claude.
"My Lady! Lady Opal!"
"Nadia!"
After leaving the estate grounds and venturing a short way into the hunting forest, they entered a watchman’s hut where Nadia threw her arms around her. Opal joyfully hugged her back.
"Nadia… I’m so glad you’re safe."
"The same goes for me. When they separated me from you, I was so, so worried about what would happen. I tried to go back a few times, but the soldier who captured me said, ‘If you don’t behave, your lady will be in trouble.’ I thought he was threatening me, so I stomped on his foot with all my might."
Nadia took a step back to check that Opal was unharmed, scanning her from head to toe, before glancing at a man in a rebel soldier’s uniform. The man, who smiled wryly, was the same soldier who had detained Nadia at the inn. Knowing Nadia’s strong-willed nature, Opal could not help but laugh, but Nadia puffed out her cheeks.
"It’s not a laughing matter."
"I’m sorry, Nadia. But among the rebels, Julian was probably the only one who knew how much I care for you. I’m sure that’s why he separated us, but I figured I’d have a better chance of escaping if all their attention was on me alone."
"Then when Julian finds out we escaped, Mr. Connally will be furious with him!"
"Yes, he will. Serves him right."
Claude burst out laughing at Opal’s malicious tone. He then pulled Opal toward him, as if stealing her away from Nadia.
"Now, may I have my wife back? It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other."
"Of course!"
Nadia’s face lit up as she nodded at Claude’s words. But Opal looked up at Claude with a glare.
"There are a number of things I need you to explain to me."
"Can it wait until tomorrow?"
"This will all be settled by tomorrow, won’t it? We have plenty of time until morning. So, please, before then."
"Alright, I understand."
As Claude agreed with an air of resignation, Opal gave him a bright smile. She then turned back to Nadia.
"Nadia, we don’t have much time until morning, so could you go and get some rest now?"
"I, I understand…"
Seeing the contradiction in Opal’s words and the look of despair on Claude’s face, Nadia left the room, trying to suppress her laughter. This watchman’s hut seemed to have been built for a family, as there were several rooms.
"Opal, we’re this way."
"How lovely."
"Isn’t it?"
After giving a slight nod to the handful of soldiers in the room, who would likely be sleeping on the floor, Claude and Opal headed for a different door than Nadia. It looked like a storage room, but there was a ladder at the back. It clearly led up to an attic, a space that could hardly be called a room.
Opal giggled as she climbed the ladder first. As expected, it was an attic used for storage. However, it had been properly cleaned, and though there was no bed, several comfortable-looking down quilts and cushions were laid out.
"It’s just like a secret base."
"Yes. Well then, shall we begin the… what number is this? Anyway, let’s begin the strategy meeting."
"Roger!"
At Claude’s words, spoken as if they were picking up right where they left off in their childhood, Opal gave a mock salute. Then, the two of them laughed together, trying to keep their voices down.