Duchess in the Attic: Volume 1 E-Book

Mori

• Herausgeber: J-Novel Heart
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Serie: Duchess in the Attic
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 308

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Opal Holloway is a determined young lady whose ambition makes her stand out among her peers. When her entire life is seemingly changed overnight, she’s left without a man to marry. However, she couldn’t be more relieved, since she’s been secretly in love with her childhood friend Claude. Opal hoped that she wouldn’t be forced to marry a noble other than her childhood friend, but bad news arrives. Wed to a childish duke, whose servants refuse to treat her well, Opal feels like the whole world has turned against her.

But Opal isn’t one to take things lying down. She decides to use her wealth to steal Duke McLeod’s land and manor away! Now in charge, will she be able to transform the servants and the duke? And will she ever be able to forget her first love?

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Cover

Characters

0. The Duchess in the Attic

1. The Beginning

2. Her Childhood Friend

3. Condemnation

4. Marriage

5. The Duke’s Residence

6. An Angel

7. The Duke

8. The Attic

9. A Rupture

10. Returning Home

11. Hometown

12. Land Management

13. The Duchy

14. IOU

15. The Plan

16. Exposing the Crime

17. Separation

18. A Visitor

19. Fraud

20. The Documents

21. Benevolence

22. Decisions

23. Reform

24. The Letter

25. Results

26. Investment

27. A Plan

28. A Benefactor

29. The Ceremony

30. A Proposal

31. Reunion

32. The Truth

33. Reminisce

34. The Confession

35. Departure

Afterword

Color Illustrations

About J-Novel Club

Copyright

Landmarks

Table of Contents

Color Images

0. The Duchess in the Attic

A servant’s morning starts early. As the servants of the manor walked to and fro on creaking floorboards, within a sparse room, sunlight shot through a thin curtain.

Opal tossed and turned in her uncomfortable bed, pulling her thin covers over her head. But unfortunately, she wasn’t able to go back to sleep. The maids tried their best to sneak past her room, careful not to make much noise, but the thin walls couldn’t possibly block out the hustle and bustle of their routine. With nothing else to do, Opal reluctantly sat up on her bed—one that was much too firm for her body—and stretched out her sore limbs.

“Here’s to another day,” she mumbled, all to herself in her lonely room.

From under her lavish nightgown, she uncurled her legs and slipped her feet into a pair of slippers. Slowly rising from her knees, she stood up, rotating her weary arms while heading for the window to draw the thin curtain back. She was lucky that her simple room even had a curtain, but alas, her tiny window was filthy and clouded. Opal could only catch a fuzzy glimpse of what was outside.

Still, she noted with a wry smile, it was yet another bright and beautiful day out. But it mattered not how sunny the day was; she was never allowed to step outside the manor. For now, anyway.

Opal changed into a dress, brushing her hair into a neat bundle and finally switching her slippers into a different pair of shoes. Footsteps creaked from outside her room, and she opened the door out onto the corridor. A maid who had just happened to pass by froze in place, staring at Opal as if she were a ghost.

“Could you tell Beth to bring me some hot water?” Opal requested.

“C-Certainly,” the young maid replied with a tremble. She immediately fled the scene like a scared rabbit.

Upon closing the door, Opal noticed her room had become a touch brighter and headed for the simple desk by the window. She knew it’d take a while for her attendant, Beth, to prepare the hot water. And it wasn’t because Opal’s room was in the attic, the highest room within the manor and located above the maids’ rooms—oh no, this was Beth harassing her. Opal, however, found it foolish to wait idly in irritation and decided to spend her time reading the books that she had borrowed from the manor’s library.

“Good morning, madam,” Beth said reluctantly, arriving after a long while. She poured the hot water into Opal’s washbasin.

“Good morning, Beth,” Opal replied. “Could you kindly bring me breakfast after you’re done with that?”

“Certainly.”

Despite Beth’s reluctance to serve Opal, Opal was the mistress of the manor, and a duchess. As long as Beth was Opal’s attendant, she had to obey Opal’s orders. Beth left, the floorboards creaking with every step she took, while Opal dipped her hands in the hot water. She frowned. It was tepid at best and hardly warm.

“Good grief, so stubborn...” the noble lady muttered. The words were directed more at herself than at her attendant.

It’d been ten days since Opal had married into House McLeod. Her husband, Duke Hubert McLeod, despised her, causing the other servants in his manor to give her the cold shoulder.

Opal was as annoyed with the situations as the servants were. “How foolish.”

She laughed through her nose, feeling like a protagonist from some sort of fairy tale. Her close friends described her as stubborn, a lady who refused to lose—and they weren’t wrong. Opal wasn’t about to whine about her situation. She certainly wouldn’t go down without a fight, and indeed, she had no plans to throw in the towel.

She had a ploy to overcome her current situation, and so, she spent yet another day in her dingy room in the attic.

“I’m not going to lose!” she declared firmly to her lonely room.

The sun had already risen, and as Opal gazed out the cloudy, tiny window at its fuzzy shape, she reminisced upon her past.

1. The Beginning

It all started one night at a normal dinner party hosted by Earl Holloway. His daughter, Lady Opal, had just become a debutante, but she had grown a little tired of all the crowds and stepped out into the garden, a space familiar to her. She’d visited the earl’s manor at the royal capital numerous times since she was young, and this garden had been the perfect playground for an energetic little girl like Opal. Even in dim lighting she knew her way and could navigate the garden quite well. However, the garden during this particular party was completely different from a usual afternoon stroll.

Someone suddenly hugged Opal from behind. Before she knew it, she was pushed down onto the grass, and a kiss was forced upon her. Something slimy touched her lips, and she scratched the face of her assailant, completely disgusted by the sensation. The man flinched and groaned in pain, giving Opal time to scream for help. She knew that guards were on standby within the garden.

She screamed without a second thought; the fatal implications of an unmarried woman dragged into such a fuss had never crossed her mind. As the guards drew near, the man hastily made his escape. Only Opal was left behind, her hair and dress a complete mess. As she sat there in a daze, both the guards and the party guests gathered around her. The guests’ eyes were filled not with pity but with curiosity.

Her memory was fuzzy after that. Opal remembered her attendant rushing to her side, carrying her back to her room, and putting her in a bath. Once cleaned, she had been put in bed and had promptly fallen asleep without being able to fully process the situation. The poor lady hadn’t a chance to predict what was to come.

Every year, the season of socializing was from spring to summer. High-ranking nobles gathered at the royal capital as every night, various parties and balls took place. These served as the perfect occasions to discuss politics and economics or to simply chatter away and exchange information.

Naturally, this was a critical time for unmarried men and women—and their parents. On the daily, nobles enacted secret plots against each other, dragging down others in order to secure the best partner they possibly could.

The next morning, Opal woke up and received a message from her father, a summons to his study. She quickly got herself ready and even skipped breakfast as she headed straight for his room and knocked on the door. Upon receiving a word of consent, she immediately entered and saw her father, Earl Holloway, seated at his desk with a look of chagrin.

“Good morning, father,” Opal said. “I heard that you called for me.”

“Why do you sound so carefree?” the earl demanded. “Do you understand what you did last night?”

“Indeed, I apologize for causing a commotion during the party last night. But I was able to make it out safe and sound—”

“That’s not the issue. The issue was your wretched appearance in front of such a huge crowd.”

The anger in his voice caused Opal to jolt in fear. Not once had she been asked if she was all right. In fact, her father wasn’t even interested in what had actually occurred last night. She knew her father quite well, but his blatant callousness lit a fire in her rebellious spirit.

“I didn’t do anything wrong!” Opal insisted. “That man should be to blame!”

“And do you know who this man is?” Earl Holloway asked.

“I do not. He fled when I shrieked and made a fuss.” Opal was proud of herself, lauding her own strength and courage to react in such a frightful situation, but her father only let out a deep sigh.

“And that’s the problem. Had you not made such a fuss, we could’ve kept this a secret from the rest of society.”

“But if I hadn’t, I would’ve been in so much more danger!”

“If we were able to protect your reputation, we would’ve been able to find a good husband for you, despite you losing your virginity. But now, rumors of you being a harlot have spread like wildfire. Only a few men will take you in now. But of course, the brat who visited us this morning is completely out of the question.”

“Pardon?”

Opal was tempted to point out that she was still a virgin, but she was unable to hide her shock at just how little her father cared for her well-being and couldn’t offer a word of rebuttal. She could only eke out another question.

“A brat came forward, claiming to be the one who met you last night,” the earl said. “He said he wants to take responsibility and marry you.”

“He stepped forward?” Opal asked. “After fleeing last night? He attacked me, and yet he has the gall to claim that it was a meeting?”

“You wandering out by yourself in the garden must have been a perfect opportunity for him. He’s the second son of a poor viscount’s house, after all. He claimed to have fled when you caused a fuss. Good grief,” Earl Holloway groaned. “I made a huge mistake inviting that cheeky kid to my manor.”

“A poor viscount’s house...”

Opal was dazed as she recalled a young man who’d been chasing after her recently. She came from a wealthy family and had quite a bit of dowry to offer, and those who heard this often targeted her for marriage. Opal, however, was always on guard. She’d lost her mother when she was young, and her father, who was obsessed with making money, paid no attention to her. Her brother, two years older than her, had entered a boarding school, and her family had been hardly present within the earldom. She had been raised all alone.

The servants within the manor were kind to her, of course. Still, Opal envied close-knit families and had dreamed that one day, when the time came, she’d create the warm household and loving family she had never had. And so, she yearned to marry a man she loved. She didn’t want to marry into a house for money and took it upon herself to find a partner that would see her true self.

While she did have a childhood friend she was close with, he was unfortunately the third son of a baron—her father wouldn’t permit her to marry a man like him. Opal had realized that early on and had quietly suppressed the burgeoning love she felt for him. With her heart full of hope, she’d made her way to the royal capital to meet the man of her dreams. But no one had attracted her.

No, there was one... Opal thought. She remembered the man that she had danced with just once. He was a young duke who had just graduated from university and rarely attended these dinner parties. Due to his high rank, the women at the party were embroiled in a vicious battle to claim him for their own, and it had been difficult to even get close to him.

However, when Earl Holloway had introduced his daughter to the duke, the young man had invited Opal to dance as an act of exchanging pleasantries. He was a man of few words, but the hands that touched hers had been very gentle, and the rare smile he had given still revealed his boyish innocence. Opal thought that her life would be filled with joy if she spent her days with him.

“Listen well,” Opal’s father said. “Truth be told, you can no longer hope for a good relationship. But there will certainly be someone who requires your money. I’ll inspect each man carefully and decide your marriage partner for you. Until then, you’d best not create another commotion. Is that clear?”

“Yes, father...” Opal replied. Her tone was meek, but she was so lost in her thoughts that she barely heard his words.

The earl, satisfied with her reply, gave a wave of his hand to send her back. The famished Opal obediently stepped out and headed to have some breakfast.

That night, Opal attended a dinner party hosted by a certain marquis. Only then did she truly understand what her father had said. The noblewomen who had been so friendly with her just the night before ignored her completely. The young men who had gathered around her the moment she’d made her appearance were nowhere to be seen. A few men still approached her, but a single glance at their attire made it clear that they weren’t wearing the latest fashion.

The ladies glared at her with contempt while whispering nasty rumors. Any normal noble lady would’ve been unable to tolerate this humiliation and would’ve fled from the scene, but Opal was stronghearted and stubborn. She stayed. She hadn’t done anything wrong; the blame should’ve gone to the man who’d tried to assault a frail lady like her. The viscount’s second son, who had confessed to the crime, wasn’t present.

He likely couldn’t appear in front of others for a while—Opal’s sharp nails had scratched his face. During the carriage ride home, her attendant grumbled about just how humiliated she’d been, but Opal ignored it all. If you don’t want to serve me, just quit.

She no longer had her mother, and there was no other woman of age within her family that could look after her. The attendant had simply been hired, and she was free to quit at any time. Ultimately, it seemed she couldn’t resist the fat paycheck and continued to tag along with Opal to societal occasions.

Opal remained proud and confident despite the rumors that swirled around her. However, she found it difficult to handle the men who were after her money or looking to indulge themselves in a night of debaucherous pleasure. Every time she managed to successfully rebuff their advances, they would claim she was “used to handling men,” only making the rumors worse.

In the blink of an eye, Opal’s circle of friends disappeared, and she received fewer and fewer invitations to societal occasions. But still, appearances needed to be maintained, and as the daughter of a wealthy countess, she was made to participate only when strictly necessary.

As the season drew to a close, Opal breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, she could return to her favorite manor, her favorite land. I’ll be forgotten about by next season, I’m sure of it. There’s always another scandal.

As her body rocked with the movements of the carriage, Opal spent the time eagerly awaiting being home with optimistic dreams about her ideal marriage.

2. Her Childhood Friend

Opal returned to her favorite manor, and the days passed as they usually had before she’d made her society debut. As usual, her father was obsessed with growing the family wealth. Ever since that fateful incident, he’d become completely disinterested in Opal. Her older brother was preparing to enter university, and he’d spend his lengthy vacation at his friend’s house, with no plans to return home. Opal had practically become something of a stepmother, and spent her days managing the manor, but she also enjoyed being active, like going horseback riding or climbing trees.

Surely, the residents of her earldom had heard rumors about her scandal, but they didn’t treat Opal any differently. Whenever she went to visit them, they paid their utmost respects and came to her for advice. Trying to spend every day to the fullest, Opal dedicated each afternoon to reading outside.

The sunlight was a touch strong these days, but with the end of summer around the corner, there was still relief to be found in the shade. Opal placed some baked snacks and fruits into a basket, grabbed a book on agriculture (her recent favorite read), and stepped out of the manor. Just a brief walk led her to the massive trunk of her favorite tree.

She’d scaled this tree numerous times as a child, and she was now able to easily climb up even with a basket on her arm. She tucked her basket between the trunk and a straight branch as she stretched her legs onto the familiar reading perch, leaning back against the trunk. She became so engrossed in her book that she failed to notice the footsteps of someone approaching.

“I don’t think a lady would ever climb a tree,” a voice suddenly called to her, making her jump with fright.

“Oh dear, Claude,” Opal said. “What have you been learning at your university? I’m sure there’s at least one lady out in the world climbing trees and helping with the field work.”

She tried her best to mask her initial surprise with her cheeky words, while Claude, her childhood friend, let out a deep chuckle in response, the soothing sound already calming her startled mind.

“I’m sure I only know of one such lady—she happens to originate from this earldom, in fact—but I’m still learning,” he said. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

“That seems for the best,” Opal replied.

Claude had just referred to Opal, who had just become a debutante, as a lady. He hadn’t changed one bit; perhaps he was ignorant of the rumors that swirled around her. Since he was off at university, there was a good chance that he was in the dark about the recent gossip. Opal vehemently wished Claude would never hear the salacious rumors about her. Though she had never been able to muster the courage to tell Claude how she felt, she still wanted to remain the usual, tomboyish, cheeky Opal Holloway in front of him.

She loudly shut her book, as though closing a door on her glum thoughts, and placed the book inside of her basket.

“Claude, will you be a dear and catch my basket?” she called down to him.

“All right.”

The moment he replied, she threw her basket down and expertly descended the tree. She didn’t need to check if Claude had caught her belongings—they’d done this numerous times before, and not once had he failed to catch them. When Opal made one final jump and landed on the ground, he gave a mischievous grin.

“I thought you were already done with climbing trees, Opal,” he said.

“By the time you graduate and become a splendid gentleman, I’ll surely be a perfectly respectable lady,” Opal retorted.

Claude was a year older than her older brother; he wouldn’t graduate for another three years. Perhaps she’d be married off by then and would be forced to part ways with her favorite tree. Needless to say, her future husband would undoubtedly disapprove of her outdoor antics. It would truly be a pity, but even Opal had some common sense. Her verbal jab had been intended as a joke, but Claude actually looked a touch hurt before quickly masking it with a smile.

But he couldn’t fool his childhood friend; Opal had noticed it.

“Claude?” she asked.

Her tone carried a hint of confusion, and Claude, who also knew Opal very well, immediately understood what her question was really asking.

“Ah, you’ve simply reminded me that I still have three whole years at that boring university,” he said. “And I’ve been given so much homework over my break that it’s overwhelming.”

“Oh, woe is me!” Opal replied sarcastically. “And? Whatever would you like for me to do? Speak words of comfort? Or shall I throw an angry fit at you rubbing it all in? You know that I’d love to go to a university. Just why is it that women aren’t allowed to work or become educated?”

She fell into her usual expression of resentment toward society, a complaint Claude had heard many times before.

He smiled and took the book from her basket. “You might not be going to university, but you’re still studying diligently. Trevor’s teaching you all about how to manage the earldom, no?”

There was no fooling her childhood friend. Indeed, Opal had been learning how to properly maintain the earldom. Between their schedules the two childhood friends could rarely find an occasion to meet, but apparently Claude could still read Opal’s mind very well, much to her frustration.

“When I turn twenty, I shall inherit the land my grandmother left behind,” Opal insisted. “It may not be a big plot of land, but even if I get married, it won’t belong to my husband. It shall be mine and mine alone. My asset. I’m currently having someone manage it for me, but when I’m twenty, I’ll do it all by myself.”

Claude paused for a moment. “Right. You’ve got land, don’t you?”

“I don’t mean to brag.”

“I know. I may not have an inheritance, but I have my freedom. My potential is limitless, so to speak.”

Claude had inherited nothing and had no form of material wealth. In contrast, Opal had her assets. She might have sounded a bit arrogant just then. She hastily tried to correct herself, but Claude didn’t seem to mind and just brightly smiled.

“Goodness, perhaps you’re the one being a bit audacious,” Opal sighed. She was relieved but made sure to include a sharp remark. “I’ve got no freedom at all. Oh, I wish I’d been born as a boy...”

Claude smiled and tousled her hair, something he’d done since they were kids.

“The world’s a troublesome place,” he said. “You’re you, and I think you should live as you like, Opal. You’ve got the strength to push through with your own will.”

“Claude...”

Had he actually heard the rumors after all? Something about his words made her think so, tears welling in her eyes, but she managed to keep her composure.

“Good grief!” she complained, glaring at him. “My hair is all a mess! Argh! Marcia will scold me again! It’s all your fault!”

“Sure, sure. I’m sorry,” he replied, sounding not at all apologetic.

The two burst out laughing and made their way back to the manor together where the maid, Marcia, was waiting to give them a good scolding. And once more, the pair of childhood friends giggled.

And despite Marcia’s exasperation, she remained loyal to Opal, staying in and doing the mending while Opal and Claude enjoyed an afternoon of playing board games. Everyone was so kind to Opal; the countess’s days were filled with happiness.

The following day, Opal and Claude embarked on a small trip to their childhood secret base, walking around a large boulder. They had invited the ladies-in-waiting to tag along as they picnicked and did some fishing. Opal had never enjoyed herself so much.

Unfortunately, the fun had to end, and now, it was time for Claude to return to his university.

“Opal, you’re a strong lady,” Claude said. “But even you will have your moments of sadness and struggle. Remember you don’t have to endure it alone, okay?”

“Claude...” Opal murmured.

“What I’m trying to say is, just come to me anytime if you need anything. I’ll fly over to you in a flash.”

“Mm-hmm... Thank you. Truly.”

This man understood her more than her father or brother and cared for her so deeply. She hated to see him leave, but she mustered her strength in order to bury her feelings once more and gave a beaming smile.

“Take care of yourself,” she managed to say. “Study hard.”

“I know, I know. I’ll see you later, Opal.”

“Till we meet again...”

As she gazed at Claude’s slowly receding figure she realized that the smile had faded from her face. She wasn’t honestly sure if they’d ever get a chance to meet again.

This time next year, I could be married.

She was still under the command of her father, Count Holloway. If he gave his order, she had to marry anyone he chose; she had no right to decline.

But maybe, when the season opens again, I’ll meet someone wonderful. Opal had regained much of her energy at the earldom—she looked to the next season with a hopeful heart. And it was that very season that she’d realize she’d been far too naive.

3. Condemnation

Opal had been certain that her second year as a debutante would go much better, but she returned to the earldom with a heavy heart. The rumors of her promiscuity hadn’t died down—far from it. She was now seen as a wild and unrestrained lady who did as she pleased.

Still, she’d done her best to go on morning walks with potential candidates, going out on the balcony with them, even giving them a kiss or two. But just as she’d experienced with the viscount’s second son the year prior, the kisses didn’t feel right, and she could only express her disgust, refusing to escalate the relationships any further. The men had had their pride shattered and, in response, escalated the original rumors even more by spreading outright lies about her.

In addition, the men Opal had refused to spend any time with at all spread even more rumors about her. Soon enough, Opal was firmly dubbed as a lecherous and lustful unmarried woman, an abhorrent lady. Her third year after her debut came and went.

Maybe I should just give up on marriage. Maybe I was meant to be free instead of trapped in a loveless marriage that would just drain my family’s wealth.

By the time Opal turned eighteen and was still unmarried, she’d given up on her dreams of creating a warm and loving household. When she’d turn twenty, she’d inherit that small plot of land left by her maternal grandmother, Olga Kensington. The land was more than enough for Opal to get by without much issue.

Just as she’d told Claude, this land would forever be hers even if she were to marry, and now, she started to understand how her grandmother had once felt. Opal had heard from her mother that the countess’s maternal grandfather was horribly strict and could often be seen carrying around a whip.

When Opal returned to her favorite manor, she decided to spend the rest of her year studying rather than playing around. She requested the aid of Trevor, the earldom’s manager, and her butler, Alton. By shadowing their work, she was able to learn a great deal about managing the land and the manor. Some time later Claude returned from the royal capital, spotted Opal hard at work, and was baffled.

“Do you really need to study that much, Opal?” he asked. “The earl simply reviews Trevor’s reports. Why don’t you follow suit and hire managers and butlers to do the work for you?”

“It’s disappointing to hear you say that, Claude,” the countess replied. “Since I no longer plan to marry, I’ve decided to live off my grandmother’s land when I turn twenty. I must be able to take care of the land on my own.”

“You don’t plan on marrying? Why?”

“Haven’t you heard? There are awful rumors about me going around. Ah, but perhaps you haven’t, since you’re still willing to be my friend.”

“Are you an idiot? Of course I’ve heard of them. I might be living in an all-male dormitory, but I’m not completely isolated from the world, you know. But it’s precisely because I’m your friend that I know those rumors...are false. You aren’t that kind of woman. Everyone at the manor feels the same; they’ve known you since you were a child, after all.”

“Thank you.”

Opal teared up when she heard Claude’s words, but she did her best to keep any from falling. She wasn’t the type to cry so easily. She hadn’t cried when she fell from a tree and broke her arm, nor when her favorite pony died.

“Don’t cry, my beautiful child. I always hope that you’ll smile,” Opal’s mother had said on her deathbed.

And so, a young Opal had done everything she could to suppress the tears that were already streaming down her cheeks and the snot that sullied her face as she did her best to muster a bright smile. Her dangerously skinny and frail mother, who surely must’ve had no strength to do such a thing, had slowly managed to smile back. Opal had only been ten years of age, but ever since, she’d vowed that she would never cry again. As long as she gritted her teeth and faced forward, people would undoubtedly smile back at her. Indeed, the people of the earldom did just that.

Opal didn’t care what the nobles said about her. Once the next social season ended, she planned on moving to the manor that her grandmother had left behind. She still had about two years until she turned twenty, but she’d already have spent three years socializing without being able to find a marriage partner. Who could blame her for giving up so soon?

The estate administrator was a very kind person. Perhaps having heard the rumors, they’d readily accepted Opal’s proposition. She’d handpick a few people to help her manage the land for the first few years, of course.

And so, Opal welcomed her fourth season with a rather sunny disposition. She could keep a smile on her face surrounded by gaudy debaucherous men or gauche women who didn’t bother to hide that they gossiped about her. She locked eyes with the duke that she’d danced with once, during those innocent days of yesteryear, before the nasty rumors. She had been a tad attracted to him back then, but as he now glared back at her, she didn’t care. Ever since that incident, whenever they met, he passed by her without so much as a word. It was as though the man was implying that Opal wasn’t even worth talking to. Though quite the breach of etiquette, the duke was allowed to exhibit such uncouth behavior.

The social season was a few days away from ending, and Opal was already packing up her belongings. She decided to head back to the earldom’s manor first before moving to the smaller abode that her grandmother had left behind. She’d already told the residents of the earldom her plans, and though they’d been sad to see her go, she’d quickly added that she’d only be a daylong carriage ride away from them.

All she had left was to attend a small concert hosted at a viscount’s house, and her social obligations would end for the season. She selected her dress for the night and gazed at the rest of her garments still lined up in the closet. She would have no use for any of these once the social seasons ended, and she planned on leaving them behind at the earldom’s manor. Opal knew that she’d still require some of the more sedate designs for future occasions and had them all packed up in her bags already.

It’s finally over.

Just then, a butler arrived at her room.

“My lord is waiting for you in his study,” he said.

“My father?” Opal asked.

“Quite so. He has asked you to visit him immediately.”

“Very well.”

The last time Opal had been called out to her father was over that fateful incident. She had been neglected ever since, and by this point she truly believed that her father had no interest in her. The fact that she was suddenly being summoned now didn’t feel right. But she had no right to refuse his call, and she had no intention of doing so either. She confidently stood in front of his study and knocked on the door.

“Come in,” a voice called.

Yet her presence went unacknowledged as she quietly opened the door and made her way inside. As usual, her father’s desk was a mess, the mountain of documents piled on top hinting at how busy he’d been. Despite having been the one who’d summoned her, her father didn’t look up and was busily writing away.

“Did you need me, father?” Opal asked, no longer able to endure the silence.

Her father grumpily looked up from his documents and let out a very loud sigh, placing his fountain pen down.

“A lady should never open her mouth first and, instead, should await the words of the master of the house,” he said. “But I suppose I’m partially to blame for not educating you enough. I’ve been far too permissive with you, Opal.”

“I apologize, father. But I must prepare for tonight’s—”

“Silence.”

Her father was never one to raise his voice, but he didn’t listen to his own advice either. Opal very much disliked this aspect of her father. She had been secretly suspecting that this was precisely why her older brother never came home—no one wanted to deal with their father. Opal was wary, but she did her best to modestly apologize, and her father immediately smiled happily, appeased. That smile was all it took to confirm Opal’s ominous premonitions.

“Rejoice, Opal,” he said. “Your marriage has finally been decided.”

Opal took a moment to process those words. “Pardon?”

“Not a bad partner either. I suppose it was worth it to wait three whole years. Had that debacle not occurred, we surely would’ve been able to seal this deal three years ago. You may be damaged goods, but I have no plans on handing you over to that brat or to those silly men who are only after your money.”

“Father, I don’t plan to marry—”

“I’ve already completed the contract with the opposite party, and I just received news that the marriage certificate has already been delivered. The ceremony will be in three days’ time.”

Opal was unable to vocalize her dissent; her fate had already been set in stone. Her mind was going a mile a minute, trying to find ways to wriggle out of this marriage, but a lady younger than twenty had no chance of doing so. Her father had let Opal do as she pleased because he’d had his sights set on this perfect marriage partner. No doubt her father had been waiting three years to grasp this man’s weakness and take advantage of him.

What kind of horrible person am I being married off to? Opal hurt with the news that her scandal meant she was no longer a virgin, and thus fated for a less than ideal husband. Could I divorce when I’m twenty?

“Father... Whom am I marrying?” Opal asked.

“So, you finally decided to ask,” her father replied. “Once you hear his name, I’m sure you’ll be grateful to me. Your husband will be Duke Hubert McLeod.”

“Duke McLeod?”

The moment Opal heard the name, her vision grew blurry and she felt faint. This was the very duke that she had danced with just once, three years ago. Opal had been a bit attracted to him, but he had ignored her ever since that fateful incident, and he had glared at her just the other day.

“Why...am I being married to such a high-ranking noble?” she inquired.

“Duke McLeod lost his parents when he was young and has been forced to carry his title from a young age. He lacks experience and is a touch naive. He may have been able to save himself three years ago, but he’s a very proud man and likely couldn’t reach out to others for help. He’s so deep in debt now that he feels he’s completely out of options. And so, in order to keep his ancestral land, he’s decided to sell himself.”

“Did the duke agree to marry me to pay his debt?”

“Precisely. It was tough for me to lie in wait and see him fall so low from grace. But patience is key with investments.”

“Investments...”

“Try thinking about it. You’re marrying a duke. As the father-in-law of a duke, I shall become the future maternal grandfather of the household. I’ll be able to conduct more work. Listen carefully, Opal. I’ve let you do as you please until now, but from today on show more restraint. Tackle your problems with the duke. I’m sure you’d be able to find some enjoyment in it.”