Duchess in the Attic: Volume 3 E-Book

Mori

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

Seitenzahl: 296

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

After a brief discussion with Claude, Opal heads to the Bocceli Duchy in Taisei Kingdom. While she still doesn’t have the whole picture yet, she understands her role clearly: bait. She must act as a diversion to assist her husband and Alessandro’s faction. She goes headfirst into danger, with her first step being the reform of the Bocceli Duchy, a region woefully behind on technology due to fears that using such items will bring upon the curse of the devil! As Opal patiently tries to encourage the duchy to embrace new technology and efficiency, she quickly finds herself under the strict surveillance of Julian. Just who is he? Why does Opal seem so oddly fixated on him? And what about the rumors that she’s gone and eloped with the man?

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Cover

Characters

Story

0. Duchess in the Attic

1. The Duchy

2. The Land Manager

3. The Inspection

4. A Stroll

5. Putting into Practice

6. The Mines

7. Port Pasma

8. Data

9. The Attic

10. A Tomboy

11. Window

12. Reunion

13. A Fortress

14. Lies

15. Letters

16. Boredom

17. Hostages

18. Getaway

19. A Promise

20. Planning

21. A Traitor

22. The Royal Palace

23. Misdeeds

24. Growth

25. The Rebels

26. The Trial

27. Evidence

28. Rights

29. Siblings

30. Favorite Foods

31. The Future

Extra Story 1: Julian

Extra Story 2: The Wedding

Afterword

Color Illustrations

About J-Novel Club

Copyright

Landmarks

Table of Contents

Color Images

0. Duchess in the Attic

Opal opened the rickety window of the attic and took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of dirt and greenery. The sky, filled with countless twinkling stars, felt so close that it was as though the dazzling lights would rain upon her head at any moment. Opal whirled around to get another good look at the dark room that was illuminated only by starlight. The space had a low ceiling, a hard bed, creaking floorboards, and a window that groaned with every strong breeze. But Opal just chuckled; she felt nostalgia more than any sense of confinement.

She’d come to Taisei Kingdom, a whole new world, and married Claude, who had been bestowed the title of duke and granted a plot of land. Never in a million years, however, would she have dreamed that she’d be trapped in the Bocceli Duchy. She knew the duchy was home to a few who opposed the rule of the current king Alessandro—her mistake was that she hadn’t expected them to act so boldly.

Her heartfelt chuckles soon turned awkward when her previous time in an attic came to mind. Opal expelled a deep sigh. Eight years ago, she’d married Duke Hubert McLeod and had been villainized by him and his servants. The young duchess had forsaken all attempts of negotiation and had holed herself up in the attic. I was arrogant then, wasn’t I? Opal thought.

Back then, she’d believed that she wasn’t in the wrong—that she’d made the correct choice. And perhaps that was true. Duke McLeod’s land had developed considerably since, making his duchy one of the most, if not the most, most successful lands in Socille, bountiful with riches. However, one could never forget that the duchy was home to fertile soil and that the duke himself had received plenty of support from those around him. Opal couldn’t have turned his entire duchy around if she’d been completely on her own.

Opal had created many businesses after she’d married Claude, but this was due in no small part to the fact that she too had been helped by people around her. She’d only been able to help women become independent in her home kingdom of Socille and improve the working environment in Manthest because Claude and others had lent their assistance. I hope Claude’s all right...

It’d been seven years since Alessandro claimed the throne in Taisei, but opposing forces were still alive and well. No doubt the incident that had occurred in the royal villa, on the outskirts of the royal capital, had been organized by someone as part of their nefarious scheme against the crown. It had all come about because Opal, already worried about her husband—away on Alessandro’s bidding—had suddenly received a letter summoning her to the royal villa. The letter had contained the king’s signature, and though Opal had her doubts, she couldn’t ignore the summons entirely.

And so, with heightened vigilance, she had gone to visit the royal villa, only to spot her beloved Claude in bed with a mysterious woman. The truth had quickly come to light. Someone had tried to ruin Claude and Opal’s marriage. She had known at once that the summons from the king had been forged, and was entirely exasperated. But still, she couldn’t have stopped her stubborn side from leaking out.

“I suppose we’ll be living separately for a while,” Opal had said. “I’m furious about what just happened, so I’ll hole myself up in the duchy.”

“Then I’ll repent for my actions as we live apart before I come to pick you up,” Claude had replied.

Opal had been planning on visiting the Bocceli Duchy anyway. Claude had been surprised to hear her words and though he had hesitated, he had ultimately allowed Opal to do as she pleased. In truth, Opal had actually been a bit anxious to go alone, but she had once again put on a strong front before she quickly parted ways with her husband. That wasn’t cute of me at all.

It was unusual for Opal to have such lingering regrets; clearly, she was in quite poor spirits. She’d been nervous during her entire ride to the royal villa, and now she was exhausted. She returned to her bed and took some slow, deep breaths in hopes that she’d fall asleep. As she closed her eyes, nostalgic memories flooded her mind.

Unlike how things had been eight years ago, she now had plenty of allies and friends. This wasn’t contained to just the Taisei Kingdom either—beyond the sea, there were plenty of workers doing their best for her sake. And above all... Opal’s thoughts trailed off as her breathing grew deeper still. She’d fallen into a deep slumber.

1. The Duchy

It had been a few days since Opal and Claude parted ways on the outskirts of the capital, where they had met at the royal villa. Opal waved her hand at the people who were lined up on the roads for her arrival as she let out a small sigh. Everyone bowed their heads, so they couldn’t see her face. She hadn’t given prior notice of her visit to the Bocceli Duchy, but somehow the residents had already been informed. Opal didn’t expect it and thus hadn’t prepared herself for a warm welcome—but all the villagers had stopped their work and gathered to greet their new mistress.

When I arrive at the duchy, I must tell everyone that such a grand welcome is unnecessary,Opal thought. She wasn’t sure if these warm greetings were due to meeting their new duchess for the first time, or if they were always this welcoming, but neither she nor Claude wished for such gestures of grandeur.

But despite such a formal welcome the residents couldn’t entirely hide the state of their land, and in the grand scheme of things, Opal felt that her sudden visit was a success. It wasn’t as if she thought the land manager was neglecting their duties, but generally, people in that position tended to try to obscure things if the land they were responsible for wasn’t in the best shape. Prior reports had shown that the land’s poverty wasn’t due to the mismanagement of the person in charge. Hence, Opal had arrived to rectify the situation. She didn’t expect to solve every little issue with her visit, but if she didn’t start somewhere, the situation would never change. I have to say, the state of these people is quite alarming...

The residents that came to greet her weren’t exhausted or weary from their daily labor—no, they were clearly trembling in fear at the sight of their new duchess. Some were even trying to hide their repulsion, a clear sign that her next challenge would be no easy feat.

Do they despise the fact that Claude wasn’t born in Taisei and is somewhat lowborn, as the son of a baron? Is it me they dislike, since I am from Socille? This territory has somewhat oppositional leanings—are they wary of Claude since he’s close with His Majesty Alessandro? To be fair, while Claude might be related to Earl Roussel, he’s a young man who came from the Socille Kingdom and almost overnight became a marquis. Now, he’s been bestowed the title of Duke Bocceli and has been given a plot of land. From an outsider’s perspective, I can see how this all might seem a bit too convenient.

As various thoughts swirled around in her mind, the carriage clattered into the Bocceli Duchy. The ladies-in-waiting all let out gasps of awe and Opal looked up, shocked by the manor that stood solemnly in the distance.

One of her attendants, Nadja, couldn’t stop her jaw from hitting the floor. “I’ve never seen such a magnificent castle in my life!”

“Quite right,” Opal agreed. “It’s no wonder it’s called the ‘Palace of the North.’”

She’d heard rumors, of course, but she hadn’t expected the manor to be so impressive, majestic, and beautiful. Also known as the Pearl Palace, the Palace of the North was owned by the house of Duke Bocceli, a household that in generations past had held great power. They had been so powerful that they had practically split the nation in two with their influence and had been hugely threatening to the royal family. During that split, this manor had been built, a proud display of Bocceli’s power. The building was constructed from white marble, a material that could only be harvested outside the duchy, and was another display of their wealth and power.

The nickname ‘Pearl Palace’ was due not only to the milky-white color of the manor but also the ocean route required to transport the material. Transporting all this marble by land would be a trial. Opal began to envision where the marble would come from. The northern region where the Bocceli Duchy was based was highly mountainous. Time, funds, and manpower were essential to carry all this rock, and thus, any ores and minerals that had been excavated from the duchy were most likely sold abroad, carried across the ocean to be sold to foreign nations, including Socille. The duchy would also import any heavy materials. I’m pretty sure that the stone was imported from Socille, then.

North of Manthest, the city Opal co-owned, there was a huge mine boasting a large nearby port. Trade was seemingly booming; nearly all the silver mined from the duchy was making its way to that port. The sales from this trade were most likely what was funding the king’s opposition—and had probably also funded the opposition to the king’s younger brother eight years ago.

The Bocceli Duchy and the royal capital were a fair distance from each other and were additionally separated by quite a few mountainous areas. Once the duchy claimed its own trade route, their threat to the royal family’s power had been firmly solidified.

Eight years ago, that threat had turned into reality. Yet even after the civil war, King Alessandro hadn’t tried to place the duchy under the royal family’s direct control because the royal family was unable to comfortably manage such a large plot of land. The area itself was much too tricky for someone like a young prince to manage. And here Opal sighed, reminded of the king’s cunning once again.

His Majesty always had a smile on his face and was prone to humor, so it was quite easy to be friendly with him. But underneath that sunny veneer was an astute man, highly observant of his surroundings, with a clever mind that quickly solved any manner of issues that arose. He was, quite simply, a brilliant monarch. He played up his favoritism toward Claude so he could draw out those who opposed him. And if Claude’s enjoying himself, there’s nothing I can do.

Opal had spent the past eight years apart from her beloved, and there were many things she didn’t know about her husband yet. Still, there were quite a few things about him that hadn’t changed. He could find joy in the most tedious of tasks and was endlessly kind to those less fortunate than him.

The citizens of the duchy had suffered from the negative effects of a tyrannical ruler for a long time and were battered by poverty. Though the management of the land had fallen to someone else for quite a few years now, any decisive push for reform had yet to come to fruition. The previous manager had reported that outsiders were treated with much suspicion and that the residents generally looked upon newcomers unfavorably. And so, Claude had been forced to shoulder all the trouble.

The timing was eerily perfect. Clearly, this decision had been made because Opal’s skills and funds had helped rebuild the McLeod duchy. Claude was asked to return, even if that meant kidnapping me, wasn’t he? It was apparently what King Alessandro had said when Claude left Taisei to ask for Opal’s hand in marriage. His Majesty’s casual remark most likely had quite a few different meanings. It occurred to Opal that her visit here on her own had been spurred by His Majesty calling away Claude on business.

The two men had apparently become close from the civil war that had occurred nearly a decade ago, in which Claude had served as a replacement for his grandfather, Earl Roussel. But even after Alessandro had claimed the throne, he continued to joke with and prank Claude every chance he had. His Majesty’s cruel. How could he work a newly married man to the bone?! I’ll restore this land and return it to him at once!

Gradually, her anger toward the king had begun to grow. But above all, the scene that she’d witnessed in the royal villa had caused her anger to reach a near breaking point. Though she had been able to appear calm, on the inside what she had seen had shocked her to her core. The only reason she’d let Claude off easy was because she believed in him. He even seemed to have in mind a clear suspect who was behind sneaking a woman into his bedroom, and he was hard at work to take care of the issue. All Opal could do was fulfill her role as well.

The Bocceli Duchy was an important plot of land. Opal was aware that once issues here were resolved, it would likely be exchanged for some other plot of land from the royal family. She had no complaints on that end; she expected it to happen. Even so, she wasn’t going to sit back and take it easy. Filled with renewed resolve, she clenched her fists and braced herself.

“Madam, your face is terrifying,” Nadja remarked. “You’ll make everyone tremble in fear even more than they already are.”

“Oh dear. I’m sorry,” Opal apologized.

It seemed she’d furrowed her brow and stiffened her face quite a bit. Her jokingly snooty response earned a few chuckles from her lady-in-waiting and maid. The two had been brought along from the manor of Marquis Roussel, formerly owned by the earl, Claude’s grandfather.

Before Opal knew it, the impressive manor was right in front of her eyes. The doors of the entrance were wide open, and servants lined up to greet the new duchess.

“Will things be all right for me here?” a maid murmured anxiously.

“Of course they will!” Nadja assured. “You’ve got madam with you!”

She spoke with confidence, and Opal smiled and nodded in agreement. Both the maid and lady-in-waiting breathed a sigh of relief. Eight years ago, Opal had been all alone. But it was precisely because she had been alone that she could act so freely. Will I be able to protect everyone? Opal wondered. But soon after she shook herself free from any worried thoughts.

Nadja had worked hard to learn etiquette precisely so that she could assist Opal. The other two attendants had also volunteered to tag along and had taken excellent care of Opal—all three of them were her allies. We don’t know if the servants at the manor are hostile just yet, but it’s better to remain vigilant. She might have been the duchess, but here she was stepping into enemy territory. The influence of the previous Duke Bocceli still lingered here, and opposition to the crown was surely still present. And it was because the citizens were so old-fashioned that they lagged so far behind on developing their land, not to mention how the relative isolation of the region played no small part in fashioning their views.

On her trip to the manor, Opal could see that the streets were poorly maintained and the agricultural tools in use were old, practically ancient—they resembled the ones in McLeod’s duchy eight years ago. Her goal was the same here as it had been then. She’d develop the Bocceli Duchy and make it prosperous while prioritizing the residents’ wishes. Opal took a deep breath and smiled.

“Now then, shall we go?” she said quietly.

“Yes, madam!” the three energetic ladies responded.

The carriage stopped. Opal had steeled herself, but she still trembled slightly at the sight of the majestic manor. Not so long ago, this veritable palace had served as the home base for a prominent member of the opposition. She braced herself as she climbed up the stairs with Nadja and her other attendant. A middle-aged man standing in front of the door stepped forward and gave a deep bow.

“Thank you for coming all this way, Duchess Bocceli. My name is Connelly, and I serve as the butler of this manor,” he said.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Connelly,” Opal replied. “I hadn’t given prior notice of my visit, but I’m elated to receive such a warm welcome.”

She flashed a friendly smile as she analyzed Connelly; she could feel the gazes from the other servants as well.

“It’s been a while since we could welcome a mistress to this palace, Your Grace,” he said. “We’re simply ecstatic.”

“Why, thank you,” Opal replied. “You seem to be very attentive. I’m relieved to see a butler like you in this manor.”

“Your words are far too kind.”

Connelly referring to this manor as a “palace” spoke to his prideful nature. And since all the other servants remained in line after their brief exchange, it was clear that Connelly had a decent relationship with the rest of the servants in the manor. Opal decided to act a bit more arrogant than usual as Connelly introduced her to the other servants, and she, in turn, introduced Nadja and her two attendants. Once formalities were over, she was guided to her room.

The interior of the manor was as splendid and gorgeous as its exterior. There were unfortunately some new purchases that stuck out like a sore thumb here and there, creating a sense of lavishness to the space that was so jarring it was almost tacky. Every now and then, Opal would pose Connelly a question, delaying their trip to her room. But even without delays Opal could tell the trip would take quite a while, due to the sheer size of the place.

When she finally reached her room, her belongings were swiftly brought inside, giving her no time for rest. Perhaps she could’ve just relaxed at this, but Opal was not the type to rest while others were working hard on her behalf. Her rank didn’t permit her to help them out much, however, and so she sipped on her tea as she feigned relaxation. It seemed that here, she was still seen as the scandalous Opal Holloway.

That was the common belief when she had first arrived in Taisei, but recent ordeals upon her return from Socille had changed her reputation considerably. Newspapers praised her to an almost obscene degree, with headlines claiming that she was an elegant, valiant noblewoman who kindly gave weak women a helping hand as she uncovered the sinful deeds of young, debaucherous nobles. She had become rather popular among the public, pushing the nobility of Taisei to decide it would be most advantageous if they accepted Opal into their society.

But, as she’d been told, the Bocceli Duchy was a different story. Once she had entered the mountainous terrain of the north she had entered a place where both the lifestyle of the residents and their access to information operated completely differently than the rest of Taisei. Opal cared nothing for her reputation, but it would be a problem if that hindered her reformation plans. She knew that traditions were important and should be maintained, but if the people refused to adapt, their duchy would only become even more isolated from the rest of the kingdom. This train of thought might be born from my hubris, but this all seems a little...intentional.

It might have been difficult to transport stone across land, but rumors had no such barrier. Information could easily be passed through the grapevine, and the duchy was fortunate enough to have several ports, making it a hub for trade. Surely, new ideas and information would be in abundance here.

The same logic applied for agricultural tools. Opal had first assumed that the Bocceli Duchy simply lacked the funds to upgrade, but it was odd to see that the farmers here didn’t even have access to scythes. I’ve been told that there’s been no signs of any pestilence plaguing this land.

The Bocceli Duchy had served as a base for the anti-Alessandro faction. Perhaps the political struggle had caused a delay in modernizing agricultural tools.

But the civil war ended quite a few years ago. Why has nothing still been done about this place? It may be isolated, but surely there’s more than enough room for reform. Opal realized at once that her thoughts were an insult to the territory. The clever Alessandro had personally selected a replacement to manage the land—they were certainly no slouch. There must’ve been a reason behind the outdated duchy, but Opal was simply too exhausted from her trip to divine what it was.

Oh no... My thoughts are in a whirl. I haven’t even seen the duchy properly, so it’s too early to jump to conclusions anyway. Her cup of tea had long been empty, and soon enough Nadja informed her that the bath was ready. The duchess stood, then noticed how the maids and ladies-in-waiting of the manor were still stiff with nerves. They’ll loosen up in time, she thought. Opal decided to clear her mind and entered the bath. She ate a light meal afterward and decided to head to bed earlier than usual.

2. The Land Manager

The next morning Opal woke up bright and early as she usually did, surprising the servants. Clearly, early-rising nobles were unusual throughout the kingdom. She informed the servants that she’d have breakfast in her room, but starting tomorrow, she’d like to eat in the breakfast room. After she ate, she summoned Connelly to her room to discuss future plans.

“The land manager, you say?” he asked.

“That’s right.” Opal nodded. “Someone is in charge, no? This place is far too large for you to manage alone.”

“May I ask why in the world you’d like to meet him?”

“To discuss this entire duchy, of course.”

“You, madam?”

“Yes, me. My schedule is free, so I am willing to accommodate whatever time constraints he has. I’d also like to greet our neighbors. Could you provide me with a list of their names later?”

“Very well.”

Connelly clearly looked displeased, but he had no choice but to reluctantly follow his mistress’s orders. His reaction worried Opal. Had she sprung it upon him too suddenly? But she was justified in her requests, she thought to herself—the harvest season was quickly approaching, and she had no time to spare. Just as she’d done eight years ago in the McLeod duchy, she wanted to provide the farmers here with scythes and a thresher. She’d already discussed it with Omar and purchased from him the same threshers they had first bought eight years ago. Preparations had been made to send them over via the port. Perhaps it would have been better to buy the latest farming equipment, but Opal feared that such an abrupt change would unpleasantly surprise the farmers, and because she needed quite a few, the used machines would do just fine for now. She’d already requested that the smiths of the McLeod duchy forge new scythes, and the rest of them would be made by the smiths here in the Bocceli Duchy.

Opal arrived at the study just before lunch, and Connelly introduced her to Duncan, the manager of the Bocceli Duchy. The duchess smiled and outstretched her hand for a shake, but Duncan clearly looked upset by his situation and scowled without returning the gesture. She had reached out for a handshake, but it seemed Duncan assumed she wanted him to kiss the back of her hand. It was clear a rocky road was ahead of her, and soon, she would learn the road was much rockier than she had ever expected.

“I’d like for everyone to use a scythe for this harvest,” Opal said. “I already know that the farmers will quickly get used to them, and you don’t need to worry about the number of tools either. I’ve already ordered them from the smiths of the Socille Kingdom.”

“We have no need for scythes,” Duncan grumbled.

“Pardon?”

“Such tools are unnecessary.”

“How so?”

Opal had wanted to provide scythes and a thresher to increase efficiency and decrease workload; she hadn’t expected Duncan to be so vehemently against it. She’d already told him that they would have enough tools to go around, and it wouldn’t take much time for farmers to get used to them. Is there any other reason for refusal? Before she could pose her question, Duncan gave a shocking answer.

“Because they’re the tools of the devil.”

“Tools of the devil?” Opal parroted. “The scythes?”

“And this thresher as well.”

Opal was speechless in her astonishment. She looked intently at Duncan’s face and realized he was entirely serious. The duchess managed to gather herself and tried to explain further.

“I understand where you’re coming from,” she started. “The shapes of scythes might look similar to the tools that devils use. One might call a scythe the trusted companion of the grim reaper. But if you look closely, the scythes that I’m offering are quite different in shape. And above all, they’re very convenient. I planned on installing a harvester in the near future, but shall I implement that first instead, if that helps?”

“No, there’s no need,” Duncan replied firmly. “I won’t be swayed by your promises of convenience.”

“But as things are here, the farmers would be burdened with hard work for the rest of their lives. In the south and in other areas where this technology is used, work efficiency has increased drastically. In addition, workers who use these tools have been found to have increased free time which they can enjoy as they see fit.”

“And that’s why eight years ago there was a pestilence in the south.”

“Technology has nothing to do with that!”

Opal had tried to remain cool, but at the blithe mention of the plague that had claimed so many lives she couldn’t help but raise her voice in a shout. She quickly fell silent. Being emotional would never persuade the opposition. As she glanced at Duncan’s face once more, she could easily see that his decision was set in stone, and so, instead of pushing the matter, she chose to back off for now.

“Let’s revisit this topic another time,” Opal said. “If it’s all right with you, I’d like for you to guide me to the nearby farmland. Do you mind?”

“Are you going to visit the land, madam?” Duncan asked.

“That’s right.”

“There are other more suitable places to have a picnic.”

“There will be no picnicking; I’m going to inspect the place. Now then, I shall be ready to go after lunch. Please call for me then.”

She quietly held herself back; she knew that her words would make little difference here. Internally, she grumbled not only at Duncan but at King Alessandro as well. His Majesty must’ve been aware of this situation, and yet Opal had been kept in the dark about it this entire time. She was furious, but upon returning to her room, she realized knowing ahead of time wouldn’t have changed her situation. Sure, she might have been able to prepare herself mentally, but it’s not like she could have devised an entire plan. Only when she saw this land for herself had the gravity of her situation sunk in.

Even so, I would’ve very much preferred to know about this! It makes a huge difference! She was furious at Alessandro. Had Claude known about it, he would’ve undoubtedly given Opal a word of advice—clearly the king had decided this on his own. But dwelling on it will get me nowhere. Opal took deep breaths to calm herself and relayed her afternoon plans to Nadja.

“Nadja, I know it’s only been a day, but how are the people here?” Opal asked. “Do you think that you can get along with them?”

“Well, they’re a bit distant with me still, but they’re all kind,” Nadja replied. “It seems they sympathize.”

“Sympathize?”

“You’re a selfish and carefree woman who wildly acts as she pleases, apparently. I suppose it must be tough for me to serve you, or so I’m told.”

“Oh, is that all? I’m no longer a harlot or anything?”

“The servants have no comments of that kind. But there are also rumors that your husband, Marquis Roussel—now Duke Bocceli—has already abandoned us. That earns us some pity.”

“So my husband has apparently abandoned everyone, then?”

“Apparently so.”

“I see...”

Opal was a bit surprised to hear about her reputation from Nadja. The incident that had occurred in the royal villa, before Opal had left the royal capital, had already spread. And if even a faraway land like the Bocceli Duchy was in the know about such a recent event, it was evident that information was being manipulated. Someone in this manor had been able to find out about happenings in the capital before she was even able to arrive here.

“If it gets too much for you, would you come to me for advice?” Opal inquired. “Until then let them speak as they please. Could you also tell the others that they can do as they like as well?”

“Your wish is my command!” Nadja replied.

The ladies-in-waiting, maids, and menservants that Opal had brought with her from the royal capital all favored her quite a bit. It was imperative for her to look out for them so that they wouldn’t feel harassed in any way, but she also wanted to observe their behavior for a while. Duncan’s beliefs are an issue here.

There was a famous myth about the indolence of man. It said that long ago the devil had used sweet words to persuade humans to live a slovenly, idle life. When a plague swept through the population, wars broke out to no end. From the desperation of man emerged a god who saved humanity.

None of the information Opal had received about this region indicated that the people here deeply believed in this legend. If Duncan was the only one with these beliefs, it wouldn’t be too difficult to convince him, but if many of the residents were equally opposed to technological innovations, she knew that she was in for a rough time. I must think of a plan once I return from this afternoon’s inspection. Opal had certainly solved many issues in the past, but that was because the people involved were cooperative.

She’d only been able to reform the McLeod duchy precisely because Omar was accepting of new tools. He had initially been difficult because of how guilty he had felt about his debts and his embezzling, but he’d provided Opal with plenty of advice about farming. Right! I’ve done agricultural reform before! I know that I’ll be fine!

Ever since she was a child, she’d been carefully taught by Trevor, the manager of the Earldom of Holloway, and for the past eight years she had made full use of this knowledge. Her mind churned with adjustments as she sat at her desk and proceeded to write three letters.

Her first letter was for Manthest’s port. The agricultural tools were on standby. She ordered the tools to be sent to Port Pasma, located north of the Bocceli Duchy. Her second letter was addressed to Claude, informing him that she’d safely arrived at the manor with an additional explanation of the current situation. Her third and final letter was for Omar as she humorously described the circumstances that she now found herself in. As she finished writing, Connelly came and told her that lunch had been prepared.

“Thank you,” Opal said. “I shall be there shortly.”

She had already told the manor that she’d have breakfast and lunch every day in the breakfast room. Her dinner would be prepared in a small dining room, but she knew that she’d need to tour the full manor tomorrow and come up with all sorts of ideas. I didn’t think I’d tour the land before the manor.

Perhaps this was unheard of for the mistress of a manor, but it was clear that the duchy was in dire need of reform and required it as soon as possible. The manor could wait. When she told Connelly of her afternoon plans, he masked whatever thoughts he had with an expressionless face. The one thing that Opal knew for sure was that now she had far more allies than she had eight years ago. I’ll be fine. I’m not even sure if he totally opposes me yet.

The previous lord of the house, Duke Bocceli, was the enemy of Claude and King Alessandro, but surely the servants had thoughts of their own, separate from their former master’s. She wanted to reform the duchy as soon as possible, but she committed to memory that it was equally important not to hurt the feelings of the servants of the duchy manor. With renewed determination, she left her room for lunch.

3. The Inspection

Once Opal returned from her inspection, she handed Nadja her hat and exhaled deeply. She wasn’t physically tired, but she was a touch confused. Her inspection had gone more smoothly than she’d expected, but she only began to question Duncan even more.

When Opal had first stepped out for the inspection, the farmers had all stopped their work and welcomed their duchess with bowed heads, as though to hide the fear in their faces. She was at once annoyed at herself, for she’d forgotten to mention that such gestures were completely unnecessary. She had immediately told everyone that from here on out there was no need for them to stop their work just to greet her.