Chapter 80

"Welcome back, madam."

"Save your sarcasm, Conley. I’m tired, so please prepare a bath for me."

"Oh, oh, it seems you don’t understand your position, madam."

"Can’t I understand it? In this state?"

Opal, still bound with ropes, stepped down from the carriage and was greeted by Conley.

It was as if he was welcoming a mistress into the house, but it was clear he had come to see her in her humiliating state.

Opal, still bound, was led by Julian to her old room, not to be locked in the dungeon. ——Whether there was a dungeon or not, she didn’t know.

"Don’t think you can escape just because I’ve untied you."

"It seems everyone is sympathetic?"

"But they can imagine what will happen to them if they let you go."

"…What happened to Claude?"

"He’s fine without you. Unlike his owner, he’s straightforward."

With that, Julian left the room.

At least Claude seemed safe.

Opal sighed in relief and approached the window, swinging her newly freed arms. She looked outside.

There didn’t seem to be any guards, but escaping would be impossible.

When Opal exhaled deeply, the door opened, and maids carrying hot water entered.

"Can I take a bath?"

"Yes, madam. Julian had it prepared for you."

"Oh my."

Opal thought he might have a kind side, but her relief quickly turned to anger.

While she was bathing, Julian entered without knocking.

"Hey! What do you think you’re doing!?"

"Still in there? You’re taking a long bath."

"That’s not the issue!?"

"It’s not like I care about seeing you naked. We’re eloping, after all."

"Stop saying such nonsense!"

The maids, surprised by Julian’s sudden intrusion, gasped at his words.

It seemed the rumor of their elopement had spread even here.

They probably didn’t know if it was true or not.

"I brought you a letter. Take your time."

"Lowest of the low! Pervert! Julian, you fool!"

Opal hurled insults at Julian’s retreating back, but they had no effect.

Perhaps because they were too childish, the maids giggled.

Despite the tense situation, Opal found herself laughing along with them, which helped her relax even more than the bath had.

Afterward, Opal, who had just finished her bath, picked up the letters Julian had left.

There were three letters in total, all of which had already been opened.

"Well, of course."

Two were from her father, Lord Holloway, and Hubert.

The contents were replies to the letters Opal had written from the lead mine.

Her father clearly stated that he had no intention of getting involved in or funding the political struggles within the Kingdom of Taishi.

His response was so typical that Opal couldn’t help but laugh.

Hubert, on the other hand, expressed concern for Opal’s health and offered to help her whenever needed, stating that he would handle everything in the Kingdom of Sosie.

Next, Opal reached for the third letter.

It was from Omar, and Conley had apparently judged it to be about agricultural matters, as usual.

Indeed, the first two pages were about this year’s crops in the MacLeod duchy, and the next page contained advice for the Botticelli duchy.

The fourth page detailed the recent news about Omar’s household.

Reading about the butler Lind, the housekeeper Debbie, and the others made Opal smile.

She even chuckled at the last part, which mentioned a big win in a gambling match in the town of Nobori, where Roubault had won big.

Roubault’s message read, "The Duke of MacLeod has grown remarkably over these eight years," and even added, "It’s probably a reaction to being dominated by his first wife."

If Conley had read this letter, Julian must have laughed out loud as well.

"Oh, Roubault, you’re so mean."

While Opal might think such things, only Roubault would say them out loud, and Omar writing them down was just as bad.

Opal grumbled to herself but carefully stored the letters.

These letters were addressed to the Botticelli duchy, so they were written with the knowledge that they might be read by third parties.

The real information she wanted was sent to the Lucelle Marquis’s residence in the capital, which Claude had read and passed on to her recently.

So Claude and Alessandro knew that the Kingdom of Sosie would not take action. ——More accurately, Opal had made sure no one in the Kingdom of Sosie could act.

This settled the debt for the development of the Mantes test four years ago.

Hubert had also worked as the Duke of MacLeod for that purpose.

Now, it was time to settle things on her end.

Opal ate the dinner that was brought to her without leaving any, drank tea slowly, and then prepared for bed.

"Good night, madam… Please don’t be discouraged."

"Yes, I’m fine. Thank you. Good night."

"---Yes, good night, madam."

She smiled and thanked the maid who was encouraging her, then dismissed her with a good night.

Feeling guilty for betraying the kind maid, Opal opened the closet a little while later.

From there, she took out a dress she could put on by herself and the pants she had secretly taken off and hidden before the bath.

After changing, Opal read a book for a while, glancing at the clock several times.

On the fifth time she checked the clock, she walked to the window and quietly opened it.

"Hello, princess. I’ve come to save you this time."

"I was tired of waiting, but you’re right on time as usual."

Whispering this, Opal hugged Claude, who had entered the room.

Claude also hugged Opal tightly.