Responses
Super sorry if I remembered some small details/order wrong, but the general jist should be correct.
Where did you read the novel? Can you give me the link please?
I read on Syosetsu (in Japanese...) because I'm fluent XD
Teach me japaneseeeee plsss
I already read ahead a long time ago so...
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The duchy was a loan collateral managed by Omar, the Duke's property manager, whom he trusts blindly. That day, Omar came and had the Duke sign some papers, which he didn't bother to read. The time of repayment was up. The reason Opal cried was because she felt sorry for what she is now about to do. The Duke ended up signing the transfer documents blindly, therefore it means the collateral, which is the rights to everything, is now transferred to Opal. So she now owns his whole duchy.
The servants begrudgingly decide to stay and behave, and Opal still supports the entire mansion, including those that live in it.
The duke somewhat realizes how foolish and lazy he's been and spends the next few years trying to earn money to buy back the duchy. He was never in love with Stella, and has fallen for Opal. He eventually does earn back enough to repurchase the duchy, but in order to win back the heart of Opal, decides to gamble the repayment money on a piece of undeveloped land with some assets and great potential. However he does not have the technology nor the sufficient manpower to properly develop it, so instead of profiting he would've been stuck with a property that not only ate his wallet to smithereens, but also make him unable to repay Opal.
Opal's childhood friend, Claude, who apparently is the heir of the neighbouring kingdom?(duchy?) sorry---it's been like several months since I read it---was the one who secretly stepped in and helped the duke out with the support and technology. He reveals this when comes to see Opal, sometime after Opal rejects the Duke's proposal for remarriage.
Opal and Claude eventually get engaged, and the next arc/volume is set place in his kingdom/dukedom.