Duchess in the Attic

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?

Opal moves to the Taisei Kingdom with her beloved and childhood friend, Claude. While her new husband had made a name for himself in Taisei, they both know their new home doesn’t take kindly to foreigners. Behind the shimmery glamour of aristocracy lies nasty gossip and misogyny; they view Opal as a wanton woman! But Opal is nothing if not stubborn, and she won’t let these bullies have their way with her! She’s got a keen mind and a sharp tongue, and she’s not afraid to fight back. All the while, trouble looms: a letter from the king has Opal finding her beloved...in bed with another woman?! It can’t be! He isn’t the type to commit such a horrible act! Opal hasn’t married an adulterer... Or has she?!

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?

Now blessed with her beloved son, Ludrick, who just turned one, the duchess Opal Holloway decides to finally relax a little from her work; nothing is more important to her in the world than her dear son and husband. Unfortunately, poor Opal can’t catch a break! While in the attic of her new home she receives a summons from none other than King Alessandro. The king asks Opal to become chaperone and tutor to his niece, the immature and selfish heiress Princess Ellie of Lumeon. Though she refuses at first, once she sees Ellie for herself, the duchess eventually agrees. Little does she know that doing so will throw her headfirst into a conspiracy that involves serial murders, scammers, and a powerful group looming over Lumeon itself...

Opal once again dives headfirst into danger, this time without Claude! The duchess sails to Lumeon to support her friend, Princess Ellie, who will soon ascend the throne and become grand duke. Unsurprisingly, much trouble is bubbling under the surface: Ellie’s cousin Mikhail is adamant that they incite a revolution to replace Lumeon’s monarchy with a republic, while her uncle Eckhardt, the acting grand duke, rules the nation—and Ellie herself—with an iron fist. Not to mention that rumors that Eckhardt has hidden away a massive amount of wealth have spread like wildfire, causing the whole world to watch Lumeon in hopes of snatching such a lucrative treasure. Spies, assassins, and elites from all over the globe will stop at nothing to obtain that money for themselves. Can Ellie overcome the hurdles that plague her nation and successfully rule over her people? Can Opal provide the support that the princess so desperately needs? And what in the world is Julian up to?