is a Japanese light novel series written by Mori and illustrated by Fuyuko Aoi. It was initially serialized on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō from December 2017 to December 2019. It was later acquired by Fujimi Shobo who began publishing it under their Kadokawa Books imprint in June 2018. A manga adaptation illustrated by Maki Hayashi began serialization in Enterbrain's B's Log Comic online magazine in March 2019.
Premise Countess Opal was assaulted on the night of high society, leading to malicious slander and the loss of her reputation. Years of isolation later, she finds himself married off to Duke Hubert as a deal to cover his debts. Things are horrible in her newlywed life, being forced to live an attic and treated with hostility by the servants. Making it even more unusual is Hubert's childhood friend Stella already resides in the mansion and the servants all adore her.
Forbidden from helping manage the duchy, Opal has had enough and takes matters into her own hands. A reversal of fortune to outsmart them all will start in the attic.
Characters Opal Halloway Slandered as a harlot due to rumors of her assault getting muddied, Opal gives up on ever having a good relationship with Hubert and instead works to save the duchy from both his incompetence and the steward's embezzling. After spending years cleaning up Hubert's mess and forcing him to learn how to do his job, Opal forces a divorce. Allowing her the freedom to be with her true love, Claude. Hubert While a duke in name, he never reads reports and just signing off on them; never bothering to check on his territory. Though this is due to trauma from his parents dying in his youth and excessive coddling by the servants. His trauma results in overprotectiveness of Stella, whom is in poor health and his little sister figure. After Opal shows herself capable and chaste for years (cleaning up his messes), he developed a crush on her; though she emotionally blackmails him into divorce because of all the trouble he caused her over the years. Stella Childhood friend of Hubert who is confined in wheelchair. She loathes Opal for gaining the title of wife, seeing her as an obstacle and remaining completely unaware that Opal was forced into the marriage. Stella has been in love with Hubert for years. Claude Opal's childhood friend, former servant and true love. Visiting his mother's relatives in another kingdom, resulted in Claude inheriting his grandfather's title, forced on him by the king as repayment for backing him taking the throne. He and Opal become engaged once she has her freedom, much to the ire of the gold digging women after Claude's rank.
Media Light novel Written by Mori, Duchess in the Attic was initially serialized on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō from December 10, 2017, to December 29, 2019. It was later acquired by Fujimi Shobo who began publishing the series with illustrations by Fuyuko Aoi under their Kadokawa Books light novel imprint on June 9, 2018. Later volume releases included illustrations by Yasuyuki Shuri (volume 3) and Komeko Amajio (volume 4 onwards) with Aoi credited for character design. Five volumes have been released as of January 10, 2024.
During their panel at Anime Expo 2024, J-Novel Club announced that they had also licensed the novels for English publication.
Manga A manga adaptation illustrated by Maki Hayashi began serialization in Enterbrain's B's Log Comic online magazine on March 5, 2019. The manga's chapters have been collected into seven volumes as of December 2025.
During their panel at Anime NYC 2023, J-Novel Club announced that they had licensed the manga adaptation for English publication.
Reception By December 2025, the series had over 2.4 million copies in circulation.
Alongside Zenryoku de, Aishite Ii Kana?, the manga adaptation won the Women's Comic Prize at the NTT Solmare's Digital Comic Awards 2022.
References
External links at Shōsetsuka ni Narō