Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 0

Prologue

The Emperor’s eternal companion.

The sword of the knight that defends the empire.

These are the phrases that always precede the name of the Mecklen family.

I was married into the Mecklen family, one of the most prestigious families in the Baden Empire, through a political alliance. The Duke of Mecklen was a cold, calculating man, but his loyalty to the Emperor and the empire was unparalleled. He was so occupied with his duties in key government positions that the days he spent at home were few and far between. Even on the rare occasions when he did come home, he was too busy with other matters for us to have a proper conversation.

In the Duke’s absence, his mother, Caroline, took it upon herself to educate me, staying by my side every hour of the day. She drilled me on my duties as the lady of the Mecklen household. However, in truth, I was nothing more than her proxy.

Managing the family’s assets, overseeing the trading company, and controlling the Mecklen servants—these core responsibilities were entirely within Caroline’s domain. If I ever tried to take the initiative, hoping to contribute to the family, she wouldn’t hesitate to hurl insulting words at me. Every decision had to follow her directives, and even during official events, she monitored my every move, expecting me to act according to her wishes.

The ladies in Caroline’s circle sometimes called me by a nickname:

“The Parrot of Baimach Island.”

This parrot, unique to Baimach Island, had rainbow-colored wings, unlike any other bird. Despite its dazzling appearance, it was far less intelligent than other birds and could never learn to mimic speech, no matter how hard it tried. The nickname likened me to this parrot, mocking me for being as foolish as the bird.

Every day was a humiliating ordeal. If I dared to speak back, she would tear away at my spirit with even more degrading remarks. I had nowhere to run—nowhere to return to. I was a princess of a fallen kingdom, a royal sold to Baden. That was who I was.

Yet, I endured, clinging to the hope that someday, someone would recognize me, that a better day would come. I held on for three long years.

It felt like a miracle when Caroline died and I could finally breathe, but what followed was an unjust accusation. Her death, caused by an illness even the doctors couldn’t diagnose, led to the postponement of her funeral and the formation of a special investigation team. The conclusion they reached was that I was the one who had killed her.

I denied it, but the Duke of Mecklen did not believe me. After being forcibly handed over to the tribunal, the charges against me only grew: embezzlement, concealing a murder, engaging in immoral relationships with informants from the underworld, and violating the dignity of the nobility.

The records of embezzlement were fabricated, and Becky, a maid I had trusted most in the ducal house, falsely accused me of murder. There were records of dealings with merchants from the underworld, but they were, in fact, Caroline’s, not mine.

None of it had anything to do with me, but I was powerless. I came from a fallen country, bound to a marriage I couldn’t refuse. All my efforts to fulfill my duty as a member of the royal family ended in miserable failure. I began to resent the sacrifice I had convinced myself was for the sake of my homeland.

As the blade of the guillotine fell under the clear blue sky, I made a vow:

If I were ever given another chance at life, I would never live as a fool again.

And as if by some miracle, I returned to three years ago.

My first goal in this new life:

Divorce.

***

“What?” The Duke, his expression fatigued, barely registered Eleanor’s words, responding in a flat, uninterested tone. She then pushed the paper she was holding closer to ensure the Duke of Mecklen could see it clearly.

“A divorce.”

Even with the paper practically touching his nose, the Duke remained silent. The unfamiliar word “divorce” failed to register with him, seeming unreal. As she carefully observed his stony, motionless demeanor, Eleanor was the first to speak again.

“I’d like to settle this amicably, without any hard feelings. It would be best if we could agree on this.”

A slight crack appeared in the Duke’s stoic expression. He snatched the paper from her, barely glancing at its contents before tossing it aside dismissively.

“Ridiculous. This is a national marriage decreed by His Majesty. It’s not something that can be undone as easily as flipping a hand…”

“I know that very well.”

Eleanor had fully expected him to bring up the Emperor. She had been waiting for that response and now smiled brightly.

“This, too, is a direct order from His Majesty.”