Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 1 Part 2

A solid foundation.

That was what Eleanor needed the most right now.

Though she had returned from a miserable end to the past, it was immediately after her marriage, and before she could even spend a proper first night with Ernst, he had quickly left for the palace.

Could she stand up to Caroline here? The moment she dared to speak up, Caroline would confine her, claiming she needed to teach her a lesson. In this vast mansion, Eleanor had no weapons to wield against Caroline. She couldn’t trust anyone. They were all Caroline’s eyes and ears.

‘Until I leave this house, I must keep my head down.’

Caroline had initially oppressed Eleanor with humiliating words, but over time, she shifted to more direct harassment. Just as one tires of eating the same food repeatedly, Caroline, having developed a taste for it, began to escalate her cruelty.

As the insults turned to physical abuse, Eleanor prayed dozens of times a day that she wouldn’t cross paths with Caroline.

‘It’s only for a while,’ she reminded herself, suppressing the boiling anger by recalling her life before the regression.

Her loveless marriage had only deepened her despair. Her husband, who had married her for political reasons, treated her as if she didn’t exist. Even in the most difficult times, Eleanor had never shown her distress in front of Ernst. She wanted to preserve her dignity. Caroline, too, was well aware of the pride that Eleanor, as royalty, held.

‘I have to let go of everything.’

It wasn’t as if Eleanor hadn’t tried since coming to the Duke’s estate. She had made efforts to improve her relationship with Ernst, changing her diet, clothes, and hobbies to suit his preferences. She studied diligently to quickly adapt to the culture of this foreign land, patiently endured Caroline’s unreasonable demands, and never lost her kindness while trying to maintain her dignity as a noblewoman.

But it was only after a long time that she realized that effort wasn’t everything. They didn’t see her as a person at all. That’s why Eleanor was even more desperate for this life now.

She wanted to live. She couldn’t die miserably again.

“I’ll be more careful from now on,” Eleanor said, bowing as respectfully as she could.

Complete submission. For now, she would move according to Caroline’s wishes. She could plan for the future later.

Caroline, expecting resistance, was instead taken aback by Eleanor’s unusually easy compliance.

‘Does that thing have no pride?’

By now, after suffering this much humiliation, she should have at least said something. Or even better, she should have shown fear, trembling under Caroline’s power. That would have been satisfying enough.

But Eleanor wasn’t afraid, nor was she rebellious. Her complete submission felt oddly unsettling, and Caroline’s brow furrowed in irritation.

“If being careful was enough, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place.”

“……”

“I suppose the royalty of Hartmann wasn’t properly educated. It seems you can’t even grasp such simple concepts.”

“……”

“Or perhaps it’s just in your blood to be stupid?”

A sharp, cutting insult slashed across Eleanor’s heart. She flinched noticeably, but remained silent and still, her lips sealed as if she had applied honey to them. In the end, it was Caroline who grew tired of her own tirade.

“What a bore.”

She tossed one final, curt remark before turning sharply on her heel. “Is breakfast ready?”

“Yes, Madam.”

The morning assembly was finally over.

Those around them pitied Eleanor, who had once again suffered under Caroline’s hand, but that was all. After all, she was of a different status, and they couldn’t help her even if they wanted to. In this mansion, Caroline’s word was law.

“Come on, let’s get going,” someone said, and the others, who had been watching the young Duchess, began to disperse.

In a matter of moments, the grand hall emptied, leaving Eleanor standing alone. Alone, as she had been from the beginning.

***

“Welcome, Your Grace.”

The Duke of Mecklen, Ernst, had returned. The butler greeted him warmly as it was the first time the Duke had come back to the estate since the wedding.

“What brings you home today?” Caroline asked in a delighted tone, her voice filled with joy. She had rushed out faster than anyone upon hearing that her son, Ernst, had returned.

A valet nearby moved to take the Duke’s coat, but Caroline stopped him, taking it into her own hands. It was rare for the lady of the house, especially of such a high-standing family, to personally attend to such tasks, but the staff showed no sign of surprise.

Ernst answered in a disinterested voice, “I had a gap in my schedule.”

Having changed into more comfortable indoor attire, Ernst turned to his mother. “Has everything been well at home?”

“Oh, of course. With me here, what could possibly go wrong?” Caroline replied with a chuckle.

Although he was her son, Caroline always spoke to him with respect, emphasizing the pride she had in him. Ernst’s close relationship with the Emperor and the trust he held made the Mecklen family one of the most powerful in the empire.

However, while Caroline was pleased, Ernst seemed to find his mother rather tiresome.

“What should we prepare for dinner, Your Grace?” the butler inquired.

“Keep it simple,” Ernst replied lightly.

Mother and son moved to the dining room, where they sat across from each other at a long table meant to seat twenty. The head chef, who had served the family for many years, stood before them and introduced the evening’s elaborate course with a clear voice.

The meal had been prepared with special care for the Duke’s rare visit home. As they ate slowly, the two began to exchange conversation.

“So, how is His Majesty these days?” Caroline asked casually as she cut into the tender veal.

“Has he considered taking a new Empress? The imperial household has been without a mistress for over two years now.”

“He hasn’t given it much thought yet,” Ernst replied.

Since the Empress’s passing, leaving behind only a young prince, the Emperor had not remarried. Caroline, recalling the recent gossip about the Emperor’s potential remarriage, clicked her tongue.

“He’s still quite young. I wonder…”

“……”

“Perhaps there’s someone special he has his eye on?”

“Are you suggesting he has a mistress?”

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean it that way. I was just thinking he might have someone he’s fond of,” Caroline quickly clarified. The subject of a mistress was sensitive, as such unofficial relationships could easily lead to unsavory rumors that would tarnish the imperial family’s reputation.

Not wanting to disgrace the imperial name, Caroline swiftly redirected the conversation, carefully revealing her true intentions. “If the issue is that there isn’t a suitable family to bring in a new Empress, would it be alright if I made a recommendation?”

“Sigh, it’s best if we drop this topic,” Ernst said, clearly weary of the discussion. It was a topic he frequently heard at the palace, where many tried to push their candidates for the vacant Empress position. The constant entreaties had dampened his appetite, and he sipped his fruit wine to cleanse his palate.

Being the Emperor’s close friend came with its burdens, like playing matchmaker—a role he had no interest in. Besides, the Emperor had been resolute in his decision not to remarry, rendering all requests futile.

“For now, the Empress Dowager is managing the inner court well, so there’s no rush to find a new Empress. On another note, the Empress Dowager is looking for a new lady-in-waiting.”

“A new lady-in-waiting?”

“The Marchioness of Radsay, who was attending her, has suddenly fallen ill and will be leaving the court.”

“How unfortunate. The Empress Dowager can be quite… My apologies, I misspoke,” Caroline quickly corrected herself, catching her slip. She was not fond of the Empress Dowager, and her expression showed it.

“I’ll see if I can find a suitable candidate.”

“There’s no need, Mother. I hear there are already plenty of volunteers.”

“…Then I’ll leave it be,” Caroline replied, a bit embarrassed, and fell silent. Her eyebrows, however, shot up in a sharp arch, a clear sign of her displeasure. The servants attending to them recognized this as a warning sign.

‘Best not to provoke her.’

The tension in the room grew, but Ernst seemed lost in thought. At that moment, a young maid entered and cautiously approached Caroline.

“Madam, the young madam is here,” the maid whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

“…What?” Caroline’s response was laced with irritation as she glanced at the maid. The maid, though shaking, managed to explain that Eleanor was currently waiting outside the dining room.

Caroline’s first reaction was to check Ernst’s expression. Fortunately, they were seated far enough apart at the large dining table that he hadn’t overheard the conversation. Relieved, Caroline leaned closer to the maid and whispered, “Tell her not to leave her room until she has memorized everything.”

It had only been a few hours since she had given Eleanor the list of the Baden Empire’s nobles and their portraits. There was no way she could have memorized all those names and faces so quickly. Certain of this, Caroline shot the maid a sharp look.

“But… but the young madam said she’s completed the task and asked that I relay the message to you—”

“Quiet. If I say she’s not done, then she’s not done.”

“Y-yes, Madam.”

Caroline’s irritation had caused her voice to rise slightly, catching Ernst’s attention. His eyes shifted toward the two women.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Oh, nothing of importance,” Caroline quickly responded, trying to brush it off. “It seems there was a minor disagreement between the servants. I’ve instructed them to be confined to their rooms until things settle down.”

Caroline took over, explaining in place of the maid who quickly departed. Ernst nodded, accepting her explanation. Disputes among servants were usually trivial and not something he wanted to concern himself with, especially after dealing with endless issues at the palace.

Letting his mother handle the household matters seemed like the better choice, and he pushed the maid’s frightened expression from his mind.

“The meat is tender and delicious,” Caroline remarked, her mood shifting as she resumed her conversation.

“Yes,” Ernst replied, giving a brief response.

Although the discussion was mostly one-sided, with Caroline doing most of the talking, on the surface, it seemed like a typical exchange between mother and son. Caroline, now completely distracted by her pleasant meal with her son, had all but forgotten about Eleanor.

***

‘Hungry.’

Eleanor clutched her empty stomach. She hadn’t eaten properly all day. Lunch had been a hurried affair, snatched between glances at Caroline’s disapproving gaze, and she hadn’t even set foot in the dining room for dinner.

When she heard that the Duke had returned to the estate, she had hoped things might be different, but the outcome was the same as before.

In the past, she had been confined to her room, unable to leave because of the daunting task of memorizing the portraits and names of Baden Empire’s nobles that Caroline had given her. Although she had completed the task much more quickly this time, Caroline had still kept her from seeing anyone.

‘I won’t get to see him after all,’ she sighed, her hunger gnawing at her insides. Unable to bear it any longer, she called for the maid, Becky.

“Could you bring me some water?”

“Yes, Madam,” Becky replied.

It was late at night, and the lights in the dining room would already be out. Any leftover food would have been thrown away as usual, so Eleanor knew there would be nothing to eat even if she asked. Still, she called Becky for some water, hoping to soothe her empty stomach with at least that. As she waited, she held her stomach, trying to ease the hunger pangs.

‘I expected this, but it’s not easy.’

Caroline would continue this way, Eleanor knew. The woman was beyond reason, negotiation, or even confrontation. It was as if tormenting Eleanor was her purpose in life, and she pursued it relentlessly.

‘How long can I endure this?’

The task of memorizing the list of nobles was only the beginning. Caroline had forced her to eat spicy food under the pretext of cultural differences between the Kingdom of Hartmann and the Baden Empire. She had also made her learn the Baden style of dance, repeatedly stepping on her feet until they were bruised and blackened. Eleanor remembered crying alone when she saw the bruises after taking off her shoes.

As she thought about the past, Eleanor bit down on the soft flesh inside her mouth. Crying was a luxury she couldn’t afford anymore. She needed to steel herself if she was going to navigate this treacherous path.

Knock, knock.

“Madam,” Becky’s voice came as she returned. But she hadn’t only brought water. Eleanor’s eyes were drawn to what Becky held in her hand.

“I brought this as well…” Becky handed her a small loaf of bread.