Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 2 Part 6

The contents of the letter were straightforward: Lady Brianna was applying to become a lady-in-waiting for the Empress Dowager, and Caroline was requesting that she be given favorable consideration. As Eleanor skimmed through the detailed list of Brianna’s qualities, her expression shifted into something more contemplative.

‘If I recall correctly, it didn’t end well for her,’ Eleanor thought, remembering the vague details from her past life. She hadn’t been privy to much of the court’s inner workings back then, mostly hearing things through Caroline. However, one thing was clear: Lady Brianna, who had been appointed as a lady-in-waiting, had been expelled from the Empress Dowager’s court in less than a year.

Eleanor vividly recalled the day Caroline had stormed through the mansion, her furious shouts echoing off the walls. The rage in Caroline’s voice had been unforgettable.

“You wretched girl! How dare you disgrace me like this?”

Caroline’s anger hadn’t been directed at the Empress Dowager but rather at Brianna herself. The reasons for Brianna’s expulsion had been kept tightly under wraps, leaving Eleanor in the dark about the specifics. However, she had overheard snippets of a conversation between Caroline and Ernst that night, which had provided some clues.

“How foolish must you be to lie to His Majesty the Emperor? If it weren’t for His Majesty’s graciousness and consideration for our family’s honor…”

“Enough, let it be. The matter has been settled quietly, hasn’t it?”

That conversation had left Eleanor with the impression that whatever Brianna had done, it was serious enough to have almost tarnished the family’s reputation.

“But now… I’m back in the past, before she even becomes a lady-in-waiting,” Eleanor murmured to herself, deep in thought.

Brianna, Caroline, the Empress Dowager, and the Emperor of Baden—each of them played a role in the events that unfolded in the past.

As she contemplated the situation, Eleanor’s eyes gleamed with a new resolve.

‘…Perhaps this could be my way out of here.’

Strengthened by her realization, Eleanor began to move swiftly. She found a sheet of paper bearing the family crest and carefully dipped a quill into ink. Placing Caroline’s recommendation letter on the left and a blank sheet on the right, Eleanor took a moment to compose herself.

Soon, the sound of the quill scratching against the paper filled the attic as Eleanor meticulously replicated the letter’s content.

[…Based on her qualifications, I believe she is exceptionally well-suited for the position. I humbly request that Your Majesty consider her…]

Each stroke of the pen was precise, as Eleanor’s elegant script began to mirror the original letter. It didn’t take long for her to complete the duplicate, a perfect replica in both content and handwriting.

“Perfect,” Eleanor muttered as she reviewed the letter. Astonishingly, the handwriting on the new letter was indistinguishable from Caroline’s.

‘Who would have thought I’d ever put this skill to use here?’

Eleanor recalled the countless times Caroline had forced her to practice replicating her handwriting before. In her previous life, Caroline often tasked Eleanor with writing out invitations when she couldn’t be bothered to do it herself. The bitterness of those memories now brought a small, satisfied smile to Eleanor’s lips.

She carefully folded the letters and placed three sheets into a single white envelope: Caroline’s original recommendation for Brianna, Eleanor’s own application, and the forged copy of Caroline’s recommendation.

By placing all three in a single envelope without using separate ones, she aimed to avoid any potential scrutiny from Caroline later. Eleanor then cautiously poured wax onto the flap of the envelope and pressed the family seal into it, her hand steady with determination.

With the letters sealed, Eleanor felt a sense of grim satisfaction. She had turned the skills once used to humiliate her into a weapon of her own, and with this move, she might just find a way out of her dire situation.

***

“This is quite intriguing; it’s difficult to grasp her true intentions,” the Empress Dowager remarked, her head tilting slightly to the side as she reviewed the recommendation letter. It was late, and she was comfortably dressed in her chemise.

“Is something bothering you, Your Majesty?” asked Berenice, the only lady-in-waiting who had not yet retired for the evening. The other attendants had already left, leaving the Empress Dowager and Berenice alone in the room.

The Empress Dowager handed the letter to Berenice. Accepting it with both hands, Berenice quickly skimmed through the contents.

“The Duchess Dowager of Mecklen has sent a recommendation this time. She’s asking me to consider Lady Brianna from the House of Liege for a position under my service.”

But then—

“There’s more than one recommendation,” the Empress Dowager added, her tone curious.

“Pardon?” Berenice paused, surprised.

The Empress Dowager pointed to the back of the letter that Berenice was reading. “Turn the page. You’ll find a second recommendation—this one for the young woman who recently married Ernst, the princess of Hartmann.”

“The princess of a fallen kingdom,” Berenice mused.

Eleanor and Ernst’s marriage had stirred brief interest among Baden’s nobility, but their wedding had been a quiet affair. It was more symbolic than anything else, and the Baden nobles had not been particularly pleased by it.

‘What benefit is there in associating with the royalty of a ruined nation?’ they had thought.

The marriage didn’t come with a significant dowry, either. After the king of Hartmann died, the prince, Adler, who should have succeeded the throne, had taken most of the remaining royal assets and fled, not to Baden, but to the Kingdom of Bahama.

Although Baden had gained territory, the immediate benefits were outweighed by the losses. Economists predicted it would take Hartmann a long time to recover from its economic collapse.

The Empress Dowager waited patiently while Berenice finished reading both the recommendation and the application.

“What do you think of the contents?” the Empress Dowager asked.

“Lady Brianna has quite a bit of experience for her age, and her volunteer work at the temple is a unique credential that sets her apart from other young noblewomen. It seems the Marquis of Liege has invested a lot in her upbringing.”

“That part did catch my eye. Ten days of volunteer work, she claims. I wonder if she truly spent that much time at the temple.”

“Most likely not, Your Majesty. I’ve heard that temples will count volunteer hours if a significant donation is made. Even if she visited, it was probably just for a brief prayer,” Berenice explained, knowing that some noble families often made large donations to pad their children’s resumes.

Berenice turned to the next page. “As for the princess of Hartmann… there’s not much to be excited about.”

Her tone was tinged with cynicism, reflecting the general disdain for Hartmann’s fallen royalty. The disgrace of Prince Adler’s flight had tainted not just him but also Princess Eleanor.

The Empress Dowager, understanding Berenice’s thoughts, smiled faintly. “That’s true. But what piques my curiosity is why Caroline would send a recommendation for that child.”

“What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?” Berenice asked, puzzled.

“What is your impression of Caroline?” the Empress Dowager asked suddenly, catching Berenice off guard.

Berenice took a moment to consider. “To be honest, I don’t know her well. Our families have no direct connection, and we rarely cross paths.”

Berenice’s duties in the palace meant she had little interaction with Caroline, who avoided the court, citing that her presence might be seen as inappropriate due to her son Ernst’s position in the palace. It was only natural that they knew little of each other.

The Empress Dowager nodded, understanding the lack of connection.

“But why do you ask, Your Majesty?”

“I knew Caroline when she was much younger,” the Empress Dowager said, her gaze drifting to the signature at the bottom of the recommendation letter, adorned with Caroline’s elegant handwriting. There was a slight trace of disdain in the Empress Dowager’s eyes as she recalled the past.

“She’s a very cunning woman.”

“……?”

“That’s why I’m so intrigued by her motives,” the Empress Dowager continued, her tone thoughtful.

Berenice, sensing the subtle shift in the Empress Dowager’s demeanor, quickly grasped the situation and summed it up in a single sentence.

“The princess of Hartmann may not be well-regarded among the nobility, but there must be a reason Caroline has recommended her for a position as a lady-in-waiting to the Empress Dowager,” Berenice concluded.

In the palace, one encounters all sorts of intrigues. Among them, political strife was a constant. And noblewomen were by no means exempt from it. They often engaged in these power struggles on behalf of their husbands, fathers, brothers, or sons.

‘If it’s Caroline, this is entirely possible,’ the Empress Dowager thought as she picked up the application written by Eleanor herself.

“Investigate this child,” she ordered.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Berenice responded dutifully.

Investigation was one of her specialties, and she was confident in her abilities. The Empress Dowager regarded her with a trusting gaze as she pondered her next course of action.

Should she tear up the recommendation, or should she respond in a grand manner?

After a moment of contemplation, she made her decision. “And tomorrow, send a carriage to the Mecklen estate.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Empress Dowager did not forget to specify that the carriage be of the highest quality, a symbol of prestige managed by the court. It wouldn’t take long for rumors to spread among the nobility that the Empress Dowager had personally sent a carriage. Soon, all eyes would be on Caroline and the princess of Hartmann.

If Caroline had ulterior motives, something was bound to unfold in the meantime.

“Whatever scheming you have in mind, I’ll play along for now,” the Empress Dowager said, her voice carrying a subtle warning. It was a challenge—an invitation for Caroline to do her worst, if she dared.

A small, confident smile played on the Empress Dowager’s lips.

***

“This is… this is a disaster!” Butler Harley shouted as he rushed up the stairs in a panic.

Caroline, who had just finished preparing to go out and was stepping out of her room, frowned at the noisy commotion caused by Harley.

“Such recklessness. What is all this commotion?”

“I’m sorry, Madam, but it’s extremely urgent…!” Normally, he would have been cowed by her scolding, but the urgency of the situation made Harley persist.

“A carriage has arrived from the palace!”

“…What did you say?” Caroline’s expression shifted slightly from irritation. It was rare for the court to send a carriage.

Even though the Duke of Mecklen was a close friend of the Emperor, the Emperor had never sent a carriage for him. But Harley’s news didn’t end there.

“And they’ve come to escort the young madam.”

“……!”

“The Empress Dowager herself has sent a carriage specifically for the young madam,” Harley added breathlessly.

The rapid-fire information was nothing short of shocking. Caroline, who usually reacted harshly, found herself momentarily speechless.

“That’s impossible…” Caroline muttered in disbelief.

There was absolutely no reason for the Empress Dowager to take an interest in Eleanor. Even at Ernst’s wedding, the Empress Dowager had barely acknowledged her with the customary pleasantries, showing no particular interest. There was no connection between the two.

As Caroline stood there, stunned, Harley mentioned that the Empress Dowager’s lady-in-waiting was waiting downstairs in the parlor.

“Madam, you should go down and…”

“That wench.”

“Pardon?”

“Eleanor,” Caroline spat out the name as if it were venom. Her face had gone pale, not from surprise, but from the fury that had risen to the very top of her head.