Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 3 Part 3

Once the interviews began, the previously noisy young ladies grew silent. Each was lost in thought, contemplating the questions they might be asked. In the solemn atmosphere, Eleanor patiently awaited her turn. Unfortunately, the number she drew placed her immediately after Lady Brianna.

Since the incident in the dining hall, where Eleanor had bested her, Brianna hadn’t so much as glanced in her direction.

‘That’s just as well,’ Eleanor thought.

Even the other noblewomen and young ladies no longer openly whispered and gossiped about Eleanor. Feeling more at ease, she maintained her calm composure.

“Number 58.”

That was the number on Eleanor’s ticket. She stood up and walked through the door where the interviewers awaited.

“May the light of glory be with Your Majesty,” she said, bowing perfectly as she knelt and then rose according to protocol.

“May the blessings of the divine be upon you,” replied the Empress Dowager.

Her greeting was flawless, leaving the Countess of Lorentz, who sat beside the Empress Dowager, with a furrowed brow.

‘Too perfect is also a problem,’ the Countess thought. It wasn’t just her; others shared similar sentiments.

“You may raise your head,” the Empress Dowager said in a low but commanding voice.

Eleanor slowly lifted her gaze, her eyes meeting the warm gaze of the Empress Dowager.

‘…What is this?’

The Empress Dowager’s emerald eyes were as beautiful as ever, seemingly unchanged by time. Eleanor felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if she had seen those eyes before. She briefly entertained the thought but quickly refocused as the next question was asked.

The Empress Dowager, the highest-ranking interviewer, asked, “So, why have you applied for this position?”

Eleanor had been asked a similar question during the carriage ride to the palace. She straightened her posture a bit more. “I have not come here to become Your Majesty’s lady-in-waiting.”

“……!”

Her response was like a bolt from the blue. The Empress Dowager and everyone else in the room were taken aback, their eyes widening in shock. Someone even began to criticize Eleanor for her audacity.

Before the uproar could grow any louder, Eleanor quickly continued, “Please employ me as Your Majesty’s servant.”

“…Good heavens.” The Countess of Lorentz let out a bewildered sound, placing a hand to her forehead.

A servant? Such a position was unthinkable for a duchess—not because it was too high, but because it was far too low. In fact, it was almost an insult to the honor of her family. A few people exchanged glances and murmured among themselves.

“Quiet,” the Empress Dowager commanded, raising her hand to calm the room.

As befitting her experience, the Empress Dowager recovered more quickly than the others. While the others were still reeling, the Empress Dowager asked Eleanor another question.

“Why do you seek such a position?” Her voice was laced with obvious curiosity.

Eleanor took a step closer to the Empress Dowager. On the outside, she appeared as the confident duchess, but internally, she was burning with anxiety. What if she failed? The thought terrified her. However, she couldn’t afford to show any sign of weakness.

She spoke with a clear and resolute tone, “I am well aware of my position.”

Before her regression, she had lived as a duchess in name only for three years. She could recount endless instances of how people viewed her during that time. Just moments ago, even in the dining hall, she had keenly felt the disdainful attitudes of those who mocked her, though not as openly as Caroline.

There was no place in the Baden Empire where she could stand proudly.

“As a princess of Hartmann, I was unable to fulfill my duties properly.”

Although the fall of her country wasn’t her fault, Eleanor was still blamed because of her royal status. She had become a scapegoat in place of her brother, who had fled. This burden had followed her until the day she died, acting as a shackle.

Perhaps all the criticism directed at her stemmed from that one fact.

“I am no longer of Hartmann, but of Baden. I now wish to fulfill my remaining duties. I believe that serving Your Majesty and ensuring the well-being of the imperial family is the path to serving all the people.”

No matter what she did, her circumstances would not change. Before she came here, the judgment passed on her was only one of scorn. And Caroline had always been the one to exploit that judgment to her advantage.

“I am willing to do anything if it means I can serve Your Majesty.”

“Anything?” the Empress Dowager asked, incredulous. “You seem overly confident. What will you do if I assign you a task that’s too difficult to handle?”

Even though Eleanor’s country had fallen, she was still royalty by birth. The Empress Dowager, understanding the pride inherent in royal blood, assumed that it wouldn’t be easy for Eleanor to bow her head to anyone. The Empress Dowager herself couldn’t imagine bowing to someone else because the actions of the royal family represented the value of the entire nation.

“Can you truly do whatever it takes?” The Empress Dowager’s skeptical tone caused Eleanor to bite the tender flesh inside her mouth. For Eleanor, the Empress Dowager had to fully believe in her for her to survive.

‘I can’t go back to that hell.’

If she retreated now, everything would be over. Caroline had already become someone Eleanor couldn’t handle, and returning would mean facing more than just confinement. Whether it was violence or something else, the first time might be difficult, but by the second or third time, it would become a routine, something one could get used to.

Eleanor knew she had to escape Caroline’s clutches. What she needed now was someone more powerful than Caroline, someone who could win the battle against her. That person was standing right here.

Eleanor approached the Empress Dowager, slowly kneeling before her. The Countess of Lorentz gasped in shock at this unexpected action.

“Whatever it is, I will do it.”

“……!”

Eleanor reached out and grasped the Empress Dowager’s hand, which rested on the armrest. Lowering her head, she gracefully kissed the hand of the Empress Dowager, an action that left everyone around her stunned.

“How impudent!” The Countess of Lorentz, regaining her composure, couldn’t contain her anger, expressing it with fervor. While she was furious and demanding that Eleanor be removed at once, Berenice maintained a subtle, complex expression. The youngest of the interviewers, Lady Norah, whispered that it was romantic, like witnessing a knight’s vow.

As everyone struggled to grasp the situation, the Empress Dowager suddenly burst into loud laughter.

“I don’t know what your intentions are, but I can tell you’re no ordinary lady.”

The Empress Dowager was convinced. At the very least, Eleanor was not acting on Caroline’s orders. There was a pure resolve in her eyes.

As she laughed boisterously, the Empress Dowager glanced at Berenice, who gave a faint nod in agreement.

***

The Emperor glanced back at Ernst, who was seated across from him, while he continued to peruse the documents. As usual, Ernst was diligently working through the stack of papers assigned to him, flipping through them at an impressive speed. It was clear how much work Ernst had accomplished over time.

Though the Emperor was also reviewing documents at a similar pace, part of his mind was elsewhere.

“Your Majesty,” Eger interrupted the silence as he entered the room. As before, he was carrying gifts in both hands. Seeing the pile of papers growing on his desk again, the Emperor let out an inaudible sigh.

“Your Majesty, I have news to report,” Eger said as he approached the Emperor, not leaving immediately this time. He briefly glanced at Ernst, who was sitting opposite the Emperor, as if gauging his reaction.

“The Empress Dowager has selected her new ladies-in-waiting,” Eger announced.

“Really?” The Emperor responded, feigning indifference even though it was the news he was most curious about.

‘He doesn’t act like this when they’re alone,’ Eger thought to himself, narrowing his eyes. He still couldn’t quite grasp the Emperor’s behavior.

“Lady Brianna has been chosen as one of the ladies-in-waiting,” Eger continued.

Lady Brianna was the one Ernst had recently recommended. The Emperor looked up briefly to gauge Ernst’s reaction. Despite having recommended Brianna, Ernst’s face remained impassive, showing no significant reaction. The Emperor smiled wryly.

“That’s good news,” he said, though he couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. He had secretly hoped that Eleanor would be chosen, as it would have allowed him to see her more often at the palace.

Eger then shared an even more surprising piece of news, catching the Emperor off guard.

“But Lady Brianna wasn’t the only one chosen,” Eger added.

“……?”

“Her Grace, the Duchess of Mecklen, was selected as well.”

Snap.

Suddenly, the sound of a quill breaking filled the room. The Emperor turned his head toward the sound and saw Ernst staring at the broken quill in his hand, his expression slightly bewildered.

***

A room was assigned to Eleanor within the Empress Dowager’s palace. Given that assisting the Empress Dowager often required staying overnight, it was not unusual for the ladies-in-waiting to have their own accommodations in the palace. They took turns keeping vigil near the Empress Dowager’s chambers, often staying late into the night to complete their duties. However, most preferred to commute, so the rooms designated for the ladies-in-waiting were frequently unoccupied.

‘What on earth is she thinking?’

Countess Lorentz grumbled internally as she showed Eleanor to her assigned room. Though Eleanor had not officially begun her duties, the Empress Dowager had ordered that a room be prepared for her. The Countess couldn’t help but think that perhaps this was something the Duchess had in common with the Duke of Mecklen, who was known to enjoy spending nights at the palace.

“This will be your room. Well then, I’ll leave you to it,” the Countess said curtly before quickly departing.

Her cold demeanor didn’t bother Eleanor; in fact, she found it rather convenient.

“…It’s spacious.”

The room reminded Eleanor of one she had seen at the Mecklen estate—Caroline’s room. In contrast, Eleanor’s own room was at the far end of the hallway, small and shabby, previously used by the household servants. It was only when the Duke visited that she was allowed into the marital bedroom, and even then, she was often sent back to her original room by Caroline once the Duke had fallen asleep.

‘It’s still a long way to go,’ she thought to herself.

Though she had managed to catch the Empress Dowager’s eye, it was only a temporary victory. She still had a long way to go to secure a solid foundation.

With that thought in mind, Eleanor collapsed onto the large bed, big enough for two people to lie comfortably. The mattress was soft, reminiscent of the one she had used in Hartmann, and the sheets carried a pleasant fragrance. For the first time in a while, her eyes grew slightly moist with nostalgia.

Knock, knock.

Late at night, there were few people who would knock on her door in the Empress Dowager’s palace.

‘Is it Countess Lorentz again?’

Wondering if there was something more to be discussed, Eleanor reluctantly rose from the bed and went to the door. She unlocked the latch and turned the handle, but as soon as she did, the person outside pushed the door open.

“Let me see.”

It was Ernst.