Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 3 Part 4

The Duke of Mecklen strode into the room without waiting for Eleanor to say another word. His hurried steps, unlike his usual demeanor, clearly showed how agitated he was. Sensing the tense atmosphere, Eleanor hid her trembling hands under her dress.

“Quite the spectacle, isn’t it?” he sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm, before his expression shifted to one of discomfort. Then, as if unsure of his own feelings, he shook his head, only to display a flash of irritation. His expressions, now more varied than before, were all negative.

“What were you thinking, applying to be a lady-in-waiting?” he demanded, echoing the question that had been plaguing him all day.

The Duchess of Mecklen applying to be a lady-in-waiting? Ernst personally disliked the Empress Dowager. She often meddled in politics to an excessive degree, frequently clashing with the nobility. And her cunning nature made every encounter with her exhausting for Ernst.

“And what’s with your hair? Is that your way of showing defiance?” Ernst clicked his tongue as he continued, his eyes narrowing at Eleanor’s short hair. He hadn’t been home for a few days, and now she had gone and done something like this. Ernst, clearly displeased with her haircut, furrowed his brows.

“Absolutely ridiculous.”

“Your mother did this,” Eleanor retorted.

“What?”

“Caroline—she cut my hair herself.”

Eleanor decided there was no point in hiding the truth from Ernst any longer. He never believed her anyway. Even if she told him of the other atrocities Caroline had committed, he would remain indifferent. So, she resolved to tell him about Caroline’s actions, even if it was just to vent her frustrations.

“Caroline had her servants hold me down and forcibly cut my hair before locking me away.”

“…I don’t like liars,” Ernst replied, his eyes narrowing slightly. He couldn’t believe his mother would do such a thing. Fiery as she was, she was a woman who knew how to separate business from personal matters. Her reputation among the nobility was proof enough of that.

Eleanor let out a bitter laugh at Ernst’s resolute stance. “And how would you know that?”

“…What?”

“Can you honestly say you know everything about your mother?”

Eleanor couldn’t quite understand where this sudden surge of courage was coming from. Was it because she had been selected as the Empress Dowager’s lady-in-waiting? Perhaps this newfound confidence stemmed from that. Though uncertain of the reason, she continued.

“For all you know, she might be hiding another son from you. And that son might…”

Suddenly, a large shadow loomed over her, and Eleanor inhaled sharply.

Thud!

“You sure have a lot to say for someone with no control over their mouth.”

“Ugh… cough, cough…!”

Reflexively, Eleanor let out a pained gasp. The Duke of Mecklen had grabbed her shoulders and pushed her so forcefully that a sharp pain shot through her chest. Eleanor struggled to free herself, her body writhing, but the more she resisted, the tighter Ernst’s grip on her shoulders became.

“I warned you before, didn’t I? Just do what you’re told. Stick to the tasks assigned to you.”

“You…!”

“Why don’t you just admit it? You hate my mother, don’t you? Is that why you’re spreading these lies to drive a wedge between us? Because you’re too much of a coward to say how you really feel? How filthy.”

Filthy. Ernst’s final words cut deep into Eleanor’s heart. Her struggles ceased, and her large eyes welled up with tears.

“I’ll allow you to keep the position of lady-in-waiting.”

Since the Empress Dowager had personally selected her, there was no way he could revoke it. Realizing this, Ernst abandoned the idea of forcibly dragging her back to the estate. Instead, he made his purpose for being there crystal clear.

“But remember this—if you disgrace the family’s honor, I won’t let it slide. If I hear any rumors about you getting involved in politics like some fearless foal, I’ll drag you back immediately.”

It was a clear warning.

“The duties of the Empress Dowager’s lady-in-waiting are beyond the capabilities of someone from a ruined country like yours. Do you understand?”

“……”

“I’ll give you one year.” Ernst’s voice dropped even lower, his tone menacing. “After a year, no matter what happens, I’m taking you back.”

Having said his piece, Ernst finally released her shoulders. Eleanor, her body suddenly freed, collapsed onto the floor with a thud. Ernst cast a cold glance down at her before leaving the room.

Bang!

The door slammed shut with a loud, echoing noise, as cold and unfeeling as the Duke’s demeanor. Eleanor bit her dry lips, and a single tear finally slipped from her eye.

***

On the day of the council meeting, the high-ranking nobles gathered in the council chamber for the first time in a while. The monthly state council meeting lasted the entire morning without a break. It wasn’t until lunchtime that the meeting concluded, and discussions quickly reignited around the recent news of the Empress Dowager’s selection of her ladies-in-waiting.

“I heard the Empress Dowager selected two ladies-in-waiting?”

“Both are from prominent families, I hear.”

“Isn’t one of them the princess from Hartmann?”

“That’s right. I was quite surprised when I heard.”

One of the nobles, who had been conversing about Eleanor, froze upon noticing Ernst’s presence. Realizing that the Duke of Mecklen had overheard their conversation, they quickly signaled to each other to stay quiet, nudging one another and making gestures to hush the discussion.

“Now that the meeting is over, everyone, please return to your duties,” the Emperor said, allowing the nobles to finally escape the uncomfortable situation. The nobles quickly dispersed, eager to leave. Meanwhile, Ernst remained rooted to his spot, deep in thought.

‘He’s not acting like himself today,’ the Emperor observed. Ernst, usually composed and succinct, seemed preoccupied. Had the nobles’ chatter about Eleanor bothered him that much?

Hoping to elicit a response, the Emperor casually remarked, 

“How does it feel to be working at the palace alongside your wife?”

“……”

“I can’t help but feel a bit guilty.  You’re serving under me, and your wife under my mother. It seems I owe quite a debt to your family,” the Emperor said, trying to lighten the mood.

“My apologies,” Ernst replied, bowing his head slightly, his demeanor unyielding.

The Emperor, still smiling, keenly observed Ernst’s stiff behavior. There was an unidentifiable tension surrounding him that the Emperor couldn’t quite place.

“Are you feeling unwell? You’re unusually quiet today.”

“My apologies,” Ernst repeated, sounding like a broken record.

The Emperor realized that Ernst’s thoughts were elsewhere, making conversation pointless.

“You may leave,” the Emperor finally said.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ernst gathered the documents on the table and stood up. Despite being a close friend since childhood, the Duke of Mecklen had always been a stern and humorless man, whether in private or official settings. While this steadfastness made him reliable, something about him now felt distinctly off.

As Ernst left, his back straight and imposing, he exuded an impenetrable aura, like an unapproachable fortress.

‘Why is that?’ the Emperor wondered, but the question lingered unanswered as the door closed behind Ernst. Recently, whenever he saw Ernst behave this way, thoughts of Eleanor intruded, unsettling him.

And then there was that lone flower, left forlornly in front of the Mecklen estate. Though wilted and withered, the Emperor had recognized it immediately.

“Your Majesty,” came a voice as the door opened again, leaving the Emperor little time to dwell on his thoughts. Eger, who was more akin to the Emperor’s personal aide than a mere treasury official, entered the room after ensuring it was empty.

Normally, Eger would maintain a respectful distance while reporting, but this time, he leaned in as if to whisper something directly into the Emperor’s ear. Understanding the cue, the Emperor gestured for him to come closer.

“The analysis of the item you had brought in is complete,” Eger whispered.

“Good,” the Emperor replied, nodding. “When can I retrieve it?”

“Tonight.”

Waiting until then wouldn’t be difficult. Nightfall in the palace came swiftly. After a bustling afternoon, the palace quickly grew quiet once the day’s activities wound down.

As Eger assisted the Emperor with his preparations for leaving, he noticed something odd and glanced around, trying to pinpoint the source of the unease.

“Your Majesty, why are you taking the mask? Today isn’t the day for the boutique,” Eger inquired, his brow furrowing in confusion as he watched the Emperor prepare.

“Before retrieving the item, I thought I’d pay Eleanor a visit,” the Emperor replied casually.

“…What?”

Eger found himself at a loss for words, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. Meeting the Duchess of Mecklen in a grim black robe seemed highly suspicious. But more concerning than this was…

“Your Majesty, I believe the knights will spot you before anything else,” Eger said earnestly. Roaming around the palace dressed like that could easily get the Emperor mistaken for an intruder, potentially leading to an unfortunate misunderstanding with the guards.

“Couldn’t you at least leave the mask behind?” he suggested, his tone pleading.

“That won’t do,” the Emperor responded with a mischievous grin as he adjusted his attire. “I want to surprise her later.”

“…Even a three-year-old would be less childish than Your Majesty,” Eger muttered, unable to hide his disbelief.

Though the Emperor’s words were playful, his intent to keep his identity concealed from Eleanor was very real. His voice turned serious as he explained further. “A rumor about the Duchess secretly meeting the Emperor would only worsen her already precarious position.”

Such rumors could destabilize her status entirely, something the Emperor was keen to avoid. He genuinely wished to prevent Eleanor from facing such dire circumstances.

“And… we still haven’t found ‘the culprit’ behind that incident,” the Emperor added, his tone darkening.

At the mention of “the culprit,” Eger’s shoulders tensed. It was a matter that troubled him deeply as well. The shadowy figure who had smiled in the wake of the former Empress’s death had eluded them for two years. It had taken that long just to realize the presence of this hidden enemy. They had been moving discreetly through the boutiques, trying to uncover the truth and confront this invisible foe.

Understanding the Emperor’s intentions, Eger nodded reluctantly. “Please return as quickly as possible, Your Majesty.”

“I will,” the Emperor replied, his tone light but determined as he extinguished all the lights in the chamber.

The Emperor’s bedroom was, in fact, not his only one. To guard against potential assassins, there were numerous decoy bedrooms hidden throughout the palace. The one they were in now was often used for appearances. After making it seem as though he was retiring for the night, the Emperor flung open the balcony doors.

A sense of unease crept over Eger as the Emperor stepped onto the railing.

“No way…!” Eger’s voice was a low, urgent whisper, but the Emperor didn’t turn back. Instead, he launched himself over the edge. The black robe fluttered briefly in the night air before disappearing into the shadows below.

Eger rushed to the railing, just in time to see the Emperor blend into the darkness. With a sigh of helpless frustration, Eger could only watch as the Emperor vanished from sight.

***