Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 5 Part 1

5. A Shift in Relationships

Brianna, invited to the Mecklen estate by Caroline, wore an unusually bright expression. She had planned to come with her mother, the Marchioness of Liege, but due to pressing household matters, she had come alone. The tea time began with Brianna apologizing for her mother’s absence.

As they engaged in light conversation, Caroline asked casually, “So, how are you finding life at the palace these days?”

Brianna, who had been nibbling on a soft madeleine, looked up at the question. She swallowed her bite, took a sip of her tea, and then replied, “It’s been wonderful. Everyone has been kind to me, and I’m treated very well. It’s all thanks to you, Madam Caroline.”

“Oh, don’t be silly. It’s all because you’re doing so well yourself.”

“Thank you, Madam Caroline,” Brianna replied, blushing at the compliment.

However, there was something else on Brianna’s mind. She hesitated, her gaze dropping to her teacup, a hint of unease crossing her features.

After a moment of internal debate, she cautiously broached the topic. “There’s someone who’s been bothering me a bit.”

“Oh dear, someone bothering you?” Caroline’s eyes narrowed with a smile, though they glittered with intrigue. Brianna pretended not to notice as she took another sip of her tea.

“It’s nothing serious now,” Brianna added quickly.

“I see,” Caroline responded, her expression suggesting she already knew exactly who Brianna was referring to.

She observed Brianna for a moment before casually continuing the conversation. “You know, I’ve heard an interesting rumor recently.”

“A rumor?” Brianna echoed, curiosity piqued.

“They say Lord Childe of House Ezester has returned to the capital,” Caroline mentioned in a light tone.

Brianna shuddered involuntarily at the mention of his name. There wasn’t a lady in high society who didn’t know of him—he was notorious as the worst rake in the social circles. He was infamous for pursuing any woman, regardless of age. Brianna herself had encountered him at a party once; when he placed his hand on her shoulder, she promptly stomped on his foot with her sharp heel. Just hearing his name made her skin crawl.

“But here’s the thing,” Caroline continued, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper, “he’s shown some interest in Eleanor.”

“What?” Brianna’s eyes widened in shock. Childe had been exiled to the countryside due to his scandalous behavior, and he hadn’t even been in the capital for some time. There was no way he could know about Eleanor, let alone have met her.

Caroline, noting Brianna’s skepticism, leaned in slightly. “If you’d like, I could have a word with Lord Childe.”

“……?”

“Wouldn’t something interesting happen if Eleanor and Childe were to meet?”

It took a moment for Brianna to fully grasp what Caroline was suggesting. A scandal involving the notorious rake and the Duchess would undoubtedly cause a stir. Eleanor, who had recently become a lady-in-waiting to the Empress Dowager, was already a subject of much gossip among the nobility. A scandal of this magnitude could lead to her being expelled from the palace or even facing severe repercussions from her family.

As Brianna realized the full extent of Caroline’s plan, she couldn’t help but feel a chill.

‘But she’s still her son’s wife…’

“What do you think? Should I help?” Caroline tilted her head slightly, a crooked smile playing on her lips.

Brianna hesitated, unsure of how to respond.

***

For the past few days, Eleanor had seemed somewhat drained, her face reflecting a subtle fatigue. Though she made every effort to conceal it from those in the palace, the occasional dark expression slipped through, betraying her internal turmoil. She rose from her chair and began pacing around the window, her thoughts heavy.

The Empress Dowager had left for a hot spring retreat, granting the ladies-in-waiting a rare break. The bright, clear midday sun outside was a sharp contrast to Eleanor’s troubled mind, which prevented her from enjoying the rare leisure. After circling the room for what felt like hours, she stopped abruptly in the center, a deep sense of unease washing over her.

‘…Something’s not right,’ she thought, her mind fixating on the name of the current emperor, Vlad Wenth von Panello Baden, also known as Wenth I. Despite her efforts to recall her lessons with the royal scholar back in Hartmann—lessons intended to deepen her understanding of neighboring nations—Eleanor couldn’t remember ever hearing the name “Lennoch” associated with the emperor, not even as a childhood name.

‘Could he have intentionally used a false name?’

It would have been easy enough for someone to adopt an alias, especially if they were trying to hide their identity behind a mask. Yet, both Eger and the emperor had used the name “Lennoch” with such familiarity. Perhaps it was a name used only in unofficial settings?

Eleanor pressed her fingers to her temple, realizing the limitations of her knowledge. Even with her return from the past, there were many things about the court she didn’t know.

‘In the past, I was little more than a parrot,’ she mused bitterly.

Back then, she had lived according to Caroline’s whims, receiving only the information Caroline deemed necessary. And even that knowledge was filtered through Caroline’s perspective, leaving Eleanor with little that could help her now.

‘What was Caroline’s true goal?’

It was a question she had never thought to ask before her regression. What did Caroline hope to achieve by making me a parrot?

Eleanor was so lost in thought that she failed to notice her chamber door was slightly ajar.

“Um, Lady Eleanor?”

“……!”

The sudden voice startled Eleanor, causing her to flinch. Norah, who had quietly approached, was now standing right beside her. Seeing Eleanor’s less-than-pleasant expression, Norah quickly stepped back, waving her hands apologetically.

“I’m sorry! Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

“I knocked several times, but there was no answer…” Norah wrung her hands, her expression full of remorse. She knew it was rude to enter unannounced, but Eleanor had been so still, standing in the middle of the room like a statue, that Norah had feared something was wrong.

Eleanor finally calmed herself and cleared her throat. “I must have been too lost in thought to hear you.”

“Perhaps I should have waited and come back later,” Norah mumbled, still hesitant.

Noticing her discomfort, Norah cautiously suggested, “Would you like to join me for some tea?”

“Tea?”

“Oh, um, unless you’d rather not?”

Worried that Eleanor might refuse, Norah’s expression grew almost desperate. The small-framed Norah looked up at her like a rain-soaked puppy, and Eleanor couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

“No, it’s fine. But I don’t have many types of tea…”

“Don’t worry! You can come to my room instead!” Norah beamed the moment Eleanor agreed. “The Empress Dowager invited me to join her at the hot springs, but I’m not fond of hot baths, so I stayed behind. But now, with nothing to do, it feels a bit lonely. Everyone else seems busy, and I hate playing alone.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Lady Berenice has been occupied with her duties all day, and the Countess of Lorentz left early for a meeting. As for my family, no one’s home either. My father recently opened a new company, so they’ve all gone to the Meishu region for business.”

Once Norah began talking, it was as if a dam had burst. She had a naturally cheerful and outgoing personality, which made her easy to talk to. Eleanor glanced down at Norah, who had effortlessly linked arms with her, and felt a strange sense of awkwardness.

There was no shadow of darkness in Norah’s open, honest face. She had clearly grown up in a bright and loving environment.

‘Was I ever like this?’Eleanor wondered. Before her father, the last king of Hartmann, had died, had she been as cheerful as Norah? The events of a few years ago now seemed like a distant memory.

“Lady Eleanor? Is something the matter?”

“It’s nothing.”

Eleanor realized she had been staring too openly. She softened her gaze and brushed off Norah’s concerned look.

Norah’s room wasn’t far. Within minutes, the two of them reached it and took seats at a table near the balcony. Dismissing the maid, Norah insisted on brewing the tea herself, carefully arranging the teacups.

“You can see Her Majesty’s garden from here. This is one of my favorite spots.”

“I can see why.”

“What kind of tea do you like, Lady Eleanor? This one has a lovely fruity aroma. If you prefer something cleaner, I recommend the Roné Lane. By the way, do you know Lady Roné? She has an incredible talent for blending tea. She recently opened a new shop, and this tea is from her first batch.”

As Norah continued to chatter, Eleanor listened with a quiet smile. She wasn’t unfamiliar with Lady Roné.

Lady Roné was known for her strong will and unyielding nature, which had earned her many enemies. Eleanor recalled Caroline once purchasing tea from her before the regression. Caroline had complained about how inflexible and stubborn Lady Roné was.

“I’ll try this one, then.”

“Great! Let’s enjoy it together. I haven’t tried this tea yet either. Lady Roné was so busy that I only had time for a quick sample before I bought it.”

Norah’s explanation was both kind and detailed, even though Eleanor hadn’t asked for it. Despite her lively tone, Norah’s movements as she brewed the tea were surprisingly calm.

Eleanor found herself fascinated by Norah’s hands, watching them without realizing it.

“I’ve always wanted to have tea with you, Lady Eleanor.”

“With me?”

Norah’s dark eyes sparkled as she nodded enthusiastically. “During the interview for the position of lady-in-waiting, do you know how impressive you were?”

It was the moment when Eleanor had knelt before Her Majesty, pledging her service to become the Empress Dowager’s lady-in-waiting. Realizing what Norah was referring to, Eleanor felt a slight blush creep into her cheeks.

To her, it had simply been a desperate act. But it seemed Norah had seen it differently.

“You were like a knight, just without a sword. You know the legends of the Knights of the Round Table, right? I love stories and myths like that. Watching you in that moment, my heart was racing. Honestly, I’ve heard some bad things about you… um.”

Norah suddenly clapped her right hand over her mouth, realizing her rudeness. The abrupt gesture was oddly endearing, exuding a certain charm.

“Lady Eleanor, if I’ve offended you, I sincerely apologize… I didn’t mean anything bad by it.”

“No, it’s alright.”

Eleanor wasn’t annoyed by Norah’s casual manner. In fact, she found it rather endearing, like having a younger sister. She shook her head with a smile.

‘But the rumors about me…’

Naturally, they were probably mostly negative.

Eleanor’s mind started working quickly. “Lady Norah, would you mind telling me what rumors you’ve heard about me?”