Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 6 Part 3

“Would you care for a dance?”

The sound of a minuet flowing softly through the air caught her attention. Eleanor tried not to be conscious of the gazes directed at her as she politely declined.

“I’m sorry. I’m not very good at dancing.”

“That’s a pity.” A faint sigh escaped Evan’s lips. “Then, would you join me for a glass of wine on the balcony? The view pairs well with a drink.”

‘Again?’ It was a pattern similar to before. Eleanor looked up at Evan with a hint of reluctance as he proposed yet another date.

Seeing her expression, Evan smiled warmly. “It seems you’re not curious just yet.”

“Curious about what?”

“I have many stories about Ernst from his academy days that I’d like to share,” Evan replied.

“Ah.”

Only then did Eleanor recall the conversation she had with Evan earlier—something about Ernst’s time at the academy—an entirely uninteresting topic to her.

She responded in a roundabout way, “Perhaps I’ll hear about it someday. Now doesn’t seem to be the right time.”

“When?”

“…Well, I’m not sure.”

He might be even more persistent than Childe. Though Evan’s refusal to give up easily was disconcerting, Eleanor hid her discomfort. She resolved to reject him firmly to rid herself of him completely.

Just then, a snide comment came from the side.

“Quite popular, aren’t you?” It was spoken more for the benefit of the listeners than as a muttered remark.

The voice belonged to a woman standing right behind Evan, fanning herself. She seemed thoroughly displeased that the Duchess, who had received a date proposal from Childe of House Ezester, was now receiving one from Evan of House Nestor as well.

Adding fuel to the fire, an elderly gentleman chimed in, “There must be something particularly charming about the Duchess, though I can’t say I see it myself.”

His remark was the cue for a ripple of laughter from the group. The intention was clear—mockery.

“The Duke of Mecklen has accomplished so much at a young age, hasn’t he? They say couples start to resemble each other, so perhaps the Duchess has some hidden talents too.”

“Hoho, like the talent for wasting things?”

“That’s truly an impressive skill. She could probably squander a whole country.”

Rumors of the princess’s vanity and extravagance were being used more as a pretext to belittle than as matters of truth. Evan, who had been listening, showed signs of deep discomfort.

“…Everyone, I think you’ve taken it too far. There seems to be some misunderstanding.”

“Haha, misunderstanding? Everyone knows it’s true.”

“Well, what a fortunate life she must lead. Even if her country falls, she has a place to go.”

The ridicule continued without pause. What began as half-hearted participation in the conversation gradually intensified into outright criticism, as if they wished for the princess of Hartmann to be driven out.

Caught in the middle, Evan couldn’t hide his unease as he glanced at Eleanor, clearly regretting how his earlier comment had snowballed.

“My apologies, Madam. I didn’t mean for this to happen…”

“No, it’s quite alright.” Eleanor responded before Evan could finish speaking. Contrary to the expectation that she would be wounded and leave the scene, Eleanor replied with unexpected composure.

She stepped forward, moving past Evan. “Thank you, everyone.”

“……?”

Eleanor’s voice was kind as she began to speak. Before the flustered nobles could respond, she continued, “I’m overwhelmed by all your compliments.”

“Oh, Madam, you do have a way with words…”

“Compliments… yes, haha.”

The nobles exchanged awkward glances, their laughter sounding forced.

How shameless. Someone whispered, but Eleanor wasn’t done yet.

“As you mentioned, I am indeed quite popular. If I were to share a secret to that popularity, I’d say it’s etiquette.”

Eleanor turned her gaze toward the lady who had been fanning herself while making snide remarks earlier. “When I first meet someone, I always introduce myself with my name and title. And I believe that’s a basic courtesy expected of Baden nobles. Wouldn’t you agree, Lady?”

“Well… I suppose so.”

“You do have good manners. So, may I ask for your name?”

“……!”

The woman’s face instantly paled. The mouth that had been laughing moments ago clamped shut, but Eleanor pressed on.

“Your name?”

“Th-that… I…”

The woman who had been mocking Eleanor only moments earlier now seemed utterly deflated. Her status as a viscountess was far beneath that of a duchess, and publicly challenging someone of a higher rank was a grave breach of protocol. When the woman failed to provide a proper answer and fumbled with her response, Eleanor’s gaze shifted to the side.

“Good to see you again, Count Nopaltzin.”

“Ah, y-yes, indeed.”

The Count, who had been trying to stay hidden among the crowd, flinched noticeably. Not long ago, he had been caught by Eleanor badmouthing Ernst.

“How have things been with His Grace since then?”

“……”

Not well at all. The Duke of Mecklen summoned him so frequently that he was practically developing stress-induced hair loss. Clearly, Eleanor’s words were a form of calculated revenge. The count kept his lips tightly sealed, as if glued together.

“And who might the person next to you be?”

“P-pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Baroness Erezer.”

Everywhere Eleanor’s gaze landed, nobles began to retreat, one by one. Those who had been cautiously watching the situation now started to disperse, each offering their own excuses.

“We’ll be off to dance now…”

“Ho, hoho. I-I must be going; I’m quite busy.”

“I’m feeling a bit lightheaded…”

There was no one of higher status than the Duchess here. It was obvious, but until now, Eleanor’s position had been overshadowed by her image as the princess of Hartmann, and no one had recognized it. Eleanor’s quick wit in reminding them of her status left Evan visibly impressed for the first time.

“You’re different from the rumors.”

Eleanor, her expression now much lighter, responded calmly as if to mock Evan’s surprise. “Rumors don’t define a person.”

***

After the commotion ended, Eleanor left the banquet hall early. She figured staying any longer would be a waste of time. Besides, she was still concerned about Lennoch. Although he had been far away when she was with Evan and likely unaware, his watchful gaze had never wavered. It felt as though he was scrutinizing her every move.

Only after leaving the banquet hall did Eleanor manage to escape Lennoch’s sight completely, and she let out a tired sigh.

‘I need to get some rest.’

She was just about to enter the Empress Dowager’s palace, admiring the stars scattered across the black night sky, then—

“Countess Lorentz?”

Countess Lorentz was walking toward her from a distance. It was dark, but Eleanor could make out her slightly flushed cheeks. The countess, upon spotting Eleanor, appeared visibly startled.

“You’re back early.” Eleanor greeted her, and the countess offered an awkward smile, clearly not expecting to run into her here.

“I, uh, I’m not feeling well… I think I need to leave the palace and rest.”

“Oh dear. I hope you recover quickly.”

“Thank you, Duchess. I’ll be going now.”

In a hurry, Countess Lorentz quickly departed. Eleanor watched her disappear with swift steps, then resumed her walk.

‘She doesn’t look particularly ill. Strange.’

Click.

The room was just as she had left it. After lighting the candles and calling a maid to help remove her dress, Eleanor let out a deep sigh. The release of the tight corset was a relief.

With the tension finally easing, Eleanor collapsed onto the bed. At last, the long day was nearing its end.

***

The second day of the Harvest Festival.

Berenice was overseeing the overall management, while Brianna left early to inspect the tableware and decorations for today’s luncheon. Norah had agreed to help with the shortage of staff at the main palace, but Countess Lorentz was unable to attend due to illness. Eleanor was in the middle of organizing documents when she received a summons from the Empress Dowager.

When she entered the dressing room where the Empress Dowager still was, she was greeted warmly.

“You called for me, Your Majesty?”

“Your brother has arrived at the palace.”

Eleanor’s expression shifted slightly at the unexpected remark. Only then did she recall the person she had momentarily forgotten—Adler, a noble from the Kingdom of Bahama who was attending the Harvest Festival.

Whether by design or coincidence, the only ones present in the room were the Empress Dowager and Eleanor. In the silence, the Empress Dowager asked in a serious tone.

“Do you know why he’s come to the palace?”

“I’m not sure.” Eleanor hid her trembling heart as she replied calmly. “I’ve had no contact with my brother since I came to the Empire.”

It wasn’t that she had cut off contact; it was Adler who had severed ties. The weight of this left Eleanor unable to easily continue speaking.

The Empress Dowager provided further explanation. “The prince of Hartmann—or rather, I should call him Count Adler now—requested a private audience with His Majesty the Emperor yesterday.”

“……?”

“But as you know, His Majesty’s schedule is very tight. So I decided to meet him in his stead.”

Why? Eleanor’s eyes were filled with questions.

“I don’t know the reason, but I suppose I’ll find out when I meet him.”

“……”

“I summoned you because I’m curious about your thoughts. If you wish to join me, I can arrange for you to be there.”

The Empress Dowager had considered that Adler’s request for a private audience might involve personal matters, and that Eleanor, being his direct blood relative from the Hartmann royal family, might be at the center of it. If Eleanor wanted to meet him, the Empress Dowager was willing to facilitate it.

“There’s no need to feel uncomfortable. Speak your mind freely.” The Empress Dowager took Eleanor’s slightly trembling hands in her own. Eleanor’s clasped hands were pale, drained of color.

“Don’t you want to see your brother?”

Adler? The sibling she had grown up with in Hartmann had betrayed her. In the end, she was the one who couldn’t let go of him.

“No.” Eleanor shook her heavy head. “My brother is someone who always puts himself first.”

“……?”

“He is sociable and active, so he has many people around him, but he has a mild case of obsessive-compulsive tendencies, is calculative, and is cowardly.”

As a child, she had admired her brother greatly. He studied advanced mathematics, which others found difficult, and his tutors praised him as a brilliant prince. He also had a talent for swordsmanship, and the knight commander personally taught him.

Had the former king of Hartmann not squandered the treasury in his later years, lost in his favorite concubine’s charms, Adler would have smoothly ascended as the next king. But that was when he was still “Adler of Hartmann.”

Now…

“If Your Majesty wishes it, I will meet him. But personally, I have no desire to do so.”

When their father died and the country fell into chaos, she had genuinely believed Adler’s words when he told her to just follow him. But after merging with Baden, Adler gathered the remaining royal assets and fled overseas. Eleanor, the last remaining royal family member, had no choice.

“He has come here as a count of Bahama, so he is no longer related to me.”

“…If that’s truly how you feel, then there’s nothing more to be done.”

Eleanor’s tightly pressed lips spoke volumes about her emotions. The Empress Dowager couldn’t persuade her further and inwardly sighed.

Once, Eleanor might have been a princess who dreamed of living in her own country. Watching her, the Empress Dowager’s eyes reflected a touch of sadness, a feeling of pity that only another royal could understand.