Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 6 Part 7

The Empress Dowager had fully expected Eleanor to choose her brother. She had assumed that Adler, just by being present in the palace, would have a significant influence on Eleanor. After all, when one travels and stays in a foreign country for a long time, they inevitably start to miss the food and people of their homeland. How much more difficult must it be for a princess to settle in a completely foreign place, surrounded by unfamiliar nobles? Even with a strong will, it’s not an easy task.

She had at least expected Eleanor to hesitate.

But now, she realized that Eleanor’s judgment was correct. The Empress Dowager nodded. “It’s almost frightening—your ability to see reality without being swayed by familial bonds.”

‘Perhaps I would have been swayed before,’ Eleanor thought to herself.

Before she had turned back time, she likely would have gladly accepted the Empress Dowager’s offer. She would have foolishly believed that her brother genuinely wanted to see her, perhaps even shedding tears over it.

But now, things were different.

Adler had an agenda. His plans and Eleanor’s current position in the Baden palace aligned too perfectly for it to be a coincidence. He simply intended to use her.

“How did you see through Adler’s intentions?” The Empress Dowager asked, genuinely curious about Eleanor.

At first, she had thought it audacious for Eleanor to bend the knee and request to become even a mere servant. When she learned that Eleanor did not get along with Caroline, she felt a mix of unease and caution, guessing what motives might have driven her to seek shelter under the Empress Dowager’s wing.

But now, her previous thoughts had been entirely overturned. The Empress Dowager was impressed by Eleanor’s quick judgment and strict decision-making.

“You knew that Adler wasn’t seeking you out for pure reasons. Do you understand why he wants to stay in Baden using you as an excuse?”

“I don’t know the full extent of it.”

Since the merger, or rather, since the political marriage in Hartmann had been decided, her life had never been her own. It was as if she had been living under a debt to someone, always owed something.

When Caroline had cruelly tormented her, she had to bow her head. Even at the final moment on the guillotine, she had bowed her head to receive the blade.

Eleanor continued, her voice calm, “But Adler is a noble of Bahama. As a representative of Bahama’s delegation to Baden, he must have some influence there. I don’t believe that someone so trusted by the nobles of Bahama would approach me without any ulterior motives. It may sound like an exaggeration, but there could be forces backing him.”

The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement with Eleanor’s reasoning. Having spent many years fighting invisible battles in the palace, the Empress Dowager understood this all too well.

Looking at the outcome of Hartmann, she could see why Eleanor would be cautious of Adler.

If you don’t discard what needs to be discarded, you will be discarded.

Those who stubbornly held on to things they should have let go of were eventually hurt by them, wounded, and ultimately led down the path of ruin.

“You’ve made a wise decision.”

Eleanor’s situation was pitiful, but as she had said, it would be dangerous to allow Adler to remain in the palace for long.

“Thank you for making the right choice.” Feeling both sympathy and admiration, the Empress Dowager reached out and took Eleanor’s hand.

***

Eleanor returned to her room after the conversation with the Empress Dowager. She hadn’t realized it while they were talking, but as soon as they parted ways, exhaustion hit her all at once. She must have been more tense than she realized. Without even bothering to change out of her dress, she collapsed onto the bed.

Just as her eyes were about to close, the door burst open.

“Lady Eleanor! You need to get ready for the masquerade ball!” Norah’s booming voice jolted her awake.

With great effort, Eleanor barely lifted her heavy eyelids and spoke softly, “Lady Norah, I’m really quite tired right now…”

“How about wearing the dress Lady Brianna gave you? The turquoise one—it’s absolutely gorgeous! You’ll definitely turn heads!”

Norah, brimming with excitement, didn’t seem to hear a word Eleanor said. She bounced on the bed, shaking it so much that Eleanor knew there was no way she could sleep with Norah around. Resigned, she slowly sat up.

Norah immediately called for a maid to bring the dress.

“Her Majesty is getting ready too. Let’s go together!”

“Alright.”

If the Empress Dowager was attending, there was no way Eleanor could decline. She sighed quietly and rose from the bed.

The dress Brianna had given her was in perfect condition, as if it had been well cared for, with not a single wrinkle in sight. There was nothing that needed adjusting. As Eleanor put on the dress with the maid’s help, Norah darted off, saying she would help the Empress Dowager choose her mask.

“Is the corset too tight?”

“It’s fine.”

She didn’t want to make it too tight, as that would make it difficult to breathe. After all, she wasn’t dressing to impress anyone.

Once the dress was fully on, the maid attended to Eleanor’s hair. She smoothed it with oil, tidying up the stray strands, and pinned it up neatly. The short hairs that stuck out were perfectly concealed with a hairpin adorned with flowers and ribbons, making it look as though her hair had been elegantly tied up.

“I’ll take that mask.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Eleanor put on the butterfly-shaped mask, which instantly gave her a more refined and noble air. The maid marveled at the transformation as Eleanor made her way to the Empress Dowager’s quarters.

“My goodness, it suits you so well!”

“You look lovely.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Norah’s praise was quickly followed by that of the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager wore a black dress and a mask adorned with raven feathers. The entirely black ensemble complemented her platinum hair perfectly. Norah was once again dressed in her canary-yellow dress.

“Let’s get going!”

“Have a wonderful time.”

Berenice, who wasn’t attending the masquerade, saw them off. Brianna wasn’t there either, as she had been sent by the Empress Dowager to visit Countess Lorentz, who was unwell. —Norah had expressed her disappointment that Eleanor wouldn’t get to show Brianna how stunning she looked in the dress.—

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the path to the ballroom was bathed in a warm red glow. Noblewomen and gentlemen in colorful masks were scattered along the way.

“Your Majesty, don’t forget you promised me the first dance at the ball!”

“Of course, I haven’t forgotten.”

It seemed the two had already arranged to dance together. Walking a little behind the Empress Dowager and Norah, Eleanor smiled gently at their conversation, which sounded like that of a mother and daughter.

The location of the masquerade ball was special this time. It was being held outdoors as a special event, with a garden surrounded by a fence transformed into a ballroom. Eleanor didn’t know who had come up with the idea, but she thought it was an excellent choice.

“Wow…”

Norah was the first to step into the ballroom and let out a gasp of admiration. In the center of the ballroom stood a massive pillar. From that pillar, long strings extended to the trees at the edges of the garden, with lanterns hanging at intervals, illuminating the area brightly. The light was so brilliant that it seemed as if stars had been plucked from the sky and hung overhead.

The side tables were adorned with roses of various colors, offering light finger foods and wine for the guests to enjoy as they mingled.

With an exaggerated flourish, Norah extended her hand to the Empress Dowager, asking for a dance.

“Your Majesty—no, Madam Jeanne? Would you care for a dance?”

“Hoho, of course, Miss Joe.”

‘Goodness.’

Was this the reason Berenice had been so adamant about not attending? Eleanor couldn’t help but laugh at how well Norah and the Empress Dowager had adapted to the masquerade ball, going so far as to use aliases and change their titles for the occasion.

“Is something amusing, my lady?”

Eleanor, who had been standing aside to avoid disturbing the dancers, turned slightly. Behind her stood a tall man, his face concealed by a pitch-black mask. The wooden mask’s shape was oddly familiar.

“Your Ma—Lennoch.”

She almost called him “Your Majesty” but quickly corrected herself. Mentioning the Emperor at a masquerade ball would surely cause trouble for both of them. Lennoch, hidden behind his mask, smiled as he looked down at her, a bit dazed from looking up at him.

“Are you enjoying the ball?”

“Yes, very much.”

It was hard to maintain her usual cold demeanor in the face of his polite tone. They were standing near the edge of the garden, right at the border of the ballroom. With the fence of ropes enclosing them, there was nowhere to escape. Perhaps if they had met in a more public setting like on the first day of the Harvest Festival, she might have been able to avoid this situation. Eleanor was amazed that he recognized her despite the mask.

‘I thought he’d be upset, but he seems perfectly fine.’

On the day Lennoch had given her the key to the East Palace, she had walked away without looking back. Though seeing him stand there like an abandoned puppy had tugged at her heart, she knew she had to be firm.

Eleanor tried her best to ignore Lennoch’s presence beside her, keeping her gaze fixed on the dancers.

“Would you like to dance?” Lennoch asked, noticing her eyes lingering on the dancers.

“No, I’m not very good at it.” She declined for the same reason she had turned down Childe and Evan before.

“Is it because dancing is difficult?”

That couldn’t be further from the truth. Before her regression, Caroline had made sure Eleanor was an excellent dancer through relentless practice. It would have been better if he just let it go, but lying about finding dancing difficult made her chest tighten with an inexplicable discomfort. The wine went down smoothly as a result.

By the time Eleanor had emptied another glass, the music changed to a group dance. Dozens of people formed a circle, gradually expanding the formation.

“Come join us!”

A cheerful woman with a purple bat mask grabbed Eleanor’s arm, complimenting her unique and beautiful butterfly mask. Caught off guard and already feeling the effects of the wine, Eleanor found herself too weak to resist. As she was dragged along, she glanced at Lennoch, almost as if asking for help.

Lennoch’s lips curved into a smooth smile beneath his mask. “Is this an opportunity?”

“No, this is a cry for help…!”

“Forgive me, my lady.”

Lennoch didn’t miss his chance. With a gentle push, he guided her into the circle of dancers. Eleanor, now linked arm-in-arm with Lennoch, looked up at him in disbelief.

“Couldn’t you help me just this once?”

Help?

“I want to dance, but no one seems to want to dance with me.”

“I find that very hard to believe…”

There were plenty of young ladies who would have done anything to catch the Emperor’s eye at the party on the first day. Even now, he could easily find a partner whenever he wanted.

Her suspicion and disbelief showed in her narrowed eyes behind the mask, but despite her thoughts, she kept in step with the dance. Lennoch chuckled at the sight.

“For someone who claims not to know how to dance, you’re quite good at it.”

“Don’t tease me. I’m only doing this because I have no choice…”

Just then, the music changed again, and the men and women separated like waves. The women lined up while the men took steps toward their partners.

Lennoch, standing a distance away, began approaching her with each step. Eleanor, waiting in her spot, found herself unable to lift her head. Finally, when they met and placed their palms together, he leaned in and whispered,

“For this dance, I’d like to be your first.”

“……!”

“Is that not allowed?”